LANDMARKS 


OF 


Albany  County 


NEW  YORK. 


EDITED  BY 

AMASA  J.  PARKER 

OF  ALBANY,  N.  Y. 


SYRACUSE,  N.  Y.  : 

D.  MASON  &  CO.,  PUBLISHERS. 

1897. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I 1 

CHAPTER  II 5 

CHAPTER   III. 10 

CHAPTER    IV 20 

CHAPTER   V 25 

CHAPTER  VI 44 

CHAPTER    VII 50 

CHAPTER    VIII - <'>:'> 

CHAPTER    IX... 84 

CHAPTER  X 103 

CHAPTER   XI,   Civil    List 121 

CHAPTER    XII,   Judiciary   and   Bar 130 

CHAPTER    XIII,   The   Medical    Profession..    168 

CHAPTER  XIV,  Journalism 233 

CHAPTER   XV,  General  Education 253 

CHAPTER   XVI,  Public   Institutions  and  Buildings 268 


IV 

CHAPTER  XVII,   The  City  of  Albany 281 

CHAPTER  XVIII,  Town  of  Watervliet  (now  Colonie),  West 
Troy  (now  Watervliet  City),  Green  Island  as  Town  and  Vil- 
lage, and  the  City  of  Cohoes . 394 

CHAPTER  XIX,  Town  of  Rensselaerville 461 

CHAPTER  XX,   Town  of  Coeymans _ 472 

CHAPTER  XXI,   Town   of  Bethlehem... 480 

CHAPTER  XXII,   Town  of  Berne 499 

CHAPTER  XXIII,   Town  of  Guilderland 514 

CHAPTER  XXIV,    Town  of  Westerlo 528 

CHAPTER  XXV,   Town  of  Knox 537 

CHAPTER   XXVI,   Town  of  New  Scotland 545 

PART  II. 
BIOGRAPHICAL 1-200 

PART  III 
FAMILY  SKETCHES 1-376 

INDEXES 377-500 


PORTRAIT  INDEX 


Amsdell,  George  I.  ...facing  378,  Part  I 

Barnes,  Thurlow  Weed, 

facing  159,  Part  II 
Barnes,  William,  jr.  ..facing  238,   Part  I 

Beattie,   William facing  12,  Part  II 

Bendell,  Herman,  M.  D., 

facing  168,  Part  I 

Best,  George  N facing  158,  Part  II 

Bigelow,  John  M.,  M.  D.,  Ph.  D., 

facing  203,  Part  I 
Blair,  Louis  E.,  M.  D.,  facing  10,  Part  II 

Blunn,  James facing  420,  Part  I 

Borthwick,  James  M... facing  83,  Part  II 

Brady,  Anthony  N facing  160,    Part  I 

Brass,  Richard  W. facing  86,  Part  II 

Bnggs,  John  N facing  480,  Part  I 

Bronk,  Barent  T.  Effacing  166,  Part  II 

Brooks,  Jonas   H facing  68,  Part  II 

Brown,    Frank facing  440,  Part  I 

Brown,  W.   Howard facing  43,  Part  II 

Buchanan,  Charles  J.,  .facing  166,  Part  I 

Butch,  John  G._ facing  140,  Part  II 

Burke,  Rt.  Rev.  Thomas 

facing  352,  Part  I 
Burlingame,  Eugene  A., 

facing  144,  Part  I 
Bvington,  William  Wilberforce, 

facing  356,  Part  I 

Cantine,  Edward  B. .  .facing  54,  Part  II 
Carpenter,  Charles  Whitney, 

facing  108,  Part  II 

Clute,  Jacob  H _.  .facing  143,  Part  I 

Covert,  James  C facing  422,  Part  I 

Cox,  James  W.,  M.  D., 

facing  217,  Part  I 
Curreen,  George  H.  ..facing  130,  Part  II 

Delehanty,  John  A facing  82,  Part  II 

Dickson,  Walter facing  113,  Part  II 

Doane,   Rt.    Rev.    William  Croswell, 

D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  facing  340,  Part  1 

Easton,    Frederick facing  33,  Part  II 

Fisk,  Frank  II.,  M.  D. facing  167,  Part  II 
Fitzgerald,  David  C. .  .facing  4!),  Pari  II 
Fuller,  Howard   N facing  292,  Part  I 

Griffin,  Rev.  William,  1).  D., 

facing  344,  Part  I 


Hale,   Matthew facing  130,  Parti 

Harris,  Hamilton facing  3,  Part  II 

Hastings,  Hugh facing  73,  Part   II 

Hornby,  Ralph    facing  118,  Part  II 

House,  George  A facing  163,    Part  II 

Howell,  George  Rogers, 

facing  274,  Part  I 

Jermain,  James  Barclay, 

facing  8,  Part  I 
Jones,  Charles  Edmund,  A.  M~,  M.  D., 
facing  155,  Part  II 

King,  Rufus  H .facing  24,  Parti 

Kinnear,    Peter.. facing  6,  Part  II 

Lewi,  Joseph,  M.  D facing  172,  Parti 

Lewis,  T.  Howard... facing  47,  Part  II 
Liieke,    Henry facing  160,  Partll 

Marsh,  Benjamin facing  56,   Parti 

Marvin,  Selden  E. ,  Gen., 

facing  375,  Part  I 
Marvin,  Selden  E.,  Col.,  jr., 

facing  32,  Part  II 
McCormic,  Robert  H.,  jr., 

facing  77,  Part  II 

McCreary,  Edward facing  17,  Part  II 

McKee,  James  B facing  434,  Part  I 

McKown,  James  A. ..facing  141,  Part  II 

Meegan,  Edward  J facing  50,  Part  II 

Merrill,   Frederick  J.  H., 

facing  271,  Part  I 

Munson,  Samuel  L facing  358,  Part  I 

Myers,  Max facing  14,  Part  II 

Nead,  William  M.,  M.  D., 

facing  2bi,  Part  I 
Newman,  John  L facing  20,  Part  II 

Oliver,  Robert  Shaw,  Gen., 

facing  284,  Part  I 

Parker,  Amasa  J. facing  143,  Part  II 

Parker,  Amasa  J. facing  151,  Part  II 

Palmer,  Edward  DeL., 

facing  320,    Part  I 

Pasquini,  Audio facing  31,  Part  II 

Perry,   Isaac  G. facing  105,  Part  II 

Plvmpton,  Lucy  Ann.. facing  266,  Part  I 
Porter,  Charles  H..  M.  D., 

facing  178,  Part  I 


VI 


Pruyn,  John  V.  L.,  LL.  D., 

facing  63,  Part  II 

Root,  Josiah  G facing  447,  Part  I 

Sanford,  John  C facing  452,    Parti 

Sisson,   Noel  E facing  132,  Part  II 

Slavin,  Thomas .facing  91,  Part  II 

Slingerland,  John  I facing  492,  Part  I 

Spalding,  Nathaniel  B.,  facing  87,  Part  II 
Stedman,  George  L. ..  facing  40,  Part  II 

Stern,   Louis . facing  92,  Part  1 1 

Story,  George facing  168,  Part  II 

Stovvell,  Charles  F facing  296,  Part  I 

Sweet,  Elias  W facing  165,  Part  II 

Sweet,  Elnathan .facing  386,  Parti 

Thacher,  George  Hornell, 

facing  58,  Part  II 
Townsend,  Frederick,  Gen., 

facing  361,  Part  I 

Tracey,  Charles facing  123,  Part  I 

Tucker,  Luther    facing  239,  Parti 


Tucker,  Luther  H facing  240,  Part  I 

Van  Alstyne,  Thomas  J., 

facing  101,  Part  II 
Van  Alstyne,  William  C, 

facing  288,  Part  I 
Van  Antwerp,  John  H., 

facing  376,  Part  I 
Vandar  Veer,  Albert,  M.  D., 

facing  179,  Part  I 
Van  Loon,  Arthur  B.,  M.  D. , 

facing  25,  Part  II 
Van  Rensselaer,  Howard,  M.  D. , 

facing  80,  Part  II 
Van  Wormer,  John  R., 

facing  110,  Part  II 
Vosburgh,  Isaac  W facing  40,  Part  I 

Ward.  Samuel  Baldwin,  M.  D., 

facing  177,  Part  I 

Wilson,  James  H facing  116,  Part  II 

\Y< ><>ster,  Benjamin  W.,  facing  44,  Part  II 

Zeh,  M.  J.,   M.  D facing  412,  Part  I 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

SANTA  BARBARA 


Landmarks  of  Albany  County. 


CHAPTER  I. 


The  history  of  Albany  county  begins  in  1609,  when,  as  far  as  can  be 
known  with  certainty,  the  first  Europeans  visited  this  locality.  If 
white  men  were  here  previous  to  that  time  the  fact  is  not  susceptible 
of  proof;  but  thenceforward  to  the  present,  through  a  period  of  more 
than  two  hundred  and  eighty-five  years  the  historic  record  may  be 
clearly  traced,  and  the  story  is  filled  with  interesting-  details  of  events 
of  great  historical  importance.  The  county  of  Albany  was  not  formed 
until  1683,  at  which  time  the  early  history  of  this  region  was  far  ad- 
vanced and  the  great  struggle  for  conquest  and  possession  of  this  con- 
tinent was  foreseen. 

Albany  county  1  was  one  of  the  ten  original  counties  of  the  present 
State  of  New  York,  and  the  other  nine  being  New  York,  West  Chester, 
Ulster,  Dutchess,  Orange,  Richmond,  Kings,  Queens,  Suffolk.  At 
the  time  of  its  erection  the  county  embraced  an  immense  area,  from 
which  the  following  counties  were  erected  on  the  dates  named: 

Gloucester,  March  16,  1770,  including  what  is  now  Orange,  Wash- 
ington, Caledonia,  Orleans,  Essex,  Lamoille,  Franklin  and  Grand  Isle, 
all  in  Vermont. 

Tryon,  March  12,  1772  (name  changed  to  Montgomery  April  2,  1784), 
from  which  all  the  counties  of  the  State  west  of  Greene,  Schoharie, 
Schenectady,  Saratoga,  Warren,  Essex  and  part  of  St.  Lawrence  were 
formed. 

Charlotte,  March  L2,  L772  (name  changed  to  Washington  April  2, 
L784),  from  which  were  erected  Warren,  Clinton,  St.  Lawrence,  Essex, 
and  Franklin. 

i  At  the  time  of  the  formation  of  Albany  county  nine  others  were  erecl  ed   from  territory  now 
embraced  in   the  State  of  New   York,  and  two,  Dukes  and  Cornwall,  from  Massachusetts  and 
Maine  territory. 
J 


2 

Cumberland,  April  I,  L786,  embracing  the  present  counties  of  Ben- 
nington,  Windsor,  Windham,  Rutland,  Addison,  and  Chittenden,  all 
in  Vermont. 

Columbia,  April  4,  11 86. 

Rensselaer,  February  7,   L791. 

Saratoga,  February  7,   L791. 

Schoharie,  April  6,  1795. 

Greene,  March  %5,   L800. 

Schenectady,  March  7,  1809. 

Albany  countv  took  its  name  from  the  Scotch  title  of  the  Duke  oi 
York  and  Albany,  who  was  afterwards  King  James  II  of  England.  It 
is  situated  between  forty-two  degrees,  twenty-three  minutes,  and  forty- 
two  degrees,  forty-nine  minutes  north  latitude,  and  between  two  de- 
grees, forty  minutes,  and  three  degrees,  fifteen  minutes,  east  longitude 
from  Washington,  and  with  the  erection  of  the  last  county  from  its  ter- 
ritory (Schenectady)  it  was  left  with  an  area  of  about  544  square  miles, 
or  348,160  acres.  Its  northern  boundary  is  formed  by  Schenectady 
and  Saratoga  counties;  its  eastern  by  the  Hudson  River;  its  western  by 
Schoharie  county,  and  its  southern  by  Greene  county. 

The  surface  of  this  county  has  a  general  southeastern  inclination  and 
is  undulating  and  hilly.  An  intervale  of  a  width  varying  from  a  quar- 
ter of  a  mile  to  a  mile  extends  along  the  Hudson  River,  which  is 
bounded  by  a  series  of  steep  bluffs  from  100  to  180  feet  high;  from  the 
summit  of  these  an  undulating  and  slightly  ascending  plateau  stretches 
westward  to  the  foot  of  the  Helderberg  Hills,1  where  it  reaches  an  ele- 
vation of  about  400  feet  above  tide.  This  range  of  hills  rises  to  a 
height  of  from  400  to  800  feet  above  the  plateau,  with  declivities  some- 
times steep  and  precipitous  on  the  east,  but  sloping  more  gradually  on 
the  west.  Other  minor  hill  ranges  extend  through  portions  of  the 
county  in  a  general  northerly  and  southerly  direction.  The  loftiest 
eminence  in  the  county  is  in  the  Helderbergs  in  the  northeast  corner 
of  the  town  of  Berne,  and  is  1,200  feet  above  tide.  These  hill  ranges 
are  spurs  of  the  Catskills,  which  are  the  northerly  continuation  of  the 
Allegany  Mountains. 

The  principal  streams  of  Albany  county  are  the  Hudson,  the  Mohawk, 
the  Catskill,  the  Schoharie,  and  the  Norman's  Kill.  The  streams  trib- 
utary to  the  Hudson  are  the  following,   which  come  under  the  title  of 

i  Tin-  name  Helderberg  signifies  i:  Clear  Mountain,"  from  the  fine  prospect  from  the  summ 

these  hills. 


either  river,  creek,  brook,  or  kill:  The  Catskill,  Coeymans,  Haana- 
Krois,  Vlaman's,  Norman's,  Beaver,  Rutten,  Foxen,  Patroon,  Ralger, 
Cemetery,  Dry,  and  Mohawk.  Tributaries  of  the  Mohawk  are  the 
Schoharie,  Lisha's,  Town,  and  Donker's.  Those  of  the  Catskill  are 
Eight-Mile,  Ten-Mile,  Scrub,  Fox,  and  Wilbur.  Of  the  Schoharie, 
Reaver  Dam,  Foxen  and  Switz.  There  are  other  minor  streams  which 
will  be  mentioned  later  in  the  town  histories.  In  the  western  part  of 
the  count}-  the  streams  generally  flow  through  narrow  ravines,  while 
those  that  flow  into  the  Hudson  have  worn  deep  gullies  in  the  soil, 
some  of  which  are  one  hundred  feet  in  depth  and  extend  nearly  to  the 
river  flats. 

The  eastern  boundary  line  of  this  county  is  through  the  middle  of  the 
Hudson  River,  which  gives  all  of  the  islands  lying  west  of  that  line  to 
the  county.  These  are  Van  Rensselaer's,  or  Westerlo  Island,  the 
largest,  containing  160  acres,  lying  east  of  the  southern  part  of  the  city 
of  Albany;  Haver  Island,  Van  Schaick's  Island,  and  Whale  Island,  all 
near  the  junction  of  the  Mohawk  with  the  Hudson;  Green  Island,  di- 
rectly opposite  Troy  and  now  a  thickly  settled  village;  Pleasure  Island, 
a  short  distance  above  Albany;  Beeren,  or  Bear's  Island,  eleven  miles 
below  Albany  and  belonging  to  the  town  of  Coeymans;  Shad,  Scher- 
merhorn  (or  Xeifer),  Wooden  and  Poplar,  opposite  Coeymans:  Sill's  (or 
Van  Woert),  Bear,  Beacon  (or  Bisby),  Cabbage  (or  Jolly),  Marsh,  and 
Bogart's,  opposite  Bethlehem;  Lower  Patroon,  Patroon,  Cuyler,  Hill- 
house  (or  Glen),  and  Breaker,  opposite  Watervleit.  On  the  Mohawk, 
above  the  Cohoes  Falls,  are  Ponda  and  Cobble  Islands.  Some  of  these 
islands  have  an  important  history  which  will  be  found  in  its  proper 
place. 

The  geological  formations  of  Albany  county  belong  to  the  Upper 
Silurian  system,  and  comprise  nearly  all  of  the  rocks  of  New  York  from 
the  I'tica  slate  to  the  corniferous  limestone.  Above  the  rocks  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  county  are  thick  deposits  of  drift  consisting  of  sand, 
gravel  and  clay,  while  along  the  river  bottoms  are  rich  alluvial  deposits. 
The  lowest  rock  cropping  out  on  the  Hudson,  Norman's  Kill  and  Mo- 
hawk is  the  Utica  slate.  Next  above  are  the  graywacke  and  shales  of 
the  Hudson  River  group,  appearing  in  the  valleys  of  all  the  streams 
that  How  into  the  Hudson,  and  probably  underlying  all  of  the  eastern 
part  of  the  count)-;  this  stone  is  quarried  for  flagging  and  building 
purposes.  The  base  of  the  Helderbergs  is  evidently  formed  of  the  red 
Medina  sandstone,  and  next  above  and  forming  the  first  ti  I   the 


mountains  is  the  water  lime  group  from  fifty  to  two  hundred  feet  thick, 
and  supplying  both  water  and  quicklime.  Next  comes  the  pentamerus 
limestone,  about  fifty  feet  in  thickness,  and  consisting-  of  impure  gray 
and  black  limestone  intermixed  with  slate  and  shale.  Overlying  this 
is  the  Catskill  limestone,  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  and  eighty  feet 
thick,  the  layers  being  alternated  with  thin  layers  of  shale;  this  stone 
is  also  used  for  building  purposes.  The  Oriskany  sandstone  is  next  in 
order  in  a  thin  stratum  which  is  developed  in  the  towns  of  Berne,  Knox, 
and  Bethlehem.  This  is  followed  by  the  cauda-galli  grit  of  fifty  to  sixty 
feet  in  thickness.  Although  this  has  a  fine  grit  resembling  black  and 
gray  slates,  it  crumbles  upon  exposure  to  the  air.  Next  above  are  the 
Onondaga  and  corniferous  limestones,  the  latter  crowning  the  summits 
of  the  mountains,  and  both  furnishing  excellent  lime  and  building 
stone.  The  highlands  west  of  the  city  of  Albany  are  covered  with  a 
depth  of  forty  feet  of  sand  which  rests  upon  a  bed  of  clay  probably  one 
hundred  feet  deep.  In  this  drift  bog  ore  has  been  found,  and  springs 
of  acidulous,  chalybeate,  and  saline  water  exist.  Sulphurous  springs 
have  been  found  near  Albany  city,  at  Coeymans  Landing,  in  Guilder- 
land,  in  Watervleit,  and  in  Rensselaerville.  White  sulphur  springs 
exist  in  Berne  and  New  Scotland  which  have  been  visited  to  some  ex- 
tent by  invalids  with  beneficial  results. 

The  soil  of  Albany  county  is  varied  in  character.  Along  the  rivers  is 
a  rich  alluvial  loam  which  is  very  productive.  In  Watervleit,  Al- 
bany, and  the  eastern  part  of  Guilderland  and  Bethlehem  it  is  almost 
pure  sand,  with  strips  of  clay  along  the  banks  of  the  streams.  Between 
this  sandy  region  and  the  foot  of  the  Helderbergs  is  a  belt  of  land  on 
which  the  soil  is  chiefly  a  clayey  and  gravelly  loam,  rich  and  productive. 
On  the  Helderbergs  the  soil  is  principally  alternate  layers  of  clay,  slate, 
and  gravel,  usually  with  a  subsoil  of  the  tenacious  clay  known  as 
"hard  pan."  Much  of  this  latter  region  is  cold,  wet  and  only  moder- 
ately productive.  Pine,  oak  and  chestnut  were  the  principal  forest 
trees  of  the  sandy  region,  with  a  small  quantity  of  red  cedar  in  the 
southeast  corner  of  the  county.  Westward  of  the  sandy  tract  are  the 
usual  deciduous  and  evergreen  trees  of  this  State. 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  pioneers  of  civilization  on  the  western  continent  found  it  inhab- 
ited by  the  native  Americans  whom  we  call  Indians.  The  often-raised 
question  of  whence  came  this  copper-colored  race  has  never  yet  been 
answered;  their  origin  is  shrouded  in  mystery,  and  so  it  must  remain. 
Unnumbered  ages  hence  their  disappearance  from  the  earth  may  be 
enveloped  in  the  deep  oblivion  that  now  hides  their  origin. 

A  detailed  history  of  this  race  cannot  be  given  in  this  volume,  nor  is 
it  desirable  that  it  should  be;  for  it  has  been  written  of  in  the  past  by 
many  gifted  pens.  As  to  the  right  or  wrong  of  their  conquest  and 
their  possible  extinction  by  the  white  man,  wise  men  differ.  At  the 
foundation  of  the  question  is  the  fact  that  in  the  world's  history  civili- 
zation advances,  at  whatever  cost  to  the  uncivilized;  the  ignorant  go 
down  before  the  educated,  the  weak  before  the  strong;  might,  if  nol 
always  right,  triumphs. 

The  Iroquois  Indians,  as  they  were  called  by  the  French,  but  known 
to  the  English  as  the  Five  Nations  (and  as  the  Six  Nations  after  their 
confederacy  was  joined  by  the  Tuscaroras  in  1714)  had  established 
themselves  across  the  State  of  New  York,  beginning  with  the  Mohawks 
on  the  east,  and  with  the  Oneidas  (with  whom  the  Tuscaroras  subse- 
quently became  amalgamated),  the  Onondagas,  the  Cayugas,  and  the 
Senecas  next,  in  the  order  here  stated.  At  the  time  the  first  white  men 
came  up  the  Hudson  River  these  nations  claimed  most  of  the  territory 
now  constituting  the  State  of  New  York  and  a  part  of  Pennsylvania  as 
their  hunting  grounds.  The  territory  about  the  mouth  of  the  Hudson 
and  the  valley  of  the  Delaware  River  was  occupied  by  the  Delaware  and 
Manhattan  tribes  of  the  Algonquins.  Other  nations  were  located  in 
distant  parts  of  the  country.  The  Iroquois  were  superior  in  mental 
capacity  to  any  of  their  native  neighbors.  Parkman,  the  historian, 
says,  "both  reason  and  tradition  point  to  the  conclusion  that  the  Iro- 
quois originally  formed  one  undivided  people.  Sundered,  like  count- 
less other  tribes,  by  dissensions,  caprice,  or  the  necessities  of  a  hun- 
ter's life,  they  separated  into  five  distinct  nations." 

The  recollection  of  their  common  origin  and  a  wise  prevision  of  what 


would  conduce  to  their  common  welfare,  led  to  the  establishment  of 
their  celebrated  Confederacy,  or  League,  which  insured  harmony  and 
prosperity  to  all,  rendered  them  a  dominant  power  and  a  terror  to  sur- 
rounding- native  nations  and  tribes,  and  in  later  times  challenged  the 
admiration  of  civilized  statesmen.  When  this  confederacy  was  formed 
is  not  known,  but  it  is  believed  to  have  been  early  in  the  sixteenth 
century,  while  some  students  fix  the  date  at  1635.  It  was  probably 
long  anterior  to  that  date.  The  principal  characteristics  of  this  league 
are  too  well  known  to  need  repetition  here. 

Distinguished  as  they  were  for  intelligence,  endurance  and  cruelty 
to  their  enemies,  it  is  still  true  that  the  Iroquois  Indians  received  the 
first  coming  white  men  in  the  most  friendly  manner,  even  while  wag- 
ing relentless  war  upon  their  savage  enemies.  In  1G18  the  Five  Nations 
entered  into  a  treaty  of  peace  and  alliance  with  the  I  Hitch  on  the  Nor- 
man's Kill,  just  south  of  the  site  of  Albany,  and  this  continued  in  ex- 
istence as  long  as  it  was  mutually  advantageous  for  purposes  of  trade. 

In  their  war  operations  the  policy  of  the  Iroquois  seems  always  to 
have  been,  not  the  extermination  of  their  foes,  but  their  subjugation 
and  adoption.  It  is  said  that  the  Kakuas  and  the  Eries,  to  the  west- 
ward, were  offered  the  alternative  of  extinction  or  adoption.  This 
policy  enabled  them  to  constantly  extend  their  power  and  influence, 
until  about  the  year  1700,  when  they  dominated  a  large  part  of  the  ter- 
ritory of  the  United  States.  Long  prior  to  that  they  had  carried  terror 
into  the  wilds  Canada;  had  gained  victories  on  Lake  Huron;  had  made 
tributary  the  Delawares  and  the  Mohegans,  until  their  name  alone  was 
a  signal  of  conquest.  At  the  time  when  Champlain  was  exploring  the 
lake  that  bears  his  name,  and  Hudson  was  sailing  up  our  noble  river 
(  L609)  these  Five  Nations  were  carrying  011  relentless  war  against  the 
Canada  tribes.  It  was  with  the  latter  that  Champlain  joined  in  his  first 
crusade  against  the  Iroquois,  teaching  them  the  use  of  guns  and  pow- 
der. Delighted  with  these  implements  of  destruction  and  smarting 
under  the  defeat  inflicted  upon  them  by  Champlain,  the  Indians  wel- 
comed the  friendly  Dutch  and  cheerfully  entered  into  the  alliance  be- 
fore mentioned,  by  which  the  shrewd  Hollanders  obtained  quiet  pos- 
session of  the  valuable  Indian  trade,  which  was  then  all  they  wanted. 
The  Iroquois  with  their  3,000  warriors  kept  the  war-path  warm  with 
the  blood  of  their  enemies;  Champlain  was  driven  back,  the  Hurons 
were  mercilessly  harassed,  the  Andastes  were  exterminated  and  other 
nations  defeated,  and  New  France  was  made  to  suffer  for  many  years 
from  the  bloody  raids  of  these  warriors. 


At  the  time  of  the  coming  of  the  first  white  men  the  Mohawks  had 
rive  of  their  so-called  castles,  one  of  which  was  Moenemines  Castle, 
situated  on  Haver  Island  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mohawk  River;  the 
others  were  at  Schenectady,  Fort  Hunter,  one  called  Caughnawaga  in 
what  is  now  Fulton  county,  and  one  at  Canajoharie.  This  nation  then 
numbered  about  three  hundred  warriors. 

Their  own  self-interest  and  the  friendliness  of  the  Dutch,  and  lat<  i 
of  the  English,  retained  the  fealty  of  the  Iroquois,  with  little  interrup 
tion,  through  the  one  hundred  and   fifty  years  prior  to  the  Revolution. 

Meanwhile  the  vanguard  of  the  Jesuits,  those  self-immolating  French 
missionaries,  arrived  in  the  western  world,  the  first  of  them  in  L625; 
but  their  active  work  among  the  Iroquois  in  almost  fruitless  endeavors 
to  convert  them  to  Christianity,  and  at  the  same  time  aid  in  establish 
ing  French  dominion,  did  not  begin  until  about  1655.  Conspicuous 
among  these  missionaries  were  Fathers  Le  Moyne,  Brebeuf,  Joseph  Le 
Mercier,  Paul  Ragueneau,  Pierre  Joseph  Chaumont,  Jean  de  Lamber- 
ville,  and  many  others.  Their  work  continued  until  about  the  year 
L700.  In  1071  the  Mohawks  of  Caughnawaga  were  led  by  the  Jesuits 
to  migrate  to  Canada  and  remain  thereafter  allies  of  the  French  in  their 
bloody  incursions  into  the  Mohawk  valley.  During  the  Revolution 
many  of  the  Iroquois,  and  especially  the  Mohawks,  allied  themselves 
with  the  mother  country  and  under  the  influence  and  leadership  of  Sir 
John  and  Guy  Johnson,  the  Butlers  and  Joseph  Brant,  they  left  desola- 
tion and  bloodshed  in  many  settlements.  Most  of  the  Oneida  nation 
were  allies  of  the  colonists  during  the  Revolution,  a  result  to  be  chiefly 
credited  to  the  Rev.  Samuel  Kirkland,  who  labored  among  them  many 
years  as  a  missionary. 

In  their  early  dealings  with  the  Indians  the  Dutch  were,  as  before 
intimated,  actuated  solely  by  a  desire  to  profit  by  trade  Hence  there 
was  almost  no  land  negotiation  until  the  purchase  of  Rensselaerwvck 
in  1629  and  later,  as  described  in  the  next  chapter.  The  fur  trade  re- 
quired and  received  the  entire  attention  of  the  Dutch,  who  extended 
it  throughout  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  and  part  of  the  Canadas 
and  New  England.  Albany  claimed  a  monopoly  in  this  business  and, 
through  the  influence  and  sagacity  of  sonic  of  the  earl}-  traders  there, 
controlled  it  to  a  great  extent.  Philip  Pieterse  Schuyler,  of  Amster- 
dam, settled  in  Beverwyck  (as  the  little  settlement  on  the  site  of  Al- 
bany was  called)  as  early  as  1647,  secured  the  warm  friendship  of  the 
Indians  by  his  honorable  methods  in   trade,  and  was  often  visited  by 


their  chiefs  at  his  farm  house  four  miles  up  the  Hudson;  he  also  had  a 
building  erected  for  their  entertainment  in  Albany.  He  was  influential 
in  councils  and  negotiations  with  the  Five  Nations,  and  more  than  any 
other  person  was  instrumental  in  establishing  the  policy  of  treating 
them  with  kindness  and  securing  their  alliance  He  died  in  L683,  but 
his  policy  was  continued  by  his  son,  Peter,  who  also  acquired  un- 
bounded influence  among  the  Indians. 

During  the  Dutch  regime  Indian  affairs  were  managed  by  the  direc- 
tor-general and  council  of  New  Netherland.  In  later  years,  after  the 
English  conquest  in  1(164,  it  became  necessary  to  have  an  official  resi- 
dent at  Albany  for  immediate  communication  with  the  Indians  and  to 
act  promptly  in  emergencies.  This  led  to  the  establishment  of  the 
Indian  Department  in  1684,  for  which  the  magistrates  of  Albany  were 
first  appointed;  in  L690  and  thereafter  a  distinct  board  was  constituted 
which  acted  under  the  governor.  In  1755  the  English  crown  assumed 
control  of  Indian  affairs,  divided  the  colonies  into  the  northern  and 
southern  departments,  and  appointed  Sir  William  Johnson  superintend- 
ent in  the  northern  department.  Upon  his  death  in  1774  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  son,  Col.  Guy  Johnson.  Following  is  a  list  of  commis- 
sioners of  Indian  affairs: 

H'.s4,  the  magistrates  of  Albany. 

1690,  Joachim  Staats,  Johannis  Wendell,  Johannis  Bleecker,  Peter  Bogardus,  Ryer 
Jacobz  Schermerhorn,  and  the  Mayor  of  Albany. 

L691,  Matthew  Shankey,  George  Bradshaw,  Peter  Schuyler,  John  Tuder,  1  dick 
Wessels. 

1696,  Peter  Schuyler,  Godfrey  Dellius,  Evert  Bancker,  Dirck  Wessels,  and  the 
Mayor. 

1(598,  the  Mayor,  Recorder,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty,  Dirck  Wessels,  Hendrick 
House. 

1706,  Peter  Schuyler,  Captain  Weems,  the  Mayor,  Johannis  Abeel,  Kiliaan  Van 
Rensselaer,  Myndert  Schuyler,  Johannis  Cuyler.  Evert  Bancker,  Henry  Holland, 
Peter  Van  Brugh,  Hendrick  Van  Rensselaer. 

171(1,  Kiliaan  Van  Rensselaer,  John  Abeel,  Evert  Bancker,  Hendrick  Hansen,  Jo- 
hannis Cuyler,  John  Schuyler,  Myndert  Schuyler,  Peter  Van  Brugh,  Johannis  Rose- 
boom. 

1712,  Peter  Schuyler,  Kiliaan  Van  Rensselaer,  Richard  Ingoldsby,  Johannis  Schuy- 
ler, Hendrick  Hansen,  Myndert  Schuyler,  Peter  Van  Brugh. 

1715,  Peter  Schuyler,  William  Van  Rensselaer,  Peter  Matthews,  Hendrick  Hansen, 
John  Schuyler,  Myndert  Schuyler,  Robert  Livingston  jr.,  John  Cuyler,  Peter  Van 
Brugh. 

1720,  Peter  Schuyler,  Hendrick  Hansen,  John  Cuyler,  Peter  Van  Brugh.  Evert 
Bancker,  Henry  Holland,  Philip  Livingston,  John  Collins,  John  Wendell,  John 
Bleecker. 


, 


////.v    .    ^A//////// 


/////////// 


1724,  Henry  Holland,  Peter  Van  Brugh,  John  "Collins,  John  Cuylcr,  Evert  Bancker, 
Philip  Livingston,  Johannis  Wendell,  Evert  Wendell,  Hendriek  Van  Rensselaer, 
David  Van  Dyck. 

1726,  Captain  Cornwell,  Captain  Norris,  Philip  Livingston,  Henry  Holland,  John 
Cuyler,  Peter  Van  Brugh,  Evert  Bancker,  John  Collins,  Henry  Van  Rensselaer. 

1728,  Philip  Livingston,  Myndert  Schuyler,  Evert  Bancker,  Rutger  Bleecker, 
Henry  Holland,  Stephanus  Groesbeck,  Peter  Van  Brugh,  Johannis  Cuyler,  Abraham 
Cuyler,  Hermanus  Wendell,  Johannis  Roseboom,  Jeremiah  Van  Rensselaer,  Nicholas 
Bleecker,  Evert  Wendell,  Philip  Schuyler,  Ryer  Gerritse,  Barent  Sanders,  Johannis 
Lansing. 

1732,  the  preceding  list,  with  Johannis  Schuyler,  Henry  Van  Rensselaer,  and  Dirck 
Ten  Broeck. 

1734,  Philip  Livingston,  William  Dick,  Myndert  Schuyler,  John  Schuyler,  Hen- 
driek Van  Rensselaer,  Rutger  Bleecker,  Stephanus  Groesbeck,  Philip  Schuyler,  Jere- 
miah Van  Rensselaer,  Edward  Holland,  Nicholas  Bleecker,  Ryer  Gerritse,  Dirck 
Ten  Broeck,  Johannis  Lansing,  jr.,  John  De  Peyster,  Jacob  Glen,  Cornelius  Cuyler, 
John  Schuyler,  jr.,  Edward  Collins,  Abraham  Cuyler. 

1738,  the  Commandant  at  Albany,  Members  of  Assembly  for  Albany,  Rensselaer- 
wyck,  and  Schenectady,  the  Mayor,  Recorder  and  Sheriff  of  Albany,  and  Philip  Liv- 
ingston and  Edward  Clarke. 

1739,  The  Council,  Commandant,  Mayor  and  Recorder  of  Albany,  Jeremiah  Van 
Rensselaer,  Peter  Winne,  Stephanus  Groesbeck,  Rutger  Bleecker,  John  De  Peyster, 
John  Schuyler,  jr.,  Jacob  Glen,  Arendt  Bradt,  Edward  Collins,  Myndert  Schuyler, 
John  Schuyler,  Cornelius  Cuyler,  Johannis  Lansing,  jr.,  Hendriek  Ten  Eyck. 

1742,  Philip  Livingston,  John  Rutherford,  Myndert  Schuyler,  Abraham  Cuyler, 
Nicholas  Bleecker,  Johannis  Lansing,  jr.,  Cornelius  Cuyler,  Mayor  Dirck  Ten 
Broeck,  Recorder  Hendriek  Ten  Eyck,  Rutger  Bleecker,  John  De  Peyster,  Stephanus 
Groesbeck,  Ryer  Gerritse,  Edward  Collins. 

1745,  the  preceding  list,  and  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer. 

1746,  Commissary  for  Indian  Affairs,  William  Johnson. 

1752,  Commissioners,  the  Council,  Commandant  at  Albany,  Members  of  Assembly 
of  Albany,  Rensselaerwyck,  Schenectady  and  Livingston  Manor,  Mayor  and  Re- 
corder of  Albany,  Myndert  Schuyler,  Cornelius  Cuyler,  Hendriek  Bleecker,  John 
Buchanan,  Peter  Groenendyek,  Johannis  Lansing,  jr  ,  Jacob  C.  Ten  Eyck. 

1754,  Mayor  and  Recorder  of  Albany,  Commandant,  Myndert  Schuyler,  Cornelius 
Cuyler,  John  Buchanan,  Jacob  C.  Ten  Eyck,  John  Rensselaer. 

Peter  Winne,  sole  Superintendent,  April,  1755. 

February,  1756,  William  Johnson,  Sir  William  Johnson,  Bart. 

July,  1774,  Col.  Guy  Johnson  and  the  State  Commissioners,  Philip  Schuyler,  Vol- 
kert  P.  Douw,  Timothy  Edward,  Oliver  Wolcott,  James  Duane. 

While  in  most  respects  the  vState  of  New  York  and  the  general  gov- 
ernment have  been  magnanimous  in  dealing  with  the  now  fallen  na- 
tions who  once  roamed  as  conquerors  over  much  of  this  broad  land, 
there  is  still  much  to  be  regretted  in  the  details  of  their  treatment. 
Even  to  this  day  our  Indian  affairs  in  the  far  west  seem  to  be  conducted 
2 


10 

more  for  the  benefit  of  a  few  heartless  agents  than  to  mete  out  justice 
to  the  natives.  Ever  hospitable  to  the  first  white  men,  freely  sharing 
his  home  and  the  best  he  could  procure  for  his  entertainment,  it  seems 
at  this  distance  and  to  the  sympathetic  mind,  a  hard  condition  that 
made  it  necessary  to  war  upon  the  Indian  and  drive  him  from  his  coun- 
try. He  could  do  no  less  than  fight  for  his  home  with  such  weapons  and 
temperament  as  his  Creator  had  given  him.1 

As  far  as  relates  to  their  connection  with  Albany  county,  it  is  worthy 
of  note  that  this  territory  was  almost  wholly  free  from  Indian  attack 
and  depredation.  The  only  notable  exception  took  place  in  what  is 
now  the  town  of  Berne,  where  a  family  of  eight  persons  named  Dictz 
were  murdered  or  carried  away  captives;  this  was  near  the  Schoharie 
line. 8  This  exemption  of  Albany  county  from  the  invasions  suffered 
by  surrounding  localities  is  doubtless  to  be  credited  to  the  fact  that  the 
inhabitants  were  many  of  them  Tories,  who  secretly  or  openly  aided  the 
royal  cause,  and  that  Albany  itself  was  well  protected  by  forts  and 
arms. 


CHAPTER  III. 


For  the  purposes  of  this  work  we  need  only  refer  briefly  to  the  dis- 
coveries and  occupation  by  the  French  of  the  country  to  the  northward 
of  what  is  now  the  United  States  prior  to  1000.  These  included  the 
voyages  of  Jean  Verrazzani  in  1524,  and  of  Jacques  Cartier  ten  years 
later,  and  a  second  voyage  by  the  latter  in  1540.  On  this  occasion  he 
was  accompanied  by  Jean  Francis  de  Roberval,  who  held  a  knight's 
commission  as  lieutenant-general  over  the  "new  countries  of  Canada, 
I  lochelaga  and  Saguenay."  Little  was  accomplished  of  a  permanent 
character  by  these  navigators,  and  further  attempts  at  French  occupa- 
tion were  discouraged  until  I -MIS,  when  "New  France,"  as  it  was 
called,  was  made  a  place  of  banishment  for  French  convicts.  The  real 
founder  of  a  permanent  colony  in  New  France  was  Samuel  de  Cham- 

l  Colden  writes:  "The  hospitality  of  these  Indians  is  no  less  remarkable  than  theii  othei 
virtues;  as  soon  as  any  stranger  conies  they  are  sure  to  offer  him  victuals.  If  there  be  several  in 
company,  and  come  from  alar,  one  of  their  best  houses  is  cleaned  and  given  up  for  their  enter- 
tainment." 

-See  History  of  the  Town  of  Berne. 


11 

plain,  a  man  born  with  the  uncontrollable  instinct  for  discovery  and 
adventure  that  characterizes  all  great  explorers.  His  very  early  adven- 
tures have  no  connection  with  this  work,  and  it  is  sufficient  to  state 
that  in  1608,  after  having  counseled  his  patrons  that  on  the  banks  of 
the  St.  Lawrence  was  the  most  favorable  site  for  a  new  empire,  he  was 
sent  over  and  laid  the  foundations  of  Quebec.  To  further  gratify  his- 
love  of  adventure,  he  joined  with  some  of  the  Canadian  Indians  and 
started  forth  into  the  unknown  country  which  the  natives  had  tried  to 
describe  to  him.  One  of  the  results  was  the  discovery  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain  (named  in  his  honor),  and  the  meeting  of  a  party  of  the  Iroquois 
on  the  shore  of  that  lake,  where  he  fought  them  with  powder  and  bul- 
lets, giving  them  their  first  knowledge  of  those  terrible  engines  of  de- 
struction. The  Iroquois  were  defeated  with  the  loss  of  two  of  their 
chiefs,  who  fell  by  Champlain's  own  hands. 

Thus  was  signalized  the  first  hostile  meeting  between  the  white  man 
and  the  Indian.  Low  as  the  latter  was  found  to  be  in  the  scale  of  in- 
telligence and  humanity,  and  terrible  as  were  many  of  the  subsequent 
deeds  of  the  Iroquois,  it  cannot  be  denied  that  their  early  treatment  by 
Europeans  could  foster  in  a  savage  breast  no  other  feeling  than  hos- 
tility and  revenge.  It  is  like  a  pathetic  page  of  romance  to  read  Cham- 
plain's  statement  that  "the  Iroquois  were  greatly  astonished,  seeing 
two  men  killed  so  instantaneously,"  one  of  whom  was  their  chief; 
while  the  ingenuous  acknowledgment  of  the  Frenchman,  "  I  had  put 
four  balls  in  my  arquebus,"  is  vivid  testimony  of  how  little  mercy  the 
Iroquois  were  thenceforth  to  receive  from  their  northern  enemies  and 
the  pale-faced  race  which  was  eventually  to  drive  them  from  their  do- 
main. It  must,  however,  be  remembered  that  it  was  an  age  in  which 
might  was  appealed  to  as  right  more  frequently  than  in  later  times, 
and  the  planting  of  the  banner  of  the  cross  was  often  preceded  by 
bloody  conquest.  Hence  it  is,  at  least  to  some  extent,  in  the  light  of 
prevailing  custom  in  the  old  world  in  Champlain's  day,  that  we  may 
view  his  readiness  to  do  battle  with  the  enemies  of  the  northern  In- 
dians. 

It  is  an  interesting  coincidence  that  a  part  of  the  territory  now  em- 
braced in  the  State  of  New  York  which  is  closely  identified  with  this 
history,  was  first  visited  by  white  men  of  whom  there  is  reliable  record, 
from  two  different  directions  almost  simultaneously,  and  from  two  dif- 
ferent European  powers.  On  the  Ith  of  April,  1609,  only  a  very  short 
time  after  Champlain   had  successfully   killed  his   first    Indian,   Henry 


12 

Hudson,  an  English  navigator  and  a  friend  of  Capt.  John  Smith,  sailed 
from  Amsterdam  in  a  small  vessel,  with  a  crew  of  about  twenty  Eng- 
lish and  Dutch  sailors,  in  the  service  of  the  Dutch  East  India  Com- 
pany. Crossing  the  Atlantic  he  touched  at  the  Maine  coast  and  Cape 
Cod,  continued  on  southerly  to  Chesapeake  Bay,  which  he  reached 
'early  in  August.  He  soon  afterward  turned  his  prow  northward,  and 
after  making  explorations  along  the  coast,  entered  New  York  Bay  on 
September  3,  1609.  On  the  12th  he  began  a  voyage  up  the  river  which 
bears  his  name  and  probably  reached  a  point  near  the  site  of  Hudson 
city  with  his  vessel.  He  then  on  the  19th  sent  a  boat  and  crew  farther 
up  and  doubtless  passed  the  site  of  Albany.1 

Convinced  that  this  noble  river  offered  no  new  route  to  China  or  the 
Indies,  which  was  probably  one  of  the  objects  of  his  voyage,  Hudson 
started  homeward  on  the  4th  of  October  and  arrived  in  England  No- 
vember 7. 

His  experience  with  the  Indians  was  in  the  main  similar  to  that  of 
the  other  Europeans  upon  their  first  visits;  he  was  received  with  kind- 
ness mingled  with  awe.  In  the  beautiful  autumn  he  found  the  country 
a  paradise,  and  so  reported  to  his  employers.  Morever"  he  foresaw  a 
rich  field  for  money-making  and  the  thrifty  Dutch  were  not  slow  to 
take  advantage  of  it.  The  next  year  a  second  vessel  was  sent  over  by 
shrewd  traders  of  Amsterdam,  and  a  successful  trade  was  opened 
with  the  natives  along  the  noble  river,  which  had  been  named  by  the 

'There  is  evidence  that  by  many  is  considered  unimpeachable  that  the  French  had  discov- 
ered the  Hudson  long  before  this  date.  On  this  question  we  may  quote  the  following'  from 
"  Discoveries  in  America  in  1525,"  by  A.  J.  Weise,  pp.  361-2:  "The  fact  that  the  French  had 
ascended  the  Grande  River  (Hudson  River)  to  the  height  of  its  navigation,  to  trade  with  the  In- 
dians, long  before  Henry  Hudson  explored  it,  is  corroborated  by  still  stronger  testimony  than 
that  already  presented.  One  of  the  earliest  maps  representing  the  territory  of  Nieu  Nederlandt 
(New  Netherlands  or  that  part  of  New  France  which  the  French  had  called  La  Terre  d'Anormee 
Berge,  is  the  figurative  chart  presented  to  their  High  Mightinesses,  the  Lords  States-General  of 
the  United  Netherlands,  on  the  11th  of  October,  1(114,  by  a  number  of  Dutch  merchants,  praying 
for  a  special  license  to  navigate  and  traffic  within  the  limits  of  this  part  of  North  America." 
Concerning  this  map  Brodhead,  the  historian,  wrote  as  follows:  "Phis  map  (made  in  1614)  is  un- 
doubtedly one  of  the  most  interesting  memorials  we  have.  It  is  about  three  feet  long,  and  shows, 
very  minutely,  the  course  of  the  Hudson  River,  from  Manhattan  to  above  Albany,  as  well  as  a 
portion  of  the  sea  coast;  and  contains,  likewise,  curious  notes  and  memoranda  about  the  neigh- 
boring Indians.  The  work,  perhaps,  of  one  of  the  companions  of  Hudson  himself,  and  made 
within  five  years  of  the  discovery  of  the  river,  its  fidelity  of  delineation  is  scarcely  less  remark- 
able than  its  high  antiquity."  Now,  one  of  the  explanatory  notes  on  this  map  contains  un- 
deniable testimony  that  the  French  were  the  discoverers  of  the  Grande  River,  and  that  they  had 
been  trading  with  the  Mohawks  long  before  the  Half  Moon  sailed  up  the  river.  The  plain 
language  of  the  inscription  makes  all  explanation  of  its  meaning  unnecessary,  thus:  "  Bui  as  far 
as  one  can  understand  by  what  the  Maquaas  [Mohawks]  say  and  show,  the  French  come  with 
sloops  as  high  up  as  their  country  to  trade  with  them." 


13 

Dutch,  the  Mauritius.  Other  vessels  soon  followed  in  101 1,  1012, 
1613,  and  1014,  all  of  which  returned  with  rich  cargoes  of  furs.  Fore- 
most in  these  business  ventures  were  Capts.  Hendrick  Corstiaensen 
(Christiansen),  John  De  Witt,  Adrian  Block  and  Cornelius. Jacobson 
Mey.  The  coast  from  Nahant  to  Delaware  Bay,  with  the  adjacent  isl- 
ands, was  visited  by  them,  and  the  Connecticut  and  other  rivers  were 
ascended  as  far  as  practicable.  A  trading- post  was  established  on  Man- 
hattan Island,  Corstiaensen  was  appointed  agent  of  the  traders,  and  in 
1612  built  a  small  fort  and  a  few  rude  structures  on  the  southern  end 
of  the  island;  this  was  the  beginning  of  the  present  great  city  of  New 
York. 

Meanwhile  the  English  also  were  busy  in  the  new  world.  That 
country  laid  claim  to  all  the  territory  in  North  America  between  the 
34th  and  the  45th  parallels  of  latitude,  and  extending  westward  to  the 
Pacific  Ocean.  In  April,  1000,  King  James  granted  a  patent  to  an  as- 
sociation called  the  Plymouth  Colony  for  the  northern  part  of  this  ter- 
ritory, and  another  patent  to  the  London  Company  for  the  southern 
part;  these  sections  were  called  respectively  North  Virginia  and  Smith 
Virginia.  Jamestown  (Virginia)  was  settled  in  1607,  but  no  permanent 
settlement  was  made  by  the  English  in  the  northern  region  until  the 
arrival  of  the  Mayflower  in  1020.  Thus  there  were  three  distinct 
sources  of  immigration  to  this  country,  the  adventurers  of  each  power 
acting  with  authority  from  their  respective  sovereigns,  and  each  power 
basing  its  claims  on  the  then  generally  recognized  right  of  discovery. 
A  struggle  for  possession  could  be  the  only  result. 

The  English  made  their  first  demonstration  against  the  Dutch  in  1613, 
when,  according  to  Captain  Smith,  a  party  that  had  been  on  a  hostile 
expedition  against  the  French  to  the  northward,  "  found  at  Manhattan 
Isle  four  houses  built,  and  a  pretended  Dutch  Governor."  The  Vir- 
ginians demanded  possession  upon  the  ground  that  Henry  Hudson, 
an  English  subject,  could  not  alienate  from  the  English  crown  what 
was  properly  a  part  of  Virginia  and  included  in  the  grant  of  the  Eng- 
lish king.  Corstiaensen  was  then  in  command  on  the  island,  and  being 
powerless  against  his  adversaries,  he  submitted  his  colony  to  English 
rule.  This  was  more  a  formality  than  otherwise,  tor  the  Holland  com- 
panies retained  actual  possession  fifty  years  longer  and  laid  the  found- 
ations of  the  city.  As  far  as  New  England  was  concerned,  it  never 
had  any  respect  for  the  Dutch  claim;  but  the  country  from  the  western 
part  of  Long   Island   and   up   tin-    Hudson   to   the    Mohawk,    including 


14 

Albany  and  adjacent  settlements,  remained  New  Netherlands  until  the 
English  extinguished  the  Dutch  regime  in  1664. 

Hendrick  Corstiaensen  and  his  co  laborers  early  appreciated  the  im- 
portance of  having  a  trading  post  far  up  the  Hudson.  A  special  char- 
ter was  granted  by  the  States-General  of  Holland  on  October  1 1,  L614, 
to  a  company  of  Amsterdam  merchants  with  the  distinctive  title  of  the 
New  Netherlands  Company,  giving  them  a  trade  monopoly  for  four 
years,  until  January  1,  1618.  Acting  under  this,  Corstiaensen  and  a 
few  others  sailed  up  the  river  in  1614  and  built  a  small  fort  on  what 
was  Castle  (now  Westerlo)  Island,  just  below  the  site  of  the  later  Fort 
Orange;  they  named  it  Fort  Nassau.  This  fortification  was  about  fifty 
feet  square,  surrounded  by  a  ditch  eighteen  feet  wide,  defended  by 
eleven  stone  guns  and  two  cannon  and  garrisoned  by  twelve  men  under 
Jacob  Jacobson  Elkins,  who  succeeded  Corstiaensen.  In  L 639  it  was 
visited  by  De  Vries,  who  found  it  occupied  by  Brandt  Pylen  (or  Peelan), 
under  lease  from  the  patroon  and  his  partners.  It  was  then  farmed 
and  well  stocked.  Here  Corstiaensen  and  his  companions  began  active 
trade  with  the  Indians,  but  Corstiaensen  was  soon  afterward  killed  by  an 
Indian  in  his  employ.  The  situation  of  this  fort  was  untenable  on  ac- 
count of  spring  floods,  and  in  1617  a  new  one  was  erected  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Norman's  Kill  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Hudson.  It  was  there, 
probably,  that  the  first  treaty  of  friendship  was  made  by  the  Indians 
and  the  Dutch.  When  the  charter  of  this  company  expired  they  were 
unsuccessful  in  their  application  for  another.  There  was  an  interval 
of  five  years  during  which  no  regular  organization  had  representatives 
here;  but  it  is  believed  that  Elkins  and  some  others  remained  and  con- 
tinued their  lucrative  trade  through  the  medium  of  Holland  ships.  It 
would  be  surprising  if  this  were  not  the  case. 

On  June  3,  1021,  the  Holland  States  General  incorporated  the  Dutch 
West  India  Company,  giving  it  unprecedented  rights  to  trade  and 
found  settlements  from  Cape  Horn  to  New7  Foundland  during  twenty- 
four  years,  with  exclusive  jurisdiction  over  New  Netherlands.  It  was 
empowered  to  appoint  governors  to  be  approved  by  the  home  authori- 
ties, to  colonize  territory,  administer  justice,  etc.  The  executive  man- 
agement of  the  company  was  placed  with  aboard  of  nineteen  directors, 
one  of  whom  was  to  be  appointed  by  the  States-Ceneral  and  the  re- 
mainder by  the  company;  these  were  to  be  located  in  five  different 
chambers  in  five  Holland  cities.  The  province  of  New  Netherlands 
was  assigned  to  the  Amsterdam  chamber.      By  the  spring  of  1623  the 


15 

company  was  fully  organized  and  began  its  operations  with  vigor.  No 
opposition  was  made  to  their  plans,  though  the  English  ambassador  at 
the  Hague  formally  protested. 

In  April,  1623,  one  of  the  nineteen  directors,  Cornelisen  [acobsen 
Mey,  came  over  from  Holland  in  command  of  a  vessel  with  thirty  fam- 
ilies, chiefly  Walloons,1  or  French  Protestants,  and  landed  at  Xew  Am- 
sterdam. Of  these  it  is  believed  that  eight  families  settled  on  the  site 
of  Albany  and  built  Fort  Orange,  about  two  miles  above  Fort  Nassau 
and  near  the  foot  of  State  street  as  it  now  exists.  These  thrifty  immi- 
grants opened  a  lucrative  fur  trade  with  the  Indians.  In  this  year 
(1623)  Adrien  Jorise  was  appointed  governor  in  New  Netherlands, 
served  one  year  and  in  1624  was  succeeded  by  Cornelisen  Jacobsen  Mey, 
and  he  in  1625  by  William  Verhulst. 

The  fur  trade  began  with  profit  to  the  company  and  promised  larger 
returns  in  the  future.  The  principal  furs  were  beaver  and  ottei  skins, 
of  which  the  quantity  shipped  was  enormous.  For  example,  in  the  fall 
of  1626  the  vessel  "Arms  of  Amsterdam  "  took  out  7,246  beaver  skins, 
*'>'■>},  otter,  81  mink,  36  wild  cat,  and  34  rat  skins;  also  "samples  of 
summer  grain,  such  as  wheat,  rye,  barley,  oats,  buckwheat,  canary 
seed,  beans,  and  flax." 

In  1688  Catelyn  Trico,  a  native  of  Paris,  France,  eighty-three  years 
old,  gave  testimony  which  proves  her  to  have  been  one  of  the  first  white 
w<  >man  in  Albany.  She  came  over,  according  to  her  statements,  in  1  623, 
in  a  ship  named  the  "  Unity,"  commanded  by  the  first  governor,  Adrien 
J<»rise,  which  was  the  first  ship  sent  out  by  the  West  India  Company. 
She  came  to  Albany  with  eighteen  families,  who  built  a  small  fort  and 
huts  of  bark.  Two  other  families  and  six  men  were  sent  to  Hartford, 
Connecticut,  two  families  and  eight  men  to  the  Delaware  River,  eight 
men  were  left  at  Manhattan,  and  the  remainder,  as  stated,  went  up  the 
river.  Adrien  Jorise  remained  there  all  winter  and  sent  his  son  home 
with  the  ship.  The  narrative  states  that  four  other  women  came  over 
on  the  "Unity"  and  were  married  and  went  to  the  Delaware  River. 
This  woman  remained  three  years  at  Albany,  went  thenceto  New  York 
and  later  to  Wallabout.  - 

1  The  Walloons  inhabited  parts  o(  France  anil  at  the  time  "t  their  dispersion  in  I5H0  num- 
bered over  -.',ni  ii  i,i  n  hi.    They   were  "f  mixed  Galie  and  Teutonic  1  >  i land  spoke  the  old    I 

ilia  Int.      They  tied  to  I  lull  anil,  where  I  hey  \\  ere  \\  e  lei  imed  for  their  skill  and  industry.      kOSSINf;. 

2  h  will  beseen  that  this  statement,  while  probably  correct  in  most  respects,  differs  widely 
in  others  from  must  records.  This  is  especialy  noticeable  in  the  number  of  families  that  firs! 
hn-ated  at  Fori  <  (range. 


16 

The  first  white  child  born  in  New  Netherlands  was  Sarah  Rapalje, 
daughter  of  one  of  the  Walloons,  who  was  born  June  7,  1025,  and  whose 
descendants  are  still  living'. 

From  the  records  showing  the  comparatively  wide  distribution  of  the 
men  and  families  who  came  over  in  the  "  Unity"  may  be  drawn  an  in- 
ference as  to  the  plans  and  operations  of  the  West  India  Company. 
They  were  not  by  any  means  confined  to  any  one  section  of  New 
Netherlands.  Ships  came  and  went,  laden  on  the  westward  voyage 
with  the  gaudy  cloths  and  trinkets  which,  almost  valueless  where  they 
were  made,  took  the  childish  fancy  of  the  natives  and  paid  readily  for 
furs  that  were  almost  priceless  in  comparison.  Rum,  too,  soon  became 
an  important  article  in  the  trade,  and  no  scruples  were  shown  in  ex- 
changing it  with  the  Indians  on  the  basis  of  a  very  little  drink  for  a 
large  quantity  of  fur.  The  country  itself  was  attractive,  as  it  has  ever 
been,  to  the  adventurous  or  ambitious,  and  the  passing  years  saw  large 
accessions  to  the  population.  On  these  points  Gulielmus  Baudartius 
(or  Baudart),  the  Dutch  scholar  and  historian,  wrote  as  follows: 

Inasmuch  as  the  multitude  of  people,  not  only  natives  but  foreigners,  who  are 
seeking  a  livelihood  in  the  United  Provinces  is  very  great,  so  that  where  one  stiver 
is  to  be  earned  there  are  ten  hands  ready  to  receive  it,  especially  in  Holland  which 
is  the  reservoir  of  divers  kingdoms  and  countries.  Many  are  obliged  on  this  ac- 
count, to  go  in  search  of  other  lands  and  residences  where  they  can  obtain  a  living 
more  easily  and  at  less  expense.  Accordingly,  in  the  year  1624,  as  in  previous  years, 
divers  families  went  from  Holland  to  Virginia  in  the  West  Indies,  a  great  portion  of 
them  being  English,  called  Browni'sts  [Puritans],  whom  King  James  will  not  permit 
nor  suffer  to  live  in  his  land,  because  they  hold  and  maintain  divers  points  of  relig 
ion  improbated  by  the  present  church  of  England. 

A  ship  arrived  in  August  [1623]  from  that  part  of  Virginia  called  New  Netherland, 
which  had  conveyed  some  families  from  Holland  thither.  This  vessel  brings  many 
and  various  letters  from  private  individuals,  each  written  to  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances, whereof  this  is  mostly  the  tenor — 

"  We  were  much  gratified  on  arriving  in  this  country;  here  we  found  beautiful 
rivers,  bubbling  fountains  flowing  down  into  the  valley;  basins  of  running  waters  in 
the  rlatlands,  agreeable  fruits  in  the  woods,  such  as  strawberries,  pigeon  berries, 
walnuts,  and  also  voor  labruste?i  or  wild  grapes.  The  woods  abound  with  acorns 
for  feeding  hogs,  and  with  venison.  There  is  considerable  fish  in  the  rivers;  good 
tillage  land;  here  is,  especially,  free  coming  and  going,  without  fear  of  the  naked 
natives  of  the  country.  Had  we  cows,  hogs,  and  other  cattle  fit  for  food  (which  we 
daily  expect  in  the  first  ships)  we  would  not  wish  to  return  to  Holland,  for  whatever 
we  desire  in  the  paradise  of  Holland  is  here  to  be  found.  If  you  will  come  hither 
with  your  family  you  will  not  regret  it." 

This  and  similar  letters  have  roused  and  stimulated  many  to  resolve  to  emigrate 
thither  with  their  families,  in  the  hope  of  being  able  to  earn  a  handsome  livelihood, 


17 

Strongly  fancying  that  they  will  live  there  in   luxury  and    ease,  whilst  here,  on  the 
contrary,  they  must  earn  their  bread  by  the  sweat  of  their  brow. 

The  trade  headquarters  remained  at  New  Amsterdam  (New  York), 
although  much  of  the  actual  exchange  of  goods  and  furs  took  place  at 
Fort  Orange.  The  Dutch  governors  had  their  seat  at  the  former  place, 
making  it  the  center  of  such  civil  government  as  existed. 

In  1626  Governor  Peter  Minuit,  then  in  office,  purchased  the  Island 
of  Manhattan  of  the  Indians  for  a  sum  equal  to  about  $24.  William 
Bradford  was  then  governor  of  Plymouth,  the  English  colony,  and 
learning  that  the  Dutch  were  sending  ships  to  Xarragansett  Bay  to 
trade,  sent  Edward  Winslow  to  Governor  Minuit  to  remonstrate.  This 
resulted  in  a  correspondence  between  Bradford  and  Minuit  which, 
while  of  a  general  friendly  character,  still  contains  assertions  on  the 
part  of  the  former  that  the  Dutch  must  respect  the  rights  of  the  Plym- 
outh colonists  and  not  permit  his  traders  to  come  to  Narragansett  for 
furs.  He  also  complained  that  the  Dutch  were  selling  muskets,  pow- 
der and  shot  to  the  Indians — which  was  true. 

But  active  as  were  the  trade  operations  of  the  West  India  Companv 
and  eager  as  were  their  efforts  to  promote  emigration  to  New  Nether- 
lands, it  is  clear  that  little  was  accomplished  towards  the  establishment 
of  permanent  settlement.  The  emigrants  were  not,  as  a  rule,  persons 
of  stable  character,  persevering  industry,  and  thrift;  they  were  not  the 
home-builders  of  the  new  country.  Such  were  to  come  later.  The  re- 
port of  the  Assembly  to  the  States-General  in  1629  said: 

All  who  are  inclined  to  do  any  sort  of  work  here  [in  Holland  |  procure  enough  to 
eat  without  any  trouble,  and  are,  therefore,  unwilling  to  go  far  from  home  on  an  un- 
certainty. The  people  conveyed  by  us  thither,  have  therefore  found  but  scanty 
means  of  livelihood  up  to  the  present  time,  and  have  not  found  any  profit,  but  a 
drawback  to  this  |  West  India]  company.  The  trade  carried  on  there  in  peltries  is 
right  advantageous;  but  one  year  with  another,  we  can.  at  most,  bring  home  only 
fifty  thousand  guilders  [$20,000]. 

From  the  foregoing  it  can  be  seen  that  permanent  settlement  did  not 
begin  until  1629-30,  as  will  be  described  in  the  succeeding  chapter, 
when  new  trade  regulations  and  a  new  and  widely  different  order  of 
affairs  in  New  Netherlands  were  inaugurated.  A  work  published  in 
Amsterdam  in  L628  says:  "There  are  no  families  at  Fort  Orange," 
"they  keep  five  or  six  and  twenty  persons,  traders,  there."  Another 
early  Dutch  writer  said,  "It  never  began  to  be  settled  until  every  one 
had  liberty  to  trade  with  the    Indians,  inasmuch  as  up  to  this  time  no 

3 


18 

one   calculated     to    remain    there  longer   than    the    expiration  of    his 
bounden  time,  and  therefore  did  not  apply  themselves  to  agriculture." 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  Dutch  governors:  Adrien  Jorise,  1623;  Cor- 
nelius J  acobsen  Mey,  1024;  William  Verhulst,  1625;  Peter  Minuit,  May 
4,  1626;  Wouter  Van  Twiller,  April,  1633;  William  Ki eft,  March  28, 
1638;  Peter  Stuyvesant,  May  11,  1647,  to  September  8,  1664,  when  the 
city  was  surrendered  to  the  English;  Anthony  Colve,  September  L9, 
1673,  when  the  city  was  retaken  by  the  Dutch,  to  November  10,  1674, 
when  by  treaty  the  city  was  again  given  to  the  English. 

Of  these  Dutch  officials  the  first  two  were  skippers  of  vessels  which 
brought  over  some  of  the  first  immigrants,  and  were  instrumental  in 
locating  Fort  Orange,  probably  in  1623.  Of  Verhulst  nothing  is  known. 
Peter  Minuit,  the  purchaser  of  Manhattan  Island,  as  before  stated,  was 
the  first  fully  empowered  director-general,  and  was  a  man  of  high 
character  and  excellent  qualifications.  It  was  he  who  conducted 
the  correspondence  with  Governor  Bradford  relative  to  Dutch  en- 
croachment upon  the  trade  of  Narragansett  Bay,  and  his  letters  arc 
models  of  courteous  diplomacy.  He  also  kept  amicable  relations  with 
the  Indians  and  greatly  advanced  the  interests  of  the  Dutch  in  trade. 

Van  Twiller  married  into  the  Van  Rensselaer  family  and  came  over 
as  agent  of  the  patroon  in  locating  land.  Later  he  was  one  of  the  ex- 
ecutors of  the  Killian  Van  Rensselaer  estate.  He  was  faithful  to  the 
interests  of  the  West  India  Company,  but  lacked  good  judgment  and 
ability  to  execute  his  own  ambitious  plans.  He,  however,  lived  on 
peaceable  terms  with  the  Indians  and  his  subordinates.  It  was  during 
his  administration,  in  1633,  that  the  first  English  vessel,  the  "  William," 
came  up  the  Hudson  without  a  license  from  the  Dutch  governor  at 
New  Amsterdam,  and  halted  a  mile  below  Fort  Orange  and  began 
trading.  The  Fort  Orange  traders  protested,  and  with  the  aid  of  ships 
sent  up  from  New  Amsterdam,  drove  him  out  of  the  river  and  he  re- 
turned to  England. 

Of  William  Kieft  little  is  known  previous  to  his  arrival  at  Manhattan  ; 
but  he  was  evidently  unpopular  beyond  the  ocean,  as  he  was  here,  for 
his  effigy  was  hung  at  Rochelle,  France,  where  he  lived.  In  this  coun- 
try his  administration  was  marked  with  concentration  of  power  in  him- 
self; permission  to  traders  to  cheat  the  Indians  after  getting  them 
drunk;  demanding  fur  tribute  from  the  natives  around  Manhattan; 
threatening  the  Indians  with  war;  the  massacre  of  fugitive  Indians  at 
Hoboken  in  1643;  neglect  of  the  counsel  of  the  popular  assembly;  per- 


19 

sonal  greed,  and  other  obnoxious  acts.  De  Vries  prophesied  in  1(14:; 
as  follows:  "The  murders  in  which  you  [Kieft]  have  shed  so  much  in- 
nocent blood,  will  yet  be  avenged  upon  your  own  head;"  and  the 
prophecy  was  fulfilled,  for  the  vessel  on  which  Kieft  sailed  for  Hol- 
land, August  1G,  1G47,  with  more  than  $100,000  of  ill  gotten  gain,  was 
wrecked  on  the  coast  of  Wales  and  he  was  drowned.  A  little  benefit 
was  conferred  on  the  settlers  here  during  his  stay;  he  corrected  many 
abuses  that  had  become  prevalent,  repaired  Fort  Amsterdam  and  built 
new  warehouses,  planted  orchards,  framed  and  enforced  police  ordi- 
nances, and  inaugurated  a  more  liberal  policy  in  respect  to  ownership  of 
land,  thus  increasing  immigration. 

Peter  Stuyvesant,  the  last  governor  previous  to  the  surrender,  was  a 
different  character  from  his  immediate  predecessor.  He  had  seen  mili- 
tary service  in  the  West  Indies  where  he  lost  a  leg.  He  was  welcomed 
warmly  to  New  Netherland.  He  considered  his  position  one  of  great 
dignity  and  surrounded  his  reign  with  pomp  and  ceremony,  assuring 
the  people  that  they  should  have  exact  justice.  While  extremely  des- 
potic in  many  of  his  acts,  he  was  at  the  same  time  honest  and  generally 
wise.  He  introduced  many  needed  reforms,  abolished  the  trouble 
stirred  up  by  Kieft  between  the  Manhattan  Dutch  and  the  Swedes  on 
the  Delaware;  adjusted  the  difficulties  with  the  Puritans  in  the  east, 
and  renewed  amicable  relations  with  the  natives.  He  ardently  opposed 
the  encroachments  of  the  English  on  the  east,  but  was  finally  forced  to 
yield  to  the  pressure  of  changing  conditions.  When  the  English  ships 
came  in  front  of  New  Amsterdam  and  demanded  the  surrender  of  the 
province  (August,  1664),  he  stoutly  refused  the  demand,  although  the 
people  were  willing  to  submit.  The  old  governor  held  out  for  a  week, 
but  at  last,  on  September  8,  1604,  he  yielded  and  the  surrender 
followed.  In  the  following  year  he  went  to  Holland,  but  returned  to 
Manhattan  and  there  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life,  and  was  buried 
under  St.  Mark's  in  the  Bowery  in  New  York  city  where  his  remains 
now  lie. 


20 


CHAPTER  IV. 

In  the  year  1629  was  inaugurated  a  plan  for  the  more  rapid  and 
permanent  settlement  of  New  Netherlands,  which  was  also  intended 
to  largely  increase  the  power  and  wealth  of  the  Dutch  West  India  Com- 
pany. The  details  of  this  plan  were  embodied  in  a  so-called  "Charter 
of  Privileges  and  Exemptions,"  under  which  lordly  manorial  rights 
could  be  conferred  upon  whoever  successfully  sought  them  and  ob- 
ligated themselves  to  act  under  them  in  colonizing  the  new  country. 
That  charter  offered  to  grant  lands  in  any  part  of  New  Netherlands 
(reserving  Manhattan  Island)  to  the  extent  of  sixteen  miles  along  any 
navigable  stream  (or  four  miles  if  on  each  shore)  and  extending  in- 
definitely into  the  interior,  to  any  person  who  should  agree  to  plant  a 
colony  of  fifty  adults  thereon  within  four  years ;  if  such  person  should 
bring  in  more  than  fifty  colonists,  his  domain  would  be  proportionately 
enlarged.  He  was  to  be  made  absolute  lord  of  his  manor,  politically 
and  judicially,  holding  inferior  courts  for  the  adjudication  of  small  of- 
fenses; and  in  case  a  city  should  grow  up  on  his  domain,  he  was  given 
power  to  appoint  magistrates  and  other  officials  for  such  municipality, 
and  have  a  deputy  to  confer  with  the  governor.  These  manorial  lords 
were  given  the  title  of  Patroons  (or  patrons)  and  settlers  under  them 
were  exempted  from  all  taxation  for  support  of  the  provincial  govern- 
ment for  ten  years,  during  which  period  every  person  was  bound  to  re- 
main in  service  of  the  patroon,  unless  released  by  consent  of  the  latter. 
The  colonists  were  forbidden  to  manufacture  cloth  of  any  kind,  under 
penalty  of  banishment.  The  company  stipulated  to  supply  them  with 
as  many  African  slaves  "as  they  conveniently  could;"  also  to  protect 
them  against  enemies.  Each  colony  was  bound  to  support  a  minister 
of  the  gospel  and  a  schoolmaster. 

Such  was  the  system  under  which  a  considerable  area  of  territory  in 
the  eastern  part  of  what  is  now  New  York  State  was  first  permanently 
settled.  It  brought  across  the  Atlantic  representatives  of  all  classes, 
many  of  whom  were  men  of  lofty  character  and  exceptional  attain- 
ments; men  of  integrity  and  high  purposes;  men  who  cannot  be 
blamed   for  whatever  faults  were   inherent  in  the  system  under  which 


21 

they  acted.  The  system  itself,  naturally  enough,  fostered  aristocratic 
ideas  and  methods;  it  recognized  the  right  of  the  Indians  to  the  soil  bv 
compelling  its  purchase  in  order  to  acquire  it;  it  invited  independent 
farmers  who  would  be  able  to  secure  homesteads,  safe  from  the  vicis- 
situdes of  war  and  under  the  beneficent  influences  of  religion  and  edu- 
cation. It  is,  therefore,  not  surprising  that  such  a  system  of  coloniza- 
tion of  an  Eldorado,  which  had  been  painted  in  such  lovely  hues  by 
earlier  comers,  found  ardent  participators. 

Several  patroon  domains  were  promptly  secured  by  directors  of  the 
Amsterdam  Chamber.  Among  these  was  the  great  tract  which  became 
known  as  Rensselaerwyck,  the  larger  part  of  which  was  purchased  for 
Killian  Van  Rensselaer,  an  Amsterdam  pearl  merchant,  in  1630.  The 
purchase  of  the  first  section  was  effected  through  Bastiaen  Jansen  Krol 
and  Dirck  Cornelissen  Duyster,  respectively  commissary  and  under 
commissary  at  Fort  Orange.  Three  months  later  Gillis  Hoosett  pur- 
chased for  Van  Rensselaer  the  lands  lying  south  and  north  of  Fort 
( >range  and  extending  to  within  a  short  distance  of  Moenemincs  Castle, 
then  on  what  is  now  Haver  Island,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mohawk.  The 
same  man  purchased  also  from  an  Indian  chief,  lands  on  the  cast  side 
of  the  river  from  opposite  Castle  Island  to  a  point  facing  Fort  Orange, 
and  thence  from  Poetanock,  the  Mill  Creek,  north  to  Negagons.  These 
conveyances  were  ratified  and  sealed  with  the  seal  of  New  Netherlands 
on  the  same  day  the  charter  before  described  was  proclaimed  at  Am- 
sterdam. On  the  loth  of  April,  1G37,  the  Van  Rensselaer  domain  was  en- 
larged by  the  purchase  of  the  Papsickenekaas  (or  Papsekenea,  as  it  is 
now  called)  district  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  and  extending  from 
opposite  Castle  Island  to  the  point  opposite  Smack  Island,  including 
the  adjacent  islands  and  all  the  lands  back  into  the  interior  belonging 
to  Indian  owners.  Payment  for  this  latter  purchase  was  made  in  "cer- 
tain quantities  of  duffels,  axes,  knives,  and  wampum."  Mr.  Van 
Rensselaer's  domain  was  twenty-four  miles  long  and  forty-eight  miles 
broad,  contained  over  700,000  acres,  which  now  compose  Albany,  Rens- 
selaer and  part  of  Columbia  counties.  The  manor  is  clearly  shown  on 
the  map  made  by  John  R.  Bleecker  in  1767. 

On  the  1st  of  October,  \i\:\i>,  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer,  Samuel  Godyn, 
Johannis  de  Laet,  and  Samuel  Bloomaert  formed  a  copartnership,  and 
associated  with  them  as  co-directors  of  Rensselaerwyck  were  Adam 
Bissels  and  Touissaint  Moussart.  The  stock  of  this  company  was  di- 
vided into  live  shares,  two  of  which  were  assigned  to  Van  Rensselaer, 


22 

one  each  to  Godyn  and  Bloomaert,  and  one  to  the  other  associates. 
The  management  of  the  affairs  of  the  "  colonie,"  as  it  was  termed,  was 
placed  with  a  board  of  four  persons  or  votes,  of  which  Van  Rensselaer 
held  two,  Bloomaert  or  Bissels  one,  and  De  Laet  or  Moussart  one.  The 
only  respect  in  which  Van  Rensselaer  was  superior  in  rank  or  authority 
over  his  associates  was  that  he  held  the  title  of  Patroon.  This,  with  its 
feudal  honors,  was  vested  in  him  alone,  the  partners  binding  themselves 
to  do  fealty  and  homage  for  the  fief  on  his  death,  in  the  name  and  on 
behalf  of  his  son  and  heirs. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  that  year  (1630)  a  number  of  colonists  with 
their  families  sailed  in  a  company  ship,  the  "  Endracht,"  under  com- 
mand of  ('apt.  Jan  Brouwer,  with  stock,  implements  and  other  neces- 
saries, and  landed  at  Manhattan  after  a  passage  of  sixty-four  days. 
They  were  soon  placed  at  Fort  Orange,  furnished  with  dwellings  and 
other  buildings  at  the  expense  of  the  patroon,  and  began  improvements. ' 

( >ther  colonists  followed  and  permanent  prosperity  seemed  inaugu- 
rated along  the  Hudson,  a  condition  of  affairs  which  continued  to  about 
1640.  Trade  was  prosecuted  with  vigor  and  shrewdness  and  in  Hi  In 
the  number  of  persons  thus  engaged  in  Rensselaerwyck  was  about 
equal  to  the  number  of  other  individuals.  The  introduction  of  firearms 
among  the  Indians  was  soon  to  bring  its  terrible  consequences.  The 
English  had  been  demanding  and  receiving  from  the  natives  twenty 
beaver  skins  for  a  musket  and  proportionate  prices  for  powder 
and  lead.  This  profitable  trade  was  now  taken  up  by  the  Dutch,  and 
the  Indians  were  soon  armed  to  the  teeth,  and  all  the  neighboring  na- 
tions from  Canada  to  the  sea  coast  felt  the  effects  of  warfare  with  the 
Mohawks.  This  strife  for  trade  between  the  English  and  the  Dutch 
eventually  became  bitter  and  relentless,  leading  finally  to  conquest  by 
the  former  power. 

The  population  of  the  "  colonie  "  at  the  time  under  consideration  con- 
sisted of  three  classes:  first,  freemen  who  came  over  at  their  own  ex- 
1  icnse  and  were  subject  only  to  the  general  regulations  ;  second,  farmers, 
and  third,   farm  servants.     To  accommodate  the  farmers  the  patroon 

l  Of  the  condition  of  the  settlements  at  about  this  time,  the  Planter's  Plea,  London,  1630,  said: 
"This  which  they  have  settled  in  New  England,  upon  Hudson's  River,  with  no  extraordinary 
charge  or  multitude  ol  people,  is  knowne  to  subsist  in  a  comfortable  manner,  and  to  promise 
fairlie  both  to  the  State  and  undertakers.  The  cause  is  evident.  The  men  whom  they  rani,-, 
thougl  01   many,  arc  well  chosen  and    known   to   be   useful,   and  serviceable,   and    they 

sci -ond  them  with  seasonable  and  fit  supplies,  cherishing  them  as  carefully  as  their  owne  families, 
and  employ  them  in  profitable  labors,  that  arc  known  to  bi  of  speciall  iise  to  theii  comfortable 
subsist 


23 

laid  out  farms  along  the  river  and  on  the  islands,  built  dwellings  and 
barns,  slocked  them  with  horses,  cattle  and  sheep,  and  supplied  the  nec- 
essary tools.  This  liberal  policy  enabled  farmers  to  begin  life  here 
with  almost  no  capital  and  greatly  stimulated  immigration.  Some  of 
the  farms  were  rented  for  a  fixed  sum,  while  others  were  let  out  on 
shares.  The  patroon  was  at  the  same  time  entitled  to  one-half  the  in- 
crease of  stock  and  reserved  also  one  tenth  of  the  products  of  each  farm 
and  sometimes  a  small  annual  allowance  of  butter.  Tenants  were  bound 
to  keep  fences  and  buildings  in  repair,  but  the  patroon  bore  all  risk  of 
destruction  of  property  by  the  elements  or  by  Indians.  Unimproved 
land  was  usually  rented  free  for  ten  years,  the  patroon  having  the  priv- 
ilege of  making  improvements  during  the  life  of  the  lease.  The  pa- 
troon was  at  the  same  time  to  supply  his  colonists  with  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  laborers  to  assist  them  on  their  farms.  For  his  services  in  en- 
gaging these  and  his  advances  to  bring  them  over,  he  was  entitled  to 
sixteen  guilders  (or  six  dollars)  per  annum  for  each  laborer,  to  be  paid 
by  the  farmer;  the  wages  ranged  from  forty  to  one  hundred  and  fifty 
guilders  and  board.  Many  of  the  emigrants  were  furnished  in  Holland 
with  clothing  and  a  small  sum  of  money,  which  was  to  be  repaid  at  some 
future  time  at  an  advance  of  fifty  per  cent.,  the  high  rate  being  made 
to  compensate  for  the  difference  in  value  between  money  in  Holland 
and  in  the  colony,  which  was  about  forty  per  cent. 

While  these  were  the  mutual  relations  to  some  extent  between  the 
patroon  and  the  settlers,  the  former  was  invested  with  certain  peculiar 
privileges  which  existed  in  the  feudal  system.  At  the  close  of  harvest  the 
farmer  was  obligated  to  hand  in  a  return  of  the  quantity  of  grain  which 
he  had  for  sale,  less  what  was  due  to  the  landlord,  and  offer  the  latter  or 
his  commissary  the  pre-emption  of  such  produce  If  the  landlord  refused 
to  purchase  it,  then  the  farmer  was  at  liberty  to  sell  elsewhere.  The 
same  rule  applied  to  cattle.  The  settlers  were  obliged  to  grind  their 
corn  at  the  patroon's  mill,  and  he  was  obligated  to  keep  the  mill  in  re- 
pair and  ready  lor  the  work.  The  patroon  granted  licenses  for  hunt- 
ing and  fishing  on  his  lands.  He  was  entitled  to  the  first  option  in  any 
sale,  purchase,  or  exchange  of  lands  within  his  domain,  and  as  "lord 
of  the  manor,"  succeeded  to  the  estates  of  all  persons  who  might  die 
intestate  in  the  colony. 

With  many  privileges  in  their  favor  the  colonists  did  not  always 
deal  justly  by  the  patroon.  lie  complained  that  they  often  threw  upon 
him  the  payment  of  the  wages  of  laborers  employed  on  the  farms,  ami 


.24 

also  took  quantities  of  goods  from  his  store  for  which  they  made  no 
account.  He  probably  met  with  the  same  percentage  of  losing  ven- 
tures that  has  characterized  business  ever  since. 

With  the  profitable  fur  trade  and  the  advancement  in  agriculture  the 
little  hamlet  on  the  site  of  Albany  grew.  The  news  of  the  rich  country 
across  the  sea  was  carried  over  to  Holland  and  immigration  was  active. 
It  is  believed  by  some  authorities  that  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer  in  person 
visited  his  colony  in  1637,  but  there  is  no  direct  evidence  of  the  pre- 
sumption. 

The  patroon  system  as  a  whole  did  not  encourage  individual  enter- 
prise. Private  persons  of  means  and  intelligence,  who  might  have 
emigrated  under  other  conditions,  dare  not  do  so.  The  patroons  be- 
came ambitious  beyond  their  chartered  rights;  some  of  them  were 
grasping  and  attempted  to  secure  broader  privileges,  finally  presenting 
to  the  States-General  in  Holland  a  new  plan  for  granting  them  a  monop- 
oly of  more  territory ;  for  giving  them  longer  time  in  which  to  settle  the 
required  number  of  colonists;  for  larger  feudal  powers;  for  free  trade 
throughout  New  Netherland;  for  a  supply  of  convicts  from  Holland 
for  servants  and  for  negro  slaves.  These  extravagant  demands  caused 
their  existing  privileges  to  be  curtailed  by  a  new  Charter  of  Privileges 
and  Exemptions  issued  in  1640. 

The  Dutch  were  not  to  remain  in  undisturbed  control  of  the  rich  and 
growing  fur  trad?.  It  is  difficult  at  this  distance  to  convey  an  adequate 
idea  of  that  business;  but  when  its  principal  phases  are  understood  it 
ceases  to  be  a  source  of  wonder  that  there  was  a  struggle  to  capture  it. 
Early  in  their  settlement  the  Dutch  sought  to  exclude  rigidly  from 
their  colony  all  foreign  and  unlicensed  traders.  All  settlers  were  bound 
by  oath  to  purchase  no  furs  from  the  Indians  on  penalty  of  forfeiture 
of  their  goods  and  wages,  unless  properly  licensed.  The  patroon  and 
his  partners  were  the  only  privileged  importers  of  merchandise  at  Fort 
Orange.  The  Dutch  farmers  soon  saw  that  they  could  make  more 
money  in  furs  than  they  could  in  tilling  their  lands,  and  it  was  not  long 
before  almost  every  one  of  them  was  a  dealer  to  some  extent;  but  the 
power  of  the  patroon  compelled  all  of  them  to  bring  their  furs  to  his 
storehouse,  to  be  sent  thence  to  Holland,  he  retaining  one  half  of  the 
profits.  Later  on  he  received  each  sixth  beaver  and  one  guilder  duty 
on  the  remaining  five  sixths. 


■  M 


, 


KUFUS  H.   KING,  Si-1. 


CHAPTER  V. 

The  rich  fur  trade  became  a  source  of  long  continued  trouble  in 
Rensselaerwyck,  for  competition  had  become  intensely  active,  ami 
the  business  had  reached  large  proportions,  since,  for  example,  in 
L632  there  were  reported  sent  over  to  Holland  "15,000  beaver  skynnes, 
besides  other  commodities."  The  export  had  gradually  grown  to 
this  number  from  about  1,500  shipped  from  Fort  Orange  in  the  first 
season  of  the  trade.  In  1633  about  16,000  beaverskins  were  sold  in  the 
Hudson  River  trade,  most  of  them  at  Fort  Orange,  their  value  being 
more  than  $50,000.  In  1638  it  was  noted  by  the  States-General  that 
"nothing  came  from  New  Netherland  but  beaver  skins,  minks  and 
other  furs."  In  1050  there  were  sent  from  Fort  Orange  34,480  beaver 
skins  and  300  otter,  while  in  1058  the  number  of  beaver  reached  57,- 
040  and  300  otter.  The  farmers,  even,  became  fur  traders,  since  in 
that  occupation  they  could  make  more  money  than  in  tilling  the  land. 
The  traders  sent  emissaries  far  into  the  Indian  country  and  practiced  all 
the  arts  of  persuasion,  of  which  they  were  possessed,  to  secure  the  rich 
furs,  for  which  purpose  the  boschloopers  (bush  runners)  were  employed. 
To  accomplish  their  purposes  the  Indians  were  made  drunk  and  were 
often  cheated  in  the  grossest  manner.  The  trade  at  length  became  so 
profitable  and  active  that  dealers  at  New  Amsterdam  (New  York)  and 
others,  who  had  no  claim  to  residence  at  Fort  Orange,  engaged  in  suc- 
cessful competition  with  the  patroon  and  his  associates  to  their  great 
financial  detriment.  It  naturally  followed  that  prices  of  furs  advanced. 
so  that  in  1656  a  beaver  skin  was  worth  8  to  1<>  guilders,  or  ,x3.  50  to $4. 00. 
When  rates  had  advanced  about  one  hundred  percent,  the  authorities  of 
Rensselaerwyck  and  at  the  Fort  issued  a  joint  proclamation  fixing  the 
price  of  furs  at  9  fathoms  of  white,  or  Xl/2  of  black,  wampum,  and  forbid- 
dingall  persons,  whether  servants  of  the  company  or  residents  of  tin 
ony,  from  going  into  the  woods  to  meet  the  Indians  for  trade,  and  another 
proclamation  of  that  period  forbade  all  traders  from  coming  with  sloops 
within  the  limits  of  the  colony,  under  penalty  of  forfeiture  of  the  vessel. 
On  the  next  court  day  a  third  edict  went  forth  prohibiting  the  inhab- 
itants from  purchasing  any  goods  from  the  local  traders,  this  measure 

4 


26 

being-  for  the  purpose  of  protecting  the  patroon  in  his  monopoly  of  im- 
ports. It  was  the  intention  of  the  patroon  to  fully  supply  the  Indians 
with  whatever  goods  they  wanted,  thus  rendering  it,  at  the  least,  unnec- 
essary for  them  to  deal  with  others. 

Graver  troubles  were  now  at  hand.  To  still  further  protect  and  en- 
force his  interest  and  authority  in  controlling  the  fur  trade,  and  to  pre- 
vent the  shipments  of  grain  that  were  being  made  by  the  farmers  with- 
out paying  the  stipulated  one-tenth  to  the  patroon,  he  caused  to  be 
erected  on  Beeren  Island  a  fortified  trading  post  commanding  the  river 
channel,  for  the  exclusion  of  all  vessels  from  the  upper  Hudson,  except 
his  own  and  those  of  the  West  India  Company.  In  the  mean  time  ill 
feeling  had  developed  between  Sheriff  Van  der  Donck  1  and  Commissary 
Van  Curler,  and  the  former  so  influenced  public  opinion  that  a  strong  pro- 
test was  drawn  up  against  the  Commissary,  the  signatures  to  which 
were  placed  in  a  circle.  This  done,  the  colonists  denounced  Van 
Curler  bitterly,  threatened  to  drive  him  from  the  colony,  and  even  to 
take  his  life,  Van  der  Donck  posing  the  meanwhile  only  as  the  conscr 
vator  of  the  welfare  of  the  people. 

To  carry  out  his  purpose  of  establishing  an  unlimited  supply  of  goods 
at  his  stores  in  Beverwyck  and  on  Beeren  Island,  the  patroon  sent  over 
the  ship  "  Arms  of  Rensselaerwyck  "  in  September,  1043,  with  a  cargo 
of  miscellaneous  merchandise  valued  at  12,850  guilders,  in  the  profits 
of  which  the  skipper,  the  supercargo  and  the  pilot  also  had  a  personal 
interest.  This  vessel  arrived  at  Manhattan  while  Kieft  was  in  great 
trouble  with  the  Indian  war,  and  his  soldiers  were  suffering  for  want  of 
sufficient  clothing.  He  must  have  considered  the  ship  a  providential 
interposition,  for  he  promptly  made  a  requisition  on  the  supercargo  for 
fifty  pairs  of  shoes,  offering,  however,  payment  in  "silver,  beavers, 
or  wampum,  at  such  price  as  the  supercargo  might  demand."  But 
this  was  not  the  purpose  for  which  the  cargo  had  been  shipped,  and  the 
ship's  officer  refused  to  sell  the  shoes.  Thereupon  the  director  and 
council  ordered  the  ship's  cargo  overhauled,  and  some  guns  and  ammuni- 
tion being  found  on  board  which  were  not  named  in  the  vessel's  papers, 
and  which  were  also  contraband  by  law,  these  with  the  ship  were  con- 
fiscated. The  vessel  soon  returned  to  Holland,  whither  also  sailed  Van 
Curler  to  give  account  of  his  stewardship. 

The  Beeren   Island   fort  was   finally  completed   under  direction  of 

'  Adrian  Van  der  Donck  succeeded  Jacob  Albcrtsen  Planck,  as  schoutfiscal  or  sheriff  of  Rens- 
selaerwyck, the  latter  having  been  the  first  to  hold  this  office. 


->; 

Nicolaus  Coorn,  "wacht  meester "  for  the  patroon,  some  cannon 
mounted  and  a  small  garrison  installed.  Acting  under  direction  of  the. 
patroon  his  subordinates  now  boldly  imposed  a  toll  of  five  guilders, 
(about  two  dollars),  which  they  claimed  as  a  staple  right  on  every  trad- 
ing craft  passing,  and,  moreover,  insisted  that  such  craft  should  lower 
their  colors  in  honor  of  Rensselaer- Stein,  which  was  asserting  a  sovereign 
right  by  the  patroon  over  a  great  natural  highway. 

In  the  summer  of  1644  the  yacht  "  Good  Hope,"  Govert  Loolcermans 
master,  sailed  from  Fort  Orange  for  New  Amsterdam,  but  on  reaching 
Beeren  Island  she  was  hailed  and  ordered  to  lower  her  colors.  When 
asked  for  whom,  the  commander  replied,  "  For  the  staple  right  of 
Rensselaerwyck. "  The  sturdy  skipper  knew  no  such  master  and  with 
an  oath  refused  to  strike  his  flag  "  for  any  individual  save  the  Prince 
of  Orange  and  the  lords  his  masters,"  whereupon  Coorn  fired  several 
shots  at  the  vessel,  one  of  which,  according  to  the  record,  "  perforated 
our  princely  flag." 

The  excitement  created  at  New  Amsterdam  by  this  incident  may  easily 
be  imagined,  whither  Coorn  was  at  once  summoned,  and  pleaded  the 
the  authority  of  the  patroon  for  his  conduct.  This,  not  justifying  him. 
he  was  condemned  to  pay  damages  and  forbidden  to  repeat  the  offense 
under  penalty  of  corporal  punishment,  and  he  was  also  required  to  obtain 
the  patroon's  approval  of  this  sentence.  The  whole  proceeding  called 
out  from  Attorney-General  Van  der  Huygens  a  protest  against  the 
workson  Beeren  Island  as  beyond  any  privilege  granted  to  the  patroon. 
A  fort  there,  cutting  off  free  navigation,  it  was  contended,  would  be 
ruinous  to  the  West  India  Company.  It  was  also  claimed  that  no 
patroon  could  extend  his  colony  more  than  eight  miles  along  the  banks 
of  the  river  on  both  sides,  while  this  island  was  outside  of  that  limit. 
But  this  protest  from  Kieft's  attorney-general  made  little  impression 
on  Commander  Coorn,  who  said: 

As  the  Vice  Commander  of  the  honorable  Van  Rensselaer,  I  call  on  you,  Cornelis 
Van  der  Huygens,  Attorney-General  of  New  Netherland,  not  to  presume  to  oppose 
and  frustrate  my  designs  on  Bear's  Island,  to  defraud  me  in  any  manner,  or  to 
cause  me  any  trouble,  as  it  has  been  the  will  of  their  High  Mightinesses,  the  SI 
General  and  the  privileged  West  India  Company,  to  invest  my  patroon  and  his  heir 
with  the  right  to  extend  and  fortify  his  "  colonic, "  and  make  it  powerful  in  every  re- 
spect. If  vou  persist  in  so  doing,  I  protest  against  the  act  of  violence  and  assault 
committed  by  the  honorable  Lords-Majors,  which  I  leave  them  to  settle,  while  this 
undertaking  has  nothing  else  in  view  than  to  prevent  the  canker  of 
tering  his  "  colonic." 


28 

The  first  patroon  died  in  1G4G,  but  his  general  policy  was  afterwards 
continued  by  his  executors.  At  the  same  time  Sheriff  Van  der  Donck 
was  superseded  by  Nicolaus  Coorn,  while  in  1647  Kieft  was  succeeded 
by  Peter  Stuyvesant.  The  Indian  wars  which  had  been  a  source  of 
so  much  trouble  and  loss  to  the  southward,  did  not  materially  affect 
Rensselaerwyck,  throughout  which  a  fair  degree  of  prosperity  and 
growth  prevailed,  though  at  the  time  of  Stuyvesant's  arrival  there 
were  only  about  a  dozen  houses  in  Beverwyck,  with  a  small  settle- 
ment at  Bethlehem,  while  a  few  "  bouweries  "  were  also  cultivated  on 
the  east  side  of  the  river  opposite  Fort  Orange.  Little  had  been  done 
in  the  Katskill  region,  it  being  substantially  a  wilderness  from  Fort 
Orange  to  Manhattan. 

The  heir  to  the  patroonship  of  Rensselaerwyck  was  Johannes  Van 
Rensselaer,  a  minor,  whose  interests  devolved  upon  his  uncle,  Johannes 
Van  Wely,  and  Wouter  Van  Twiller,  executors  of  the  estate,  who  im- 
mediately rendered  fealty  and  homage  to  their  High  Mightinesses  for  the 
' '  colonie  "  and  in  behalf  of  their  ward.  The  immediate  management  of 
the  estate,  however,  was  entrusted  to  Brant  Arent  Van  Slechtenhorst,  of 
Nieukerke  in  Guilderlandt,  who  was  appointed  director  of  the  colony, 
president  of  the  court  of  justice  and  superintendent  of  all  the  bouweries, 
farms,  mills  and  other  property  descending  from  the  patroon.  His 
salary  was  750  florins  ($300)  per  annum,  with  a  house,  four  cows,  two 
horses,  eight  acres  of  tillage  and  the  same  quantity  of  pasture  land. 
He  was  charged  to  maintain  and  defend  the  freedom  and  privileges  of 
the  colony;  to  promote  the  interests  and  advance  the  settlement  of 
Beverwyck  and  its  immediate  neighborhood,  and  to  acquire  by  purchase 
the  lands  about  Katskill,  as  some  of  the  colonists  were  forming  com- 
panies to  remove  thither.  He  was  ordered  also  to  explore  for  minerals, 
and  to  report  in  full  to  his  superiors.  His  son,  Gerrit,  was  to  act  as 
schout-fiscal,  at  a  salary  of  600  florins,  but  served  thus  only  two  months, 
when  the  office  was  merged  in  that  of  director. 

New  Netherlands  now  became  the  scene  of  a  prolonged  contest,  with 
Director-General  Stuyvesant  and  Brant  Van  Slechtenhorst  at  the  head 
of  the  opposing  factions.  New  Amsterdam  had  been  and  still  was 
jealous  of  the  existence  of  the  patroon  colonies,  considering  them  an- 
tagonistic to  rapid  settlement,  and  efforts  had,  at  an  early  period,  been 
made  by  the  New  Amsterdam  authorities  to  induce  the  patroon  to  cede 
to  them  his  rights  and  possessions;  failing  in  this  they  now  determined 
to  circumscribe  and  restrict  his  field  of  operations  as  far  as  lay  in  their 


29 

power.  Stuyvesant  claimed  to  be  supreme  in  the  country,  irrespective 
of  all  feudal  rights  and  privileges.  Van  Slechtenhorst's  position  may  be 
inferred ;  he  was  there  to  protect  the  interests  of  the  heir  and  would  rec- 
ognize no  authority  within  his  limits,  other  than  that  of  his  superiors  <  il- 
legal representatives.  He  claimed  that  the  director-general  could  issue 
no  order  that  would  be  obligatory  upon  him,  unless  it  were  endorsed  and 
countersigned  by  his  commander  and  executed  by  the  officers  of  his 
court.  An  ante-climax  was  reached  before  Slechtenhorst  had  been  in 
office  a  month 

A  proclamation  ordering  the  first  Wednesday  in  May,  1648,  to  be 
observed  as  a  fast,  was  received  from  the  director-general  by  the  Rens- 
selaerwyck  authorities  as  an  invasion  of  the  rights  of  the  lord  of  the 
manor,  and  Van  Slechtenhorst  protested.  This  action  touched  Stuy- 
vesant's  pride  as  well  as  opposed  his  authority,  and  he  visited  the 
"  colonie  "  to  put  a  stop  to  such  proceedings,  with  his  military  escort, 
being  loyally  greeted  by  a  salvo  of  artillery  from  the  patroon's  ar- 
tillery. His  interview  with  Van  Slechtenhorst  was  not  very  satis- 
factory. When  he  accused  the  old  Dutchman  of  infringing  the 
sovereignty  of  the  Dutch  West  India  Company,  he  was  met  with  the 
repty:  "Your  complaints  are  unjust;  I  have  more  reason  to  complain 
on  behalf  of  my  patroon  against  you."  Stuyvesant  then  put  forth  a 
long  protest,  accusing  Van  Slechtenhorst  with  having  conveyed  lots 
and  authorized  the  erection  of  buildings  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
Fort  Orange  in  disregard  of  the  sovereign  authority  and  in  contempt 
of  the  director-general's  commission,  and  thus  destroying  the  security 
of  the  fort.  He  ordered,  therefore,  "in  a  friendly  manner."  that  a 
Stop  should  be  put  to  all  building  operations  within  cannon  range  of 
the  fort,  unless  under  orders  of  the  Lords  Majors;  that  no  new 
ordinances  should  issue  that  would  affect  the  sovereign  authority,  or 
relating  to  commerce  or  public  welfare,  without  consent  of  their  High 
Mightinesses  or  their  representative  in  New  Netherland;  that  no  ex- 
clusive right  to  any  branch  of  trade  be  rented,  nor  any  grain,  masts, 
or  other  property  belonging  to  the  company's  servants  be  seized,  unless 
in  suits  that  should  be  prosecuted  without  delay.  The  inhabitants  of 
the  colon}'  of  Rensselaerwyek  had  been  compelled  to  sign  a  pledge 
that  as  defendants  they  would  not  appeal  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  New 
Netherland  from  judgments  of  the  Court  of  Rensselaerwyek;  this 
practice  was  condemned  by  Stuyvesant  as  a  "crime,"  an  infraction  of 
the  law  of  the  land  and  a  subversion  of  the  charter.      To  abolish  this 


30 

practice  he  insisted  upon  an  annual  return  to  the  director  and  council 
of  all  the  proceedings  in  the  colony  court.  Van  Slechtenhorst  was  also 
called  upon  to  produce  his  authority  from  either  the  States-General  or 
the  Chamber  at  Amsterdam.  Failing  in  all  this  Van  Slechtenhorst 
would  be  protested  against  for  disobedience  of  orders. 

Van  Slechtenhorst  was  a  man  of  strong  will  and  choleric  temper; 
moreover,  he  sincerely  believed  that  the  rights  and  privileges  of  his 
young  patroon  were  being  trampled  upon,  the  charter  overridden  and 
the  Lords-Majors  insulted  by  Stuyvesant's  demands.  He  promptly 
answered  protest  by  protest.  He  charged  the  director-general  with 
having  ordered  a  day  of  fasting  "  contrary  to  ancient  order  and  usage, 
as  if  he  were  the  lord  of  the  patroon 's  colonic "  He  accused  the  hi  re- 
lings  of  the  company  at  the  fort  with  cutting  timber  and  firewood  in 
the  patroon's  forests  without  permission,  "as  if  these  were  their  own"; 
with  having  overrun  the  colony  with  people  from  Manhattan,  "with 
savages  by  their  side  to  serve  as  brokers."  trading  publicly  with  the 
Indians  without  license  from  the  patroon  or  his  agents  and  without 
paying  duties.  He  claimed  the  order  to  cease  building  within  certain 
limits  near  the  fort  had  no  justification,  insisting  that  the  patroon's 
trading  house  stood  "a  few  years  ago"  on  the  border  of  the  moat  sur- 
rounding the  fort;  all  that  soil,  he  claimed,  still  belonged  to  the  pa- 
troon, who  had  not  been  disturbed  thereon  until  Director  Stuyvesant 
now  sought  "by  unbecoming  means  "  to  deprive  "his  orphan  heir"  of 
his  rights.  And  so  the  strife  went  on,  increasing  in  vigor  on  both 
sides. 

Van  Slechtenhorst  was  in  the  right  as  far  as  building  near  the  fort 
was  involved,  and  that  was,  perhaps,  the  chief  point  at  issue.  The 
pretense  that  buildings  near  the  fort  endangered  it  was  folly.  The 
buildings  referred  to  were  more  than  five  hundred  rods  from  the  fort, 
and  eight  houses  had  already  been  built  between  them  and  the  fort. 
Van  Slechtenhorst  continued  his  improvement  at  Beverwyck,  and  an- 
other protest  came  up  from  Manhattan  warning  him  to  stop  or  force 
would  be  used  to  bring  him  to  terms.  But  this  only  called  out  another 
reply  from  Van  Slechtenhorst,  in  which  he  asserted  that  no  suit  could 
be  begun,  nor  execution  issued  in.  another  district  without  consent  of 
the  schout-liscal  or  court  of  that  jurisdiction;  therefore,  the  proceed- 
ings were  informal.  It  appears  that  Stuyvesant,  who  had  claimed  in 
July  that  all  territory  within  range  of  cannon  shot  belonged  to  Fort 
(  >range,  now  reduced  the  circle  to  the   range  of  a  musket   ball,  within 


ol 

which  he  purposed  stopping-  building,  although,  as  the  record  states, 
"he  permits  whole  streets  to  be  filled  with  houses  in  view  of  Fort  Am- 
sterdam." Fort  Orange  having  been  badly  damaged  by  freshets  in 
the  previous  winter,  the  commissary  of  the  West  India  Company  re- 
ceived orders  to  surround  it  with  a  wall  instead  of  the  former  wooden 
fence,  but  the  work  was  scarcely  begun  when  Van  Slechtenhorst  for- 
bade Carl  Van  Brugge,  "in  an  imperious  manner,"  from  quarrying  stone 
within  the  colony  and  from  felling  a  tree  for  either  timber  or  firewood. 
The  West  India  Company  was  thus  deprived  of  actual  necessities  unless 
they  were  humbly  requested,  or  paid  for  at  what  the  company  called 
"enormous  prices."  The  work  on  the  fort  had  to  stop,  while  Van 
Slechtenhorst  continued  building  "even  within  pistol  shot  of  Fort 
Orange." 

vStuyvesant  now  resolved  to  employ  force  to  accomplish  what  he- 
had  thus  far  failed  in.  Six  soldiers  were  sent  up  to  Van  Brugge's 
aid,  with  orders  to  demolish  a  house  built  by  Van  Slechtenhorst;  to 
arrest  that  gentleman  "in  the  most  civil  manner  possible."  and  de- 
tain him  until  he  delivered  over  a  copy  of  his  commission  and  in- 
structions. .  He  was  finally  summoned  to  Fort  Amsterdam  to  answer 
for  his  conduct.  At  the  same  time  orders  were  issued  prohibiting  the 
importation  of  guns  into  Rensselaerwyck  without  license  from  the 
Lords-Majors;  if  any  were  imported  they  were  to  be  sold  only  to  the 
West  India  Company  at  the  price  of  two  beavers  each.  Beverwyck 
was  excited  when  the  armed  posse  arrived.  Peace  had  ever  reigned  m 
the  little  hamlet,  and  the  only  guns  seen  there  were  those  which  were 
traded  to  the  Indians  for  furs  at  a  profit  that  made  the  thrift}'  Dutch- 
men smile.  The  invading  army  was  small,  to  be  sure,  but  when  it 
came  with  orders  to  demolish  a  dwelling  and  arrest  the  vice  patroon, 
excitement  ran  high.  The  record  intimates  that  these  soldiers  were 
not  suited  to  their  mission;  that  they  were  zealous  when  the  patroon's 
timber  was  to  be  cut  or  his  deer  killed,  while  they  insulted  the  com- 
mander "  when  walking  the  public  street  "  in  company  with  his  deput) , 
Andries  de  Vos,  cursing  them  because  "they  had  not  bade  them  { 
evening. " 

Stuyvesant  had  received  from  the  inhabitants  at  Fori  Orange  and 
from  the  Indians  the  abusive  epithet  of  "Wooden  Leg."  Now,  the 
conduct  of  the  six  soldiers  aroused  the  indignation  of  the  Indians  as 
well  as  of  the  white  settlers,  and  all  gathered  at  Beverwyck  and  de- 
manded to  know  if  "Wooden  Leg"  intended  to  tear  down   the  houses 


32 

which  were  built  for  their  shelter  in  stormy  weather.  When  they 
learned  that  all  the  strife  was  over  a  few  rods  of  land,  they  invited  Van 
Slechtenhorst  to  accompany  them  and  they  would  give  him  plenty  of 
land  in  the  "  Maquaas  country";  so,  he  says,  "more  kindness  was 
'evinced  by  the  unbelieving  savages  than  by  our  Christian,  neighbors, 
subjects  of  the  same  sovereign,  bound  by  their  oaths  to  protect  us 
against  insult  and   outrage." 

It  will  probably  never  be  known  how  imminent  was  a  savage  out- 
break at  this  time.  It  was  natural  that  the  Indians  should  favor  the 
interests  of  those  with  whom  they  had  come  in  direct  contact  and  from 
whom  they  had  received  the  much-prized  guns  and  rum.  When  the  six 
soldiers  fired  a  salute  over  what  they  were  pleased  to  term  a  victory,  the 
Indians  came  together  a  second  time  and  angrily  inquired  if  "  Wooden 
Leg's"  dogs  were  still  there  and  nothing  averted  bloodshed  but  the  assur- 
ance of  the  inhabitants  that  the  houses  were  not  to  be  pulled  down. 
It  is  recorded  that  "the  Director-General's  rash  conduct  had  well  nigh 
caused  an  outbreak,  and  the  ruin,  not  only  of  the  colony,  but  of  the 
Manhattans  and  of  the  Christians  within  this  land,  who  are  all  at  the 
mercy  of  the  savages." 

Van  Slechtenhorst  now  gave  expression  to  his  indignation  at  this 
violent  encroachment  in  another  protest.  In  reply  to  the  demand  for 
his  commission,  he  called  upon  Stuyvesant  for  a  written  copy  of  his 
demands  and  complaints.  He  eloquently  portrayed  the  contempt  of  the 
patroon  and  his  court  shown  in  Stuyvesant's  demand,  the  illegality  of 
which  was  rendered  the  more  flagrant  by  the  unusual  and  insolent 
manner  in  which  it  was  made.  "The  noble  patroon,"  said  he,  "had 
obtained  in  his  possessions  and  immunities,  was  invested  by  the  States- 
General  with  high  and  low  jurisdiction  and  the  police  of  the  most  priv- 
ileged manors;  and  were  he,  as  his  agent,  now  so  base  as  to  crouch  be- 
fore the  present  unwarrantable  proceedings,  and  to  produce  his  com- 
mission, before  he  had  received  orders  to  that  effect  from  his  lords  and 
masters,  not  only  would  they  be  injured,  but  he  be  guilty  of  a  violation 
of  his  oath  and  honor,  a  betrayal  of  his  trust  and  a  childish  surrender 
of  the  rights  of  his  patroon."  He  fortified  his  position  by  saying  that 
some  who  had  been  guilty  of  similar  infractions  of  law  and  custom  in 
the  Fatherland  "  had  often  been  apprehended,  and  condemned  to  bread 
and  water  for  the  space  of  five  or  six  weeks  ;  yea,  were  sometimes  brought 
to  the  block."  As  justification  for  his  order  forbidding  cutting  timber 
he  asked,  "  Is  the  patroon  not  master  on  his  own  land?    Is  he  not  free 


to  cut  his  timber  as  well  as  his  corn,  and  can  he  not  arrest  these,  when 
cut  by  others  without  his  permission?" 

The  response  from  Stuyvesant  was  again  a  long  dissertation  upon  his 
authority  and  his  rights.  His  power,  he  maintained,  "  extended  to  the 
colony  of  Rensselaerwyck,  as 'well  as  to  the  other  colonies. "  Orders 
were  sent  to  his  workmen  to  hasten  the  repairs  of  the  fort,  and  to  pro- 
cure timber  for  the  purpose  anywhere  in  New  Netherland,  to  quarry 
stone  wherever  they  could  be  found,  excepting  upon  farms  and  planta- 
tions which  were  fenced  and  cultivated.  The  "  ancient  and  uninter- 
rupted use  of  the  gardens  and  fields  near  the  fort  "  was  to  be  strictly 
held  and  the  destruction  of  buildings  thereon  to  be  proceeded  with. 
Van  Slechtenhorst  was  summoned  to  New  Amsterdam,  as  stated,  and 
it  was  claimed  that  he  could  have  obeyed  the  summons  without  difficulty, 
as  "the  river  remained  open,  the  winter  pleasant,  and  several  vessels 
sailed  up  and  down  during  the  whole  month  of  November."  But  to 
place  the  whole  responsibility  upon  Van  Slechtenhorst's  shoulders,  the 
summons  was  now  renewed  and  the  commander  peremptorily  ordered 
to  appear  at  Fort  Amsterdam  on  the  4th  of  April  following,  to  hear  the 
complaint  against  him. 

It  is  claimed  that  the  colonists  at  Beverwyck  and  Van  wSlechtenhorst 
himself  cared  little  for  the  mere  land  in  dispute  near  Fort  Orange,  but 
that  the  commander  was  strenuous  in  clinging  to  what  he  believed  to 
be  the  rights  and  dignity  of  the  patroon,  while  the  settlers  were  merely 
exercising  what  they  contended  was  their  right  to  locate  near  the  fort 
for  better  security.  On  the  other  hand  the  claim  to  the  land  <>n  which 
stood  Fort  Orange  was  absurd,  for  the  fort  was  built  and  garrisoned  by 
the  West  India  Company  fifteen  years  before  there  was  a  Rensselaer- 
wyck;  and,  moreover,  that  company  had  up  to  1G44  an  exclusive  mo- 
nopoly of  the  fur  trade,  which  it  intended  to  reclaim  "  whenever  it 
shall  be  able  to  provide  its  magazines  with  a  sufficient  store  of  goods." 

Van  Slechtenhorst  never  ceased  his  operations  in  Rensselaerwyck  in 
the  interest  of  the  patroon.  He  extended  its  limits  by  the  purchase  of 
more  lands  to  the  southward  from  the  Mohegans,  acquired  in  1648  the 
tract  called  Paponicuck  for  goods  of  trifling  value  and  in  the  same 
spring,  the  events  of  which  have  just  been  recorded,  purchased  Kats- 
kill  and  Claverack.  Meanwhile  Van  Twiller  on  the  other  side  of  the 
ocean  was  boldly  claiming  the  monopoly  of  the  traffic  of  the  upper  Hud- 
son, and  publishing  his  determination  to  allow  no  vessels  to  pass  Beeren 
Island  or  to  trade  near  Rensselaerwyck.  He  went  farther  than  Van 
5 


34 

Slechtenhorst  and  asserted  that  Fort  Orange  was  built  on  the  patroon's 
territory,  and  that  not  even  the  West  India  Company  could  grant  the 
right  to  build  houses  or  trade  near  by.  In  short,  feudal  privileges  in 
the  broadest  sense  of  the  term  were  claimed  by  the  patroon's  agents. 

The  director  now  determined  to  enforce  his  sovereign  right  and  sent 
orders  to  remove  all  obstructions  to  free  navigation  of  the  river  and  to 
free  trade  at  Fort  Orange.  If  passage  of  the  river  was  interfered  with 
by  arms,  the  guns  were  ordered  seized;  if  tolls  of  any  kind  were  ex- 
acted on  any  river,  island  or  harbor,  within  the  company's  territory,  to 
the  injury  of  trade,  they  were  to  be  opposed  and  abolished,  by  force  if 
necessary.  Already  Van  Slechtenhorst  had  granted  a  few  leases  for 
land  at  Katskill.  The  director  refused  to  recognize  his  pretensions  in 
thai  direction,  as  the  land  had  already  been  granted  to  another.  Stuy- 
vesant  protested  against  these  leases  and  announced  his  purpose  of  op- 
posing encroachment  in  that  region.  To  this  action  the  Rensselaer- 
wyck  authorities  demurred,  insisting  that  they  were  only  fulfilling  in- 
structions from  their  superiors  in  Holland.  They  requested  the  direc- 
tor-general to  defer  action  until  they  could  communicate  with  their 
superiors,  pledging  that  meanwhile  no  settlement  should  be  made  on 
the  disputed  territory. 

A  petition  was  sent  to  the  States-General  from  New  Netherland  ask- 
ing for  a  burgher  government  (which  was  secured  in  1653);  freedom 
from  customs,  tenths  and  other  burdens,  the  abolition  of  the  export 
duty  on  tobacco,  and  other  commercial  reforms.  This  action  may  have 
been  inspired  by  the  fact  that  the  New  England  colonies  paid  no  cus- 
toms duties,  but  they  were  assessed  directly  for  all  government  pur- 
poses. The  only  tax  paid  in  New  Netherland  was  upon  tapsters,  and 
that  was  returned  to  them  by  their  patrons,  while  any  individual  could 
own  as  much  wine  or  beer  as  he  pleased  free  of  excise.  All  the  papers  in 
this  connection  were  turned  over  to  a  committee  which  reported  April 
11,  1050,  recommending  a  liberal  policy,  the  remedying  of  all  griev- 
ances, and  promising  the  recall  of  Stuyvesant.  The  patroons  were  to 
be  compelled  to  "  settle  their  colonists  in  the  form  of  villages;  the  Nine 
Men  were  to  be  given  broader  judicial  functions;  the  patroons  or  their 
agents,  and  delegates  from  the  commonalty,  were  to  choose  represent- 
atives in  the  council,  and  a  judicial  system  was  to  be  established." 

In  1651  a  call  for  a  subsidy  from  Rensselaerwyck  inaugurated  an- 
other collision  with  the  government  at  New  Amsterdam ;  the  latter  had 
already  demanded  the  excise  on  liquors  in  the  patroon's  territory,  and 


35 

been  refused.  It  was  justly  set  forth  that  the  patroon  had  paid  from 
his  own  resources  the  salaries  of  the  minister  and  other  servants  and 
paid  the  general  expenses  of  settlement  of  the  colony.  In  June,  1650, 
these  amounted  to  the  equivalent  of  more  than  $10,000,  which  was  the 
ground  for  refusing  further  contribution.  The  commander,  Van  Slech- 
tenhorst,  was  authorized  by  the  people  to  proceed  to  New  Amsterdam 
and  protest  against  the  payment  demanded.  He  arrived  there  late  in 
April,  L651,  and  met  his  opponent,  Stuyvesant.  Both  were  unyield- 
ing. After  they  separated  and  before  Van  Slechtenhorst  had  finished 
his  dinner,  he  was  summoned  before  the  director-general  and  council. 
Upon  his  appearance  sentence  was  pronounced  upon  him,  his  conduct, 
especially  regarding  the  Katskill  settlement,  being  strongly  con- 
demned. The  commander  was  not  abashed  and  demanded  if  a  man 
was  to  be  condemed  unheard.  The  answer  was  his  prompt  arrest,  i  U 
was  detained  there  four  months,  during  which  he  protested  against  his 
confinement  and  the  Rensselaerwyck  authorities  repeatedly  asked  for 
his  release.  He  finally  escaped  to  Fort  Orange  on  a  sloop,  guarantying 
the  skipper  against  harm  for  carrying  him.  The  skipper  was  fortunate 
in  his  guaranty,  for  on  his  return  he  was  fined  two  hundred  and  fifty 
guilders  and  his  vessel  was  held. 

Thus  the  struggle  had  continued  three  years  since  Stuyvesant  set  up 
his  claim  for  separate  jurisdiction  for  Fort  Orange,  independent  of 
Rensselaerwyck;  and  still  the  matter  was  unsettled.  As  the  gun  shot 
limits,  finally  estimated  by  him  to  be  one  hundred  and  fifty  rods,  in- 
cluded the  hamlet  of  Beverwyck,  which  was  constantly  becoming  more 
populous,  that  settlement  would  be  severed  from  the  remainder  of  the 
colony,  and  as  this  would  inevitably  give  the  West  India  Company  prac- 
tical control  of  the  fur  trade,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  outcome  <>!'  the 
matter  was  of  much  importance  to  the  patroon 's  colonists. 

While  this  controversy  was  at  its  height,  Jean  Baptiste  Van  Rens- 
selaer, the  first  of  that  family  who  is  known  to  have  visited  this  coun- 
try, was  elected  one  of  the  magistrates,  and  soon  afterward  an  order  was 
issued  that  all  the  freemen  should  take  an  oath  <»f  allegiance  to  the 
patroon.  Troubles  of  minor  character  continued.  On  a  New  Year's 
night  several  soldiers  armed  with  matchlocks  came  out  of  the  tort  and 
fired  a  number  of  shots  at  the  patroon's  house,  upon  the  root"  of  which 
the  gun  wadding  fell  and  the  dwelling  would  have  been  destroyed  hut  for 
the  efforts  of  the  inmates.  The  next  day  the  younger  Slechtenhorst 
was  assaulted  by  soldiers  in  the  street,  who  beat  him  and  dragged  him 


36 

through  the  mud,  in  presence  of  the  company's  commissary,  Johannes 
Dyckman,  who  encouraged  the  assault  by  crying  out:  "  Let  him  have 
it  now,  and  the  devil  take  him!  "  Philip  Pietersen  Schuyler,  son-in-law 
of  the  elder  Slechtenhorst,  endeavored  to  save  the  young  man,  where- 
upon Dyckman  drew  his  sword  and  threatened  to  run  Schuyler  through 
if  he  interfered.  Other  members  of  the  commander's  family  were  in- 
sulted and  beaten  by  the  soldiers.  When  friends  of  the  family  threat- 
ened revenge,  Dyckman  ordered  the  fort  guns  charged  with  grape  and 
threatened  to  fire  upon  the  patroon's  house.  At  this  juncture  Stuyvesant 
sent  up  some  placards  relating  to  the  Fort  Orange  limits,  which  he 
ordered  published  in  the  colony.  With  these  Dyckman,  six  others, 
and  three  soldiers,  armed  with  guns  and  pistols,  repaired  to  the  house 
where  the  magistrates  were  sitting  and  commanded  Van  Slechtenhorst 
to  make  a  minute  of  what  was  to  be  required.  As  it  was  contrary  to  the 
law  for  any  man  to  enter  another's  jurisdiction  with  an  armed  body, 
without  consent  of  the  local  authorities,  this  movement  on  Dyckman 's 
part  was  protested  against  by  the  commander,  who  ordered  Dyckman 
to  leave  the  room.  He  retired,  but  came  back  with  a  larger  force  and 
demanded  that  the  placards  should  be  published  throughout  the  colony 
by  the  sound  of  the  bell.  "It  shall  not  be  done  so  long  as  we  have  a 
drop  of  blood  in  our  veins,  nor  until  we  receive  orders  from  their  High 
Mightinesses  and  our  honored  masters,"  exclaimed  the  court.  Dyck- 
man now  proceeded  to  the  fort  and  ordered  the  bell  to  be  rung  three 
times;  he  then  returned  to  the  patroon's  court  house,  ascended  the 
steps  with  his  followers  and  directed  his  deputy  to  proclaim  the  placards, 
while  the  excited  burghers  gathered  around.  As  the  deputy  was  about 
to  obey,  Van  Slechtenhorst  rushed  forward  and  tore  the  placards  from 
his  hands,  "  so  that  the  seals  fell  on  the  ground."  When  the  news  of 
these  occurrences  reached  New  Amsterdam,  Stuyvesant  sent  another 
placard  to  Dyckman,  again  defining  the  jurisdiction  of  Fort  Orange  to 
extend  to  a  circumference  of  six  hundred  paces  from  the  fort,  and  con- 
tinuing as  follows : 

In  order  that  no  man  shall  plead  ignorance,  we  further  charge  our  Commissary, 
after  publication  hereof,  to  erect  on  the  aforesaid  limits,  north,  south  and  west  of  the 
aforesaid  fortress,  a  post,  marked  with  the  Company's  mark,  and  to  affix,  on  a  board 
nailed  thereto,  a  copy  hereof. 

Within  those  bounds  it  was  ordered  that  no  house  should  be  built, 
unless  authorized  by  the  director  and  council,  or  their  agents.  This 
illegal  act,  which  violated  rights  of  property   as  well  as  the  charter  of 


37 

1029,  separated  forever  the  settlement  of  Beverwyck  from  Van  Rens- 
selaer's colony.  The  patroon's  officials  ordered  the  obnoxious  posts 
removed  at  once,  protesting  "before  Almighty  God  and  the  States- 
General  against  all  open  force  and  violence,  and  insisting  on  reparation 
for  all  losses  and  damages  which  might  accrue  or  be  caused  thereby.'' 
The  patroon's  court  on  the  some  day  drew  up  another  protest  "  against 
the  unbecoming  pretensions  and  attacks  of  the  Director  and  Council  of 
New  Netherland,"  denying  again  the  authority  of  the  latter  and  insist- 
ing that  the  settlers  on  the  manor  had  never  sworn  allegiance  to  the 
company,  and  much  less  to  Stuyvesant,  and  owned  no  masters  but  the 
States  General  and  their  own  immediate  superiors.  In  return  this 
document  was  declared  by  the  director  and  council  "  a  libellous  cal- 
umny." 

The  vexatious  question  of  jurisdiction  now  came  up  in  another  form. 
A  negress,  the  property  of  Sander  Leendertsen  Glen,  was  charged  with 
theft  and  caused  several  "decent  persons"  to  be  prosecuted  as  receiv- 
ers of  the  stolen  goods.  Her  arrest  being  ordered,  Dyckman  proceeded 
to  execute  his  warrant,  but  her  master  refused  to  surrender  her  that 
evening,  upon  which  Dyckman  informed  him  that  he  had  power  to  send 
him  and  all  his  family  to  jail,  and  to  pull  his  house  down  about  his 
ears,  "as  it  was  erected  on  the  Company's  soil."  Glen  replied  that  In- 
had  nothing  to  do  with  Dyckman,  and  said,  "I  cannot  serve  a  new 
master  until  I  am  discharged  from  the  one  I  live  under."  Dyckman 
now  threatened  (Men  with  the  wrath  of  Stuyvesant,  when  Glen  retorted 
that  he  would  fare  as  well  with  the  director  as  with  Dyckman.  There- 
upon Dyckman  drew  his  sword  and  threatened  the  burgher  with  death. 
while  the  latter  caught  up  a  club  with  which  to  defend  himself.  Next 
morning  Glen  was  placed  under  arrest  in  the  fort.  Rumors  were  now- 
circulated  that  Stuyvesant  was  soon  to  visit  Beverwyck  and  Dyckman 
asserted  that  a  new  gallows  was  to  be  erected  for  Van  Slechtenhorst, 
his  son  and  young  Van  Rensselaer. 

But  Stuyvesant  was  busy  at  New  Amsterdam  in  ridding  himself  of 
the  last  of  his  opponents  there,  in  the  person  of  Attorney  General  Van 
Dyck.  This  official  had  been  ill  treated  by  Stuyvesant  from  the  time 
of  his  appointment  and  excluded  from  the  colony  for  two  years.  Later 
he  was  charged  with  menial  duties  and  otherwise  humiliated.  In 
the  same  spring  of  the  year  a  lampoon  appeared  directed  toward 
Stuyvesant,  and  Van  Dyck  was  charged  with  being  its  author.  The 
Council   was   called    together    to   consider   the    momentous   matter    and 


38 

actually  adopted  a  resolution  dismissing  Van  Dyck  from  office  "on  ac- 
count of  the  multitude  of  his  misdemeanors  and  connivances."  While 
it  was  claimed  that  this  proceeding  had  the  sanction  of  the  Nine  Men, 
they  repudiated  it,  declaring  that  it  was  adopted  wholly  on  Stuy- 
vesant's  authority  and  that  they  were  not  aware  of  any  complaints 
against  Van  Dyck.  Cornelius  Van  Tienhoven  was  appointed  to  the 
office,  while  Carl  Van  Brugge  succeeded  Van  Tienhoven  as  provincial 
secretary.  Van  Dyck  defended  himself  by  a  written  accusation  against 
Stuyvesant  in  which  he  bitterly  condemned  the  director  and  denounced 
the  appointee  to  the  office  as  the  perjured  secretary,  a  reproach  to  the 
country  and  the  main  scourge  of  both  Christians  and  heathens,  "with 
whose  sensualities  the  Director  himself  has  been  always  acquainted." 

.Stuyvesant  now  turned  his  attention  to  Van  Slechtenhorst.  For 
this  purpose  he  visited  Fort  Orange  and  called  the  authorities  of  Rens- 
selaerwyck  together  to  define  what  they  claimed  as  their  boundaries. 
The  director  expressed  his  consent  to  allow  them  four  miles  on  one 
side  or  two  miles  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  but  warned  them  against 
claiming  more.  They  replied  that  they  had  no  authority  to  act  in  the 
premises  and  again  asked  for  delay  until  they  could  communicate  with 
Holland,  which  was  granted.  The  question  of  supremacy  over  Bevcr- 
wyck  was  not  so  readily  disposed  of.  Sergeant  Litschoe  and  a  squad 
of  soldiers  approached  the  door  of  the  patroon's  house  and  ordered 
Van  Slechtenhorst  to  lower  the  patroon's  Mag,  and  upon  his  refusal 
"fourteen  soldiers  armed  with  loaded  muskets,  entered  the  enclosure, 
and,  after  firing  a  volley,  hauled  down  the  lord's  colors."  This 
high-handed  act  was  followed  by  a  proclamation  from  .Stuyvesant 
erecting  at  Fort  Orange  a  Court  of  Justice  for  the  village  of  Beverwyck 
and  its  dependencies,  apart  from  and  independent  of  that  of  Rensse- 
laerwyck.  The  placard  bearing  this  proclamation  was  posted  on  the 
court  house  and  immediately  torn  down  by  Van  Slechtenhorst,  who  at 
the  same  time  posted  another  card  asserting  the  patroon's  rights  and 
denouncing  those  of  the  opposition,  which  was  torn  down  by  inmates  of 
the  fort.  Stuyvesant's  proclamation  erecting  the  court  was  dated  April 
10,  H;f>2,  and  authorized  the  first  legal  tribunal  in  what  is  now  Albany 
county.      (See  chapter  on  the  Bench  and  Bar.) 

And  now,  after  four  years  of  strife  and  vain  struggle  against  powers 
that  were  two  strong  for  him,  Van  Slechtenhorst's  term  of  power  drew 
near  its  close.  Nine  armed  soldiers  forcibly  entered  his  dwelling  and 
without  showing  authority  for  their  act,  dragged  him  out,  a  prisoner,  and 


39 

took  him  to  the  fort  "  where  neither  his  children,  his  master  nor  his 
friends  were  allowed  to  speak  to  him,  and  his  furs,  his  clothes,  and  his 
meat  were  left  hanging  to  the  door  posts."  Taken  on  board  a  sloop  he 
was  conveyed  to  New  Amsterdam,  "  to  be  tormented,  in  his  siekness 
and  old  age,  with  unheard-of  and  insufferable  prosecutions  by  those 
serving"  a  Christian  government,  professing  the  same  religion,  and 
living  under  the  same  authority."  He  was  succeeded  in  his  official 
position  by  Jan  Baptiste  Van  Rensselaer,  with  Gerrit  Swart  as  sheriff 
(schout-fiscaal)  of  Rensselaerwyck. 

When  information  of  Stuyvesant's  operations  reached  the  patroon 
and  his  partners,  they  sent  to  the  Amsterdam  Chamber  a  long  remon- 
strance, of  which  the  following  is  the  substance: 

1st,  That  the  Director-General  had  dared  to  intrude  in  their  colony,  and  had 
commissioned  the  patroon's  flag  to  be  hauled  down. 

2d,  That  he  had  caused  timber  to  be  cut  on  the  complainants  lands  without 
cither  their  knowledge  or  their  permission. 

3d,  That  he  had  claimed  for  the  West  India  Company  the  right  of  jurisdiction 
and  property  over  all  the  land  within  a  circumference  of  15(1  rods  of  Fort  Orange, 
where  he  had  erected  a  court  of  justice,  notwithstanding  the  soil  had  been  purchased 
from  the  right  owners  by  the  patroon,  with  the  jurisdiction  thereunto  belonging, 
whereby  the  colonists  were  reduced  to  a  state  of  dependency,  absolved  from  their 
oaths,  "  transformed  from  freemen  to  vassals,  and  incited  to  disregard  their  former 
solemn  compacts  and  their  lord  and  master." 

4th,  He  had,  moreover,  discharged  Sheriff  Swart  from  his  oath  of  office,  and 
obliged  him  to  swear  allegiance  to  the  Company ; 

5th,  Demanded  copies  of  all  the  rolls,  protocols,  judgments,  resolutions  and  papers 
relative  to  the  colony  and  its  affairs; 

<ith,  Ordered  his  Commissary  to  force  Van  Slechtenhorst's house,  and  to  toll  the 
bell  at  the  publication  of  his  illegal  placards; 

7th,  Arrested  by  force  and  arms  the  Director  of  the  Colony,  had  him  convey*  'I 
to  the  Manhattans,  where  he  illegally  detained  him  in  custody; 

8th,  Taxed  the  colony  to  swell  the  Company's  revenues,  licensed  those  who  quit 
the  patroon's  service  to  sell  articles  of  contraband  to  the  savages,  and,  in  addition  to 
the  exaction  of  the  tithes,  had  raised  a  tax  by  farming  out  the  excise  on  wines  and 
beers,  "  thus,  in  every  respect  and  everywhere  using  violence  and  infringing  rights, 
jurisdictions  and  pre-eminences,  apparently  determined  to  take  our  goods  and  blood, 
contrary  to  all  laws,  human  and  divine;  declaring,  over  and  above  all  this,  that  lit- 
is continued  in  his  administration  solely  in  the  hope  and  consideration  that  before 
his  departure  he  should  ruin  this  colony." 

The  document  closed  with  avowals  of  their  intention  to  maintain  and 
preserve  their  rights  and  privileges,  and  demanding  that  if  their  op- 
ponents thought  they  had  just  cause  of  complaint,  they  should  appear 
in  any  court  and  make  good  their  claims 


40 

The  reply  by  the  directors  was  vague  and  unsatisfactory,  and,  there- 
fore, the  patroon  and  his  friends  addressed  a  memorial  directly  to  their 
High  Mightinesses,  the  States-General,  demanding  justice  for  their 
cause.  After  some  delay  a  reply  was  received  referring  to  a  part  of  the 
charges  against  Stuyvesant,  and  denying  all  knowledge  of  many  of 
them;  they  knew  nothing  of  the  insult  to  the  patroon's  flag,  of  his 
colonists  having"  been  released  from  their  oaths,  of  his  lots  being  taken 
from  him,  or  of  the  establishment  of  a  court  at  Fort  Orange.  As  to 
cutting  timber,  it  was  taken  from  so  limited  a  section  that  no  one  was 
injured,  while  the  claim  that  the  jurisdiction  of  Fort  Orange  had  been 
extended  was  without  foundation,  as  that  jurisdiction  was  fixed  "before 
the  colony  of  Rensselaerwyck  was  granted."  Gerrit  Swart,  it  was  held, 
had  not  been  discharged  from  his  oath  to  the  patroon,  but  was  simply 
compelled  to  take  a  second  oath  to  the  company.  The  demand  for  the 
rolls  and  other  papers  was  authorized  by  the  charter,  and  as  Van 
Slechtenhorst  would  not  toll  the  bell  for  publication  of  the  placards, 
it  was  clear  that  some  other  person  had  to  do  it,  while  his  arrest  was 
justified  as  a  necessary  disciplinary  measure.  Authorizing  the  sale  of 
arms  to  the  Indians  was  admitted. 

On  the  heels  of  this  attempt  at  justification  of  all  their  acts,  the  di- 
rectors for  the  company  now  assumed  the  offensive  and  presented  to 
the  Amsterdam  government  counter-charges  against  the  Rensselaerwyck 
authorities,  rehearsing  all  the  stock  complaints  with  which  the  reader 
is  now  familiar.  They  had  exceeded  their  limits ;  had  unlawfully  ex 
tended  their  trade  along  the  North  River;  had  refused  passage  to  ves- 
sels by  a  "  certain  house  called  Rensselaers- Stein ;"  had  exacted  seven 
per  cent,  duty  on  each  beaver  and  five  per  cent,  on  other  goods,  "  en- 
forcing these  pretensions  with  cannon  shot,  which  they  discharged  into 
yachts  which  refused  to  come  to;"  they  had  endeavored  "  by  perverse 
machinations  "  to  possess  themselves  of  Fort  Orange,  and  when  un- 
able to  accomplish  this  purpose,  illegally  leased  lots  in  its  vicinity  for 
the  building  of  houses  thereon  ;  had  forbidden  colonists  to  move  within 
the  company's  limits  on  pain  of  corporal  punishment,  confiscation  of 
property  and  banishment;  or  to  cut  wood  for  the  inhabitants  of  Fort 
Orange.  They  had  declined  to  furnish  records  of  their  proceedings  or 
judgments,  or  to  make  returns  of  writs  of  appeal;  to  publish  placards; 
and,  above  all,  the  oath  which  the  colonists  were  compelled  to  take  was 
"seditious  and  mutinous,"  for  no  notice  "  is  taken  therein,  either  of 
their  High  Mightinesses  or  of  the  company."     Continuing  thus: 


ISAAC  W.   YOSBIKGH. 


41 

From  all  which  flow,  as  a  natural  consequence,  an  insolent  and  overbearing  de- 
meanor, on  the  part  of  their  commanders,  to  their  inhabitants;  insufferable  protests, 
injuries,  menaces,  disputes  and  provocations  against  the  Company's  ministers;  and, 
lastly,  a  general  disobedience  of  all  the  Company's  commands  and  ordinances,  to 
such  a  degree  that  they  would  not  permit  the  Director  and  Council  to  proclaim  even 
a  day  of  prayer  in  the  colony  in  the  same  manner  as  in  other  parts  of  New  Nether- 
land. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  that  it  was  the  same  old  difficulty 
and  although  from  this  distance  it  seems  somewhat  insignificant  and 
largely  fought  on  paper,  it  was,  nevertheless,  in  those  times  and  to 
those  people  a  struggle  of  serious  import. 

The  Fort  Orange  limits  were  still  undetermined  in  1654,  and  again 
Stuyvesant  called  on  the  agents  of  the  patroon  to  fix  on  their  "  point  of 
departure,"  so  that  he  might  allow  them  the  charter  stipulation  of  four 
miles  on  one  side  or  two  miles  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  "without  the 
limits  of  Fort  Orange."  The  settlement  of  this  matter  was  further  de- 
layed for  instructions  from  Holland.  Fresh  fuel  was  about  this  time 
added  to  the  old  fire  by  an  order  from  Stuyvesant  to  his  Fort  Orange 
court  to  collect  the  duties  on  all  wines,  beers,  and  spirituous  liquors 
sold  at  retail  "within  a  circuit  of  1,000  rods  of  the  fort."  The  area  in 
dispute  was  extending,  and  the  colony  was  thus  to  be  deprived  of  a  very 
important  source  of  revenue.  Counter  orders  were  given  by  the  pa- 
troon's  officers  for  the  tapsters  to  refuse  to  pay  the  duties,  as  the  gen- 
eral government  had  defrayed  none  of  the  local  expenses. 

By  this  time  Commissary  Dyckman  had  become  insane,  as  his  pre- 
vious conduct  would  seem  to  have  foreshadowed,  and  he  was  succeeded 
in  office  byjohannesde  Decker,  vice-director,  "to  preside  in  Fort  <  >range 
and  village  of  Beverwyck,  in  the  Court  of  Justice  of  the  Commissaries 
aforesaid,  to  administer  all  the  affairs  of  police  and  justice,  as  circum- 
stances may  require,  in  conformity  with  the  instructions  given  by  the 
Director-General  and  Council,  and  to  promote  these  for  the  best  service 
of  the  country  and  the  prosperity  of  the  inhabitants." 

To  enforce  the  collection  of  the  liquor  duties  alluded  to,  tin-  director 
and  council  issued  orders  for  the  arrest  of  the  tapsters.  The  new  offi- 
cial, De  Decker,  accordingly  invited  one  of  them  to  his  house  and  there 
made  him  prisoner.  Officer  and  prisoner  occupied  the  same  bed  the 
ensuing  night,  but  through  the  connivance  of  the  soldier  guard,  the 
tapster  escaped  the  next  morning  and  proceeded  to  the  house  of  the 
patroon.  De  Decker  followed  and  ordered  his  return  to  the  fort. 
which  was  refused.     The  other  tapsters   now   armed    themselves   and 


42 

joined  in  the  common  cause.  Just  as  the  vice- director  was  preparing 
to  execute  the  orders  of  arrest  by  force,  John  B.  Van  Rensselaer  came 
forward  and  volunteered  to  go  to  Manhattan  and  arrange  the  matter 
satisfactorily.  To  avoid  possible  bloodshed  De  Decker  agreed  to  this : 
but  a  few  days  later  another  order  reached  him  to  send  down  the  taps- 
ters without  delay.  He  now  proceeded  to  the  dwellings  of  the  offend- 
ers with  an  armed  squad,  where  he  was  met  by  Van  Rensselaer  and 
others  whom  he  summoned  in  the  name  of  the  director  and  council  to 
accompany  him  to  the  fort.  All  the  tapsters  referred  the  officer  to 
Van  Rensselaer,  who  again  pledged  himself  to  produce  the  tapsters 
whenever  required.  Van  Rensselaer  now  went  to  New  Amsterdam 
and  protested  against  the  course  pursued  by  the  government,  going- 
over  all  the  old  ground  and  adding  such  new  complaints  as  came  to  his 
mind.  However,  to  prevent  further  disturbance  he  would  submit  to 
the  payment  of  the  excise  under  protest,  but  would  not  accede  to  the 
payment  of  the  tenths  demanded,  unless  the  director  and  council  would 
refund  the  money  if  a  decision  against  them  was  ultimately  given. 
This  remonstrance  and  proposal  were  pronounced  frivolous  by  the 
director  and  council:  their  "high  office  and  quality  would  not  permit 
them  to  stoop  so  low  as  to  enter  the  lists  with  their  subjects  and  vas- 
sals, much  less  to  answer  their  frivolous  and  unfounded  protests  with 
a  pusillanimous  diffidence."  Their  duty  was  rather  "  to  correct  such 
absurd  assertions,  and  to  punish  the  offenders,"  wherefore,  as  an  ex- 
ample, the  protestor  was  fined  twenty  guilders.  They  informed  Van 
Rensselaer  that  his  colonists  were  bound  equally  with  other  settlers  in 
the  province  to  contribute  to  the  public  revenue,  and  the  excise  due, 
amounting  to  fifteen  hundred  guilders,  must  be  paid,  with  all  damages 
accrued  from  the  delay.  The  tapsters  must,  moreover,  submit  to  the 
periodical  guaging  of  their  liquors  as  often  as  required,  and  as  John 
Baptiste  Van  Rensselaer  was  to  blame  for  the  resistance  of  the  tavern 
keepers,  he  was  commanded  to  give  a  bond  of  3,000  guilders  for  the 
appearance  of  the  "contumacious  tavern  keepers,"  or  otherwise  to 
remain  at  Manhattan  under  arrest.  The  council  also  insisted  on  the 
payment  of  the  tithes  (tenths),  but  a  stipulated  sum  would  be  ac- 
cepted from  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer  in  lieu  of  these  until  instructions  could 
be  received  from  Holland.  Other  items  in  Van  Rensselaer's  remon- 
strance were  denied  in  general  terms  by  the  director  and  council,  from 
whom  a  proclamation  was  at  once  issued  ordering  all  the  towns  and 
colonies  in  the  province  not  to  remove  their  crops  until  the  tenths  were 


43 

paid  to  the  company's  commissaries.  When  this  document  reached  the 
Rensselaerwyck  authorities  they  refused  to  publish  it. 

At  about  this  time  some  of  the  tapsters  who  had  been  guarantied 
against  loss  by  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer,  proceeded  to  Manhattan  and  were 
there  fined,  one  two  hundred  and  another  eight  hundred  guilders;  both 
of  these  fines  were  subsequently  made  good  by  the  patroon.  The  ques- 
tion of  payment  of  tenths  was  not  finally  setted  until  1658,  when  the 
colony  compounded  for  them  by  the  annual  payment  of  three  hundred 
schepels  of  wheat. 

Father  Isaac  Jogues,  one  of  the  Jesuit  missionaries  mentioned  in  an 
earlier  chapter,  had  labored  among  the  Mohawks  for  three  or  four  years 
during  the  period  treated  in  the  foregoing  pages,  but  was  treachemuslv 
murdered  by  the  Indians  in  October,  1646.  This  chapter  may  In- 
appropriately closed  with  his  written  description  of  Fort  Orange  and 
Rensselaerwyck. 

There  are  two  things  in  this  settlement  .  .  :  1st,  a  wretched  little  fort,  called 
Fort  Orange,  built  of  stakes,  with  four  or  five  pieces  of  cannon  of  Breteuil  and  as 
many  swivels.  This  has  been  reserved,  and  is  maintained  by  the  West  India  Com- 
pany. This  fort  was  formerly  on  an  island  in  the  river;  it  is  now  on  the  mainland 
towards  the  Iroquois,  a  little  above  the  said  island,  2d,  a  colony  sent  here  from 
Rensselaer,  who  is  the  patroon.  This  colony  is  composed  of  about  100  persons,  who 
reside  in  some  twenty  or  thirty  houses  built  along  the  river,  as  each  one  found  it 
most  convenient.  In  the  principal  house  resides  the  patroon's  agent.  The  minister 
has  his  apart,  in  which  service  is  performed.  There  is  also  a  kind  of  bailiff  who  ad- 
ministers justice.  All  their  houses  are  merely  of  boards  and  thatched.  As  yet  there 
is  no  mason  work,  except  the  chimneys.  The  forests  furnish  many  large  pines,  they 
make  boards  by  means  of  their  mills,  which  they  have  for  the  purpose.  They  found 
some  pieces  of  ground  all  ready,  which  the  savages  had  already  prepared,  and  in 
which  they  sow  wheat  and  oats  for  their  beer  and  horses,  of  which  they  have  a  great 
stock.  There  is  little  land  fit  for  tillage,  being  crowded  by  hills,  which  are  a  bad 
soil.  This  obliges  them  to  be  separated  one  from  the  other,  and  they  occupy  already 
two  or  three  leagues  of  territory.  Trade  is  free  to  all.  This  gives  the  Indians  all 
things  cheaper,  each  of  the  Hollanders  outbidding,  and  being  satisfied,  provided  he 
can  gain  some  little  profit. 


44 


CHAPTER   VI. 

Important  changes  were  now  imminent.  Jeremias  Van  Rensselaer 
succeeded  his  brother,  Jan  Baptiste,  as  director  of  the  colony  in  I65K 
and  during  the  succeeding  sixteen  years  conducted  its  affairs  with  dis- 
cretion and  justice  as  far  as  he  was  able.  He  fostered  the  amicable 
relations  of  the  settlers  with  the  Indians,  and  gained  a  large  influence 
with  the  French  who  were  then  firmly  establishing  themselves  to  the 
northward,  thus  laying  the  foundation  of  those  conditions  that  in  later 
years  averted  many  of  the  disastrous  consequences  of  the  war  between 
France  and  England.  Stuyvesant's  use  of  power  had  been  just  what 
might  have  been  foreseen  from  a  man  of  his  attributes  and  sentiments. 
He  was  a  stickler  for  the  law,  his  rights  and  his  dignity.  To  his  mind  all 
power  lay  in  the  executive,  and  on  every  occasion  he  checked  the  lean- 
ings of  the  Dutch  towards  that  partial  freedom  which  they  craved  and 
to  which  they  had  been  accustomed  at  home.  He  denied  the  right  of 
the  people  to  assemble  for  the  propagation  of  measures  for  the  protec- 
tion of  public  liberty.  "  Magistrates  alone,  and  not  all  men,"  he  con- 
tended "  are  authorized  so  to  assemble.  We  derive  our  authority  from 
God  and  the  Company,  not  from  a  few  ignorant  subjects,  and  we  alone 
can  call  the  people  together."  He  thus  assumed  power  and  authority 
which  he  could  not  maintain. 

Since  1654  English  encroachments  upon  the  Dutch,  dating  almost 
from  the  landing  on  Plymouth  Rock,  had  constantly  advanced.  Con- 
necticut was  consolidated  in  April,  1662,  under  a  charter  confirming 
the  system  already  established.  This  charter  came  from  Charles  II 
soon  after  his  restoration,  and  defined  boundaries  and  enlarged  privileges. 
In  March,  1664,  this  sovereign  granted  a  patent  to  his  brother  James, 
Duke  of  York  and  Albany,  for  a  large  part  of  the  present  State  of 
Maine,  with  Nantucket,  Martha's  Vineyard,  and  Long  Island,  and  the 
territory  from  the  west  side  of  the  Connecticut  River  to  the  east  side 
of  Delaware  Bay.  Stuyvesant  resisted  the  pretensions  of  the  English 
as  long  as  he  was  able,  but  was  finally  forced  to  accept  a  compromise 
embodying  mutual  forbearance  and  freedom  for  both  the  English  and 
the  Dutch  towns  respectively  from  interference  from  either  government. 


45 

This  merely  strengthened  the  claim  which  England  had  never  onc< 
linquished  and  left  her  in  possession  of  all  she  had  thus  far  gained. 

In  April,  L664,  a  fleet  of  four  ships,  with  a  force  of  three  to  four 
hundred  men,  under  command  of  Col.  Richard  Nicolls,  acting  as  lien- 
tenant-governor  for  the  duke,  sailed  for  New  England.  Nicolls  was 
accompanied  by  wSir  Robert  Carr,  Sir  George  Cartwright,  and  Samuel 
Maverick,  commissioned  to  settle  all  the  New  England  difficulties,  and 
to  take  possession  of  the  Dutch  province  and  reduce  its  inhabitants  t,, 
obedience.  Arriving  in  Boston  in  July,  the  expedition  sailed  thence 
a  month  later  for  New  Amsterdam.  When  the  English  (lag  ship  sailed 
up  the  beautiful  bay,  Stuyvesant  was  at  Fort  Orange.  He  hastened 
down  the  river  and  on  the  29th  sent  a  deputation  to  Nicolls  demanding 
an  explanation  of  his  intentions.  These  he  very  soon  learned.  New 
Amsterdam  was  practically  defenseless  against  the  invasion  and  surren- 
dered on  the  8th  of  September,  and  Stuyvesant  returned  to  Holland  in 
the  following  year. 

While  warring  with  the  Indians,  vainly  endeavoring  to  subjugate 
Connecticut,  resisting  the  claims  of  the  patroon  of  Rensselaerwvck  and 
quarreling  with  his  immediate  officers,  Stuyvesant  had  been  steadily 
sacrificing  his  own  welfare  and  tenure  of  office.  Nothing  now  remained 
for  the  English  but  to  take  possession,  and  the  colonial  interests 
of  Holland  in  the  New  World  substantially  ceased.  When  Stuyvesanl 
came  into  power  in  1647  the  population  of  New  Netherland  was  only 
about  1,000,  a  falling  off  of  about  2,000  due  to  Kieft's  folly,  while  the 
New  England  colonies  had  increased  in  the  preceding  five  years  to  nearly 
ii0,000.  They  came  slowly  on  toward  Manhattan,  though  more  rapidly 
than  the  increase  of  the  Dutch,  and  began  the  work  that  culminated  in 
American  freedom  a  hundred  years  later. 

The  province  now  had  a  population  of  full  L0,000.  New  Amsterdam 
was  given  the  name  it  has  since  borne— New  York,  while  Fort  Amster- 
dam was  called  Fort  James.  A  trifling  effort  was  made  to  resist  the 
English  on  the  upper  Hudson,  Johannes  de  Decker  having  come  up  the 
river  and  endeavored  to  persuade  the  garrison  at  Fort  <  Grange  to  refuse 
to  surrender,  but  was  unavailing.  While  the  settlers  were  satisfied 
with  their  trade  and  their  farms,  they  did  not  like  the  previous  gov- 
ernment and  its  opposition  to  the  patroon.  They  were  ready  for  a 
change.  On  the  10th  of  September  Nicolls  sent  Sir  George  Cartwright 
with  a  small  company  ot  soldiers  to  Fort  <  'range  with  the  following 
orders ; 


46 

To  the  present  Deputy  Governor  or  the  magistrates  ami  inhabitants  of  Ffort 

A  urania: 

These  are  to  will  and  require  you  and  every  of  you  to  bee  ayding  and  assisting 
Col.  George  Cartwright  in  the  prosecution  of  his  Majesty's  interest  against  all  such 
of  what  nation  so-ever  as  shall  oppose  the  peaceable  surrender  and  quiet  possession 
of  the  ffort  Aurania,  and  to  obey  him,  the  said  George  Cartwright,  according  to  such 
instructions  as  I  have  given  him  in  case  of  the  Mohawks  or  other  Indians  shall  at- 
tempt anything  against  the  lives,  goods  or  chattels  of  those  who  are  now  under  the 
protection  and  obedience  of  his  Majesty  of  Great  Brittaine;  wherefore  you  nor  any 
of  you  are  to  fayle  as  you  will  answer  the  contrary  at  your  utmost  perills. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  att  Ffort  James  in  New  Yorke  on  Manhattans 
Island,  this  10th  day  of  September,  1664.  R.   Nkoi.j.s. 

This  document  was  presented  to  the  vice- director,  John  de  la  Mon- 
tague, on  the  24th  of  that  month,  who  quietly  surrendered  the  fort, 
and  names  of  Beverwyck  and  Fort  Orange  at  once  gave  way  to  Al- 
bany, while  the  fort  was  manned  by  English  soldiers  with  Capt.  John 
Manning  in  command.  Dirck  Van  Schelluyne,  who  had  held  the  office 
for  Beverwyck,  was  made  clerk  of  the  Court  of  Albany  which  Stuy- 
vesant  has  established,  and  Jeremias  Van  Rensselaer  took  the  oath  of 
allegiance  to  King  Charles  II  of  England  and  the  proprietor,  James. 
Governor  Nicolls  reorganized  the  government  himself,  calling  a  con- 
vention for  the  purpose  at  Hempstead  in  March,  1065. 

Upon  this  change  in  the  government  some  difficulty  was  met  in  ob- 
taining a  patent  for  Rensselaer  manor  from  the  duke.  Mr.  Van  Rens- 
selaer was  counseled  by  influential  friends  to  take  out  a  patent  in  his 
own  name,  he  being  qualified  as  a  British  subject  to  hold  real  estate. 
To  his  honor  it  is  recorded  that  he  rejected  the  offer,  for  he  was  only 
co-heir  and  would  not  thus  defraud  his  brothers  and  sisters.  He  was 
a  man  of  great  industry  and  high  intelligence,  and  it  was  he  who  com- 
municated to  Holland  an  account  of  various  occurrences  in  this  countr)r 
under  the  name  of  the  "  New  Netherland  Mercury."  He  died  on  the 
L2th  of  October,  1684. 

On  the  7th  of  August,  1073,  a  fleet  of  twenty-three  Dutch  ships  in  need 
of  wood  and  water,  anchored  just  below  Staten  Island,  the  fleet  being 
under  command  of  Commodores  Cornelius  Evertsen  and  Jacob  Benckes. 
Before  such  a  fleet  Manhattan  Island  was  apparently  defenseless,  infor- 
mation of  which  fact  was  conveyed  to  the  vessels  by  the  Dutch  inhabi- 
tants. The  port  was  then  under  command  of  Capt.  John  Manning, 
captain  of  an  independent  company,  who  on  the  9th  communicated  to 
the  fleet  a  proposal  to  surrender,  whereupon  the  vessels  sailed  up  the 
harbor,  anchored  under  the  fort,  landed   their  crews,  and  entered  the 


47 

works  without  the  firing  of  a  shot  on  either  side.  For  this  surrender 
Manning  was  afterwards  tried  and  condemned.1 

On  the  12th  of  August  the  commodores  organized  a  council  of  war 
consisting  of  Capts.  Anthony  Colve,  Nicholas  Boes,  and  Abraham  Ferd. 
Van  Zyll.  In  the  next  month  Captain  Colve  was  appointed  temporary 
governor  and  the  fleet  proceeded  to  its  destination.  The  inhabitants 
rejoiced,  but  only  for  a  short  time,  for  while  Colve  was  hurriedly  re- 
storing the  Dutch  system,  his  government  came  to  an  abrupt  close. 
New  Netherland  was  conceded  to  the  English  by  the  peace  of  West- 
minster, March  G,  1674,  and  in  June  a  new  patent  was  issued  to  the 
Duke  of  York.  On  the  11th  of  July  Colve  officially  announced  that  he 
must  surrender  the  province  on  a  duly  authorized  demand.  Articles 
of  capitulation  were  signed  September  7;  Fort  Orange  surrendered 
October  5,  and  the  Dutch  and  Swedes  on  South  River  capitulated  Octo- 
ber 12,  and  on  the  10th  of  November  Colve  formally  gave  "  New  Nether- 
lands and  dependencies  "  over  to  "Governor  Major  Edmund  Andros, 
on  behalf  of  His  Brittanic  Majesty."2 

The  administration  of  Andros  was  exceedingly  unpopular.  When  a 
demand  was  made  for  popidar  assemblies,  the  Duke  of  York  wrote 
Andros  that  such  assemblies  were  dangerous,  and  when  he  attempted 
to  force  upon  the  colonists  a  law  of  his  own  manufacture  establishing 
the  customs  rate  for  three  years,  his  subjects  were  bitterly  incensed, 
and  on  the  expiration  of  this  law  the  merchants  refused  to  pay  further 
duties.  The  Duke  of  York  was  now  fearful  that  the  expenses  of  the 
colony  would  come  out  of  his  own  purse  and  sent  out  Colonel  Don- 
gan  as  governor,  with  power  to  convene  a  General  Assembly,  which 
met  at  Fort  James  (New  York)  October  17,  1683,  Dongan  having 
arrived  in  August.  The  first  act  of  this  assembly  was  entitled  "  Char- 
ter of  Liberties  and  Privileges  granted  by  His  Royal  Highness  to  the 
Inhabitants  of  New  York  and  its  dependencies."  which  was  a  step  on- 
ward in  the  march  of  important  events.  The  charter,  in  reality,  '•burst 
the  shell  of  feudalism,"  and  set  forth  the  rights  for  which  the  Dutch 
and  English  colonists  had  striven  for  nearly  half  a  century.  The  death 
of  the  king  raised  doubt  in  Governor  Dongan's  mind  as  to  the  legality 
of  the  first  assembly,  and  he  therefore  issued  writs  for  the  election  ol  a 
new  one,  but  King  James  II,  however,  abolished  the  General  Assembly 

1  The  voluminous  papers  relating  to  this  trial  may  be  found  in  Vol.  mi  oi  Documentary  His- 
tory, pp.  so  99. 

*  See  Vol.  Ill,  Doe.  History,  pp.  67-7:. 


48 

June  HI,  1686.  Among  other  similar  warrants  for  the  assembly  of  1683 
was  one  which  "ordered  that  the  Sheriff  of  Albany  and  Raneelaers 
Colony  cause  the  freeholders  to  meet  and  choose  two  persons  to  be 
their  representatives  in  the  General  Assembly,  to  be  holden  at  the  City 
of  New  York,  October  ye  17th,  1683."  This  warrant  was  served  by 
Richard  Pretty,  an  Englishman,  who  was  sheriff  from  October,  1680, 
to  March,  L691.      He  died  in  1695. 

Among  the  acts  passed  by  the  assembly  was  one  "To  divide  this 
province  and  dependencyes  into  shires  and  countyes  "  "for  the  better 
governing  and  setling  the  courts  in  the  same."  It  was  also  enacted 
"  that  there  shall  be  yearly  and  every  year,  an  High  Sherriffe  consti- 
tuted and  commissionated  for  each  county,  and  that  each  Sherriffe  may 
have  his  Under  Sherriffe  Deputy  or  Deputyes. "  The  act  divided  the 
province  into  twelve  counties,  one  of  which  was  Albany  county.  The 
act  recites : 

The  County  of  Albany  to  contains  the  Towns  of  Albany,  the  Colony  Reuslaerwyck, 
Schenecteda,  and  all  the  villages,  neighborhoods,  and  Christian  Plantacons  on  the 
rast  side  of  Hudson  river  from  Roeloef  Jansen's  Creeke,  and  on  the  west  side  from 
Sawver's  Creeke  to  the  Sarraghtoga. 

It  will  be  seen  that  this  was  a  vast  county,  as  originally  erected.  It 
embraced  all  the  territory  lying  north  of  Ulster  and  west  of  the  Hudson 
River,  taking  in  nearly  the  whole  State;  and  north  of  Dutchess  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Hudson,  including  what  is  now  the  State  of  Vermont. 
That  State  and  the  fifty  counties  of  New  York  State,  excepting  Put- 
nam, Sullivan,  Rockland,  and  a  part  of  Greene  and  Delaware,  were 
formed  from  the  territory  of  the  original  Albany  county.  The  erection 
of  these  various  counties  has  already  been  described  in  an  earlier  chap- 
ter. 

At  the  first  the  county  had  no  towns  with  corporate  limits.  Albany 
was  chartered  by  Governor  Dongan  under  date  of  July  32,  L686,  We 
quote  from  that  charter: 

That  the  said  city  of  Albany,  and  the  compass,  precincts  and  limits  thereof,  and 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  same,  shall  from  henceforth  extend  and  reach  itself,  and 
shall  and  may  be  able  to  reach  forth  and  extend  itself,  as  well  in  length  and  in 
breadth,  as  in  circuit,  on  the  east  by  Hudson's  River,  so  far  as  low  water  mark : 
to  the  south,  by  a  line  to  be  drawn  from  the  southernmost  end  of  the  pasture  at 
the  north  end  of  the  said  island,  called  Martin  Gerritsen's  island,  running  back 
into  the  woods  sixteen  English  miles  due  northwest  to  a  certain  kill  or  creek 
called  the  Sandhill;  on  the  north,  to  a  line  to  be  drawn  from  the  post  that  was 
set  by  Gov.   Stuyvesant,  near  Hudson's  River,  running  likewise  northwest  sixteen 


49 

English  miles;  and  on  the  west,  by  a  straight  line  to  be  drawn  from  the  posit'n  of 
the  said  south  and  north  lines. 

From  Governor  Dongan's  report  to  the  English  Board  of  Trade  mack' 
in  1687,  we  take  the  following: 

The  town  of  Albany  lyes  within  the  Ranslaers'  Colony;  and,  to  sav  the  truth,  the 
Ranslaers  had  the  right  to  it,  for  it  was  they  settled  the  place,  and  upon  a  petition 
of  one  of  them  to  our  present  King,  about  Albany,  the  petitioner  was  referred  to 
his  Majesty's  council  at  law,  who,  upon  a  perusal  of  the  Ranslaers'  papers,  made 
their  return  that  it  was  their  opinion  that  it  did  belong  to  them.  The  town  itself  is 
upon  a  barren  sandy  spot  of  land,  and  the  inhabitants  live  wholly  upon  trade  with 
the  Indians.  I  got  the  Ranslaers  to  release  their  pretence  to  the  town  and  sixteen 
miles  into  the  country  for  commons  to  the  King,  with  liberty  to  cut  firewood  within 
the  colony  for  one  and  twenty  years.  After  I  had  obtained  this  release  of  the  Rans- 
laers I  passed  the  patent  for  Albany. 

Regarding  the  fort  at  Albany  he  wrote  in  the  same  report  as  fol- 
lows : 

At  Albany  there  is  a  fort  made  of  pine  trees  fifteen  foot  high  &  built  over  with 
Hatterys  and  conveniences  made  for  men  to  walk  about,  where  are  nine  guns,  small 
arms  for  forty  men,  four  Barils  of  powder  with  great  and  small  Shott  in  proportion. 
The  Timber  &  Boards  being  rotten  were  renewed  this  year.  In  my  opinion  it 
were  better  that  fort  were  built  up  of  Stone  &  Lime  which  will  not  be  double  the 
charge  of  this  years  repair  which  yet  will  not  last  above  6  or  7  years  before  it  will 
require  the  like  again  whereas  on  the  contrary  were  it  built  of  Lime  &  Stone  it  mav 
be  far  more  easily  maintained,  And  truly  its  very  necessary  to  have  a  Fort  there, 
it  being  a  frontier  place  both  to  the  Indians  and  ffrench. 

At  a  session  of  the  Council  held  at  New  York  city  October  1,  1691, 
there  was  enacted  a  second  "  Bill  for  dividing  this  province  and  de- 
pendancyes  into  shires  and  countyes,"  which  was  principally  in  con- 
firmation of  the  first.  In  reference  to  Albany  county,  "the  town  of 
Albany"  was  omitted;  "  Mannor  of  Ranslaerwyck  "  was  substituted 
for  the  "Collony  of  Ranslaerwyck,"  and  "to  the  uttermost  end  of 
Sarraghtoga,"  for  the  words,  "to  the  Sarraghtoga."  "An  Act  for  an- 
nexing that  part  of  the  Mannor  of  Livingston  which  now  lyes  in 
Dutchess  County,  unto  the  County  of  Albany,"  was  passed  by  the 
Council  May  27,  KIT.  The  division  of  the  Manor  into  two  districts 
and  the  erection  of  the  several  towns  have  already  been  noticed. 
7 


50 


CHAPTER  VII. 

During  the  progress  of  the  events  described  in  the  preceding  chap- 
ter, the  French  had  been  energetically  extending  their  domain,  their 
influence,  and  their  fur  trade  in  Canada  (New  France).  The  same 
causes  that  animated  the  English  also  inspired  the  French  with  an  ar- 
dent desire  for  conquest  in  the  western  world,  and  both  of  these  powers 
fully  realized  the  vital  importance  of  securing  the  allegiance  of  the 
Iroquois  Indians.  With  their  aid  either  nation  might  hope  to  win ; 
without  it  the  one  deprived  must  surely  lose.  When  the  long-con- 
tinued efforts  of  the  French  failed  to  win  the  fealty  of  the  Indians  a 
bloody  and  unavailing  war  was  begun  upon  the  natives  which  con- 
tinued many  years,  with  intervals  of  peace.  As  early  as  1668,  the 
French  minister  in  Canada  was  called  upon  to  furnish  his  government 
with  reasons  for  and  against  war  with  the  Indians.  One  of  his  items 
in  favor  of  war  reads : 

That  the  success  of  the  Expedition  [by  Conrcelles]  against  the  Mohawks  opens 
the  door  for  the  seizure  of  Orange  [Albany]  the  rather  as  the  Dutch  may  be  found 
inclined  to  unite  with  the  [French]  Kings  arms  in  aiding  the  attack  and  capture  of 
that  fort.1 

On  the  other  hand  and  against  war  he  wrote: 

That  the  English  and  Dutch,  who,  up  to  this  time,  have  committed  no  act  of  hos- 
tility, will  possibly  declare  war  against  us  if  they  see  us  destroy  an  Indian  tribe  which 
appears  to  be  under  their  protection.2 

Throughout  the  period  in  which  the  French  were  actively  warring 
upon  the  Indians  Albany  stood  in  fear,  for  the  Dutch  and  English 
clearly  realized  the  jealousy  entertained  by  the  French  of  their  amity 
with  the  Indians  and  their  extensive  fur  trade,  while  the  importance  of 
the  place  from  a  military  standpoint  led  the  inhabitants  to  anticipate 
that  attempts  would  be  made  to  capture  it. 

In  February,  1666,  Courcelles,  then  Governor  in  Canada,  made  an 
unsuccessful  expedition  against  the  Mohawks.  The  following  is  irom 
the  records: 

'  Col.  Doc,  vol.  IX,  ]).  53.        *  Ibid. 


51 

His  forces  came  unwittingly  "  within  two  miles  of  a  small  village  called  Schenec- 
tade,  lying  in  the  woods  beyond  Fort  Albany  in  the  territoryes  of  his  Royall  High- 
ness He  fell  into  an  ambush  and  lost  some  of  his  men.  Seven  who  were  wounded 
were  sent  the  next  day  to  the  village,  where  they  were  carefully  drest  and  sent  to 
Albany.  The  Dutch  bores  carried  to  the  camp  such  provisions  as  they  had,  and 
were  too  well  paid  for  it;  especially  peaz  and  bread,  of  wch  a  good  quantity  was 
bought.  He  inquired  what  garrison  or  fort  was  at  Albany.  'Twas  told  him  a  captain 
and  00  English  Soldyers  with  nine  pieces  of  ordnance  in  a  small  fort  of  four  Bas- 
tions, and  that  the  Captain  thereof,  Capt.  Baker,  had  sent  for  20  men  from  another 
garrison  of  the  King's  at  Sopes. 

The  reader  of  the  Paris  Documents  (vol.  IX,  Col.  Doc.)  will  be  con- 
vinced that  the  capture  of  "  Orange  and  Manatte,"as  Albany  and  New 
York  were  called,  was  continually  contemplated  and  advised  by  the 
French  officials  in  Canada.     M.  Talon  wrote  in  October,  1667: 

The  means,  in  my  opinion,  to  secure  the  whole  Colony  more  effectually  against 
either  the  Europeans  or  the  savages,  would  be  to  give  Manatte  and  Orange  to  the 
King  [the  French  King]  by  conquest  or  acquisition,  as  I  had  the  honor  to  propose 
to  you.1 

Sentiments  thus  expressed  were  persistenly  reinforced  by  complaints 
against  the  English  and  Dutch  for  encroachments  on  French  territory  in 
pursuit  of  the  fur  trade.     M.  Talon's  memoir  of  November,  L670,  says: 

The  English  of  Boston,  and  the  Dutch  of  Manatte  and  of  Orange  who  arc  subject 
to  them,  attract,  by  means  of  the  Iroquois  and  other  Indian  tribes  in  their  neighbor- 
hood, over  twelve  hundred  thousand  livres  of  Beaver,  almost  all  dry  and  in  the  best 
condition.  All  this  Beaver  is  trapped  in  countries  subject  to  the  King.  I  find  con- 
siderable occupation  in  diverting  the  greater  part  of  this  trade,  etc.  2 

Courcelles  wrote  in  1671: 

The  Iroquois,  however,  trade  scarcely  any  with  us,  but  carry  all  their  peltries  to 
New  Netherland.     .     .      Wherefore  some  means  were  sought  a  long   time  ;u 
prevent  the  Iroquois  going  to  New  Netherland  to  trade. :1 

Frontenac  in  1074,  advised  the  French  to  imitate  the  Dutch  and 
English  in  the  fur  trade,  by  designating  the  place  where  the  trade 
should  be  carried  on,  and  "prohibit  it  in  private  settlements;  it  is  thus 
our  neighbors  have  built  up  Manatte  and   Orange." 

On  April  (1,  L672,  Louis  de  Bouade,  Count  de  Frontenac,  was  ap- 
pointed governor  of  Canada,  and  tinder  his  efficient  management  the 
confidence  of  the  colony  was  restored  and  in  1673  a  treaty  of  peace-  was 
made  with  the  Iroquois.      Concerning  this  treaty  he  wrote: 

In  spite  of  the  efforts  of  the  Dutch  to  get  the  Iroquois  to  make  war  on  the  French, 
'Col.    Doc.  vol.   ix,  p.  60.        -IImiI,  p    65.       >  ll>i«l,  p.  119. 


52 

the  Iroquois  came  last  year  on  solem  embassy  to  Montreal ;  brought  eight  children 
belonging  to  the  principal  families  of  their  villages,  and  ratified  the  treaty  made  with 
them  in  1673. 

Another  rupture  took  place  in  1684  between  the  French  and  the  In- 
dians, the  principal  feature  of  which  was  an  expedition  against  the 
Senecas  by  De  la  Barre,  who  had  been  appointed  governor  of  Canada 
in  1082,  but  the  expedition  proved  a  failure.  De  la  Barre  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  Marquis  de  Nonville  in  1G85.  He  made  a  report  on 
the  condition  of  the  country  as  he  found  it,  which  was  replete  with 
the  old  complaints;  the  Dutch  and  English  were  selling  guns  and 
ammunition  to  the  Indians  at  so  low  a  price  that  they  could  obtain 
all  they  wanted  and  thus  be  better  able  to  fight  the  French.  "The 
gain  of  the  merchants  of  Orange  and  Manette,"  he  wrote,  "is  par- 
amount to  every  public  interest."  In  1686  he  wrote  that  Governor 
Dongan  was  giving  away  guns  to  the  Indians  and  advising  them  to 
plunder  the  French  in  the  woods.  In  November  he  wrote  his  govern- 
ment to  send  him  orders,  "for  I  am  disposed  to  go  straight  to  Orange, 
storm  their  fort,  and  burn  their  whole  concern." 

In  1688  a  revolution  placed  William  of  Orange  on  the  English  throne 
and  war  with  France  promptly  followed.  The  Indian  allies  of  the  lat- 
ter were  almost  powerless  against  the  dreaded  Iroquois,  who  harassed 
the  Canadian  settlements  until  the  French  foresaw  defeat.  In  1689 
Count  de  Frontenac  was  again  sent  over;  he  was  an  old  man,  but  vig- 
orous and  capable,  and  revived  the  spirits  of  the  French  settlers.  He 
endeavored  at  first  to  negotiate  a  peace  with  the  Iroquois,  but  failed, 
the  English  being  on  the  ground  and  succeeding  in  retaining  the  good 
will  of  the  Indians.  Albany  was  looked  upon  by  the  English  crown  as 
a  point  of  greatest  importance,  both  in  war  and  in  peace,  and  its  preser- 
vation was  regarded  as  most  essential  to  the  English  cause.  Governor 
Sloughter  wrote: 

If  the  French  should  assault  and  gain  Albany,  all  the  English  colonies  on  both 
sides  of  us  would  be  endangered.  For  we  have  nothing  but  that  place  that  keeps 
our  Indians  steady  to  us,  and  the  loss  of  that  must  be  the  loss  of  all  the  King's  in- 
terest on  this  continent. 

But  the  war  was  upon  them.  At  a  meeting  held  at  Albany,  Novem- 
ber 24,  1689,  there  were  present,  "Ye  Commissioners  for  ye  Citty  and 
County  of  Alb.  advysing  with  Sundrey  officers  of  ye  militia  There." 
It  was 

Resolved,  That  ye  following  Persones  be  commissionated,  vizt.  :  Captain   Jochim 


53 

Staets  Cornclr.  of  Fort  Orange  always  to  keep  under  command  in  s'1  fort  sixty  men; 
Lieut.  Jonathan  wrigt;  Ens:  John  Hater.  For  the  city  of  albany,  Pieter  minne, 
Toune  Major,  Capt.  Johannis  wendel,  Melgert  Wynants,  Ens:  Regnier  Barentse, 
Capt.  Pieter  van  waggden,  Leift.  Robt.  Sanders,  Ens:  Joh:  Bleeker,  Junr  Capt. 
Barnet  Liewis,  Leift.  Marte  Klock,  Ens.  For  the  County  of  Albany.  Capt.  Martin 
gerritse,  Lieut.  Evert  d'Ridder,  Ens:  Zymon  van  ness,  Capt.  Alexander  glen,  Leift 
Johannis  glen,  Ens:  douwe  Aukus,  Capt.  Johannis  Bensing,  Leift.  Andries  Bar- 
rentse,  Ens.  Johannis  Janse. 

Ordered  That  ye  aforesaid  Commissionated  officers  now  are  Established,  and  shall 
from  this  time  forth  Remaine  and  be  in  full  Power  &  v  Authority,  &  y  Authority 
for  ye  Militia  of  this  &  County.  To  act  &  to  doe  in  all  matters  and  things  relating 
Militarie  affaires,  according  to  y°  Rules  &  decipline  of  war,  until,  further  order  from 
his  Majestie  King  William  of  England,  Scotland,  French  &  Ireland,  &c. 

Failing-  in  his  efforts  to  make  peace  with  the  Iroquois,  Frontenac 
opened  a  vigorous  campaign.  He  visited  Schenectady  with  torch  and 
tomahawk  on  the  night  of  February  9,  1690;  defended  Montreal  suc- 
cessfully against  Major  Peter  Schuyler  in  the  same  year  and  at  all 
points  actively  served  his  country.  But  it  was  a  losing  cause;  the 
French  were  hindered  from  tilling  their  lands  and  from  reaping  what 
they  had  sown;  their  fur  trade  was  ruined  by  the  Indians  who  took 
possession  of  the  passes  between  them  and  their  allies  to  the  west- 
ward; and  worse  than  all  else,  a  terrible  famine  followed,  causing 
great  suffering. 

Important  as  it  was  in  some  respects,  Albany  was  at  this  time  ( L689) 
according  to  Broadhead,  "not  much  more  than  a  large  stockaded  vil- 
lage, of  which  the  two  chief  streets  crossed  each  other  at  right  angles. 
The  one  '  Handelaer's  Straat,'  or  Market  street,  ran  nearly  north  and 
south,  skirting  the  river,  proverbially  apt  to  overflow  its  banks  in  times 
of  great  floods.  The  other,  running  about  east  and  west,  a  little  way 
up  a  steep  hill,  was  called  '  Yonkheer's  Straat,'  now  known  as  State 
street.  About  half  way  up  the  hill  stood  the  fort,  just  outside  one  of 
the  city  gates." 

In  July,  1691,  Governor  Sloughter  made  a  visit  to  Albany,  concern- 
ing which  he  wrote: 

I  returned  from  Albany  on  the  27th  past,  where  1  left  all  things  in  good  posture, 
and  with  much  difficulty  have  secured  the  Indians.  I  found  that  place  in  great  dis- 
order, our  plantations  and  Schenectady  almost  ruined  and  destroyed  by  the  enemys 
dureing  the  time  of  the  late  confusion  there.  I  have  garrisoned  Schnectady  and 
the  Halfe  Moon  with  some  of  the  hundred  fusileers  raised  by  our  Assembly;  the  re- 
mainder, with  one  of  the  King's  Cotnpanys,  are  posted  at  Albany 

In  1693  Frontenac,  in  his  desperation,  organized  a  raid  into  the  Mo- 


54 

hawk  country,  but  its  cost  outweighed  its  advantages.  In  June  of  this 
year  the  governor  held  another  council  with  the  Indians  at  Albany, 
and  by  bountiful  presents  and  flattering  words,  retained  their  good 
will.  The  sum  of  ,£1,500  having  been  appropriated  for  the  repair  of 
Fort  Orange,  in  September,  1693,  500  new  palisades  "were  sett  up 
against  the  old  Stockadoes. " 

This  period  of  war  closed  with  the  treaty  of  Ryswyck  made  in  July, 
1G98.  The  Earl  of  Bellomont  was  then  governor  of  the  province  of 
New  York.  To  him  the  Common  Council  of  Albany  addressed  the 
following  document  on  the  2d  of  August,  1698: 

The  Common  Council  are  unanimously  of  the  opinion  to  address  his  Excell.  the 
Earl  of  Bellomont  on  the  following  heads: 

1.  To  thank  his  Lordship  for  bringing  ye  joyfull  news  of  yc  Peace. 

2.  To  acquaint  his  Lordship  ye  great  hardships  this  poor  Citty  has  labored  under 
for  these  9  years  dreadful  and  bloody  warr;  during  which  time  they  have  not  only 
been  at  an  Excessive  Charge  and  Expense  in  quartering  ye  officers  and  souldiers 
sent  hither  from  time  to  time,  but  have  been  obliged,  for  their  own  security,  to 
fortify  >"'  towne  twice  with  Palesadoes,  and  build  5  block  houses,  all  at  their  own 
charge,  which  hath  so  much  impoverished  ye  Inhabitants  y*  most  have  deserted. 

3.  That  this  Citty  doth  wholly  rely  and  depend  upon  yc  Indian  Trade,  upon  which 
account  it  was  first  settled,  and  have  obtained  a  Charter  whereby  ye  Sole  trade  with 
ye  Indians  is  confined  within  yp  walls  of  sd  Citty,  doth  therefore  humbly  addresse  his 
Ldp  to  protect  and  defend  them  in  there  Rights  and  Priviledges,  and  doe  thank  his 
Ldp  for  his  great  trouble  and  care  in  treating  with  y  5  nations  for  ye  Public  good 
and  advantage  to  this  Citty,  and  doe  further  return  there  best  thanks  for  ye  good 
Instructions  his  L'p  lies  been  pleased  to  give  them,  assuring  his  Iy'p  that  they  will 
not  be  wanting  in  useing  there  utmost  endeavors  to  unite  all  parties,  and  restore  this 
Citty  to  its  Priviledges  and  Rights ;  that  they  will  also  observe  all  y  oycr  articles  Men- 
tioned in  his  Lap's  instructions. 

The  serious  consequences  of  this  war  upon  Albany  county  are  shown 
by  the  census  taken  soon  after  its  close.  The  population  was  reduced 
from  602  men,  340  women,  and  1,014  children  in  1689,  to  382  men,  262 
women  and  805  children  in  1098.  Of  the  number  of  men  given,  eighty- 
four  had  been  killed. 

Governor  Fletcher's  report  on  the  state  of  the  militia  in  the  province 
made  in  April,  1693,  contains  the  following  items  of  interest  in  this 
connection : 

•  •  The  Militia  of  the  County  of  Albany,  commanded  by  Major  Peter  Schuyler,  being 
five  companies  of  Foot  and  one  Troop  of  Horse,  now  formed  into  Dragoons  by  the 
Governor,  consisting  of  359."     The  aggregate  in  the  Province  was  2,932. 

"  In  the  List  of  the  Officers  of  the  Militia  in  the  Province  of  New  York,"  made  in 
November,  1700,  in  the  time  of  Governor  Bellomont,  the.  officers  of  the  Regiment  of 


55 

Militia  in  the  City  and  County  of  Albany,  is  given  as  follows:  Field  Officers — Peter 
Schuyler,  Colonel;  — ,  Lieutenant-Colonel;    Dyrck  Wessels,  Major. 

Of  a  Foot  Company  in  the  City  of  Albany.  Commissioned  Officers — Johanni  s 
Bleeker,  Captain;  Johannes  Rosebaum,  Lieutenant;  Abra.  Cuyler,  Ensign. 

Of  another  Foot  Company  in  the  said  City:  Albert  Rykman,  Captain  ;  Wessel  Ten 
Brock,  Lieutenant ;  Johannes  Thomasse,  Ensign. 

Of  another  Foot  Company  in  said  County:  Martin  Cornelisse,  Captain;  Andries 
Douw,  Lieutenant;  Andris  Koyman,  Ensign. 

Of  another  Foot  Company  in  said  County:  Gerrit  Teunisse,  Captain  ;  Jonas  Douw, 
Jochem  Lamerse,  Lieutenants;  Volckhart  V.  Hoesem,  Abra.  Hause,  Ensigns. 

Of  the  Troop  of  Horse  in  ye  said  Regiment:  Kilian  Van  Renslaer,  Captain;  Jo- 
hannes Schuyler,  Lieutenant;  BennoneV.  Corlaer,  Cornet:  Anthony  Bries,  Quarter- 
master.    This  Regiment  consists  of  Three  hundred  and  Seaventy-ouc  men. 

Peace  was  short-lived.  What  is  known  as  Queen  Anne's  war  broke  out 
in  Etirope  in  1702,  and  continued  during  the  next  eleven  years.  Blood 
flowed  in  nerly  every  village  and  valley  of  New  England.  The  French, 
and  such  allied  Indians  as  they  could  secure,  apparently  strove  to  out- 
do each  other  in  deeds  of  atrocity,  until  it  at  last  became  apparent  that 
Canada  must  be  subdued  at  all  hazards. 

During  the  short  peace  that  preceded  this  war  the  soldiers  at  Albany 
appear  to  have  been  much  neglected.  In  1700  Governor  Belloniont 
wrote: 

"  Some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Albany  who  are  now  here  [New  York  city]  tell  me  the 
Soldiers  there  in  Garrison  are  in  that  shameful  and  miserable  condition  for  the  want 
of  Cloaths,  that  the  like  was  never  seen."  Even  the  Indians  were  disgusted  as  they 
observed  their  situation.  The  Governor  continues:  "Persons  assure  me  that  sonic  of 
the  old  crafty  sachems  of  the  Five  Nations  have  asked  'em  whether  they  thought  'em 
such  fooles  as  to  believe  our  King  could  protect  'em  from  the  French  when  he  was 
not  able  to  Keep  his  Soldiers  in  a  Condition  as  those  in  Canada  are  Kept." 

In  October  of  the  same  year  the  governor  again  visited  Albany. 
The  two  companies  then  garrisoned  there  were  under  command  of 
Major  Ingoldsby  and  Captain  Weems.      The  governor  writes: 

I  never  in  my  life  saw  so  moving  a  sight  as  that  of  the  Companies  at  Albany; 
half  the  men  were  without  breeches,  shoes  and  stockings  when  they  mustered.  I 
thought  it  shameful  to  the  last  degree  to  see  English  soldiers  so  abused.  They  had 
liked  to  have  mutinied. 

He  also  reported  the  fort  as  "  scandalous]}-  weak,"  and  added: 

The  inhabitant--  came  all  about  me  at  my  leaving  Albany,  and  told  me  in  plain 
terms  that  if  the  King  would  not  build  a  fort  there  to  protect  'em,  they  would,  on 
the  first  news  of  war  between  England  and  France  desert  the  place  and  fly  to  New 
York  rather  than  they  would  stay  there  to  have  their  throats  cut.  There  arc  half  a 
dozen  at  Albany  who  have  competent  estates,  but  all  the  rest  arc  miserable  j" 


56 

At  this  time  the  city  and  county  of  Albany  furnished  371  men  under 
command  of  Dirck  Wessells,  major.  In  1702  Colonel  Schuyler's  Albany 
county  militia  regiment  was  pronounced  in  pretty  good  condition,  ow- 
ing to  his  care.  The  condition  of  the  Albany  fort  may  be  inferred  from 
what  Cornbury  wrote  in  July,  1702.  He  said  he  found  the  works  "in 
a  miserable  condition,  the  stockadoes  about  all  roten  to  such  a  degree 
that  I  can  with  ease  push  them  down."  In  anticipation  of  an  invasion 
from  Montreal,  some  insignificant  efforts  were  made  in  1704,  to  repair 
tho  old  fort  by  putting  up  new  palisades.  The  new  fort  was  begun, 
but  for  want  of  money  was  left  incomplete  and  was  not  finished  until 
1735. 

An  invasion  of  Canada  was  planned  in  1700  under  command  of  Col. 
Francis  Nicholson,  for  which  the  troops  were  assembled  in  Albany. 
Under  the  potent  influence  of  Peter  Schuyler  the  Five  Nations  sent  in 
five  hundred  warriors  to  join  the  expedition.  The  plans  involved  an 
attack  on  Quebec  by  water  and  a  simultaneous  assault  on  Montreal  by 
way  of  Lake  Champlain.  A  military  road  had  been  opened  at  the  expense 
of  New  York  from  Schuylerville  to  the  lake  by  way  of  Fort  Edward 
and  Wood  Creek.  Three  small  forts  on  the  way  had  been  built,  the 
middle  one  of  which  was  Fort  Ann.  Leaving  Albany  the  army  en- 
camped at  this  fort  and  awaited  news  from  the  naval  expedition  against 
Quebec.  When  they  learned  that  that  expedition  had  been  sent  to 
Spain,  the  discouraged  army  returned  to  Albany,  their  mission  unac- 
complished. 

The  French  were  not  particular  as  to  the  means  adopted  to  defeat 
their  enemies.  They  hoped  much  from  the  native  savagery  of  the  In- 
dians. In  June,  1708,  M.  de  Pontchartrain  wrote  from  France  to  M. 
Ridout  in  Canada : 

It  is  in  no  way  advisable  that  the  Indians  visit  Orange  and  other  English  settle- 
ments, and  an  effort  should  be  made  to  excite  a  vigorous  and  general  war  between 
these  Indians  and  the  English. 

The  French  authorities  on  this  side  did  not  agree  with  these  propo- 
sitions. In  November  of  that  year  M.  de  Vaudreuil  wrote  De  Pont- 
chartrain, giving  his  reasons  for  not  having  sent  expeditions  against 
Fort  Orange  and  New  York.  He  said  he  had  "  promised  the  Iroquois 
not  to  do  so,  as  these  nations,  however  friendly  they  be  to  us,  are  still 
more  so  to  the  Dutch. " 

The  English  now  saw  more  clearly  than  ever  before  that  until  the 
French  power  in  Canada  was  wholly   extingitished  there   coidd  be  no 


BbNJAMIN   MARSH, 


57 

lasting  peace.  It  was  to  secure  from  the  crown  more  liberal  support 
and  create  a  favorable  influence  towards  the  Iroquois  that  Colonel 
Schuyler,  with  five  Indian  Sachems,  journeyed  to  England  in  b710. 
Through  bis  influence  a  fleet  bearing  5,000  troops  was  sent  over  to  aid 
in  subjugating  the  French.  On  the  last  day  of  July,  1710,  a  fleet  of 
twelve  men-of-war,  and  forty-six  smaller  vessels  left  Boston,  with 
Montreal  as  its  destination.  There  this  force  was  to  be  met  by  a  strong 
army  from  Albany  under  General  Nicholson.  The  latter  force  con- 
sisted of  about  2,000  English,  1,000  Germans  and  800  Indians;  these 
moved  in  the  latter  part  of  August,  1711,  from  Albany  towards  Lake 
Champlain.  In  the  mean  time  the  English  fleet  met  with  disaster, 
eight  transports  with  800  men  went  to  the  bottom,  and  the  remainder 
returned  to  England.  AVhen  news  of  this  misfortune  reached  Nichol- 
son he  ordered  his  army  back  to  Albany  and  the  French  remained  un- 
molested for  many  years.  A  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  April  11,  1711, 
at  Utrecht,  which  secured  the  Protestant  succession  to  the  throne  of 
England,  the  separation  of  the  French  and  Spanish  crowns,  the  en- 
largement of  the  British  colonies  in  America  and  full  satisfaction  from 
France  of  the  claims  of  the  allies,  England,  Holland  and  Germany. 
The  French  acknowledged  the  Iroquois  as  British  subjects: 

The  following  record  shows  the  military  condition  of  Albany  just  on  the  eve  of  tin- 
preparation  for  this  last  expedition. 

May  20,  1711,  Robert  Hunter,  Captain-General  and  Governor-in- Chief  of  the  Prov- 
ince of  New  York,  called  the  troops  from  Albany  to  the  Manor  of  Livingston,  and 
directed  that  the  Militia  of  Albany  be  called  to  arms  to  protect  that  city  in  the  ab- 
sence of  the  garrison.  Accordingly,  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen  met  May  21,  1711,  and 
sent  the  following  letter  to  his  Excellency. 

"  Albany,  y'  21st  of  May,  1711 
"  May  it  please  your  Ex'cy. 

"Your  Ex'cys  Letter  dated  yesterday  we  recdys.  day,  and  in  Obedience  thereof, 
we  have  forthwith  procured  a  Sloop  for  ye  transportation  of  y'  Troops  here,  and  de- 
sired Peter  Schuyler,  Esqr.,  Collo  of  the  militia  Regiment  of  y  Citty&  County,  that 
lie  will  emmediately  order  ye  militia  of  this  Citty  to  Come  in  Arms  to  take  care  <>(  y 
fort  and  this  place  during  y'  absence  of  y'  s'1  troops;  who  returned  answer  that  he 
would  comply  therewith.     So  remain  in  all  sincerity, 

••  May  it  please  your  Ex'cy, 
"Your Ex'cys  most  obedient  and  humble  servants. 

This  was  signed  by  the  Mayor,  Recorder,  and  Aldermen. 

The  treaty  of  Utrecht  was  an  imperfect  one  under  the  circumstam 
it  left  the  question  of  boundaries  largely  undefined,  leading  to  endless 
complaints  and  recriminations  between  the  two  rivals  on  this  continent, 


58 

while  the  former  methods  of  gaining-  Indian  friendship  and  trade  soon 
came  into  practice.  The  Iroquois  could  not  be  deterred  from  encroach- 
ments upon  their  old  enemies,  to  which  they  were  doubtless  incited  to 
some  extent  by  the  English.  The  French  established  a  trading  post 
at  Niagara  in  1720,  against  the  protestations  of  Governor  Burnet  of 
New  York.  In  retaliation  he  established  one  at  Irondequoit  Bay  in  the 
next  year.  In  the  mean  time  the  New  York  legislature  passed  a  law 
forbidding  colonists  from  supplying  the  French  with  Indian  goods. 
In  retaliation  the  French  incited  their  allies  to  the  northward  to  drive 
the  English  traders  from  their  country.  "  Since  the  close  of  October, 
1723,"  wrote  De  Vaudreuil  in  November,  1724,  "  the  Abenakis  did  not 
cease  harassing  the  English  with  a  view  to  force  them  to  quit  their 
country."  1 

In  1726  the  English  took  an  important  step  in  the  building  of  a  for- 
tified post  at  Oswego,  thus  establishing  their  hold  upon  a  point  that 
was  to  become  of  the  highest  importance  during  all  the  succeeding 
years  until  the  American  colonies  gained  their  freedom.  On  the  9th  of 
May,  1726,  Governor  Burnet  wrote  the  Board  of  Trade: 

I  have  this  spring  sent  up  workmen  to  build  a  stone  house  of  strength  at  a  place 
called  Oswego,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Onondage  river  where  our  principal  trade  with 
the  far  Nations  is  carried  on.  I  have  obtained  the  consent  of  the  Six  Nations  to 
build  it. 

The  governor  learned  that  a  party  of  French  was  going  up  to  Niag- 
ara, and  he  feared  they  might  interfere  with  the  work  at  Oswego.  He 
therefore  sent  "a  detachment  of  sixty  souldiers  with  a  Captain  and 
two  Lieutenants,  to  protect  the  building." 

The  French  did  not  love  Governor  Burnet  nor  look  kindly  upon  his 
operations  at  Oswego.  The  fact  is  they  were  forestalled  in  what  they 
undoubtedly  intended  to  do  themselves.  In  1727  the  Marquis  de  Beau- 
harnois  (then  governor-general  of  Canada)  wrote  Burnet,  strongly 
condemning  him  for  building  the  works  at  Oswego:  said  he,  "I  look 
upon  that  measure  as  a  manifest  infraction  of  the  treaty  of  Utrecht." 
Louis  XV  wrote  Beauharnois  that  he  "must  always  have  in  view  the 
expulsion  of  the  English  from  their  fort  on  the  river  Choueguen  "  (the 
French  name  of  Oswego). 

In  spite  of  all  these  hostile  operations,  disregard  of  treaty  obligations 
petty  encroachments,  and  antagonistic  measures,  the  two  countries  re- 
mained nominally  at  peace  until  1744.      A  quarrel  arose  between   King 

'Col.  Doc,  vol.  IX,  p.  936, 


59 

George  II  of  England  and  the  French  king,  respecting  the  claims  of 
Maria  Theresa  to  the  Austrian  throne.  The  foreign  entanglement, 
although  not  of  the  slightest  interest  to  the  colonists  on  this  side  of  the 
water,  involved  them  in  the  war  that  followed,  which  was  known 
as  King  George's  war,  the  declaration  of  which  was  made  March 
15,  1744,  by  France.  Three  months  later  the  news  reached  Albany 
and  again  the  inhabitants  were  excited  and  filled  with  anxious  fore- 
bodings. Governor  Clinton  visited  the  place  and  held  a  successful 
conference  with  the  chiefs  of  the  Six  Nations,  cementing  their  friend- 
ship for  the  English  and  cautioning  them  against  the  wiles  of  the 
French.  He  sent  to  Albany  six  18-pounder  cannon  with  a  supply  of 
ammunition  and  other  military  stores.  While  the  governor  was  mak- 
ing preparations  for  an  attack  upon  Crown  Point,  the  French  and  In- 
dians descended  upon  old  Saratoga  (now  Schuylerville),  burning  the 
fort  and  twenty  houses,  killing  about  thirty  persons  and  carrying  away 
eighty  prisoners.  Excitement  ran  high  in  Albany.  Refugees  came  in 
large  numbers  and  soldiers  were  quartered  in  the  place.  Two  com- 
panies of  His  Majesty's  fusileers  were  sent  to  Albany  and  the  Indians 
were  kept  in  readiness  for  an  expected  attack.  Through  the  influ- 
ence of  Sir  William  Johnson  the  Mohawks  in  August,  1746,  agreed  to 
take  up  again  the  hatchet  against  the  French.  Later  in  that  year  Gov- 
ernor Clinton  sent  five  additional  companies  of  soldiers  to  Albany, 
while  Massachusetts  and  New  York  made  active  war  preparations,  col- 
lecting troops  and  munitions  at  Albany.  The  campaign  continued  in 
1747;  troops  were  sent  from  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey  and  other  prov- 
inces, with  Albany  as  a  center  of  operations.  The  later  events  of  this 
war  are  not  of  paramount  interest  for  these  pages.  Albany  suffered 
little  from  the  strife;  indeed  the  traders  there  had  made  considerable 
profit  during  its  progress.  The  war  was  concluded  October  is,  1  ;  18, 
by  the  treaty  of  Aix  la-Chapelle. 

It  would  seem  to  have  been  a  part  of  the  plan  of  the  Almighty  that 
this  country  should  not  pass  under  French  dominion,  but  should  be 
preserved  for  the  descendants  of  the  Pilgrims  and  the  English  immi- 
grants who  came  after  them.  After  a  few  years  of  peace  the  war  that 
was  to  settle  finally  this  matter  was  begun  under  a  declaration  from 
England  made  May  17,  1756,  which  was  followed  by  a  similar  one  from 
France  on  the  9th  of  the  following  month.  From  the  date  of  the  cap- 
ture of  Louisburg  in  1745  the  French  had  extended  and  strengthened 
their  domain,  and  the  treat)-  of  1!  18   found   them  with  a  population   of 


60 

about  100,000,  and  with  a  line  of  posts  from  Nova  Scotia  to  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico.  They  soon  became  aggressive.  Trade  interests  were  con- 
stantly clashing,  and  the  stake  as  a  whole  was  a  magnificent  one  for 
the  conqueror.  Uncertainty  as  to  the  fealty  and  action  of  the  Indians 
also  continued  an  unceasing  cause  of  anxiety  and  jealousy.  The  French 
determined  to  hold  control  of  the  Ohio  River  region,  and  when  the 
English  attempted  to  build  a  fort  at  the  forks  of  that  stream,  the 
French  seized  the  place  and  finished  the  fort — Fort  Duquesne. 

The  details  of  this  war  belong  to  and  are  found  in  general  history, 
rendering  it  unnecessary,  as  it  is  impracticable,  to  follow  them  fully  in 
this  work;  but  their  relation  to  Albany  county  may  be  briefly  de- 
scribed. 

On  the  28th  of  August,  1754,  a  body  of  Indian  allies  of  the  French 
invaded  this  province,  burned  the  buildings  of  some  Hoosick  settlers 
and  took  back  as  prisoners  to  Canada  about  sixty  of  the  Schaghticoke 
Indians.  Lieutenant  Governor  De  Lancey  now  ordered  the  fort  at 
Albany  to  be  fully  repaired;  he  sent  a  company  of  soldiery  to  the  fort 
from  New  York  and  ordered  that  two  hundred  men  from  each  regi- 
ment of  militia  near  Albany  should  be  in  readiness  to  march  to  the 
city  at  short  notice. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Common  Council  held  May  29,  1753,  the  follow- 
ing petition  was  sent  to  Governor  De  Lancey: 

That  the  City  of  Albany  is  a  frontier  town,  and  the  defense  thereof  is  of  great 
consequence  to  the  safety  of  the  whole  province  in  case  of  War  with  the  French  ; 
that  the  city  is  altogether  undefensable,  exposed  to  the  incursions  of  any  enemy,  and 
the  corporation,  by  reason  of  the  heavy  debt  they  are  under,  occasioned  by  the  great 
expense  we  were  at  during  the  late  war,  and  no  wise  able  to  fortify  the  city  unless 
assisted  by  a  provincial  Tax;  and  whereas,  your  Excellencies  have  prepared  a 
petition  to  be  laid  before  the  General  Assembly,  praying  they  would  be  pleased  to 
lay  a  tax  of  ^6,000  on  estates  throughout  this  province  to  defray  the  expense  of 
building  a  wall  with  bastions  or  batteries  at  convenient  distances,  for  the  defence  of 
said  city  and  security  of  the  province. 

The  document  closes  with  a  prayer  that 

His  Excellency  will  recommend  to  the  General  Assembly,  in  the  most  pressing 
terms  that  you  think  proper,  to  raise  the  sum  to  £6,000  for  defraying  the  expense  of 
said  Wall. 

Similar  application  was  made  by  the  Common  Council  for  better  pro- 
tection in  May,  175G.  During  all  of  this  war  period  (about  nine  years) 
many  troops  were  quartered  in  and  near  Albany.  In  1756  an  ordinance 
was  adopted  by  the  Common  Council  forbidding  all  tavern  keepers  and 


61 

all  other  persons  from  selling-  liquor  to  an)-  of  His  Majesty's  troops  0r 
harboring-  an}'  of  them  after  9  o'elock  p.  ,\i.  At  that  time  there  was  a 
regiment  encamped  on  the  hill  about  on  the  site  of  the  old  Capitol. 
When  General  Abercrombie  was  here  in  1756  it  is  believed  that  10,000 
troops  were  encamped  near  by  on  both  banks  of  the  river.  The  dusky 
Indians  mingled  with  the  gaily-uniformed  soldiers,  martial  music  re- 
sounded on  all  sides,  and  flags  floated  over  the  scene.  Business  was 
active,  especially  in  furnishing  supplies  of  every  kind  to  the  army. 

The  principal  events  of  this  war  were:  The  abortive  effort  to  capture 
Fort  Niagara  and  Crown  Point  in  1755  by  Governor  Shirley  and  Sir 
William  Johnson  respectively;  the  attempts  made  against  Fort  Du- 
quesne,  a  second  against  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga,  and  a  third 
against  Niagara  in  1756,  all  of  which  were  comparative  failures;  the 
capture  of  Oswego  by  Montcalm  in  that  year;  the  capture  of  Fort 
William  Henry  on  Lake  George  by  Montcalm  in  l?r)';  ;  the  campaigns 
of  1758,  involving  successes  by  the  English  at  Louisburg,  Fort  Du- 
quesne  and  Fort  Frontenac,  the  reoccupation  of  Oswego,  and  the  de- 
feat of  the  English  under  Abercrombie  at  Ticonderoga  by  Montcalm; 
the  capture  of  Niagara  in  175'.)  by  the  English,  the  fall  of  Quebec  in 
September  of  that  year,  and  the  final  surrender  of  Montreal  and  all 
other  French  posts  in  1760,  ending  French  power  in  America  forever. 

During  this  war  Albany  was  a  center  of  military  activity.  The  ex- 
peditions of  1755  and  1750  started  from  there  and  included  Albany 
soldiers,  among  whom  was  the  brave  Schuyler.  During  the  winter  of 
L 755-6  the  preparations  for  an  expedition  against  Niagara  in  the  fol- 
lowing spring  went  forward  at  Albany.  There  General  Winslow  made 
his  rendezvous  with  7,000  men,  waiting  the  dilatory  steps  of  Lord 
Loudon,  then  commander  of  the  English  forces.  The  delay  gave  the 
gallant  Montcalm  opportunity  to  capture  the  forts  at  Oswego,  which  he 
held  until  1757.  At  Albany  also  were  gathered  the  troops  for  the  ex- 
pedition against  Crown  Point  under  Sir  William  Johnson  in  1755.  This 
expedition  abounded  in  brilliant  and  stirring  events,  including  the 
death  of  Dieskau,  the  French  commander.  Johnson  was  a  man  of 
ardent  temperament,  energetic  and  active,  and  when  he  was  delayed  by 
various  causes  he  complained  bitterly  of  the  people  at  Albany.  Under 
date  of  September  6  he  wrote: 

Our  expedition  is  likely  to  be  extremely  distressed  and,  I  fear,  fatally  retarded  for 
the  want  of  wagons.  The  people  of  Albany  county  and  the  adjacent  counties  bide 
their  wagons  and  drive  away  their   hoist-       Most   of  the   wagoners   taken   into  the 


62 

service  have  deserted;  some  horses  are  quite  jaded  and  some  few  killed  by  the 
enemy,  and  several  run  away.     Most  of  our  provisions  are  at  Albany. 

And  again  he  wrote:  "Those  people  are  so  devoted  to  their  own 
private  Profit  that  every  other  public  Principle  has  ever  been  sacrificed 
to  it."  1 

On  account  of  the  many  discouraging  circumstances  Johnson  re- 
turned to  Albany  for  that  winter,  after  having  built  Fort  William 
Henry  and  garrisoned  it  with  six  hundred  men. 

The  advance  of  Montcalm  upon  Fort  William  Henry  in  1757  caused 
much  alarm  and  excitement  in  Albany.  Oswego  had  fallen,  an  event 
which  Johnson  characterized  as  "a  mortal  wound."  Montcalm  had 
already  shown  his  military  genius  and  his  tireless  energy,  and  his  ap- 
proach upon  any  point  justified  alarm.  The  slaughter  of  the  garrison 
of  Fort  William  Henry  after  its  capture,  by  the  Indians  under  Mont- 
calm, which  the  French  general  has  in  vain  attempted  to  justify,  added 
to  the  anxious  forebodings  of  the  inhabitants  of  Albany  and  its  vicinity. 
Frontier  settlers  came  to  the  city  in  great  numbers. 

In  Col.  John  Bradstreet's  memorable  expedition  against  Fort  Fronte- 
nac  in  the  summer  of  1758,  soldiers  from  Albany  county  participated. 
Among  the  officers  were  Captains  Peter  Yates  and  Goosen  Van  Schaick 
of  Albany,  the  latter  becoming  in  later  years  a  colonel  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary army.  Bradstreet  captured  the  fort,  thus  rendering  easier 
the  seizure  of  Fort  Duquesne  and  hastening  the  end.  These  events 
raised  a  cry  for  peace  throughout  Canada,  the  resources  of  which  coun- 
try were  nearly  exhausted.  "  I  am  not  discouraged,"  wrote  the  brave 
Montcalm,  in  evident  disappointment,  "nor  my  troops.  We  are  re- 
solved to  find  our  graves  under  the  ruins  of  the  colon}-."  He  foresaw 
the  end. 

In  the  early  summer  of  1758  Abercrombie's  army  was  encamped  on 
the  flatlands  at  the  south  of  Albany,  preparing  for  its  expedition  to 
Ticonderoga,  where  it  met  a  crushing  defeat  at  the  hands  of  Montcalm's 
troops,  who  were  inspired  by  the  gallantly  of  their  leader.  In  Aber- 
crombie's army  also  were  many  Albany  soldiers,  who  shared  in  the 
general  mourning  for  the  death  of  the  brave  and  genial  Lord  Howe  on 
that  field,  and  whose  body  was  buried  first  in  Schuyler's  family  tomb 
and  later  under  St.  Peter's  church.  In  the  months  of  May  and  June, 
1759,  Lord  Jeffrey  Amherst,  a  brave  and  efficient  English  officer,  ap  • 

i  For  all  mC  Johnson's  papers,  see  l)>>c.  Hist.,  vol.  II,  p.  545  1009. 


63 


pointed  commander-in-chief  in  September,  1758,  was  at  Albany  with 
the  army,  preparing  for  the  movements  upon  Crown  Point  and  Ticon- 
deroga,  and  the  other  important  events  that  closed  the  long  struggle. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


From  the  fall  of  Montreal  to  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution  peace 
reigned  in  the  territory  of  Albany  county.  Again  the  fur  trade  became 
an  absorbing  interest.  In  the  spring  of  1766  Sir  William  Johnson  was  ap- 
pointed Trade  Commissary,  an  office  which  gave  him  general  supervi- 
sion of  barter  with  the  Indians,  and  from  that  time  forward  for  nearly 
ten  years  he  wielded  almost  autocratic  power  over  the  Iroquois  and 
lived  in  a  lordly  way  in  the  Mohawk  Valley.  Johnson's  policy  was  to  con- 
centrate trade  at  the  important  points,  Albany,  Oswego,  Niagara,  Fort 
Pitt  and  Detroit,  where  he  appointed  commissioners  of  trade.  He  in- 
troduced regulations  prohibiting  traders  from  going  out  among  the 
Indians,  the  salutary  effects  of  which  were  at  once  apparent.  As  a 
means  of  further  continuing  peaceful  relations  between  the  English 
and  the  Indians,  a  meeting  was  held  September  19,  1768,  at  Fort  Stan- 
wix  (now  Rome),  whither  Sir  William,  his  three  duputies  (Guy  John- 
son, Daniel  Claus  and  George  Croghan)  and  Governor  Franklin  of  New 
Jersey  proceeded.  Twenty  bateaux  of  presents  for  the  Indians  were 
taken  along.  Arrived  at  the  fort  they  were  met  by  commissioners 
from  Virginia,  by  Lieutenant-Governor  Penn  and  Messrs.  Wharton  and 
Trent,  representing  trade  interests.  By  October  1  about  eight  hun- 
dred Indians  had  assembled.  The  object  of  this  council  was  to  estab- 
lish a  "  Property  Line  "  between  the  white  men  and  the  Indians. 
After  six  days  of  the  usual  ceremonies  at  such  gatherings  the  line  was 
fixed  to  begin  at  the  junction  of  Canada  Creek  and  Wood  Creek  a  little 
west  from  Rome,  and  extend  thence  southward  to  the  Susquehanna 
River.  The  whole  matter  was  concluded  November  5,  L768,  and  was 
ratified  by  Johnson  in   July,  1770. 

The  project  of  dividing  Albany  county  was  broached  in  the  Assem- 
bly in  the  spring  of  1769  by  Philip  Schuyler.  While  this  measure  was 
favored  by  Johnson,  he  earnestly  objected  to  the  proposed  line  of  divi- 
sion.    Said  he: 


64 

Albany  county  is  much  too  large,  but  the  manner  in  which  it  is  proposed  to  be  di- 
vided is  in  many  respects  extremely  inconvenient,  and  it  would  prove  disagreeable 
to  about  all  of  the  inhabitants.  The  only  rational  boundary,  it  has  appeared  to  me, 
would  be  at  the  west  bounds  of  the  township  of  Schenectady. 

Again  in  the  spring  of  1772  the  subject  was  brought  forward,  and 
towards  the  close  of  that  session  a  bill  was  passed  under  which  all  that 
part  of  Albany  county  west  of  the  present  east  line  of  Montgomery 
county  was  erected  into  Tryon  county. 

An  act  of  the  Legislature  passed  in  1703,  relating  to  the  office  and 
duties  of  supervisors,  remained  in  force  with  slight  changes  until  1772, 
when,  on  March  24,  it  was  amended  so  far  as  it  related  to  Albany 
county,  authorizing  the  annual  election  to  take  place  on  the  first  Tues- 
day in  May.  The  same  act  provided  for  the  election  in  this  county  of 
two  overseers  of  the  poor,  two  constables,  two  fence  viewers,  and  one 
town  clerk.  Previous  to  that  date  the  duties  of  clerk  had  been  per- 
formed by  the  supervisor.  After  the  adoption  of  the  first  Constitution 
the  office  of  supervisor  and  the  time  of  his  election  was  changed  by  act 
of  the  Legislature  (March  7,  1788),  providing  for  holding  town  meetings 
in  the  several  towns  in  the  State  for  choice  of  town  officers.  By  that 
act  the  town  of  Albany  was  authorized  to  elect  two  assessors,  instead  of 
one  as  in  other  counties. 

The  establishment  of  the  Property  Line,  before  described,  did  not 
long  suffice  to  preserve  inviolate  the  Indian  territory.  The  influx  of 
now  settlers  and  the  avarice  of  traders  led  to  encroachments  which  soon 
provoked  complaints.1  These  prepared  the  way  for  the  hostility  against 
the  colonists  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution  which  soon  followed. 
The  Indians  had  adopted  a  well-settled  policy  against  further  encroach- 
ment on  their  territory,  even  to  resisting  it  by  war;  and  the  Iroquois, 
who  had  hitherto  preserved  uniform  friendship  toward  the  colonists, 
now,  with  the  exception  of  the  Oneidas  and  Tuscaroras,  opposed  them. 
Eighteen  hundred  of  their  wrarriors  allied  themselves  with  the  British 
and  only  two  hundred  and  twenty  with  the  colonists.  The  atrocities  of 
the  former,  under  such  leaders  as  Johnson,  Butler,  and  Brant,  will  long 
be  remembered  throughout  New  York  and  Pennsylvania. 

With  the   beginning  of   the  war  Albany  again   became   a  center  of 

i  At  a  congress  of  the  Six  Nations  at  Johnson  Hall  in  June  and  July.  1774,  a  Seneca  orator  com 
plained  that  the  white  traders  encroached  upon  their  territory,  followed  their  people  to  their 
hunting  grounds  with  goods  and  liquor,  when  they  "not  only  impose  on  us  at  pleasure,  but  ba- 
the means  of  carrying  these  articles  to  our  scattered  people,  obstruct  our  endeavors  to  collect 
them." 


65 

military  activity.  Albany  county,  as  it  then  existed,  organized  seven- 
teen regiments  of  militia  under  the  laws  of  1775.  The  officers  of  those 
which  belonged  wholly  or  in  part  to  this  county  were  as  follows: 

Fiksi  Regiment,  City  oi  Albany. 

Jacob  Lansing,  jr.,  colonel;  Dirck  Ten  Broeck,  lieutenant-colonel;  Henry  Wen- 
dell, first  major:  Abraham  Cuyler.  second  major;  Yolckert  A.  Douw,  adjutant; 
Ephraim  Van  Veghten,  quartermaster. 

First  Company. — John  Barclay,  captain;  John  Price,  first  lieutenant ;  Abraham  I. 
Yates,  second  lieutenant ;  John  Scott,  ensign. 

Second  Company. — Thomas  Barrett,  captain ;  Matthew  Vischer,  first  lieutenant; 
Abraham  Eights,  second  lieutenant;  John  Hoagkirk,  ensign. 

Third  Company- — John  Williams,  captain;  Henry  Staats,  first  lieutenant;  Barent 
Van  Allen,  second  lieutenant;  Henry  Hogan,  ensign. 

Fourth  Company. — John  M.  Beeckman,  captain;  Isaac  De  Freest,  first  lieutenant ; 
Abraham  Ten  Eyck,  second  lieutenant;  Teunis  T.  Van  Veghten,  ensign. 

Fifth  Company. — Harmanus  Wendell,  captain;  William  Hun,  first  lieutenant; 
Jacob  G.  Lansing,  second  lieutenant;  Cornelius  Wendell,  ensign. 

Sixth  Company. — John  N.  Bleecker,  captain;  John  James  Beeckman,  first  lieu- 
tenant; Casparus  Pruyn,  second  lieutenant;  Nicholas  Marsehs,  ensign. 

Third  Regiment,  Firsi  Rensselaerwyck  Battalion. 

Abraham  Ten  Broeck,  colonel ;  Francis  Nicoll,  lieutenant-colonel ;  Henry  Quack- 
enbush,  first  major;  Barent  Staats,  second  major;  John  P.  Ouackenbush,  adjutant; 
Christopher  Lansing,  quartermaster. 

First  Company. — Henry  Ouackenbush,  captain;  Jacob  J.  Lansing,  first  lieutenant . 
Levinus  Winne,  second  lieutenant;  John  Van  Woert,  ensign. 

Second  Company. — Abraham  D.  Fonda,  captain;  Henry  Oothoudt,  jr.,  first  lieu- 
tenant: Levinus  T.  Lansing,  second  lieutenant;  Jacob  J.  Lansing,  ensign. 

Third   Company.  —  Peter    Schuyler,    captain;  Abraham   Witbeck,   first  Iieutem 
Henry  Ostrom,  second  lieutenant;  Peter  S.  Schuyler,  ensign. 

Fourth  Company. — Barent  Staats,  captain;  Dirck  Becker,  first  lieutenant;  John 
Van  Wie,  second  lieutenant ;  George  Hogan,  ensign. 

Fifth  Company. — Gerrit  G.  Van  der  Bergh,  captain;  Peter  Van  Wie.  first  lieuten- 
ant; Wouter  Becker,  second  lieutenant;  Abraham  Slingerland,  ensign. 

Third  Regimenj —  New  Organization. 

First  Company. — (See  Third  Company,  first  organization.) 

Second  Company. — Abraham  D.  Fonda,  captain;  Henry  Oothoudt,  jr.,  first  lieu- 
tenant;  Levinus  T.  Lansing,  second  lieutenant;  Jacob  J.  Lansing,  ensign. 

Third  Company  (at  first  Fifth  Company,  Fourth  Regiment).  — Jacob  Ball,  captain, 
John  Warner,  first  lieutenant;  Peter  Diet/.,  second  lieutenant;  Joshua  Shaw,  ensign. 

Fourth  Company. — Jacob  J.  Lansing,  captain;  Levinus  Winne.  first  lieutenant, 
[ohu  Van  Woert,  second  lieutenant;  Peter  Dox,  ensign. 

Fifth  Company  (at  first  organized  as  Fourth  Company,  Fourth  Regiment).— Jacob 
9 


66 

Van  Aernam,  captain;  John  Groot,  first  lieutenant;  George  Wagoner,   second  lieu- 
tenant; Frederick  Crantz  (Crounse?),  ensign. 

Sixth  Company. — Abraham  Veeder,  captain;  James  Burnside,  first  lieutenant; 
John  Voorhuyse(Voorhees?),  second  lieutenant;  Andries  Ten  Eyck,  ensign. 

Fourth  Regiment.  Second  Rensselaerwyck   Battalion. 

Killian  Van  Rensselaer  colonel;  John  H.  Beeckman,  lieutenant-colonel;  Cor- 
nelius Van  Buren,  first  major;  Jacob  C.  Schermerhorn,  second  major;  Jacobus  Van 
der  Pool,  adjutant;  John  A.  Lansing,  quartermaster. 

First  Company  (First  Company,  Fifth  Regiment,  new  organization). — Conrad 
Ten  Eyck,  captain;  Peter  Witbeck,  first  lieutenant;  Albert  H.  Van  der  Zee,  second 
lieutenant;  John  L.  Wilbeck,  ensign. 

Second  Company  (Second  Company,  Fifth  Regiment,  new  organization). — Will- 
iam P.  Winne,  captain;  John  De  Voe,  first  lieutenant;  Philip  C.  Look  (Luke?),  sec- 
ond lieutenant;  Cornelius  Van  der  Zee,  ensign. 

Third  Company. — Volckert  Veeder,  captain;  Abraham  Veeder  first  lieutenant; 
Jacob  La  Grange,  second  lieutenant;  Andrew  Truax,  ensign. 

Fourth  Company.  (See  Fifth  Company,  Third  Regiment,  new  organization.) — 
Jacob  Van  Aernam,  captain;  John  Groot,  first  lieutentant;  George  Wagoner,  second 
lieutenant;  Frederick  Crantz  (Crounse?),  ensign. 

Fifth  Company, — (See  Third  Company,  Third  Regiment.) 

Fourth  Regiment  (As  Newly  Organized,  February,  1776.) 

First  Company. — Isaac  Miller,  captain;  Hendrick  Schaus,  first  lieutenant;  Johan- 
nes Lodewick,  second  lieutenant ;  Johannes  Miller,  ensign. 

Second  Company. — Ichabod  Turner,  captain;  Joel  Pease,  first  lieutenant;  Jona- 
athan  Niles.  second  lieutenant;  Joel  Curtis,  ensign. 

Third  Company. — -Luke  Schermerhorn,  captain;  James  Magee,  first  lieutenant; 
Reuben  Knap,  second  lieutenant ;  Aaron  Hammond,  ensign. 

Fourth  Company. — James  Dennison,  captain;  Stephen  Niles,  first  lieutenant; 
Obadiah  Vaughan,  second  lieutenant;  Oliver  Bentley,  ensign. 

Fifth  Company. — Nicholas  Staats,  captain;  Obadiah  Lansing,  first  lieutenant; 
Philip  Staats,  second  lieutenant;  Leonard  Wilcox,  ensign. 

Sixth  Company. — Jacobus  Cole  (Koole?)  captain  ;  Anthony  Bries  (Brice?)  first  lieu- 
tenant; Harpent  Witbeck,  second  lieutenant;  John  Van  Hagen,  jr.,  ensign. 

Seventh  Company. — Abraham  J.  Van  Valkenburgh,  captain;  Daniel  Schermer- 
horn, first  lieutenant;  John  J.  Van  Valkenburgh,  second  lieutenant;  Martin  Van 
Buren,  ensign. 

Fifth  Regiment,  Third  Rensselaerwyck  Battalion. 

Stephen  Schuyler,  colonel;  Gerrit  G.  VanderBergh,  lieutenant;  Peter  P.  Schuyler, 
first  major;  Volckert  Veeder,  second  major;  Maas  Van  Vranken,  adjutant;  Francis 
Marshall,  quartermaster. 

First  Company. — Cornelius  Van  Buren,  captain;  Nicholas  Staats,  first  lieutenant; 
Obadiah  Lansing,  second  lieutenant;  Philip  Staats,  ensign. 

Second  Company,  John  H.  Beeckman,  captain ;  Jacob  C.  Schermerhorn,  first  lieu- 


6? 

tenant;  Abraham  I.  Van  Valkenburgh,  second  lieutenant;  Jacobus  Yanderpoel, 
ensign. 

Third  Company.— Volckert  Van  Veghten  captain;  Gerrit  T.  Van  den  Bergh,  first 
lieutenant;  John  Amory,  second  lieutenant;  Jacob  Van  Schaick,  ensign. 

Fourth  Company. — (See  First  Company,  Fourth  Regiment.) 

First  Company.— Philip  De  Freest,  captain;  Ryneer  Van  Alstyne,  first  lieutenant ; 
Peter  Sharp,  second  lieutenant;  David  De  Forest,  ensign. 

Sixth  Company  (1st  Company  of  Sixth  Regiment,  new  organization.)— John  J. 
Fonda,  captain;  John  P.  Fonda  first  lieutenant ;  George  Berger,  second  lieutenant; 
George  Sharp,  ensign. 

Sixth  Regiment,  Fourth    Rensselaerwyck  Battalion. 

Stephen  J.  Schuyler,  colonel;  Henry  K.  Van  Rensselaer,  lieutenant-colonel;  Philip 
De  Freest,  first  major;  John  Fonda,  second  major;  Volckert  Oothoudt,  adjutant; 
Jacob  Van  Alstyne,  quartermaster. 

First  Company. — Henry  H.  Gardinier,  captain;  Jacob  Van  der  Ileyden,  first  lieu- 
tenant; Adam  Beam,  second  lieutenant ;  Henry  Tinker,  ensign. 

Second  Company. — Cornelius  Lansing,  captain;  Lodewyck  Snider,  first  lieuten- 
ant; Andries  Stool,  second  lieutenant ;  Jacob  Weiger,  ensign. 

Third  Company. — (See  Third  Company,  Fourth  Regiment.) 

Fourth  Company. — (See  Second  Company,  this  Regiment,  and  Fourth  Regiment.) 

Fifth  Company. — Caleb  Bentley,  captain;  Samuel  Shaw,  first  lieutenant;  David 
Huestes,  second  lieutenant;  Thomas  Crandall,  ensign. 

Sixth  Company. — (See  Fourth  Company,  Fourth  Regiment.) 

Sixth  Regiment  (New  organization.) 

First  Company. — (See  Sixth  Company,  Fifth  Regiment.) 

Second  Company. — (See  First  Company,  Sixth  Regiment.) 

Third  Company. — John  Lautman,  captain;  Peter  Vosburgh,  first  lieutenant;  John 
Schurtz,  second  lieutenant;  Conradt  Best,  ensign. 

Fourth  Company. — (See  Second  Company,  first  organization  Fifth  Regiment,  and 
First   Company  in  Sixth  Regiment,  first  organization. ) 

Fifth  Company. — (See  first  organization  in  Sixth  Regiment  | 

Sixth  Company. — Jacob  De  Freest,  captain;  Martinus Sharp,  first  lieutenant;  An- 
dries Miller,  second  lieutenant;  John  Crannell,  ensign. 

Seventh  Company.-  Florus  Banker,  captain;  Christopher  Tillman,  first  lieuten- 
ant ;  Abraham  Ten  Eyck,  second  lieutenant;  Jonathan  Sever,  ensign. 

At  the  inception  of  the  difficulties  leading-  to  the  war  the  inhabitants 
of  the  city  of  Albany,  and  of  the  county  within  its  present  limits  at 
least,  were  not  inspired  with  warm  sympathy  for  the  cause  of  the  col- 
onists. The  mayor  (Abraham  C.  Cuyler)  and  most  of  the  aldermen 
openly  espoused  the  royal  cause.  As  early  as  L773  the  increasing  diffi- 
culties with  the  mother  country  entered  largely  into  local  public  affairs 
in  the  city,  and  the  charter  election   of  that  year  was  a  very  exciting 


68 

one.  The  last  election  for  aldermen  and  assistant  aldermen  under 
colonial  laws  was  held  September  29,  1775,  when  the  following  were 
chosen : 

First  Ward — Aldermen,  Peter  W.  Yates,  Gerrit  Van  Sante;  assistants,  Jacob 
Roseboom,  Aries  La  Grange. 

Second  Ward — Aldermen,  Guysbert  G.  Marselis,  John  J.  Beeckman;  assistants, 
Cornelius  Van  Schelluyne,  Jeremiah  Van  Rensselaer. 

•  Third  Ward — Aldermen,  Thomas  Hun,  John  Ten  Broeck ;  assistants,  Abraham 
Schuyler,  Abraham  Ten  Eyck. 

The  last  meeting  of  this  board  under  provincial  laws  was  held  at  the 
city  hall  March  25,  1776.  The  English  laws  were  then  for  a  time 
superseded  by  the  authority  of  the  Continental  Congress  and  State 
governments.  From  the  date  last  given  to  April  17,  1778,  there  was 
no  meeting  of  the  Common  Council  of  Albany.  John  Barclay  was  ap- 
pointed mayor  by  Governor  Clinton  September  27,  1777;  the  aldermen 
being  John  Roorbach,  John  Price,  Jacob  Lansing,  jr.,  Abraham  Cuyler, 
John  M.  Beeckman,  Harmanus  Wendell;  assistants,  Abraham  I. 
Yates,  Matthew  Visscher,  Isaac  D.  Fonda,  Jacob  Bleecker,  Cornelius 
Swits,  Abraham  Schuyler. 

By  act  of  the  Legislature  in  1778  the  mayor  and  his  subordinate  offi- 
cers were  required  to  meet  and  qualify  by  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance 
prescribed  by  the  State  law,  and  their  respective  oaths  prescribed  by 
the  city  charter;  they  met  for  this  purpose  April  17,  1778.  From 
March,  1776,  to  April,  1778,  the  duties  of  the  mayor  and  council  were 
performed  by  the  Committee  of  Safety  and  Correspondence,  appointed 
by  the  first  Legislature.  The  original  city  charter  was  kept  in  force, 
except  as  it  conflicted  with  the  new  State  government.  This  commit- 
tee was  composed  as  follows: 

First  Ward — Jacob  C.  Ten  Eyck,  Henry  I.  Bogart,  Peter  Silvester,  Henry  Wen- 
dell, Volkert  P.  Douw,  John  Bay,  Guysbert  Marselis. 

Second  Ward — John  R.  Bleecker,  Jacob  Lansing,  jr.,  Jacob  Cuyler,  Henry  Bleecker, 
Robert  Yates,  Stephen  De  Lancey,  Abraham  Cuyler. 

Third  Ward — John  H.  Ten  Eyck,  Abraham  Ten  Broeck,  Gerrit  Lansing,  jr.,  An- 
thony E.  Bradt,  Samuel  Stringer,  Abraham  Yates,  jr.,  Cornells  Van  Santvoordt. 

The  meetings  of  this  committee  were  usually  held  in  the  Old  Stadt 
Huys,  and  their  proceedings  were  fraught  with  important  measures 
during  its  existence,  full  records  of  which  are  preserved  in  the  State 
Library.  For  our  present  purpose  we  need  refer  to  only  a  few  of 
these.     As  an  indication  of  the  sentiments  of  its  signers  the  followine 


69 

document,  which  was  probably  put  forth  soon   after  the  battle  of   Lex- 
ington, fought  April  19,  1775,  must  find  a  place  here: 

A  General  Association   agreed   to  and   subscribed  by   the  Members  of  the  several 

Committees  of  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. 

Persuaded  that  the  salvation  of  the  Rights  and  liberties  of  America  depends,  un- 
der God,  on  the  firm  Union  of  its  Inhabitants  in  a  Vigorous  prosecution  of  the  Meas- 
ures necessary  for  its  Safety;  and  convinced  of  the  necessity  of  preventing  the  An- 
archy and  Confusion  which  attends  a  Dissolution  of  the  Powers  of  Government,  We, 
the  Freemen,  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  the  City  and  County  of  Albany,  being 
greatly  alarmed  at  the  avowed  Design  of  the  Ministry  to  raise  a  Revenue  in  Amer- 
ica, and  shocked  by  the  bloody  scene  now  acting  in  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  Do  in 
the  most  Solemn  Manner  resolve  never  to  become  Slaves;  and  do  associate  under  all 
the  Ties  of  Religion,  Honor  and  Love  to  our  Country,  to  adopt  and  endeavor  to 
carry  into  Execution  whatever  Measures  may  be  recommended  by  the  Continental 
Congress,  or  resolved  upon  by  our  Provincial  Convention  for  the  purpose  of  preserv- 
ing our  Constitution,  and  opposing  the  Execution  of  the  several  Arbitrary  and  op- 
pressive Acts  of  the  British  Parliament  until  a  Reconciliation  between  Great  Britain 
and  America  on  Constitutional  Principles  (which  we  most  ardently  desire)  can  be  ob- 
tained: And  that  we  will  in  all  things  follow  the  Advice  of  Our  General  Committee 
respecting  the  purposes  aforesaid,  the  preservation  of  Peace  and  good  Order,  and 
the  safety  of  Individuals  and  private  Property. 

John  Barclay,  chairman;  Walter  Livingston,  John  Bay,  James  Magee,  Tyrans 
Callans  (?),  Isaac  Van  Aernam,  Gysbert  Marselis,  Philip  P.  Schuyler,  George  White, 
John  McClung,  Gershom  Woodworth,  Bastyaen  T.  Vescher,  Florus  Baricker,  John 
Knickerbocker  junior,  Barent  Vanderpoel,  William  Van  Bergen,  John  Abbott,  Jacobus 
Williamson,  Samuel  Van  Vechten,  Peter  Becker,  Ebenezer  Allen,  Simeon  Covel,  Asa 
Flint,  James  Parrot,  Henry  Leake,  Andries  Watbeck,  Matthew  Visscher,  Samuel 
Stringer,  Gerrit  Lansing,  jr.,  John  Ten  Broeck,  Robert  Yates,  Henry  I.  Bogart, 
John  Van  Loon,  Henry  Van  Veghten,  Joseph  Young,  Richard  Esselstyn,  Othniel 
Gardner,  Barent  Dyne,  Abraham  Cuyler,  Robert  McClullen,  Henry  Wendell,  Cornel- 
ius Van  Sautvoordt,  R.  Bleecker.  Henry  Bleecker,  John  H.  Ten  Eyck,  Jacob 
Bleecker,  jr.,  John  T.  Beeckman,  Harmanus  Wendell,  Matthew  Adgate,  Abraham 
Yates,  jr.,  John  Taylor,  Rutger  Lansingh,  Henry  Quackenboss,  John  M.  Beeckman, 
John  D.  Fonda,  John  Van  Rensselaer,  jr.,  John  Price,  Anthony  Van  Schaick,  Dirck 
Ten  Broeck  Reit/.ert  Bronck,  Frederick  Beringer,  Reynard  Van  Alsteyn,  Philip 
Van  Veghten,  Joshua  Losee,  Anthony  Van  Bergen,  Albertus  Van  Loon.  Mynderse 
Roseboom,  Abraham  Ten  Eyck. 

A  similar  document  was  sent  on  May  1,  L775,  to  the  Boston  Commit- 
tee. A  letter  from  the  committee  to  the  New  York  Committee,  dated 
May  3,  set  forth  that  the  city  was  "  very  scant  of  powder,  arms  and 
warlike  stores,"  and  in  a  defenseless  condition.  Reports  came  in  of 
the  probable  hostile  action  of  the  Indians,  and  Col.  Guy  Johnson  was 
sent  for  to  express  his  opinion  on  the  subject.  The  result  was  such  as 
to  prompt  the  committee  to  issue  the  following  advertisement: 


70 

Notice  is  hereby  given  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  City  of  Albany  that  it  is  the 
opinion  of  their  Committee  that  they  assemble  and  meet  together  in  the  different 
wards  of  this  city  at  the  usual  place  of  election  to  form  themselves  into  Companies 
from  the  age  of  sixteen  to  sixty,  each  Company  to  consist  of  a  Captain,  two  Lieu- 
tenants, one  Ensign,  four  Sergeants,  four  Corporals,  one  Drum  and  fifty  one 
privates. 

This  was  under  date  of  May  3,  1775.  The  meetings  were  held  as 
directed  and  the  companies  organized  with  the  following  officers: 

First  Company — John  Barclay,  captain;  John  Price,  Stephen  Van  Schaick,  lieu- 
tenants; Abraham  Yates,  ensign. 

Second  Company— John  Williams,  captain;  Henry  Staats,  Bareut  Van  Allen,  lieu- 
tenants; Henry  Hogan,  ensign. 

Third  Company — Thomas  Barret,  captain ;  Abraham  Eights,  Matthew  Vischer, 
lieutenants;  John  Hoogkerk,  ensign. 

For  the  Third  Ward — Captains,  John  Beeckman,  Harmanus  Wendell ;  lieutenants, 
Isaac  De  Freest,  Abraham  Ten  Eyck,  William  Hunn,  Peter  Gansevoort,  jr.  ;  en- 
signs, Cornelius  Wendell,  Teunis  T.  Van  Veghten. 

The  formation  of  similar  companies  was  recommended  by  the  com- 
mittee in  the  several  districts  of  the  county.  The  record  of  May  L2 
shows  the  following: 

We  received  a  letter  signed  Ethan  Allen  by  the  hands  of  Mr.  Brown,  acquainting 
us  of  the  taking  of  Ticonderoga.  Upon  which  we  wrote  a  letter  to  the  committee  of 
New  York  by  Captain  Barent  Ten  Eyck,  Express,  and  each  of  us  paid  him  a  Dollar 
a  piece  for  going. 

A  few  days  earlier  the  Albany  Committee  had  voted  against  sending 
needed  supplies  to  Ticonderoga.  During  that  month  Congress,  then 
in  session  in  Philadelphia,  recpiested  the  Albany  Committee  to  send 
men  and  supplies  to  Ticonderoga  to  build  scows  with  which  to  bring 
away  the  guns  and  stores  in  that  fort.  This  was  done  and  Henry  I. 
Bogart  appointed  to  take  charge  of  the  work. 

As  bearing  directly  upon  the  loyalty  and  disloyalty  of  the  committee 
to  the  cause  of  the  colonists,  the  following  is  pertinent : 

Committee  Chambers,  June  29th — Samuel  Stringer,  Chairman  pro  tern. 

Upon  the  whole,  we  are  of  opinion,  First — That  as  the  safety  of  our  Persons,  and 
the  Preservation  of  our  Properties  depends  upon  the  due  administration  of  Justice, 
that  the  course  of  Justice  ought  not  to  be  obstructed,  but  that  the  Same  Continue  in 
the  usual  Course,  and  in  the  King's  Name,  as  our  allegiance  to  him  is  not  denied; 
and  that  we  are  to  Wait  the  resolution  of  the  Provincial  or  Continental  Congress  on 
this  Subject  and  abide  by  their  determination,  otherwise  we  Conceive  the  whole 
Country  will  be  reduced  to  a  State  of  the  Greatest  Anarchy  and  Confusion. 

Second — Appeals  are  still  admitted,  at  least  in  this  Government,  in  all  cases  where 
they  always  have  been  Allowed;  in  this  the  law  has  not  been  altered,  and  the  Sub- 


71 

ject  in  this  Province  has  the  Same  Liberty  of,  a  fair  and  impartial  trial,  as  usual  on 
Constitutional  principles;  and  we  do  not  object  against  any  Acts  of  Parliament,  ex- 
cept the  late  Unconstitutional  and  oppressive  ones  which  have  been  Noticed  by  the 
Continental  Congress  in  their  Session  last  Fall. 

Third— We  are  neither  Rebels  or  Traitors,  nor  have  we  forfeited  our  Estates, 
neither  are  there  any  acts  of  Parliament  of  that  nature  in  force  to  our  knowledge 
against  any  persons  in  this  Province;  nor  do  we  conceive  the  application  of  Traitors 
and  Rebels  justly  applied  to  Subjects  who  refuse  to  comply  with  requisitions  of  un- 
constitutional Acts  of  Parliament. 

The  committee  was  informed  by  Henry  Glen  on  July  5,  L775,  that 
Congress  had  approved  of  the  following  field  officers:  Colonel,  Myndert 
Roseboom;  lieutenant-colonel,  Goosen  Van  Schaick ;  major,  Lucas  Van 
Veghten;  and  that  they  had  appointed  John  M.  Wendell,  quarter- 
master, and  Barent  Ten  Eyck,  adjutant. 

The  following  is  quaint  and  characteristic  of  the  times;  the  dale  is 
July  12,  1775: 

It  being  intimated  to  this  Board  by  Mr.  Peter  Vrooman,  that  some  tavern-keepers 
in  this  county  sell  spirituous  liquors  too  freely  to  the  Indians,  from  which  evil  con- 
sequences often  happen,  therefore. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  all  Tavern-keepers  and  others  in  said 
county,  to  sell  spirituous  liquors  to  the  Indians  as  sparingly  as  possible,  s<>  as  to  pic- 
vent  their  getting  drunk. 

Before  the  struggle  fairly  commenced  it  developed  that  Guy  Johnson 
was  intriguing  with  the  Indians,  inciting  them  against  the  Americans. 
Sir  William  Johnson  had  died  in  the  previous  year,  leaving  Sir  John 
Johnson  and  Guy  Johnson  his  heirs.  The  former  began  fortifying 
Johnson  Hall  (near  the  site  of  Johnstown)  and  preparing  for  his  later 
active  support  of  the  British  cause.  The  Albany  Committee  received 
information  in  July,  1775,  that  Guy  Johnson  was  preparing  to  invade 
Albany  county  with  a  large  body  of  Indians  under  command  of  Brant 
and  Butler.  Great  alarm  was  felt  and  Philip  Schuyler,  then  at  Sara- 
toga and  in  charge  of  the  military  affairs  of  the  province,  was  addressed 
on  the  subject  and  asked  for  aid.      The  committee  wrote: 

Our  ammunition  is  so  scant  we  cannot  furnish  300  men  so  as  to  he  able  to  maki  a 
stand  against  so  great  a  number.  This  is  the  more  alarming  to  us,  as  we  shall 
within  a  few  days  be  obliged  to  begin  witli  our  harvest.  In  these  deplorable  circum- 
stances, we  look  to  you  for  aid. 

Schuyler's  reply  was  prompt  and  to  the  point.  He  advised  the 
marching  of  Captain  Van  Dyck  and  his  company  and  all  others  obtain- 
able into  Tryon  county  with  the  Albany  and  Schenectady  militia;  he 


72 

also  ordered  a  supply  of  powder  to  be  sent  to  the  Tryon  county  com- 
mittee. The  Johnsons  were,  however,  brought  to  terms  for  the  time 
being  without  bloodshed. 

The  following  entry  may  possibly  provoke  a  smile;  it  follows  upon 
a  complaint  made  to  the  board  by  an  Indian  that  he  had  been  beaten 
in  the  city  and  robbed  of  his  shirt: 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  John  W.  Bleecker  furnish  the  said  Indian  with  a  new  shirt  of 
the  value  of  ten  shillings. 

The  results  of  the  campaign  of  1776  were  generally  unfavorable  to 
the  Americans.  The  attack  on  Quebec  and  Montreal  in  the  preceding 
November  by  the  gallant  Montgomery  had  failed  and  the  commander 
was  killed.  The  more  important  events  of  the  year  1776  were  the 
evacuation  of  Boston  before  Washington's  army  on  March  17;  the 
signing  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence;  the  expulsion  of  the 
American  forces  from  Canada;  the  flight  of  Sir  John  Johnson  to  Can- 
ada; the  attack  upon  Long  Island  by  the  British  and  the  retreat  in 
August  of  Washington's  army  to  New  York;  the  evacuation  of  New 
York  by  Washington  in  October;  the  capture  of  Fort  Washington  on 
the  Hudson  River  by  the  British  in  November;  the  battle  of  Trenton 
and  victory  of  Washington  in  December — almost  the  only  bright  ray  to 
lighten  the  general  gloom  of  the  year. 

Early  in  this  year  (1770)  the  Albany  Committee  began  its  unceasing 
struggle  for  the  repression  of  disloyalty.  On  the  '20th  of  January  the 
following  was  recorded: 

The  Committee  to  enquire  for  a  proper  place  to  confine  such  persons  as  are  inimical 
to  American  Liberty,  Report  that  there  are  two  rooms  in  the  Fort  m  this  city  which 
might  be  repaired  with  little  expense  for  said  persons;  therefore 

Resolved,  That  General  Schuyler  be  requested  to  fit  the  upper  room  in  said  Fort. 

Again,  George  Ramsey  was  sent  on  from  Schenectady  charged  with 
"calling  persons  in  favor  of  American  Liberty,  Rebels."  He  was 
made  to  furnish  a  bond  in  the  sum  of  j£2i )(.)  for  good  behavior.  The 
following  is  in  the  same  line: 

Resolved,  That  no  person  or  persons  be  permitted  to  move  into  or  settle  in  this 
County,  unless  he  or  they  bring  a  Certificate  from  the  Committee  of  the  County  or 
district  from  which  they  claim  that  they  had,  prior  to  this  resolve,  signed  the  asso- 
ciation recommended  by  Congress,  and  had  in  all  things  behaved  in  a  manner  be- 
coming to  Friends  of  American  Freedom. 

The  modern  boycott  found  a  small  example  in  the  treatment  of  John 
Boyd  by  the  committee.      Boyd  was  convicted  of  selling  tea  for  7s.  6d. 


73 

per  pound,  " contrary  to  Resolution  of  Continental   Congress."     Here 
is  what  followed : 

Resolved,  That  the  said  John  Boyd  has  violated  the  Resolution  and  ought  to  be 
considered  an  Enemy  to  the  American  Cause,  and  it  is  Recommended  that  all  per- 
son break  oil  all  intercourse  with  said  Boyd. 

This  was  in  May,  and  later,  others  were  punished  in  the  same  man- 
ner. It  was  in  this  summer  that  a  resolution  was  adopted  for  the  dis- 
arming of  all  disloyal  persons. 

On  the  8th  of  November  the  following  preamble  and  resolution  were 
adopted : 

Whereas^  The  time  limited  by  the  good  people  of  this  County  for  the  present 
Committee  to  serve,  expires  in  this  County  this  4th  Tuesday  of  this  month  ;  and 

Whereas,  The  Representatives  of  this  State  in  Convention  have  been  inevitably 
prevented  from  forming  a  Government  for  this  State,  it  is  necessary  that  another 
Committee  be  elected  in  this  County  for  the  space  of  Six  months: 

Resolved,  That  the  Election  in  the  several  districts  of  this  County  be  held  on  the 
3d  Tuesday  of  November. 

The  county  committee  thus  elected  consisted  of  nine  members  from 
the  first  ward;  Manor  of  Rensselaer,  twenty  members;  Schoharry,  six- 
members;  Grote  Imboght,  five  members;  Ballston,  five  meml 
Hosick,  twelve  members;  Coxackie,  six  members;  German  Camp,  four 
members;  Schaghtikoke,  ten  members ;  Half  Moon,  seven  members; 
Saratoga,  seven  members ;  Schenectady,  eleven  members;  Cambridge, 
nine  members;  Kings,  eight  members;  Claverack,  twelve  members. 
Manor  of  Livingston,  ten  members.  A  resolution  was  adopted  that 
•'  the  Committee  of  the  County  Meet  every  fortnight  in  the  City  Hall." 

The  number  of  troops  furnished  to  General  Schuyler  for  the  Canada 
campaign  by  Albany  county  was  as  follows: 

East  Manor,  Rensselaer  wyck,  75;  West  District.    Rensselaerwyck,    75;  Clav< 
and  King's  District,  150;   East  Camp  and  Grote  Imboght,  New  York,  75 :   Hall  Mooi 
Balston  and  Saratoga,  Canada,  75;  Albany,   Schodary,    Coxackee  and    Kinderhook, 

75. 

The  following  military  notes  are  from  the  records  of  that  date: 

Henry  Marsclis  was  made  captain  of  Company  raised  in  Albany  City,  Schenectady, 
Coxackee  and  Schohary,  to  reinforce  Continental  Army  in  Canada;  Benjamin  C. 
Dubois,  first  lieutenant ;  John  Van  Antwerp,  second  lieutenant. 

Resolved,  That  Henry  K.  Van  Rensselaer  be  appointed  Major  of  the  Company  <>i 
Militia  for  the  County  for  Service  in  New  York. 

Peter   Van  Rensselaer  was  appointed   captain  oi    company   raised   in   Claverack, 
Christopher  C.  Miller,  first  lieutenant;  Wilhelmus  Philips,  second  lieutenant. 
10 


74 

July  1st — Committee  appointed  officers  of  battalion,  raised  in  Albany,  Tryon, 
Charlotte  Cumberland  and  Gloucester  Counties  as  follows:  Cornelius  Van  Dyck, 
colonel;  Barents.  Ten  Eyck,  major;  John  Shepardson,  lieutenant-colonel. 

July  17th — Received  a  letter  from  Abraham  Yates,  Junior,  Robert  Yates  and 
Matthew  Adgate,  dated  White  Plains,  14th  instant,  inclosing  the  Declaration  of  the 
United  States  of  America;  declaring  the  Said  United  States  free  and  independent; 
also  the  resolutions  of  the  Representatives  of  the  State  of  New  York,  in  consequence 
thereof. 

On  the  18th  of  July  the  following  momentous  resolution  was  adopted  : 

Resolved,  That  the  Declaration  of  Independence  be  published  and  Declared  in 
this  City  to-morrow  at  Eleven  O'clock  at  this  place,  and  that  Colonel  Van  Schaick  be 
requested  to  order  the  Continental  Troops  in  this  City  to  Appear  under  Arms  at  the 
place  aforesaid;  and,  further,  that  the  Captains  of  the  Several  Militia  Company  in 
this  City  be  requested  to  Warn  the  Persons  belonging  to  their  respective  Companies, 
to  appear  at  the  place  aforesaid,  and  for  this  purpose  aforesaid. 

On  the  3d  of  August  the  following'  was  adopted  in  extension  of  mili- 
tary preparations: 

Resolved,  That  John  A.  Bratt  and  Alexander  Baldwin  be  appointed  Captain  for 
the  Ranger  Companies;  and  Marte  Van  Beuren,  John  B.  Marselis,  Michael  Jackson 
and  John  Jost  Sidney,  Lieutenants  for  said  Company,  and  Stephen  Lush,  Captain 
for  the  Company  to  guard  the  stores  in  Albany,  and  Gerrit  Staats  and  Jacob  J. 
Lansing,  Lieutenants. 

Inspired  by  repeated  successes  the  British  made  extensive  prepara- 
tions for  the  campaign  of  1777.  One  conspicuous  feature  of  their  plans 
was  an  invasion  of  this  State  in  the  vicinity  of  Albany  county  by  an 
army  from  the  north  under  Gen.  John  Burgoyne,  who  had  recently 
returned  from  England  and  superseded  Gen.  Guy  Carleton  in  Canada. 
Vigorous  operations  by  the  British  had  driven  the  Americans  out  of 
that  country,  sending  them  southward  to  Crown  Point,  "disgraced, 
defeated^  discontended,  dispirited,  diseased,  naked,  undisciplined ;  eaten 
up  with  vermin;  no  clothes,  beds,  blankets;  no  medicine;  no  victuals 
but  salt  pork  and  flour."  During  the  winter  of  1776-7  many  of  the 
prominent  officers  of  the  American  army,  including  Generals  Gates, 
Col.  Morgan  Lewis,  Col.  Benedict  Arnold,  Col.  John  Brown,  and  others 
had  their  winter  quarters  in  Albany. 

Alarm  and  anxiety  prevailed  throughout  Albany  and  Tryon  counties 
at  the  opening  of  the  campaign.  General  Schuyler  anticipated  the 
invasion  and  besought  Washington  to  send  more  troops  to  garrison 
Ticonderoga  and  Fort  Stanwix.  Schuyler  arrived  at  Ticonderoga  June 
20,  the  same  morning  on  which  Burgoyne  set  sail  up  Lake  Champlain, 


75 

At  Ticonderoga  were  about  3,000  men  under  General  St.  Clair.  Before 
Burgoyne's  army  the  works  were  untenable  and  were  evacuated;  St. 
Clair  fled  with  his  little  army  towards  Fort  Edward,  was  defeated  in  a 
battle  at  Hubbardton,  Vt.,  pressed  on  to  Fort  Edward,  and  thence 
down  the  Hudson  to  near  Albany.  At  the  stand  made  by  the  Americans 
near  Fort  Ann  under  Schuyler,  with  about  five  hundred  Rensselaer 
Manor  men,  heroic  fighting  took  place,  and  many  Albany  men  were 
killed  and  wounded.  The  evacuation  of  Ticonderoga  was  a  most  dis- 
couraging event  to  General  Schuyler,  for  it  had  been  looked  upon  as  a 
frontier  stronghold.  It  seemed  that  little  was  left  to  oppose  a  victori- 
ous march  by  Burgoyne  directly  down  across  the  State.  Schuyler  dis- 
missed half  of  his  militia,  and  a  little  later  most  of  the  remainder,  his 
excuse  for  this  peculiar  action  being  that  he  dismissed  a  part  in  fear  of 
losing  the  whole;  and,  second,  that  having  sent  away  half,  he  might  as 
well  let  them  all  go.  While  personally  a  brave  and  capable  man, 
Schuyler  is  well  known  to  have  been  timid  and  distrustful  of  himself  in 
trying  emergencies,  as  shown  on  several  important  occasions.  The 
militia  understood  the  situation  and  held  the  general  in  distrust. 

On  the  16th  of  August  was  fought  the  memorable  battle  of  Benning- 
ton, in  which  the  gallant  Stark  won  a  signal  victory  over  a  part  of 
Burgoyne's  army ;  this  was  a  disappointing  event  to  the  British  general, 
who  had  begun  to  believe  that  his  triumphant  march  was  to  be  almost 
unimpeded,  until  he  could  be  joined  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton  and  his  army 
from  the  south.  Meanwhile  Fort  Schuyler  (previously  called  Fort 
Stanwix)  had  been  considerably  strengthened  early  in  the  year  and 
placed  under  command  of  Col.  Peter  Gansevoort.  He  was  a  native  of 
Albany,  born  in  1749,  and  had  a  distinguished  military  career.  The 
fort  was  heroically  defended  by  a  garrison  of  about  six  hundred  men 
against  a  detachment  of  St.  Leger's  army  marching  from  Oswego;  the 
battle  of  Oriskany  followed  and  the  British  were  driven  back,  frustrated 
and  disappointed,  to  nurse  their  wounds  in  Montreal.  The  two  battles 
of  Bemis  Heights,  fought  on  September  1!»  and  October  1.  between  the 
Americans  under  General  Gates  (who  had  superseded  Schuyler  in  com- 
mand of  the  department)  and  Burgoyne,  went  decisively  against  the 
British,  and  ten  days  later  the  boastful  Burgoyne  surrendered  his 
army.  The  inhabitants  of  Albany  count}'  now  experienced  a  sen- 
grateful  relief. 

During  the   year    \'',',    the   Albany   Committee,   win-!    proceedings 
have  been  noticed,  kept    up    its    meetings   and    transacted    considerable 


re 

important  local  business.  After  complaints  had  reached  them  of  the 
great  number  of  "  taverns  or  Tipling  houses"  in  existence  they  adopted 
on  February  10,  the  following  resolution: 

Resolved,  That  no  person  or  persons  shall  continue  or  set  up  a  Tavern  in  any 
District  in  the  City  or  County  of  Albany  without  a  license  or  permit  for  the  same, 
under  penalty  of  £60  fine. 

The  spirit  of  patriotism  in  the  city  is  indicated  hy  the  following 
record : 

Jacobus  Houghtaling,  who,  some  time  since  made  his  escape  from  Jaol,  being 
now  busy  enlisting  men  for  the  service  of  the  Enemy,  and  being  a  dangerous  person 
to  the  liberties  of  America: 

Resolved,  That  Major  Volkert  Veeder  be  requested  to  order  the  said  Houghtaling 
to  be  arrested  and  put  in  close  Confinement  till  the  further  order  of  this  Committee. 

Other  resolutions  of  the  month  of  April  ordered  Jacob  Kidney  to 
patrol  the  streets  during  divine  service  on  Sundays  to  quell  riots  and 
disturbances;  and  approved  of  the  action  of  the  Committee  of  the 
Manor  of  Rensselaerwyck  in  removing  to  a  place  of  safety  the  family 
of  a  man  who  had  been  threatened  for  giving  information  against 
tories;  the  record  calls  them  "  certain  disaffected  persons."  Christian 
Smith,  also,  was  paid  ^8  for  his  services  in  "discovering  the  designs 
of  our  internal  Enemies."  Another  order  was  made  on  the  treasurer 
to  pay  $100  to  Edward  Davis  "for  his  services  in  discovering  a  num- 
ber of  conspirators."  Another  citizen  who  it  was  discovered  had  taken 
the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  British  crown,  was  ordered  "immediately 
apprehended  and  put  in  Close  Confinement. "  Day  after  day  and  week 
after  week  the  committee  and  authorities  were  busy,  according  to  the 
records,  in  arresting  and  punishing  disloyal  citizens.  Many  such  left 
the  city  to  escape  arrest.  The  committee  exercised  almost  autocratic 
power,  which  was  doubtless  a  necessity  under  the  circumstances. 
When  a  certain  blacksmith,  the  owner  of  a  bellows,  did  not  use  it  to  much 
extent  and  public  business  was  impeded  for  want  of  one,  the  committee 

Resolved,  That  if  said  Harmen  Van  Der  Zee  does  not  comply  with  the  request  U> 
sell  the  same,  Colonel  Hay  (the  quartermaster)  shall  seize  the  Bellows,  and  have  the 
same  apprized  by  two  indifferent  persons,  and  pay  such  value  to  the  said  Van  Der 
Zee. 

This  was  a  very  early  example  of  condemnation  proceedings.  A  still 
broader  exercise  of  power,  and  a  proceeding  that  shows  the  privations 
which  encumbered  the  American  army  in  those  days,  is  seen  in  the  fol- 
lowing: 


77 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Isaac  D.  Fonda  be  requested  to  attend  the  Quarter  Master  Gen- 
eral, or  any  of  his  Deputies,  in  taking  all  the  lead  out  of  the  Cesh  Windows  in  the 
houses  in  and  about  this  city,  and  that  he  use  all  the  caution  in  his  power  to  prevent 
any  damage  being  done  to  the  Window  Ceshes,  etc. 

This  somewhat  high-handed  proceeding  seems  to  have  met   with  op 
position,  for  in   November   Philip  Van  Rensselaer  was  "requested   to 
replace  the  lead  taken  from  the  windows  of  the  different  houses." 

In  anticipation  of  Burgoyne's  invasion  in  August,  many  refugee  fam- 
ilies fled  to  Albany  for  protection.  All  such  not  provided  with  dwell- 
ing places  were  authorized  by  the  committee  to  occupy  any  empty 
houses  found  in  the  place,  and  to  pasture  cows  in  certain  lands  belong- 
ing to  Edward  and  Ebenezer  Jessup;  "a  family  of  eight  persons,  two 
cows;  of  less  than  eight,  one  cow."  Provisions  were  also  issued  to  the 
the  destitute  refugees.  In  the  month  of  August  a  resolution  directed 
Leonard  Gansevoort  to  proceed  to  Kingston  and  there  deposit  the  city 
and  county  records.  In  the  same  month  it  was  ordered  that  two  com- 
panies of  rangers  be  raised  ''to  quell  Robberies  and  disloyalty  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  this  County."  James  Mather  and  his  family  had  been 
ordered  to  leave  the  city,  and  his  house  was  ordered  rented  "  to  Abra- 
ham Bloodgood,  a  good  and  loyal  citizen."  In  September  a  considera- 
ble list  of  persons  were  ordered  "sent  to  the  Enemy,  in  ease  General 
Gates  should  approve."  In  September  the  house  of  Abraham  C.  Cuy- 
ler  (one  of  the  "disaffected  ")  was  taken  for  sick  and  wounded  officers, 
and  in  the  next  month  it  was  ordered  that  any  untenanted  houses 
should  be  used  for  hospital  purposes.  Under  date  of  November  G  the 
following  appears: 

Whereas,  This  Committee  stands  indebted  to  many  persons  who  are  iu  great  dis- 
tress for  want  of  the  money,  and  as  the  State  Treasury  is  in  a  low  state: 

Resolved,  That  application  be  made  to  the  Commissioners  tor  Sequestering  the 
Assetts  of  Persons  gone  over  to  the  enemy  in  the  Middle  District  of  this  County,  for 
the  said  sum  of  £2,000. 

( )u  the  L9th  of  November  a  list  of  "the  well-affected  persons  in  this 
district"  was  ordered  made  and  sent  to  Peter  K.  Livingston,  with  a 
request  to  deliver  to  the  order  of  the  chairman  of  this  district  a  quan- 
tity of  salt,   "  not  exceeding  two  quarts  per  Head." 

The  work  of  the  committee  for  the  year  177*3  closed  with  the  follow- 
ing resolutions,  adopted  on  December  ',  and  15  respectively: 

Jeremiah  Vincent  having  some  time  ago  received  from  this  Committee  the  sum  ol 
ten  pounds  to  perform  certain  secret  services,  instead  of  doing  which  he  went 
to  the  Enemy ; 


78 

Resolved,  That  one  of  the  two  Cows  on  the  farm  of  the  said  Vincent  be  sold  and 
a  return  made  of  the  said  ten  pounds,  and  a  return  made  of  the  overplus  to  the  wife 
of  the  said  Vincent,  and  that  this  Committee  dispose  of  the  Other  cow. 

Resolved,  That  William  Gilliland  be  remanded  to  prison,  as  proof  has  this  day 
been  made  before  this  Board  of  his  further  Inimical  Conduct  to  the  United  States. 

Plans  were  laid  by  the  Americans  and  numerous  efforts  made  during 
the  war  to  again  secure  the  alliance  of  the  Six  Nations.  Among  these 
was  a  great  council  held  at  Johnstown  March  9,  1778.  The  Continental 
("ongress  was  fully  represented,  and  from  this  county  Yolkert  Veeder 
and,  probably,  General  Schuyler  were  in  attendance.  But  the  effort 
was  unavailing  and  the  bloody  deeds  of  the  savages  continued. 

To  chastise  the  Iroquois  in  some  measure  for  their  atrocities  against 
the  Americans,  an  expedition  was  sent  against  the  Onondagas  in  the 
spring  of  1779,  under  command  of  Colonel  Van  Schaick.  His  force 
consisted  of  558  men  from  his  own  and  General  Gansevoort's  regiments, 
which  left  Fort  Schuyler  April  19,  and  penetrated  to  the  heart  of  the 
(  )nondagas'  country,  surprised  the  Indians,  destroyed  their  villages, 
burned  their  property  and  slaughtered  their  stock.  The  expedition 
was  out  six  days  and  returned  without  the  loss  of  a  man.  The  conse- 
quences were  not  what  was  anticipated.  Instead  of  terrorizing  the 
Indians,  it  only  exasperated  them  to  further  savagery  and  led  to  the 
destruction  of  Cobleskill  and  attacks  upon  Canajoharie  and  other 
points. 

Another  and  much  larger  expedition,  and  one  which,  perhaps,  had  a 
more  powerful  effect  tipon  the  Indians,  was  made  in  the  summer  of 
the  same  year.  Washington  placed  Gen.  John  Sullivan  in  command  of 
about  :>,000  troops  with  orders  to  march  into  the  Senecas'  country  and 
leave  nothing  but  desolation  in  his  path.  Sullivan  arrived  at  Tioga 
Point  August  'I'l,  and  was  there  joined  by  Gen.  James  Clinton  with 
1,600  men.  A  battle  was  fought  near  the  site  of  Elmira  in  which  the 
.Americans  were  victorious.  The  expedition  pushed  on  and  repeated 
in  the  rich  Genesee  valley  the  operations  of  Van  Schaick  in  Onondaga. 
The  destruction  was  complete  and  overwhelming;  but  while  it  tem- 
porarily awed  the  Indians,  it  did  not  crush  them.  Taking  advantage 
of  the  desire  for  vengeance  aroused  among  them  by  these  raids,  Sir 
John  Johnson  came  down  into  the  Mohawk  valley  from  Crown  Point  in 
May,  1780,  and  the  tomahawk  and  torch  left  many  desolate  homes.  At 
Johnstown  and  in  that  vicinity  he  burned  every  house  excepting  those 
of  tories,  recovered  his  plate  which  he  had  previously  buried  at   John- 


79 

son  Hall,  took  about  twenty  of  his  former  slaves  and  escaped  to 
Canada. 

The  proceedings  of  the  Albany  Committee  during-  the  few  months  of 
its  existence  in  1778  can  be  briefly  disposed  of  here.  The  new  com- 
mittee was  elected  January  2,  and  the  following  officers  chosen:  John 
Barclay,  chairman;  John  M.  Beeckman,  deputy  chairman;  Matthew 
Visscher,  secretary;  Jacob  Kidney,  waiter.  On  the  7th  of  [anuarv  a 
resolution  was  adopted  that  "a  subscription  be  set  on  foot  for  the  use 
of  our  Ruined  wSettlers  of  our  Frontiers.-'  On  the  15th  a  committee 
which  had  been  appointed  to  collect  money  for  the  poor  of  the  second 
ward,  turned  over  ,£97  I4y.  6e/. 

In  March  Moses  R.  Van  Vranken  confessed  that  he  had  bought  but- 
ter at  one  shilling  per  pound  in  specie,  and  sold  it  for  6s.  %d.  per  pound 
in  Continental  currency,  for  which  he  was  deemed  "dangerous  to  the 
State,  and  put  in  confinement  till  further  orders." 

The  last  entry  in  that  part  of  the  journal  of  the  committee  that  has 
been  preserved  is  under  date  of  June  10,  1T78,  and  is  unimportant. 

In  April,  L778,  the  seat  of  government  was  temporarily  removed  to 
Poughkeepsie.  Although  the  war  was  then  in  progress,  Albany  city 
and  the  county  as  far  as  its  present  limits  are  concerned,  did  not  suffer 
from  it  through  invasion  or  battles,  nor  did  it  during  the  remainder  of 
the  struggle.  But  the  vicinity  was  frecpiently  threatened  and  alarm 
and  anxiety  were  continuous.  The  city  was  filled  with  Continental 
troops  much  of  the  time;  these  wrere  sometimes  very  disorderly  and  the 
administration  of  the  city  government  was  an  onerous  task.  Petty 
disturbances  were  promptly  suppressed,  while  greater  ones  were  vig- 
orously dealt  with.  In  the  month  of  May  the  citizens  were  greatly 
alarmed  by  the  removal  of  a  large  part  of  the  soldiers,  leaving  the 
city  almost  unprotected  from  rioters  and  law-breakers.  There  were 
then  ten  prisoners  under  sentence  of  death  confined  in  the  city,  and 
threats  of  rescue  were  heard.  Mayor  Barclay  and  the  council  com- 
municated with  General  Stark  on  the  subject  as  follows: 

The  Common  Council  would  beg  leave  to  observe,  that  the  many  robberies,  mur- 
ders and  other  dreadful  crimes  committed  on  the  inhabitants  of  this  City  and 
County  by  deserters  and  prisoners  from  Burgoyne's  Army,  and  by  the  disaffe<  ' 
our  own  country,  who  are  drove  to  desperation,  and  some  of  them  almost  to  starva- 
tion, lenders  it  indispensably  necessary  to  have  a  large  body  of  regular  troops  to 
keep  the  villains  in  subjection,  or  go  in  quest  of  them;  for,  unless  the  militi. 
remain  at  home  tins  year,  and  properly  manage  their  summer  crops,  little  or  no  sup- 
port of  flour  and  other  things  can  the  Continent  derive  from  these  parts.      Last 


80 

more  than  one-half  of  the  crops  were  destroyed  by  the  Army-marauders,  and  not 
more  than  half  the  usual  quantity  sold.  If  the  British  prisoners  could  be  moved  to 
another  place,  it  would  break  up  the  alarming  connection  kept  up  between  them  and 
the  Tories  and  the  negroes. 

At  about  the  same  time  the  British  prisoners,  tories  and  negroes  in 
the  city  organized  a  plot  to  rise,  murder  the  guards,  and  rob  and  burn 
the  city;  it  was  fortunately  discovered  in  time  to  avert  the  calamity. 
Seven  of  the  leaders  were  seized  and  executed  on  Gallows  Hill. 

On  May  30  of  that  year  a  regiment  of  militia  and  a  body  of  Conti- 
nentals were  attacked  by  tories  and  Indians  at  Cobleskill.  They 
were  defeated,  many  of  them  killed  and  the  place  burned.  Albany 
was  in  a  fever  of  excitement,  for  the  British  freely  threatened  to  serve 
the  city  in  the  same  manner.  These  dangers  were,  however,  happily 
averted. 

The  Common  Council  and  citizens  were  greatly  agitated  in  the  fall 
of  1778  by  reports  that  the  commander  of  the  Northern  Department 
was  to  quarter  2,000  soldiers  on  the  city  during  the  ensuing  winter. 
On  September  12  the  authorities  united  in  a  letter  of  protest  to  Gov- 
ernor Clinton  against  this  injustice.  Their  reasons  were,  in  substance, 
the  grievous  privations  and  sacrifices  already  made  by  the  city;  the 
constant  struggle  of  the  inhabitants  and  authorities  against  the  tories. 
all  of  which  had  so  impoverished  the  people  that  many  were  in  very 
reduced  circumstances;  that  their  fences  had  all  been  used  for  fuel  by 
the  soldiers,  opening  their  lands  to  common  use  and  the  destruction  of 
crops;  that  there  was  a  great  scarcity  of  fire  wood,  through  the  billet- 
ing of  a  large  force  of  soldiery  upon  the  city  in  the  previous  winter, 
etc.     Their  letter  concluded  as  follows: 

However  willing  we  have  been,  and  still  are,  to  risk  our  all  in  supporting  the  free- 
dom and  independence  of  our  blessed  country,  we  feel  compelled  to  ask  that  in  the 
distribution  of  the  troops  for  winter  quarters,  due  respect  may  be  had  for  the  former 
distresses  and  present  sufferings  of  the  inhabitants  of  Albany  and  its  suburbs;  and 
that,  at  any  rate,  no  more  troops  may  be  allotted  to  us  than  the  hospital  and  the 
barracks  may  contain ;  that  the  strictest  orders  may  be  issued  regarding  stealing, 
pilfering,  and  insulting  the  inhabitants;  and  that  the  officers  be  enjoined  in  punish- 
ing the  refractory  and  disobedient. 

The  whole  letter  bears  the  impress  of  earnest  truth  and  it  had  the 
desired  effect.  While  it  is  true  that  during  the  remainder  of  the  Rev- 
olutionary struggle  the  county  was  free  from  actual  invasion  and 
bloodshed,  the  privations  of  the  people,  the  responsibilities  of  the 
mayor  and  council  and  the  sacrifices  demanded,   constantly  increased 


si 

to  near  the  close  of  the  contest  In  September,  1781,  the  alarming 
news  reached  the  inhabitants  that  the  British  were  about  to  attack  the 
city  and  burn  it  to  the  ground.  Prompt  measures  for  protection  were 
adopted,  but  the  tide  of  military  events  turned  away  the  threatened 
invasion.  It  was  in  that  year,  also,  that  General  Gates  wrote  Governor 
Clinton  as  follows: 

I  am  fully  confident  that  George  III  of  Great  Britain,  has  many  subjects  in  this 
city  who  would  willingly  lay  down  half,  even  the  whole,  of  their  estates  in  his  serv- 
ice, and  trust  in  his  royal  clemency  for  the  repayment  of  the  money  so  profitably 
laid  out.  Albany  is  a  very  dangerous  place  to  put  men  into.  I  have  no  hopes  of 
any  assistance  from  Albany;  it  is  not  their  inclination  to  fight  away  from  their  own 
castle. 

The  war  of  the  Revolution  continued  with  its  succession  of  memor- 
able events,  all  slowly  but  inevitably  tending  towards  the  establish- 
ment of  American  freedom,  and  by  the  year  1782  the  patriot  cause  was 
approaching  its  final  triumph.  On  June  28  of  this  year,  Washington 
visited  Albany,  where  he  was  welcomed  by  the  mayor  and  council  with 
an  address  and  with  demonstrations  of  confidence  and  affection  by 
the  inhabitants.  He  was  presented  with  the  freedom  of  the  city  in 
gold  box.  His  arrival  was  announced  by  the  ringing  of  bells  and  the 
roar  of  artillery,  while  in  the  evening  the  city  was  brilliantly  illum- 
inated. 

A  preliminary  treaty  of  peace  between  Great  Britain  and  America 
was  signed  at  Paris  on  the  30th  of  November,  1782,  and  on  September 
3,  1783,  peace  was  fully  established,  a  formal  proclamation  having 
meanwhile  been  made  on  April  19  of  the  cessation  of  hostilities.  Al- 
bany county  joined  with  every  other  community  in  properly  celebrat- 
ing the  event.  On  the  18th  of  July,  1783,  information  was  received 
that  Washington  would  again  visit  Albany  in  company  with  Governor 
Clinton  on  the  following  day.  Immediate  preparations  were  made  to 
give  them  a  proper  welcome.  An  address  of  welcome  was  prepared 
and  a  public  dinner  ordered,  to  which  the  distinguished  visitors  were 
invited.  Washington  delivered  a  brief  reply  to  the  address  of  wel- 
come, closing  as  follows: 

While  I  contemplate  with  the  inexpressible  pleasure  the  future  tranquillity  and 
glory  of  our  common  country,  I  cannot  but  take  a  particular  interest  in  the  anticipa- 
tion of  the  increase  in  prosperity  and  greatness  of  this  ancient  and  respectable  city 
of  Albany,  from  whose  citizens  I  have  received  such  distinguished  tokens  of  their 
approbation  and  affection, 
U 


82 

Governor  Clinton  also  delivered  an  appropriate  reply  to  the  address. 

The  story  of  the  New  Hampshire  Grants  is  familiar  to  all,  and  is  re- 
ferred to  here  only  to  mention  an  incident  which  created  some  alarm 
at  Albany.  In  the  latter  part  of  1784,  after  peace  was  fully  estab- 
lished with  Great  Britain,  regiments  of  soldiers  from  General  Ganse- 
voort's  brigade  were  stationed  between  the  Battenkill  and  the  Hoosick. 
An  insurrection  broke  out  in  the  regiments  of  Cols.  John  and  Henry 
K.  Van  Rensselaer  and  Peter  Yates.  It  was  a  practical  expression  of 
the  feeling  of  the  militia  in  favor  of  the  people  of  the  Grants  and 
against  the  author^  of  New  York  over  the  disputed  territory.  On 
the  5th  of  December  General  Gansevoort  ordered  Colonels  Yates,  Van 
Yechten  and  Van  Rensselaer  to  march  to  St.  Coych  and  quell  the  dis- 
turbance. Governor  Clinton  ordered  Gen.  Robert  Van  Rensselaer's 
brigade  to  assist  Gansevoort,  while  General  Stark,  stationed  at  Sara- 
toga, refused  to  interfere  when  requested,  unless  under  orders  from  his 
superiors.  Advancing  to  St.  Coych  Gansevoort  found  about  five  hun- 
dred men  ready  to  aid  the  insurgent  militia.  Gansevoort  had  only 
eighty  men  with  him  at  the  time  and  he  retired  five  miles  and  opened 
written  correspondence  with  the  leaders  of  the  band ;  this  did  not  serve 
the  purpose  of  inducing  the  rebels  10  lay  down  their  arms.  The  mat- 
ter was  finally  settled  without  bloodshed  by  a  conciliatory  letter  from 
Washington  to  Governor  Chittenden.  Ten  years  later  Vermont  be- 
came an  independent  State. 

England  submitted  to  defeat  with  bad  grace.  Boundary  technical- 
ities, questions  of  trade  and  commerce,  unsettled  claims  of  various 
kinds,  were  all  brought  forward  as  pretexts  for  delay  in  evacuating 
American  territory.  It  must  be  conceded  that  the  American  govern- 
ment treated  its  recent  enemy  with  either  distinguished  consideration, 
or  foolish  favor.  In  any  case  the  astounding  fact  remains  that  it  was 
not  until  July  15,  170C,  thirteen  years  after  peace  was  declared,  that 
English  troops  marched  away  from  the  last  bit  of  American  soil  occu- 
pied by  them — Fort  Ontario  at  Oswego,  the  centennial  of  which  event 
has  recently  been  celebrated  in  that  historic  city. 

The  year  1790,  only  a  few  years  after  the  close  of  the  war,  found 
Albany  county  with  three  incorporated  towns  and  a  total  population  of 
13,950;  of  these  3,506  were  in  Albany;  2,777  in  Rensselaerville,  and 
7,667  in  Watervliet.  These  figures  as  relating  to  Albany  were  in- 
creased by  the  beginning  of  the  present  century  to  5,289,  indicating  a 
considerable  growth.     As  to  the  remainder  of  the  county,  no  census  is 


83 

available  until  1810,  which  is  noted  in  the  succeeding  chapter.  The 
towns  in  existence  at  the  beginning  of  the  century  were  Albany,  Berne, 
Bethlehem,  Coeymans,  Rensselaerville,  and  Watervleit;  the  remaining 
six  have  been  erected  since  1800. 

The  subject  of  public  improvements  had  begun  to  be  discussed,  par- 
ticularly in  respect  to  securing  easier  and  more  rapid  communication 
with  the  western  part  of  the  State  towards  which  settlers  were  migrat- 
ing in  large  numbers.  The  first  practical  result  of  this  agitation  was 
the  incorporation,  March  30,  1792,  of  the  Western  Inland  Lock  Navi- 
gation Company.  This  company  established  navigation  from  II nelson 
River  to  the  Seneca  Lake  and  Lake  Ontario  by  building  a  short  canal 
around  Little  Falls,  another  between  the  Mohawk  at  Rome  and  Wood 
Creek,  and  the  improvement  of  Oneida,  Seneca,  and  Oswego  Rivers. 
The  influence  of  this  water  communication  upon  the  prosperity  of  the 
State  was  widespread  and  traffic  east  and  west  increased  rapidly.  As 
many  as  three  hundred  boats  passed  Rome  in  a  single  year.  As  a 
financial  investment  the  canal  lost  money  and  its  property  and  rights 
finally  passed  to  the  State  at  the  time  of  the  construction  of  the  Erie 
Canal. 

Other  avenues  of  communication  were  opened  and  former  ones  im- 
proved. In  1785  the  Legislature  granted  to  Isaac  Van  Wyck,  Talmage 
Hall  and  John  Kinney  the  exclusive  right  to  drive  stage  wagons  on  the 
east  side  of  Hudson  River  to  New  York  for  ten  years.  The  fare  was 
four  pence  a  mile.  A  year  later  communication  was  opened  with  Spring- 
field, Mass.,  and  in  1789  a  stage  began  running  from  Albany  to  Lan- 
singburgh.  About  1790  public  roads  were  opened  eastward  and  to 
Whitestown  on  the  west,  to  be  soon  extended  to  the  rich  Genesee 
country.  Over  these  highways  ran  the  old  stages  of  which  our  fathers 
tell  us.  Among  the  first  were  those  running  westward  by  way  of 
Schenectady,  Johnstown,  Canajoharie,  Fort  Plain  and  Warren's  Bush. 
In  1790  the  Legislature  granted  to  Ananias  Piatt  the  exclusive  right  to 
run  a  stage  between  Albany  and  Lansingburgh,  and  in  the  following  year 
a  route  was  authorized  to  Bennington.  In  L792  a  line  was  established 
from  Albany  to  Whitestown,  the  trip  heing  made  once  in  two  weeks. 
In  the  spring  of  L793  Moses  Beal  carried  passengers  l>y  stage  to  Cana- 
joharie  once  a  week;  fare  three  cents  a  mile.  About  this  time  John 
Hudson  established  an  opposition  line  to  Schenectady;  fare  four  shil- 
lings. Soon  afterward  a  line  was  opened  to  the  Connecticut  valley.  In 
i;nl   Mr.   Piatt  was  running    stages    twice  a  day  to    Lansingburgh,  and 


84 

travel  over  this  line  so  increased  that  in  the  next  year  six  daily  trips  were 
made.  In  1796  twenty  stages  made  daily  trips  from  Albany  to  Lan- 
singburgh,  Waterford  and  Troy,  carrying  sometimes  one  hundred  and 
fifty  passengers  daily.  In  that  year  there  were  five  post  routes  termi- 
nating in  Albany.  In  the  same  year  $40,000  in  furs  and  peltries 
were  received  by  one  Albany  house  from  western  agencies.  In  the 
winter  of  1795-6  twelve  hundred  sleighs  passed  westward  through  Al- 
bany for  the  Genesee  valley.  Ere  long  rich  products  came  eastward  to 
market  in  heavy  wagons  and  sleighs,  all  leaving  their  toll  in  Albany. 
The  close  of  the  last  century  saw  this  county  in  the  full  enjoyment  of 
the  blessings  attending  the  peace  it  had  aided  in  consummating,  and 
the  prosperity  due  to  it  for  its  peculiar  situation  with  reference  to  the 
rapidly  growing  traffic  of  the  west  with  the  seaboard. 


CHAPTER    IX. 


During  the  reign  of  peace,  which  lasted  from  the  beginning  of  the 
present  century  until  1812,  there  was  a  marked  progress  in  Albany 
county;  there  was  a  large  increase  in  the  number  of  settlers  in  many 
of  the  already  occupied  localities  and  the  beginning  of  settlements  at 
other  points;  the  clearing  of  many  acres  of  forest  and  the  commence- 
ment of  cultivation  on  many  farms ;  the  building  of  additional 
mills;  the  founding  of  schools  and  churches.  But  when  war  with 
Great  Britain  was  renewed  in  1812  industry  was  paralyzed  for  two 
years  and  advancement  was  retarded 

At  the  beginning  of  the  century  the  population  of  this  State  had 
reached  589,000,  of  which  total  about  60,000  were  in  New  York  city. 
The  foundations  of  the  present  thriving  cities  were  laid  at  Utica,  Roch- 
ester, Buffalo,  and  Oswego,  at  which  latter  place  a  rapidly  increasing 
commerce  on  the  lakes  was  just  springing  into  existence.  The  pop- 
ulation of  Albany  county  was,  in  1790,  13,950,  of  which  number  3,506 
were  in  Albany  city,  and  the  remainder  in  Rensselaerville  and  Water- 
vleit,  which  were  the  only  towns  then  in  existence  in  this  county.  We 
cannot  give  the  population  of  the  county  in  1800,  but  that  of  the  city 
had  advanced  to  5,269,  while  in  1810  the  number  of  inhabitants  in  the 
county  reached  34,669,  indicating  a  very  active  growth. 


85 

Early  in  the  century  began  the  acts  on  the  part  of  England  and 
France  which  resulted  in  another  war.  Through  orders  issued  by 
Great  Britain  and  decrees  made  by  Napoleon,  all  American  commerce 
in  neutral  ships  with  either  of  these  belligerent  nations  was  suspended. 
American  sailors,  claimed  as  British  subjects,  were  seized  on  American 
vessels,  the  right  to  board  American  vessels  for  this  purpose  being  one 
of  the  unjust  claims  set  up  by  Great  Britain.  Late  in  October,  1807, 
Congress  opposed  the  persistent  outrages  of  the  British  government  by 
laying  an  embargo  on  all  vessels  in  United  States  harbors.  This 
measure,  necessary  as  it  may  have  appeared  as  a  general  policy,  was 
disastrous  to  the  mercantile  and  shipping  interests  of  this  whole  coun- 
try, and  was  largely  the  means  of  an  irreconcilable  division  of  the 
people  upon  the  question  of  war  later  on.  The  embargo  act  was  sup- 
ported by  a  large  part  of  the  Democratic  party,  but  was  strenuously 
opposed  by  the  Federalists. 

On  June  1,  1812,  President  Madison  sent  a  confidential  message  to 
Congress  in  which  he  reviewed  the  causes  of  complaint  against  Great 
Britain  and  called  upon  the  representatives  to  decide  whether  they 
would  act  upon  their  rights  and  as  duty  dictated,  or  remain  passive 
under  accumulating  injustice.  It  was  well  known  that  the  president 
favored  open  retaliation.  By  one  party  he  was  urged  by  ridicule  as 
well  as  threats  to  declare  war,  while  the  other,  among  whom  were 
many  whose  personal  interests  were  already  suffering,  bitterly  opposed 
such  action.  Madison's  message  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on 
Foreign  Relations,  which,  on  June  3  made  a  report  favoring  the  presi- 
dent's views  and  accompanied  by  a  bill  favoring  war,  an  attempt  being 
made  to  include  France  in  the  declaration,  which  failed.  After  much 
debate  and  amid  the  greatest  excitement  throughout  the  country,  Con- 
gress passed  the  bill  on  July  18,  and  the  president  signed  it.  <  >n  the 
following  day  he  issued  a  proclamation  announcing  the  fact  and  call 
ing  on  the  people  to  support  the  administration. 

In  Albany  excitement  ran  high.  The  two  parties  and  the  local  press 
were  quite  evenly  divided  for  and  against  the  war  and  party  hostility 
was  very  bitter.  The  Albany  Register,  Democratic,  was  then  pub- 
lished by  Solomon  Southwick,  and  the  Albany  Gazette,  Federalist,  by 
Charles  E.  Webster.  It  is  stated  that  the  Gazette  office  was  threatened 
with  destruction  by  a  mob,  and  that  such  a  demonstration  was  ] ire- 
vented  only  by  a  published  notice  that  every  man  in  the  establishment 
was   fully  armed  and  would  defend    the  place  against  an    attack.      The 


86 

Democrats  were  led  by  Gov.  John  Tayler,  and  the  Federalists  by  Gen. 
Solomon  Van  Rensselaer,  both  excellent  men,  but  determined  and  ex- 
treme in  their  attitudes  on  the  all-absorbing  question.  They  even  had 
a  hostile  meeting  on  State  street  on  April  21,  1807,  which  was  fol- 
lowed by  a  legal  trial. 

Immediately  upon  the  public  declaration  of  war  Gen.  Isaac  Brock, 
commander  in  chief  of  the  British  forces  in  Upper  Canada,  took  com- 
mand of  the  Niagara  frontier  and  strengthened  its  defenses,  while 
Gen.  William  Wadsworth  was  given  command  on  the  American  side. 
By  ;i  general  order  of  the  War  Department  April  21,  1812,  the  de- 
tached militia  of  the  State  was  arranged  in  two  divisions,  eight  brigades 
and  numerous  regiments.  Preparations  for  war  went  on  actively,  and 
Albany,  by  virtue  of  its  situation  and  as  the  State  capital,  was  a  center 
of  great  military  importance.  Intense  anxiety  was  felt  on  the  Amer- 
ican side  as  to  the  probable  conduct  of  the  Indians  in  the  approaching 
crisis.  Great  Britain,  as  might  have  been  expected,  made  prompt 
efforts  to  enlist  the  Mohawks  and  the  Indians  in  Canada  in  her  service, 
while  messengers  were  sent  among  the  Six  Nations  to  urge  them  to 
join  the  English.  To  counteract  this  influence  a  council  of  the  Six  Nations 
was  held  at  Buffalo  on  the  Oth  of  July,  where  the  great  Seneca  chief, 
Red  Jacket,  made  speeches  in  response  to  those  of  Mr.  Granger,  who 
explained  the  causes  of  the  war  and  counseled  the  Indians  to  remain 
neutral,  but  if  the  young  warriors  must  fight,  to  let  it  be  on  the  Amer- 
ican side.  Red  Jacket  favored  neutrality,  but  this  condition  did  not 
long  exist,  the  natural  inclination  of  the  Indians  soon  carrying  them  to 
the  frontier,  where  they  were  an  important  adjunct  to  the  American 
armies.  With  the  close  of  1812  the  war  was  well  under  way  on  the 
lakes  and  along  the  Canadian  frontier. 

During  the  year  J.813  the  march  of  military  events  was  rapid  and  as 
a  whole  the  result  was  favorable  to  the  American  arms.  Sackett's 
Harbor  was  made  the  chief  depot  of  military  supplies  on  Lake  Ontario 
and  presented  a  tempting  prize  to  the  enemy.  Sir  James  L  Yen's 
ignominious  attempt  to  capture  it  in  May,  and  a  similar  failure  bv  a 
small  force  to  capture  Oswego,  with  the  brilliant  and  important  victory 
of  Perry  on  Lake  Erie  September  10,  were  conspicuous  events  of 
the  year,  but  their  history  possesses  little  local  interest.  Meanwhile 
Albany  was  made  a  rendezvous  for  numerous  bodies  of  volunteer  and 
drafted  soldiery,  with  all  the  accompanying  excitement,  petty  disturb- 
ances, military  display  and  trade  activity  in   such    lines  as  could  thrive 


87 

upon  the  floating  population  thus  brought  into  the  city.  The  records 
arc  tilled  with  information  about  these  bodies  of  troops  assembling  at 
Albany  and  cither  remaining-  temporarily  before  their  assignment,  or 
marching  on  westward  towards  the  frontiers. 

Early  in  1814  it  was  evident  that  the  British  intended  a  more  vigor- 
ous prosecution  of  the  war.  The  victory  of  the  allies  over  Napoleon 
had  relieved  from  European  service  thousands  of  English  soldiers 
and  early  in  the  summer  15,000  of  Wellington's  bronzed  veterans  were 
sent  over  to  Canada.  The  inhabitants  of  this  State  received  this  news 
with  deep  concern.  During  the  winter  and  spring  the  military  com- 
manders on  both  sides  of  the  St.  Lawrence  and  the  lakes  made  prepara- 
tions for  a  determined  struggle,  with  Lake  Ontario  as  the  prize,  while 
on  the  Niagara  frontier  measures  were  in  active  progress  which  led  to 
the  bloody  conflicts  in  that  region.  The  principal  events  of  the  year 
were  the  capture  of  Oswego  by  the  British  May  6;  the  battle  at  Fori 
Erie,  opposite  Buffalo  August  13-15;  the  fight  at  Lundy's  Lane  July 
25,  where  young  Gen.  Winfield  Scott  won  his  first  renown  ;  the  engage- 
ments on  Lake  Champlain  and  at  Plattsburg  in  September;  at  Chip- 
pewa on  October  15,  and  the  victories  of  Decatur  and  others  at  sea. 
This  series  of  military  events,  in  most  of  which  the  Americans  demon- 
strated their  ability  to  successfully  defend  their  country  against  foreign 
foes,  concluded  with  the  final  victory  of  General  Jackson  at  New 
Orleans  on  January  8,  1815,  a  battle  which  was  in  reality  fought  after 
peace  was  declared,  but  before  the  news  reached  that  far  away  locality. 
.\  treaty  of  peace  was  agreed  to  between  the  commissioners  of  the 
United  States  and  those  of  Great  Britain,  at  Ghent,  on  December24,  1  >•  I  I, 
and  ratifications  were  exchanged  at  Washington  February  1?,  1815.  The 
reception  of  the  news  in  this  country  spread  joy  throughout  the  land, 
the  tidings  being  greeted  with  banquets  and  illuminations  in  many 
cities  and  villages. 

Among  the  local  incidents  of  this  conflict  was  the  appointment  of 
Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  "the  old  Patroon,"  as  major-general  of  the 
volunteer  militia,  by  Governor  Tompkins.  lie  was  stationed  on  the 
Niagara  frontier,  and  there  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Queenston,  in 
which  Col.  Solomon  Van  Rensselaer,  also,  shared  and  made  the  first 
attack  with  225  men.  Colonel  Van  Rensselaer  was  severely  wounded 
at  the  outset.  Disgusted  with  the  refusal  of  many  of  the  troops  to 
cross  the  river  under  the  pretense  that  it  was  not  a  war  of  invasion. 
General   Van    Rensselaer  resigned  in   October,    L812,    and   returne 


Albany,  where  he  was  honorably  received  by  a  large  concourse  of  citi- 
zens. 

The  clashing  young  naval  commander,  Commodore  Perry,  paid  Al- 
bany a  visit  on  November  8,  1813,  after  his  great  victory,  and  was 
escorted  to  the  Capitol  by  a  large  procession.  There  he  was  presented 
with  the  freedom  of  the  city  in  a  gold  box,  and  a  handsome  sword. 
He  held  a  reception  at  the  Eagle  Tavern,  and  attended  a  grand  ball  in 
the  evening. 

Captain  Bulkley  raised  a  company  of  volunteer  infantry  here  and 
Captain  Walker  a  company  of  artillery.  They  were  stationed  early  in 
the  war  on  Staten  Island,  whence  they  returned  to  the  city  on  Novem- 
ber 28,  1812.  About  the  same  time  Capt.  C.  R.  Skinner  had  a  recruit- 
ing office  in  Ladd's  Coffee  House,  corner  of  Green  and  Beaver  streets, 
where  he  was  endeavoring  to  complete  five  companies  of  infantry,  two 
of  riflemen,  and  one  of  artillery.  In  his  public  announcements  he 
states  that  the  city  had  raised  a  fund  of  several  thousand  dollars  for  the 
benefit  of  the  volunteers. 

Col.  John  Mills,  of  Albany,  in  command  of  artillery  at  Sackett's 
Harbor,  fell  in  battle  there  May  .29,  1813,  his  bravery  on  that  field 
being  commended  by  Gen  Jacob  Brown.  His  remains  were  brought  to 
the  city  and  interred  in  Capitol  Park  May  29,  1844,  and  later  were  re- 
moved to  Rural  Cemetery. 

Among  the  honored  names  of  men  who  performed  active  service  in 
that  war  and  at  some  period  lived  in  Albany  county,  are  those  of  Stephen 
and  Solomon  Van  Rensselaer,  John  Lovett,  John  E.  Wool,  John  Mills, 
Colonel  Forsyth,  William  L.  Marcy,  William  J.  Worth,  John  O.  Cole, 
Thurlow  Weed,  Lieutenant  Gansevoort,  Lieutenant  Rathbone,  and 
Ambrose  Spencer,  jr. 

The  following  list  of  names  is  copied  from  the  "Index  of  Awards 
on  Claims  of  Soldiers  of  the  War  of  1812,  as  audited  and  allowed," 
pursuant  to  State  law  of  1859,  Chapter  170,  and  is  believed  to  contain 
the  names  of  most  of  the  militia  who  enlisted  in  that  war  from  this 
county : 

Albany. 


Orrin  Abbott, 
Michael  Artcher, 
Chester  Atherton, 
Ammiel  Barnard, 
Asabel  S.  Beens, 


John  J.  Fulton, 
Thomas  S.  Gillet, 
Jonathan  Goldwaite, 
Isaac  T.  Groesbeck, 
Abraham  Hagaman, 


Aaron  Palmer, 
Robert  Patten, 
Jacob  Place, 
Jonas  D.  Piatt, 
John  Pruyn, 


89 


Harmanus  Bleecker,  jr., 
Nicholas  Bleecker,  jr., 
Garritt  H.  Bloomingdale, 
Matthew  Boom, 
Cornelius  Bounds, 
Adrian  Bradt, 
John  C.  Bradt, 
Salvo  Brintnall, 
John  Bussy, 
Abraham  Balson, 
Calvin  Butler, 
Daniel  P.  Clark, 
Jeremiah  Clute, 
Peter  Colburn, 
Philip  De  Forest, 
Martin  Easterly, 
Ebenezer  S.  Edgerton, 
C.  Ertzberger, 
Ralph  Farnham, 
Thomas  hish, 
William  For  by, 
Luther  Frisbie, 
William  Fuhr, 


George  Hawiey, 
John  D.  Houghtaling, 
Moses  Jay, 
John  Johnson, 
Sylvanus  Kelley, 
John  Lamoreux, 
Nicholas  I.  Lampman, 
Daniel  D.  Lawyer, 
Jacob  Lewis, 
Aaron  Livingston, 
Jacob  Loatwall, 
Charles  Low, 
Jeremiah  Luther, 
Daniel  Mcintosh, 
John  McMicken, 
Abraham  Martin, 
Henry  T.  Mesick, 
Thomas  Mitchel, 
William  Muir, 
John  Myers, 
Benjamin  Northrop, 
Peter  Osterhout, 
Henry  Paddock, 


Simon  Relyea, 
James  Robinson, 
Courtland  Schuyler, 
Jacob  Scott, 
Abraham  Severson, 
William  Seymour, 
Jacob  Sharp, 
John  Shouts, 
John  Shinkle, 
William  J.  Smith, 
Peter  H.  Snyder, 
John  Spoor, 
John  Stenkle, 
John  Stone, 
Peter  Ten  Eyck, 
Francis  E.  Thompson, 
Henry  Turner, 
John  Van  Antwerp, 
Garret  I.  Vandenberg, 
Peter  Van  Olinda, 
Cornelius  W.  Vedder, 
Ebenezer  C.  Warren, 
Jacob  White. 


Orange  Beeman. 
Michael  Belle, 
Joseph  Bradley, 
Richard  Brownell, 
Henry  Carroll, 
Richard  Filkins, 
Jesse  Helligus, 


Berne. 

Reuben  Hungerford, 
Elisha  Ingraham. 
Daniel  Joslin, 
Derrick  Martin, 
Nicholas  ( (sterhout, 
David  D.  Palmer, 
Stephenson  Palmer, 


J(  ihn   Pier,  2d. 
William  Rhinehart, 
John  I.  Schermerhorn, 
James  Sloan, 
William  Truax, 
John  Wilda, 
Christian  Willmon. 


Joseph  Arkles, 
Aaron  Hawiey, 
Anthony  Pangburn, 


Bethlehem. 

John  Parker, 

Henry  I.  Schoonmaker, 

William  Scrafford, 


Lewis  Stiman, 

( barrel   Vanderpool, 

He'zekiah  Wilks. 


Stewart  Bull, 
Henry  Caeknard, 
1  )aniel  Carhart, 


COEYMANS. 


John  Carr, 
1  )aniel  <  rreen, 
Elias  I  [olmes, 


John  I'".  Shaicr, 
John  Turk. 


12 


C< i 

James  Cole. 


90 


Adam  Blessing, 
Ehsha  Cheesebro, 
Frederick  J.  Crounse, 


Daniel  J.  Beyea, 
Asa  Brown, 


Henry  Bunzer, 
William  Bunzey, 


Henry  P.  Bradt, 
Peter  V.  B.  Elmendorf, 


Henry  Benn, 
George  Benn, 


William  Campbell, 
Henry  Chadwick, 
David  Cole, 
Peter  M.  Conger, 
Ethel  Enos, 


John  Fraligh, 
Abiel  Gardner, 


James  W.  Dubois, 
Nathan  B.  Gleason, 
Isaac  Hitchcock, 

Following  the  war 
Albany  county  and 


GUILDERLAN  I  >. 

Christopher  Frederick, 
Henry  Ostrander,  jr., 
Adam  Relyea, 

Jerusalem. 

Charles  Hazelton, 
Moses  Mowers, 

Knox. 

Edward  P.  Crary, 
Joseph  Gallup, 

New  Scotland. 

William  Latta, 
Robert  McGill, 

Rensselaerville. 

William  Crandall, 
William  Holdridge, 

South  Jerusalem. 

Peter  Cole. 

Wateryliet. 

Oliver  Hastings, 
Ezra  Haynes, 
James  Johnson, 
Henry  Lasee, 
Jesse  E.  Roberts, 

Westerlo. 

Josiah  Hinckle)r,  jr., 
Walter  Huyck, 
John  Newbury, 

West  Troy. 

Israel  Shadbolt, 
James  Sloan, 
Jacob  Turner, 

of  1812  a  long  period 
the  country   at  large, 


John  N.  Severson, 
Peter  Shafer, 
Cornelius  Van  Derzee. 


Conrad  Turner. 


Benjamin  Williams, 
Henry  Williams. 


Jacob  Martin, 
Samuel  Warner. 


Thomas  Tibits, 
Cornelius  Van  Aiken. 


John  Scovell, 
Stephen  Simpson, 
David  Turner, 
Joseph  Werden. 


Cyrus  Stone, 

George  W.  Swartwout. 


John  Uran, 
George  Wilson. 

of  peace  settled  down  upon 
growth  and  progress  in  all 


91 

directions  being  rapid.  The  population  increased  from  34,669  in  1810 
to  38,150  in  1820,  and  to  53,520  in  1830.  Travel  to  and  from  Albany 
began  to  assume  large  proportions  early  in  the  century  and  with  the 
close  of  the  war  and  the  establishment  of  industries  and  opening  new- 
settlements,  it  greatly  increased.  Various  turnpike  companies  were  or- 
ganized in  addition  to  those  already  mentioned,  among  them  the  Leba- 
non and  Albany  Turnpike  in  1798;  the  first  company  of  the  Great  Western 
Turnpike  in  1799;  in  1804  the  Bethlehem  Turnpike,  and  in  1805  the 
Albany  and  Delaware  Turnpike.  A  charter  for  a  turnpike  on  the  west 
side  of  the  river  to  Catskill  was  granted  about  this  time,  and  the  Troy 
and  Schenectady  Turnpike  was  incorporated  in  180G.  All  of  these 
roads  were  to  facilitate  the  concentration  of  trade  in  Albanv. 

Among  the  most  prominent  of  the  early  stage  proprietors  was  Jason 
Parker,  whose  place  of  residence  was  Utica.  He  obtained  concessions 
from  the  Legislature  about  the  beginning  of  the  century  to  run  stages 
west  from  Utica  to  Canandaigua  for  ten  years.  The  fare  at  that  time 
was  four  cents  a  mile,  and  the  proprietors  were  prohibited  from  carry- 
ing more  than  seven  passengers  in  any  one  stage.  Mr.  Parker  had 
been  instrumental  in  running  the  first  stages  from  Albany  to  Lansing- 
burgh  in  the  latter  years  of  the  preceding  century,  and  also  had  a  line 
in  operation  between  Albany  and  Whitestown  before  1797.  In  part  or 
all  of  these  early  enterprises  he  was  associated  with  Moses  Beal.  It  is 
on  record,  in  1810,  that  a  greater  degree  of  expedition  was  attained  on 
the  route  from  Albany  westward,  when  a  daily  line  was  established  to 
Utica.  On  the  20th  of  September,  1810,  Joshua  Ostrom  and  his  asso- 
ciates, who  were  in  opposition  to  Parker  cK:  Co.,  announced  a  new 
"  steamboat  line  of  stages  "  which  left  Albany  on  Mondays  and  Fri- 
days. On  the  21st  of  January,  1811,  appeared  the  following  announce- 
ment from  Parker  &  Powell: 

Kight  changes  of  horses.  The  mail  stage  now  leaves  Bagg's,  Utica,  everymorning 
at  4  o'clock.  Passengers  will  breakfast  at  Maynard's,  I  lerkimer,  dine  at  Josiah  Shep- 
ard's  Palatine  and  sup  (on  oysters)  at  Thomas  Powell's  Tontine  Coffee  House,  Sche- 
nectady. Those  ladies  and  gentlemen  who  will  favor  this  line  with  their  patronage 
may  be  assured  of  having  good  horses,  attentive  drivers,  warm  carriages,  and  that 
there  shall  not  be  any  running  or  racing  of  horses  on  the  line. 

This  line  was  within  a  few  months  extended  through  to  Niagara 
Falls. 

The  year  1807  saw  a  marked  change  in  travel  northward  and  south- 
ward, when  the  first  steamboat  was  launched  on  the  great   river.     The 


02 

first  of  Fulton's  boats,  the  Clermont,  left  New  York  September  5  of 
that  year,  with  twenty-seven  passengers,  which  number  was  increased 
to  one  hundred  on  the  trip  of  October  7.  From  twenty-four  to  thirty- 
six  hours  were  required  for  the  trip.  In  1811  there  were  two  steam- 
boats carrying  passengers  to  New  York ;  they  were  named  the  Hope 
and  the  North  River.  This  number  was  increased  by  1836  to  twelve 
steamboats  and  seven  towing-  boats.  The  fare  on  the  first  steamers  to 
New  York  was  $7.  In  1820  the  Chancellor  Livingston  was  launched; 
she  was  175  feet  long,  had  beds  for  160  passengers  and  settees  for  forty  ; 
fare  $8.  The  reader  can  draw  his  own  comparison  between  this  pioneer 
boat  and  the  Adirondack  of  to-day.  In  1823  the  Constitution,  the  Con- 
stellation, the  Swiftsure,  and  the  Saratoga  began  running.  In  1828 
the  North  America  was  put  on  the  river,  a  boat  which  was  character- 
ized by  Dr.  Charles  Stuart  as  "the  most  beautiful  and  swift  of  the 
floating  palaces  on  the  Hudson;  or,  as  I  believe,  I  may  add  with  truth, 
in  the  world."  1 

In  the  early  projects  for  improving  transportation  facilities  to  the 
westward  Albany  men  showed  an  active  interest.  They  clearly  saw 
that  from  that  direction  would  soon  pour  down  towards  tidewater 
a  flood  of  produce  and  manufactured  articles,  while  the  rapidly  in- 
creasing population  of  that  region  would  demand  the  return  of  an  im- 
mense volume  of  merchandise.  In  the  first  directorate  of  the  Western 
Inland  Lock  Navigation  Company,  which  was  noticed  in  the  preceding- 
chapter,  were  a  number  of  prominent  Albany  county  men,  as  follows: 
Philip  Schuyler,  Leonard  Gansevoort,  Jeremiah  Yan  Rensselaer,  El- 
kanah  Watson,  John  Tayler,  Jelles  A.  Fonda,  William  North,  and  Golds- 
boro  Banyar.  The  Albany  commissioners  to  receive  subscriptions  to 
stock  were  Abraham  Ten  Broeck,  John  Tayler,  Philip  S.  Yan  Rensse- 
laer, Cornelius  Glen  and  John  Ten  Broeck. 

It  was  not  long  before  it  became  apparent  that  still  further  improve- 
ments in  this  direction  were  an  imperative  necessity.     The  subject  of 

1  The  Clermont  was  a  small  thing  compared  with  the  great  river  steamers  of  the  present 
time.  Fulton  did  not  comprehend  the  majesty  and  capacity  of  his  invention.  He  regarded  the 
Richmond  (the  finest  steamboat  at  the  time  of  his  death)  as  the  perfection  of  that  class  of  archi- 
tecture. She  was  a  little  more  than  one  hundred  feet  in  length,  with  a  low,  dingy  cabin,  partly 
below  the  water  line,  dimly  lighted  by  tallow  candles,  in  which  passengers  ate  and  slept  in  stifling 
air,  and  her  highest  rate  of  speed  was  nine  miles  an  hour.  Cotild  Fulton  revisit  the  earth  and  be 
placed  on  one  of  the  great  river  steamboats  of  our  time,  he  would  imagine  himself  to  be  in  some 
magical  structure  of  fairyland,  or  of  forming  a  part  of  a  strange  romance;  for  it  is  a  magnificent 
floating  hotel  over  four  hundred  feet  in  length,  and  capable  of  carrying  a  thousand  guests  by 
night  or  day  at  the  rate  of  twenty  miles  an  hour.— Lossixg. 


93 

canal  navigation  directly  from  the  Hudson  River  to  the  great  lakes  was 
discussed  very  early  in  the  century,  but  the  name  of  the  originator  of 
the  project  is  lost  in  the  past.  The  honor  has  been  claimed  bv  several, 
each  of  whom  has  found  his  advocates.  The  journals  and  other  writ- 
ings of  Elkanah  Watson,  who  was  a  man  of  great  enterprise  and  pro- 
gressiveness,  contain  ample  proof  that  he  had  conceived  the  plan  about 
ten  years  before  the  opening  of  the  present  century.  He  made  a  tour 
across  the  State  in  1701,  during  which  he  kept  a  voluminous  journal, 
which  is  still  in  existence  and  contains  at  least  inferential  proof  that  he 
was  then  giving  much  thought  to  the  subject.  However  this  feature 
of  the  matter  may  be  viewed,  it  is  certain  that  he  was  a  strong  advo- 
cate of  the  canal  long  before  it  was  actually  begun,  and  by  his  argu- 
ments awakened  a  lively  interest  in  the  enterprise  in  Albany.  Among 
those  who  looked  upon  the  project  with  favor  were  the  Van  Rensse- 
laers,  the  Schuylers,  and  John  and  Isaiah  Townsend.  A  call  for  a 
meeting  to  be  held  at  the  Tontine  Coffee  House  on  February  7,  L816, 
was  signed  by  Archibald  Mclntyre,  James  Kane,  John  Woodworth, 
William  James,  Charles  E.  Dudley,  Dudley  Walsh,  Barent  Bleecker, 
John  Van  Sehaick,  Rensselaer  Westerlo,  and  Harmanus  Bleecker.  At 
this  meeting  a  committee  was  named  for  each  ward  to  secure  signa- 
tures to  a  memorial  to  the  Legislature,  asking  for  legislation  to  forward 
the  scheme.  Similar  action  was  taken  in  other  parts  of  the  State.  In 
April  following  an  aet  was  passed  to  "  provide  for  the  improvement  of 
of  the  internal  navigation  of  this  State."  Under  this  act,  Stephen  Van 
Rensselaer,  De  Witt  Clinton,  Samuel  Young,  Joseph  Ellicott,  and 
Myron  Holley  were  appointed  commissioners  to  "consider,  devise  and 
adopt  such  measures  as  might  be  recpiisite  to  facilitate  and  effect 
the  communication,  by  means  of  canals  and  locks,  between  the  naviga- 
able  waters  of  the  Hudson  River  and  Lake  Erie,  and  the  said  navigable 
waters  and  Lake  Champlain."  This  commission  made  their  report, 
and  then  the  struggle  began.  The  canal  question  divided  parties  and 
shaped  the  politics  of  the  State.  The  question  of  the  course  to  be  fol- 
lowed was  prolific  in  argument,  while  a  large  part  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  State  looked  upon  the  whole  project  as  visionary  and  foolhardy. 
But  nothing  could  permanently  stop  the  progress  of  the  canal  and  on 
April  15,  1S1T,  the  last  day  of  the  session,  the  act  authorizing  the  great 
water-way  was  passed. 

Considering   the    times   and    the    means    available    in    those  days   for 
heavy  engineering  work,  the  canal  was  constructed    rapidly  and  on  the 


94 

8th  of  October,  1823,  the  first  boat  passed  through  the  completed  por- 
tion east  of  the  Genesee  River  into  the  Hudson.  This  event  was  cele- 
brated in  Albany  with  enthusiastic  public  demonstration.  The  Com- 
mon Council  appointed  a  committee  consisting-  of  Aldermen  Gibbons, 
Baldwin,  Humphrey,  Cassidy,  Ten  Eyck,  and  the  chamberlain,  while 
Solomon  Van  Rensselaer  acted  as  marshal  of  the  day.  A  salute  was 
fired  at  sunrise,  bells  were  rung,  there  was  a  civic  and  military  parade 
and  business  was  suspended  generally.  The  first  boat  that  entered  the 
lock  was  the  De  Witt  Clinton,  having  on  board  Governor  Yates,  the 
mayor  and  other  corporation  officers  of  the  city,  the  canal  commission- 
ers, engineers  and  citizens.  The  cap  stone  of  the  lock  was  laid  with 
Masonic  ceremonies  and  the  waters  of  the  lakes  and  those  of  the  ocean 
were  then  mingled  by  Dr.  Mitchell.  After  this  impressive  ceremony 
the  lock  gates  were  opened  and  the  boat  settled  down  upon  the  waters 
of  the  Hudson. 

The  whole  canal  was  not  completed  until  October  26,  1825,  but  Al- 
bany had  begun  to  feel  its  benefits  previous  to  that  date.  The  final 
opening  of  the  canal  was  also  celebrated  along  its  entire  line.  On  Octo- 
ber IT  the  Common  Council  appointed  a  committee  to  make  proper 
arrangements  for  the  Albany  celebration,  who  held  a  public  meeting 
in  the  Capitol,  and  another  at  a  little  later  date,  which  contributed  to 
the  perfection  of  arrangements  for  the  celebration.  The  passage  of 
the  first  boat  from  Buffalo  into  the  Albany  basin  was  announced  from 
point  to  point  along  the  entire  distance  by  the  firing  of  cannon.  The 
Seneca  Chief  was  fitted  up  at  Buffalo  to  carry  the  dignitaries  of  the 
vState,  and  left  that  city  on  October  26,  arriving  in  Albany  November 
2.  At  11  o'clock  the  procession  was  formed  and  marched  through  the 
principal  streets  of  the  city  under  direction  of  Welcome  Esleeck,  John 
Tayler,  James  Gibbons,  and  Francis  I.  Bradt.  When  the  procession 
reached  the  Capitol,  impressive  services  were  held,  consisting  in  part 
of  the  singing  of  an  ode  written  by  John  Augustus  Stone,  of  the  Al- 
bany Theatre,  addresses  by  Philip  Howe,  of  New  York,  William  James, 
of  Albany,  and  Lieut. -Governor  Tallmadge,  a  splendid  collation  at  the 
Columbia  street  bridge,  and  a  ball  in  the  evening. 

The  completion  of  the  Erie  Canal  changed  the  whole  aspect  of  com- 
mercial affairs  in  the  lake  region.  Coincident  with  that  event  the  first 
steam  vessel,  the  Ontario,  was  launched  on  Lake  Ontario  at  Oswego, 
giving  birth  to  the  immense  traffic  that  soon  covered  those  waters  with 
busy  fleets.      With  the  construction  of  packet  boats  on  the  canal,  travel 


95 

eastward  and  westward  became  immense,  and  very  much  of  it  passed 
through  Albany.  Tolls  collected  in  this  city  increased  from  $126,652 
in  1825,  to  $212,045  in  1830,  while  more  than  a  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars was  added  to  this  amount  in  the  succeeding-  five  years.  Rivalry 
between  the  canal  packet  boats  and  the  stages  on  the  main  lines  was 
very  active;  but  the  new  mode  of  travel  attracted  the  greater  number 
of  passengers  for  a  considerable  period.  Meanwhile  the  Champlain 
Canal  had  been  finished  and  opened  its  entire  length  on  September  L0 
1823,  extending  from  near  Cohoes  to  Lake  Champlain,  and  further 
contributed  to  the  growth  of  Albany. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  rapidity  with  which  the  Erie  Canal  was 
brought  into  use,  and  of  the  very  great  change  which  it  made  in  the 
mode  of  transportation,  particularly  as  regards  freight,  it  may  be 
stated  that  the  number  of  canal  boats  which  arrived  in  Albany  during 
the  season  of  1823  was  1,329;  during  that  of  1824  it  was  2,687;  during 
that  of  1825  it  was  3,336;  and  in  1826,  the  year  after  the  canal  was  in 
full  operation,  it  was  about  7,000.  The  rate  for  transportation  on  the 
turnpike  in  1820  was  one  and  a  half  cents  a  mile;  the  rate  by  the  canal 
was  five  mills.  But  it  should  not,  therefore,  be  inferred  that  all  the 
passengers  deserted  the  stages  for  the  packet  boats.  The  canal  passage 
was  still  tedious  compared  to  land  travel,  and  was  chosen  chiefly  by 
those  who  desired  to  lessen  the  fatigue  of  the  journey,  but  was  avoided 
where  time  was  of  account. 

The  construction  of  what  is  known  as  the  Albany  Basin  was  inti- 
mately connected  with  the  two  canals  that  terminate  here.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  basin  was  discussed  about  1820,  when  river  navigation  had 
become  active  and  the  docks  in  front  of  the  city  were  constantly  lined 
with  hundreds  of  sloops  and  schooners.  After  a  few  years  of  agitation 
the  matter  was  referred  to  the  Canal  Commissioners,  who  reported  on 
February  11,  1823,  as  follows: 

In  obedience  to  the  resolution  of  the  Assembly  passed  the  1-Hh  ult.,  instructing  the 
Commissioners  to  report  a  place  for  the  construction  of  a  basin  at  the  termination  of 
the  Erie  and  Champlain  canal  at  the  city  of  Albany,  reported  that  Benjamin  Wright, 
one  of  their  engineers,  who  was  instructed  to  examine  the  matter,  had  proposed  a 
plan  and  made  a  communication  on  the  subject,  together  with  a  map  of  the  contem- 
plated basin.  The  Commissioners  believe  that  a  basin  may  be  constructed  on  the 
said  plan  for  about  $100,000,  and  that  such  a  basin  would  be  extremely  beneficial  to 
the  trade  of  Albany.  They  have  declined  to  make  basins  along  the  line  of  canals, 
believing  that  mercantile  capital  and  enterprise  would  find  sufficient  inducements 
and  interests  to  furnish  these  local  accommodations  to  trade,  and  thai  to  expend  the 


9G 

public  moneys  would  not  be  just.  The}'  think,  however,  that  it  would  be  proper  to 
construct  a  sloop  lock  at  the  southern  termination  of  the  basin,  as  the  connection  of 
boat  and  sloop  navigation  at  the  arsenal  dock  will  cost  nearly  as  much  as  the  said 
lock;  and,  in  case  of  the  construction  of  said  lock,  it  would  be  reasonable  for  the 
State  to  receive  tolls  on  the  length  of  the  basin  as  part  of  the  canal. 

In  accordance  with  this  report  the  Legislature  passed  an  act  April 
5,  1823,  authorizing-  the  construction  of  the  basin  and  naming-  the  fol- 
lowing persons  commissioners:  William  James,  John  R.  Bleecker, 
John  Townsend,  Elisha  Jenkins,  Benjamin  Knower,  Allen  Brown, 
Israel  Smith,  Tennis  Van  Vechten,  John  Trotter,  John  Spencer,  Asa 
H.  Spencer,  William  Durant,  Peter  Boyd,  Joseph  Alexander,  Charles 
R.  Webster,  John  H.  Webb,  John  Shotwell,  Joseph  Russell,  William 
Caldwell,  Ralph  Pratt,  Russell  Forsythe,  William  Marvin,  William 
McHarg,  Jellis  Winne,  jr.,  Abraham  Van  Vechten,  and  Gideon  Haw- 
ley.  These  men  were  authorized  to  receive  subscriptions  for  the  work 
which  was,  briefly,  to  construct  a  pier  opposite  the  docks  fronting  the 
harbor,  so  as  to  comprise  a  basin  extending  from  the  arsenal  dock  to  a 
point  opposite  Hodges's  dock,  in  the  line  of  Hamilton  street,  with  a 
sloop  lock  at  the  Hamilton  street  end;  the  work  was  to  be  completed 
within  two  years.  The  act  authorized  the  building  of  bridges  from  the 
dock  to  the  pier,  and  the  Pier  Company  were  to  receive  title  to  the 
necessary  land  under  water.  The  act  also  regulated  wharfage  to  be 
paid  by  vessels,  authorized  the  canal  commissioners  to  charge  toll  on 
all  canal  boats  entering  the  basin,  and  directed  that  the  pier  be  divided 
into  lots  and  thus  sold  at  auction.  Under  this  act  the  pier  was  finished 
May  27,  18*25,  inclosing  a  basin  capable  of  harboring  one  thousand  canal 
boats  and  about  fifty  vessels  of  larger  dimensions.  The  pier  was  di- 
vided into  123  lots  which,  excepting  lots  1  and  2,  reserved  for  an  open- 
ing into  the  river,  were  sold  on  July  17,  1825.  The  aggregate  sum 
realized  was  $188,510.  The  pier  was  made  4,323  feet  long  and  eighty- 
five  feet  broad.  The  area  of  the  basin  is  thirty-two  acres.  Bridges 
with  draws  were  erected  across  the  basin  at  the  foot  of  State  and  Co- 
lumbia streets,  and  the  sloop  lock  alluded  to  was  built  by  the  State. 
The  passage  of  the  first  canal  boat  through  the  lock  and  into  the  basin 
took  place  October  20,  1825. 

The  basin  having  no  free  outlet  to  the  current  of  the  river,  soon  be- 
came encumbered  with  silt,  creating  a  nuisance,  and  in  June,  1831,  the  city 
corporation  was  indicted  by  the  grand  jury  for  not  abating  the  nuisance. 
The  case  was  fought  on  the  ground  that  the  bulkhead  at  the  lower  end 


97 

of  the  basin  was  built  under  authority  of  an  act  of  the  Legislature.     The 

Court  of  Sessions  decided  against  the  city,  but  the  decision  was  re- 
versed by  the  Supreme  Court.  In  response  to  an  application  made  by 
citizens  in  February,  1835,  the  Legislature  passed  an  act  on  the  27th 
of  April  directing  the  partial  removal  of  the  bulkhead,  the  removal  of 
the  sloop  lock,  and  the  erection  of  a  bridge  from  the  abutment  at  Ham- 
ilton street  to  the  pier.  The  Common  Council  was  also  authorized  to 
clean  out  the  offensive  accumulation  and  assess  the  cost  on  all  prop- 
erty benefited.  Since  that  time  and  under  various  acts  and  council 
proceedings,  the  basin  has  been  vastly  improved  by  openings  in  the 
pier,  dredging,  etc. 

The  period  from  1826  to  1836  was  one  of  general  prosperity  through- 
out the  country.  The  success  of  the  canals  that  were  actualy  built  led 
to  the  formation  of  scores  of  companies,  with  capital  stock  ranging 
from  $3, 500  to  $550,000,  and  canals  were  projected  in  all  directions;  but 
most  of  these  were  never  even  commenced.  Meanwhile  rumors  of  a 
strange  and  mighty  rival  of  the  canal  in  the  freight  and  passenger 
traffic  had  come  from  the  southward,  and  before  the  canals  had  reached 
the  height  of  their  prosperity,  a  steam  railroad,  the  first  one  in  this 
State,  was  in  active  operation  between  Albany  and  Schenectady. 
Prominent  Albany  men  were  actively  interested  in  the  development  of 
the  new  mode  of  transportation.  What  was  known  as  the  Quincy  Rail- 
road was  built  in  Massachusetts  in  1826,  for  the  transportation  of  gran- 
ite from  the  celebrated  quarries,  but  it  was  only  four  miles  in  length 
and  the  motive  power  was  horses.  In  April  of  the  same  year  the  New 
York  Legislature  chartered  the  Mohawk  and  Hudson  River  Railroad 
Company,  to  construct  a  railroad  between  Albany  and  Schenectady. 
This  was  the  first  chartered  company  in  the  Union  authorized  to  carry 
on  a  general  transportation  business.  This  was  the  6rs1  season  that 
the  Erie  canal  was  used  throughout  its  full  course,  yet  the  conviction 
was,  even  then,  becoming  prevalent  that  at  an  early  day  a  railroad 
would  extend  along  its  course  as  a  competitor  for  traffic.  As  business 
in  all  its  various  channels  rapidly  increased,  demanding  greater  activity 
on  the  part  of  merchants  and  manufacturers,  the  element  of  time  be- 
came a  more  important  factor  in  every  man's  business  and  had  a  distinct 
effect  upon  his  profits  and  losses.  Shrewd  men  realized  that  this  line 
across  the  Empire  State  was  the  natural  course  for  through  trade,  as  it 
is  now  termed,  and  busy  minds  were  speculating  upon  ways  and  means 
and  possible  results  of  building  railways  that  would,  at  least,  divide  the 
13 


98 

traffic  of  the  canal  and  the  stages  and  prove  a  profitable  investment. 
The  capital  of  the  Mohawk  and  Hudson  Company  was  $300,000,  with 
the  privilege  of  increasing  it  to  $500,000.  In  the  mean  time  and  before 
work  on  this  road  was  begun,  railroads  in  other  States  were  com- 
menced, finished  and  brought  into  use,  with  locomotives  propelled  by 
steam.  The  Auburn  and  Syracuse  road,  chartered  in  May,  1834,  was 
first  operated  by  steam  in  1839.  In  August,  1830,  about  twenty  months 
before  the  expiration  of  the  six  years  in  which  the  road  was  to  be  built, 
the  work  of  construction  on  the  line  from  Albany  to  Schenectady  be- 
gan and  was  pushed  forward  with  such  energy  that  in  October,  1831, 
it  was  fully  completed  and  was  carrying  on  an  average  about  400  pass- 
engers daily.  This,  the  first  railroad  in  the  State,  was  crude  in  plan, 
imperfect  in  construction  and  expensive  in  operation.  The  road  bed 
was  mostly  of  solid  stone,  forming  an  unyielding  foundation,  that  acted 
as  an  anvil,  upon  which  rolling  stock  pounded  like  hammers,  battering 
and  wearing  out  the  timbers,  cross  ties  and  rails.  The  cost  of  the  road 
was  $68,000  per  mile. 

During  the  ten  years  subsequent  to  the  date  of  the  charter  of  this 
first  railroad,  the  Legislature  granted  charters  for  building  other  roads 
in  various  parts  of  the  State.  The  success  of  the  road  from  Albanyto 
Schenectady,  such  as  it  was,  served  to  inspire  confidence  in  more  ex- 
tensive and  better  railroads  and  taught  many  lessons  that  later  engi- 
neers were  not  slow  to  adopt.  The  project  of  connecting  Albany  with 
New  York  by  a  railroad  along  the  Hudson  was  agitated  at  an  early 
date,  and  in  1832  a  number  of  prominent  men  obtained  a  charter  for  a 
railroad  for  this  purpose  authorizing  a  capital  of  $3,000,000.  This  ef- 
fort was  a  little  premature  and  sufficient  stock  was  not  subscribed  for. 
Regarding  the  probable  profits  of  this  line  the  railroad  commissioners 
of  1833  reported  as  follows: 

That  it  would  accommodate  a  large  number  of  the  population  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
route;  that  the  amount  of  transportation  charges  which  would  be  paid  to  the  road 
by  this  population,  on  produce,  minerals,  manufactures  and  merchandise  would 
amount  to  §350,000,  to  which  was  added  a  larger  sum  to  be  received  from  travelers 
and  light  freights  between  Albany  and  New  York,  especially  in  winter;  that  the 
annual  income  of  the  road  would  be  $852,000.  "  This  railroad  will  connect  at  Albany 
with  the  grand  chain  of  railroads  now  in  progress  or  contemplated  from  Albany  to 
Buffalo,  viz.;  the  Mohawk  and  Schenectady,  completed;  Utica  and  Schenectady  in 
progress ;  Syracuse  and  Utica,  contemplated  ;  Auburn  and  Syracuse,  stock  subscribed  ; 
Auburn  and  Rochester,  contemplated ;  Tonawanda,  contemplated,  from  Rochester 
through  Batavia  to  Attica." 


99 

The  practical  consummation  of  all  these  grand  projects  was  not,  how- 
ever, realized  until  May  12,  1846,  when  a  new  charter  was  granted  to 
the  Hudson  River  Company  with  the  result  that,  on  October  3,  1851, 
the  road  was  opened  from  New  York  to  East  Albany.  On  November 
1,  1809,  this  company  and  the  New  York  Central  Company  were  con- 
solidated, the  latter  company  having  been  organized  April  2,  1853,  for 
the  consolidation  of  the  following  companies:  Albany  and  Schenectady, 
vSchenectady  and  Troy,  Utica  and  Schenectady,  The  Mohawk  Valley, 
The  Syracuse  and  Utica,  the  Syracuse  and  Utica  direct,  Rochester  and 
Syracuse,  Buffalo  and  Rochester,  the  Rochester,  Lockport  and  Niagara 
Falls,  and  the  Buffalo  and  Lockport.  This  entire  combination  pa 
to  the  new  company  August  1,  L853.  Previous  to  this  consolidation 
the  Troy  and  Greenbush  road,  which  was  chartered  in  1845,  was  leased 
to  the  Hudson  River  Company,  June  1,  1851,  for  seven  per  cent  on 
$270,000  stock,  and  passed  under  control  of  the  consolidated  company 
above  described. 

The  New  York  and  Harlem  Railroad  was  chartered  in  April,  L831, 
and  work  on  it  was  begun  in  February  of  the  next  year.  This  com- 
pany was  authorized  in  May,  1840,  to  extend  the  road  north  of  the 
Harlem  River  to  meet  the  New  York  and  Albany  road  at  such  point 
as  might  be  agreed  upon,  and  to  continue  to  Albany  in  May,  1845.  It 
was  leased  to  the  New  York  Central  in  1873. 

The  construction  of  these  railroads  involved  the  building  of  costly 
bridges  across  the  Hudson  at  Albany.  The  first  bridge  in  this  vicinity 
was  completed  in  December,  1804,  at  Waterford.  In  January.  L814, 
the  project  of  building  another  bridge  at  Albany  was  discussed,  but 
received  intense  opposition  at  Troy,  the  claim  being  put  forward  that 
it  would  obstruct  navigation.  The  contest  was  carried  into  the  Assem- 
bly, where  a  heated  controversy  was  held.  On  March  11,  1  s  1 4 ,  Har- 
manus  Bleecker,  from  the  special  bridge  committee,  reported  adversely 
on  the  project,  and  the  subject  was  not  brought  up  again  unlil  L831,  when 
it  met  a  similar  fate.  ( >n  February  4,  L835,  a  meeting  was  held  at  the 
Eagle  Tavern  to  consider  the  subject,  and  a  committee  of  thirty  was 
appointed  to  prepare  a  petition,  but  nothing  further  was  then  done. 
On  February  11,  1830,  another  meeting  was  held  in  the. city  hall  at 
which  Erastus  Corning  presided,  but  against  all  the  influence  that  was 
brought  to  bear  in  favor  of  a  bridge,  the  Assembly  committee  reported 
adversely  in  March.  The  subject  was  a  fruitful  source  of  public  and 
private  discussion  until  January  30,  1841,   when   another  meeting  was 


100 

held  in  the  Young  Men's  Association  rooms,  the  mayor  presiding  and 
addresses  being  made  by  John  V.  L.  Pruyn  and  Samuel  Stevens,  but  at- 
tempts to  secure  favorable  action  in  the  Legislature  met  the  usual 
opposition  from  Troy  and  Albany  ferry  companies.  The  Assembly 
again  reported  adversely  March  26,  1841,  so  that,  though  it  was  in  the 
face  of  great  necessity  and  the  powerful  influences  working  in  favor  of 
the  undertaking,  a  bridge  was  not  built  until  1856,  when,  on  April  9, 
the  Hudson  River  Bridge  Company  was  incorporated.  The  site  of  the 
bridge  was  to  be  determined  by  commissioners,  among  whom  were 
Moses  H.  Grinnell,  of  New  York,  J.  D.  Monell,  of  Hudson,  Palmer  V. 
Kellogg,  of  Utica,  Jacob  Gould,  of  Rochester,  James  W.  Wadsworth, 
of  Geneseo  and  Albert  H.  Tracy,  of  Buffalo.  It  is  worthy  of  notice 
that  on  February  2,  about  two  months  before  the  passage  of  the  in- 
corporating act,  a  remonstrance  against  the  proposed  bridge  was  sent 
to  the  Legislature  which  was  signed  by  more  than  4,000  citizens  of 
Albany.  The  capital  stock  of  the  company  was  $500,000.  The  act 
ordered  the  bridge  to  be  erected  at  least  twenty-five  feet  above  common 
tide  water  and  to  be  supplied  with  a  draw  of  sufficient  width  to  admit 
the  passage  of  the  largest  vessels  navigating  the  river.  The  New  York 
Central  Railroad  Company,  the  Hudson  River  Railroad  Company,  and 
the  Boston  and  Albany  Railroad  Company  were  stockholders  in  the 
bridge  company.  This  first  bridge  was  superseded  by  the  present 
middle  bridge  under  an  act  passed  April  28,  1868,  authorizing  the  dem- 
olition of  the  old  one  as  soon  as  the  new  one  was  finished;  and  that  be- 
fore the  commencement  of  the  new  bridge,  the  railroad  companies 
above  mentioned  and  the  bridge  company  should  "  jointly  and  severally 
execute  and  deliver  a  bond  to  the  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty 
of  the  City  of  Troy,  and  the  same  Board  of  the  city  of  Albany,  in  the 
penalty  of  at  least  $600,000,"  for  the  proper  fulfillment  of  their  obliga- 
tions under  the  act.  Work  on  the  new  bridge  began  in  May,  1870,  and 
it  was  opened  in  1872,  and  it  is  little  more  than  half  a  mile  in  length. 

Brief  mention  of  the  other  existing  bridges  may  be  made  here,  al- 
though it  is  out  of  the  chronological  order.  The  upper  bridge  was 
opened  February  22,  1866,  and  is  now  used  exclusively  for  freight  and 
foot  passage.  Its  cost  together  with  the  necessary  purchases  of  real 
estate  was  $1,100,000.  The  lower  bridge,  at  South  Ferry  street,  was 
built  by  the  Albany  and  Greenbush  Bridge  Company,  incorporated 
April  18,  1872.  The  site  was  selected  by  Commissioners  Thomas  W. 
Alcott,  Charles  Van  Benthuysen,  Yolkert  P.  Douw,  of  Albany;  James 


101 

M.  King,  of  Greenbush  ;  Alexander  Morris,  J.  T.  Davis,  and  John  H. 
Pratt,  of  East  Greenbush.  Work  on  this  bridge  was  commenced  in 
1876,  but  progressed  very  slowly,  so  that  it  was  not  opened  for  teams 
and  foot  passengers  until  January  24,  1882. 

The  era  of  prosperity  during  which  many  of  these  public  improve- 
ments took  their  inception,  received  a  disastrous  check  in  the  financial 
crisis  of  1836-38,  which  followed  closely  upon  the  ravages  of  the 
Asiatic  cholera  which  are  described  in  Chapter  XIII.  The  causes  of 
that  panic  had  their  beginning  in  the  very  foundation  of  the  govern- 
ment finances  as  laid  down  by  the  policy  of  General  Jackson,  which 
was  in  antagonism  to  the  policy  of  the  United  States  Bank  and  its  con- 
nections. While  the  tide  was  rising  banks  multiplied  in  various  parts 
of  the  country  and  their  managers,  who  had  become  able  to  control 
large  resources  in  depreciated  currency,  engaged  in  real  estate  and 
other  speculations,  indulged  extravagantly  in  the  purchase  of  luxuries 
and  aided  in  turning  the  heads  of  their  more  conservative  neighbors. 
Prices  of  lands  and  of  all  merchandise  were  greatly  inflated,  money  was 
plenty,  easily  obtained  and  readily  spent.  Usurious  rates  of  interest 
prevailed,  money  frequently  commanding  from  three  to  five  per  cent. 
a  month,  with  an  active  demand  even  at  those  rates.  This  apparent 
anomaly  is  explained  by  the  fact  that  man}-  persons  were  led  into  bor- 
rowing at  enormous  rates  of  interest,  in  the  hope  that  by  the  tempo- 
rary use  of  money  they  could  realize  the  same  large  profits  that  were 
being  made  by  their  neighbors,  so  that  almost  all  communities,  particu- 
larly the  cities  and  villages  of  later  growth  than  Albany,  were  drawn 
into  the  whirlpool  and  an  era  of  speculation  followed  such  as  the  country 
has  never  since  experienced.  All  classes  became  involved,  and  thus, 
when  the  disaster  drew  near,  though  some  persons  foresaw  it  and 
escaped,  yet  large  numbers  became  bereft  of  ordinal-}-  judgment  and 
clung  to  the  last  to  the  impossible  belief  that  money  could  be  actually 
created  by  such  operations,  and  were  finally  overwhelmed  in  the  final 
crash.  This  was  precipitated  by  Jackson's  "specie  circular,"  and  the 
withdrawal  of  deposits  from  the  United  States  Bank. 

The  Mexican  war,  as  it  is  generally  termed,  was  caused  by  conflicting 
claims  about  the  territory  of  Texas.  The  American  government  claimed 
it  as  a  part   of    the   Louisiana  purchase  of  L803,  but  did  not  press  the 

claim  until  later,  so  that  when  Mexico  becamea  republic  in  1824,  '!'• 


102 

was  made  one  of  the  States.  Meanwhile  the  territory  had  been  considera- 
bly settled  by  Americans.  Finally  Texas  rebelled  against  the  govern- 
ment of  Santa  Anna  and  on  March  2,  1836,  declared  itself  an  inde- 
pendent State,  though  this  independence  was  not  admitted  by  Mexico. 
On  the  4th  of  July,  1845,  Texas  was,  with  its  own  consent,  admitted  into 
the  Union.  Here  was  the  immediate  cause  of  the  war  that  was  promptly 
declared.  General  Zachary  Taylor  was  sent  into  Texas  with  an  army 
of  occupation,  and  on  the  24th  of  April,  1846,  the  first  blood  was  shed. 
The  contest  was  not  long  continued,  but  was  fought  with  valor  and  de- 
termination, under  such  American  leaders  as  Taylor,  Scott,  Wool, 
Worth,  and  others.  Its  principal  events  have  long  been  overshadowed 
by  the  great  struggle  of  1861-65  between  the  North  and  the  South. 

Under  the  act  of  Congress  authorizing  the  raising  of  fifty  regiments 
for  the  Mexican  war,  seven  were  assigned  to  the  State  of  New  York, 
but  only  two  of  these  were  furnished.  The  first  was  raised  by  Colonel 
Stevenson  in  1846  and  contained  one  company  of  eighty  men  recruited 
in  Albany,  which  was  commanded  by  Capt.  John  B.  Frisbie  and  Lieut. 
Edward  Gilbert.  The  regiment  was  sent  to  Mexico  by  a  sailing  vessel 
around  Cape  Horn  and  joined  General  Scott's  forces,  participating  in 
his  arduous  campaign.  The  second  regiment,  raised  in  the  fall  of  1846, 
was  commanded  by  Col.  Ward  B.  Burnett,  and  contained  an  Albany 
company  of  which  the  captain  was  Abraham  Van  O'Linda,  and  the 
lieutenant,  Addison  Farnsworth.  This  regiment  also  constituted  a 
part  of  Scott's  army  and  served  with  honor  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
The  act  of  Congress  of  1847  calling  for  ten  regiments  of  infantry  from 
this  State,  was  promptly  responded  to.  The  tenth  regiment  raised  un- 
der this  call  is  credited  to  Albany  and  contained  many  volunteers  from 
this  county.  It  was  commanded  by  Col.  Robert  E.  Temple  and  Lieut. - 
Col.  James  McGown.  The  regiment  joined  General  Taylor's  forces 
and  shared  his  campaigns  until  the  war  ended.  Gen.  John  E.  Wool 
and  Gen.  William  J.  Worth,  were  former  residents  of  Albany  county, 
and  were  prominent  in  the  struggle  that  gave  Texas  to  the  Union. 
The  war  ended  September  13,  1847. 

The  middle  of  the  present  century  found  Albany  county  with  a  popu- 
lation of  93,279,  of  whom  50,763  were  resident  in  Albany  city.  The 
growth  from  1830  (when  the  population  was  53,520)  to  1840  carried  the 
figures  to  68,634,  and  during  the  succeeding  ten  years  they  reached  the 
number  above  stated.      Later  chapters   of   this  work  show  that  the  ad- 


103 

vancement   and   growth   in   other  directions  corresponded  with   the  in- 
crease in  population. 


CHAPTER  X. 


The  general  history  of  this  county  during  the  past  forty-five  years, 
as  far  as  it  is  not  included  in  later  distinctive  chapters  of  this  volume, 
may  be  briefly  written.  While  it  has  been  a  period  of  prosperity  and 
growth,  it  has  at  the  same  time  been  devoid  of  events  of  great  histor- 
ical importance.  The  population  of  the  county  rose  from  93,270  in  1850, 
to  113,917  in  1860,  and  to  133,052  in  1870,  while  that  of  the  city  of 
Albany  increased  from  50,763  in  1850,  to  62,367  in  1860,  and  to 69,  t22 
in  1870.  Transportation  facilities  were  improved  by  large  railroad  ex- 
tensions and  consolidations,  and  many  institutions  of  a  public  character 
were  founded.  The  Albany  and  Susquehanna  Railroad  Company  was 
incorporated  April  9,  1851,  and  was  opened  for  traffic  from  Albany  to 
Central  Bridge  (35  miles),  September  16,  1863.  Its  construction  con- 
tinued and  it  was  opened  throughout  its  entire  length  to  Binghamton 
on  January  14,  1869.  The  property  was  leased  in  February,  L870,  to 
the  Delaware  and  Hudson  Canal  Company  for  the  term  of  its  charter, 
at  a  rental  of  six  per  cent,  on  the  Albany  city  bonds;  seven  per  cent, 
on  the  first,  second  and  third  mortgage  bonds  and  first  consolidated 
mortgage  bonds,  and  the  capital  stock,  and  $1,000  for  maintaining  the 
organization.  A  payment  of  $5,000  semi-annually  is  made  by  tin- 
lessees  to  the  trustees  of  the  sinking  fund  of  the  city  of  Albany,  and  is 
invested  in  certain  ways  for  the  ultimate  payment  of  the  Albany  city 
bonds.  The  amount  of  these  city  bonds  was  originally  $1,000,000. 
While  this  road  has  been  a  costly  one  to  the  county,  it  at  the  same  time 
opened  a  section  of  the  country  for  trade  with  the  city  that  has  been  of 
great  benefit. 

The  Albany  and  Vermont  Railroad  was  chartered  October  L7,  L857, 
and  was  permanently  leased  to  the  Rensselaer  and  Saratoga  Kail- 
road  Company  in  June,  1860,  and  is  now  operated  by  the  Delaware  and 
Hudson  Company.  The  main  line  from  Albany  t<>  Waterford  junction 
extends  for  twelve  miles  in  this  State,  and  has  been  of  considerable 
benefit  to  the  city. 


l.tll 

The  New  York,  West  Shore  and  Buffalo  Railroad  was  chartered 
June  14,  1881,  to  extend  from  New  York  city  up  the  west  bank  of  the 
Hudson  River  to  Athens,  in  Greene  county,  and  thence  diverging-  to 
the  westward  and  continuing  directly  across  Albany  county  to  Rotterdam. 
From  there  it  passed  on  westward  to  Buffalo.  It  was  built  as  a  com- 
peting line  to  the  New  York  Central.  The  work  of  construction  was 
pressed  with  such  energy  that  the  road  was  opened  from  Weehawken 
to  Syracuse  October  1,  1883,  and  to  Buffalo  January  1,  1884.  On  the 
2d  of  October,  1885,  judgment  and  foreclosure  of  sale  of  the  road  was 
entered  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  this  State,  and  on  the  8th  of  Decem- 
ber it  was  sold  at  auction  and  transferred  to  the  purchasers,  J.  Pier- 
pont  Morgan,  Chauncey  M.  Depew,  and  Ashbel  Green,  as  joint  tenants. 
The  road  was  then  leased  to  the  New  York  Central. 

The  country  at  large  was  now  upon  the  eve  of  momentous  events. 
The  sectional  antagonism  between  the  North  and  the  South  which  had 
been  growing  through  many  years;  jealousy  in  the  South  of  the  rapid 
material  progress  and  prosperity  of  the  North ;  the  determined  efforts 
of  Southerners  to  farther  extend  slavery  and  of  the  Northerners  to 
prevent  it;  in  short,  the  "irrepressible  conflict"  reached  a  crisis  in  the 
election  of  Abraham  Lincoln  to  the  presidency  of  the  United  States  in 
1860,  and  led  to  the  opening  of  the  guns  of  Charleston  upon  Fort  Sum- 
ter on  the  11th  of  April,  1861.  Four  days  later,  on  the  loth,  the  presi- 
dent issued  a  call  for  75,000  volunteer  militia  to  suppress  the  rebellion. 
The  response  was  astonishingly  prompt  throughout  the  Empire  State 
and  no  where  more  so  than  in  Albany  county.  On  the  18th  of  April 
the  Legislature  passed  an  act  authorizing  the  enrollment  and  equip- 
ment of  a  State  militia  and  providing  for  the  public  defense.  Within 
one  week  155  companies  were  recruited  in  this  State  and  ready  for 
service.  Public  meetings  were  held,  relief  associations  organized,  and 
funds  liberally  provided  for  the  families  of  volunteers,  and  Albany 
again  and  for  the  last  time  became  the  centre  of  a  scene  of  military 
activity. 

The  first  regiment  to  respond  to  the  call  for  militia  in  Albany  county 
was  the  25th  New  York  State  militia,  which  left  the  city  for  Washing- 
ton on  the  22d  of  April,  1861,  officered  as  follows:  Michael  K.  Bryan, 
colonel;  James  Swift,  lieutenant-colonel;  David  Friedlander,  major; 
John  M.  Kimball,  adjutant;  Cornelius  B.  O'Leary,  surgeon;  captains, 
Co.  A,  Jacob  Fredendall;   B,  Timothy  McDermott;  C,  John  Gray;  D, 


L05 

Frank  Marshall;  E,  J.J.  Huber;  F,  M.  H.  Kenneally;  G,  H.  Mulhol- 
land;  H,  Godfrey;  K,  Hale  Kingsley;  L.  F.  Newdorf.     With  t79 

men  the  regiment  reached  Washington  on  the  29th,  served  its  term  of 
three  months  on  Arlington  Heights,  where  it  built  Fort  Albany;  re- 
turned home,  and  on  May  41,  1862,  was  again  mustered  into  service  for 
three  months  and  was  ordered  to  Suffolk,  Va.  At  the  expiration  of  its 
term,  Colonel  Bryan  and  many  of  his  men  entered  the  army  again  as 
volunteers.  Colonel  Bryan  at  a  later  date  raised  the  175th  Regiment 
of  Volunteers  and  died  at  the  head  of  his  command  on  June  14,  L863. 
He  was  a  brave  and  capable  officer. 

The  3d  Regiment  New  York  State  Volunteers  was  organized  in  Al- 
bany May  7,  1861,  and  five  of  its  ten  companies  were  recruited  from 
Albany  county,  as  follows:  C,  captain,  E.  G.  Floyd;  E,  captain,  J.  W. 
Blanchard;  F,  captain,  H.  S.  Hulbert;  G,  captain,  J.  H.  Ten  Eyck,  jr.; 
I,  captain,  E.  S.  Jenney.  On  May  8  Frederick  Townsend  was  elected 
colonel  of  the  regiment;  S.  M.  Alford,  lieutenant-colonel;  George  D. 
Bayard,  major;  Alexander  H.  Hoff,  surgeon;  Jonathan  O.  Moore,  ad- 
jutant. The  regiment  left  Albany  May  18  with  796  men,  participated 
in  the  battle  of  Big  Bethel,  and  during  the  remainder  of  its  term  of 
nine  months  was  stationed  at  Fortress  Monroe.  On  May  s,  L863,  it 
entered  service  as  a  veteran  organization  and  later  was  consolidated 
with  the  112th.  It  took  part  in  engagements  at  Fort  Wagner,  Charles- 
ton, Bermuda  Hundred,  Petersburg,  Fort  Gilmer,  Fort  Fisher,  Wil- 
mington and  others  of  minor  character.  Colonel  Townsend  resigned 
July  2,  1861,  taking  up  his  residence  in  Albany,  and  the  regiment 
passed  under  command  of  Colonel  Alford  and  was  mustered  out  in  Au- 
gust, 1865. 

The  president  issued  another  call  for  troops  on  May  :;,  L861,  under 
which,  and  acts  approved  July  22  and  25,  500,000  men  were  required, 
and  under  this  call  New  York  State  furnished  120,231  volunteers.  The 
i:'.d  Regiment  was  organized  at  Albany  and  mustered  into  the  service 
between  August  25  and  September  21,  1861.  The  following  were  the 
commissioned  officers: 

Francis  L.  Vinton,  colonel;  Charles  II.  Piefson,  lieutenant-colonel;  Benjamin  F. 

Raker,  major;  James  II.  Thompson,  surgeon;  James  II.  Bogart,  adjutant.  Captains: 
Co.  A,  John  Wilson;  Co.  B,  I.  R.  Van  Slyke;  Co.   E,  I  D,  Charles 

H.Clark;  Co.  E,  Jacob  Wilson  ;  Co.  F,  James  C,  Rogers;  Co.  G,  William  H.  Mathews; 
14 


106 

Co.  H  (Yates  Rifles),  Edwin  C.  Drake;  Co.  I,  George  W.  Reed;  Co.  K,  Harvey  S. 
Chatfield;  Captain  Charles  B.  Mitchell,  1862;  Captain  John  L.  Newman,  1862;  Cap- 
tain David  Burhans,  1862;  Captain  James  D.  Visscher,  :  862. 

The  regiment  left  Albany  on  the  Kith  of  September  with  706  men. 
It  received  during  its  service  1,621  recruits  and  returned  in  July,  1865, 
with  290  men  and  thirteen  officers.  It  was  distinguished  for  brilliant 
deeds  in  battle  and  participated  in  actions  at  Lee's  Mills,  Warwick 
Creek,  Siege  of  Yorktown,  Golding's  Farm,  The  Seven  Days  battles, 
Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  Marye's  Heights  Salem  Church,  Banks's 
Ford,  Gettysburg,  Rappahannock  Station,  Locust  Grove,  Mine  Run, 
Wilderness,  Spottsylvania,  North  Anna,  Cold  Harbor,  Petersburg, 
Fort  Stevens,  Charleston,  Fisher's  Hill,  Cedar  Creek,  and  others. 
Among  those  in  this  regiment  who  lost  their  lives,  were  the  following: 
Major  (afterwards  Colonel)  James  Henry  Bogart,  killed  while  advanc- 
ing with  his  regiment  at  Port  Hudson,  June  14,  1863.  Captain  (after- 
wards Colonel)  John  Wilson,  a  native  of  Albany,  died  May  8,  1864,  from 
amputation  of  leg  for  bullet  wound.  Captain  (afterwards  Major)  Will- 
iam Wallace,  native  of  Albany,  was  confined  at  one  time  in  Libby 
prison,  was  exchanged,  and  was  shot  while  leading  a  charge  in  the  bat- 
tle of  the  Wilderness.  In  the  same  engagement,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Fryer  was  mortally  wounded.  Captain  David  Burhans,  a  native  of  the 
town  of  Bethlehem,  fell  at  the  front  in  the  engagement  at  Po  river  May 
10,  1864.  Captain  (afterwards  Colonel)  James  D.  Visscher,  born  in  Al- 
bany, served  three  months  with  the  militia  at  the  beginning  of  the  Re- 
bellion, killed  at  Fort  Stevens,  July  12,  1864.  Capt.  Douglass  Lodge, 
born  in  Albany,  rose  from  the  ranks  to  captain,  planted  the  colors  of 
his  regiment  on  Marye's  Heights  May  3,  1863,  and  received  a  mortal 
wound  on  the  following  day. 

The  Tenth  Regiment,  National  Guards,  was  organized  in  Albany 
in  the  early  months  of  the  war  and  performed  guard  and  other  duty 
at  the  call  of  the  governor.  For  the  third  time  it  tendered  its  services 
for  nine  months  and  took  the  field  November  21,  1862,  with  864  men, 
and  the  following  officers:  Ira  W.  Ainsworth,  colonel;  Frank  Cham- 
berlain, lieutenant-colonel;  David  M.  Woodhall,  major;  Richard  M. 
Strong,  adjutant;  William  H.  Craig,  surgeon.  Captains,  Co.  A, 
Lionel  U.  Lenox;  B,  Charles  E.  Davis;  C,  Stephen  Bronk;  D,  James 
Dodds;  E,  James  McFarland;  F,  James  R.  Harris;  G,  Morgan  L.  Fil- 
kins;  H,  Harmon  L.  Merriman ;  I,   E.  H.  Tomlinson ;   K,  William  H. 


107 

Brandenburg.  The  regiment  was  numbered  the  177th  N.  Y.  V.,  and 
was  ordered  to  the  Department  of  the  Gulf,  under  General  Banks.  Its 
principal  service  was  in  the  engagements  from  New  Orleans  to  Port 
Hudson,  suffering  severely  at  the  latter  place.  At  the  close  of  its 
term  of  nine  months  the  regiment  returned  home  and  resumed  its 
original  place  as  part  of  the  9th  Brigade,  National  Guard.  The  regi- 
ment suffered  much  from  sickness  while  in  the  far  South.  Among 
those  who  died  while  in  the  field  were  Adj.  Richard  M.  Strong,  born 
in  Albany,  died  in  Louisiana  May  12,  1863;  he  had  studied  law  and 
been  admitted  to  the  bar,  with  bright  prospects.  Lieut.  John  Peter 
Phillips,  died  September  4,  1863.  Sergt.  Charles  H.  Frederick,  a 
native  of  Albany,  died  of  fever  in  Louisiana  March  10,  1863.  Sergt. 
Joseph  C.  Vanderhoop,  born  in  Albany,  died  of  fever  in  Louisiana. 
Sergt.  William  Crounse,  born  in  Guilderland,  died  in  Louisiana  June 
28,  1863. 

The  44th,  or  "  People's  Regiment,"  was  a  Zouave  organization  com- 
posed largely  of  Albany  county  men,  and  was  formed  October  16,  1861. 
It  left  for  the  seat  of  war  on  the  20th  of  that  month,  850  strong  and 
officered  as  follows: 

Stephen  W.  Stryker,  colonel;  James  C.  Rice,  lieutenant-colonel;  James  McKown, 
major;  William  Frothingham,  surgeon;  Edward  B.  Knox,  adjutant.  Captains:  Co. 
A,  Edward  P.  Chapin;  Co.  B,  L.  S.  Larabee ;  Co.  C,  William  H.  Revere,  jr.  ;  Co.  D, 
Freeman  Conner;  Co.  E,  Michael  McN.  Walsh;  Co.  F,  Campbell  Allen;  Co.  G, 
William  L.  Vanderlip ;  Co.  H,  William  N.  Danks;  Co.  I,  A.  Webster  Shaffer;  Co. 
K,  William  H.  Miller.     Capt.  Rodney  G.  Kimball,  1862;  Capt.  B.  Munger,  1862. 

The  regiment  performed  meritorious  service  at  Yorktown,  Hanover 
Court  House,  Gaines's  Mills,  Turkey  Island,  Malvern  Hill,  Groveton, 
Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Rappahan- 
nock, Mine  Run,  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania,  North  Anna,  Petersburg 
and  Weldon  Railroad.  The  regiment  was  mustered  out  September  \.'l. 
1864,  with  170  men,  having  been  supplied  with  more  than  700  recruits 
during  its  term  of  service.  Lieut.  Col.  (afterwards  Brigadier -General) 
James  C.  Rice,  a  graduate  of  Yale  and  a  law  student,  with  a  previous 
brilliant  military  career,  participated  in  all  the  engagements  of  his 
regiment  until  at  Petersburg,  May  10,  1804,  where  he  received  a  fatal 
wound.  Sergt.  Walter  H.  Angus,  promoted  second  lieutenant,  was 
killed  at  Petersburg  June  21,  18G4. 

The  '.list  Regiment  was  recruited  during  the  fall  of   L861,  mostly   in 


108 

and  near  Albany,  and  was  mustered  into  the  service  for  three  years 
December  1G,  1861,  with  847  men.  It  left  Albany  December  20  for 
Governor's  Island,  where  it  remained  until  January  8,  1862-.  Thence 
it  went  direct  to  Key  West,  where  it  arrived  January  20.  The  officers 
of  the  regiment  were  as  follows: 

Jacob  Van  Zandt,  colonel;  Jonathan  Tarbell,  lieutenant-colonel;  Charles  G. 
Clark,  major;  Robert  F.  Keeven,  adjutant;  Robert  Morris,  surgeon.  Captains: 
Co.  A,  John  W.  Felthousen ;  Co.  B,  George  W.  Stackhouse ;  Co.  C,  J.  G.  McDermott ; 
Co.  D,  Henry  Crounse ;  Co.  E,  William  Lee;  Co.  F,  John  Cooke;  Co.  G,  Allan  H. 
Jackson;  Co.  H,  J.  B.  Collins;  Co.  I,  Charles  A.  Burt;  Co.  K,  Henry  S.  Hulbert. 

The  91st  was  stationed  at  Pensacola  for  seven  months,  when  it  went 
to  New  Orleans  under  Banks  and  participated  in  engagements  at  Port 
Hudson,  Irish  Bend,  Bayou  Vermilion,  and  other  points,  suffering 
severely.  The  regiment  returned  home  July  19,  180-1,  and  nearly  all 
of  its  members  re-enlisted.  After  being  fully  recruited  it  was  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1805,  assigned  to  the  oth  Corps  and  stationed  near  Petersburg, 
where  it  performed  valiant  service  in  the  closing  scenes  of  the  war. 
Among  the  officers  of  the  regiment  who  lost  their  lives  were  the  fol- 
lowing: Major  George  W.  Stackhouse,  died  June  19,  1803,  from  gun- 
shot wounds,  at  Port  Hudson.  Capt.  John  A.  Fee,  a  native  of  Albany, 
rose  from  the  ranks,  was  wounded  June  30,  1803,  and  died  July  15. 
Lieut.  William  P.  Clark,  born  in  Watervleit,  shot  through  the  head  at 
Irish  Bend  July  14,  1803.  Lieut.  Sylvester  B.  Shepard,  born  in  Albany, 
was  a  member  of  the  celebrated  Burgesses  Corps,  killed  at  Port  Hud- 
son June  14,  1803,  at  the  head  of  his  company. 

The  11th  New  York  Havelock  Battery  was  organized  in  Albany  Oc- 
tober 20,  1801,  and  mustered  in  January  0,  1802,  with  150  men  and  the 
following  officers:  Captain,  A.  A.  Von  Puttkammer;  first  lieuten- 
ants, R.  A.  Warrington  and  James  Rodgers;  second  lieutenants,  G.  A. 
Knapp  and  John  E.  Burton.  The  battery  left  Albany  for  the  front  on 
January  17,  and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Second  Bull  Run,  Fred- 
ericksburg, Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Mine  Run,  Spottsylvania, 
North  Anna,  Cold  Harbor,  Petersburg  and  others.  From  September, 
1804,  to  Lee's  surrender  it  was  engaged  almost  every  day.  Lieut. 
Henry  D.  Brower,  a  native  of  Albany,  of  this  battery  was  killed  at 
Chancellorsville  May  3,  1803;  Corporal  William  H.  Van  Gaasbeek  was 
killed  at  Cold  Harbor  June  0,  1804,  and  Corporal  William  II.  Brough- 
ton  was  killed  at  Petersburg,  September  28,  1864. 


109 

On  the  2d  of  July,  1862,  a  call  was  made  for  300,000  men,  under 
which  the  quota  of  New  York  State  was  59,70/),  but  the  State  furnished 
78,904.  Recruiting-  and  other  military  operations  at  Albany  now  be- 
gan in  earnest.  It  was  clearly  seen  that  the  war  was  not  to  be,  as  at 
first  anticipated,  a  brief  and  unimportant  struggle,  and  throughout  the 
North  the  work  of  raising  troops  to  aid  the  cause  was  taken  up  with 
vigor.  The  113th  Regiment  (or  the  7th  Regiment  New  York  Volun- 
teer Artillery)  was  organized  in  Albany  county,  under  the  proposition 
that  each  senatorial  district  should  raise  one  regiment  with  the  utmost 
possible  dispatch.  A  committee  was  appointed  consisting  of  Eli  Perry, 
J.  F.  Rathbone,  Lyman  Tremain,  J.  Tracey,  T.  W.  Olcott,  George 
Dawson,  C.  B.  Cochrane,  J.  V.  L.  Pruyn,  Franklin  Townsend,  Samuel 
Anable,  W.  M.  Van  Antwerp,  George  H.  Thatcher,  and  Henry  A. 
Brigham,  and  the  first  man  enlisted  for  the  regiment  signed  the  roll 
July  24,  1802.  So  energetically  was  the  work  prosecuted  that  over 
1,100  men  were  mustered  in  on  August  18,  1862,  with  the  following 
field  and  staff  officers: 

Colonel,  Lewis  O.  Morris;  major,  Edward  A.  Springstead ;  adjutant,  Frederick  L. 
Tremain;  quartermaster,  E.  Willard  Smith;  surgeon,  James  E.  Pomfret;  assistant 
surgeons,  J.  W.  Blaisdell,  George  W.  Nevvcomb;  chaplain  Humphrey  L.  Calder. 
Captains:  Co.  A,  Joseph  M.  Murphy;  Co.  B,  Samuel  E.  Jones;  Co.  C,  John  A. 
Morris;  Co.  D,  Charles  McCulloch ;  Co.  E,  Norman  H.  Moore;  Co.  F,  Robert  H. 
Bell;  Co.  G,  Francis  Pruyn;  Co.  H,  John  McGuire;  Co.  I,  William  Shannon;  Co. 
K,  Samuel  L.  Anable.  Lieutenants;  Co.  A,  A.  Sickles,  1st,  John  B.  Read,  2d;  C<>. 
B,  J.  Kennedy,  1st,  William  E.  Orr,  2d;  Co.  C,  H.  N.  Rogers,  1st,  M.  Bell,  2d; 
Co.  D,  C.  Schurr,  1st,  H.  C.  Coulson,  2d;  Co.  E,  A.  V.  B.  Lockrow,  1st.  J.  F.  Mount, 
2d;  Co.  F,  N.  Wright,  1st,  R.  Mullens,  2d;  Co.  G,  S.  McEwan,  1st,  C.  W.  Ilobbs, 
2d;  Co.  H,  H.  C.  Ducharme,  1st,  F.  Pettit,  2d;  Co.  1,  J.  O.  Hair,  1st,  J.  M.  Ball  2d; 
Co.  K,  M.  H.  Barckley,  1st,  G.  Krank,  2d. 

The  regiment  left  Albany  August  19,  1862,  and  was  stationed  in  the 
defenses  of  Washington.  In  December,  lSU^,  its  character  was  changed 
from  infantry  to  artillery,  and  recruited  to  152  men  in  each  company. 
It  performed  arduous  and  important  service  in  building  many  forts  and 
batteries.  In  the  spring  of  18(14  two  companies  were  added  to  the  reg- 
iment, with  the  following  officers:  Captains,  Co.  L,  Janus  Kennedy; 
Co.  M,  George  H.  Treadwell.  First  Lieutenants,  Co.  L,  F.  W.  Mather; 
Co.  M,  G.  B.  Smallie.  Second  lieutenants,  Co.  I..  C  C.  McClellan; 
Co.  M,  E.  S.  Moss.  On  May  IT,  1864,  the  regiment  joined  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  near  Spottsylvania  and  was  engaged  in  the  batth 
Po  River,  North  Anna,  Tolopotomoy,  Cold  Harbor.  Petersburg,  and 
Reams's  Station,  in  some  of  which  it  suffered  severely.     On  February 


110 

22,  1805,  the  remnant  of  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Baltimore  to  re- 
main until  mustered  out  in  June,  1865.  Of  the  many  fatalities  that 
occurred  in  this  organization,  the  following  should  be  mentioned:  Col. 
Lewis  Owen  Morris,  a  native  of  Albany,  took  part  in  the  Mexican  war, 
retained  command  of  this  regiment  until  June  3,  1804,  when  he  was 
killed  by  a  confederate  sharpshooter.  Major  Edward  A.  Springstead, 
born  in  Albany,  served  as  first  lieutenant  in  the  43d  Regiment,  was 
promoted  from  captain  in  the  113th,  and  was  killed  at  the  head  of  his 
men  at  Reams's  Station  August  25,  1864.  Capt.  James  Kennedy,  born 
in  Albany,  wounded  at  Cold  Harbor  June  3,  and  at  Reams's  Station 
August  25,  1864,  and  captured;  died  in  Libby  prison  September  10, 
1864.  Capt.  John  A.  Morris,  a  native  of  Albany,  shot  through  the 
heart  at  Spottsylvania  May  19,  1864.  Capt.  Nathaniel  Wright,  shot 
at  Reams's  Station  August  25,  1864.  Capt.  Robert  H.  Bell,  was 
wounded  in  the  Wilderness  May  19,  1864,  and  died  June  20.  Lieut. 
William  Emmet  Orr,  a  native  of  Albany,  wounded  at  North  Anna,  and 
died  June  2,  1864.  Lieut.  James  H.  Morgan,  born  in  Albany,  taken 
prisoner  at  Reams's  Station  and  died  at  Salisbury,  N.  C,  November 
21,  1864.  Lieut.  Michael  H.  Barckley,  born  in  the  town  of  Knox, 
graduated  at  Union  College,  raised  a  company  in  his  town,  was  wounded 
at  Cold  Harbor  and  died  July  6,  1864.  Charles  S.  Evans,  a  native  of 
Rensselaerville,  killed  at  Cold  Harbor  June  5,  18U4.  Lieut.  Charles 
L.  Yeardsley,  born  in  West  Troy,  killed  at  Petersburg  June  3,  1864, 
while  leading  Co.  G  in  a  charge.  Lieut.  John  B.  Read,  wounded  at 
Cold  Harbor  and  left  within  the  enemy's  lines.  Sergt.  James  S. 
Gerling,  wounded  in  the  Wilderness  June  3,  1814,  and  again  August 
24,  and  died  October  8,  1864.  Sergt.  George  Sanders,  wounded  by  a 
shell  at  Cold  Harbor  and  died  in  hospital  June  18,  1864.  Sergt.  Will- 
iam H.  Bell,  born  in  the  town  of  Berne,  died  in  service  March  15,  1864. 

Recruiting  for  the  192d  Regiment,  the  last  to  leave  Albany  and  very 
nearly  the  last  to  leave  the  State,  began  in  January,  1865.  While 
nominally  an  Albany  regiment,  a  large  part  of  its  officers  and  privates 
were  from  adjoining  counties.  The  organization  reached  the  seat  of 
war  too  late  to  experience  any  fighting. 

Among  other  officers  from  this  county  who  performed  honorable  ser- 
vice in  the  army  and  fell  either  on  the  field  or  from  disease  contracted 
in  the  army,  a  few  may  be  briefly  noticed  here: 


Ill 

Col.  Edward  Frisby  was  a  native  of  Trenton,  N.  Y.,  and  settled  in 
Albany  in  1826,  where  he  engaged  in  business  as  a  hatter.  He  joined 
the  vState  militia  at  an  early  age  and  rose  from  corporal  through  the 
several  grades  to  brigadier-general.  In  April,  1861,  he  went  to  the 
front  with  the  25th  Militia  Regiment,  returned,  raised  the  :30th  Regi- 
ment of  volunteers  and  went  out  as  its  colonel.  He  was  killed  in  the 
second  battle  of  Bull  Run  August  22,  1862. 

Lieut. -Col.  Frederick  Lyman  Tremain,  son  of  Lyman  Tremain,  re- 
ceived a  college  education  and  had  not  reached  his  majority  at  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war.  He  enlisted  in  the  113th  Regiment,  raised  a 
company  and  was  promoted  adjutant;  was  afterward  transferred  to  the 
1st  Brigade,  3d  Division,  Cavalry  Corps,  and  later  to  the  2d  Brigade, 
2d  Division.  After  participating  in  all  the  engagements  with  General 
Sheridan's  army,  he  was  wounded  at  Dabney's  Mills,  February  5,  L855, 
and  died  three  days  later. 

Capt.  Harmon  N.  Merriam,  educated  for  the  law,  aided  in  raising 
the  10th  Regiment  and  was  commissioned  captain  Oi  Co.  II;  was 
wounded  at  Port  Hudson  May  27,  1863,  while  at  the  head  of  his  com- 
pany, and  died  on  his  way  home  July  15,  1863. 

Capt.  John  McGuire,  a  native  of  Ireland,  settled  in  Albany  in  1845, 
was  a  sergeant  in  the  Worth  Guards,  enlisted  in  the  25th  Regiment  and 
served  through  1861-2.  In  September  of  the  latter  year  he  was  made 
first  lieutenant  in  the  175th  Volunteers  and  promoted  captain.  After  a 
long  period  of  honorable  service  he  was  killed  by  guerillas  April  15, 
1865. 

Lieut.  James  Williamson,  born  in  Scotland,  was  first  lieutenant  in 
the  10th  Regiment  Militia,  and  when  the  regiment  was  changed  to  the 
177th  Volunteers  he  was  appointed  first  lieutenant  Co.  H.  He  was 
killed  while  leading  a  charge  at  Port  Hudson.  May  27,  1863. 

Orderly  Sergeant  Peter  M.  Shaler,  a  Scotchman,  settled  in  Albany 
in  1858,  joined  the  10th  Regiment,  was  wounded  March  24,  1863,  and 
died  July  18,  1863. 

Sergeant  Alexander  I).  Rice,  born  in  Albany  April  lo,  1837,  enlisted 
August  6,  L862,  in  Co.  C,  7th  N.  Y.  Heavy  Artillery,  and  promoted  to 
sergeant;   was  wounded  June  '■'>,   L864,  and  died  June  28. 

Sergeant  Andrew  T.  Hotaling,  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  7th  Heavy  Artillery, 
November  7,  1862,  and  twice  thereafter  promoted;  wounded  at  Peters- 
burg June  •>■>,  1864,  and  died  July  26. 

Sergeant  Panl  Quay,  born  in  Knox  July  30,   isn,  enlisted  in   the  7th 


112 

Heavy  Artillery,  taken   prisoner  June   16,  1864,  was  sent  to  Anderson- 
ville  and  thence  to  Milan,  where  he  died  in  prison. 

Succeeding  the  call  of  August  4,  1862,  for  nine  months  volunteers 
(under  which  New  York  furnished  59,705)  the  next  call  was  that  of 
February  1,  1864,  under  which,  in  the  aggregate,  New  York  furnished 
59,839  men.  March  14,  1864,  another  call  was  issued  for  200,000,  un- 
der which  this  State  supplied  41,940,  nearly  10,000  more  than  her 
quota.  Under  the  next  call,  July  18,  1864,  for  500,000  men  for  one, 
two,  or  three  and  four  years,  this  State  furnished  a  total  of  83,843  men. 
The  last  call  was  dated  December  19,  1864,  for  300,000  men,  and  en- 
listments stopped  before  the  various  quotas  were  filled,  the  aggregate 
from  New  York  being  34,196. 

In  the  payment  of  bounties  Albany  county  kept  abreast  of  the  other 
counties  of  the  State  and  her  quotas  were  filled  as  promptly  as  those 
of  any  other  section.  The  county  paid  out  for  bounties  to  volunteers 
$3, 100,700,  and  for  expenses  of  recruiting  and  other  military  matters 
$225,125.39;  making  a  total  of  $3,325,825.39. 

The  war  had  scarcely  begun  when  the  Ladies'  Army  Relief  Associa- 
tion was  organized  in  Albany  to  co-operate  with  the  United  States 
Sanitary  Commission  in  the  aid  of  sick  and  wounded  soldiers.  The 
association  was  in  existence  as  early  as  November,  1861,  and  similar 
organizations  were  effected  in  Coeymans,  Rensselaerville,  Knox,  and 
perhaps  other  towns  in  the  county.  The  ladies  of  Albany  raised  $19,- 
212.30  in  money  for  the  purposes  noted  during  the  four  years  ending- 
January  1,  1866,  and  sent  away  to  the  battlefields  thousands  of  boxes 
and  barrels  of  supplies  of  every  description  to  comfort  the  soldier  in 
his  time  of  privation  and  suffering.  The  Army  Relief  Bazaar,  a  great 
structure  well  adapted  to  its  purpose,  was  erected  in  the  Academy  Park 
and  there  was  held  during  the  months  of  February  and  March,  1864,  a 
great  Sanitary  Fair,  in  which  Troy,  Schenectady,  and  other  places  par- 
ticipated. It  was  splendidly  managed  and  the  net  proceeds  reached 
about  $82,000,  which  was  turned  over  to  the  Sanitary  Commission. 
The  Albany  Auxiliary  to  the  U.  S.  Christian  Commission  also  received 
between  April  1,  1864,  and  January  1,  1866,  the  sum  of  $23,740.20,  be- 
sides a  great  quantity  of  supplies  of  various  kinds,  and  books,  all  of 
which  went  to  the  alleviation  of  the  sufferings  and  privations  of  the 
soldiers.  Besides  all  this,  private  subscriptions  in  aid  of  the  cause  were 
numerous  and  liberal  in  this  county.      In   the   forenoon  of  the   9th  of 


ii:; 

April,  1865,  news  of  Lee's  surrender  reached  Albany,  and  swept  on 
over  the  whole  North,  kindling  an  outburst  of  joyous  thanksgiving  such 
as  the  country  had  never  before  witnessed,  and  heralded  the  long  reign 
of  peace  that  was  soon  inaugurated. 

During  the  period  of  the  war  public  improvements  and  important 
public  acts,  aside  from  war  measures,  almost  wholly  ceased  in  all 
Northern  cities,  while  in  villages  and  rural  districts  the  frequent  calls 
to  arms,  the  great  sacrifices  demanded  in  men  and  money,  and  the  sad 
news  that  came  from  scores  of  bloody  battlefields,  all  served  to  distract 
public  attention  from  the  ordinary  affairs  of  life,  With  the  advent  of 
peace  all  this  was  changed.  The  welcome  event  was  properly  cele- 
brated in  all  communities,  and  the  people,  so  long  oppressed  by  the 
terrors  of  civil  war,  turned  joyfully  and  full  of  hope  to  the  energetic 
prosecution  of  public  improvements  and  private  business.  In  spite  of 
the  enormous  cost  of  the  war — a  financial  drain  that  reached  every 
hamlet  in  the  land — there  was  seeming  prosperity  throughout  the 
North  during  the  several  years  succeeding  the  close  of  the  conflict. 
The  great  demands  of  the  government  for  war  materials,  which  had 
for  five  years  promoted  many  industries  and  afforded  various  avenues 
for  speculation  and  wealth-making,  the  abundance  of  money  which  had 
poured  from  the  national  treasury  in  payment  for  supplies,  and  for  the 
vast  armies  whose  rank  and  file  seldom  hoarded  it,  the  high  prices 
ruling  for  all  products,  created  by  an  inflated  currency,  were  all  causes 
of  an  era  of  prosperity  such  as  the  country  had  not  before  experienced. 
Albany  county  had  its  share  in  this  tide  of  prosperity,  though  not  to 
the  extent  of  many  cities  where  manufacturing  was  more  extensive. 
Many  private  projects  of  importance  were  launched,  river  commerce 
was  active,  building  operations  were  extensive,  mercantile  business 
was  greatly  extended  and  banks  and  other  institutions  of  financial 
character  multiplied.  The  agricultural  interests  of  the  county  shared 
also  in  the  general  prosperity;  farmers  realized  high  prices  for  their 
products,  and  many  were  led  to  purchase  farms  at  prices  which  a  few 
years  later  would  have  been  ruinous 

It  was  inevitable  that  such  a  state  of  affairs  could  not  long  continue 
in  a  time  of  peace.  With  the  gradual  contraction  of  currency,  the  de- 
creasing demand  for  many  kinds  of  products,  with  contemporaneous 
over-production,  and  the  fear  of  financial  disaster  through  anticipated 
return  to  specie  payment,  there  came  a  reaction  which   culminated  in 

15 


114 

1872-3,  causing  much  financial  distress  and  many  business  failures. 
Albany  county,  however,  as  has  been  the  case  in  all  times  of  depres- 
sion, suffered  less  than  many  other  localities;  the  county  had  gained 
less  and  was  not  so  much  affected  by  the  inflation  caused  by  the  war, 
and  hence  suffered  less  in  returning  to  normal  conditions. 

To  preserve  its  chronological  place  in  this  work,  the  subject  of  the 
anti-rent  struggle  should  have  been  taken  up  in  the  preceding  chapter, 
but  as  its  effects  were  felt  through  the  period  of  the  war  and  even 
later,  its  brief  consideration  is  left  for  this  place.  Anti-rentism  came 
into  existence  very  soon  after  the  death  of  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer, 
the  last  holder  of  the  Manor  of  Rensselaerwyck  under  the  British 
crown.  He  died  January  26,  1839.  He  had  inherited  the  great  manor 
under  the  law  of  primogeniture,  as  the  eldest  son,  which  had  existed 
here  through  the  colonial  period.  The  American  laws  following  the 
Revolution  worked  a  radical  change  in  this  respect,  and  in  order  to 
keep  his  vast  landed  interests  in  possession  of  his  sons  and  their  de- 
scendants, Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  on  arriving  at  his  majority,  adopted 
the  plan  of  selling  his  land  in  fee,  reserving  to  himself  and  his  assigns 
all  minerals,  streams  of  water  for  mills,  and  some  of  the  old  feudal 
rents  in  wheat,  fowls,  service  with  horses,  etc.,  and  finally,  the  reserva- 
tion of  one-quarter  of  the  purchase  price  on  every  vendition  of  land. 
It  is  said  that  Alexander  Hamilton  drew  this  form  of  conveyance  and 
advised  his  client  that  he  could  adopt  it.  But  there  was  at  that  time 
an  English  statute  in  opposition  to  such  a  method  of  sale,  such  right 
belonging  to  the  crown  alone.  It  is  believed  that  Mr.  Hamilton  as- 
sumed that  the  English  statute  had  not  been  in  force  in  this  colony, 
and  that  therefore  it  had  no  real  force  here.  In  any  event  the  patroon 
sold  his  lands,  warranting  the  title,  his  deeds  containing  the  feudal 
reservations  above  mentioned. 

While  this  system  of  sale  worked  satisfactorily  during  his  life  and 
generally  during  the  lives  of  the  first  purchasers,  trouble  began  soon 
afterward.  The  patroon  devised  all  his  interest  in  the  lands  thus  sold  in 
fee  to  his  two  eldest  sons,  William  P.  and  Stephen.  To  the  latter,  who 
was  the  older  of  the  two,  were  given  the  rents  in  Albany  county,  and  to 
the  other  those  in  Rensselaer  county.  The  old  patroon  was  a  kindly 
man  and  doubtless  his  many  favors  to  those  who  had  purchased  from 
him  served  to  pacify  them  under  the  onerous  burdens.  But  when  the 
sons  came  into  their  estate,    either  their  different   treatment  of    the 


115 

landholders,  or  changes  in  the  business  and  agricultural  relations  of 
the  time,  led  to  complaints  and  later  to  more  serious  trouble.  Litiga- 
tion began  and  continued  many  years.  "The  counsel  consulted  were 
either  ignorant  of  that  |  English  ]  statute  or  they  dismissed  considera- 
tion of  it  on  the  assumption  that  it  was  never  the  law  of  the  colony  or 
of  the  State.  Had  that  statute,  at  the  time  of  the  anti-rent  outbreak, 
been  recognized  as  the  law  of  the  State,  it  is  not  too  much,  probably, 
to  assert  and  believe  that,  before  the  distinguished  judges  who  then 
adorned  the  bench,  with  the  Senate  composing  the  court  of  last  resort 
— a  popular  as  well  as  judicial  body — the  anti-rent  controversy  would 
have  been  spared  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  of  political  and 
legal  conflict,  and  the  feudal-burdened  counties  have  become  as  en- 
lightened, prosperous  and  free  as  their  sister  counties  in  the  State.'* 1 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1839  the  anti-renters  held  a  meeting  for  the 
purpose  of  deciding  upon  some  equitable  basis  of  settlement  of  the  dis- 
pute. A  committee  was  appointed  to  call  upon  Stephen  Van  Rensse- 
laer, the  elder  son,  and  learn  upon  what  terms  they  could  purchase  the 
soil  outright.  The  committee  was  composed  of  the  foremost  men  of 
the  district  involved;  they  called  at  the  manor  office  in  Watervliet  on 
May  22,  1839,  and  met  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer,  who  refused  to  recognize 
them  in  any  manner.  They  then  passed  into  the  inner  office,  occupied 
by  the  agent,  Douw  B.  Lansing,  while  the  latter  held  a  lengthy  con- 
versation with  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer,  after  which  the  committee  were 
informed  that  they  would  be  communicated  with  in  writing.  The  com- 
mittee felt  that  this  was  an  insult,  and  went  away.  Subsequently  Mr. 
Van  Rensselaer  sent  a  letter  to  Lawrence  Vandusen,  of  Berne,  who 
was  chairman  of  the  committee,  in  which  he  declined  to  sell  on  any 
terms;  this  letter  was  read  throughout  the  manor  during  that  year. 
The  landholders  now  began  actiye  opposition  to  the  collection  of  rents; 
agents  were  insulted  and  their  personal  safety  endangered  ;  bodies  of 
masked  men  resisted  and  attacked  sheriffs  in  discharge  of  their  duties 
and  other  demonstrations  of  force  were  made  in  various  localities.  In 
December,  ]  839,  Sheriff  Michael  Artcher  called  to  his  aid  the  posse 
comitatns;  with  a  body  of  about  000  men  he  started  from  Albany  on  the 
3d  day  of  December,  1839,  for  Reidsvillc,  in  the  Helderbergs.  Arriv- 
ing near  the  place,  the  sheriff  selected  about  seventy-five  of  the  most 
courageous  of  his  men  and  continued  towards  Reidsyille,  where  it  was 

'  Writings  of  Andrew  J,  Colvin. 


116 

known  many  of  the  anti-renters  had  gathered.  Just  before  reaching 
the  place  they  encountered  a  force  of  1,500  mounted  men,  who  barred 
the  road  and  ordered  the  sheriff  and  his  party  back.  There  was  no  al- 
ternative but  to  obey,  and  the  whole  party  hastened  back  to  Albany. 
When,  on  the  following  day,  the  sheriff  acquainted  Governor  Seward 
with  the  outcome  of  his  brief  campaign,  the  governor  called  out  the 
military  in  numbers  sufficient  to  have  captured  every  person  in  the 
western  part  of  the  county.  The  military  force  comprised  the  Albany 
Burgesses  Corps,  Albany  Union  Guards,  Albany  Republican  Artillery, 
First  Company  and  Second  Company  Van  Rensselaer  Guards,  Troy 
Artillery,  Troy  Citizens  Corps,  and  the  Troy  City  Guards.  The  com- 
mand of  this  force  was  given  to  Major  William  Bloodgood,  and,  headed 
by  Sheriff  Artcher,  the  march  was  taken  up  towards  Reidsville  on  De- 
cember 9.  No  resistance  was  met  with  before  Reidsville  was  reached, 
and  even  then  no  enemy  was  found.  It  was  a  ridiculous  sight — a  great 
body  of  armed  troops  upon  a  long  and  wear)'  march,  to  meet  not  even 
a  single  landholder  upon  whom  to  expend  their  ardor.  The  return 
was  made  amid  a  pitiless  rain  storm.  Resistance  to  rent  collections 
continued  against  various  methods  of  compulsion,  without  much  advan- 
tage to  either  side.  The  landholders  hoped  by  petty  and  threatened 
acts  of  resistance  to  force  the  proprietors  into  an  acknowledgment  of 
their  position,  while  the  latter  seemed  to  think  that  by  military  and  legal 
action  they  could  compel  the  landholders  to  pay  whatever  was  demanded. 
At  last  the  controversy  was  made  a  political  issue,  and  a  paper,  the 
Freeholder,  was  started  in  Albany  in  support  of  the  cause  of  the  land- 
holders. Both  the  Whig  and  the  Democratic  parties  strove  to  obtain 
the  advantage  of  alliance  with  the  anti-renters,  but  the  former  party  had 
the  largest  number  of  them  in  its  ranks.  Their  power  was  soon  mani- 
fested in  the  political  field.  Eleven  counties  promptly  elected  represen- 
tatives with  anti-rent  proclivities  to  the  Legislature,  and  Albany  countv 
elected  Ira  Harris  to  the  Assembly  in  1845  by  more  than  2,000  majority. 
Silas  Wright,  who  had  been  considered  invincible,  was  defeated  by  John 
Young  for  governer  in  1846  through  the  influence  of  the  anti-renters, 
and  the  strife  went  on.  As  far  as  its  political  features  were  concerned, 
little  was  accomplished  and  in  that  respect  the  cause  soon  lost  its  in- 
fluence. 

Among  the  conditions  of  the  manorial  grants  in  fee  was  a  provision 
that  the  grantee,  or  his  heirs,  was  to  pay  to  the  proprietor  on  every 
sale  of  the  land,    ad  infinitum,  one-quarter  of  the  purchase  price ;  so 


117 

thatifafarm  worth  say  $2,000,  on  which  all  the  improvements  had  been 
made  by  the  purchaser,  was  sold  four  times  at  that  price,  the  proprie- 
tor would  get  the  whole  value  of  the  farm,  including  the  improvements, 
in  four  payments  of  $500  each.  Litigation  began  in  the  courts  on  this 
quarter-sale  provision  in  1818  and  in  1852  went  to  the  Court  of  Appeals. 
Without  here  attempting  to  follow  the  details  of  the  decision,  let  it 
suffice  to  say  that  it  was  in  favor  of  the  oppressed  landholders.  The 
Court  of  Appeals  was  then  comprised  of  Charles  H.  Ruggles,  chief 
judge,  Addison  Gardner,  Freeborn  G.  Jewett,  Alexander  S.  Johnson, 
John  W.  Edmonds,  Malbone  Watson,  Philo  Gridley,  and  Henry  Welles. 
After  this  decision  was  rendered  the  manor  proprietors  were  advised 
by  counsel  to  sell,  and  this  was  done  in  some  cases  prior  to  L852.  With 
the  changed  conditions  under  the  decision  of  the  court,  and  the  low 
prices  at  which  lands  were  now  offered  by  the  proprietors,  speculators, 
and  adventurers  came  into  the  field  and  made  many  purchases.  The 
principal  buyer  was  Walter  S.  Church,  then  of  Allegany  county,  who 
during  the  succeeding  thirty  or  forty  years,  was  responsible  for  end- 
less trouble  for  himself  and  the  landholders.  Litigation  continued  and 
in  many  instances  families  were  dispossessed  of  their  farms  amid  dis- 
tressing conditions. 

One  of  the  first  cases  that  went  to  the  Court  of  Appeals  after  the  de- 
cision in  the  quarter- sale  case  before  described,  was  that  of  Van  Rens- 
selaer vs.  Ball  in  L858.  In  the  decision  in  that  case  the  right  of  the 
manor  proprietors,  or  purchasers  of  their  interest,  to  maintain  actions 
of  ejectment  was  put  upon  a  statute  passed  by  the  Legislature  in  L805, 
authorizing  grantors  of  lands  to  have  the  same  remedies  for  the  recov- 
ery of  rent  as  if  the  reversion  had  remained  in  them  ;  this  opinion  was 
written  by  Judge  Denio,  who  then  proceeded  to  apply  the  statut< 
landlord  and  tenant  to  the  cases.  This  decision  so  shocked  the  public 
conscience  that  the  Legislature  of  I860  repealed  the  statute  of  1805 
far  as  conveyances  executed  after  that  time  were  concerned.  After 
that  statute  was  repealed  the  feudal  rent  litigation  was  renewed,  and 
other  cases  which  had  passed  through  the  lower  courts  were  carried  to 
the  Court  of  Appeals  where  they  were  decided  in  1863.  That  court 
then  took  new  ground  and  held  that  the  statute  of  1805  was  not  neces- 
sary to  the  maintenance  of  the  actions,  but  that  the  statute  of  1846 
abolishing  distress  for  rent  (a  statute  passed  in  the  interest  of  landhold- 
ers) supplied  the  place  of  the  statute  of  L805;  this  opinion  was  written 
by  Judge  Henry  R.  Selden.     After  relying  on  the  statute  of  1846,  as 


118 

Judge  Denio  had  on  that  of  1805,  to  sustain  the  actions,  Judge  Selden 
undertook  to  uphold  them  on  the  strength  of  an  opinion  expressed  by 
Sugden  in  his  work  on  Vendors  and  Purchasers,  and  on  a  few  contro- 
verted English  cases.  But  neither  Sugden  nor  the  disputed  cases  even 
hint  that  there  can  be  a  forfeiture  of  land  for  non-payment  of  rent,  out- 
side of  the  relation  of  landlord  and  tenant.  It  may  be  broadly  and 
safely  stated  that  no  case  can  be  found,  English  or  American,  where 
re  entry,  or  ejectment  for  default  in  the  payment  of  rent,  has  been  had 
or  allowed,  except  where  the  relation  of  landlord  and  tenant  existed, 
<»r  was  supposed  to  exist.  Of  the  eight  judges  of  the  Court  of  Appeals 
at  the  time  Judge  Selden  wrote  his  opinion  in  1863,  it  is  noticeable  that 
two  of  the  most  distinguished  refused  to  share  in  the  decision.  Upon 
that  remarkable  decision  hung  all  the  later  merciless  exactions  of  the 
proprietors  or  purchasers  of  their  interest,  against  the  landholders  and 
the  many  instances  of  dispossession  and  suffering  with  which  citizens 
of  Albany  county  are  familiar,  and  for  which  space  cannot  here  be 
spared.  The  working  of  this  injustice  has  thus  been  pictured  by 
Andrew  J.  Colvin,  wrho  has  given  much  study  to  the  matter: 

Ejectment  suits  are  brought  to  recover  one  year's  rent  claimed  to  be  due — gener- 
ally the  last  year — and  recovery  of  possession  of  the  farm  for  non-payment.  The 
landholder,  on  prosecution,  goes  to  the  office  in  Albany  to  pay  the  year's  rent 
sued  for,  and  the  costs  of  the  action.  Payment  will  not  be  accepted-  unless 
he  will  also  pay  all  rents  claimed  to  be  in  arrear;  it  may  be  for  fifteen  or  twenty, 
perhaps  thirty  years.  The  landholder  remonstrates  on  the  ground,  as  often  hap- 
pens, that  he  has  only  owned  the  farm  a  few  years,  and  should  not  be  asked  to  pay 
longer  than  he  has  owned.  He  is  told  that  that  makes  no  difference  ;  the  farm  is  lia- 
ble, no  matter  who  may  have  been  the  owner,  and  he  must  pay  all  rents  claimed  or 
lose  the  farm.  On  inquiry  as  to  the  amount  claimed,  he  is  startled  to  learn  that  it 
exceeds  the  value  of  the  farm,  perhaps,  with  all  the  buildings  and  other  improve- 
ments. That  result  is  brought  about  by  charging  the  fullest  prices  for  the  wheat, 
the  fat  fowls,  and  the  days'  service  with  carriage  and  horses,  with  annual  accumula- 
tions of  interest  on  each.  It  is  the  old  story;  the  successors  of  the  old  patroon  chas- 
tised the  landholders  with  whips;  the  adventurers  chastise  them  with  scorpions. 

This  depressing  subject  may  be  concluded  with  the  following  sug- 
gestive statement  of  claims  made  upon  the  Board  of  Supervisors  for 
services  in  the  anti-rent  difficulties  rendered  as  late  as  1866: 

Claimed.  Allowed. 

Leonard&  Bradt §1,295  72  81,268  59 

Edward  Scannell 1,053  00  576  00 

Tenth  Regiment,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y 992  25  992  25 

Company  F,  25th  Regiment    "    762  24  762  24 

Company  C,     "             "            "    626  40  626  40 


119 

Claimed.  Allowed. 

Company  G,  25th  Regiment,  N.  Y 256  92  2">ii  92 

Lord  &  Thornton . .  _ 500  1 12  498  02 

Albany  &  Susquehanna  R.  R.  Co... 228  80  828   80 

John   Cutler 157  00  150  00 

Augustus    Brewster ., 122  00  80  00 

Walter  S.  Church _ 115  00  Disallowed. 


Of  the  history  of  the  thirty  years  that  have  passed  since  the  close  <>t' 
the  war  there  is  little  to  record  that  is  not  found  in  later  chapters.  The 
population  of  the  county  in  1870  has  already  been  stated  as  1  33.'  152  ; 
that  of  the  city  at  that  date,  69,422.  The  increase  in  the  next  decade 
brought  the  number  of  inhabitants  in  the  county  to  154,890,  and  in  the 
city  to  90,758.  In  1890  these  figures  had  reached  respectively  164,555, 
and  94,923.  There  has  been  a  considerable  increase  since  that  year, 
the  census  of  1892  showing  the  population  of  the  county  to  be  1.67,289, 
and  of  the  city,  07,120.  While  these  are  substantial  gains  it  must  be 
recorded  that  most  of  the  towns  in  the  county  have  during  the  period 
under  consideration,  lost  slightly  in  population,  while  the  cities  and 
large  villages  have  gained.  This  result  is  observable  in  most  counties 
of  the  State  and  in  many  other  States. 

By  an  act  of  the  Legislature  passed  April   19,  1867,  the  Albany  and 
Schenectady  Railroad  was  incorporated,  and  authorized  to  construct  a 
railroad    on   the   Albany  and   Schenectady  turnpike    and   Washington 
avenue,  in  Albany,  the  cars  of  the  company  to  be  propelled  bv  ho 
or  dummy  engines.      The  promoters  of  the  project  abandoned  it. 

The  Boston  and  Albany  Railroad  was  chartered  November  3,  L870, 
for  the  consolidation  of  lines  constructed  many  years  earlier.  The  new 
company  effected  a  combination  of  the  Western  Railroad  Corporation, 
established  by  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  in  March,  1 
the  Castleton  and  New  Stockbridge  Railroad  Company,  incorporated 
in  this  State  May  5,  1834,  the  name  of  which  was  changed  May  •">. 
L836,  to  the  Albany  and  West  Stockbridge  Railroad  Company.  On 
November  11,  L841,  a  permanent  contract  was  made  for  the  operation 
of  the  last  named  road  by  the  Western  Corporation.  On  May  24, 
the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  passed  an  act  consolidating  the 
Western  Railroad  Corporation  with  the  Boston  and  \V.  Railroad 

Company.     Further  legislation  by  Massachusetts  and  New  York  within 
the  next  three  years  effected  the  consolidation   of  the  Boston   and   Al- 


L20 

bany  Company,  the  Albany  and  West  Stockbridge  Company  and  the 
Hudson  and  Boston  Company,  under  the  name  it  now  bears,  the  Bos- 
ton and  Albany.  The  road  is  an  important  factor  in  the  transporta- 
tion facilities  of  Albany  county. 

An  act  of  the  Legislature  of  April  6,  1870,  annexed  small  parts  of 
the  towns  of  Bethlehem  and  Watervleit  to  the  city  of  Albany.  The 
boundaries  of  these  sections  may  be  found  in  the  session  laws  of  that 
year. 

During  this  period  considerable  legislation  was  enacted  affecting 
the  Albany  county  Board  of  Supervisors,  some  of  the  acts  of  which 
board  also  possess  more  than  ordinary  interest.  On  April  13,  1857, 
the  office  of  supervisor  was  made  a  salaried  office,  the  annual  salary 
being  fixed  at  $100  and  the  usual  traveling  fees.  InMay,  1871,  this 
salary  was  raised  to  $350  and  has  so  remained.  In  the  year  1875  the 
powers  of  supervisors  were  considerably  enlarged,  particularly  in  re- 
spect to  their  control  of  county  property,  their  agency  in  the  erection 
of  county  buildings,  etc.  On  the  14th  of  May,  1878,  the  term  of  office 
of  supervisors  was  extended  to  two  years,  the  act  taking  effect  at  the 
first  election  of  1879. 

In  the  proceedings  of  the  board  for  1863,  the  county  clerk  reported 
that  in  pursuance  of  a  previously  adopted  resolution  of  the  board,  the 
work  of  reindexing  of  mortgages  had  been  completed  covering  the 
period  from  1856  to  1863,  and  condensing  what  had  filled  eight  books 
into  two,  for  which  his  charges  were  $10,623. 

During  the  session  of  1864  when  several  calls  for  troops  had  recently 
been  made  and  a  draft  seemed  imminent,  the  board  took  prompt  and 
liberal  measures  for  the  payment  of  large  bounties,  that  a  draft  might 
be  avoided.  At  that  time  there  had  been  almost  $2,000,000  disbursed 
in  the  county  for  bounties.  The  amount  of  bonds  issued  during  the 
war  period  was  $'2,540,200.  The  county  budget  in  1865  was  $766,- 
094.89,  or  nearly  double  what  it  was  at  the  beginning  of  the  war.  This 
sum  was  gradually  decreased  to  a  little  more  than  $500,000  within  a 
few  years,  but  recently  it  has  increased  again  to  more  than  the  figures 
above  given.  By  resolution  of  the  board  adopted  November  21,  1871, 
resulting  from  a  communication  received  from  several  leading  lawyers 
and  judges,  the  salary  of  the  county  judge  of  Albany  county  was 
raised  to  $5,000. 

On  the  15th  of  April,  1887,  a  law  was  passed  making  provision  for 


121 

the  erection  of  an  Armory  in  Albany.  This  resulted  in  the  splendid 
structure  now  in  use,  which  is  more  fully  described  in  a  later  chapter. 
In  the  following  year  (1888)  an  act  was  passed  by  the  Legislature  ap- 
propriating $25,000  from  the  State  funds  for  an  armory  in  Cohoes, 
provided  a  suitable  site  was  furnished  by  the  supervisors. 


CHAPTER  XL 
CIVIL  LIST. 


United  States  /'resident. — Martin  Van  Buren,  elected  to  the  presi- 
dency in  the  fall  of  1836,  though  not  a  native  of  Albany  county,  resided 
and  practiced  law  in  Albany  city  many  years. 

Vice-President. — Daniel  D.  Tompkins,  elected  in  1817,  passed  many 
years  of  his  life  in  Albany  and  at  the  time  of  his  election  to  the  vice- 
presidency  was  governor  of  the  State. 

Governors. — John  Tayler,  elected  in  1810;  he  was  elected  lieutenant- 
governor  January  29,  1814,  under  a  special  act  of  the  Legislature  of  April 
11,  1811,  after  the  death  of  John  Broome,  who  died  August  L0,  L810.  At 
that  time  Daniel  D.  Tompkins  was  serving  his  second  term  as  gov- 
ernor (elected  first  in  1807).  In  1816  Mr.  Tompkins  was  again  elected 
governor  and  John  Tayler,  lieutenant-governor.  The  next  year  Mr. 
Tompkins  was  elected  vice-president  and  Mr.  Tayler  became  governor. 
Martin  Van  Buren,  elected  1828;  he  was  appointed  secretary  of  state 
under  President  Jackson,  March  12,  1829,  resigned  the  office  of  gov- 
ernor and  was  succeeded  by  EnosT.  Throop.  John  A.  Dix,  elected 
1872.  David  B.  Hill,  now  a  resident  of  Albany,  elected  1885,  having 
then  served  a  remaining  part  of  Grover  Cleveland's  term,  and  re- 
elected in  1888. 

Lieutenant-Governor. — Daniel    Hale,    March    ^4.     L793;    Charles    1» 
Cooper,  April  17,  1817;  John  Van   Ness  Yates,  April,   L818;  and    Feb- 
ruary 13,  1823;  John  A.  Dix,  February  1,  1833. 

United  States   Senators. — -Philip    Schuyler,    chosen    July    It',,     Li 
served  to  1791;  chosen  again  January  24,   L797,  and   served  one  year. 
Martin  Van  Buren,   elected   February  6.  1821,   and  February  6, 
Charles  E.  Dudley,  elected  January  L5,  L859;  William  L.  Marcy,  elected 

16 


122 

February  1,  1831;  John  A.  Dix,  elected  January  18,  1845;  Ira  Harris, 
elected  February  5,  1861.  Roscoe  Conkling  and  Leland  Stanford,  who 
held  this  high  office,  were  natives  of  Albany  county. 

Secretary  of  the  Treasury  of  the  U.  S. — Alexander  Hamilton,  who 
studied  law  and  married  in  Albany,  and  passed  much  of  his  time  here, 
was  appointed  to  this  office  September  11,  1779;  John  C.  Spencer, 
March  3,  1843;  Jno.  A.  Dix,  January  11,  1861;  Daniel  Manning,  March 
6,  1885. 

U.  S.  Secretary  of  State. — Martin  Van  Buren,  appointed  March  6, 
1829;  William  L.  Marcy,  March  7,  1853. 

U.  S.  Secretary  of  t lie  Navy. — Smith  Thompson,  appointed  Novem- 
ber 9,  1818. 

U.  S.  Secretary  of  War. — John  C.  Spencer,  appointed  October  12, 
1841;  William  L.  Marcy,  March  6,  1845. 

Members  of  Congress. — The  following  changes  have  taken  place  in 
Congressional  districts  that  have  directly  affected  Albany  county :  By 
act  of  1789,  a  part  of  Albany  with  Columbia,  Clinton,  Saratoga  and 
Washington  counties  constituted  a  district.  Act  of  1792,  Albany 
county  was  a  district  by  itself.  Act  of  1797,  this  county  and  Schoharie 
were  constituted  the  8th  district.  Act  of  1802,  Albany  county  was  the 
9th  district.  Act  of  1808,  Albany  and  Schenectady  counties  were  made 
the  7th  district.  Act  of  1812,  it  was  made  the  9th  district.  Act  of  1822, 
it  was  made  the  10th  district.  Act  of  1842,  it  was  made  the  13th  dis- 
trict, and  by  act  of  1851,  was  constituted  the  14th  district.  By  act  of 
1862  Schoharie  was  joined  with  it  as  the  14th  district.  By  the  act  of 
L873  Albany  became  the  16th  district,  and  by  the  act  of  May,  1883,  it 
was  numbered  the  19th.  The  last  change  was  made  by  the  act  of  1892, 
under  which  Albany  county  became  the  20th  district.  Those  who 
have  held  the  office  of  Member  of  Congress  from  this  county  are  the 
following: 

Jeremiah  Van  Rensselaer,  1789-91  ;  James  Gordon  and  Peter  Silvester,  each  part 
of  term  of  1791-93;  Henry  Glen,  1793-1601 ;  Killian  Van  Rensselaer,  1801-1811 ;  Har- 
manus  Bleecker,  1811-13;  John  Lovett,  1813-17;  Rensselaer  Westerlo,  1817-19;  Sol- 
omon Van  Rensselaer,   1819-22;  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  1822-29;  Ambrose  Spen- 
cer, 1829-31;  Gerrit  Y.  Lansing,  1831-37;  Albert  Gallup,   1837-39;  Daniel  D.   Bar 
nard,    1827-29,  1839-43 ;  Bradford  R.  Wood,  1845-47 ;  John  I.  Slingerland,   1847-49 
John  L.  Schoolcraft,  1849-53;  Rufus  W.  Peckham,  1853-55;  Samuel  Dixon,  1855-57 
Erases   Corning,  sr.,  1857-59;  John   H.    Reynolds,   1859-61;    E.    Corning,   1861-65 
Charles  Goodyear,  1865-67;  John  V.  L.  Pruyn,  1867-69;  Stephen  L.  Mayham,  1869-71 ; 
Eli  Perry,  1871-75;  Charles  H.  Adams,  1875-77;  Terence  J.  Quinn,  1877-78;  John  M. 


CHARLHS  TRACEY. 


123 

Bailey,  elected  1878  vice  (Juinn  deceased;  Michael  N.  Nolan,  1881-83;  Thomas  J. 
Van  Alstyne,  1883-85;  John  Swinburne,  1885-87;  Charles  Tracey,  1887-95;  George 
H.  Southwick,  1895-97,  1897- 

Delegates  to  Constitutional  Conventions. — There  have  been  four  Con- 
stitutional Conventions  in  this  State,  and  one  Constitutional  Commis- 
sion, all  of  which  met  in  Albany.  The  first  was  held  October  13  to  £7, 
1801.  Following  are  the  names  of  the  Albany  delegates:  John  Jost 
Dietz,  Leonard  Gansevoort,  Daniel  Hale,  John  V.  Henry,  Josiah  Og- 
den  Hoffman,  Abraham  Van  Ingen,  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  and 
Peter  West.  The  second  Convention  assembled  August  28,  1821,  and 
adjourned  November  10.  Daniel  D.  Tompkins  was  president,  and  fol- 
lowing are  the  names  of  Albany  delegates:  James  Kent,  Ambrose 
Spencer,  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  and  Abraham  Van  Vechten.  The 
third  Convention  was  held  June  1,  1840,  and  adjourned  October  9.  The 
Albany  delegates  were  Ira  Harris,  Peter  Shaver,  Benjamin  Stanton, 
Horace  K.  Willard.  The  fourth  Convention  assembled  on  June  4, 
1867,  and  adjourned  November  12,  of  that  year.  The  delegates  from 
Albany  county  were  Ira  Harris,  at  large,  and  William  Cassidy,  Aniasa 
J.  Parker,  and  Erastus  Corning.  What  was  called  the  Constitutional 
Commission  met  in  Albany  December  4,  1872,  and  adjourned  March 
15,  1873.  The  delegates  from  the  third  district,  which  included  Al- 
bany county,  were  Robert  H.  Pruyn,  and  William  Cassidy,  of  Albany; 
George  B.  Burdett,  of  Troy;  Joseph  B.  Hall,  of  Catskill,  and  Cornel- 
ius Tracy,  of  Troy.     Robert  H.  Pruyn  was  chosen  chairman. 

Collectors  of  Customs. — The  collection  of  customs  in  Albany  was  be- 
gun in  1833,  under  the  direction  of  New  York  Custom  House,  with 
William  Seymour,  deputy  collector.  For  many  years  there  was  very 
little  for  him  to  do  in  his  office,  but  with  the  opening  of  the  Champlain 
and  Erie  Canals,  new  avenues  of  trade  were  opened  necessitating  the 
establishment  of  an  office  at  the  head  of  tidewater.  The  collectors 
since  Mr.  Seymour  have  been  as  follows:  Albert  Gallup,  Dennis  I'.. 
Gaffney,  and  William  Bruce.  On  March  2,  1867,  a  law  was  passed 
making  Albany  a  port  of  entry,  with  a  surveyor  of  customs  as  the 
chief  officer;  under  that  law  the  following  haveheld  the  position  :  Peter 
M.  Carmichael,  1867;  Isaac  N.  Keeler,  1870;  John  C.  Whitney,  L875; 
William  N.  S.  Sanders,  1879;  John  A.  Luby,  L882;  Addison  1  >.  Colo. 
1885;  John  M.  Bailey,  1889;  John  P.  Masterson,  L893. 

State  Secretaries  of  State. — Daniel  Hale,  March  24,  L793;  Charles 
I).    Cooper,    April    17,    1817;  John    Van   Ness  Yates,    April,  L818,  and 


124 

February  13,  1823;  John  A.  Dix,  February  1,  1833;  John  Palmer,  No- 
vember 7,  1803;  re-elected  November,  1895. 

State  Treasurers. — Robert  McClallen,  March  16,  1798;  Abraham  G. 
Lansing,  February  8,  1803;  Abraham  G.  Lansing,  February  18,  1810; 
Charles  Z.  Piatt,  February  10,  1813;  Gerrit  L.  Dox,  February  12,  1817; 
Benjamin  Knower,  January  29,  1821;  Stephen  Clark,  November  7, 
1855;  Nathan  D.  Wendell,  November  4,  1879. 

Comptrollers. — JohnV.  Henry,  March  12,  1800;  Archibald  Mclntyre, 
March  25,  1806;  William  L.  Marcy,  February  13,  1826;  Azariah  C. 
Flagg,  January  11,  1834;  Azariah  C.  Flagg,  February  7,  1842;  Fred- 
erick P.  Olcott,  January  1,  1877,  appointed  vice  Robinson  resigned. 

Surveyors-General. — Philip  Schuyler,  March  30,  1781;  Simeon  De 
Witt,  May  13,  1784;  Simeon  De  Witt,  February  8,  1823;  Orville  L. 
Holley,  February  5,  1838. 

State  Engineers  and  Surveyors. — William  J.  McAlpine,  November  4, 
1851;  Sylvanus  H.  Sweet,  November  4,  1873;  Elnathan  Sweet,  No- 
vember, 1883. 

Canal  Commissioners. — Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  April  17,  1816;  Asa 
Whitney,  February  22,  1840;  Stephen  Clark,  Februarys,  1842;  Stephen 
Clark,  November  4,  1844;  Charles  H.  Sherrill,  November  5,  1856. 

State  Senators. — There  have  been  many  changes  in  the  senatorial 
divisions  of  this  State.  Under  the  first  Constitution  the  Senate  con- 
sisted of  twenty-four  members  apportioned  among  four  large  districts. 
An  additional  senator  was  to  be  added  whenever  it  was  shown  by  a 
septennial  census,  that  the  number  of  electors  in  a  district  had  increased 
one  twenty-fourth,  continuing  thus  until  the  number  reached  one 
hundred.  The  census  of  1795  made  the  number  forty-three.  This 
arrangement  was  soon  proven  to  be  unequal  in  its  operation  and  in  1801 
the  Constitution  was  amended  so  as  to  fix  the  number  of  senators  at 
thirty-two,  which  number  remained  unchanged  until  the  Constitution 
of  1894  went  into  effect,  January  1,  1895.  The  Constitution  of  1821 
divided  the  State  into  eight  senatorial  districts,  each  of  which  was  enti- 
tled to  four  senators,  one  being  elected  each  year  for  a  term  of  four 
years.  Under  the  Constitution  of  1846  the  State  was  divided  into  thirty- 
two  districts,  in  each  of  which  a  senator  was  elected  each  odd  year. 
Albany  county  formerly  constituted  the  13th  district,  later  the  17th, 
and  finally  the  19th.  By  the  Constitution  of  1894,  the  State  was  divided 
into  fifty  senatorial  districts,  of  which  Albany  county  composes  the 
29th.     The  senators  chosen   in   1895  hold  office  for  three  years  while 


125 

their  successors  are  to  be  chosen  for  but  two  years.  Following  is  a  list 
of  Senators  from  this  county : 

Abraham  Yates,  jr.,  1777-90;  Dirck  W.  Ten  Broeck,  1777-78;  Anthony  Van  Schaick, 
1777-78;  Rinier  Mynderse,  1777-78.  (The  first  session  of  the  legislature  assembled 
at  Kingston  in  September,  1777,  but  was  soon  driven  out  by  British  troops.  The 
second  meeting  was  held  in  Poughkeepsie  beginning  January  15,  1778.)  Rinier 
Mynderse,  1778-81;  Dirck  W.  Ten  Broeck,  1778-83;  Philip  Schuyler,  1781-84,  1786 
88,  1792-97;  Henry  Oothoudt,  1782-85;  Volkert  P.  Douw,  1786-93;  Peter  Schuyler, 
1787-92;  Leonard  Gansevoort,  1791-93,1797-1802;  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  1791-95 ; 
Anthony  Ten  Eyck,  1797-1801;  Anthony  Van  Schaick,  1797-1800;  Abraham  Van 
Vechten,  1798-1805,  1816-19;  Francis  Nicoll,  1791-98;  John  Sanders,  1799  1802; 
Stephen  Lush,  1801-2;  Simon  Veeder,  1804-7;  John  Veeder,  1806-9;  Joseph  C. 
Yates,  1806-8;  Charles  E.  Dudley,  1820-25;  John  McCarty,  1827-30;  Peter  Gansvoort, 
1833-6;  Friend  Humphrey,  1840-1;  Ira  Harris,  1847;  Valentine  Tredwell,  1848^9; 
Azor  Taber,  1852-53;  Clarkson  F.  Crosby,  1854-55;  John  W.  Harcourt,  1856-57; 
George  Y.  Johnson,  1858-59;  Andrew  J.  Colvin,  1860-61;  John  V.  L.  Pruyn.  1862- 
63;  Lorenzo  D.  Collins,  1866-67;  A.  B.  Banks,  1868-69,  1870-71;  Charles  H.  Adams, 
1872-73;  Jesse  C.  Dayton,  1874-75;  Hamilton  Harris,  1876-79;  Waters  W.  Braman, 
1880-81;  Abraham  Lansing,  1882-83;  John  B.  Thacher,  1884-85;  Amasa  J.  Parker, 
jr.,  1886-7;  1888-9,  Henry  Russell ;  1890-91,  Norton  Chase;  1892-5,  Amasa  J.  Parker; 
Myer  Nussbaum,  1895-8. 

Members  of  Assembly. — The  State  Assembly  originally  consisted  of 
seventy  members,  which  could  be  increased  one  with  every  seventieth 
increase  in  the  number  of  electors,  until  it  reached  300  members. 
When  the  constitution  was  amended  in  1801  the  number  had  reached 
108;  it  was  then  reduced  to  100,  with  provision  for  an  increase  after 
each  census  at  the  rate  of  two  annually  until  the  number  reached  L50. 
The  constitution  of  1821  fixed  the  number  permanently  at  128,  but  the 
number  was  increased  by  the  Constitution  of  1894-  to  the  present  num- 
ber, 150,  each  of  whom  is  elected,  as  has  always  been  the  case,  for  one 
year.  Under  the  various  apportionments  since  180]  Albany  county  has 
had  in  1802,  six  members;  in  1815,  four;  in  L822,  three;  since  that  year 
it  has  had  four  members. 

The  representatives  from  Albany  in  the  Colonial  Assembly  were  as 
follows: 

1691-92,    Dirck    Wessels,    Leviuus   Van   Schaick;    1693-95,    Dirck    Wessels.    Ryer 

Jacobs;  1695-98,  John  Abeel,  Dirck  Wessels;  1698  (May  and  June),  Jan  Jansen 
Bleker,  Ryer  Schermerhorn  ;  1699-1701,  Hendrick  Hansen,  Jan  Jansen  Bicker,  Ryer 
Schermerhorn ;  1701-02,  Dirck  Vessels,  Ryer  Schermerhorn,  Myndert  Schuyler, 
John  Abeel,  Johannis  Bleker,  Hendrick  Hansen;  1703-04,  John  Abeel,  Myndert 
Schuyler,  Evert  Banker;  1705-06,  Myndert  Schuyler,  Johannis  Cuyler,  Peter  Van 
Bruggen;    1708-09,    Johannis    Cuyler.    Hendrick    Hansen.    Myndert   Schuyler;    17n«.i 


126 

(April  to  November),  Myndert  Schuyler,  Johannis  Cuyler,  Robert  Livingston;  1710- 
11,  Johannis  Cuyler,  Johannis  Schuyler,  Robert  Livingston;  1711-12,  Robert  Liv- 
ingston, jr.,  Johannis  Cuyler,  Johannis  Schuyler;  1713-14,  Robert  Livingston,  jr., 
Myndert  Schuyler,  Peter  Van  Brugh ;  1715,  Johannis  Cuyler,  Hendrick  Hansen, 
Karel  Hansen;  1716-26,  John  Cuyler,  Hendrick  Hansen,  Karel  Hansen,  Myndert 
Schuyler;  1726-27,  Myndert  Schuyler,  Ryer  Garretsen ;  1727  (September  to  Novem- 
ber), Johannis  Cuyler,  Peter  Van  Brugh  ;  1728-37,  Philip  Schuyler,  Myndert  Schuy- 
ler, Dirck  Ten  Broeck ;  1737-38,  Philip  Schuyler,  Peter  Winne;  1739-43.  Philip 
Schuyler,  Peter  Winne ;  1743-45,  Philip  Schuyler,  Peter  Winne;  1745-47,  the  same; 
1747-50,  Coenradt  Ten  Eyck,  Peter  Douw ;  1750-51,  Philip  Schuyler,  Hans  Hansen; 
1752-58,  Peter  Winne,  Petrus  Douw;  1759-61,  Peter  Winne,  Jacob  H.  Ten  Eyck, 
Volkert  P.  Douw;  1761-68,  Jacob  H.  Ten  Eyck,  Volkert  P.  Douw;  1768-69,  Jacob 
H.  Ten  Eyck,  Philip  Schuyler;  1769-75,  Jacob  H.  Ten  Eyck,  Philip  Schuyler. 

The  last  session  of  the  General  Assembly  was  held  April  3,  17  7  -">. 
During  this  Colonial  period  of  nearly  ninety  years  Rensselaerwyek 
Manor  was  represented  in  the  Assembly  as  follows: 

1691-1702,  Kilian  Van  Rensselaer;  1702,  Kilian  Van  Rensselaer  and  Andries 
Coejemans  (Coeymans);  1702-1714,  Hendrick  (or  Henry)  Van  Rensselaer;  1715-26, 
Andries  Coejemans;  1726-43,  Jeremiah  Van  Rensselaer;  1743-68,  John  Baptiste  Van 
Rensselaer;  1768  to  the  close,  Abraham  Ten  Broeck. 

Members  of  the  State  Assembly  have  been  as  follows: 

1777-78,  Jacob  Cuyler,  John  Cuyler,  jr.,  James  Gordon,  Walter  Livingston, 
Stephen  J.  Schuyler,  John  Tayler,  Kilian  Van  Rensselaer,  Robert  Van  Rensselaer, 
Peter  Vrooman,  William  B.  Whiting. 

1778-79,  Leonard  Gansevoort,  James  Gordon,  Walter  Livingston,  Stephen  J. 
Schuyler,  John  Tayler,  Jacobus  Teller,  Kilian  Van  Rensselaer,  Robert  Van  Rensse- 
laer, Peter  Vrooman,  William  B.  Whiting. 

1779-80,  Flores  Bancker,  John  Bay,  James  Gordon,  Cornelius  Humphrey,  Hugh 
Mitchell,  Henry  Oothoudt,  Henry  Ouackenbos,  Isaac  Vrooman,  William  B.  Whiting, 
Phineas  Whiteside. 

1780-81,  Matthew  Adgate,  John  Ja.  Beekman,  James  Gordon,  John  Lansing,  jr., 
Peter  R.  Livingston,  Dirck  Swart,  John  Tayler,  John  Van  Rensselaer,  jr.,  Robert 
Van  Rensselaer,  Isaac  Vrooman. 

1781-82,  Mathew  Adgate,  Jacob  Ford,  Philip  Frisbie,  John  Lansing,  jr.,  George 
Palmer,  Dirck  Swart,  Samuel  Ten  Broeck,  Israel  Thompson,  Isaac  Vrooman,  Ed- 
mund Wells. 

1782-83,  Matthew  Adgate,  John  H.  Beekman,  John  Ja.  Beekman,  Jacob  Ford, 
John  Lansing,  jr.,  Dirck  Swart,  Jamuel  Ten  Broeck.  Peter  Van  Ness,  Christopher 
Vates,  John  Younglove. 

1784,  Matthew  Adgate,  Abraham  Becker,  Abraham  Cuyler,  Jacob  Ford,  James 
Gordon,  John  Lansing,  jr.,  Peter  Schuyler,  Dirck  Swart,  Peter  Van  Ness,  Christo- 
pher Yates. 

1784-85,  Matthew  Adgate,  Abraham  Becker,  Jacob  Ford,  Walter  Livingston,  Dirck 
Swart,  Israel  Thompson,  Matthew  Visscher,  Christopher  Yates,  Peter  W.  Yates, 
John  Younglove. 


127 

1786,  Leonard  Bronck,  Henry  Glen,  James  Gordon,  Lawrence  Hogeboom,  |olin 
Lansing,  jr.,  John  Livingston,  Jacobus  Van  Schoonhoven,  John  Tayler,  Abraham  J. 
Van  Alstyne,  Peter  Vrooman. 

1787,  Leonard  Bronck,  Henry  Glen,  James  Gordon,  John  Lansing,  jr.,  John  Liv- 
ingston, William  Powers,  Thomas  Sickles,  John  Tayler,  Matthew  Visscher,  Peter 
Vrooman. 

1788,  Leonard  Ganesvoort,  James  Gordon,  Thomas  Sickles,  J.  Dc  Peyster  Ten 
Eyck,  Dirck  Van  Ingen,  Hezekiah  Van  Orden,  John  Younglove. 

1788-89,  John  Duncan,  John  Lansing,  jr.,  John  Thompson,  Cornelius  Van  Dyck, 
Henry  K.  Van  Rensselaer,  Jeremiah  Van  Rensselaer,  John  Younglove. 

1789-90,  Leonard  Bronck,  James  Gordon,  Richard  Sill,  Henry  K.  Van  Rensselaer, 
Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  Cornelius  Van  Van  Veghten,  John  Younglove. 

1791,  Sidney  Berry,  Leonard  Bronck,  Jonathan  Brown,  John  W.  Schermerhorn, 
Richard  Sill,  Jacobus  Van  Schoonhoven,  Cornelius  A.  Van  Slyck. 

1792,  Jellis  A.  Fonda,  Stephen  Lush,  David  McCarty,  Francis  Nicoll,  William 
North,  John  Ten  Broeck,  Henry  Ten  Eyck. 

171)2-93.  Leonard  Bronck,  Johannis  DeiU,  Jellis  A.  Fonda,  Stephen  Lush,  Francis 
Nicoll,  John  Ten  Broeck,  Cornelius  A.  Van  Slyck. 

171)4,  Johannis  Deitz,  Jellis  A.  Fonda,  Theodorus  V.  W.  Graham,  Jacob  Hoch- 
strasser,  Thomas  Hun,  William  North,  Stephen  Piatt. 

17J5,  Johannis  Deitz,  Leonard  Ganesvoort,  jr.,  Jacob  Hochstrasser,  Thomas  Hun, 
William  North,  Stephen  Piatt,  Andries  Van  Patten. 

1796,  Gerrit  Abeel,  Leonard  Bronck,  Johannis  Deitz,  Jacob  Hochstrasser,  Francis 
Nicoll,  William  North,  Dirck  Ten  Broeck. 

171)0-97,  James  Bill,  Philip  Conine,  jr.,  James  C.  Duane,  Jacob  Hochstrasser, 
James  Holcomb,  Nathaniel  Ogden,  John  Prince,  Philip  P.  Schuyler,  Dirck  Ten 
Broeck,  John  H.  Wendell, 

1798,  Thomas  E.  Barker,  Johan  Jost  Deitz,  Andrew  N.  Heermance,  Nathaniel 
Ogden,  John  Prince,  Philip  P.  Schuyler,  Dirck  Ten  Broeck,  Joel  Thompson,  John  II. 
Wendell,  Peter   West. 

171J8-99,  Thomas  E.  Barker,  James  Bill,  Johan  Jost  Deitz,  Prince  holy,  Andrew 
N.  Heermance,  Jeremiah  Lansingh,  Philip  P.  Schuyler,  Joseph  Shurtleff,  Dirck  Ten 
Broeck. 

J^1800,  James  Bill,  Philip  Conine,  jr.,  Julian  Jost  Deitz,  Prince  Doty,  John  V.  Henry, 
Francis  Nicoll,  Joseph  Shurtleff,  Dirck  Ten  Broeck,  Jacob  Winue. 

L800-01,  John  Jost  Deitz,  Prince  Doty,  John  V.  Henry,  Joseph  Shurtleff,  Dirck 
Ten  Broeck,  Jacob  Ten  Eyck,  Peter  West,  Jacob  Winne. 

1802,  Johan   Jost    Deitz,  Prince   Doty.  John    V.  Henry.  Peter   S.    Schuyler,   Ji 
Shurleff,  Dirck  Ten  Broeck,  Jacob  Ten  Eyck,  Peter  West. 

L808,  Johan  Jost  Deitz,  John  Frisby,  Stephen  Lush,  Maus  Schermerhorn,  Pi 
Schuyler,  Jacob  Ten  Eyck. 

1804,  John  Beekman,  jr.,  Johan  Jost  Deitz,  James  Emott,  Maus  Schermerhorn, 
Peter  S.  Schuyler,  Moses  Smith. 

[~|S(ir>  06,  1 'avid    Burhans,  Adam    Deitz,  jr.,  Stephen    Lush.  Nicholas   V,  Mynderse, 
Joseph  Shurtleff,  Moses  Smith. 

!s'»0,  David  Burhans,  Asa  Colvard,  Adam  heit/..  jr.,  Stephen  Lush,  Joseph  Shurt- 
leff, Abraham  Van  Yechten. 


128 

1807,  David    Bogardus,    Asa   Colvard,   Johan   Jost    Deitz,    Daniel    Hale,    Joseph 
Shurtleff,  Jacob  Veeder. 

1808,  John  Brown,  Johan  Jost  Deitz,  Jonathan  Jenkins,  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer, 
Abraham  Van  Vechten,  Jacob  Veeder. 

1808-9,  John  Brown,  John  H.  Burhans,  Jonathan  Jost  Deitz,  Jonathan  Jenkins, 
Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  Abraham  Van  Vechten. 

1810,  John  Colvin,  Abel  French,  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  Abraham  Van  Vechten. 

1811,  Asa  Colvard,  David  Delong,  Jonathan  Jost  Deitz,  Abraham  Van  Vechten. 

1812,  Asa  Colvard,  Jesse  Tayler,  Abraham  Van  Vechten,  John  G.  Van  Zandt. 
1812-13,  David  Bogardus,  John  Gibbons,  Elishama  Janes,  Abraham  Van  Vechten. 
1814,  Harmanus  Bleecker,  Johan  Jost  Deitz,  Moses  Smith,  John  L.  Winne. 
1814-15,  H-armanus  Bleecker,  Sylvester  Ford,  Jesse  Tyler,  John  D.  Winne. 

1816,  Michael  Freligh,  John  I.  Ostrander,  John  Schoolcraft,  Jesse  Smith. 
1816-17,  John  H.  Burhans,  John  I.  Ostrander,  Gideon  Tabor,  Rufus  Watson. 

1818,  William  A.  Duer,  James  Sackett,  Gideon  Tabor,  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer. 

1819,  William  A.  Duer,   William   H.   Houghtaling,  Cornelius   H.   Waldron,   John 
Van  Ness  Yates. 

1820,  Asa  Colvard,  James  McKewn,  Peter  S.  Schuyler,  Stephen  Willes. 
1820-21,  Gernt  Hogan,  James  McKown,  Moses  Smith,  Stephen  Willes. 

1822,  James  McKown,  William  McKown,  Volkert  D.  Oothoudt,  John  P.  Shear. 

1823,  Abraham  Brooks,  Jesse  Buel,  Abraham  Rosecrantz. 

1824,  Archibald  Stephens,  John  Stillwell,  Jesse  Wood. 

1825,  George  Batterman,  Samuel  S.  Lush,  Stephen  Willes. 

1826,  Samuel  S.  Lush,  Andrew  Ten  Eyck,  Malachi  Whipple. 

1827,  Isaac  Hamilton,  John  Haswell,  Henry  Stone. 

1838,  Benjamin  F.  Butler,  William  N.  Sill,  David  I.  D.  Verplank. 

1829,  James  D.  Gardner,  Moses  Stanton,  Chandler  Starr. 

1830,  Peter  Gansevoort,  Samuel  S.  Lush,  Erastus  Williams. 

1831,  Peter  Gansevoort,  Wheeler  Watson,  Peter  W.  Winne. 

1832,  Abijah  C.  Disbrow,  Philip  Lennebacker,  William  Seymour. 

1833,  Edward  Livingston,  Jacob  Settle,  Israel  Shear. 

1834,  Aaron  Livingston,  Barent  P.  Staats,  Prentice  Williams,  jr. 

1835,  Edward    Livingston,   Henry  G.    Wheaton,  David  G.    Seger,   Tobias  T.   E. 
Waldron. 

1836,  Daniel  Dorman,  John  C.  Schuyler,  William  Seymour. 

1837,  Richard  Kimmey,  Edward  Livingston,  Abraham  Verplanck. 

1838,  Daniel  D.  Barnard.  Edmund  Raynsford,  Paul  Settle. 

1839,  John  Davis,  James  S.  Lowe,  Rufus  Watson. 

1840,  Frederick  Bassler,  jr.,  Peter  Flagler,  Henry  G.  Wheaton. 

1841,  Aaron  Hotaling,  Francis  Lansing,  Henry  G.  Wheaton. 

1842,  John  A.  Dix,  Cornelius  G.  Palmer,  Jonas  Shear. 

1843,  Willis  Hall,  Aaron  Van  Schaack,  John  I.  Slingerland. 

1844,  Levi  Shaw   Samuel  Stevens,  Simon  Veeder. 

1845,  Clarkson  F.  Crosby,  Ira  Harris,  Leonard  Litchfield. 

1846,  Ira  Harris,  Thomas  L.  Shafer,  Robert  D.  Watson. 

1847,  John  Fuller,  John  I.  Gallup,  Valentine  Tredwell,  Robert  D.  Watson. 


1848,  Edward  S.  Willett,  Frederick  Mathias,  Robert  H.  Pruyn,  Henry  A.  Brigham. 

1849,  Hiram  Barber,  David  Van  Auken,  Robert  H.  Pruyn,  Joel  A.  Wing. 

1850,  Cornelius  Vanderzee,  Joel  B.  Nott,  Robert  H.  Pruyn,  William  S.  Shepard. 

1851,  Robert  Babcock,  Adam  I.  Shultes,  Hamilton  Harris,  Eh  Perry. 

1852,  Hugh  Swift,  George  M.  Sayles,  Teunis  Van  Vechten,  jr.,  Robert  Harper. 

1853,  William  P.  Malburn,  John  Reid,  William  W.  Forsyth,  Thomas  Kearney. 

1854,  S.  M.  Hollenbeck,  I.  W.  Chesebro.  Robert  H.  Pruyn,  Archibald  A.  Dunlop. 

1855,  Pryse  Campbell,   Martin  J.  Blessing,  Alexander  Davidson,  J.  B.  Van  Etten. 

1856,  Isaac  Whitbeck,  Jackson  King,  Henry  Jenkins,  James  Brady. 

1857,  Richard  Kimmey,  Adam  Van  Allen,  John  Evers,  Franklin  Townsend. 

1858,  Dwight  Batcheller,  George  Wolford,  C.  W.  Armstrong,  Charles  H.  Adams. 

1859,  Henry  Creble,  Morgan  L.  Filkins,  William  A.  Young,  Lorenzo  D.  Collins. 

1860,  John   I.   Slingerland,   Stephen   Merselis,   jr.,    Samuel  W.  Gibbs,   Lorenzo  D. 
Collins. 

1861,  Jay  Gibbons,  Lewis  Benedict,  jr.,  Henry  Lansing,  William  J.  Wheeler. 

1862,  John   Vanderzee,    Willet   Searles,    Almerin  J.   Cornell,  A.   Bleecker    Banks, 
William  Doyle. 

1863;  William  J.  Snyder,  John  Cutler,  Henry  L.  Wait,  William  L.  Oswald. 

1864,  Harris  Parr,  Morgan  L.  Filkins,  Thomas  McCarty,  William  L.  Oswald. 

1865,  Harmon  H.   Vanderzee,   Oliver  M.   Hungerford,  Alexander  Robertson,    Mi- 
chael A.  Nolan. 

1866,  William  Aley,  Lyman  Tremain,  Clark  B.  Cochrane,  James  F.  Crawford. 

1867,  Hugh  Conger,  Henry  Smith,  Alexander  Robertson,  Oscar  F.  Potter. 

1868,  John  C.  Chism,  Francis  H.  Woods,  Jackson  A,  Sumner,  Theodore  Van  Yalk- 
enburgh. 

1869,  Hugh  Conger,  Adam  W.  Smith,  John  M.  Kimball,  John  Tighe. 

1870,  William  D.  Murphy,  Thomas  J.  Lanahan,  Edward  D.  Ronan,  John  Tighe.' 

1871,  William  D.   Murphy,   Robert   C.    Blackall,   Edward  Coyle,  William   D.   Sun- 
derlin. 

1872,  Stephen  Springstead,  Henry  Smith,  Daniel  L.   Babcock,  George  B.  Mosher. 

1873,  Peter  Schoonmaker,  Henry  R.  Pierson,  John  W.  Van  Valkenburgh,   Ceorge 
B.   Mosher. 

1874,  Fred  Schifferdecker,   Leopold  C.  <i.  Kshinka,  Terence  J.  Quinn,  Waters  W, 
Braman. 

1875,  Peter  Slingerland,  Leopold  C.  G,  Kshinka,  Francis  W.  Vosburgh,  Waters  W. 
Braman. 

1876,  Peter  Slingerland,  Thomas  D.  Coleman.  William  J.  Maher,  Alfred    Le  Roy. 

1877,  John  Sager,  Jonathan  R.  Herrick,  William  J,  Maher,  Edward  Curran. 

1878,  Hiram  Griggs,  John  X.  Foster,  James  T.  Story,  Edward  Curran. 

1879,  Hiram  Griggs,  Charles  R.  Knowles,  Thomas  II.  Greer,  W.  W.  Braman. 

1880,  William    II.    Slingerland,     Hiram  Griggs,    Ignatius   Wiley.    Joseph    Hynes, 
Thomas  Liddle. 

1S81,  Miner  Gallup,  Andrew  S.  Draper,  Aaron  B.  Pratt,  George  Campbell. 

1882,  Michael  J.  Gorman,  Aaron   Fuller,  Amasa  J.  Parker,  jr..  John   M<  Dom 

1883,  Daniel  P.  Winne,  Warren  S.  Kelley,  Edward  A.  Maher,  Joseph   Delahanty. 

1884,  John  Zimmerman,  Hiram  Becker,  Edward  A.  Maher,  James  Forsyth,  jr. 

17 


130 

1885,  Stephen  H.  Niles,  Lansing  Hotaling,  Patrick  Murray,  Terence  I.  Hardin. 

1886,  John  Bowe,  Smith  O'Brien,  Norton  Chase,  Terence  I.  Hardin. 

1887,  Horace  T.  Devereux,  Vreeland  H.  Youngman,  William  J.  Hill,  John  T. 
Gorman. 

1888,  Frederick  W.  Conger,  Vreeland  H.  Youngman,  William  J.  Hill,  John  T. 
Gorman. 

1889,  Jervis  L.  Miller,  Vreeland  H.  Youngman,  Galen  R.  Hitt,  William  Burton 
Le  Roy. 

1890,  Galen  R.  Hitt,  William  B    Le  Roy,  Michael  J.  Nolan,  William  B.  Page. 

1891,  John  T.  Gorman,  Galen  R.  Hitt,  Michael  J.  Nolan,  Walter  E.  Ward. 

1892,  John  T.  Gorman,  Galen  R.  Hitt,  Artcher  La  Grange,  Walter  E.  Ward. 

1893,  Howard  P.  Foster,  James  Hilton,  Myer  Nussbaum,  George  S.  Rivenburgh. 

1894,  James  Brennan,  Curtis  N.  Douglas,  William  Lasch,  William  A.  Carroll. 

1895,  Amos  J.  Ablett,  James  Keenholts,  Frank  Bloomingdale,  Jacob  L.  Ten  Eyck. 

1896,  Amos  J.  Ablett,  James  Keenholts,  George  T.  Kelly,  Robert  G.  Sherer. 

County  Treasurers. — Previous  to  the  adoption  of  the  constitution  of 
1846,  treasurers  were  appointed  by  the  various  Boards  of  Supervisors, 
and  the  board  is  still  authorized  to  fill  vacancies  in  that  office.  Since  and 
including  the  year  1848,  treasurers  have  been  elected.  In  Albany 
county  they  have  been  as  follows:  1848,  James  Kidd;  1851,  Cornelius 
Ten  Broeck;  1854,  Richard  J.  Grant;  1857,  Adam  Van  Allen;  1860, 
Thomas  Kearney;  1866,  Steven  V.  Frederick;  1869,  Alexander  Ken- 
edy; 1872,  Nathan  D.  Wendell;  1878,  Henry  Kelly;  1881,  Albert  Gal- 
lup; 1884,  John  Battersby,  re-elected  in  1887;  1890-97,  John  Bowe; 
1897-1900,  Edward  Barkley.1 


CHAPTER  XII. 

JUDICIARY  AND  BAR  OF  ALBANY  COUNTY. 

In  the  earliest  years  of  the  Dutch  and  English  settlements  in  Amer- 
ica, the  constituted  authorities  were  invested  with  broad  powers;  but 
these  could  be  exercised  only  within  the  restrictions  of  the  laws  of  the 
mother  country.  By  the  terms  of  its  charter  the  West  India  Company 
was  supreme,  and  all  power  was  vested  in  the  Director-General  and 
Council,  who  were  to  be  governed  by  the  Dutch  (Roman)  law,  the  im- 
perial statutes  of  Charles  V  and  the  edicts,  resolutions  and  customs  of 

1  For  all  Court  officers  see  next  chapter. 


MATTHEW    HALE. 


131 

the  United  Netherlands,  in  all  cases  not  otherwise  provided  for.  The 
Dutch  at  home  were  governed  by  a  league  of  commercial  guilds,  rep- 
resented in  the  States-General,  that  the  organized  interests  of  each 
class  of  people  might  be  protected.  The  principle  of  conserving  the 
ancient  and  vested  rights  of  all  the  people  as  against  any  portion 
thereof,  even  a  majority,  and  as  against  a  government  itself,  was  the 
foundation  principle  of  the  Dutch  provincial  authority  on  this  side  of 
the  water,  as  well  as  in  the  mother  country,  and  distinguished  it  from 
any  of  the  English  colonies. 

It  was  not  until  1624,  a  year  before  the  accession  of  Charles  I  and 
the  beginning  of  the  second  period  of  the  Thirty  Years  War,  that  gov- 
ernment was  actually  established  in  New  Netherland.  In  L629  the 
manorial  system  was  introduced,  as  we  have  fully  described  it.  While 
the  Patroons  were  invested  with  the  powers  and  privileges  of  feudal 
barons,  no  political  or  judicial  change  could  be  introduced  without  con- 
sent of  the  home  government.  In  Massachusetts  the  Puritans  were 
then  just  beginning  to  organize  a  government  having  in  view  as  a 
principal  object  "the  propagation  of  the  gospel."  That  was  the 
parent  colony  of  New  England.  The  colonists  on  the  Connecticut 
River  were  first  governed  by  commissioners  appointed  by  the  General 
Court  of  Massachusetts.  In  1637  delegates  from  the  three  towns  of 
Hartford,  Windsor,  and  Wethersfield  were  associated  with  the  commis- 
sioners and  in  1639  a  written  constitution  was  adopted  under  which  all 
freemen  of  the  three  towns  were  made  equal  before  the  law.  In  June, 
1639,  the  government  of  the  colony  of  New  Haven  was  organized,  the 
Bible  was  declared  to  be  the  constitution  and  none  but  church  mem- 
bers were  admitted  to  citizenship,  the  government  being  vested  in 
seven  men  called  Pillars. 

In  1638  and  1640  the  privileges  of  the  Patroons  were  considerably 
abridged,  while  those  of  free  settlers  were  correspondingly  extended. 
Wherever  the  people  settled  in  sufficient  numbers  the  West  India  Com- 
pany was  bound  to  give  them  a  local  government,  the  officers  to  be 
appointed  by  the  Director-General  and  Council,  as  in  the  Netherlands. 

Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  Indian  war  in  Kill,  Director  Kieft  was 
seriously  alarmed  and  invited  all  masters  and  heads  of  families  resid- 
ing in  New  Amsterdam  and  its  vicinity  to  assemble  in  the  fort  on 
August  28.  That  was  the  first  official  recognition  of  the  existence  of 
"the  people"  in  New  Netherland.  The  freemen  assembled  and  ob- 
tained something  of  the  rights  enjoyed  by  other  colonists  around  them. 


132 

They  expressed  themselves  on  the  questions  submitted  to  them  and 
then  appointed  Twelve  Men  to  represent  them.  These  were  as  fol- 
lows: 

David  Pietersen  de  Vries,  president;  Jacques  Bentyn,  Jan  Jansen  Dam,  Hendriek 
Jansen,  Maryn  Adriaensen,  Abram  Pietersen  (the  miller),  Frederick  Lubbertsen, 
Jochim  Pietersen  Kuyter,  Gerrit  Dircksen,  George  Rapalje,  Abram  Planck,  Jacob 
Stoffelsen,  Jan  Evertsen  Bout,  Jacob  Walingen. 

They  complained  to  Kieft  of  the  arbitrary  constitution  of  the  gov- 
ernment and  asked  that  such  reforms  be  introduced  as  should  prevent 
taxation  of  the  country  in  absence  of  the  Twelve;  also,  that  four  men 
be  chosen  from  the  Twelve  each  year  who  should  have  access  to  the 
Council.  Thus  they  sought  representation  by  the  people.  Kieft  prom- 
ised these  reforms,  and  then  reminded  them  that  they  were  called  to- 
gether simply  to  consider  how  to  escape  the  vengeance  of  the  Indians. 

The  issue  thus  raised  was  a  natural  one.  These  men  were  asking 
only  for  the  Dutch  system,  which  had  been  perfectly  satisfactory  to 
them  at  home.  When,  in  1643,  the  Indian  troubles  and  complications 
with  the  English  had  reached  ominous  proportions,  Kieft  again  called 
the  freemen  together  and  requested  them  "  to  elect  five  or  six  persons 
from  among  themselves  "  to  consider  propositions  to  be  made  by  the 
Director  and  Council,  a  representative  body  for  the  enactment  of  laws 
was  instituted.  The  people  preferred  to  leave  the  selection  of  the 
representatives  to  the  director,  asking  only  the  right  to  reject  an  un- 
desirable nomination.  The  Eight  Men  were  then  elected.  The  cer- 
tificate of  the  election  is  on  record  signed  by  twenty- eight  freemen. 
The  Eight  Men  were  as  follows: 

Cornelis  Melyn,  president,  Jochim  Pietersen  Kuyter,  Jan  Jansen  Dam,  1  Barent 
Dircksen,  Abram  Pietersen,  the  miller,  Isaac  Allerton,  Thomas  Hall,  Gerrit  Wolph- 
ertsen  (van  Couwenhoven),  Jan  Evertsen  Bout,  8  Jacob  Stoffelsen,  John  Underhill, 
Francis  Douty,  George  Baxter,  Richard  Smith,  Gysbert  Opdyck,  Jan  Evertsen  Bout, 
Oloff  Stevensen  van  Cortlandt. 

This  body  of  men  assembled  September  15  and  passed  upon  impor- 
tant questions  of  war  and  performed  other  legislative  acts. 

Complaints  from  the  colonists  continued  and  were  finally  referred  to 
the  home  Chamber  of  Accounts,  which  reported  in  March,  1645,  sus- 
taining the  complainants,  and  approving  the  organization  of  villages 
after  the  manner  of  the  English. 

The   Patroon's  charter  of  1629,    extended  in    1640,    authorized   the 

1  Expelled  September  15.  2ln  place  of  Dam,  expelled. 


133 

colony  to  appoint  Duputies  to  inform  the  Director  and  Council  of  their 
condition  when  necessary.  It  was  now  suggested  that  these  deputies 
should,  at  the  summons  of  the  Director-General,  hold  an  assembly 
every  six  months  for  the  general  welfare  and  to  deliberate  on  impor- 
tant affairs.  Kieft  was  recalled  in  December,  1 044.  The  Commission- 
ers of  the  Assembly  of  the  XIX  of  the  General  Privileged  West  India 
Company  acted  on  the  report  alluded  to  in  their  instructions  to  the 
Director  and  Counsel  of  July  7,  1045.  The  Council  was  to  consist  of 
"the  Director  as  president,  his  vice-president  and  the  Fiscal."  In 
cases  in  which  the  Advocate- fiscal  appeared  as  Attorney-General,  civil 
or  criminal,  the  military  commandant  was  to  sit  in  his  stead.  If  the 
charge  was  criminal,  three  persons  were  to  be  associated  from  the 
commonalty  of  the  district  where  the  crime  was  committed.  The  Su- 
preme Council  was  the  sole  body  "  by  whom  all  occurring  affairs  re- 
lating to  police,  justice,  militia,  the  dignity  and  just  rights  of  the  Com- 
pany "  were  to  be  decided;  it  was  an  executive,  administrative,  and 
also  a  judicial  body. 

When  Petrus  Stuyvesant  arrived  (May  27,  1047,)  he  set  about  re- 
storing the  disordered  government  with  vigor.  Besides  inaugurating 
new  and  stringent  regulations  in  man}'  directions,  he  ordered  an  elec- 
tion of  eighteen  men,  from  whom  he  selected  Nine  as  "  Interlocutors 
and  Trustees  of  the  Commonalty, "  or  "Tribunes  "  of  the  people.  These 
Nine  Men  were  to  hold  Courts  of  Arbitration  weekly  and  to  give  ad- 
vice to  the  Director  and  Council.  They  were  appointed  September  25, 
1047,  and  were  as  follows: 

1647,  Augustine  Heerman,  Arnoldus  van  Hardenburgh,  Govert  Loockermans, 
merchants;  Jan  Jansen  Dam,  Hendrick  Hendricksen  Kip,  Jacob  Wolphertsen  van 
Couwenhoven,  burghers;  Michael  Jansen,  Jan  Evertseu  Bout,  Thomas  Hall,  farmers. 

1649,  Adriaen  van  der  Donck,  president;  Augustine  Heerman,  Arnoldus  van 
Hardenburgh,  Govert  Loockermans,  Oloff  Stevensen  van  Cortland,  Hendrick  Hen- 
dricksen Kip,  Michael  Jansen,  Elbert  Elbertsen  (Stoothof),  Jacob  Wolphertsen  van 
Couwenhoven. 

1(550,  Oloff  Stevensen  van  Cortland,  president;  Augustine  Heerman,  Jacob  van 
Couwenhoven,  Elbert  Elbertsen,  Hendrick  Hendricksen  Kip,  Michael  Jansen, 
Thomas  Hall,  Govert  Loockermans,  J.  Evertsen  Bout. 

1652,  David  Provost,  William  Beeckman,  Jacobus  van  Curler,  Allard  Anthony, 
Isaac  de  Forest,  Arent  van  Hattem,  Jochim  Pietersen  Kuyter,  Paulus  Leendertsen 
van  der  Grist,  Peter  Cornelissen,  miller. 

Three  of  the  Nine  in  each  year  were  taken  from  the  merchants,  three 
from  the  burghers,  and  three  from  the  fanners,  thus  continuing  the 
old  Netherland  system. 


134 

The  colony  now  became  the  scene  of  a  prolonged  contest  and  numer- 
ous lengthy  petitions  went  from  the  colonists  to  the  States-General  for 
a  burgher  government  and  other  changes.  The  burgher  government 
was  finally  granted  in  1653.  Burgomasters  had  been  in  power  in  Hol- 
land since  the  fourteenth  century,  and  it  was  contemplated  by  the 
States-General  that  they  should  be  elected  by  the  burghers  in  New 
Amsterdam.  But  the  Director  and  Council  assumed  the  right  to  ap- 
point them  and  exercised  it  until  1658,  when  a  double  number  were 
nominated,  from  whom  the  Director  and  Council  selected  the  members 
for  the  ensuing  year.  These  Burgomasters  were  ex-officio  rulers  of  the 
city  and  continued  until  1674. 

Local  officers,  or  inferior  courts,  with  limited  jurisdiction  were  au- 
thorized in  various  villages  from  time  to  time.  As  far  as  related  to  the 
Van  Rensselaer  Manor,  the  patroon  was  invested  with  power  to  ad- 
minister civil  and  criminal  justice  in  person  or  by  deputy;  to  appoint 
local  officers  and  magistrates:  to  erect  courts  and  take  cognizance  of  all 
crimes  committed  within  his  domain;  to  keep  a  gallows,!  if  required, 
for  the  execution  of  criminals.  One  of  the  lesser  degrees  of  punish- 
ment was  "banishment  from  the  colonie;"  another  was  corporal  pun- 
ishment. In  civil  cases  of  all  kinds  between  the  Patroon  and  his 
tenants,  these  courts  had  jurisdiction,  and  from  their  judgments  in 
matters  affecting  life  and  limb  and  in  suits  where  more  than  $'20  was 
involved,  appeal  could  be  taken  to  the  Director-General  and  Council. 

The  government  itself  was  vested  in  a  General  Court  which  exer- 
cised executive,  legislative,  or  municipal  and  judicial  functions,  and 
which  was  composed  of  two  Commissaries  and  two  Councilors,  who 
correspond  to  modern  justices  of  the  peace.  Adjoined  to  this  court 
were  a  Colonial  Secretary,  a  Sheriff  (or  Schout- Fiscal)  and  a  Court 
Messenger  or  Constable.  Each  of  these  received  a  small  salary.  The 
magistrates  of  the  "colonie"  held  office  one  year,  the  court  appoint- 
ing their  successors  or  continuing  those  already  in  office. 

The  most  important  of  these  officials  was  the  Schout-Fiscal,  who  was 
bound  by  instructions  received  from  the  Patroon.  No  man  in  the 
"colonie"  was  subject  to  loss  of  life  or  property  unless  under  sen- 
tence of  a  court  composed  of  five  persons,  and  all  persons  accused  were 
entitled  to  a  speedy  trial.    The  public  prosecutor  was  especially  warned 

1  There  was  a  curious  restriction  connected  with  the  gallows,  to  the  effect  that  if  it  fell  pending 
an  execution,  a  new  one  could  not  be  built,  except  for  hanging  another  criminal. 


135 

not  to  receive  presents  or  bribes,  nor  to  be  interested  in  trade  or  com- 
merce, directly  or  indirectly.  He  was  paid  a  fixed  salary,  with  a 
dwelling  free,  and  given  all  fines  amounting  to  ten  guilders  or  under, 
and  a  third  of  all  forfeitures  over  that  sum. 

Jacob  Albertsen  Planck  was  the  first  sheriff  of  Rensselaerwyck. 
Arendt  Van  Curler,  who  came  over  as  assistant  commissary,  was  soon 
afterward  appointed  commissary-general,  or  superintendent  of  the 
"colonic"  Brant  Peelen,  Gerrit  de  Reus,  Cornelis  Teunissen  van 
Brceckelen,  Pieter  Cornelissen  van  Munickendam,  and  Dirck  Jansen 
were,  if  not  the  first,  at  least  among  the  earliest  magistrates  of  the 
settlement  at  Fort  Orange. 

Governor  Dongan's  report  to  the  Committee  of  Trade,  dated  Febru- 
ary 22,  1687,  has  the  following  information  that  is  pertinent  here: 

There  is  likewise  in  New  York  and  Albany  a  Court  of  Mayor  and  Aldermen  held 
once  in  every  fortnight,  from  whence  their  can  be  noe  appeal  unless  the  cause  of 
action  bee  above  the  value  of  Twenty  Pounds,  who  have  likewise  priviledges  to 
make  bylaws  for  ye  regulation  of  their  own  affairs  as  they  think  fitt,  soe  as  the  same 
be  approved  of  by  ye  Gov'r  and  Council. 

Their  Mayor,  Recorders,  town- clerks  and  Sheriffs  are  appointed  by  the  Governor. 

The  mayor,  recorder  and  aldermen  of  the  city  of  Albany,  or  any 
three  of  them,  were,  in  1086,  ex  officio  members  of  the  old  Court  of 
Common  Pleas,  acting  when  there  was  no  judge  present.  On  May  M'; . 
1691,  Peter  Schuyler  was  appointed  presiding  judge  of  that  court;  on 
May  27,  1702,  he  was  succeeded  by  John  Abeel,  who  served  only  until 
October,  when  Mr.  Schuyler  was  reappointed  and  served  for  fifteen 
years.  He  was  succeeded  December  23,  1717,  by  Kilian  Van  Rensse- 
laer, who  presided  until  1  726,  when  Rutger  Bleecker  succeeded  to  the 
office.  In  1733  Ryer  Gerritsen  was  appointed,  and  served  to  Novem- 
ber 28,  174!»,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Robert  Sanders.  This  court 
convened  on  the  5th  day  of  April,  1750.     Present — 

Robert  Sanders,  Sybr't  G.  Van  Schaick  esqr's,  judges;  John  Beekman,  Leonard 
A.  Gansevoort,  Robert  Roseboom,  assistants. 

At  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  held  at  the  City  Hall  in  Albany.  ( Oc- 
tober 3,  1750,  Yolkert  P.  Dotiw  was  one  of  the  judges;  this  is  the 
first  time  his  name  appears  in  the  records  as  an  occupant  of  the  bench. 
He  presided  until  January,  lill,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rensselaer 
Nicolls.  The  colonial  Court  of  Common  Pleas  held  regular  terms 
until  1776,  when  it  was  dissolved  under  the  influence  of  the  animating 
spirit  of  independence.      Its  last  presiding   judge  was  Henry  Bleecker, 


136 

and  its  last  term  began  January  19,  1776.  Judge  Volkert  P.  Douw 
was  commissioned  first  judge  of  the  Albany  County  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  January  G,  1778.  The  later  list  under  the  heading  of  County 
Court  shows  the  other  incumbents  of  the  office. 

Among  the  prominent  lawyers  of  the  colonial  time  were  Richard 
Gansvoort,  A.  Sylvester,  Robert  Yates,  Peter  W.  Yates,  and  a  Mr. 
Corry,  of  whom  the  Yates  brothers  had  a  large  amount  of  practice  for 
tnose  days. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1785,  the  terms  of  the  Supreme  Court  were 
directed  to  be  held  at  Albany  on  the  last  Tuesday  of  July  and  the 
third  Tuesday  in  October.  Therefore,  the  first  term,  of  that  court 
ever  held  in  Albany  convened  on  the  last  Tuesday  of  July,  of  that 
year,  with  Hon.  Richard  Morris,  who  had  been  appointed  chief  justice 
in  place  of  John  Jay,  presiding. 

With  the  accession  of  the  English  a  new  order  of  judicial  administra- 
tion came  into  existence.  There  was  the  Court  of  Assizes,  which  was 
established  under  the  Duke's  Laws  at  Hempstead  in  1665.  This  court 
was  composed  of  the  governor,  members  of  the  council,  high  sheriff, 
and  such  justices  of  the  peace  as  might  attend.  It  sat  in  New  York 
and  only  once  a  year,  but  special  terms  could  be  called.  Its  jurisdic- 
tion extended  over  all  criminal  matters,  and  in  civil  cases  where  the 
value  of  ^20  or  more  was  involved.      This  court  was  abolished  in  1683. 

In  1683  an  act  was  passed  "  to  settle  Courts  of  Justice,"  which  ordered 
the  holding  of  a  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer  in  the  respective  counties 
of  the  province,  composed  of  one  judge,  assisted  by  four  justices  of  the 
peace  in  each  count)*.  In  New  York  city  and  the  city  of  Albany,  the 
mayor,  recorder,  and  four  aldermen  were  associated  with  the  judge. 
This  court  had  jurisdiction  over  all  capital  criminal  causes,  and  appel- 
late jurisdiction  where  £5  or  more  was  involved.  The  authority  for 
holding  the  court  was  derived  from  the  governor;  the  court  was  abol- 
ished in  1691.  Courts  of  Sessions  and  Justices'  Courts  were  also  con- 
tinued and  a  Court  of  Chancery  established.  The  Court  of  Sessions 
was  ordered  to  be  held  in  New  York  four  times,  in  Albany  three  times, 
and  in  the  other  ten  counties  twice  in  each  year.  In  New  York  the 
court  was  composed  of  the  mayor  and  four  aldermen;  in  Albany  of  the 
mayor  and  the  justices  of  the  peace.  All  cases  civil  and  criminal  were 
determined  by  it,  with  a  jury;  but  actions  involving  ^5  or  more  could, 
upon  application,  be  removed  to  the  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer. 

In  1686,  when  Albany   city  was  incorporated,  a  Mayor's   Court  was 


137 

established,  which  was  composed  of  the  mayor,  recorder  and  four  alder- 
men, associated  with  the  judge  in  holding  the  Court  of  Oyer  and  Term- 
iner. It  is  believed  that  this  court  possessed  the  functions  of  a  Court 
of  Sessions. 

The  Court  of  Chancery  was  founded,  with  the  governor  or  his  ap- 
pointee as  chancellor,  assisted  by  the  council.  This  court  expired  by 
limitation  in  1698,  but  was  revived  by  ordinance  August  28,  1701;  it 
was  suspended  June  13,  1703,  and  finally  re-established   November  7, 

1704.  It  ceased  its  existence  in  July,  1847,  under  the  new  constitu- 
tion. It  was  an  equity  court  and  by  the  second  constitution  equity 
powers  were  vested  in  the  circuit  judge,  subject  to  the  appellate  juris- 
diction of  the  chancellor. 

Albany  county  men  who  held  the  office  of  master  of  the  Colonial 
Court  of  Chancery  were  John  Abeel  and  Evert  P.  Banker,  October  13, 

1705,  and  P.  P.  Schuyler,  1768. 

Chancellors  of  the  State  Court  of  Chancery  who  resided  in  Albany 
were  John  Lansing,  jr.,  October  21,  1801;  James  Kent,  October  25, 
1814;  Reuben  H.  Walworth,  April  22,  1828. 

The  third  judicial  system  was  organized  in  1691  and  continued 
through  the  colonial  period.  In  that  year  the  Court  for  the  Correction 
of  Errors  and  Appeals  was  founded,  consisting  of  the  Governor  and 
Council.  Appeals  lay  to  this  court  from  any  judgment  exceeding  in 
value  ,£100,  which  amount  was  increased  in  1753  to  ^300. 

By  the  32d  article  of  the  constitution  of  1777  a  Court  for  the  Trial  of 
Impeachments  and  Correction  of  Errors  was  provided  for,  to  consist  of 
the  president  of  the  Senate  for  the  time  being,  the  senators,  chancellor 
and  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  or  a  majority  of  them.  .The  im- 
peachment functions  of  this  court  were  directed  against  corrupt  con- 
duct by  State  officials.  In  the  correction  of  errors,  appeals  were  al- 
lowed to  it  from  the  Court  of  Chancery,  Supreme  Court,  and  Court  of 
Probate.  This  court  was  continued  under  the  constitution  of  1821, 
with  slight  change,  but  was  abolished  by  the  constitution  of  1846.  Its 
powers  and  duties  were  then  conferred  upon  a  new  court,  the  Court 
for  the  Trial  of  Impeachments,  as  far  as  that  feature  of  the  former 
court  was  concerned.  The  new  court  was  composed  of  the  president 
of  the  Senate,  the  senators,  or  a  majority  of  them,  and  the  judges  of 
the  Court  of  Appeals,  or  a  majority  of  them.  When  summoned  this 
court  is  held  in  Albany.  The  Court  for  the  Trial  of  Impeachments 
and  Correction  of  Errors,  as  far  as  the  correction  of  errors  is  concerned, 

18 


138 

was  succeeded  by  our  Court  of  Appeals,  which  was  organized  under 
the  constitution  of  1846.  As  first  formed  it  consisted  of  eight  judges, 
four  of  whom  were  chosen  by  the  electors  for  a  term  of  eight  years, 
and  four  were  selected  from  the  class  of  the  Supreme  Court  justices 
having  the  shortest  term  to  serve.  The  judge  elected  who  had  the 
shortest  term  to  serve,  acted  as  chief  judge.  This  court  was  reorgan- 
ized by  the  convention  of  1867-8,  the  article  relating  to  the  judiciary 
being  ratified  by  the  people  in  1869.  By  that  article  this  court  con- 
sisted of  a  chief  judge  and  six  associate  judges,  who  hold  office  for 
terms  of  fourteen  years.  The  new  article  also  provided  for  a  Commis- 
sion of  Appeals,  composed  of  four  judges  of  this  court  in  office  when 
the  article  went  into  effect,  and  a  fifth  commissioner.  Their  term  was 
three  years  and  they  selected  their  chief.  This  commission  served  un- 
til 1875,  for  the  relief  of  its  sister  court. 

In  1888,  the  Legislature  passed  a  concurrent  resolution  that  section 
6  of  article  6  of  the  constitution  be  amended  so  that  upon  the  certifi- 
cate of  the  Court  of  Appeals  to  the  governor  of  such  an  accumulation 
of  causes  on  the  calendar  of  the  Court  of  Appeals,  that  the  public  in- 
terests required  a  more  speedy  disposition  thereof,  the  governor  may 
designate  seven  justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  to  act  as  associate  judg- 
es for  the  time  being,  of  the  Court  of  Appeals,  and  to  form  a  second 
division  of  that  court,  and  to  be  dissolved  by  the  governor  when  the 
said  causes  are  substantially  disposed  of.  This  amendment  was  sub- 
mitted to  the  people  of  the  State  at  the  general  election  of  that  year 
and  was  ratified,  and  in  accordance  therewith  the  governor  selected 
seven  Supreme  Court  justices,  who  were  constituted  the  Second  Division 
of  the  Court  of  Appeals. 

Under  the  system  of  1691  were  established  also  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  and  the  Supreme  Court.  The  criminal  side  of  the  latter  was 
what  constituted  the  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer.  The  Supreme 
Court  expired  by  limitation  in  1698,  was  continued  by  proclamation 
January  19,  1699,  and  finally  by  ordinance  May  15,  1699.  Its  powers 
and,  jurisdiction  were  broad,  but  it  was  without  equity  jurisdiction. 
Any  case  involving  £20  or  more  could  be  commenced  in,  or  returned 
to,  it  and  it  could  correct  errors  and  revise  the  judgments  of  the  lower 
courts.  Appeals  lay  from  it  to  the  Governor  and  Council  in  cases  in- 
volving ^"100  or  more,  which  amount  was,  as  before  stated,  increased 
to  £300  in  1753.  The  court  held  four  terms  annually,  sitting  in  New 
York  only.     It  consisted  of  five  judges,    two  of  whom   with   the  chief 


139 

judge,  could  act.  In  November,  1758,  a  fourth  judge  was  added  to 
constitute  the  acting  bench.  Persons  who  had  served  seven  years  un- 
der an  attorney  or  had  taken  a  collegiate  course  and  served  three  years 
apprenticeship,  were  granted  license  to  practice  in  this  court  by  the 
governor.  The  first  constitution  recognized  the  Supreme  Court  as  it 
then  existed.  It  was  reorganized  May  3,  1777,  but  with  only  slight 
changes.  In  1785  two  terms  were  directed  to  be  held  in  Albany  and 
two  in  New  York  each  year,  and  the  clerk's  office  was  directed  to  be 
kept  in  New  York  and  that  of  his  deputy  in  Albany.  By  an  act  passed 
April  19,  178G,  one  or  more  of  the  justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  were 
required  to  hold  during  the  vacations,  and  oftener  if  necessary,  Circuit 
Courts  in  each  of  the  counties  of  the  State,  for  the  trial  of  all  issues 
triable  in  the  respective  counties.  The  proceedings  were  to  be  returned 
to  the  Supreme  Court,  where  they  were  to  be  recorded  and  judgment 
given  according  to  law.  On  March  10,  1797,  the  judges  were  author- 
ized to  appoint  an  additional  clerk,  with  an  office  in  Albany.  In  L807 
another  clerk's  office  was  established  in  Utica.  The  first  rules  of  the 
court  were  adopted  at  the  April  term  in  1796.  In  the  same  year  a  law 
was  passed  directing  this  court  to  designate  at  its  April  term  one  of 
their  number  to  hold  a  Circuit  Court  in  the  western,  one  in  the  middle, 
and  one  in  the  southern  district.  An  act  of  February,  1788,  provided 
for  holding  a  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer  by  the  justices  at  the  same 
time  with  the  Circuit.  Two  or  more  of  the  judges  and  assistant  judges 
of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  were  to  sit  in  the  Oyer  and  Terminer 
with  the  justices.  In  the  city  of  Albany  the  mayor,  recorder  and  al- 
dermen were  associated  with  them. 

The  constitution  of  1821  made  several  important  changes  in  this 
court.  For  example,  it  was  to  sit  four  times  a  year  in  review  of  its  own 
decisions  and  to  determine  questions  of  law;  each  justice,  however, 
could  hold  circuit  courts,  as  well  as  the  circuit  court  judges,  and  any 
justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  could  preside  at  the  Oyer  and  Terminer. 
The  court  had  power  to  amend  its  practice  in  cases  not  covered  by 
statute  and  was  directed  to  revise  its  rules  every  seven  years,  to  sim- 
plify proceedings,  expedite  decisions,  diminish  costs  and  remedy 
abuses.  The  judges  were  appointed  by  the  governer  with  consent  of 
the  Senate  and  held  office  during  good  behavior  or  until  sixty  years  of 
age.  Their  number  was  reduced  to  three  and  from  182:'>  they  were 
allowed  $2,000  each  annually;  this  sum  was  increased  to$2,500in  1835 
and  in  1839  to  $3,000.      Two  of  the  terms   were  held  at  the  Capitol  in 


140 

Albany.  The  act  of  1691  gave  this  court  cognizance  of  matters  of  ex- 
chequer, thus  removing  the  necessity  for  the  Court  of  Exchequer  which 
was  established  by  Governor  Dongan  in  1685. 

The  constitution  of  1821  also  created  a  Circuit  Court,  which  was  the 
nisi  pruts  or  trial  court  of  the  Supreme  Court.  At  least  two  Circuit 
Courts  and  Courts  of  Oyer  and  Terminer  were  required  to  be  held  in 
each  county  annually,  the  circuit  judge  presiding. 

The  following  persons  have  held  the  office  of  circuit  judge  from  Al- 
bany county:  William  A.  Duer,  April  21,  1823;  James  Vanderpoel, 
January  12,  1830;  Amasa  J.  Parker,  March  6,  1844. 

The  constitution  of  1846  abolished  the  Supreme  Court  as  it  then  ex- 
isted and  established  a  new  one  with  general  jurisdiction  in  law  and 
equity.  The  State  was  divided  into  eight  judicial  districts,  in  each  of 
which  four  justices  were  elected,  except  in  the  first  (New  York  city) 
where  five  were  elected.  Albany  county  was  placed  in  the  third  dis- 
trict. The  term  of  office  was  made  eight  years,  but  the  amended  judi- 
ciary article  made  the  term  as  at  present,  fourteen  years.  This  court 
possesses  the  powers  and  exercises  the  jurisdiction  of  the  preceding 
Supreme  Court,  the  Court  of  Chancery,  and  the  Circuit  Court  under 
the  constitution  of  1846  and  the  judiciary  act  of  May  12,  1847.  On 
April  27,  1870,  the  Legislature  abolished  the  General  Terms  as  then 
existing  and  divided  the  State  into  four  departments,  providing  for 
General  Terms  to  be  held  in  each.  The  governor  designates  a  presid- 
ing justice  and  two  associate  justices  for  each  department  to  compose 
the  General  Term.  At  least  two  terms  of  Circuit  Court  and  Court  of 
Oyer  and  Terminer  were  held  annually  in  each  county  and  as  many 
Special  Terms  as  the  justices  in  each  department  deemed  necessary. 
Following  are  the  names  of  those  who  have  held  the  office  of  Supreme 
Court  justice  and  judge  of  the  Circuit  Court  from  Albany: 

Chief  Justices  from  Albany  County  of  the  Supreme  Court  from  iyyj  to  1847. — 
Robert  Yates,  September  28,  1790;  John  Lansing,  jr.,  February  15,  1798;  James 
Kent,  July 2,  1804;  Smith  Thompson,  Februarys,  1814;  Ambrose  Spencer,  February 
9,  1819;  Greene  C.  Bronson,  March  5,  1845. 

Puisne  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court. -^Kohext  Yates,  May  8,  1777;  John  Lan- 
sing, jr.,  September  28,  1790;  Ambrose  Spencer,  February  3,  1804;  Greene  C.  Bron- 
son, January  6,  1836. 

Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  under  the  Constitution  of  1846. — Ira  Harris,  June 
7,  1847;  Elisha  P.  Hurlbut,  June  7.  1847;  Malbone  Watson,  June  7,  1847,  and  No- 
vember 8,  1853;  Amasa  J.  Parker,  June  7,  1847;  Ira  Harris,  November  4,  1851 ;  Deo- 
datus  Wright,  April  20,  1857:  Rufus  W.  Peckham,    November  8,  1861  ;  William  L. 


141 

Learned,  June  21,   1869;  Rufus  W.    Peckham,   jr.,   November  6.   1883;  William   L. 
Learned,  November,  1884;  D.  Cady  Herrick,  1892. 

Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  under  the  Constitution  of  iSqj. — Appellate-   Divi- 
sion, D.  Cady  Herrick,  1896;  Trial  Term,  Alden  Chester,  1896. 

Surrogates. — Courts  for  the  care  and  administration  of  estates  have 
come  down  from  the  first  Orphan's  Court.  Originally  the  Director- 
General  and  Council  of  New  Netherland  were  guardians  of  widows  and 
orphans.  It  was  the  duty  of  church  deacons  to  attend  personally  to 
these  interests  and  to  notify  the  director  of  the  death  of  parents.  In 
New  Amsterdam  the  burgomasters  became  ex-officio  Orphan  Masters 
in  1853,  but  at  their  own  request  they  were  soon  relieved  of  the  duty 
and  two  special  Orphan  Masters  were  appointed.  At  Fort  Orange  in 
1652  the  Vice-Director  was  appointed,  and  in  1057  Jan  Verbeck  and 
Evert  Wendel. 

By  the  Duke's  Laws  authority  to  grant  probate  of  wills  was  vested  in 
the  Court  of  Assizes  and  Court  of  Sessions.  This  duty  being  a  part  of 
the  royal  prerogative,  was  subsequently  reserved  to  the  governor,  and 
the  Legislature  accordingly,  on  November  11,  1092,  passed  a  law- 
directing  that  all  probates  and  letters  of  administration  be  thereafter 
granted  by  the  governor  or  his  delegate,  and  that  two  freeholders  be 
appointed  in  each  town  to  have  charge  of  the  estates  of  intestates. 
This  method  constituted  the  Prerogative  Court. 

In  1778  the  Legislature  passed  a  law  taking  from  the  governor  the 
powers  described  above  and  transferring  them  to  the  judge  of  the 
Court  of  Probates,  except  in  the  appointment  of  surrogates.  In  1787 
the  appointment  of  a  surrogate  in  each  county  was  authorized,  while 
the  judge  of  the  Court  of  Probates  continued  to  hold  jurisdiction  in 
cases  out  the  State  and  of  non-residents  within  the  State.  An  act  of 
March  10,  1797,  provided  for  holding  the  Court  of  Probates  in  Albany 
and  that  the  judge  and  clerk  should  remove  the  documents  here  and 
reside  here.  The  court  held  appellate  jurisdiction  over  the  Surrogate's 
Court.  It  was  abolished  March  21,  1823.  The  Albany  citizens  who 
held  the  office  of  judge  in  this  court  were  as  follows:  Leonard  Ganse- 
voort,  April  5,  1799;  T.  Van  Wyck  Graham,  March  L6,  1813;  Gerrit  V. 
Lansing,  July  8,  1810. 

Under  the  first  constitution  surrogates  were  appointed  for  an  un- 
limited period  by  the  Council  of  Appointment.  Under  the  second 
constitution  they  were  appointed  by  the  governor  and  Senate   for  four 


142 

years,  and  appeals  went  up  to  the  chancellor.  The  constitution  of 
1846  abolished  the  office  except  in  counties  having  40,000  population 
or  more  and  transferred  its  duties  to  the  county  judge.  In  counties 
with  more  than  40,000,  surrogates  are  elected  for  six  years.  The  sur- 
rogates of  Albany  county  have  been  as  follows: 

John  De  Peyster,  April  3,  1756:  William  Hannah,  November  18,  1766;  Peter 
Lansingh,  December  3,  1766;  Stephen  De  Lancey,  September  19,  1769;  John  De 
Peyster,  March  23,  1778 ;  Henry  Oothoudt,  April  4,  1782 ;  John  De  P.  Domv,  April 
4,  1782;  Abraham  G.  Lansing,  March  13,  1787;  Elisha  Dorr,  April  12,  1808;  John  H. 
Wendell,  March  5,  1810;  Richard  Lush,  June  11,  1811;  John  H.  Wendell,  March  3, 
1813;  George  Merchant,  March  17,  1815;  Christopher  C.  Yates,  April  19,  1815; 
Ebenezer  Baldwin,  July  7,  1819;  Abraham  Ten  Eyck,  jr.,  February  19,  1821; 
Thomas  A.  Brigden,  April  11,  1822;  Anthony  Blanchard,  April  9,  1831;  Moses 
Patten,  February  28,  1840;  Anthony  Blanchard,  February  28,  1844;  Lewis  Benedict, 
jr.,  June,  1847;  Orville  H.  Chittenden,  November,  1851;  James  A.  McKown,  No- 
vember, 1855;  Justus  Haswell,  November,  1859;  Israel  Lawton,  November,  1863; 
Peter  A.  Rogers,  November,  1871;  Francis  H.  Woods,  November,  1883;  Martin  D. 
Conway,  1889;  George  H.  Fitts,  1895. 

County  Court. — The  act  of  1683  directed  that  a  Court  of  Sessions  be 
held  by  three  justices  of  the  peace  in  each  of  the  twelve  counties  of 
the  province,  four  times  annually  in  New  York,  three  times  in  Albany, 
and  twice  in  each  of  the  other  counties.  By  the  act  of  1691  and 
ordinances  of  1699,  the  functions  of  this  court  were  confined  to  crim- 
inal matters,  while  civil  cases  were  transferred  to  the  Court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas.  The  latter  court  was  established  in  New  York  and  Albany 
by  the  charters  of  1686  and  a  Court  of  Common  Pleas  was  erected  for 
each  county  by  the  act  of  1691.  Composed  at  first  of  one  judge  and 
three  justices,  it  was  ordered  in  1702  that  the  judge  be  assisted  by  two 
or  more  justices,  all  to  be  appointed  by  the  governor.  Its  jurisdiction 
embraced  all  actions,  real,  personal  and  mixed,  where  more  than 
jQ5  are  involved.  It  was  based  upon  the  practice  of  the  King's 
Bench  and  Common  Pleas  at  Westminster,  England.  Appeals  were 
allowed  to  the  Supreme  Court  where  the  amount  involved  exceeded 
^20.  This  court  continued  through  the  colonial  period.  Under  the 
first  constitution  the  number  of  judges  and  assistant  justices  varied 
greatly  in  the  different  counties,  reaching  in  some  counties  as  many  as 
twelve.  On  March  27,  1718,  the  office  of  assistant  justice  was  abol- 
ished and  the  number  of  judges  limited  to  five,  inclusive  of  the  first 
judge.  The  constitution  of  1821  continued  this  court  with  little  change. 
The  criminal  side  of  the  court  was  the  Court  of  Sessions,  which  was 
the  name  of  the  criminal  side  of  our  County  Court  up  to  the  adoption 


A^&^fr 


143 

of  the  present  Constitution.  The  judges  were  appointed  by  the  Gov- 
ernor and  the  Council  of  Appointment  down  to  1821,  after  which  they 
were  appointed  by  the  Governor  and  Senate  down  to  1846,  when  the 
office  was  made  elective. 

The  constitution  of  1846  abolished  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  and 
created  the  County  Court,  providing  for  the  election  in  each  county, 
except  in  the  city  of  New  York,  of  one  county  judge  who  should  hold 
a  court  and  have  jurisdiction  in  cases  arising  in  Justices'  Court  and  in 
such  special  cases  as  the  Legislature  might  order.  Upon  this  court 
the  Legislature  has  conferred  jurisdiction  in  actions  for  debt  in  sums 
not  exceeding  $2,000;  in  replevin  suits  for  $1,000;  in  cases  of  trespass 
and  personal  injury  not  exceeding  $50<>;  also  equity  jurisdiction  for 
mortgage  foreclosures,  sale  of  infants'  real  estate,  partition  of  lands, 
admeasurement  of  dower,  satisfaction  of  certain  judgments,  etc.  The 
tenure  of  office  of  county  judge  was  extended  from  four  to  six  years. 
Associated  with  the  county  judge  were  two  justices  of  the  peace  to  be 
designated  by  law  to  hold  Courts  of  Sessions,  with  such  criminal  juris- 
diction as  the  Legislature  might  prescribe.  The  Constitution  of  1894 
changed  somewhat  the  powers  and  forms  of  the  court,  the  principal 
changes  being  in  the  criminal  side  of  the  court.  Following  are  the 
names  of  the  first  judges  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  and  of  the  County 
Court  after  its  erection  : 

Mayor,  Recorder  and  Aldermen  of  Albany,  or  any  three  of  them,  from  1686. 
Peter  Schuyler,  May  27,  1691;  John  Abeel,  May  27,  1702;  Peter  Schuyler,  October 
14,  1702;  Kilhaen  Van  Rensselaer,  December  28,  1717;  Rutger  Bleecker,  December 
28,  1726;  Ryer  Gerritse,  December  23,  1738;  Robert  Sanders,  November  28,  1 74«> ; 
Sybrant  Goose  Van  Schaick,  January  5,  1758;  Rensselaer  Nicoll,  May  14.  1762; 
Abraham  Ten  Broeck,  March  4,  1773;  Walter  Livingston,  March  22,  1774;  John  II. 
Ten  Eyck,  March  21,  1775;  Volkert  P.  Douw,  January  6,  1778;  Abram  Ten  Broeck. 
March  26,  1781;  Leonard  Gansevoort,  March  19,  1794;  John  Tayler.  February  7, 
1797;  Nicholas  N.  yuackenbush,  January  13,  1803;  David  McCarty,  March  13,  1804; 
CharlesD.  Cooper,  March  29,  1806;  Jacob  Ten  Eyck,  June  8,  1807:  Apollos  Moore, 
June  6,  1812;  James  L'Amoreaux,  March  15,  1828;  Samuel  Cheever,  March  12,  1888 
John  Lansing.  May  17,  1838;  Peter  Gansevoort,  April  17,  1848;  William  Parmelee, 
June,  1847;  Albert  D.  Robinson,  November,  1851  ;  George  Wolford.  November,  ls">'-' 
Jacob  H.  Clute,  November,  1868;  Thomas  J.  Van  Alstync,  November,  1871  ,  John  C. 
Nott,  November,  1883;  Jacob  H.  Clute,  1889;  Clifford  D.  Gregory,  1895. 

District  Attorneys. — Under  the  act  of  February  12,  1796,  this  State- 
was  divided  into  seven  districts,  over  which  an  assistant  attorney-gen- 
eral was  appointed  by  the  Governor  and  Council,  to  serve  during  their 
pleasure.      The  office  of  district  attorney  was  created   April    1.    Iv"i. 


144 

the  State  being  divided  into  seven  districts,  as  before,  but  subsequently 
several  new  ones  were  formed.  By  a  law  passed  April,  1818,  each 
county  was  constituted  a  separate  district  for  the  purposes  of  this  office. 
During  the  life  of  the  second  constitution,  district  attorneys  were  ap- 
pointed by  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  in  each  county.  The  follow- 
ing persons  have  held  this  office  in  Albany  county: 

Abraham  Van  Vechten,  February  16,  1796;  Samuel  S.  Lush,  April  6,  1813;  David 
L.  Van  Antwerp,  June  21,  1818;  Samuel  A.  Foote,  July  3,  1819;  Benjamin  F.  Butler, 
February  19,  1821 ;  Edward  Livingston,  June  14,  1825 ;  Rufus  W.  Peckham,  March 
27,  1838;  Henry  G.  Wheaton,  March  30,  1841;  Edwin  Litchfield,  March  30,  1844; 
Andrew  J.  Colvin,  March  21,  1846;  Samuel  H.  Hammond,  June,  1847;  Andrew  J. 
Colvin,  November,  1850;  Hamilton  Harris,  November,  1853;  Samuel  G.  Courtney, 
November,  1856;  Ira  Shafer,  November,  1859;  Solomon  F.  Higgins,  November, 
1862;  Henry  Smith,  November,  1865;  Rufus  W.  Peckham,  jr.,  November,  1868;  Na- 
thaniel C.  Moak,  November,  1871;  John  M.  Bailey,  November,  1874;  Lansing  Hotal- 
ing,  November,  1877;  D.  Cady  Herrick,  November,  1880;  Hugh  Reilly,  appointed 
vice  Herrick  resigned  June,  1886,  and  elected  1889;  James  W.  Eaton,  1891;  Eugene 
Burlingame,  1894. 

County  Clerks. — During  the  colonial  period  the  county  clerk  was 
clerk  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  clerk  of  the  Peace,  and  clerk  of 
the  Sessions  of  Peace,  in  his  own  county.  Under  the  first  constitution 
it  was  his  duty  to  keep  the  county  records  and  act  as  clerk  of  the  In- 
ferior Court  of  Common  Pleas  and  clerk  of  the  Oyer  and  Terminer. 
These  last  named  duties  were  conferred  by  the  act  of  Febauary  12, 
1796.  The  seals  of  the  county  clerks  were  the  seals  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas  in  their  respective  counties.  County  clerks  are  now 
clerks  of  the  Supreme  Court,  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer,  County 
Court  and  Court  of  Sessions.  Since  the  adoption  of  the  constitution  of 
1821  the  term  of  office  has  been  three  years.  Following  are  the  names 
of  those  who  have  held  this  office  in  Albany  county : 

Ludovicus  Cobes,  1669;  Robert  Livingston.  1675;  Johannes  Cuyler,  March  2,  1690; 
Robert  Livingston,  1691;  William  Shaw,  1696;  Robert  Livingston,  1705;  Philip  Liv- 
ingston. 1721;  John  Colden,  February  23,  1749;  Harme  Gansevort,  September  25, 
1750;  Witham  Marsh,  1760;  Stephen  De  Lancy,  January  25,  1765;  Leonard  Ganse- 
voort,  May  8,  1777;  Matthew  Vischer,  1778;  Richard  Lush,  September  29,  1790; 
Charles  D.  Cooper,  March  3,  1808;  William  P.  Beers,  February  28,  1810;  Charles  D. 
Cooper,  February  5,  1811;  John  Lovett,  March  3,  1813;  George  Merchant,  March  31, 
1815;  Henry  Truax,  June  6,  1820;  George  Merchant,  February  19,  1821;  L.  L.  Van 
Kleeck,  November,  1822;  Conrad  A.  Ten  Eyck,  November,  1828;  Henry  B.  Haswell, 
November,  1837;  William  Mix,  November,  1843;  Lawrence  Van  Dusen,  November, 
1846;  Robert  S.  Lay,  November,  1849;  Robert  Harper,  November,  1852;  Robert  Bab- 
cock,  November,  1855;  Smith  A.  Waterman,  November,  1861;  Giles  K.  Winne,  Feb- 


EUGbNH    BURLINGAME. 


145 

ruary  9,  1865;  Isaac  N.  Keeler,  June  20,  1868;  John  McEwen,  November,  1868; 
Albert  C.  Judson,  November,  1871;  William  E.  Haswell,  November,  1874;  John 
Larkin,  November,  1877;  William  D.  Strevell,  November,  1883;  Robert  H.  Moore, 
November,  1886;  Ansel  C.  Requa,  1889;  James  U.  Walslf?  1892;  James  M.  Borst- 
wick,  1895.  ' 

Sheriffs. — During  the  colonial  period  sheriffs  were  appointed  annually 
in  the  month  of  October,  unless  otherwise  noticed.  Under  the  first 
constitution  they  were  appointed  annually  by  the  Council  of  Appoint- 
ment, and  no  person  could  hold  the  office  more  than  four  successive 
years.  Neither  could  a  sheriff  hold  any  other  office,  and  must  be  a 
freeholder  in  the  county  where  appointed.  Since  the  adoption  of  the 
constitution  of  1821,  sheriffs  have  been  elected  for  a  term  of  three 
years,  and  are  ineligible  to  election  for  the  next  succeeding  term.  The 
following  persons  have  held  this  office  in  Albany  county. 

John  Manning,  April  6,  1665;  Gerrit  Swart,  August  17  1668;  Andrew  Draeyer, 
October,  1673;  Michael  Siston,  November  4,  1674;  Johannes  Provoost,  October, 
1677;  Richard  Pretty,  October,  1678;  Lodovicus  Cobes,  October,  1679;  Richard 
Pretty,  October,  1680;  Gaspar  Teller,  March  1,  1691;  John  Apple,  December  1,  1692 
Simon  Young,  June  19,  1696;  Johannes  Groenendyke,  October,  1698:  John  Williams 
October,  1699;  Jonathan  Broadhurst,  October,  1700;  Jacobus  Turk,  October,  1702 
David  Schuyler,  October,  1705;  Henry  Holland,  October,  1706;  Thomas  Williams 
October,  1712;  Samuel  Babington,  October,  1716;  Gerrit  Van  Shaick,  October,  1719 
Henry  Holland,  October,  1720;  Philip  Verplanck,  October,  1722;  Thomas  Williams 
October,  1723;  Goose  Van  Schaick,  October,  1728;  James  Stephenson,  October,  1731 
James  Lindsay,  October,  1732;  Henry  Holland,  October,  1739;  John  Rutger  Bleecker 
October,  1746;  Jacob  Ten  Eyck,  October,  1747;  Thomas  Williams,  October,  1748 
Richard  Miller,  October,  1749;  Abraham  Yates,  October,  1754;  Abraham  Yates,  jr. 
October,  1755;  Jacob  Van  Schaick,  October,  1759;  Hermanus  Schuyler,  June  18,  1761 
Henry  Ten  Eyck,  October,  1770;  Hendrick  J.  Wendell,  September  27,  1777;  John 
Ten  Broeck,  March  22,  1781 ;  Hendrick  J.  Wendell,  November  29,  1782 ;  John  Ten 
Broeck,  September  29,  1786;  Peter  Gansevoort,  jr..  September  29,  1790;  John 
Ostrander,  jr.,  September,  29,  1792;  John  Given,  September  29,  1796;  Hermanns  P. 
Schuyler,  February  25,  1800;  John  J.  Cuyler,  January  28,  1801;  Hermanus  H.  Wen- 
dell, January  12,  1803;  Lawrence  L.  Van  Kleeck,  February  28,  1807;  Solomon  Smith - 
wick,  February  10,1808;  Jacob  Mancius,  February  13,  1810;  Peter  P.  Don,  February 
12.  1811;  Jacob  Mancius,  February  23,  1813;  Isaac  Hempstead,  March  17,  1815; 
Leonard  H.  Gansevoort,  March  6,  1819;  Cornelius  Van  Antwerp,  February  12,  1821  ; 
Cornelius  Van  Antwerp,  November,  1822;  C.  H.  Ten  Eyck,  November,  1827;  John 
Beckey  (removed  October  5,  1829),  1828;  Asa  Colvard,  November.  L829;  Albert  Gal- 
lup, November,  1831;  Angus  McDuffie,  November,  1834;  Michael  Axtcher,  Novem- 
ber, 1837;  Amos  Adams,  November,  1840;  Christopher  Batterman,  November,  1848; 
Oscar  Tyler,  November,  1846;  William  Beardsley,  November,  1849;  John  McEwen, 
November,  1852;  William  P.  Brayton,  November,  1855;  Thomas  W.  Van  Alstyne, 
November,  1858;  Henry  Crandall,  November.  1861;  Henry  Fitch,  November.  1864; 
19 


L46 

Harris  Parr,  November,  1867;  George  A.  Birch,  November,  1870;  Albert  Gallup, 
November,  1873;  John  Wemple,  November  6,  1876;  James  A.  Houck,  November, 
1879;  William  H.  Keeler,  November,  1882;  John  W.  Hart,  1885;  James  Rooney, 
1888 ;  Isaac  B.  Cross,  1891 ;  Lewis  V.  Thayer,  1894. 

No  county  in  this  State  has  had  a  more  distinguighed  bar  than  Al- 
bany. The  fact  that  here  is  located  the  capital  may  have  been  to  some 
extent  influential  in  bringing  to  Albany  men  of  eminence  in  the  legal 
profession;  but  whether  this  is  or  is  not  true,  the  bar  and  judiciary  of 
Albany  includes  the  names  of  many  men  which  have  been  familiar 
throughout  the  State  and  nation,  both  professionally  and  in  connection 
with  public  affairs.  It  is  proper  that  a  few  of  these  shall  receive  spe- 
cial mention  in  this  chapter. 

BIOGRAPHICAL.  ' 

One  of  the  very  early  prominent  attorneys  whose  career  deserves 
brief  mention  here  was  Robert  Yates.  He  was  born  in  1738  and  early  in 
life  settled  in  Albany  where  he  became  conspicuous  in  public  affairs.  He 
was  associated  with  the  other  eminent  members  of  the  committee  ap- 
pointed August  1,  1776,  to  prepare  a  form  of  government  for  the  State  of 
New  York,  which  led  directly  to  the  adoption  of  the  first  constitution. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  first  Provincial  Congress  of  1775,  and  also  of  the 
second,  which  convened  in  February,  1776.  On  May  8,  1777,  he  was 
appointed  a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State,  serving  thus  to 
October,  1790,  when  he  was  appointed  chief  justice  of  the  State.  In 
1787  Judge  Yates  was  appointed  by  the  Legislature,  with  Alexander 
Hamilton  and  John  Lansing,  jr.,  a  delegate  to  the  convention  which 
formed  the  constitution  of  the  United  States.  He,  with  Mr.  Lansing, 
withdrew  from  that  convention  because  it  did  not  more  effectually  se- 
cure the  rights  of  the  separate  States.  Judge  Yates  was  also  a  com- 
missioner for  the  settlement  of  the  rival  claims  between  New  York 
and  Vermont,  and  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut.  His  death  took 
place  in  1801. 

John  Lansing,  jr.,  was  born  in  Albany,  January  30,  1755,  and  studied 
law  with  Robert  Yates  and  later  with  James  Duane,  of  New  York.  In 
1776-7  he  was  secretary  to  Major-General  Schuyler,  commanding  the 
Northern  Department.     After  his  admission  to  the  bar  Mr.  Lansing 

1  Biographical  notices  of  a  large  number  of  the  bar  and  judiciary  of  the  county  will  be  found 
in  Parts  II  and  III  of  this  volume. 


147 

began  practicing  in  Albany  and  met  with  great  success.  He  became 
very  prominent  in  public  affairs  and  ably  filled  many  honorable  stations, 
as  follows:  Member  of  assembly  in  sessions  4  to  7  inclusive  from 
Albany;  appointed  member  of  congress  February,  1784,  and  re- 
appointed; elected  speaker  of  the  Assembly  January,  178G;  appointed 
mayor  of  Albany  September  29,  1786;  in  1786  again  elected  to  the 
Assembly,  and  in  January,  1787,  made  member  of  congress  under  the 
confederation ;  March  6,  1787,  appointed  delegate  to  the  Philadelphia 
convention  that  framed  the  United  States  constitution ;  elected  speaker 
of  the  Assembly,  December,  1788;  appointed,  March,  1790,  a  commis- 
sioner in  settling  the  New  York  and  Vermont  controversy,  and  on 
September  28  following,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  justices  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  State;  February  15,  1798,  appointed  chief  justice 
of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State,  succeeding  Mr.  Yates;  October  -.'l, 
1801,  appointed  chancellor  of  the  State;  in  1804,  declined  nomination 
for  the  office  of  governor.  This  distinguished  career  was  brought  to  a 
sudden  close  December  12,  1829,  when  Judge  Lansing  was  in  New- 
York;  leaving  his  hotel  to  mail  an  important  letter  on  the  Albany 
steamboat,  he  was  never  seen  or  heard  of  afterwards. 

It  has  been  written  of  Abraham  Van  Vechten,  that  "  no  name  is 
more  honored  in  the  State  than  his — honored  not  only  as  a  learned, 
eloquent,  and  eminently  successful  lawyer,  but  as  a  legislator  whose 
wisdom  and  profundity  are  seen  in  the  enactment  of  many  of  the  laws 
that  have  given  protection  and  greatness  to  the  State  of  New  York." 
He  was  born  in  Catskill,  December  5,  1762,  graduated  at  what  is  now 
Columbia  College,  and  studied  law  with  John  Lansing.  After  a  short 
period  of  practice  in  Johnstown  he  settled  in  Albany,  where  he  soon 
ranked  high  among  older  and  more  experienced  lawyers.  His  large 
practice  soon  carried  him  before  the  higher  courts,  where  he  greatly 
distinguished  himself  and  opened  the  way  for  his  preferment  in  public 
office.  He  was  repeatedly  elected  to  the  Legislature,  and  in  1813  was 
appointed  attorney-general  of  the  State,  and  during  the  administration 
of  John  Jay  he  was  tendered  the  office  of  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  the  State;  .but  he  preferred  to  remain  directly  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  and  declined  the  high  honor.  He  was  recorder  of  Albany. 
1797-1808;  regent,  1797-1823;  State  senator,  1798  1805;  member  of 
assembly,  1805-15;  attorney-general,  1810  and  1813,  and  a  member  of 
the  Constitutional  Convention   of    1821.      For  "  over  half  a  century  his 


148 

brilliant  mind  was  constantly  shedding  its  light  over  the  jurisprudence 
of  the  State  and  nation.  The  bar  long  delighted  to  accord  to  him  its 
highest  honors." 

John  V.  Henry  was  an  early  and  prominent  member  of  the  Albany 
bar.  He  was  admitted  to  practice  in  January,  1782,  at  the  same  term 
with  Aaron  Burr.  Possessing  the  advantages  of  a  classical  education 
and  brilliant  native  qualifications,  he  soon  rose  to  the  position  of  peer 
beside  such  men  as  Hamilton,  Burr,  Hoffman,  Lansing  and  others. 
He  was  an  eloquent  orator  and  able  logician,  and  was  early  accorded 
leadership  in  the  political  arena.  He  was  chosen  member  of  assembly 
from  Albany  county  in  1800,  was  re-elected  and  in  that  body  was  the 
foremost  Federalist.  In  January,  1800,  he  was  appointed  comptroller 
of  the  State,  but  in  the  following  year,  for  reasons  that  are  not  clearly 
understood,  was  removed  from  the  office  by  Governor  Clinton,  who 
succeeded  Gov.  John  Jay.  The  turn  of  the  political  wheel  that  brought 
this  change  to  Mr.  Henry,  while  unpleasant  to  him  and  his  friends,  was 
in  reality  a  blessing,  for  it  caused  him  to  form  an  irrevocable  resolu- 
tion to  never  again  accept  political  office.  As  a  consequence  he  was 
able  thenceforward  to  devote  his  whole  powerful  energies  to  his  pro- 
fession. In  that  field  he  advanced  to  the  front  rank.  He  died  sud- 
denly October  2,  1829.  A  paragraph  from  an  obituary  notice  reads 
thus: 

"The  death  of  Mr.  Henry  is  a  public  calamity.  The  tears  that  his 
family  shed  over  his  lifeless  form  fall  not  alone.  Those  who  respect 
the  probity,  the  independence,  the  gallant  bearing,  and  the  high  talents 
which  sometimes  redeem  human  nature  from  suspicion,  must  also 
lament  the  fall  of  such  a  man  as  this,  in  whom  these  traits  were  so 
happily  combined." 

John  V.  N.  Yates  was  a  son  of  Robert  Yates,  before  noticed,  and 
was  born  in  Albany  in  1779.  He  received  a  liberal  education,  studied 
law  in  the  office  of  John  V.  Henry  and  began  practice  in  his  native 
city.  In  1808  he  received  appointment  as  master  in  chancery,  and  in 
June  of  the  same  year  was  appointed  recorder  of  Albany.  He  was 
removed  through  political  changes,  but  again  assumed  the  office  in 
1811,  serving  to  1816.  In  April,  1818,  he  was  appointed  secretary  of 
state  and  served  until  1826  with  distinguished  ability.  In  1808  he  be- 
came embroiled  in  the  famous  case  with  Chancellor  Lansing,  growing 


149 

out  of  an  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  latter,  in  his  official  capacity,  to 
punish  Mr.  Yates  for  malpractice  and  contempt.  The  case  mav  be 
found  in  6  Johnson's  reports,  :535,  and  it  must  suffice  for  this  place  to 
state  that  at  the  close  of  the  long  litigation  Mr.  Yates  was  successful. 
He  was  an  able  writer  and  was  the  recipient  of  many  prominent  offi- 
cial positions.      He  died  in  Albany,  January  10,  1839. 

From  the  year  1816,  when  he  was  thirty-four  years  of  age,  Martin 
Van  Buren  was  a  resident  of  Albany  and  a  distinguished  member  of 
its  bar.  He  was  born  in  Kinderhook,  was  an  ardent  student,  and  be- 
gan the  study  of  law  early  in  life.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  L803, 
and  during  the  next  twelve  years  practiced  in  his  native  place,  where 
his  rivals  and  business  opponents  numbered  some  of  the  most  eminent 
lawyers  of  that  time.  But  by  the  force  of  his  ability  and  almost  super- 
human labor  the  young  man  often  triumphed  over  his  more  experienced 
adversaries.  After  holding  several  public  positions  in  what  is  now 
Columbia  county,  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  for  1812  when 
only  thirty  years  old,  and  was  re-elected  in  1816,  at  which  time  he  be- 
came a  resident  of  Albany.  His  after  career,  during  which  he  reached 
the  highest  office  in  the  land,  is  too  well  known  to  need  repetition  here, 
while  it  is  manifestly  impossible  to  spare  space  for  it.  He  took  as  his 
law  partner,  in  1817,  Benjamin  F.  Butler,  another  lawyer  who  was 
destined  to  win  national  fame,  and  the  firm  became  one  of  the  strong- 
est in  the  State.  Mr.  Van  Buren  was  chosen  United  States  senator  in 
1821,  and  was  a  foremost  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of 
that  year;  he  became  governor  of  the  State  upon  the  death  of  Mr. 
Clinton  in  1828,  but  resigned  the  office  on  receiving  appointment  as 
secretary  of  state  in  President  Jackson's  cabinet  in  the  following  year. 
He  was  inaugurated  president  of  the  United  States  in  March,  L837, 
and  was  defeated  for  re-election  by  General  Harrison. 

The  same  apology  offered  for  the  brevity  of  a  few  lines  regarding 
Mr.  Van  Buren  in  these  pages  will  also  apply  to  Benjamin  F.  Butler. 
Born  at  Kinderhook  in  December,  1795,  he  finished  his  school  studies 
and  then  entered  the  law  office  of  Mr.  Van  Buren.  The  high  position 
of  the  senior  of  the  firm,  and  his  practice  in  the  United  States  Supreme 
Court,  as  well  as  the  natural  and  acquired  qualifications  of  Mr.  Butler, 
gave  the  latter  superior  business  advantages,  and  the  firm  became 
recognized  as  the  leading  one  of  the  State.      lie  was  appointed  district 


150 

attorney  of  Albany  county  in  1821,  and  retired  in  1825  with  the  com- 
mendations of  the  community.  In  1825  he  became  a  member  of  the 
commission  to  revise  the  laws  of  the  State,  with  John  Duer  and  Henry 
Wheaton.  This  was  an  enormous  task,  and  required  almost  the  entire 
time  of  the  commissioners  for  years,  and  it  is  known  that  much  of  the 
good  results  were  due  to  the  patient  and  efficient  labor  of  Mr.  Butler. 
He  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1828;  in  1833  was  appointed 
attorney- general  of  the  United  States,  and  in  October,  1836,  while 
still  in  that  office,  was  appointed  secretary  of  war  in  President  Jack- 
son's cabinet.  He  resigned  as  attorney  general  in  January,  1838,  and 
returned  to  the  practice  of  his  profession ;  but  within  a  few  months 
the  office  of  United  States  district  attorney  for  the  Southern  District 
of  New  York  became  vacant,  and  he  was  appointed  thereto.  When 
President  Polk  was  inaugurated  he  tendered  Mr.  Butler  the  office  of 
secretary  of  war,  which  was  declined,  but  soon  afterward  he  accepted 
the  office  of  United  States  attorney  for  the  Southern  District  of  the 
State.  About  this  time  he  became  a  resident  of  New  York,  where  he 
occupied  a  leading  position.  He  visited  Europe  in  October,  1868,  in- 
tending to  remain  two  years  to  regain  his  broken  health,  and  died  in 
Paris,  November  8,  of  that  year. 

Greene  C.  Bronson  was  for  more  than  twenty  years  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Albany  bar.  He  was  a  native  of  Utica,  born  in  1789, 
and  began  practice  in  that  village  about  1815.  He  was  appointed  sur- 
rogate of  Oneida  county  in  1819  and  in  1822  was  elected  to  the  Assem- 
bly, declining  a  renomination  the  following  year.  In  February,  1829, 
he  was  appointed  attorney-general  of  the  State,  the  duties  of  which 
office  he  discharged  with  signal  ability  until  1836,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed one  of  the  justices  of  the  Supreme  Court.  He  took  up  his  res- 
idence in  Albany  coincident  with  his  appointment  as  attorney-general, 
and  was  a  resident  here  until  1853,  when  he  received  the  appointment 
of  collector  of  the  port  of  New  York  and  removed  to  that  city.  Mean- 
while, in  March,  1845,  he  was  appointed  chief  justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  State,  and  occupied  the  bench  two  years,  when  he  re- 
signed. In  politics  Judge  Bronson  was  a  Democrat  and  occupied  a 
leading  position  in  the  party.     He  died  in  New  York,  September  3,  1863. 

A  reference  to  the  reports  of  cases  argued  in  the  appellate  courts  of 
the  State  from  1817  to  1853,  will   show  that   Marcus  T.  Reynolds  was 


151 

counsel  in  more  cases  adjudicated  in  the  Supreme  Court  and  the  Court 
for  the  Correction  of  Errors  than  almost  any  other  lawyer  of  this 
State.  He  was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  December  22,  1788,  and 
graduated  from  Union  college  in  1808.  He  then  began  studying  law 
in  the  office  of  the  eminent  Matthias  B.  Hildreth,  of  Johnstown,  Fulton 
county.  Mr.  Reynolds  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1811,  and  early 
evinced  those  talents  which  enabled  him  to  rapidly  advance  in  his  pro- 
fession. He  began  and  continued  in  practice  at  Johnstown  until  L828, 
when  he  removed  to  Albany  and  there  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life, 
adding  greatly  to  the  high  reputation  he  had  previously  gained.  He 
was  particularly  powerful  before  a  jury  and  the  number  of  prominent 
cases  in  which  he  was  engaged  was  large.  By  a  fall  from  his  horse, 
many  years  previous  to  his  death,  one  of  his  legs  was  so  badly  frac- 
tured that  amputation  was  necessary.  Ill  health  compelled  his  retire- 
ment from  practice  about  ten  years  before  his  death,  which  took  place 
July  13,  1864. 

For  many  years  after  1837  Gen.  Samuel  Stevens  was  one  of  the  lead- 
ing lawyers  of  Albany  and  an  advocate  of  great  power.  He  attained 
a  large  measure  of  professional  success  and  was  very  popular  with  the 
people  of  the  community.  He  first  came  prominently  into  the  political 
field  as  one  of  De  Witt  Clinton's  ablest  supporters.  In  1825  he  repre- 
sented Washington  county,  where  he  was  born,  in  the  Legislature, 
where  he  was  leader  of  the  Clintonian  forces.  He  was  re-elected  in 
1827.  Later  on  he  identified  himself  with  the  Whigs  and  in  1839  was 
a  prominent  candidate  for  attorney-general.  He  did  not  again  come 
before  the  people  in  connection  with  public  office,  except  through  his 
nomination  for  lieutenant-governor.  The  names  of  General  Stevens, 
Marcus  T.  Reynolds  and  Nicholas  Hill  are  intimately  associated  in  the 
history  of  the  Albany  bar,  where  they  were  often  brought  together  in 
the  same  cases.  At  different  times  General  Stevens  was  a  partner 
with  James  Edwards  and  with  Peter  Cagger. 

The  name  of  John  C.  Spencer  is  not  only  identified  witli  the  bar  of 
Albany  county,  but  is  well  known  in  the  political  history  of  the  State. 
His  career  was  intimately  blended  with  that  of  I  >e  Witt  Clinton,  as  tar 
as  politics  were  concerned.  He  was  bom  at  Hudson,  August  1'.',  L786, 
and  a  son  of  Ambrose  Spencer.  Graduating  from  Union  College  in 
1803  with  high  honor,  he  at  once  began  the  study  of  law  with  his  father. 


1 52 

In  July,  1809,  he  was  admitted  to  practice  and  very  soon  afterwards 
joined  the  great  tide  of  emigration  westward  and  settled  in  Canandai- 
gua.  With  almost  no  pecuniary  means  and  a  few  law  books,  he  and 
his  wife  began  life  in  that  village  in  a  very  modest  way,  while  he 
sought  such  business  as  the  vicinity  afforded.  He  stood  for  some  years 
at  the  head  of  the  bar  of  that  great  county.  In  1818  he  was  appointed 
by  the  governor  prosecuting  attorney  for  the  five  western  counties  of 
the  State.  In  the  spring  of  1817  he  was  elected  to  Congress,  and  while 
in  that  body  was  nominated  for  the  Senate  by  the  State  Legislature, 
but  was  not  chosen.  In  1819  he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly,  and 
again  in  1821,  1831  and  1833;  at  the  first  term  he  was  chosen  speaker. 
From  1825  to  1828  he  was  in  the  State  Senate,  where  he  attained  a  high 
position.  In  1826  he  was  chosen  to  prosecute  the  abductors  of  Morgan 
during  the  anti-Masonic  crusade,  out  of  which  grew  the  anti-Masonic 
party,  of  which  he  was  a  prominent  member.  When  that  party  was 
absorbed  by  the  Whigs  Mr.  Spencer  became  a  leader  in  the  political 
field,  and  in  1836  removed  to  Albany.  Upon  the  election  of  John  Tyler 
to  the  presidency  he  chose  Mr.  Spencer  for  his  secretary  of  war.  After 
the  presidential  election  of  1852  he  retired  from  politics.  It  will  be 
remembered  that  he  was  one  of  the  three  commissioners  appointed  by 
Governor  Clinton  to  revise  the  statutes  of  the  State,  a  great  task  which 
was  successfully  accomplished.  In  1849  he  was  appointed  one  of  the 
codifying  commissioners,  but  declined  and  soon  retired  to  private  life. 
Mr.  Spencer  endeared  himself  to  citizens  of  Albany  by  his  generous 
interest  in  local  affairs,  and  particularly  in  his  aid  in  founding  a  num- 
ber of  the  benevolent  institutions  of  the  city.  He  died  while  in  New 
York  on  May  20,  1854. 

James  Edwards  was  born  in  Greenfield,  Saratoga  county,  December 
9,  1799,  and  settled  in  Albany  in  1816,  where  he  attained  a  prominent 
position  at  the  bar.  He  studied  law  in  the  office  of  his  uncle,  Albert 
Foote,  at  that  time  one  of  the  leading  attorneys  of  the  city.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1822  and  soon  afterwards  became  a  partner 
with  Gen.  Samuel  Stevens.  It  was  written  of  Mr.  Edwards  that  "  he 
was  distinguished  for  his  sound  practical  judgment,  his  solid  legal  at- 
tainments, his  promptness  and  accuracy  in  business,  energy,  firmness 
and  integrity  of  character,  and  conscientious  fidelity  to  the  interests  of 
his  clients."     Mr.  Edwards  died  May  21,  1868. 

Azor  Tabor  was  born  at  Knox,  Albany  county,  May  1,  1798.     After 


153 

receiving"  a  classical  education  he  entered  the  office  of  John  Lansing, 
then  chancellor  of  the  State,  studied  law  and  when  admitted  to  the  bar 
began  practice  in  Albany.  He  ranked  among  the  ablest  attorneys  of 
the  city  and  gained  a  large  and  profitable  business.  Loving  his  pro- 
fession and  its  pursuit,  he  never  sought  public  office,  the  only  position 
he  ever  held  being  that  of  State  senator,  to  which  he  was  elected  in 
1851.  Although  his  senatorial  career  was  eminently  worthy,  he  had 
little  taste  for  public  life  and  returned  permanently  to  practice.  In 
1833  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Amos  Dean,  which  continued  suc- 
cessfully some  years.  In  1854,  owing  to  ill  health,  Mr.  Tabor  retired 
from  practice,  removed  to  Knox  and  there  died  June  10,  1855. 

Amos  Dean  was  born  at  Barnard,  Vt.,  January  1(5,  1803.  After 
teaching  several  seasons  to  enable  him  to  obtain  his  education,  he  en- 
tered Union  College  in  1823  and  was  graduated  in  1826.  He  began 
studying  law  in  the  offie  of  Jabez  D.  Hammond  and  Alfred  Conkling, 
and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  1829.  He  was  for  several  years  a 
partner  with  Azor  Tabor  and  the  firm  was  recognized  as  a  strong  one. 
He  was  a  firm  believer  in  the  great  benefits  of  popular  education  and 
was  thereby  led  in  1833  to  gather  about  him  a  few  young  men  of  sim- 
ilar tastes,  from  which  grew  the  later  Albany  Young  Men's  Association. 
From  that  beginning  hundreds  of  similar  organizations  came  into 
being  in  other  cities.  Mr.  Dean  was  chosen  the  first  president  of  the 
association.  In  1833  he  was  associated  with  Drs.  March  and  Armsby 
in  establishing  the  Albany  Medical  College,  and  from  that  time  to 
1859  he  held  in  that  institution  the  position  of  professor  of  medical 
jurisprudence.  When  the  law  department  of  the  university  was  estab- 
lished Mr.  Dean  was  chosen  one  of  its  professors,  where  his  talents 
gave  him  wide  recognition  as  an  educator.  He  was  also  well  known 
in  literary  fields;  was  the  author  of  a  Manual  of  Law,  and  delivered 
many  addresses  before  different  bodies.  The  publication  of  his  great- 
est work,  the  History  of  Civilization,  was  stopped  by  his  death,  but 
was  issued  afterwards  in  seven  volumes. 

A  lawyer  who  ranked  with  Reynolds.  Stevens,  Tabor  and  others  of 
the  Albany  bar,  was  Henry  G.  Wheaton,  who  was  graduated  from 
Union  College  in  1828  and  immediately  began  law  study  in  Albany. 
After  his  admission  to  practice  he  rapidly  rose  to  an  enviable  position 
in  the  profession.     Becoming  interested  in  politics,  for  which  he  pos- 

20 


154 

sessed  natural  talents,  he  was  chosen  for  the  Assembly  from  Albany 
county  in  the  years  1835,  1840  and  1841,  though  his  seat  in  the  first 
year  named  was  successfully  contested  by  David  C.  Seger.  In  the 
House  he  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  eloquent  members.  In 
March,  1841,  he  was  appointed  district  attorney  for  Albany  county,  in 
which  office  he  officially  served  the  interests  of  the  community.  The 
management  of  a  large  estate  devolving  upon  him  in  New  York  city 
in  1855,  he  removed  thither,  and  was  killed  while  crossing  a  railroad 
track,  August  26,  1865. 

In  the  work  entitled  The  Bench  and  Bar  of  New  York,  Nicholas  Hill 
is  compared  in  some  of  his  prominent  characteristics,  with  John  C. 
Spencer;  both  were  men  of  marked  intellectual  powers,  energetic  and 
industrious  and  capable  of  a  vast  amount  of  labor.  Nicholas  Hill  was 
born  in  Montgomery  county,  N.  Y.,  October  16,  1806.  Early  showing 
the  student's  predilections,  he  availed  himself  of  his  opportunities  to 
obtain  a  fair  education,  and  then  took  up  the  study  of  law  in  the  office 
of  Daniel  Cady,  at  Johnstown.  After  his  admission  to  practice  he  set- 
tled first  in  Amsterdam,  whence  he  soon  removed  to  Saratoga,  where 
later  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Sidney  Cowen,  son  of  Judge  Esek 
Cowen,  who  had  already  discovered  in  Mr.  Hill  those  qualities  that 
afterwards  gave  him  distinction.  Associated  with  Mr.  Cowen  he  pre- 
pared that  great  work,  Cowen  and  Hill's  Notes  to  Phillips  on  Evidence' — 
a  work  that  constitutes  a  monument  to  both  of  its  authors.  Though 
somewhat  retiring  in  his  nature,  Mr.  Hill's  ability  as  a  speaker,  and 
his  other  qualifications  as  a  jury  lawyer,  gave  him  early  prominence  in 
the  courts  of  his  time,  where  he  was  successful  among  many  eminent 
men.  In  1841  he  was  appointed  law  reporter,  an  office  in  which  he 
won  distinction  for  accuracy  and  clearness.  Five  years  later  he  re- 
signed the  office  and  soon  formed  a  partnership  with  Peter  Cagger  and 
James  K.  Porter,  a  firm  that  commanded  high  confidence  and  a  large 
patronage.  Mr.  Hill  was  first  of  all  a  painstaking  student,  and  his 
close  application  to  his  business  at  length  ruined  his  health  and  he  died 
May  1,  1859.  The  event  was  announced  in  the  Court  of  Appeals  by 
John  A.  Reynolds,  in  a  memorable  eulogium.  Mr.  Reynolds  was  him- 
self one  of  the  ablest  members  of  the  Albany  bar,  a  man  of  rare  argu- 
mentative powers  and  scholarly  attainments.  His  pure  character  and 
large  professional  endowments  endeared  him  to  his  professional 
brethren. 


J  00 

Peter  Cagger  was  born  in  Albany  July  G,  1812,  coming  of  Irish  an- 
cestry. Early  in  life  he  was  placed  in  the  law  office  of  Reynolds  <!v 
Woodruff  as  a  clerk,  in  which  position  he  evinced  some  of  his  remarka- 
ble natural  qualifications.  He  afterwards  became  a  partner  with 
Samuel  Stevens,  as  before  noted,  and  the  firm  of  Stevens  &  Cagger 
soon  became  a  power  in  legal  circles.  Shortly  after  the  death  of  Mr. 
Stevens  Mr.  Cagger  became  a  member  of  the  distinguished  firm,  Hill, 
Cagger  &  Porter,  a  combination  that  is  remembered  as  one  of  the 
strongest  ever  formed  in  the  State.  Mr.  Cagger  was  instantlv  killed 
by  being  thrown  from  his  carriage  in  New  York  city,  July  6,  L868,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-six  years. 

Ira  Harris  was  born  at  Charleston,  Montgomery  county,  N.  Y.,  Mav 
31,  1802,  prepared  for  college  at  Homer  Academy  (the  family  having 
removed  to  Cortland  county),  and  graduated  from  Union  College  in 
1824.  He  studied  law  one  year  in  Homer  and  then  removed  to  Albany 
where  he  continued  with  the  great  jurist,  Ambrose  Spencer.  In  1827 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  at  once  began  practice,  soon  forming  a 
partnership  with  Silas  Dutcher,  which  continued  until  1842.  He  was 
elected  to  the  Assembly  in  1844,  was  re-elected  in  184o,  and  in  1840 
was  chosen  delegate  to  the  Constitutional  Convention,  in  which  body 
he  occupied  a  conspicuous  position.  «  In  the  fall  of  1846  he  was  elected 
a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  and  resigned  the  former  office.  At  the 
expiration  of  his  four  years'  term  as  justice  he  was  elected  for  another 
term,  which  had  been  extended  to  eight  years.  In  this  high  position 
the  great  ability  of  Judge  Harris  was  soon  demonstrated.  He  exhib- 
ited profound  knowledge  of  the  law,  excellent  judicial  qualifications 
and  strict  impartiality.  His  published  opinions  have  received  universal 
commendation.  In  1861  he  was  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate, 
in  which  body  he  was  honored  with  appointments  on  important  com- 
mittees and  became  a  trusted  friend  of  President  Lincoln.  lie  took 
active  interest  in  raising  troops  for  the  army,  especially  of  the  regiment 
of  cavalry  which  bore  his  name.  At  the  close  of  his  term  he  retired  to 
private  life,  but  was  chosen  a  delegate  to  the  Constitutional  Conven- 
tion of  1867.  Having  been  connected  with  the  Albany  Law  School 
from  its  organization,  he  now  accepted  the  professorship  of  equity  ju- 
risprudence and  practice,  to  which  he  devoted  his  time  until  his  death, 
December  2,  1875.  He  was  for  many  years  president  of  the  Board  of 
Trusteesof  Union  College,  president  of  the  Albany  Medical  College  and 


156 

of  the  trustees  of  Vassar  College.  At  his  death  the  bench  and  bar 
testified  to  their  respect  for  his  distinguished  abilities.  He  was  a 
brother  of  Hamilton  Harris,  of  Albany. 

Rufus  W.  Peckham,  the  distinguished  lawyer  and  jurist,  was  born  at 
Rensselaerville,  Albany  county,  December  30,  1800.  His  boyhood  was 
passed  in  Otsego  county,  whither  his  father  removed,  and  after  prep- 
aration entered  Union  College  and  was  graduated  in  1827.  Having  a 
brother  in  the  medical  profession  in  Utica,  he  went  there  to  enter  the 
legal  arena,  where  he  entered  the  office  of  Greene  C.  Bronson  (before 
noticed)  and  Samuel  Beardsley.  The  advantages  of  being  tutored  by 
those  eminent  lawyers  left  a  permanent  impression  upon  Mr.  Peckham's 
career.  Called  to  the  bar  in  1830,  he  soon  afterward  became  a  partner 
with  his  brother,.-  George  W.  Peckham,  of  Albany.  The  firm  was 
prosperous  from  the  first  and  took  a  high  position  in  the  then  brilliant 
bar  of  the  city.  In  1839  he  was  appointed  district  attorney  of  the 
county,  and  in  1845  was  a  candidate  for  attorney-general  and  was  de- 
feated by  John  Van  Buren  by  one  vote.  In  1852  he  was  elected  to 
Crogress,  in  which  body  he  distinguished  himself  by  his  ability  and  his 
independence  of  party  ties  where  he  thought  the  interests  of  the  nation 
were  at  stake.  In  the  fall  of  1859  he  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  Su- 
preme Court,  served  eight  years  and  was  unanimously  re-elected. 
Before  the  close  of  his  term  he  was  elected  a  judge  of  the  Court  of  Ap- 
peals. Few  American  judges  possessed  greater  judicial  accomplish- 
ments than  he.  On  the  5th  of  November  he  and  his  wife  sailed  on  the 
ill-fated  Ville  du  Havre,  which  on  the  night  of  the  22d  collided  with 
another  vessel  and  went  to  the  bottom  in  the  darkness,  carrying  them, 
with  more  than  two  hundred  others  to  the  bottom.  At  the  moment 
of  the  greatest  peril,  he  took  his  wife's  hand  and  bravely  uttered  the 
words  that  were  heralded  over  two  continents:  "  If  we  must  go  down, 
let  us  die  bravely!"  The  profession  throughout  this  State  testified  its 
high  respect  and  sorrow  for  the  eminent  man. 

Col.  Lewis  Benedict  was  born  in  Albany,  September  17,  1817,  and 
was  graduated  from  Williams  College  in  1837.  He  then  entered  the 
law  office  of  John  C.  Spencer,  at  Canandaigua,  and  in  January,  1841, 
was  licensed  to  practice.  He  settled  in  Albany  and  soon  took  a  high 
position.  In  1845  he  was  appointed  city  attorney  and  at  the  close  of 
his  term  was  reappointed.      In  1847  he  was  appointed  judge   advocate- 


157 

general  on  the  governor's  staff,  and  in  1848  was  elected  surrogate  of 
the  county.  In  1852  and  1860  he  was  the  candidate  of  his  party  (the 
Whig)  for  the  city  recordership  and  shared  in  the  defeat  of  its  nomi- 
nees. In  1854  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  commissioners  to  examine 
into  the  condition  of  the  State  prisons,  the  report  of  whom  was  made 
in  1856  in  a  large  volume  In  1860  he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  by 
the  Union  element  of  his  district;  this  was  the  last  civil  office  held  by 
him.  On  his  admission  to  the  bar  he  was  fortunate  in  becoming  the 
partner  of  Marcus  T.  Reynolds,  which  gave  him  at  once  a  valuable 
prestige.  From  the  time  of  his  appointment  as  city  attorney  he  was 
active  and  earnest  in  his  political  work  and  was  often  a  delegate  to  the 
various  conventions,  where  he  wielded  a  large  influence.  As  early  as 
January,  1861,  when  Governer  Morgan  was  endeavoring  to  impress  the 
Legislature  with  the  importance  of  placing  the  State  upon  a  war  foot- 
ing, Colonel  Benedict  saw  the  necessity  for  such  action  and  compre- 
hended the  oncoming  conflict.  He  therefore  co-operated  with  the 
governor  in  the  matter.  The  passage  of  the  act  authorizing  the  embody- 
ing and  equipment  of  the  State  militia  was  largely  due  to  him,  and  after 
that  Colonel  Benedict  gave  all  of  his  time  to  the  Union  cause.  The 
New  York  Fire  Department,  while  recruiting  the  2d  Fire  Zouaves, 
conferred  on  him  a  lieutenancy  and  he  was  commissioned  in  June,  1 861 . 
The  career  of  that  body  of  soldiers  is  well  known  and  cannot  be  de- 
tailed here.  He  was  captured  at  Williamsburg  and  taken  to  the  Salis- 
bury (N.  C.)  prison  where  several  months  later  he  was  exchanged. 
Soon  afterwards  he  was  commissioned  colonel  of  the  162d  Regiment, 
and  a  month  later,  October,  1862,  went  with  his  troops  to  New  Orleans. 
In  January,  186:},  he  was  made  acting  brigadier-general  and  took  part 
in  the  fighting  at  and  around  Port  Hudson.  In  the  bloody  engagement 
of  June  14,  1863,  he  was  foremost.  When  it  was  determined  to  storm 
the  fort  Colonel  Benedict  was  given  command  of  the  2d  battalion, 
which  was  to  serve  as  the  "  forlorn  hope.  "  From  that  time  he  followed 
Banks  through  all  his  movements.  His  last  command,  that  of  the  3d 
Brigade  of  the  1st  Division,  19th  Corps,  was  composed  of  three  New 
York  and  two  Maine  regiments,  and  a  battery,  and  was  noted  for  its 
gallant  deeds.  On  the  9th  of  April,  L864,  in  the  final  struggle  of  the 
Red  River  campaign,  Colonel  Benedict  led  his  brigade  in  a  charge  and 
fell  pierced  with  several  bullets.  It  was  a  heroic  death  to  close  a  dis- 
tinguished military  career.  His  remains  were  brought  to  Albany  and 
buried  with  higrh  honors. 


158 

ALBANY   COUNTY  BAR. 

Albany. — John  J.  Acker,  George  Addington,  Daniel  Adler,  William  A.  Allen,  A.  L. 
Andrews,  Buel  C.  Andrews,  Austin  Archer,  John  M.  Bailey,  Frederic  Baker,  George 

C.  Baker,  Isaac  B.  Barrett,  R.  O.  Bassett,  Edwin  A.  Bedell,  James  W.  Bentley,  Will- 
iam F.  Beutler,  Lyman  H.  Bevans,  John  J.  Brady,  John  J.  Bradley,  Richard  W. 
Brass,  Edward  J.  Brennan,  Charles  F.  Bridge,  Walter  M.  Brown,  Joseph  H.  Brooks, 
Charles  J.  Buchanan,  Hiram  Buck,  Alpheus  T.  Bulkley,  Eugene  Burlingame,  Henry 

D.  Burlingame,  F.  W.  Cameron,  Lewis  E.  Carr,  Raymond  W.  Carr,  Lewis  Cass,  Ed- 
gar T.  Chapman,  jr.,  Norton  Chase,  Alden  Chester,  William  K.  Clute,  Jacob  H.  Clute, 
Mark  Cohn,  Herbut  G.  Cone,  Andrew  J.  Colvin,  Martin  D.  Conway,  Joseph  A.  Con- 
way, John  T.  Cook,  J.  Fenimore  Cooper,  Joseph  P.  Coughlin,  Edwin  Countryman, 
Charles  E.  Countryman,  James  H.  Coyle,  C.  J.  Crummey,  Walter  S.  Cutler,  Frank- 
lin M.  Danaher,  S.  J.  Daring,  Richard  W.  Darling,  Edwin  G.  Day,  Frank  B.  Dele- 
hanty,  John  A.  Delehanty,  Peter  A.  Delaney,  Abraham  Y.  De  Witt,  Herman  J. 
Diekman,  J.  Murray  Downs,  Andrew  S.  Draper,  C.  J.  Droogan,  P.  E.  Du  Bois, 
Daniel  J.  Dugan,  Patrick  C.  Dugan,  William  S.  Dyer,  Zeb  A.  Dyer,  James  W. 
Eaton,  Jerome  W.  Ecker,  William  S.  Elmendorf,  John  F.  Farrell,  James  J.  Far- 
ren,  J.  Newton  Fiero,  David  C.  Fitz  Gerald,  E.  D.  Flanigan,  James  H.  Foote,  Cor- 
nelius E.  Franklin,  Charles  M.  Friend,  J.  S.  Frost,  Worthington  Frothingham,  W. 
D.  Frothingham,  John  E.  Gallup  W.  S.  Gibbons,  Scott  D'M.  Goodwin,  Edward 
J.  Graham,  Clifford  D.  Gregory,  J.  Wendell  Grifhng,  Stephen  B.  Griswold,  John 
Guttman,  Alfred  A.  Guthrie,  William  S.  Hackett,  Edgar  M.  Haines,  Matthew  Hale. 
Charles  R.  Hall,  Fred  C.  Ham,  Andrew  Hamilton,  R.  W.  Hardie,  William  B. 
Harris,  Hamilton  Harris,  Fred  Harris,  Julius  F.  Harris,  Thomas  H.  Ham, '  S.  S. 
Hatt,  William  A.  Hendrickson,  Howard  Hendrickson,-  Isban  Hess,  Albert  Hess- 
berg,  D.  Cady  Herrick,  Winfield  S.  Hevenor,  Barnwell  R.  Heyward,  Horace  L.  Hicks, 
George  D.  Hill,  David  B.  Hill,  William  J.  Hillis,  Galen  R.  Hitt,  Henry  T.  Holmes, 
Harold   C.   Hooker,    Lansing   Hotaling,  William   F.    Hourigan,    Eugene  E.    Howe, 

Samuel  T.  Hull,  Marcus  T.  Hun,  Sidney  A.  Hungerford,  G.  De  W.  Hurlbut,  Julius 
Illch,  William  Isenburgh,  Charles  M.  Jenkins,  James  B.  Jermain,  James  C.  Johnson, 
Russell  M.  Johnston,  Frank  Kampfer,  Jacob  A.  Kapps,  George  T.  Kelley,  Barrington 
King,  Dwight  King,  J.  Howard  King,  Leonard  Kip,  Francis  Kimball,  George  C. 
Kimball,  Edmund  C.  Knickerbocker,  Charles  Krank,  Leopold  C.  G.  Kshinka,  John 
R.  Langan,  Abraham  Lansing,  J.  T.  Lansing,  William  Lansing,  Joseph  M.  Lawson, 
Isaac  Lawson,  Joseph  A.  Lawson,  George  Lawyer,  William  L.  Learned,  Randall  J. 
Le  Boeuf,  William  Loucks,  Gaylord  Logan,  James  J.  Mahoney,  George  H.  Mallory, 
J.  F.  Manson,  Joseph  F.  Macy,  S.  S.  Marvin,  James  C.  Matthews,  John  W.  Mattice, 
Peter  F.  Mattimore,  Henry  S.  McCall,  Archibald  McClure,  R.  H.  McCormic,  jr., 
William  C.  McHarg,  John  McElroy,  James  A.  McKown,  John  W.  McNamara,  Daniel 
T.  McNamara,  John  T.  McDonough,  Charles  W.  Mead,  Edward  J.  Meegan,  Thomas 
A.  Meegan,  Peyton  F.  Miller,  Charles  H.  Mills,  John  F.  Montignani,  J.  H.  Morrey,  jr., 
Edgar, A.  Morling,  Thomas  A.  Murray,  David  Muhlfelder,  Max  Myers,  Martin  T. 
Nachtmann,  J.  F.  Nash,  Henry  C.  Nevitt,  Stewart  C.Newton,  Munson  C.  G.  Nichols, 
Nathaniel  Niles,  David  J.  Norton,  Myer  Nussbaum,  Edward  W.  Nugent,  John  J. 
Olcott,  Smith  O'Brien,  John  J.  O'Neil,  Howard  Paddock,  Stephen  Paddock,  Horace 
F.  Palmer,  Amasa  J.  Parker,  Amasa  J.  Parker,  jr.,  Lewis  R.  Parker,  Rufus  W.  Peck- 


159 

ham,  Henry  A.  Peckham,  J.  De  Witt  Peltz,  Aaron  B.  Pratt,  Louis W.  Pratt,  John  V.  L. 
Pruyn,  Edward  W.  Rankin,  Albert  Rathbone,  William  F.  Rath  bone,  Edward  T.  Reed, 
Hugh  Reilly,  Louis  J.  Rezzemini,  Ernest  W.  Rieck,  James  A.  Robinson,  Edward  1). 
Ronan,  Simon  W.  Rosendale,  Edgar  H.  Rosenstock,  Jacob  G.  Runkle,  William  P. 
Rudd,  James  M.  Ruso,  Joseph  W.  Russell,  Bleecker  Sanders,  Henry  T.  Sanford, 
Roscoe  C.  Sanford,  Edwin  W.  Sanford,  John  H.  Sand,  David  S.  Saxe,  Thomas 
Sayre,  Robert  G.  Scherer,  Jacob  C.  E.  Scott,  William  M.  Scott,  A.  G.  Seelman,  Ste- 
phen ( ).  Shepard,  Osgood  H.  Shepard,  Louis  Silberman,  A.  Page  Smith,  Fred  E. 
.Smith,  Nathaniel  Spaulding,  Stuart  G.  Speir,'  David  Stanwix,  John  D.  Stantial, 
George  L.  Stedman,  George  W.  Stedman,  Henry  E.  Stern,  A.  R.  Stevens,  George 
H.  Stevens,  Thomas  W.  Stevens,  John  A.  Stephens,  Peter  A.  Stephens,  Kate 
Stoneman,  Barent  W.  Stryker,  J.  B.  Sturtevant,  Charles  B.  Templeton,  George  V. 
Thatcher,  David  A.  Thompson,  Newton  W.  Thompson,  C.  H.  Tomlinson,  James 
F.  Tracey,  George  M.  True,  Lucien  Tuft's,  jr.,  Thomas  J.  Van  Alstyne,  William  B. 
Van  Rensselaer,  Lansing  Van  Wie,  Andrew  Vanderzee,  Newton  B.  Vanderzee, 
Alonzo  B.  Voorhees,  Frederick  E.  Wadhams,  Richard  B.  Wagoner,  John  W.  Walsh. 
Joseph  H.  Walsh,  Walter  E.  Ward,  Luther  C.  Warner,  Hiram  I..  Washburn,  jr., 
Robert  H.  Wells,  Thomas  F.  Wilkinson,  Horace  G.  Wood,  Francis  11.  Woods. 

Bkkne.— Z.  B.  Dyer. 

Coeymans.^C.  M.  Barlow,  W.  Scott  Coffin,  Lindsey  Green,  Charles  M.  Tomp- 
kins. 

Cohoes. — David  Askworth,  Israel  Belanger,  James  H.  Berns,  Daniel  J.  Cosgro, 
James  F.  Crawford,  Charles  F.  Doyle,  Isaiah  Fellows,  jr.,  George  H.  Fitts,  jr.,  Law- 
rence B.  Finn,  Rosin  J.  House,  Daniel  C.  McElwain,  John  E.  McLean,  E.  B.  Nichols, 
Peter  D.  Niver,  Smith  Niver,  John  Scanlon,  James  R.  Stevens,  Henry  A.  Strong, 
James  Wallace,  Walter  H.  Wertime. 

GuiLDERLAND. — James  R.  Main. 

Axtamont. — Hiram  Griggs,  John  D.  White. 

New  Scotland. — Alexander  H.  Crounse. 

Rensselaerville. — Norman  W.  Faulk,  Preston  Hollow;  William  R.  Tanner,  Me- 
dusa. 

Westerlo. — Alonzo  Spaulding. 

West  Troy. — James  W.  Boyle,  James  B.  Egan,  John  II.  Gleason,  William  Hol- 
lands, Joseph  H.  Hollands,  C.  I>.  Hudson,  John  W.  Kenny,  Eugene  MpLean,  Vol- 
kert  J.  Oothout,  Peter  A.  Rogers. 

Green  Island. — William  F.  Hickey. 

Court  Buildings. — In  early  years  the  courts  of  this  county  were  held 
in  the  Old  Stadt  Huys,  which  was  also  occupied  as  a  city  hall,  a  State- 
House  and  a  prison.  Conventions  and  other  public  gatherings  also 
assembled  within  its  venerable  walls.  It  stood  on  the  northeast  corner 
of  Broadway  and  Hudson  avenue,  just  inside  the  stockades  of  the  city, 
and  was  built  about  1635,  principally  for  the  use  of  the  courts,  while  the 
jail  was  in  the  lower  story,  which  was  of  stone.  It  was  a  substantial 
brick  structure,  nearly  square,  and  three  stories  high,  witli  a  cupola 
and  belfry.     Soon  after  its  erection  a  bell  was   brought  from  Holland 


160 

and  hung  in  the  belfry,  and  it  was  rung  on  all  public  occasions  for  nearly 
160  years  and  when  the  old  building  was  demolished,  the  bell  was  hung 
in  the  cupola  of  the  new  Capitol.  When  it  had  at  last  outlived  its 
usefulness  there  it  was  taken  down  and  is  said  to  now  hang  in  the 
tower  of  a  Ballston  church.  In  the  Old  Stadt  Huys  were  held,  be- 
sides the  courts,  the  meetings  of  the  Common  Council  after  its  organ- 
ization under  the  Dongan  charter  of  July,  1086.  In  front  of  the  build- 
ing the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  read  to  the  people  for  the 
first  time.  A  commercial  building  now  stands  on  the  site  of  the  old 
structure,  and  in  it  a  memorial  slab  has  been  placed,  appropriately  in- 
scribed. 

In  December,  1895,  the  Board  of  Supervisors  adopted  a  resolution 
authorizing  the  county  to  issue  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $100,000, 
the  proceeds  of  which  were  to  be  used  for  the  purchase  of  the  Albany 
Savings  Bank  building,  corner  of  State  and  Chapel  streets.  The 
bank  had  a  lease  of  the  building  extending  two  years.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  1896,  Judges  Clifford  D.  Gregory  and  Alden  D.  Chester  oc- 
cupied rooms  in  the  building,  as  also  did  the  clerk  of  the  appellate 
division  of  the  Supreme  Court.  Judge  Gregory  was  appointed  custo- 
dian of  the  building  and  under  his  supervision  the  structure  was  con- 
siderably improved  and  adapted  for  its  new  purposes  above  the  first 
floor;  the  latter  is  still  occupied  by  the  bank.  After  the  removal  of 
the  bank  the  district  attorney  and  county  treasurer  will  move  into  this 
building,  which  will  be  known  as  the  County  Court  House. 

City  Halls. — The  first  city  hall,  a  structure  in  which  the  courts  were 
held,  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  city  hall,  and  was  erected  in 
1829-32.  The  site  was  purchased  of  St.  Peter's  church  corporation 
for  $10,259.95.  On  August  31,  1830,  the  corner  stone  was  laid  by 
Mayor  John  Townsend  with  Masonic  ceremonies.  The  building  was 
finished  in  1832  at  a  total  cost  of  about  $92,000.  It  was  constructed  of 
white  marble,  with  a  large  porch  supported  by  four  Doric  columns,  and 
a  large  gilded  dome  surmounting  the  roof.  The  style  of  architecture 
was  plain  in  the  extreme.  This  building  was  used  for  nearly  fifty  years 
until  on  the  10th  of  February,  1880,  when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire,  the 
cause  of  which  has  remained  a  mystery.  Most  of  the  valuable  records 
and  documents  in  the  building  were  saved. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  was  called  for  Febru- 
ary 16,  1880,  to  consider  what  should  be  done  to  provide  for  a  new 
city  hall.     In  the  course  of  the  proceedings  the   following  resolution 


ANTHONY  N.   BR  \l  rt 


161 

was  read,  which  had  been  previously  adopted  on  the  11th  at  a  meeting 
of  the  Albany  bar: 

Resolved,  That  the  site  of  the  City  Hall,  recently  destroyed  by  fire,  is  the  most 
appropriate  and  convenient  for  a  building  for  the  County  Court  and  Court  Officers, 
and  the  members  of  the  Albany  County  Bar  hereby  unanimously  urge  the  Board 
of  Supervisors  to  take  immediate  steps  toward  the  erection  of  said  building  or  an- 
other upon  the  City  Hall  site  for  the  use  of  the  County  Courts  and  officers. 

The  board  had  been  urged  to  purchase  what  was  known  as  the  Mar- 
tin Hall  as  a  substitute  for  the  former  City  Hall,  which  in  some  meas- 
ure led  to  the  above  expression  from  the  bar.  The  Board  of  Super- 
visors adopted  prompt  measures  to  ascertain  the  wishes  of  the  county, 
outside  of  the  city,  in  the  site  of  the  new  building,  which  duty  was  as- 
signed to  R.  W.  Peckham,  and  made  provision  for  the  copying  of  all 
records  that  were  damaged  in  the  fire.  An  act  of  the  Legislature  was 
procured  creating  a  City  Hall  Commission  consisting  of  the  mayor, 
Michael  N.  Nolan,  the  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  Edward 
A.  Maher,  with  Erastus  Corning,  Robert  C.  Pruyn,  C.  P.  Easton, 
Leonard  G.  Hun,  Albertus  W.  Becker,  and  William  Gould.  Under 
the  general  direction  of  this  commission  the  present  imposing  City 
Hall  was  built  on  the  site  of  the  former  one  during  the  years  1881-83. 
It  is  is  constructed  of  Long  Meadow  brown  stone;  is  four  stories  in 
height,  with  a  tower  202  feet  high.  The  cost  including  the  furnishing 
was  $325,000,  of  which  sum  $290,000  was  raised  on  bonds  of  the  city, 
The  cost  was  equally  divided  between  the  city  and  the  county. 

Jails. — The  first  Albany  county  jail,  in  the  basement  of  the  Old 
Stadt  Huys,  was  in  such  bad  condition  early  in  the  last  century  that  a 
protest  was  entered  by  the  high  sheriff  to  the  Court  of  Sessions  in 
1718,  as  follows: 

I  urge  upon  your  worships  that  care  may  be  taken  to  have  ye  same  Jail  sufficiently 
repaired  to  keep  such  bad  prisoners  as  I  may  take  for  debt,  &c,  safely  from  escap- 
ing, as  is  now  often  ye  case. 

The  court  in  response  at  once  requested  leave  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly to  expend  ,£140  in  repairing  the  jail,  and  it  is  presumed  that  the 
request  was  granted.  Prior  to  this  date  there  had  been  one  or  more 
attempts  to  erect  a  separate  jail.  An  application  for  this  purpose,  made 
to  the  Board  of  Supervisors  in  February,  1701,  was  refused.  A; 
Court  of  Sessions  held  in  Albany  October  7,  1*  19,  the  following  order 
was  entered  in  the  records: 
21 


162 

Pursuant  to  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Colony  of  New  York,  entitled 
an  Act  to  Authorize  ye  Justices  of  the  Peace  to  Build  and  Repair  Jails  and  Court- 
houses in  the  Several  Counties  of  the  Province,  whereby  ye  Justices  in  each  County 
are  Impowered  (upon  their  own  view)  on  any  Inefficiency  or  Inconveniency  of  their 
County  Jail  orPrison,  or  ye  Inconveniency  of  their  Court  House,  to  Conclude  and  agree 
upon  such  sum  or  sums  of  money,  as,  upon  examination  of  sufficient  and  able 
workmen,  shall  be  thought  necessary  for  building,  Finishing  and  Repairing  a  Public 
Jail,  etc. 

It  is  therefore  Resolved,  that  any  five  or  more  of  His  Majestie's  Justices  shall 
make  a  computation  with  sufficient  and  able  workmen,  what  a  sufficient  Jail,  etc., 
for  ye  Citty  and  County  of  Albany  may  cost,  and  bring  a  report  thereof  at  the  next 
meeting  of  this  Court  and  the  Justices  thereof. 

This  led  to  much  discussion  between  two  factions,  one  of  which  fa- 
vored a  new  building,  and  the  other  the  repair  of  the  old  one.  The  re- 
sult was  the  repair  and  enlargement  of  the  old  building  under  the  fol- 
lowing resolution: 

It  is  Resolved  that  the  City  Hall  shall  be  repaired  and  an  addition  be  made  of  fif- 
teen foot  in  length  to  the  south'd,  and  in  breadth  to  the  Court  Hall,  and  joyned  in 
the  roof  of  the  same,  made  up  with  boards  without  as  the  present  old  house,  with  a 
sufficient  stone  seller  under  ye  same,  the  north  end  thereof  partitioned  off  with  oak 
boards.  To  have  one  window  with  cross-iron  bars  therein,  one  cross  window  to  the 
south' ard,  one  to  the  eastward  and  one  to  the  westward  in  the  first  room. 

These  repairs  did  not  accomplish  their  purpose  as  far  as  the  jail  was 
concerned,  and  within  two  years  complaints  again  came  from  the  sheriff 
that  his  prisoners  escaped  with  little  difficulty.  Another  effort  was 
made  at  repairing  the  structure  in  a  far  more  substantial  manner,  and 
it  was  used  with  some  changes  until  about  1803,  when  it  was  demol- 
ished. In  1791  the  Legislature  passed  an  act  authorizing  the  city 
authorities  to  raise  ^"2,000  towards  the  completion  of  the  court  house 
and  jail.  Difficulties  arose  between  the  city  and  the  county  authori- 
ties, which  delayed  the  project,  and  it  was  not  until  1803-04  that  the 
new  jail  was  finished.  The  land  on  which  it  stood  extended  about 
eighty  feet  on  State  street ;  eighty-four  feet  on  Maiden  Lane ;  and  116  feet 
on  Eagle  street.  It  was  sold  at  auction  August  11,  1832,  in  the  inter- 
est of  the  trustees  of  the  Albany  Academy.  Previous  to  this  date,  on 
November  1,  1831,  the  grand  jurors  visited  the  jail  and  found  it  in  such 
condition  that  they  recommended  that  the  Board  of  Supervisors  erect  a 
new  jail,  "inasmuch  as  this  building,  which  had  stood  twenty-two 
years,  was  fast  decaying,  very  illy  constructed,  and  too  small  in  order 
to  [secure]  health,  comfort  and  convenience,  and  situated  in  too  thickly 
settled  a  locality."     The  statement  that  the  building  had  stood  twenty- 


163 

two  years  is  probably  an  error.  The  next  and  third  jail,  inclusive  of 
the  one  in  the  Old  Stadt  Huys,  stood  on  the  corner  of  Eagle  and  How- 
ard streets,  and  was  completed  in  the  latter  part  of  1834.  This  was 
used  until  the  spring  of  1854,  when  the  jail  on  Maiden  Lane  was  erected 
and  the  old  jail  was  fitted  up  for  a  hospital  and  opened  August  8,  1854. 
That  jail  served  its  purpose  without  public  complaint  until  1868,  when 
Henry  Smith,  then  district  attorney,  sent  a  communication  to  the 
Board  of  Supervisors,  in  which  he  said: 

In  the  main  apartment  you  will  find  sixty  male  prisoners,  including  some  children, 
confined  in  one  common  room,  where  those  youthful  in  years,  and  those  who  have 
committed  their  first  criminal  error,  perhaps  those  who  are  entirely  innocent,  are  ex- 
posed to  the  influences,  and  often  to  the  physical  tortures,  of  the  most  depraved  of 
men. 

In  another  room,  of  about  fifteen  by  eighteen,  you  will  find  some  twenty-two 
females  of  various  ages,  even  to  extreme  old  age;  some  reasonably  tidy  and  others 
repulsively  filthy;  some  apparently  well  and  others  suffering  from  loathsome  dis- 
eases, crowded  together  in  a  space  where  there  is  scarcely  room  for  all  to  lie  down 
at  once.  In  short,  you  will  find  a  state  of  things  that  would  shame  a  semi-civilized 
community,  and  would  not  be  tolerated  by  the  people  of  this  county  for  one  hour  if 
they  could  for  a  moment  look  in  upon  the  appalling  horrors  of  that  fearful  den,  kept 
under  their  authority,  for  the  detention  of  persons  accused  of  crime.  This  state  of 
affairs,  Mr.  Smith  continues,  is  no  fault  of  the  Sheriff  or  Jailer,  but  results  from  want 
of  suitable  rooms. 

This  created  a  sensation  and  resulted  in  an  immediate  change.  The 
superintendent  of  the  Capital  Police  was  directed  to  send  his  prisoners 
under  sentence  to  the  penitentiary,  instead  of  leaving  them  in  the  jail, 
while  plans  for  improvement  were  made  and  carried  out  at  an  expen- 
diture of  $2,500. 

THE  ALBANY  LAW  SCHOOL.  « 

This  school  is  among  the  oldest  institutions  of  the  kind  in  the 
country. 

In  1851  the  Legislature  incorporated  the  University  of  Albany,  giv- 
ing to  it  the  authority  to  organize  a  Literary  department,  a  Law  de- 
partment, a  Scientific  department,  and  providing  that  the  Albany 
Medical  College,  already  existing,  might,  if  so  disposed,  unite  with 
the  departments  to  be  formed. 

The  department  of  law  was  immediately  organized  as  the  Albany 
Law  School,  and  has  maintained  a  prosperous  existence  to  the  present 

1  Prepared  by  W,  R.  Davidson,  secretary  of  the  school. 


164 

time,  having  graduated  over  two  thousand  students,  and  having  had 
an  attendance  of  over  three  thousand. 

At  the  time  of  its  organization  there  were  three  other  law  schools 
— Harvard,  Yale  and  Cincinnati  (now  Columbia) ;  there  are  now  up- 
wards of  eighty. 

The  first  Board  of  Trustees  was  organized  as  follows:  Greene  C. 
Bronson,  president ;  Thomas  W.  Olcott,  vice  president :  Orlando  Meads, 
secretary ;  Luther  Tucker,  treasurer. 

The  first  Faculty  was  constituted  as  follows:  Chancellor  Reuben  H. 
Walworth,  president,  but  taking  no  part  in  the  instruction;  Hon.  Ira 
Harris,  LL.D.,  lecturer  on  practice,  pleading  and  evidence;  Hon. 
Amasa  J.  Parker,  LL.D.,  lecturer  on  real  estate,  wills,  domestic  re- 
lations, personal  rights,  and  criminal  law;  Amos  Dean,  LL.D.,  lec- 
turer on  contracts,  personal  property  and  commercial  law. 

December  16,  1851,  the  first  class  was  organized,  with  an  enrollment 
of  twenty-three  students,  in  the  Exchange  building,  corner  Broadway 
and  State  street,  the  site  of  the  present  U.  S.  Government  building, 
and  continued  sixteen  weeks.  The  next  two  years  the  school  was  held 
in  the  Cooper  building,  on  the  corner  of  State  and  Green  streets,  the 
courses  being  sixteen  weeks  each.  Of  the  students  in  the  first  class, 
seven  were  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1852,  viz.  :  Edwin  E.  Bronk, 
Charles  A.  Fowler,  Willard  P.  Gambell,  John  C.  McClure,  Worthing- 
ton  Frothingham,  Edward  Wade  and  George  Woolford. 

To  accommodate  the  increasing  enrollment  of  students,  in  1854  the 
school  was  removed  to  the  south  wing  of  the  Medical  College  on  Eagle 
street  (now  Alumni  Hall).  At  the  same  time  the  course  was  extended 
to  two  terms  of  twelve  weeks  each.  The  exercises  consisted  of  lectures, 
moot  courts,  oral  and  written  examinations. 

In  1855  Thomas  W.  Olcott  became  president  of  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees and  continued  until  his  death  in  1880. 

In  1869  Professor  Amos  Dean  died;  Professor  Amasa  J.  Parker  re- 
signed in  1870;  Professor  Ira  Harris  died  in  1875.  Of  these,  Professors 
Parker  and  Harris  were  justices  of  the  Supreme  Court;  Professor 
Harris  was  also  United  States  senator. 

In  1870  a  larger  Faculty  was  organized.  Isaac  Edwards,  LL.D., 
succeeded  to  the  chair  of  Professor  Dean ;  Hon.  Matthew  Hale,  LL.D., 
to  the  chair  of  Professor  Parker;  Charles  C.  T.  F.  Spoor,  esq.,  as  lec- 
turer on  subjects  assigned;  Hon.  William  L.  Learned,  LL.D.,  justice 
of  the  Supreme  Court,  lecturer  on  equity  jurisprudence,  civil  law,  and 


1G5 

the  trial  of  causes;  Hon.  William  F.  Allen,  LL.D.,  then  judge  of  the 
Court  of  Appeals,  to  lecture  on  real  property. 

In  1873  the  University  of  Albany  united  with  Union  College  and  by 
an  act  of  the  Legislature  was  constituted  as  Union  University,  the  Al- 
bany Law  School  becoming  the  law  department.  In  1874  Hon.  John 
T.  Hoffman,  LL.  D.,  governor  of  the  State  of  New  York,  was  added 
to  the  Faculty,  succeeding  to  the  chair  of  Judge  Allen  as  professor  of 
the  law  of  real  property. 

In  1875  Professor  Harris  died,  and  Prof.  Charles  T.  F.  Spoor  was 
designated  to  succeed  to  his  chair,  lecturing  on  practice  and  pleading 
at  common  law,  and  under  the  Code. 

In  1878  Eliphalet  N.  Potter,  D.  D  ,  LL.  D.,  entered  the  Faculty,  and 
lectured  on  feudal  system;  also  Henry  Coppee,  LL.  D.,  lecturing  on 
international  law ;  also  Hon.  Hiram  E.   Sickles,   lecturer  on  evidence. 

In  1879  Professor  Edwards,  dean  of  the  Faculty,  died,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Hon.  Horace  E.  Smith,  LL.  D.,  of  Johnstown,  N.  Y.,  dean 
of  the  Faculty,  lecturing  on  personal  property,  contracts,  commercial 
law,  common  law  pleading,  torts  and  medical  jurisprudence.  Henry 
S.  McCall,  esq.,  and  Irving  Browne,  esq.,  were  added  to  the  Faculty 
at  this  time,  Professor  McCall  lecturing  on  real  estate  and  wills,  Pro- 
fessor Browne,  lecturer  on  domestic  relations  and  criminal  law. 

On  the  accession  of  Dean  Smith,  it  was  evident  to  him  that  the 
building  where  the  school  had  been  held  for  a  quarter  of  a  centurv 
was  no  longer  adequate  to  its  requirements.  The  trustees  purchased 
the  Universalist  church  building  on  the  north  side  of  State  street, 
near  Swan  street,  and  through  the  liberality  of  their  president,  Thomas 
W.  Olcott,  it  was  converted  into  the  pleasant  and  convenient  building 
now  occupied  by  the  school.  This  building  was  dedicated  to  its  new- 
use  March  10,  1879.  Addresses  were  made  by  Amasa  J.  Parker, 
LL.  D.,  Hon.  Samuel  Hand,  Charles  E.  Smith,  then  editor  of  the 
Albany  Evening  Journal,  and  Dean  Smith.  The  Board  of  Trustees 
was  largely  increased  in  numbers,  Hon.  Amasa  J.  Parker,  LL.  I>.,  as 
one  of  the  original  founders  of  the  school,  remaining  as  one  of  the 
honorary  members.  In  1880  President  Thomas  W.  Olcott  died,  and 
Orlando  Meads  succeeded  to  the  presidency,  and  Marcus  T.  Hun,  esq., 
trustee,  was  appointed  to  succeed  President  Meads  as  secretary. 

In  1883  President  Meads  died  and  Hon.  William  L.  Learned,  LL.D., 
justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  succeeded  to  the  presidency;  Marcus  T. 
Hun,  esq.,  resigned  the  secretaryship,  and  Charles  J.  Buchanan,   i 


166 

was  appointed  secretary;  Nathaniel  C.  Moak,  esq.,  entered  the  Faculty 
as  lecturer  on  books  and  judicial  systems.  The  Alumni  Association 
was  organized  under  favorable  auspices,  awakening  new  interest  in 
the  school  among  the  numerous  graduates  scattered  throughout  the 
country.  At  the  advent  of  Dean  Smith  the  course  was  made  three 
terms  of  twelve  weeks  each,  preceded  or  supplemented  by  one  year  in 
a  law  office.  The  requirements  for  graduation  as  previously  adopted 
were  preserved,  viz. :  All  candidates  for  the  degree  of  LL.  B.  should 
read  before  the  dean  or  Faculty  six  weeks  before  commencement,  an 
original  thesis  pertaining  to  the  history,  science  or  practice  of  law. 
Moot  courts  for  the  argument  and  trial  of  causes  were  also  continued ; 
two  being  held  each  week. 

In  1889  after  a  successful  administration  of  school  affairs,  Dean 
Smith  resigned  to  resume  the  active  practice  of  law.  George  W. 
Kerchwey,  esq. ,  of  Albany,  was  appointed  to  succeed  to  the  chair  of 
dean. 

In  1S90  Hon.  Hiram  E.  Sickles  resigned  from  the  Faculty,  and 
James  W.  Eaton  succeeded  him  as  lecturer  on  evidence;  Maurice  J. 
Lewis  M.  D.,  was  appointed  lecturer  on  medical  jurisprudence;  and 
Harold  L.    Hooker,   esq,   was  appointed  instructor  in  elementary  law. 

In  1891  DeanKirchwey  resigned  to  accept  a  chair  in  Columbia  Law 
School,  and  Lewis  B.  Hall,  A.  M. ,  was  appointed  to  the  position  of 
dean  and  instructor  in  contracts  and  commercial  law. 

Charles  T.  F.  Spoor  died  and  was  succeeded  by  J.  Newton  Fiero, 
esq.,  who  was  appointed  instructor  in  common  law  and  code  practice 
and  pleading;  Eugene  Burlingame,  instructor  in  the  law  of  real  prop- 
erty; James  F.  Tracey,  esq.,  instructor  in  the  law  of  corporations. 

In  1894  A.  V.  V.  Raymond,  D.  D.,  LL.D.,  having  succeeded  to  the 
presidency  of  Union  University  in  place  of  HarrisonL.  Webster,  LL.D., 
resigned,  the  trustees  and  Faculty  of  the  school  placed  their  resignation 
in  his  hands  for  the  purpose  of  reorganization. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  course  in  1895  the  Board  of  Trustees  was 
reorganized  as  follows : 

Hon.  Amasa  J.  Parker,  A.  M.,  president;  James  W.  Eaton,  esq., 
treasurer;  Charles  J.  Buchanan,  esq.,  secretary:  Andrew  V.  V.  Ray- 
mone,  Matthew  Hale,  Marcus  T.  Hun,  William  L.  Learned,  J.  Newton 
Fiero,  Seymour  Van  Santvoord,  Alton  B.  Parker,  Charles  C.  Lester, 
Alonzo  P.  Strong,  James  Lansing,  Judson  S.  Landon,  and  Edward  P. 
White. 


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n;; 

The  Faculty  was  also  reorganized  as  follows:  Andrew  V.  V.  Ray- 
mond, D.  D.,  LL.D.,  president;  J.  Newton  Fiero,  dean ;  James  W. 
Eaton,  Eugene  Burlingame,  James  F.  Tracey,  Joseph  A.  Lawson,  in- 
structors.    Special  lecturers;    Judson  S.  Landon,  LL.D.,  Hon.  Alton 

B.  Parker,  Matthew  Hale,  LL.D.,  Hon.  D.  Cady  Herrick,  Hon.  Dan- 
forth  E.  Ainsworth,  Andrew  McFarlane,  M.  D.,  Hon.  Walter  E.  Ward, 

C.  E.  Franklin.  The  Board  and  Faculty  for  1896  are  the  same  with 
the  addition  of  Lewis  R.  Parker,  lecturer  on  bailments  and  suretyship. 
Of  thisFaculty,  three  are  justices  of  the  Supreme  Court,  Appellate  Di- 
vision. J.  Newton  Fiero,  dean,  author  of  "Special  Actions,"  and 
"Special  Proceedings,"  was  for  two  successive  years  president  of 
the  State  Bar  Association,  and  was  largely  instrumental  in  securing 
the  establishment  of  the  Board  of  State  Law  Examiners,  making  the 
examination  of  applicants  for  admission  to  the  bar  uniform  throughout 
the  State.  The  Court  of  Appeals  rules  for  admission  of  attornevs, 
etc.,  went  into  effect  January  1,  1895,  requiring  three  years  of  prepa- 
ration of  all  students  at  law  before  applying  for  admission  to  the  bar,  and 
requiring  them  to  be  examined  before  the  new  Board  of  Law  Exam- 
iners. 

The  course  of  the  school  was  changed  to  conform  to  the  new  law  and 
methods  to  one  year  of  eight  months  divided  into  two  semesters ;  to  be 
preceded  by  two  years  in  a  law  office,  or  law  school,  retaining  the  former 
method  of  instruction,  with  moot  courts  once  a  week. 

From  the  first  class  to  the  present  time  the  school  Register  shows  in- 
creased attendance,  even  during  the  years  of  the  war  between  I860  and 
1865.  Of  some  classes  were  graduated  ninety,  fifty-seven,  fifty-nine, 
none  less  than  fifty.  At  the  close  of  the  war  the  attendance  was  larger 
than  at  any  time  before.  At  one  time  every  rank  in  the  army  from 
private  up  to  brigadier-general  was  represented  among  the  students. 

After  what  has  been  said  of  the  army  representation  among  the 
students,  it  can  be  stated  with  equal  correctness,  that  every  rank  from 
city  and  county  attorney  to  the  judges  on  the  bench  of  the  United 
States  Court  and  president  of  the  United  States,  has  a  representation 
among  the  students  whose  names  are  to  be  found  upon  the  Register  <>t" 
the  school.  Without  doing  more  than  to  mention  a  few  as  they  occur 
to  the  mind  of  the  present  writer,  himself  a  graduate  in  '64,  may  he 
noted:  Class  of '58,  Hon.  David  J.  Brewer,  judge  United  States  bench; 
William  McKinley,  jr.,  class  of  '67,  president-elect  of  the  United 
States;  Hon.   Redfield  Proctor,  '60,   ex-secretary  of  war,   now   United 


168 

States  senator;  William  F.  Vilas,  '60,  ex-secretary  of  war,  now  United 
States  senator;  Irving  G.  Vann,  '65,  judge  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  of 
this  State;  James  H.  Eckles,  '80,  a  member  of  President  Cleveland's 
cabinet;  Hon.  Alton  B.  Parker;  Hon.  D.  Cady  Herrick,  '67;  Hon. 
William  D.  Dickey,  '66;  Hon.  William  W.  Goodrich,  '53,  justices  of  the 
Supreme  Court  (Appellate  Division). 

In  this  county  the  present  district  attorney,  county  judge,  surrogate, 
city  recorder,  and  one  of  the  justices  of  the  City  Court  are  graduates 
of  the  school,  and  with  a  very  few  exceptions  the  bar  of  Albany  county 
are  graduates  of  the  school. 

During  the  administration  of  Dean  Hall  very  many  improvements 
were  made  to  the  building,  which  has  been  largely  supplemented  by 
Dean  Fiero,  making  it  one  of  the  best  equipped  school  buildings  of  its 
kind  in  the  country.  Albany  as  a  seat  of  a  professional  school  cannot 
be  overrated.  Here  are  located  the  executive,  legislative  and  judicial 
departments  of  the  State 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION  IN  ALBANY  COUNTY. 
By  Herman  Bendell,  M.  D. 

The  early  history  of  Fort  Orange  and  Albany  seems  to  indicate  that 
the  first  settlers  were  fortunate  in  receiving  medical  treatment  and  care 
of  some  description  when  they  were  sick.  That  it  was  not  of  the  high- 
est character  in  a  professional  sense  need  not  be  asserted.  The  Dutch 
West  India  Company  itself  endeavored  to  protect  its  subjects  from  ill- 
ness, possibly  from  partially  selfish  reasons.  One  of  their  recorded 
regulations  reads  as  follows: 

The  patroons  and  colonists  shall,  in  particular  and  in  the  speediest  manner,  en- 
deavor to  find  ways  and  means  whereby  they  may  support  a  minister  and  a  school- 
master, that  the  service  of  God  and  the  zeal  for  religion  may  not  grow  cold  and  be 
neglected  among  them,  and  that  they  do  for  the  first  procure  a  comforter  for  the  sick. 

This  office  had  a  Dutch  name  of  its  own  and  its  incumbent  was  the 
first  person  recognized  in  such  a  capacity  in  the  colonies  under  the 
Dutch  regime.     This  "  comforter  of  the  sick"  frequently  combined  in 


i^LfyttttUt  'dtaJltC* 


169 

himself  the  offices  of  physician,  preacher  and  possibily  a  civil  position 
of  some  nature.  His  medical  skill  and  knowledge  could  not,  of  course, 
have  been  of  a  high  character.  Among  those  who  thus  mingled  medical 
practice  with  religious  teaching  was  the  noted  Dominic  Johannes 
Megapolensis,  who  bore  the  title  of  "  Rev.  Dr."  He  was  probablv  the 
first  Dutch  dominie  to  settle  at  Albany.  Another  was  Dominie  G.  \V. 
Mancius,  who  educated  his  son,  Wilhelmus,  in  the  medical  profession 
to  such  good  purpose  that  he  practiced  successfully  during  the  most  of 
the  remainder  of  his  life  in  Albany.  Both  of  these  pioneers  became 
members  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society  upon  its  formation  in 
180(3.  But  the  first  "  comforter  of  the  sick"  at  Fort  Orange  was 
Sebastian  Jansel  Crol.  He  had  previously  filled  a  similar  office  at  Fort 
Amsterdam,  coming  to  this  colony  in  1626  with  the  appointment  of 
Vice  Director  and  Company's  Commissary  to  Fort  Orange.  He  was 
succeeded  in  his  official  position  by  Hermanns  Myndertse  Vander  I>< 
in  1646.  It  is  believed  that  he  was  ship  surgeon  on  the  Eendraght, 
which  came  over  in  1630,  and  therefore  was  a  qualified  practitioner. 
He  served  at  Fort  Orange  only  two  years  and  was  probably  burned  to 
death  in  an  Indian  wigwam  on  the  Mohawk. 

The  first  regular  physician  to  settle  in  this  locality  came  over  in  L642 
in  the  same  vessel  with  Rev.  Dr.  Megapolensis,  in  the  person  of  Sur- 
geon Abraham  Staats.  Very  little  is  known  of  his  qualifications,  or 
whether  he  was  employed,  like  the  minister,  to  serve  the  inhabitants 
both  spirtually  and  professionally.  Albany  consisted  then  of  only 
twenty-five  or  thirty  houses  scattered  along  the  river,  and  a  population 
of  about  100;  hence  Dr.  Staats  probably  did  not  find  himself  over- 
pressed  with  professional  labor.  He  was  doubtless  a  man  of  g 
character  and  public  spirit,  for  he  was  the  first  presiding  officer  of  the 
village  council  of  Rensselaer wyck.  In  1642  his  dwelling  at  Claverack 
was  burned  by  the  Indians,  and  his  wife  and  others  of  his  family  per- 
ished. He  became  the  owner  of  Fort  Orange,  it  is  said,  and  the  land 
on  which  it  stood  came  down  to  his  descendants. 

One  of  the  first,  perhaps  the  very  first,  enactment,  to  regulate  medi- 
cal practice  at  new  Amsterdam  was  the  following: 

Ordered,  that  ship  barbers  shall  not  be  allowed  to  dress  wounds,  nor  administer 
any  potion  on  shore,  without  the  consent  of  the  petitioners  [the  local  chirurgeons], 
or  at  least  Dr.  La  Montague. 

The  inference  from  this  extract  as  to  what  had  been  practiced  upon 
occasion,  is  clear.     This  Dr.  Johannesdela  Montagne  was  a  Huguenot, 

22 


170 

and  although  a  physician,  was  known  in  political  affairs  only.  He  ar- 
rived in  New  York  in  1637  and  was  vice-director  of  Fort  Orange  from 
1636  to  1664,  and  held  other  offices. 

Surgeon  De  Hinse  was  a  physician  at  the  fort  in  1666;  there  is  little 
record  of  his  practice.  These  surgeons  who  were  on  duty  at  Fort 
Orange  at  that  period  received  for  pay  2s.  6d.  per  day.  In  1689  a 
Scotch  physician  named  Lockhart  was  surgeon  at  the  Fort  and  prac- 
practiced  among  the  inhabitants.  At  a  later  date  a  son  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Megapolensis  was  a  surgeon  of  the  colony.  He  and  his  brother  Samuel 
were  graduates  of  Leyden,  and  passed  most  of  their  lives  in  New  York. 
These  are  about  all  the  physicians  of  whom  the  records  speak  until 
along  in  the  beginning  of  the  next  century.  Less  than  forty  physicians 
are  known  to  have  come  to  the  province  of  New  York  during  the  seven- 
teenth century,  though  there  may  have  been  a  few  more  whose  names 
are  lost  in  the  past. 

The  old  French  war  and  the  war  of  the  Revolution  brought  hither 
and  into  prominence  many  physicians.  The  English  army  was  accom- 
panied by  a  respectable  medical  staff  and  from  that  time  onward  the 
profession  on  this  side  of  the  ocean  occupied  a  much  higher  plane  than 
before.  Dr.  Samuel  Stringer,  a  native  of  Maryland  and  educated  in 
Virginia,  where  a  medical  school  was  early  established,  was  the  lead 
ing  physician  in  Albany  during  the  eighteenth  century  and  shared  in 
the  labors  connected  with  both  these  wars.  In  1755  he  received  the 
appointment  from  Governor  Shirley  of  officer  in  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  army,  and  accompanied  Abercrombie  in  1758  in  his  disas- 
trous campaign  at  Ticonderoga.  Serving  through  the  war  he  settled 
in  Albany  and  remained  in  practice  until  the  beginning  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, when  he  was  appointed  by  Congress  Director- General  of  Hospitals 
in  the  Northern  Department.  In  this  capacity  he  accompanied  the 
army  in  the  Canadian  invasion.  He  was  subsequently  removed  from 
this  high  position,  possibly  through  sympathy  with  General  Schuyler 
in  the  ill  fortune  and  opposition  which  that  gallant  officer  met.  His 
removal  called  out  a  vigorous  remonstrance  from  the  general  to  Con- 
gress. He  returned  to  Albany  in  1777  and  here  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  long  life. 

Dr.  Nicholas  Schuyler  also  served  professionally  in  the  armies  in 
both  wars,  after  which  he  settled  in  Albany  and  died  in  Troy  in  1824. 
Dr.  T.  Cochoran,  of  Pennsylvania,  served  as  surgeon  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary army,  occupying  high  position.    He  was  made  Surgeon  General 


171 

of  the  Middle  Department,  and  in  1781  was  appointed  Director-General 
of  the  Hospitals  of  the  United  States.  He  settled  in  Albany  at  the 
conclusion  of  the  war. 

During-  an  early  period  Moses  and  Elias  Williams,  brothers  and  na- 
tives of  New  England,  practiced  their  profession  in  Albany.  They 
with  their  father  shared  in  the  battle  of  Lexington.  Elias  had  begun 
the  study  of  medicine  before  the  war  broke  out  and  after  serving  a 
short  time  as  a  private  he  entered  a  military  hospital  in  Boston,  which 
was  then  much  used  as  a  training  school  for  needed  surgeons.  Two 
years  later  he  was  appointed  surgeon  in  a  Maine  regiment  and  served 
to  the  close  of  the  war.  He  settled  in  Albany  in  1801  and  practiced 
there  twenty-five  years.  His  brother  was  younger  and  entered  the 
service  later. 

Hunloke  Woodruff  a  graduate  of  Princeton,  began  the  study  of 
medicine  a  short  time  previous  to  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution  and 
took  up  his  residence  in  Albany.  He  was  soon  appointed  surgeon  of 
a  New  York  regiment,  accompanied  Colonel  Gansevoort  at  the  siege 
of  Fort  wStanwix  and  General  Sullivan  in  his  famous  expedition  into 
the  country  of  the  Senecas.  After  the  war  he  settled  in  Albany, 
where  he  passed  most  of  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  the  first 
president  of  the  County  Medical  Society  and  bore  the  reputation  of  a 
skillful  physician. 

It  is  a  historical  incident  of  importance  that  during  the  French  war 
a  hospital  was  established  in  Albany,  to  care  for  the  wounded  brought 
down  from  the  Ticonderoga  battlefield.  Mrs.  Grant,  in  her  "Memoirs 
of  an  American  Lady,"  notes  the  occurrence,  and  states  that  the  hos- 
pital was  opened  in  the  barn  of  Madame  Schuyler,  where  a  band  of 
ladies  attended  on  the  sufferers.  Another  historical  authority  states 
that  a  hospital  was  established  here  during  that  war,  and  describes  it 
as  it  appeared  in  1788  as  follows: 

It  is  situated  on  an  eminence  overlooking  the  city.      It  is  two  stories  high,   having 
a  wing  at  each  end  and  a  piazza  in  front,  above  and  below.     It  contains  forty  wards. 
capable  of  accommodating  500  patients,  besides  the  rooms  appropriated  to  the  u 
the  surgeons  and  other  officers. 

After  the  defeat  of  Burgoyne  at  Saratoga  it  is  said  that  more  than  a 
thousand  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  and  officers  were  sen!  to  Albany, 
filling  the  hospital,  the  Dutch  church  and  many  dwellings.  Many  of 
these  victims  of  the  war  remained  until  the  following  June,  when  the 
military  hospital  was  removed  to  the  highlands  of  the   Hudson.      At  a 


172 

later  date  there  was  a  military  cantonment  and  hospital  in  Greenbush, 
which  was  maintained  until  1823. 

Besides  the  victims  of  war  the  earl)*  physicians  had  to  encounter 
epidemics  at  times  that  were,  perhaps,  more  to  be  dreaded  than  bullets. 
Small-pox  found  its  victims  in  thousands  and  in  the  early  days  was 
difficult  to  manage.  In  1613  it  broke  out  and  spread  with  frightful 
virulence  among  both  Europeans  and  Indians.  Twelve  of  the  few  in- 
habitants on  the  site  of  Albany  died  in  one  week,  while  a  thousand 
Indians  perished.  During  two  months  Connecticut  maintained  a  quar- 
antine against  the  New  Netherlands.  Some  years  later  the  dreaded 
disease  again  broke  out  with  all  its  former  fatality;  indeed,  in  early 
times  this  epidemic  was  more  feared  and  its  ravages  were  more  exten- 
sive than  those  of  any  other  disease.  With  the  introduction  of  inocu- 
lation and  its  quite  general  adoption  about  1730,  the  mortality  from 
small-pox  began  to  diminish. 

In  1746  a  disease  which  took  the  name  of  the  Barbadoes  distemper,- 
and  other  appellations,  was  imported  by  foreign  ships  and  made  its  ap- 
pearance in  Albany.  The  disease  was  doubtless  yellow  fever.  In  1793 
the  citizens  of  Albany,  having  been  informed  by  Judge  Lansing  that 
yellow  fever  was  on  board  of  a  vessel  that  had  passed  New  York,  a 
meeting  of  citizens  and  the  Council  was  held  and  measures  adopted  to 
prevent  any  vessel  from  passing  above  the  Overslaugh  without  exam- 
ination. The  Council  recommended  a  day  of  fasting  and  pra5*er  as  an- 
other means  of  averting  the  disease.  Two  days  later  Hon.  Alexander 
Hamilton  and  his  wife  arrived  at  Greenbush,  where  they  were  visited 
by  a  committee  from  Albany,  who  reported  that  the  distinguished 
couple  were  apparently  well  and  recommended  that  they  be  permitted 
to  cross  the  river.  The  committee  consisted  of  the  following  physi- 
cians of  this  city:  Drs.  Samuel  Stringer,  W.  Mancius,  H.  Woodruff, 
W.  McClelland  and  Cornelius  Roosa. 

With  the  opening  of  the  present  century  the  character  of  the  medi 
cal  profession  in  this  country  began  to  improve.  Alban)-  had  a  popula- 
tion of  about  5,000,  but  they  were  nearly  all  Dutch.  There  was  a  de- 
mand for  better  educated  physicians  and  the  demand  was  soon  sup- 
plied. Quackery  and  charlatanry,  which  had  been  rampant,  began  to 
receive  such  merited  condemnation  from  both  reputable  physicians  and 
well-informed  persons  generally,  that  their  hold  upon  the  public  could 
not  long  continue.  Prior  to  1750  the  education  of  physicians,  unless 
gained  in   Europe,    was  very  imperfect   and   the  facilities  for  gaining 


JOSHPH   LfcWI,  M.   D. 


173 

even  that  were  limited.  The  first  regular  medical  instruction  attempted 
in  this  country  began  in  that  year  with  a  course  of  lectures  on  anatomy 
delivered  in  New  York  by  Samuel  Clossy,  a  Dublin  graduate.  Before 
the  close  of  that  century  four  medical  schools  were  established,  one 
each  at  Philadelphia,  New  York,  and  in  Harvard  and  Dartmouth  Col- 
leges. But  many  who  would  gladly  have  availed  themselves  of  the 
facilities  of  these  institutions  could  not  reach  them,  and  were  forced 
to  content  themselves  with  the  personal  instruction  of  some  practicing 
physician,  who  was  frequently  ill-fitted  for  the  task.  The  passage  of 
the  law  in  1806,  authorizing  the  formation  of  State  and  county  medical 
societies  worked  almost  a  revolution — not  at  once,  but  by  the  gradual 
steps  that  are  taken  by  most  great  reforms.  The  names  of  the  mem- 
bers who  formed  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society,  organized  in 
July  of  the  same  year  that  witnessed  the  passage  of  the  law,  are  given 
on  a  succeeding  page,  and  are  followed  with  a  complete  list  of  the  offi- 
cers. Of  some  of  the  prominent  members  of  that  date  it  is  proper  to 
speak  at  a  little  more  length. 

The  oldest  physician  in  Albany  was  Dr.  Wilhelmus  Mancius,  son  of 
the  Dutch  dominie  already  alluded  to.  He  was  then  (1806)  more  than 
sixty  years  of  age  and  enjoyed  great  popularity.  Dr.  Hunloke  Wood- 
ruff was  his  partner  for  a  time.  Doctor  Maneius  died  in  L808,  two 
years  after  the  organization  of  the  society. 

Dr.  William  McClelland,  a  charter  member  of  the  County  society, 
and  its  first  vice-president,  and  the  first  president  of  the  State  society, 
was  a  graduate  of  Edinburgh.  He  was  a  leader  in  the  profession  here, 
and  had  for  partner  Dr.  William  Bay,  long  a  successful  physician.  Dr. 
McClelland  died  in  1812, 

Dr.  John  G.  Knauff  was  an  apothecary  and  probably  gave  more  at- 
tention to  that  business  than  to  practice.  He  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many and  died  in  1810.  Dr.  Caleb  Gauff,  then  an  old  man.  had  prac- 
ticed many  years  in  Bethlehem,  while  Dr.  Oliver  Lath rop  was  practic- 
ing in  Watervleit. 

Dr.  Jonathan  Eights  was  an  exact  and  methodical  man  who  through 
the  first  half  of  this  century  was  held  in  high  esteem  as  a  family  physi- 
cian.     He  contributed  more  or  less  to  medical  literature. 

Dr.    John   Stearns  was   a  graduate  of   Yale,    practiced   a  numbi 
years  here,  and  is  honored  as  being  the  man  whose  efforts  procured  the 
law  of  L806  under  which  State  and  county  medical  societies  have 
incorporated. 


174 

The  succeeding  lists  give  such  brief  details  of  all  the  members  of  the 
society  as  are  permissible  for  this  work. 

When  the  great  cholera  epidemic  of  1832  swept  over  the  country,  a 
meeting  of  this  society  was  called  at  the  request  of  the  mayor  to  con- 
sult upon  measures  for  the  arrest  of  the  disease.  A  staff  was  organized 
consisting  of  Drs.  Eights,  Wing,  Greene,  Boyd,  Townsend,  Wendell, 
James,  McNaughton,  and  March.  The  physicians  of  the  city  met  every 
evening  in  the  city  hall  where  a  record  was  kept  of  the  deaths.  Con- 
spicuous among  the  active  and  unselfish  workers  of  that  trying  period 
was  Dr.  James  P.  Boyd,  then  a  comparatively  young  man.  His  faith- 
ful labor  in  the  epidemic  gave  him  a  commanding  position  in  after 
years.  Dr.  James  McNaughton,  who  had  formerly  been  a  teacher  of 
medicine  in  a  school,  was  made  president  of  the  Board  of  Health  at 
that  time,  and  with  his  brother  Peter  labored  assiduously  among  the 
sufferers.  Both  of  these  men  were  for  half  a  century  among  the  lead- 
ing citizens  of  Albany.  Dr.  Barent  P.  Staats  was  not  only  a  prominent 
physician,  but  took  an  active  interest  in  politics,  and  was  also  a  trus- 
tee of  numerous  mercantile  concerns.  He  was  health  officer  of  the 
port  during  the  period  under  consideration.  Dr.  Alden  March  was 
also  a  well  established  physician  at  that  time,  having  settled  here  in 
1820.  He  practiced  about  fifty  years  and  gained  a  world-wide  reputa- 
tion as  a  surgeon  and  a  teacher. 

The  number  of  reported  cases  of  cholera  during  the  existence  of  the 
disease  here  was  1,147,  of  which  422  were  fatal.  There  was  an  out- 
break of  the  disease  two  years  later,  in  which  there  were  124  cases, 
with  seventy-eight  deaths. 

Dr.  T.  Romeyn  Beck  was  about  at  the  height  of  his  great  fame  at 
the  time  now  under  consideration.  As  the  author  of  "  Medical  Juris- 
prudence "  his  reputation  is  world-wide.  Both  he  and  his  brother 
gave  much  of  their  lives  to  teaching  and  literary  labor.  One  of  them 
was  sent  by  the  governor  to  the  northern  frontier,  duing  the  cholera 
epidemic,  to  procure  information  concerning  the  disease  Dr.  Thomas 
Hun  was  then  just  entering  practice  and  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
long  life  in  Albany,  an  honor  to  his  profession  and  to  good  citizenship. 
Dr.  Hun  was  prominently  connected  with  and  for  many  years  was  dean 
of  the  faculty  of  the  Albany  Medical  College  and  president  of  the  staff 
of  the  Albany  Hospital.  He  died  in  189G,  having  been  active  in  his 
profession  for  more  than  half  a  century. 

Several  prominent  Albany  count}'  physicians  took  part  professionally 


175 

in  the  war  of  1812.  Among  them  was  Dr.  Piatt  Williams,  a  graduate 
of  Williams  College  and  just  beginning  practice  when  the  war  com- 
menced. He  was  promptly  appointed  surgeon  of  the  Second  Regiment 
of  Riflemen  and  served  through  the  war.  Returning  to  Albanv  he 
was  appointed  surgeon  of  theGreenbush  Cantonment,  before  mentioned, 
and  served  there  until  it  was  abandoned  in  1822. 

Dr.  Henry  Greene,  a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  graduated  in  1811,  and 
was  immediately  made  assistant  surgeon  of  the  25th  Regulars,  saw  hard 
service  in  Canada  and  remained  in  the  army  until  the  war  closed.  He 
settled  in  Albany  in  1828,  was  conspicuous  in  the  cholera  epidemic  and 
one  of  the  faculty  of  the  Medical  College  when  it  was  established. 

Dr.  Joel  A.  Wing  practiced  in  Albany  thirty  eight  years.  He  was 
appointed  surgeon  in  the  army  immediately  after  his  graduation,  but 
declined  and  was  made  post  surgeon  of  the  Greenbush  barracks  in  1844. 

The  army  record  of  the  medical  officers  of  this  city  and  county  who 
honorably  served  their  country  during  the  most  trying  times  of  the 
Rebellion,  would  write,  if  space  permitted,  a  series  of  biographies  show- 
ing broad  patriotism  and  a  devotion  to  duty  that  does  honor  to  the 
American  physician.  To  mention  the  names  of  those  who  distinguished 
themselves  on  the  field  of  battle,  who  unflinchingly  aeeoinpanied  the 
forlorn  hope,  who  for  meritorious  conduct  were  named  in  official  orders 
must  be  delegated  to  the  writer  of  individual  biographies.  The  list  is  a 
long  and  honorable  one  and  includes  the  following: 

Dr.  S.  O.  Vanderpoel  held  the  office  of  surgeon  general  at  the  out- 
break of  the  war.  He  served  as  such  on  the  staff  of  Governor  King 
from  January  1,  1857,  to  1850.  He  was  appointed  a  second  time  on 
January  1,  1861,  and  filled  the  office  during  the  administration  of  Gov 
ernor  Morgan.  His  was  the  responsible  duty  of  organizing  the  med- 
ical corps  of  the  early  volunteer  regiments  from  this  State,  and  upon 
his  recommendation  over  600  medical  officers  were  commissioned  and 
assigned  to  regiments.  During  the  peninsular  campaign  he  served  as 
a  volunteer  surgeon,  and  during  the  latter  part  of  the  war  was  inspector 
of  hospitals  for  the  Sanitary  Commission.  After  the  war  Dr.  Vander- 
poel was  for  eight  years  health  officer  of  the  port  of  New  Vork.  For 
many  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Medical  College  Faculty,  and  at- 
tending and  consulting  physician  to  the  hospitals.  Heremovedto  New 
York  city  in  1X81  and  died  on  the  12th  of  March,  L886. 

Dr.  J.V.  P.  Quackenbush  was  surgeon-general  during  the  administra- 
tion of  Governor  Seymour  from  January  1.  I  si;:;,  to  L865,      For  a  period 


176 

of  thirty-five  years  Dr.  Quackenbush  was  a  leading  physician  in  Albany, 
was  a  member  of  the  Faculty  of  the  Albany  Medical  College  and  a  pop- 
ular teacher  and  lecturer.  He  was  a  prominent  citizen  and  attained  a 
high  reputation  in  the  special  field  to  which  he  devoted  most  of  his 
professional  life.      He  died  at  Albany  in  1876. 

Dr.  Sylvester  I).  Willard  was  appointed  surgeon- general  on  the  staff 
of  Governor  Fenton  January  2,  1865,  and  died  during  the  same  year. 
Early  in  1862  he  volunteered  his  services  as  a  surgeon  and  was  assigned 
to  duty  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  The  hardships  of  the  penin- 
sular campaign  undermined  his  health  and  hastened  his  death.  He  was 
foremost  in  advocating  the  founding  of  the  Willard  Asylum  for  the  In- 
sane, was  possessed  of  vigorous  intellectual  qualities,  and  a  man  of  a 
large  fund  of  general  and  professional  knowledge. 

Dr.  James  D.  Pomfret  was  appointed  surgeon  general  April  6,  1865, 
to  fill  vacancy  on  the  staff  of  Gov.  Fenton  caused  by  the  death  of  Sur- 
geon-General Willard,  and  served  as  such  until  January,  1869.  July 
24,  1862,  Dr.  Pomfret  was  appointed  surgeon  of  the  7th  N.  Y.  Heavy 
Artillery  (afterwards  the  113th  N.  Y.  Vols).  February  7,  1865,  he 
tendered  his  resignation,  was  discharged  from  the  service  and  returned 
to  Albany  to  resume  the  practice  of  his  profession.  Dr.  Pomfret  served 
with  his  regiment  in  the  defences  of  Washington  and  during  this  time 
was  assigned  to  duty  as  brigade  surgeon.  Later  on  he  did  service  in 
the  field  and  was  assigned  to  duty  as  one  of  the  division  surgeons  of 
the  2d  Army  Corps.  He  was  a  conscientious  officer  and  popular  with 
the  officers  and  men  of  his  regiment.      Dr.  Pomfret  died  in  1869. 

Dr.  Jacob  S.  Mosher  was  surgeon-general  on  the  staff  of  Governor 
Hoffman  from  1869  to  1873.  He  also  served  as  a  surgeon  of  volun- 
teers in  the  field  and  in  hospitals  at  Washington.  During  his  stay  at 
Washington  he  was  assigned  to  duty  as  assistant  State  medical  director 
and  served  until  1867.  In  1870  he  was  appointed  deputy  health  officer 
of  the  Port  of  New  York  and  remained  in  office  for  a  period  of  six 
years.  Dr.  Mosher  was  a  member  of  the  Yellow  Fever  Commission 
appointed  by  Congress,  a  member  of  the  Faculty  of  the  Albany  Med- 
ical College,  registrar  of  the  Faculty  and  connected  with  the  hospitals. 
He  was  prominent  as  a  citizen,  gifted  as  a  physician  and  eminent  as  a 
chemist.      Dr.  Mosher  died  in  Albany,  August,  1883. 

Dr.  James  W.  Moore  was  commissioned  as  assistant  surgeon  in  the  vol- 
unteer service  of  the  U.  S.  navy  early  in  1861  and  was  in  active  service 
for  a  period  of  nearly  two  years.     He  was  assigned  to  duty  as  fleet  sur- 


SAMUHL  B.  WARD.  M.   D. 


177 

geon  of  the  flotilla  cruising  in  the  Chesapeake  Bay  and  North  Atlan- 
tic. He  was  surgeon  of  the  frigate  Florida,  fitted  out  and  commis- 
sioned to  cruise  for  the  privateer  Alabama,  and  subsequently  assigned 
to  hospital  duty.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  Cohoes 
and  continued  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  until  his  death  in   1880. 

Dr.  J.  Savage  Delevan  was  commissioned  assistant  surgeon  of  the 
169th  X.Y.  Vols,  in  1863,  but  was  not  mustered  owing  to  the  minimum 
number  of  men  in  the  regiment.  After  serving  in  general  hospitals  at 
Washington,  D.  C,  he  was  commissioned  assistant  surgeon  of  the  1st 
Connecticut  Artillery  and  served  during  the  war,  participating  in  many 
of  the  artillery  engagements  during  the  siege  of  Petersburg,  \'a.  He 
was  also  with  his  regiment  at  the  taking  of  Fort  Fisher.  After  the 
close  of  the  war  he  resumed  practice  in  Albany.  Dr.  Delevan  was 
vice  consul  at  Geneva,  Switzerland,  for  a  period  of  two  years,  for  sev- 
eral years  U.  wS.  pension  examining  surgeon  at  Albany,  attending 
physician  on  the  staff  of  the  Homoeopathic  Hospital,  and  member  of 
the  State  Board  of  Health.     Dr.  Delevan  died  in  1885. 

Dr.  Herman  Bendell  entered  the  service  as  hospital  steward  of  the 
39th  X.  Y.  Vols.,  May  28,  1861 ;  was  appointed  acting  assistant  sur- 
geon U.  S.  A.,  September  1  of  the  same  year;  was  commissioned  as 
assistant  surgeon  of  the  6th  Regiment  of  New  York  Heavy  Artillery 
February  2'.),  1863;  promoted  to  surgeon  of  the  86th  X.  Y  Veteran 
Vols.  January  3,  186-5,  and  served  till  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was 
brevetted  lieutenant-colonel  for  meritorious  services  May  18,  1866. 
Since  1886  he  has  been  surgeon  of  the  3d  Brigade  of  the  X.  G.  X.  Y. 

Dr.  Samuel  B.  Ward  was  appointed  medical  cadet  in  the  I'.  S.  Army 
in  September,  1862.  In  1863  was  commissioned  as  acting  assistant 
surgeon  U.  S.  A  ,  and  subsequently  commissioned  as  assistant  sur- 
geon U.  vS.  Vols.  After  the  close  of  the  war  Dr.  Ward  began  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  the  city  of  New  York.  In  1872  he  was 
elected  assistant  surgeon  of  the  7th  Regiment  of  the  National  Guard, 
and  after  his  removal  to  Albany,  in  1876,  he  was  commissioned  as  sur- 
geon of  the  5th  Brigade,  X.  <i.  X.  Y.,  in  which  position  he  served 
until  the  reorganization  of  the  Guard  in  1886.  Dr.  Ward  is  a  member 
of  the  Faculty  of  the  Albany  Medical  College,  attending  physician  at 
the  Albany  Hospital,  consulting  surgeon  at  St.  Peter's  Hospital,  and  a 
representative  member  of  the  State  and  County  Medical  Society. 

Dr.  Charles  A.  Robertson  was  appointed  surgeon  of  the  1 59th  X.  Y. 
Vols.,    August    30,     L862,    and    resigned    his  commission    November  2, 
23 


178 

1863.  Prior  to  the  war  he  practiced  ophthalmology  in  Boston.  After 
resigning-  from  the  service  he  settled  in  Albany  and  had  a  large  prac- 
tice in  his  specialty  until  his  death  in  1880. 

Dr.  Thomas  Helms  of  McKownsville  was  commissioned  as  assistant 
surgeon  of  the  148th  New  York  Vols.,  December  23,  1863,  and  was 
promoted  April  5,  1865,  to  surgeon  of  the  85th  N.  Y.  Vols.  He  was 
wounded  at  Fort  Harrison,  and  was-  honorably  discharged  at  the  close 
of  the  war.     He  resumed  practice  in  his  old  town,  and  died  in  1889. 

Dr.  Charles  H.  Porter  was  commissioned  assistant  surgeon  of  the 
40th  N.  Y.  ATols.  August  22d,  1802,  was  promoted  surgeon  of  the  6th 
X.  Y.  Heavy  Artillery  February  25,  1863,  and  mustered  out  with  his 
regiment  at  the  close  of  the  war.  In  May,  1866,  he  was  brevetted 
colonel  of  N.  Y  Volunteers.  He  returned  to  Albany  and  is  actively 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession. 

Dr.  }ohn  L.  Van  Alstyne  was  commissioned  assistant  surgeon  of  the  3d 
N.  Y.  Cavalry  February  16,  1863,  promoted  surgeon  of  the  same  regi- 
ment September  5,  1864,  and  mustered  out  of  service  at  Norfolk,  Ya., 
July  12,  1865.  After  leaving  the  service  Dr.  Van  Alstyne  returned  to 
Albany,  subsequently  removed  to  Richmondville,  Schoharie  county, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  is  actively  Sngaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession. 

Dr.  Alexander  H.  Hoff  served  as  surgeon-general  on  the  staff  of 
Governor  Clark  from  January  1,  1855,  to  1857.  He  was  commissioned 
as  surgeon  of  the  3d  N.  Y.  Vols.,  May  8,  1861,  and  during  the  same 
year  detailed  as  surgeon  in  charge  of  the  brigade  to  which  his  regiment 
was  assigned.  From  1864  to  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  medical  direc- 
tor of  transportation,  and  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  at  Raleigh, 
N.  C,  August  28.  1865.  In  1867  he  was  appointed  assistant  surgeon 
in  the  Medical  Corps  of  the  U.  S.  Army,  subsequently  promoted  to  the 
grade  of  surgeon,  and  remained  in  the  army  until  his  death  in  1876. 

Dr.  Norman  L.  Snow  was  commissioned  assistant  surgeon  of  the 
153d  N.  Y.  Volunteers,  August  23,  1862,  was  promoted  surgeon  of 
the  same  regiment  March  10,  1864,  and  mustered  out  of  service  with 
his  regiment  October  2,  1865.  Doctor  Snow7  served  with  Sheridan  in 
the  Shenandoah,  in  the  Red  River  expedition  under  Banks,  and  during 
the  latter  part  of  the  war  was  health  officer  of  the  district  of  Savannah. 
After  the  war  he  resumed  practice  in  his  native  locality,  Canajoharie. 
In  1875  he  became  the  associate  of  Doctor  Vander  Veer  at  Albany,  was 
a  member  of  the  medical  and  surgical  staff  of  the  Albany  Hospital,  a 
curator  of  the  college,  and  was  president  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  at 
the  time  of  his  death  in  December,  1885. 


CHARLES  H.   PORTER,   M.   D. 


;      .'■■■■         : 


(b^7-^ 


rf-~L^T^ 


fa^k-^-^^- 


179 

Dr.  Albert  Vander  Veer  entered  the  service  early  in  L861  as  a  medi- 
cal cadet.  He  was  one  of  the  original  corps  of  one  hundred  medical 
cadets  appointed  in  the  U.  S.  army  and  was  assigned  to  duty  at  the 
Columbia  College  Hospital  at  Washington.  January  3,  1863,  he  was 
commissioned  assistant  surgeon  of  the  60th  New  York  Vols.,  promoted  to 
surgeon  of  the  same  regiment  July  29,  1864,  and  mustered  out  of  service- 
August  31,  1865.  Doctor  Vander  Veer  is  actively  and  prominently  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Albany.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  college  faculty  and  dean  of  the  faculty,  also  attending  and  consult- 
ing surgeon  on  the  hospital  staff  and  a  Regent  of  the  University.  He 
is  prominent  as  a  citizen,  eminent  as  a  surgeon  and  a  liberal  contribu- 
tor to  the  literature  of  his  profession. 

Dr.  A.  B  Huested  entered  the  service  as  hospital  steward  of  the 
113th  N.  Y.  Volunteers  (7th  Heavy  Artillery)  early  in  1862.  March 
21st,  1804,  he  was  commissioned  assistant  surgeon  of  the  21st  X.  Y. 
Cavalry,  was  promoted  to  surgeon  October  15,  1865,  and  remained  in 
service  to  the  close  of  the  war.  He  returned  to  Albany,  is  engaged  in 
the  drug  business  and  is  a  member  of  the  faculty  of  the  College  of 
Pharmacy. 

Dr.  George  H.  Newcomb  was  commissioned  assistant  surgeon  of  the 
113th  N.  Y.  Volunteers  August  15,  1862,  was  promoted  to  surgeon  of 
the  same  regiment  February  IS,  1865,  and  mustered  out  of  service 
June  6,  1865,  at  Federal  Hill,  Md.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  resumed 
practice  at  Albany. 

Dr.  George  T.  Stevens  was  commissioned  assistant  surgeon  of  the 
77th  X.  Y.  Volunteers  October  8,  1861,  was  promoted  to  surgeon  of 
the  same  regiment  February  16,  1803,  and  mustered  out  of  service 
with  the  held  and  staff  of  his  regiment  December  1:5,  1805.  Doctor 
Stevens  is  a  contributor  to  the  surgical  history  of  the  rebellion  and 
author  of  "Three  Years  With  the  Sixth  Corps."  He  practiced  in  Al- 
bany for  many  years  after  the  war,  contributed  largely  to  the  litera- 
ture of  his  specialty,  ophthalmology,  and  removed  to  New  York  city 
in  1881. 

Dr.  P.  M.  Murphy  was  commissioned  assistant  surgeon  of  the  134th 
N.  V.  Volunteers  March  30,  1864,  was  promoted  tosurgeonof  the89th 
X.  Y.  Volunteers  June  20,  1865,  but  not  mustered  as  such.  He  accom- 
panied Sherman  on  the  March  to  the  Sea.  and  at  the  close  of  the  war 
returned  to  Albany  and  engaged  in  the  drug  business.  I  >octor  Murphy 
died  at  Albany  June.   1894. 


180 

Dr.  Alexander  A.  Edmeston  was  commissioned  assistant  surgeon 
18th  N.  Y.  Volunteers,  May  17,  1861,  and  resigned  September  25, 
1862.  He  again  entered  the  service  as  surgeon  of  the  92d  N.  Y.  Vol- 
unteers October  7,  1862,  and  resigned  his  commission  December  2, 
1864.  He  resumed  practice  at  Albany  and  died  from  the  results  of 
disease  contracted  in  the  service. 

Dr.  Frank  J.  Mattimore  was  commissioned  assistant  surgeon  of  the 
18th  N.  Y.  Volunteers,  August  11,  1862,  and  mustered  out  of  service 
with  his  regiment  May  21,  1863.  He  died  a  few  months  after  his  re- 
turn from  disease  contracted  in  the  service. 

Dr.  Wesley  Blaisdell  was  practicing  at  Coeymans.  Was  appointed 
assistant  surgeon  of  the  113th  Regiment  N.  Y  Vols.,  later  the  7th 
Heavy  Artillery,  August  15,  1862,  and  resigned  September  2!)  of  the 
same  year.  He  again  entered  the  service  as  assistant  surgeon  of  the 
75th  N.  Y.  Vols.  November  15,  1862,  and  resigned  July  4,  1863.  Dr. 
Blaisdell  died  at  Newbern,  N.  C,  in  1864. 

Dr.  Cornelius  B.  O'Leary  was  commissioned  surgeon  of  the  25th  mili- 
tia regiment  May  31,  1861,  to  serve  three  months  and  was  mustered 
with  his  regiment  September  8  of  the  same  year.  September  12,  1862, 
Dr.  O'Leary  was  appointed  assistant  surgeon  of  the  175th  New  York 
Vols,  and  was  discharged,  by  resignation,  January  16,  1863.  He  was 
commissioned  surgeon  of  the  175th  N.  Y.  Vols.  January  17,  1863,  mus- 
tered into  service  the  same  day,  and  discharged  from  the  service  Sep- 
tember 10,  1863.  Was  recommissioned  assistant  surgeon  of  the  same 
regiment  October  17,  1864,  but  not  mustered  into  service.  Dr.  O'Leary 
resumed  practice  at  Albany  and  died  in  1877. 

Dr.  Warren  Van  Steenberg  was  commissioned  assistant  surgeon 
1st  N.  Y.  Vol.  Infantry  December  3,  1861,  and  was  discharged  Sep- 
tember 30,  1862,  to  accept  promotion  as  surgeon  55th  N.  Y.  Vols,  and 
was  discharged  from  the  regiment  December  22,  1862,  by  reason  of 
consolidation.  Dr.  Van  Steenberg  again  entered  the  service  as  surgeon 
of  the  120th  N.  Y.  Vols  April  27,  1863,  and  was  mustered  out  with  his 
regiment  June  3,  1865.  After  the  war  he  resumed  practice  at  Cohoes, 
N.  Y.     He  died  in  1880. 

Dr.  P.  L.  F.  Reynolds  was  commissioned  assistant  surgeon  16th  N. 
Y.  Volunteers  September  22,  1862,  and  was  discharged  from  the  service 
on  surgeon's  certificate  of  disability  at  Folly  Island,  S.  C,  December 
13,  1863.  In  March,  1865,  he  was  commissioned  as  assistant  surgeon 
of  the  94th  N.  Y.  Volunteers  but  was  not  mustered.    He  resumed  prac- 


181 

tice  at  Albany,   subsequently  removed  to  Oneida,  Madison  county,  N. 
Y.,  where  he  died  April,  1887. 

Dr.  William  H.  Craig'  was  commissioned  surgeon  of  the  177th  N.  Y. 
Volunteers  October  11,  1862,  and  mustered  out  with  his  regiment  Sep- 
tember 10,  1863.  He  resumed  practice  in  Albany.  He  was  U.  S. 
pension  examining  surgeon  from  1865  to  1877,  when  he  was  appointed 
postmaster  of  Albany.  Dr.  Craig  took  an  active  interest  in  all  matters 
pertaining  to  public  improvements.  He  was  a  patriotic  soldier,  hon- 
ored and  esteemed  as  a  citizen  and  a  trusted  physician.  Dr.  Craig  died 
in  October,  1889. 

Dr.  Jeptha  R.  Boulware  was  commissioned  assistant  surgeon  of  the 
177th  regiment  N.  Y.  Volunteers  November  5,  1862,  and  mustered  out 
with  his  regiment  December  10,  1863.  After  the  war  he  was  surgeon 
of  the  10th  Regiment  and  surgeon  of  the  9th  brigade  of  the  National 
Guard  of  the  State  of  New  York.  Dr  Boulware  was  a  prominent 
physician.  He  was  surgeon  on  the  staff  of  St.  Peter's  Hospital  For 
several  years  prior  to  his  death  he  was  a  victim  of  disease  contracted  in 
the  service.      He  died  October,  1887. 

Dr.  Henry  R.  Haskins  was  commissioned  surgeon  of  the  192d  X.  Y. 
Volunteers  February  1,  1865,  and  was  mustered  out  of  service  August 
28  of  the  same  year.  He  practiced  in  Albany  until  his  death  in  1884. 
Was  professor  of  anatomy  on  the  faculty  of  the  Albany  Medical  College 
and  prominent  as  a  surgeon. 

Dr.  Oscar  H.  Young  was  commissioned  assistant  surgeon  of  the  177th 
X.  V.  Volunteers  November  6,  1862,  and  was  mustered  out  of  service 
with  his  regiment  September  10.  1863.  He  resumed  practice  in  Albany 
and  subsequently  removed  to  Michigan. 

Dr.  Thomas  Beckett  was  enrolled  as  surgeon's  mate  of  the  25th  X. 
Y.  State  Militia  May  21,  1 8 ( j *2 ,  and  mustered  out  with  his  regiment 
September  8  of  the  same  year  October  4,  1862,  he  was  commissioned 
assistant  surgeon  of  the  175th  X.  Y.  Vols,  and  resigned  from  the  serviee 
Jane  11,  L863.  Tn  L865  he  was  appointed  acting  assisting  surgeon  CJ.  S. 
A.  and  assigned  to  duty  at  the  Ira  Harris  Hospital,  serving  to  the  close 
of  the  war.  Dr.  Beckett  resumed  practice  at  Albany.  He  never  fully  re- 
covered his  health,  undermined  by  arduous  duties  during  the  campaign 
in  Louisiana,  and  died  in  1895. 

Dr.  Charles  P.  Staats  was  commissioned  assistant  surgeon  67th  X.  V. 
Volunteers  January  21,  1863,  and  mustered  out  of  service  with  his  regi- 
ment July  4,  1864.  Dr.  Staats  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession 
at  Albany.      He  died  in  1884. 


182 

To  complete  this  honorable  list  it  is  just  to  record  the  names  of 
physicians  from  this  city  and  county  who  served  the  country  in  its 
time  of  need  but  were  not  assigned  to  regimental  organizations,  and 
also  to  name  those  whose  valuable  services  are  mentioned  in  official 
reports  and  whose  labors  are  entitled  to  recognition.  The  act  of  April 
16,  1861,  authorizing  the  enrollment  of  30,000  volunteers  in  this  State, 
necessitated  prompt  and  energetic  action  on  the  part  of  the  chiefs  of 
departments  to  properly  equip  and  provide  for  this  large  volunteer 
force  that  was  rapidly  being  concentrated  at  the  designated  rendezvous. 
Efficient  organization  to  provide  for  the  physical  examination  of  re- 
cruits, quarters  for  the  sick  and  disabled,  and  medical  attendants  was 
demanded.  The  qualification  of  candidates  for  the  position  of  surgeon 
and  assistant-surgeon  was  to  be  determined.  The  position  of  surgeon- 
general,  which  up  to  this  time  was  only  complimentary,  became  active 
and  responsible.  Dr.  Alexander  A.  Hoff  was  appointed  medical  inspector 
of  the  military  rendezvous  at  Albany.  He  served  in  this  capacity  until 
May  15,  1861,  when  he  was  relieved  to  accept  the  position  as  surgeon 
of  the  3d  N.  Y.  Vols.  Dr.  Hoff  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  Mason  F.  Cogs- 
well, who  faithfully  performed  the  duties  of  medical  inspector  until  the 
completion  of  the  levy.  Drs.  John  Swinburne,  Alden  March,  and 
Howard  Townsend  volunteered  their  services  in  attending  the  sick  and 
disabled  soldiers,  who,  under  contract  with  the  managers,  were  ad- 
mitted to  the  Albany  Hospital.  In  accordance  with  authority  from 
the  commander-in-chief,  Surgeon-General  Vanderpoel,  on  April  19, 
1861,  appointed  Drs.  Alden  March,  Thomas  Hun,  and  Mason  F.  Cogs- 
well of  this  city,  a  commission  for  the  examination  of  candidates  for 
the  position  of  surgeon  and  assistant  surgeon  of  the  volunteer  regi- 
ments from  this  State.  Dr.  John  Y.  Lansing  was  named  as  secretary, 
and  Dr.  Joseph  Lewi  was  added  to  the  commission  as  an  adjunct  mem- 
ber. Four  hundred  and  sixty-eight  applicants  were  examined  by  this 
board.  Of  this  number  two  hundred  and  twenty  eight  qualified  as 
surgeons,  and  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  as  assistant  surgeons.  This 
commission  remained  in  service  until  December  10,  1861.  Many  of 
the  best  minds  in  the  profession  from  this  city  tendered  their  ser- 
vices and  were  assigned  to  duty  in  camp,  field,  and  hospitals.  Dr. 
Mason  F.  Cogswell  was  surgeon  in  charge  of  a  post  hospital  and 
served  as  a  volunteer  surgeon  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  1862. 
In  1863  Dr.  Cogswell,  in  connection  with  Dr.  Thomas  Hun,  inspected 
for  the  Christian  Commission,  the  military  hospitals  of  the  west  and 


183 

southwest.  Dr.  Alden  March,  at  the  time  professor  of  surgery  at  the 
Albany  Medical  College,  devoted  much  of  his  time  to  the  care  of  the 
sick  and  wounded  inmates  of  the  Soldiers'  Home  located  at  Albany. 
Dr.  John  Y.  Lansing  was  appointed  acting  assistant  surgeon  and  as- 
signed to  duty  as  examiner  of  recruits  at  the  Albany  barracks.  Dr. 
Henry  March,  son  of  Alden  March,  was  commissioned  assistant  sur- 
geon of  volunteers  in  1862  and  assigned  to  hospital  duty  at  Fortress 
Monroe  and  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.  Dr.  William  H.  Bailey,  a  prom- 
inent physician  of  Albany,  was  commissioned  as  surgeon  of  volunteers 
and  assigned  to  duty  at  Washington,  D.  C,  and  in  field  hospitals  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  Dr.  John  Swinburne  served  at  the  recruit- 
ing rendezvous  at  Albany  from  1861  to  1862.  Dr.  Swinburne  was  also 
a  member  of  the  corps  of  volunteer  surgeons  assigned  to  dutv  with 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  during  the  peninsular  campaign  in  1862. 
In  connection  with  Drs.  Willard,  Cogswell,  and  Lansing,  he  was  di- 
rected by  the  medical  director  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  to  establish 
a  field  hospital  on  the  Pamunkey  River  at  a  point  known  as  the  White 
House,  and  remained  in  charge  of  this  hospital  until  he  was  appointed 
acting  assistant  surgeon  U.  S.  A.  and  assigned  to  duty  as  surgeon  in 
charge  of  field  hospital  at  Savage  Station,  Ya.  Dr.  James  II.  Armsbv 
was  one  of  the  attending  surgeons  at  the  Soldiers'  Home  in  this  city. 
Drs.  Levi  Moore,  James  L.  Babcock,  Ira  Delamater,  and  A.  P.  Ten 
Eyck,  men  esteemed  by  the  community  and  respected  as  physicians, 
largely  assisted  in  caring  for  the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  confined  in 
hospital  and  barracks.  Dr.  Samuel  H.  Freeman,  still  active  in  the 
profession,  served  as  an  attending  physician  at  the  Soldiers'  Home. 

Physicians  who  performed  military  service  other  than  professional 
were  Dr.  O.  D.  Ball,  who  enlisted  November  1,  L861,  and  was  mustered 
as  sergeant  of  Co.  M,  3d  Artillery,  X.  Y.  Vols.,  December  9,  of  the 
same  year.  Doctor  Ball  was  promoted  2d  lieutenant  of  Co.  I.  May  21, 
L864.  February  14,  L865,  was  advanced  to  1st  lieutenant  and  mustered 
out  of  service  with  his  company  July  *.  L865.  After  the  close  of  the 
war  Doctor  Ball  practiced  medicine  in  Otsego  county,  X.  Y.  In  is;  | 
he  removed  to  Albany  and  is  still  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession.  Doctor  Ball  is  a  member  of  the  Slate  Medical  Society 
and  ex-president  of  the  County  Medical  Society. 

Dr.  Edward  E.  Brown  was  commissioned  1st  lieutenant  of  Co.  K.  oth 
Artillery,  X.  Y.  Yols.,  September  21,  1862,  was  promoted  captain 
January  30,    L863,  and  resigned  his  commission  May  3,    1865.      Doctor 


184 

Brown  is  a  graduate  of  the  Albany  Medical  College,  practiced  his  pro- 
fession in  the  town  of  Bethlehem  and  at  Albany  and  removed  to 
Massachusetts. 

Dr.  Ezra  A.  Bartlett  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  4th  U.  S.  Artillery 
in  1863.  He  served  with  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  and  Tennessee, 
participating  in  many  engagements  and  was  wounded  at  Pulaski,  Tenn., 
in  January,  1865.  In  1866  he  was  honorably  discharged  from  the  ser- 
vice and  completed  his  collegiate  education.  After  graduating  he  stud- 
ied medicine  at  tha  Albany  Medical  College  and  began  the  practice  of 
his  profession  at  Albany.  Doctor  Bartlett  is  a  lecturer  at  the  Albany 
Medical  College,  a  member  of  the  staff  of  the  Albany  Hospital  and  a 
contributor  to  the  literature  of  his  profession. 

Dr.  Frederick  C.  Curtis  was  enrolled  as  a  private  in  Co.  B,  40th  Regi- 
ment Wisconsin  Vols.,  May  17,  1864,  and  was  discharged  on  the  16th 
'  of  September  of  same  year  by  reason  of  expiration  of  term  of  enlist- 
ment. His  regiment,  mainly  recruited  from  colleges  and  academies, 
Doctor  Curtis  at  the  time  being  in  his  sophomore  year  at  Beloit  Col- 
lege, served  in  the  defenses  of  Memphis,  Tenn.,  and  participated  in  the 
engagement  defending  the  city  against  the  raid  of  General  Forrest. 
Doctor  Curtis  is  active  in  the  profession,  is  a  member  of  the  State  Board 
of  Health,  connected  with  the  college  faculty  and  hospital  staff,  and  since 
1888  has  been  secretary  of  the  New  York  State  Medical  Society. 

Dr.  John  H.  Wilbur  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion  was  a  student  of 
medicine  registered  with  Dr.  J.  D.  Wheeler,  West  Fulton,  Scho- 
harie county,  N.  Y.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Co.  C,  44th  N.  Y. 
Vols.,  August  22,  1861,  and  was  discharged  for  disability  May  5,  1863. 
After  leaving  the  army  he  resumed  the  study  of  medicine  and  was 
graduated  from  the  Eclectic  Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  in 
1864.  Doctor  Wilbur  practiced  medicine  at  West  Fulton  for  three 
years,  removed  to  Oak  Hill,  Greene  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  remained 
four  years.  In  1874  he  settled  in  the  city  of  Cohoes  and  practiced  his 
profession  until  his  death  March  20,  1896.  ' 

The  passage  of  the  act  of  March  18,  1806,  authorizing  the  formation 
of  medical  societies,  marked  the  beginning  of  a  new  era  in  the  profes- 
sion. Previous  to  that  date  physicians  had  been  free  to  begin  practice 
when  and  where  they  saw  fit.  The  result,  as  has  been  seen,  was  to  de- 
grade the  noble  profession.  The  ignorant  pretender,  in  many  localities, 
stood  upon  substantially  the  same  footing  as  regarded  success  in  ob- 
taining patients,    with  the  skilled  and   educated  man.     The  field  was 


185 

overrun  with  quacks  of  all  kinds  and  who  based  their  claims  to  business 
upon  all  manner  of  pretenses.  The  time  was  sure  to  arrive  when  rep- 
utable physicians  would  adopt  measures  for  self  protection,  which 
would  serve  to  separate  them  from  the  army  of  disreputable  practi- 
tioners. Dr.  Thomas  Hun  wrote  in  1844  that  :  "Quackery  must  be 
suppressed,  not  by  legislation,  but  by  enlightening  public  opinion  of 
its  dangers.  The  respectability  of  our  profession  is  to  be  promoted, 
not  by  asking  for  legal  privileges,  but  by  an  increase  of  individual  zeal 
and  co-operation."  That  was  written  nearly  forty  years  after  medical 
societies  came  into  existence  and  indicates  what  must  have  been  the 
conditions  of  the  profession  at  a  much  earlier  period. 

It  has  frequently  been  placed  on  record  that  the  Albany  County  Med- 
ical Society  is  the  oldest  medical  society  in  the  State.  This  is  an  error. 
The  date  of  its  organization  was  July  29,  1806,  at  which  date  there 
were  five  other  county  medical  societies  in  existence,  all  of  which  ex- 
cepting that  of  Columbia  county,  were,  however,  organized  in  the  same 
month  with  the  Albany  County  Society.  This  society  has  been  one  of 
the  most  persistently  active  in  the  State,  and  has  met  with  regularity. 
It  has  been  instrumental  in  contending  against  local  epidemics  and  un- 
sanitary conditions,  its  advice  having  been  frequently  sought  by  the 
mayor  and  council  of  Albany.  Its  discipline  over  unprofessional  mem- 
bers has  been  both  strict  and  just,  and  it  has  been  more  than  generous 
in  perpetuating  the  memory  of  its  deceased  members  in  printed  biogra- 
phies and  in  the  publication  of  its  own  proceedings. 

Following  is  a  chronological  list  of  the  members  of  this  society  from 
its  organization,  with  the  year  of  graduation,  and  other  details: 

Chronological  List  ok  the  Medical  Society  of  the  County  of  Albany  from  us 
Organization,  with  Year  of  Admission  and  Place  of  Graduation — The  Living 
Resident  Members  are  Indicated  by  a  Star*. 

1806,  Hur.loke  Woodruff,  New  York  city,  died  1811,  aged  56;  William  McClelland. 
Edinburgh,  died  1812,  aged  43;  Charles  D.  Townsend,  Columbia  College,  medical 
department,  1802,  died  1847,  aged  70;  John  G.  Knauff,  probably  in  Germany,  died 
1810;  Elias  Willard,  Boston,  died  1827,  aged  71;  Wilhelmus  Mancius,  studied  med- 
icine with  his  father,  Rev,  G.  W.  Mancius,  1758,  died  1808,  aged  70:  William  Ander- 
son, University  of  Pennsylvania,  died  1811,  aged  40;  Joseph  W.  Hegeman,  Prince- 
ton, died  1837,  aged  65;  Cornelius  Yrooman,  jr.,  University  of  Pennsylvania,  died 
1811,  aged  30;  Alexander  G.  Fonda,  licensed  1806,  died  1869,  aged  84;  Caleb  Gauff, 
Bethlehem;  Augustus  Harris,  licensed  by  Supreme  Court,  1800,  died  1857,  aged  81; 
Augustus  P.  R.  Taylor,  University  of  Pennsylvania,  1804,  died  1841,  age 

1807,  Peter  Wendell,  University  of  Pennsylvania,  1807,  died  1849,  aged  64;  Jacob 
L.  Van  Deusen,  Regent's  degree,  1806,  resigned  1825. 

24 


180 

1808,  Archibald  H.  Adams.  University  of  Edinburgh,  died  1811,  aged  42;  Charles 
D.  Cooper,  New  York,  died  1831,  aged  63;  Isaac  Hyde,  probably  licensed,  died  1833, 
aged  61 ;  James  Low,  University  of  Edinburgh,  1807,  died  1823,  aged  40. 

1809,  Simon  Veeder,  licentiate  of  this  society,  1807,  died  1860,  aged  72. 

1810,  William  Bay,  Columbia  College,  Medical  Department,  1797,  died  1865,  aged 
93;  Jonathan  Eights,  certificate  of  two  physicians,  died  1848,  aged  75;  John  Stearns, 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  died  1848,  aged  65. 

1811,  T.  Romeyn  Beck,  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1811,  died  1855, 
aged  64. 

1812,  Jonathan  Johnson,  licentiate  of  this  society,  1812,  died  1860,  aged  75 ;  Eras- 
tus  Williams,  licentiate  Vermont  State  Society,  1800,  died  1842,  aged  69.  Peter  De 
Lamater,  studied  medicine,  1794,  died  1849,  aged  77. 

1813,  Enoch  Cheney ;  Oliver  Lathrop,  studied  with  Dr.  White,  of  Cherry  Valley, 
died  1824,  aged  57. 

1816,  Moses  Brownell,  died  March  12,  1879,  aged  90;  Richard  Brownell,  filed 
diploma  with  county  clerk,  1816,  removed  to  Rhode  Island;  Samuel  Freeman,  Dart- 
mouth, removed  to  Saratoga,  died  1862;  George  Upfold,  jr.,  College  Physicians  and 
Surgeons,  1816,  died  1872,  aged  76;  Plat!  Williams,  Columbia  College,  Medical  De- 
partment, 1810,  died  1870,  aged  86;  Joel  A.  Wing,  licentiate  Montgomery  County 
Society,  1811,  died  1852,  aged  65. 

1817,  Thomas  J.  Gibbons,  College  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1817,  died  1819, 
aged  22. 

1819,  William  Humphreys,  College  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1819,  died  1826,  aged 
31;  Charles  Martin,  licentiate  of  this  society,  1818;  Ashbel  S.  Webster,  College 
Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1819,  died  1840,  aged  44 ;  Caleb  Woodward,  soon  left  the 
city. 

1820,  John  James,  College  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1819,  died  1859,  aged  70; 
Robert  Viets,  died  1853. 

1821,  Moses  Clement,  licentiate  of  New  Hampshire  State  Society,  1807;  died  1831, 
aged  51.  Henry  B.  Hallenbeck,  licentiate  of  this  society ;  died  1825,  aged  29.  Ly- 
man Spalding,  died  1841,  aged  46.  Barent  P.  Staats,  licentiate  New  York  State 
Medical  Society,  1817;  died  1871,  aged  74.  Samuel  S.  Treat,  College  Physicians  and 
Surgeons,  1821;  died  1832,  aged  33.  Peter  Van  O'  Linda,  licentiate  New  York  State 
Medical  Society,  1820;  died  1872,  aged  75.  Christopher  C.  Yates,  licensed  by  Su- 
preme Court,  1802;  died  1848,  aged  70. 

1822,  Valentine  Dennick,  licentiate  of  this  society,  1822,  date  of  birth  and  death 
not  known. 

1823,  John  W.  Bay,  College  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1823,  died  1877,  aged  76 ; 
Lewis  C.  Beck,  licentiate  of  this  society,  1818,  died  1853,  aged  55;  Alden  March, 
Brown  University,  1820,  died  1869,  aged  73. 

1824,  Michael  Freligh,  licensed  by  civil  process,  died  1853,  aged  83. 

1825,  Rensselaer  Gansevoort,  College  Pyhsicians  and  Surgeons,  1824,  died  1838, 
aged  35;  John  W.  Hinckley,  licentiate  of  this  society,  1825,  died  1860,  aged  57. 

1826,  Charles  E.  Burrows;  David  W.  Houghtaling,  licensed  1822,  died  1829, 
aged  33. 

1827,  Hazael  Kane,  licentiate  of  this  society,  1822,  died  at  Nassau ;  Henry  Van 
O' Linda,  licentiate  of  Montgomery  County  Society,  1826,  died  1846,  aged  41. 


187 

1828,  James  P.  Boyd,  University  of  Pennsylvania,  1825,  died  May  10,  1881,  aged 
77;  James  M.  Brown,  licentiate  of  this  society,  1825,  died  1854,  aged  50;  Elisha  S. 
Burton,  Berkshire  Medical  College,  1827,  died  1873;  *Benjamin  B.  Fredenburg, 
licentiate  Columbia  County  Society,  1819;  Samuel  Humpfreys,  licentiate  State  So- 
ciety, 1821,  died  in  Liberia,  1832,  aged  30;  Edward  A.  Leonard,  Yale  College,  Med- 
ical Department,  1827,  died  1837,  aged  31 ;  Michael  Malone.  licentiate  State  Society, 
1826,  died  1844,  aged  46;  James  McNaughton,  University  of  Edinburgh,  1816,  died 
1874,  aged  78;  Peter  McNaughton,  University  of  Edinburgh,  1825,  died  1875,  aged 
75;  William  Noble,  removed  to  Albion,  Orleans  county;  Peter  B.  Noxon,  licentiate 
of  this  society,  1824,  died  April,  1882,  aged  86;  Peter  P.  Staats,  licentiate  State  So- 
ciety, 1825,  died  1874,  aged  71;  William  Tulley,  licentiate  Connecticut  State  Society, 
1810,  died  1859,  aged  74;  Henry  Van  Antwerp,  licentiate  State  Society,  1825,  died 
1859,  aged  57;  Luke  Wellington,  Berkshire  Medical  College,  1825,  removed;  Asa 
Burbank,  Berkshire  Medical  College,  1823,  died  1832. 

1829,  Ebram  T.  Bigelow,  Fairfield  Medical  College,  died  about  1868;  Henry  Green, 
Fairfield  Medical  College,  1814,  died  1844,  aged  54;  Isaac  Hempstead,  licentiate  of 
this  society,  1827,  died  1852,  aged  48 ;  Augustus  F.  Lawyer,  Fairfield  Medical  Col- 
lege, died  March  27,  1883,  aged  75;  Solomon  Lincoln,  licentiate  State  Society,  l^'Jlt. 
removed;  Nicholas  Markay,  died;  Francis  N.  Selkirk,  licentiate  of  this  society, 
1829,  died  1849,  aged  40;  John  Styles,  removed  to  New  York  city;  Benjamin  Van 
Zandt,  died;  James  Wade,  licentiate  Schenectady  County  Society,  1812,  died  1867, 
aged  78;  Nanning  Y.  Winne,  Yale  Medical  School,  1828,  died  1858,  aged  51. 

1830,  Henry  Bronson,  removed  to  New  Haven,  Conn.  ;  Jonathan  H.  Case,  Fairfield 
Medical  College,  1828,  died  1865,  aged  58;  Obadiah  Crosby,  in  New  York,  1828,  died 
is:;s,  aged  38;  Vernor  Cuyler,  licentiate  State  Society,  1822,  removed; David- 
son ;  Thomas  Hun,  University  of  Pennsylvania,  1830,  Albany,  died  June  23,  1896, 
aged  86;  James  S.  Low,  died;  David  McLachlan,  University  of  Glasgow,  1829,  died 
1858,  aged  55;  Richard  Murphy,  licentiate  State  Society,  1830;  William  O'Donnell, 
removed  to  New  York  city;  William  Pearce;  Alva  W.  Rockwell,  Berkshire  Medical 
College,  1820,  died  1837,  aged  41 ;  Nelson  Rusk,  licentiate  Chautauqua  County  So- 
ciety, at  Stuyvesant,  N.  Y.  ;  Samuel  Shaw,  removed  to  Massachusetts;  Guy  Spald- 
ing, died  1854,  aged  75;  John  F.  Townsend,  University  of  Pennsylvania,  1830,  died 
1874,  aged  65. 

1831,  David  R  Burrus,  Vermont  Academy  of  Medicine,  1833,  removed  to  Saratoga 
county,  1859;  Hiram  Christie;  Lansing  Cory;  Darius  Coy,  removed  to  Cobleskill ; 
Palmer  C.  Dorr,  licentiate  of  this  society,  1824,  died  1840,  aged  43;  Richard  J.  Dusen- 
bury.  removed  to  Chicago;  Edward  W.  Ford,  University  of  Pennsylvania,  1881, 
died  1875,  aged  45;  Ten  Eyck  Gansevoort,  University  of  Pennsylvania,  1825,  died 
1843,  aged  40;  Lewis  B.  Gregory,  Fairfield  Medical  College,  1830,  died  1838,  aged 
30;  Abraham  Groesbeck,  removed  to  Chicago,  111.;  Ammond  Hammond.  Vermont 
Academy  of  Medicine,  died  1849,  aged  46;  Alson  J.  Hallenbake,  licentiate  State  So- 
ciety, 1831,  died  1846,  aged  38;  Carroll  Humphrey,  University  of  Pennsylvania,  died 
at  Calcutta,  1834,  aged  29;  E,  A.  Lacey;  David  Springsteed,  licentiate  of  this  so- 
ciety, 1830,  died  March  26,  1894.  aged  86;  Luther  M.  Tracey;  John  T.  Van  Alstyne, 
Fairfield  Medical  College,  1823,  died  1876,  aged  76;  Leonard  G.  Warren.  Vermont 
Academy  of  Medicine,  1826,  died  1866,  aged  63. 

1882,  Jarvis  Barney,  died  1838,  aged  83:  Stephen  I).  Hand,  Berkshire  Medical  Col- 


188 

lege,  1831 ;  Josiah  W.  Lay,  licentiate  Greene  County  Medical  Society,  1816  died  1862, 
aged  71 ;  Piatt  Wickes,  removed. 

1833,  Levarette  Moore,  Berkshire  Medical  College,  1829,  removed  to  Ballston; 
Van  Denmark. 

1834,  James  H.  Armsby,  Vermont  Academy  of  Medicine,  1833,  died  1875,  aged  66 ; 
Frederick  Crounse,  Albany  county ;  Samuel  Dickson,  licentiate  State  Society,  1829, 
died  1858,  aged  51;  N.  L.  Hungerford,  licensed  1830,  died  1839,  aged  34;  Westley 
Newcomb,  Vermont  Academy  of  Medicine,  1832,  removed  to  Ithaca;  William  G. 
Radcliff,  removed  to  Philadelphia;  Bernard  Sabalis,  returned  to  Holland;  Sidney 
Sawyer,  removed  to  Chicago,  111.  ;  Herman  Wendell,  College  Physicians  and  Sur- 
geons, 1832,  died  1881,  aged  72. 

1837,  William  F.  Carter,  Dartmouth  Medical  College,  1834.  died  1866,  aged  54;  H. 
A.  Grant,  removed  to  Connecticut ;  Francis  W.  Priest,  left  city  after  short  residence ; 
J.  B.  Rossman,  Fairfield  Medical  College,  1829,  died  December  23,  1883,  aged  77; 
Edward  Q.  Sewall,  removed  to  Canada;  John  H.  Trotter,  licensed  to  practice,  died 
1861,  aged  48;  John  Van  Buren,  University  of  the  City  of  New  York,  died  1856,  aged 
48 ;  Alexander  Van  Rensselaer,  removed  to  New  York  city. 

1839,  John  Babcock,  Vermont  Academy  of  Medicine,  1838,  died  March  13,  1879, 
aged  65;  John  Van  Alstyne,  died  at  sea,  1844;  Peter  Van  Buren,  College  Physicians 
and  Surgeons,  1823,  died  1873,  aged  71;  John  Wilson,  Fairfield  Medical  College  (?), 
died  1877. 

1840,  Mason  F.  Cogswell,  College  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1833,  died  1864,  aged 
54;  Otis  Jenks,  licensed  by  State  Society,  1840,  died  1854,  aged  55. 

1841,  John  O.  Flagler,  died  December  17,  1882;  E.  B.  O'Callaghan,  licentiate  State 
Society,  1841;  died  1880,  aged  80;  Charles  H.  Payne,  removed  to  Saratoga;  U.  H. 
Wheeler,  died  in  Brooklyn. 

1842,  Selah  B.  Fish,  Berkshire  Medical  College,  1841,  removed  from  the  county. 

1844,  John  Campbell,  Albany  Medical  College,  1843;  entered  United  States  army 
in  1847;  C.  E.  Dayton;  Patrick  Gannon,  in  New  York,  died  1854,  aged  74;  David 
Martin,  Fairfield  Medical  College,  1828,  died  1853,  aged  53;  William  J.  Young,  re- 
moved. 

1845,  Uriah  G.  Bigelow,  Albany  Medical  College,  1843,  died  1873,  aged  52;  Chris- 
topher C.  Griffin,  licentiate  of  this  society,  1843,  died  1856,  aged  41 ;  Edward  Perry, 
University  of  New  York,  died  at  the  age  of  43;  J.  V.  P.  Quackenbush,  Albany-Med- 
ical College,  1842,  died  in  1876,  aged  57;  Richard  H.  Thompson,  Albany  Medical 
College,  1842,  died  1864. 

1846,  Isaiah  Breakey,  Royal  College  of  Surgeons,  Dublin,  1816,  died  1848,  aged  59 ; 
*Samuel  H.  Freeman,  Albany  Medical  College,  1846,  Albany. 

1847,  Henry  B.  McHarg,  Albany  Medical  College,  1847,  died  1848,  aged  22;  Ben- 
jamin A.  Sheldon,  Albany  Medical  College,  1847,  died  September  10,  1864,  aged  39; 
John  Swinburne,  Albany  Medical  College,  1846,  Albany,  died  March  28,  1889,  aged 
65 ;  C.  C.  Waller,  left  the  city,  1855. 

1848,  Edward  H.  Clarke,  Albany  Medical  College,  1848,  removed  to  Buffalo; 
Henry  B.  Fay,  Albany  Medical  College,  1843,  removed  to  New  York  city;  William 
Geoghegan,  Royal  College  Surgeons,  Dublin,  1837,  died  1877,  aged  62;  Alexander 
W  .McNaughton,  Albany  Medical  College,  1848,  died  January  7,  1865,  aged  36;  Paul 
Todd  Taber,  Albany  Medical  College,  1848,  died  1851,  aged  25;  Howard  Townsend, 


ISO 

Albany  Medical  College,  1846;  died  January  15,  1867,  aged  44;  Sylvester  D.  Willard, 
Albany  Medical  College,  1848,  died  April  2,  1865,  aged  40. 

1849,  David  Wiltsie,  Albany  Medical  College,  1847;  died  1875,  aged  55. 

1850,  Abram  H.  McKown,  Albany  Medical  College,  18451  died  1853,  aged  33; 
Thomas  H.  Neeley,  Albany  Medical  College,  1850,  died  1851,  aged  25;  Jacob  Rein- 
hart,  Heidelberg  and  Gottingen,  1847,  died  1860,  aged  35 ;  James  II.  Sallisbury,  Al- 
bany Medical  College,  1850,  removed  to  New  York  city;  Augustus  Yiele,  Fairfield 
Medical  College,  1837,  died  February  12,  1882 ;  Alonzo  G.  Westervelt,  Albany  Medical 
College,  1850,  removed  to  Durham,  Greene  county. 

1851,  James  L.  Babcock,  Albany  Medical  College,  1850,  died  February  13,  1881, 
aged  58;  J.  R.  Bullock,  Fairfield  Medical  College,  1836,  Albany  county;  Ira  M. 
De  Lamater,  Albany  Medical  College,  1850,  died  September,  1864,  aged  45;  David 
E.  Fonda,  Fairfield  Medical  College,  1838,  died  January  12,  1883,  aged  66;  Will- 
iam A.  Hawley,  Albany  Medical  College,  1851,  removed  to  Syracuse;  Charles  D. 
Marsh,  Albany  Medical  College,  1850,  removed  from  the  city;  William  B.  Sims,  Al- 
bany Medical  College,  died  October  18,  1881 ;  S.  O.  Van  Der  Poel,  Jefferson  Medical 
College,  1845,  removed  to  New  York  1881,  died  Macrh  12,  1886;  I.  X.  Wyckoff,  Al- 
bany Medical  College,  1852,  never  practiced  medicine,  died. 

1852,  F.  L.  R.  Chapin,  Albany  Medical  College,  1851,  removed  to  Glens  Falls, 
died  April  10,1889,  aged  65 ;  Samuel  Ingraham,  Albany  Medical  College,  1849,  removed 
to  Palmyra;  -Joseph  Lewi, University  of  Vienna,  1847,  Albany ;  Levi  Moore,  Albany 
Medical  College,  1851,  died  June  30,  1880,  aged  53;  Henry  F.  Spencer,  Albany 
Medical  College,  1852,  died  at  sea,  1862,  aged  36. 

1853,  Hiram  A.  Edmonds.  Albany  Medical  College,  1853,  died  1857,  aged  '29; 
Henry  March,  Albany  Medical  College,  1853,  died  May  7,  1886;  J.  II.  Scoon, 
Albany  Medical  College,  1849,  died  July  22,  1880,  aged  54;  John  P.  Witbeck,  Albany 
Medical  College,  1852.  died  1873,  aged  44;  Harvey  B.  Wilbur,  Berkshire  Medical 
College,  1842,  removed  to  Syracuse. 

L854,  -William  H.  Bailey,  Albany  Medical  College,  1853,  Albany;  William  II. 
Craig,  Albany  Medical  College,  Albany,  1852,  died  October  4,  1889;  Charles  Devol, 
Fairfield  Medical  College,  1831,  Albany,  died  March  5,  1894;  Alexander  H.  Hoff, 
Jefferson  Medical  College,  1843,  died  1876,  aged  55;  S.  P.  Uline,  Vermont  Academv 
of  Medicine,  1852,  removed  to  Lowville. 

1865,  Stephen  J.  W.  Tabor,  College  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1841,  removed  t<> 
Iowa;  Daniel  Wasserbach,  University  of  Hague,  1843,  died  September  11,  1SS0, 
aged  66. 

ls.-)(|,  Frederick  C.  Adams,  Albany  Medical  College,  1847,  died  L862,  aged  40; 
AmoS  Fowler,.  University  of  New  York.  1846,  Albany,  diedOctober  23, 1895 ;  :  Henry 
G.  McNaughton,  Albany  Medical  College,  1856.  Albany;  Staats  YViune,  Albany 
Medical  College,  1851,  died  May  :!<>,  1880,  aged  5:;. 

1857,  O.  C.  Alexander,  Albany  Medical  College,  1854,  Albany;  *Hiram  Crounse, 
Vermont  Academy  of  Medicine,  1.S47,  Albany;  *George  II.  Newcomb,  Albany 
Medical  College,  1855,  Albany;  William  C.  Rodgers,  Albany  Medical  College,  1854 
died  1860  aged  30;  *A.  Shiland,  Albany  Medical  College,  1853,  W<  st  Troy;  John  I. 
Swart,  Ablany  Medical  -College,  1853,  died  November  24,  1878,  al  Schoharie,  aged 
U  ;  Allied  Wands,  Albany  Medical  College,  1845,  died  L870,  aged   18. 

L858,  John  H,   Becker,   Albany -Medical  College,  1853,  died  1873,  aged  15;     II.   S. 


190 

Case,  Albany  Medical  College,  1853,  Albany;  Alex.  A.  Edmeston,  Albany  Medical 
College,  1853,  died  1871,  aged  42;  Thomas  Helme,  Albany  Medical  College,  1854, 
McKownsville,  Albany  county,  died  March  17,  1889;  Milton  M.  Lamb,  Vermont 
Academy  of  Medicine,  1856,  removed  to  Lansingburgh,  1873;  J.  J.  Myers,  Albany 
Medical  College,  1857,  Albany;  James  E.  Pomfret,  Albany  Medical  College,  1858- 
died  February  22,  1869,  aged  43;  Leroy  McLean,  Albany  Medical  College,  1855,  re- 
moved to  Troy ;  George  Steinart,  University  of  New  York,  1855,  removed  to  New 
York  city;  Andrew  Wilson,  licentiate  Columbia  County  Society,  died  1871,  aged  56. 

1859,  *Charles  H.  Porter,  Albany  Medical  College,  1859,  Albany ;  R.  S.  McMurdy, 
Albany  Medical  College,  1847,  removed  to  Minneapolis.  1873;  R.  H.  Sabin,  Albany 
Medical  College,  1856,  West  Troy,  died  December  4,  1888;  •■Charles  H.  Smith,  Al- 
bany Medical  College,  1859,  Albany;  Thomas  Smith,  Albany  Medical  College,  1845, 
died  1862;  Charles  P.  Staats,  Albany  Medical  College,  1853,  died  April  16,  1884,  aged 
53 ;  Oscar  H.  Young,  Albany  Medical  College,  1858,  removed  to  Michigan. 

1860,  Joseph  Atherley,  died  1864;  J.  R.  Boulware,  Albany  Medical  College,  1859, 
died  October  17,  1887;  William  B.  Chambers,  Albany  Medical  College,  1858,  re- 
moved to  Fulton  county ;  A.  S.  Harlow,  Albany  Medical  College,  1859,  removed 
from  the  county;  Washington  Kilmer,  Albany  Medical  College,  1860,  removed  to 
Florida;  John  V.  Lansing,  New  York  Medical  College,  1854,  died  May  9,  1880,  aged 
56;  Martin  L.  Mead,  Albany  Medical  College,  removed  to  Ohio,  1871;  J.  W.  Moore, 
Vermont  Academy  of  Medicine,  1850,  Cohoes,  died  1886;  Cornelius  D.  Mosher, 
Albany  Medical  College,  1859,  Albany,  died  September  26,  1890;  Joseph  N.  North- 
rop, Vermont  Academy  of  Medicine,  1839,  died  September  17,  1878,  aged  61 ;  John 
Sheriff,  Albany  Medical  College,  1850,  removed;  J.  I.  Welch,  Albany  Medical  College, 
1859,  died  June  23,  1878,  aged  54. 

1861,  Wesley  Blaisdell,  Castleton,  Vt,  died  1864,  aged  49;  Frank  G.  Mosher,  Al- 
bany Medical  College,  1848,  died  September  22,  1894. 

1862,  Thomas  Beckett,  Albany  Medical  College,  1861,  died  January  8,  1896;  Asahel 
Burt,  jr.,  Albany  Medical  College,  1868,  removed;  Henry  R.  Haskins,  Albany 
Medical  College,  1861,  died  March  31,  1883,  aged  48;  J.  D.  Havens.  Albany  Medical 
College,  1861,  died  February  12,  1875,  aged  40;  Frank  J.  Mattimore,  Albany 
Medical  College,  1860  died  1863,  aged  29;  F.  B.  Parmele,  Albany  Medical  College, 
1842,  died  January,  1882,  aged  68. 

1863,  John  F.  Crounse,  Albany  Medical  College,  1868,  died  1872. 

1864,  Stephen  Johnson,  Albany  Medical  College,  1849,  resigned  1875;  Jacob  S. 
Mosher,  Albany  Medical  College,  1863,  Albany,  died  August  13,  1883,  aged  49;  C.  B. 
O'Leary,  Albany  Medical  College,  1860,  died  1877,  aged  38;  H.  W.  Steenberg,  Fair- 
field Medical  College,  1837,  Green  Island,  died  1892;  Silas  P.  Wright,  Albany  Medical 
College,  1682,  removed. 

1865,  Gideon  H.  Armsby,  Albany  Medical  College,  1864,  died  November  20,  1881( 
aged  39;  Myron  Knowlton,  Castleton,  Vt.,  1837,  removed  to  Rochester;  P.  L.  F. 
Reynolds,  Albany  Medical  College,  1861,  died  April,  1887,  Albany;  Charles  A. 
Robertson,  Jefferson  Medical  College,  1853,  died  April  1,  1880,  aged  51;  William 
Sigsbee,  Vermont  Academy  of  Medicine,  1852,  removed  to  Illinois;  *Ezekiel  Mulford 
Wade,  Vermont  Academy  of  Medicine,  1839,  Watervliet. 

1866,  Charles  S.  Allen,  Albany  Medical  College,  1864,  Rensselaer  county ;  *Herman 
Bendell,  Albany  Medical  College,  1862,  Albany;  John  Ferguston,  Vermont  Academy 


191 

of  Medicine,  1836,  died  1874,  aged  62;  Michael  Gilligan,  removed;  George  T.  Stevens, 
Vermont  Academy  of  Medicine,  1857,  removed  to  New  York  city  ;  Gustavus  Treskatis, 
Albany  Medical  College,  1865,  removed  to  New  York  city;  *Albert  Van  der  Veer, 
National  Medical  College  (Med.  Dep.  Columbia  Col.,  Washington),  1862,  Albany; 
Warner  Van  Steenberg,  University  of  Vermont  (Med.  Dep.).  1856,  died  at  Cohoes, 
May  3.  1880,  aged  48. 

1867,  James  S.  Bailey,  Albany  Medical  College,  1853,  died  July  1,1883,  aged  53;  :  A. 
De  Graff,  Albany  Medical  College,  1858,  Guilderland ;  *Alfred  B.  Huested,  Albany 
Medical  College,  1863,  Albany;  John  R.  Gregory,  Albany  Medical  College,  185s,  re- 
moved to  Trumansburg;  Edward  R.  Hun,  College  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1866, 
died  March  14,  1880,  aged  38;  James  F.  McKown,  Albany  Medical  College,  1866,  Al- 
bany, died  August  25,  1892;  P.  M.  Murphy,  Albany  Medical  College,  1863, 
Albany,  died  June,  1894;  *D.  V.  O'Leary,  Albany  Medical  College,  I860,    Albany. 

1868,  L.  M.  Dunkelmeyer,  removed  to  Cincinnati,  O.  ;  Alexander  McDonald,  died 
1877,  aged  33;  *John  Thompson,  University  of  New  York,  1868,  Albany;  Richard 
D.  Traver,  St.  Louis  Medical  College,  1869,  removed  to  Troy,  N.  Y.  :  *C.  E.  Wit- 
beck,  Albany  Medical  College,  1866,  Cohoes. 

1869,  *Hiram  Becker,  Albany  Medical  College,  1864,  New  Salem;  Daniel  M.  Stim- 
son,  College  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1868,  removed  to  New  York  city, 1 1*71. 

1870,  *John  M.  Bigelow,  College  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1870,  Albany;  J.  Myers 
Briggs,  Albany  Medical  College,  1869,  died  1874,  aged  29;  Thomas  D.  Crothers  Al- 
bany Medical  College,  1865,  removed  to  Hartford,  Conn.  *J.  R.  Davidson,  Albany 
Medical  College,  1869,  South  Bethlehem;  Eustis  H.  Davis,  Albany  Medical  College, 
1854,  removed  to  Watkins;  *J.  D.  Featherstonhaugh,  College  Physicians  and  Sur- 
goons,  1870,  Cohoes;  H.  D.  Losee,  Albany  Medical  College,  1868,  died  1874,  aged  25; 
William  Morgan,  Albany  Medical  College,  1869,  Albany,  resigned  1883;  William  H. 
T.  Reynolds,  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1870,  Albany,  died  1894;  *Chaiies 
F.  Scattergood,  Albany  Medical  College,  1868,  Albany;  A.  P.  Ten  Eyck,  Albany 
Medical  College,  1866,  Rensselaer  county,  died  February  4,  1893. 

1871,  L.  R.  Boyce,  licentiate  Otsego  County  Society,  1862,  resigned  1877;  Orson  F. 
Cobb,  Albany  Medical  College,  1868,  West  Troy,  suspended  1876;  P.  J.  C.  Golding,  re- 
moved to  Massachusetts ;  *L.  C.  B.  Graveline,  Albany  Medical  College,  1862,  Al- 
bany; *Lorenzo  Hale,  Albany  Medical  College,  1868,  Albany;  K.  V.  R.  Lansingh, 
jr.,  Albany  Medical  College,  1870,  died  April  13,  1879;  -William  H.  Murray,  Albany 
Medical  College,  1869,  Albany;  E.  B.  Tefft,  Buffalo  Medical  College,  1864,  removed; 
Barnabas  Wood,  University  of  Nashville,  1852,  died  1875,  aged  56. 

1872,  *Frederick  C.  Curtis,  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  lSTn,  Albany; 
Isaac  De  Zouche.  Albany  Medical  College,  1869,  removed  to  GloversviUe,  1875; 
■■William  Hailes,  Albany  Medical  College,  1870,  Albany ;  S.  A.  Ingham,  Albany  Medi- 
cal College,  1871,  removed  to  Little  Falls;  J.  H.  Lagrange,  Albany  Medical  College, 
1871,  removed  to  Columbia  county ;  J.  H.  Lasher,  Albany  Medical  College,  1871,  died 
1873,  aged  25;  Caleb  Lyon,  Albany  Medical  College,  1871,  removed  to  New  York  city; 
Philip  J.  Maguire,  College  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1871  removed  to  Brooklyn; 
*B.  U.  Steenberg,  Albany  Medical  College,  1870,  Albany  ;  :  John  Ben  Stonehouse,  Al- 
bany Medical  College,  1871,  Albany;  "Willis  C..  Tucker,  Albany  Medical  Coll 
Albany;    *Eugene  Van  Slyke,  Albany  Medical  College,  1871,  Albany;    R.  II.  Stark- 


192 

weather,  Albany  Medical  College,  1871,  Albany,  died  November  27,  1890;  *G.  L.  Ull- 
man,  Albany  Medical  College,  1871,  Albany. 

1873,  Almon  S.  Allen,  Albany  Medical  College,  1872,  removed  to  Pittsfield, 
Mass. ;  *John  U.  Haynes,  Albany  Medical  College,  1872,  Cohoes;  *Joseph  H.  Blatner, 
Albany  Medical  College,  1872,  Albany;  George  A.  Jones,  Albany  Medical  College, 
1869,  died  1875;  James  C.  Hannan,  University  of  New  York,  1873,  removed  to 
Hoosick  Falls,  1881;  *James  P.  Boyd,  jr.,  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1871, 
Albany;  Frank  Garbutt,  Albany  Medical  College,  1872,  removed  to  Mechanicsville; 
*C.  E.  Seger,  Albany  Medical  College',  1863.  Adams  Station  ;  *Patrick  E.  Fennelly, 
Albany  Medical  College,  1869,  West  Troy ;  *Oetavius  H.  E.  Clarke,  McGill  University, 
Montreal,  1870,  Cohoes;  Alfred  L.  Wands,  Albany  Medical  College,  1869,  removed. 
1874, *J.  L.  Archambeault,  Laval  University,  Quebec,  1870,  Cohoes;  *Lewis  Balch, 
College  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1870,  Albany:  *0.  D.  Ball,  College  Physicians  and 
Surgeons,  1867,  Albany;  George  H.  Benjamin,  Albany  Medical  College,  1872,  re- 
moved; L.  Doubrias  (De  Morat),  Victoria  University,  Montreal,  1870,  Cohoes,  died 
July  23,  1894;  C.  E.  Buffinton,  Albany  Medical  College,  1874,  West  Troy;  *DanielK. 
Cook,  Albany  Medical  College,  1873,  Albany;  Herman  C.  Evarts,  Albany  Medi- 
cal College,  1873,  removed  to  Carthage,  N.  Y.  ;  James  A.  Hart,  College  Physi- 
cians and  Surgeons,  1873,  removed  to  Colorado  about  1877;  William  W.  MacGregor, 
Albany  Medical  College,  1873,  removed  to  Glens  Falls;  *Cyrus  S.  Merrill,  College 
Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1871,  Albany;  Linzee  T.  Morrill,  Albany  Medical  College, 
1ST:'.,  removed;  *Nelson  Monroe,  Vermont  Academy  of  Medicine,  1840,  Green  Island; 
*George  W.  Papen,  College  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1874,  Albany;  *A.  T.  Van 
Vranken,  Albany  Medical  College,  1873,  West  Troy;  Felix  Weidman,  Albany 
Medical  College,  1847,  Westerlo,  died  September  10,  1895. 

1875,  *Harvey  W.  Bell,  Albany  Medical  College,  1866,  removed  to  East  Albany; 
■Mary  Du  Bois,  Woman's  Medical  College  of  Pennsylvania,  1871,  Albany;  Harris  I. 
Fellows,  Albany  Medical  College,  1874,  died  August  29,  1881,  aged  44;  Hiram  T. 
Herrington,  Albany  Medical  College,  1873,  removed  to  Rensselaer  county ;  Henry  V. 
Hull,  Albany  Medical  College,  1874,  removed  to  Schenectady,  1880;  *Henry  E, 
Merreness,  Albany  Medical  College,  1874,  Albany ;  John  E.  Metcalf,  Albany  Medical 
College,  1874,  removed  to  Ketchum's  Corners,  N.  Y.  ;  Franklin  A.  Munson,  College 
Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1873,  died  December  8,  1878,  aged  26;  Norman  L.  Snow, 
College  Phvsicians  and  Surgeons,  1861,  Albany,  died  December  19,  1885;  *T.  M. 
Trego,  College  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1874,  Albany;  Thomas  Wilson,  Albany 
Medical  College,  1874,  removed  to  Claverack,  1876;  Edward  Yates,  Jefferson  Medical 
College,  1869,  died  1876,  aged  29. 

1876,  R.  D.  Clark,  Long  Island  Medical  College,  Albany,  died  August  11,  1894; 
William  A.  Hall,  Albany  Medical  College,  1875,  removed  to  Fulton,  Oswego  county; 
*J.  M.  Haskell,  University  of  Michigan,  Bath-on-the-Hudson ;  *P.  J.  Keegan,  Uni- 
versity of  New  York,  Albany;  *T.  K.  Perry,  Albany  Medical  College,  1875,  Albany; 
*W.  L.  Purple,  Albany  Medical  College,  1875,  Albany;  Elbert  T.  Rulison,  Albany 
Medical  College,  1875,  removed  to  Amsterdam;  *Seth  G.  Shanks,  Albany  Medical 
College,  1875,  Albany;  A.  H.  V.  Smyth,  Albany  Medical  College,  1875,  removed  to 
Minaville;  *Samuel  B.  Ward,  Georgetown  Medical  College,  1864,  Albany;  *Harriet 
A,  Woodward,  Syracuse  University,   1875,  Albany. 


103 

1877,  *James  F.  Barker,  Albany  Medical  College,  1877,  Albany ;  *William  X.  Hays, 
Albany  Medical  College    1875,  Albany. 

1878,  *Jesse  Crounse.  Albany  Medical  College,  1877,  Knowersville ;  *W.  O.  Still- 
man,  Albany  Medical  College,  1878,  Albany. 

1879,  *E.  A.  Bartlett,  Albany  Medical  College,  1879,  Albany;  *G.  Upton  Peltier, 
Bishop's  College,  Quebec,  1873,  Cohoes;  James  C.   Healey,  Albany  Medical  College, 

1877,  Albany,  died  March  30,  1889;  A.  W.  Kilbourne,  University  of  the  City  of  New 
York,  1874,  Albany,  died  January  14,  1897,  aged  47;  -Lansing  B.  Winne,  College 
Physicians  und  Surgeons,  1878,  Albany;  Franklin  Townsend,  jr.  College  Physi- 
cians and  Surgeons,  1876,  Albany,  died  October  31,  1895;  Otto  Ritzman,  Albany 
Medical  College,  1879,  Albany,  died  August  19,  1889;  *John  C.  Shiland,  Albany 
Medical  College,  1878,  West  Troy;    -Uriah  B.  La  Moure,   Albany  Medical  College, 

1878,  Albany;  William  J.  Lewis,  College  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1878,  removed 
to  Hartford,  Conn.  ;  *Maurice  J.  Lewi,  Albany  Medical  College,  1877,  Albany, 
removed  to   New  York  city;    Thomas    B.   Van  Alstyne,   Albany   Medical   College, 

1879,  removed  to  Richmondville,  N.  Y. ,  1880;  P.  B.  Collier,  Long  Island  College, 
Hospital,  1866,  Albany;  *Edward  E.  Brown,  Albany  Medical  College,  1879,  Al- 
bany; M.  W.  Brooks,  University  of  Vermont,  1879,  removed  to  New  York  city,  1880; 
*J.  E.  Hall,  Albany  Medical  College,  1877,  Green  Island;  S.  O.  Van  der  Poel,  jr., 
College  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1876,  removed  to  New  York;  William  Geoghan, 
Albany  Medical  College.  1874,  removed  to  New  York;  "John  D.  R.  McAllister, 
Albany  Medical  College,  1879,  Albany ;  Thomas  Featherstonhaugh,  Albany  Medical 
College,  1877,  1882,  removed  to  New  York;  Sheldon  Yoorhees,  Albany  Medical  Col- 
lege, 1879,  removed  to  Auburn,  1881. 

1880,  *Daniel  C.  Case,  Albany  Medical  College,  1870,  Sliugerlands ;  -Theodore  P. 
Bailey,  College  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1880,  Albany;  A.  P.  Casler,  Albany  Medical 
College,  1880;  Frank  J.  Merrington,  Albany  Medical  College,  1886,  died  August  14, 1889, 
aged  38 ;  *Samuel  R.. Morrow,  College  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  1878,  Albany;  John 
W.  Gould,  Albany  Medical  College,  1880,  removed;  John  J.  White,  Albany  Medical 
College,  1879,  removed  lo  New  York;  George  E.  Elmendorf,  Albany  Medical  Col- 
lege, 1875,  died,  1894;  M.  R.  C.  Peck,  College  Physicians  and  Surgeons.  1876,  died 
March  29,  1890;  Thomas  \>.  Worden,  Albany  Medical  College,  1880,  removed; 
Lehman  B.  Hoit,  Albany  Medical  College,  1880,  removed;  John  Thomas  Keay, 
Albany  Medical  College,  1870,  died  January  4,  1881,  aged  38;  Daniel  Fegan,  Queen's 
University.  Dublin,  Ireland,  removed  to  Ireland. 

1881,  "George  S.  Munson,  Albany  Medical  College,  1880,  Albany;  John  F.  Lock- 
wood,  Albany  Medical  College,  1881,  removed  to  Wisconsin;  S.  Edward  I'llman, 
Albany  Medical  College,  1880,  Albany;  *T.  W.  Nellis,  Albany  Medical  College,  1881, 
Albany;  *W.  J.  Nellis,  Albany  Medical  College,  L879,  Albany;  *F.  L.  Classen, 
Albany  Medical  College,  1881,  Albany;  "Howard  Miller,  Albany  Medical  College, 
1881,  Albany;  -Howard  S.  Paine,  Albany  Medical  College,  1881,  Albany;  '-Lauren- 
tine  Rouchel,  Buffalo  Medical  College,  Albany;  Thomas  G.  Hyland.  Bellevue  Medi- 
cal College,  removed;  Carroll  H.  Phillips,  Albany  Medical  College,  Watervhet,  died 
February  14,  iss;;;  C.  VY.  Green,  Albany  Medical  College,  removed;  Charles  F 
Huddleston,  Albany  Medical  CollegS,  removed. 

1882,  *W.  B.  Sabin,  Albany  Medical  College,    L882,  Samuel  Pel 
Vermont  Academy  of  Medicine,  1816,  Wesl  Troy;  Franks    Peters    Albany  Medical 

25 


194 

College.  1874,  died  1883;  *Henry  Hun,  Harvard  Medical  School,  1879,  Albany; 
*George  E.  Lyon,  Albany  Medical  College,  1882,  West  Troy;  *W.  H.  Fowler,  Jeffer- 
son Medical  College,  1879,  Albany;  David  Fleischman,  Albany  Medical  College, 
1881,  died  January  30,  1892. 

1883,  *William  L.  Schutter,  Albany  Medical  College,  1883,  Albany ;  *Frank  H. 
Fisk,  Albany  Medical  College,  1883,  Albany ;  *Charles  K.  Crawford,  Albany  Medi- 
cal College,' 1881,  Albany;  *J.  W.  Riley,  Albany  Medical  College,  1882,  Albany; 
Walter  W.  Schofield,  Albany  Medical  College,  1882,  removed  to  Massachusetts;  *C. 
M.  Culver,  Albany  Medical  College,  1881,  Albany;  J.  W.  Mann,  Albany  Medical 
College,  1882,  died  1884. 

1884,  *J.  H.  Mitchell,  Albany  Medical  College,  1882,  Cohoes;  *R.  J.  Brown,  Albany 
Medical  College,  1882,  Albany;  *T.  F.  C.  Van  Allen,  Albany  Medical  College,  1882, 
Albany;  ••Joseph  D.  Craig,  Albany  Medical  College,  1884,  Albany;  Edgar  C.  Hal-* 
lenbeck,  Bellevue  Medical  College,  1881,  Bethlehem,  died  1894;  G.  S.  Knickerbocker, 
College  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  removed;  C.  C.  Schuyler,  Albany  Medical  College 
Troy  (non-resident);  removed  to  Plattsburg. 

1885,  *Selwin  A.  Russell,  Albany  Medical  College,  1877,  Albany;  *Frederick  D. 
Morrill,  Albany  Medical  College,  1881,  Albany,  died  January,  1897;  *John  H.  Skilli- 
corn  Albany  Medical  College,  1883,  Albany;  L.  E.  Blair,  Albany  Medical  College, 
1881,  Albany;  M.  J.  Dwyer,  Albany  Medical  College,  1883,  Albany;  D.  W.  Houston, 
McGill  College,  Montreal,  1881,  Troy,  N.  Y.  ;  J.  W.  Ross,  McGill  College,  Montreal, 
1881,  Cohoes,  N.  V. 

1886,  John  V.  Hennessey,  Albany  Medical  College,  1884,  Albany;  W.  C.  Marselius, 
Albany  Medical  College,  1884,  Albany,  died  December  24,  1893;  John  L.  Cooper, 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  1877,  Albany;  Martin  McHarg,  Albany  Medical  College, 
1885,  Albany;  F.  R.  Greene,  Albany  Medical  College,  1884,  Albany;  J.  W.  Shattuck, 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  1859;  Edwin  Haines,  Albany  Medical  College,  1867,  S.  Westerlo,  died 
March  19,  1896,  aged  52;  L.  E.  Kenney,  Albany  Medical  College,  1881,  Waterford, 
N.  Y.  ;  J.  H.  E.  Sand,  University  City  New  York,  1886,  Brooklyn;  G.  W.  Holding, 
Albany  Medical  College,  1884,  Watervliet,  N.  Y.  ;  Orson  Britton,  no  answer  to  in- 
quiry regarding  graduation. 

1887,  Robert  Babcock,  Albany  Medical  College,  1884,  Albany;  Albert  Marsh,  Al- 
bany Medical  College,  1885,  Boston;  J.  V.  Sheppey,  Jefferson  Medical  College,  1885, 
Albany;  J.  B.  Southworth,  Burlington  State  University,  1882,  Albany. 

1888,  Thomas  H.  Willard,  Albany  Medical  College,  1887,  New  York;  Elmer  E. 
Larkin,  Albany  Medical  College,  1885,  Plattsburgh ;  Charles  H.  Moore,  Albany  Med- 
ical College,  1887,  Albany ;  Willis  G.  Macdonald,  Albany  Medical  College,  1887,  Albany  ; 
Arthur  D.  Capron,  Albany  Medical  College,  1886,  Albany;  Terrence  L.  Carroll, 
Albany  Medical  College,  1885,  Albany;  Rensselaer  J.  Smith,  University  New  York 
City,  1894,  Albany;  George  R.  De  Silva,  University  New  York  City,  1881,  Preston 
Hollow. 

1889,  N.  L.  Eastman,  Albany  Medical  College,  1886,  Albany;  A.  J.  Blessing,  Al- 
bany Medical  College,  1886,  Albany;  George  G.  Lempe,  Albany  Medical  College, 
1888,  Albanv;  Howard  Van  Rensselaer,  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  New 
York  city,  1884,  Albany. 

1890,  A.  F.  Powell,  Albany  Medical  College,  1889,  Coeymans;  G.  Emory  Lochner, 
Albany  Medical  College,  1889,  Albany;  George  T.  Moston,  Albany  Medical  College, 


195 

1890,  Albany;  H.  C.  Abrams,  Albany  Medical  College,  1882,  Newton ville ;  James  E. 
Smith,  Albany  Medical  College,  1889.  Albany;  A.  McNaughton,  Albany  Medical 
College,  1886,  West  Troy;  Thomas  Helms,  Albany  Medical  College,  1890,  McKown- 
ville;  Robert  P.  MacFarlane,  Albany  Medical  College,  1888,  Long  Island  city. 

1891,  G.  A.  Williams,  Albany  Medical  College,  1891,  Albany;  J.  E.  Brennan, 
Albany  Medical   College,   1889,   Albany;    J.  H.  Timmers,   Albany  Medical  College, 

1891,  Albany;  Arthur  G.  Root,  Albany  Medical  College,  1890,  Albany;  J.  D.  Mont- 
marquet,  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  New  York,  1889,  Cohoes;  William  H. 
Happel,  Albany  Medical  College,  1890,  Albany. 

1892,  W.  L.  Allen,  Albany  Medical  College,  1881,  Greenbush;  J.  B.  Washburne, 
Albany  Medical  College,  1882,  Delmar;  L.  Le  Brun,  Albany  Medical  College,  1891, 
Albany;  E.  V.  Colbert,  Albany  Medical  College,  1890,  Albany;  Leo  H.  Neuman, 
Albany  Medical  College,  1892,  Albany;    John  C.    Brown,  Albany   Medical  College, 

1892,  Albany;  Robert  A.  Heenan,  Albany  Medical  College,  1892,  Albany;  William 
G.  Lewi,  Albany  Medical  College,  1892,  Albany;  Walter  H.  Conley,  Albany  Medical 
College,  1891,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

1893,  James  W.  .Wiltsie,  Albany  Medical  College,  1891,  Albany;  W.  T.  Goewey, 
Albany  Medical  College,  1892,  Albany;  Charles  E.  Davis,  Albany  Medical  Col- 
lege, 1891,  Albany;  Andrew  MacFarlane,  Albany  Medical  College,  1887,  Albany;  J. 
W.  Droogan,  Albany  Medical  College,  1891,  Westchester;  C.  C.  McCullough,  Albany 
Medical  College,  1889,  Albany;  Thomas  A.  Ryan,  Albany  Medical  College,  1  s<»:',. 
Albany;  John  S.  Guinan,  Albany  Medical  College,  1893,  Whitehall. 

1894,  W.  F.  Robinson,  Albany  Medical  College,  1884,  Albany ;  W.  B.  Rossman, 
Albany  Medical  College,  1892,  Albany;  F.  M.  Joslin,  Albany  Medical  College,  1893, 
Albany;  William  J.  Kernan,  Albany  Medical  College,  1891,  Albany;  M.  D.  Steven- 
son, Albany  Medical  College,  1889,  Albany;  Le  Rose  Rancour,  Albany  Medical  Col- 
lege, 1892,  Albany. 

1895,  C.  F.  Theisen,  Albany  Medical  College,  1892,  Albany;  F.  J.  Bedell,  Albany 
Medical  College,  1893,  Becker's  Corners;  J.  B.  Sweet,   jr.,   Albany  Medical  College, 

1893,  Albany;  \V.  S.  Hale,  Albany  Medical  College,  1894,  Albany;  James  M.  Moore, 
Albany  Medical  College,  1894,  Albany;  S.  Le  Fevre,  Albany  Medical  College,  1891, 
Richmondville;  W.  H.George,  Albany  Medical  College,  1894,  Albany;  L.  Yan 
Auken,  Albany  Medical  College,  1892,  West  Troy;  E.  N.  K.  Mears,  Albany  Medical 
College,  1895,  Albany. 

189G,  T.  W.  Jenkins,  Albany  Medical  College,  1893,  Albany;  Ralph  Sheldon,  Al- 
bany Medical  College,  1894,  Albany;  H.  S.  Pearse,  Albany  Medical  College,  1892, 
Albany;  Arthur  Sautter,  Albany  Medical  College,  1893.  Albany;  R.  S.  Tedford, 
Albany  Medical  College,  1893,  Albany;  M.  S.  Leavy,  Medical  Department  Univer- 
sity of  Wooster,  Cleveland,  Ohio,  1888,  Albany. 

The  early  records  of  this  society  were  carefully  collected  by  the  late 
Dr.  Sylvester  D.  Willard  and  published  in  one  volume  covering  the 
proceedings  from  the  date  of  its  organization,  March  is,  1806,  to  June 
1(>,  1851.  The  growth  of  the  society  and  its  energetic  work  in  promot- 
ing the  interests  of  the  medical  profession  prompted  the  appointment 
of  a  committee  t<>  continue  the  work   inaugurated  bv  Dr.   Willard.     At 


196 

a  meeting  held  Jinie  14,  1870,  Dr.  James  S.  Bailey,  Dr.  Charles  H. 
Porter,  and  Dr.  T.  D.  Crothers  were  named  to  supervise  the  publica- 
tion of  the  proceeding's  of  the  society  from  June  10,  1851,  to  June  14, 
1870.  These  volumes  embrace  the  records  from  1806  to  1870;  they 
also  contain  biographies  of  nearly  two  hundred  members  and  many 
portraits,  and  aside  from  placing  on  record  the  transactions  of  the  so- 
siety,  help  to  complete  the  medical  history  of  Albany  city  and  county, 
and  trace  the  professional  career  of  those  identified  with  the  work  of 
the  society.  The  transactions  since  1880  have  been  published  in  the 
Albany  Medical  Annals,  a  monthly  journal  managed  by  an  editorial 
committee  under  the  auspices  of  the  society.  Many  interesting  papers 
on  medical  topics  and  matters  of  interest  to  the  profession  have  been 
published  in  this  journal.  Since  1891  this  journal  is  published  as  the 
"  Albany  Medical  Annals  representing  the  Alumni  Association  of  the 
Albany  Medical  College."  From  1891  to  1892  this  journal  was  edited 
by  Dr.  Willis  G.  Macdonald.  From  1892  to  1897  by  Dr.  Howard  Van 
Rensselaer.  The  present  editors  are  Dr.  Andrew  MacFarlane  and 
Dr.  J.  Montgomery  Mosher. 


197 


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200 
ALBANY  MEDICAL  COLLEGE. 

The  Albany  Medical  College  was  founded  by  the  late  Drs.  Alden 
March  and  James  H.  Armsby.  In  1821  Dr.  March  opened  a  school  for 
the  study  of  anatomy  at  Albany,  and  in  1825  was  appointed  professor 
of  anatomy  and  physiology  in  the  Vermont  Academy  of  Medicine  at 
Castleton.  Dr.  March  first  agitated  the  establishment  of  a  medical 
college  and  hospital  at  Albany  in  1830.  He  was  ably  assisted  by  Dr. 
Armsby,  who  came  to  Albany  the  same  year  and  was  associated  with 
Dr.  March  as  a  teacher  in  a  private  medical  school  known  as  the  Drs. 
March  and  Armsby  "  Practical  School  of  Anatomy  and  Surgery."  Dr. 
Armsby  devoted  much  of  his  time  to  the  founding  of  the  Albany  Med- 
ical College.  His  efforts  in  this  diretion  are  worthy  of  record  and  con- 
tributed largely  to  awaken  a  general  interest  in  behalf  of  the  proposed 
college. 

On  the  11th  of  April,  1838,  a  meeting  of  citizens  was  called  to  take 
into  consideration  the  organization  of  a  medical  school.  This  meeting 
was  attended  by  many  prominent  citizens  of  Albany  and  the  following 
resolution  was  adopted: 

Resolved,  "  That  this  meeting  deem  it  expedient  to  establish  a  medical  college  in 
this  city,  and  to  endeavor  hereafter  to  obtain  an  act  of  incorporation  from  the 
legislature." 

This  meeting  enlisted  many  active  and  energetic  friends  for  the  pro- 
posed institution.  The  Common  Council  granted  the  use  of  the  un- 
occupied Lancaster  school  building  for  a  term  of  five  year  for  college 
purposes,  and  at  a  second  meeting  of  citizens,  held  May,  1838,  articles 
of  association  were  agreed  upon  and  the  following  named  gentlemen 
were  appointed  to  constitute  the  first  Board  of  Trustees. 

Daniel  D.  Barnard,  Samuel  Stevens,  John  Taylor,  Ira  Harris,  Robert 
H.  Pruyn,  Friend  Humphrey,  Bradford  R.  Wood,  James  Goold,  George 
Dexter,  Thomas  McElroy,  William  Seymour,  John  O.  Cole,  John  I. 
Wendell,  Conrad  A.  Ten  Eyck,  John  Davis,  Israel  Williams,  Charles 
D.  Gould,  John  Trotter,  Arnold  Nelson,  John  Groesbeck,  Oliver  Steele 
and  Philip  S.  Van  Rensselaer. 

In  May,  1838,  the  following  persons  were  named  by  the  trustees  to 
compose  the  first  faculty  of  this  college:  Alden  March,  professor  of 
surgery;  James  H.  Arsmby,  professor  of  anatomy  and  physiology; 
Amos  Dean,  professor  of  medical  jurisprudence;  Ebenezer  Emmons, 
professor  of  chemistry  and   pharmacy;    Henry    Greene,    professor  of 


201 

obstetrics;   David    M.  McLachlan,  professor  of  materia  medica ;   David 
M.  Reese,  professor  of  .the  theory  and  practice  of  medicine. 

The  establishment  of  the  college,  the  remodeling  of  the  building,  the 
arrangements  of  the  valuable  anatomical  and  pathological  collections 
of  Drs.  March,  Armsby  and  McNaughton,  consisting  of  rare  and  valu- 
able specimens,  collected  during  the  experience  of  many  years  of  pro- 
fessional labor  and  gathered  by  repeated  visits  to  Europe,  necessitated, 
during  the  first  two  years,  an  expenditure  of  over  $10,000,  all  of  which 
was  contributed  by  the  citizens  of  Albany. 

The  first  course  of  lectures  in  the  college  commenced  on  the  3d  of 
January,  1839,  to  a  class  of  fifty-seven  students.  The  first  annual 
commencement  was  held  on  the  24th  of  April,  1839,  and  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Medicine  was  conferred  on  thirteen  young  gentlemen. 

After  the  act  of  incorporation  was  obtained  the  trustees  confirmed 
the  election  of  the  faculty  and  named  the  following  physicians  as  the 
first  board  of  curators:  Peter  Wendell,  Piatt  Williams,  Barent  P.  Staats, 
Thomas  C.  Brinsmade  and  Samuel  White. 

To  give  in  detail  the  history  of  the  Albany  Medical  College,  its  bril- 
liant growth  and  promising  future,  would  write  man}-  pages  and  not  do 
justice  to  those  who  have  loyally  labored  in  advancing  its  standard  as 
an  institution  for  the  study  of  medicine.  From  1839  to  1896  the  de- 
gree of  Doctor  of  Medicine  has  been  conferred  on  twenty-one  hundred 
and  fifty-two  students,  and  during  this  period  no  efforts  have  been 
spared  to  fully  equip  the  school  for  the  practical  and  thorough  study  of 
medicine.  The  college  building  is  well  appointed  in  its  lecture  rooms, 
laboratories,  dissecting  rooms  and  museum.  The  chemical  laboratory 
was  rebuilt  in  1884  and  a  two- story  building  erected,  fitted  with  every 
requisite  for  the  illustration  of  the  lectures,  and  the  practical  study  of 
chemistry.  "Alumni  Hall,"  constituting  the  south  wing  of  the  build- 
ing, is  set  apart  for  meetings,  recitations,  examinations  and  other  college 
exercises.  The  Bender  Hygienic  Laboratory,  equipped  for  the  instruc- 
tion and  scientific  research  in  pathology,  bacteriology  and  the  allied  med- 
ical studies,  was  dedicated  October  27,  L896,  and  is  connected  with  the 
college.  This  laboratory  is  the  gift  of  Mr.  Matthew  W.  Bender  of  Albany, 
who  defrayed  the  entire  cost  of  its  erection,  amounting  to  more  than 
$20,000.  The  cost  of  fitting  up  and  furnishing  this  laboratory  was  paid 
by  the  college  faculty.  The  class  rooms  and  amphitheatre  are  furn- 
ished with  the  most  modern  apparatus  for  special  work,  and  as  a  lal 
tory  of  hygiene  the  building  is  perfect  in  all  its  appointments, 
26 


202 

Since  1873  the  Albany  Medical  College  is  the  medical  deparment  of 
Union  University.  The  University  includes  the  Albany  Medical  Col- 
lege, the  College  of  Pharmacy,  Albany  Law  School  and  the  Dudley 
Observatory,  all  located  at  Albany,  and  Union  College  and  the  School 
of  Civil  Engineering,  located  at  Schenectady. 

The  Albany  Medical  College  has  been  foremost  in  advocating  a  high 
standard  of  medical  education.  Few  medical  schools  in  this  country 
are  so  thoroughly  in  sympathy  with  every  movement  to  perfect  the  pro- 
visions of  the  laws  governing  the  study  of  medicine.  It  was  one  of  the 
first  to  enforce  a  three  years'  graded  course  of  study  with  evidence  of 
preliminary  education  by  entrance  examination.  It  may  justly  be  said 
that  this  institution  has  made  progress  all  along  the  line.  It  is  well 
equipped  in  every  department  to  meet  the  legal  requirements  of  a 
higher  standard.  Its  curriculum  embraces  lectures,  recitations,  clinical 
teaching  and  extensive  laboratory  work.  The  Albany  Hospital,  St. 
Peter's  Hospital,  Child's  and  County  Hospitals,  the  Eye  and  Ear  Infirm- 
aries, and  dispensaries  connected  with  these  institutions,  are  all  made 
available  for  the  pursuit  of  clinical  study.  The  management  of  the 
school  and  its  administrative  affairs  are  so  conducted  that  there  can  be 
no  doubt  of  its  high  standing  as  a  school  for  the  study  of  medicine. 

The  following  is  a  historical  list  of  the  faculty  from  1839  to  1897: 

Ebenezer  Emmons,  M.  D.,  Chemistry  and  Natural  History  from  1838  to  1839;  Ma- 
teria Medica  and  Natural  History,  1840  to  1843;  Obstetrics  and  Natural  History,  1843 
to  1853;  Emeritus  Professor  of  Obstetrics  and  Natural  History,  1853  to  1854. 

James  H.  Armsby,  M.  D.,  Anatomy  and  Physiology,  1838  to  1839;  Anatomy,  1840 
to  1869;  Principles  and  Practice  of  Surgery,  1870  to  1875;  died  1875. 

David  M.  Reese,  M.  D.,  Theory  and  Practice  of  Medicine,  1839  to  1840. 

Alden  March,  M.  D.,  Surgery,  1838  to  1869;  died  1869. 

Henry  Greene,  M.  D.,  Obstetrics  and  Diseases  of  Women  and  Children,  1838  to 
1839. 

David  M.  McLachlan,  M.  D.,  Materia  Medica  and  Pharmacy,  1838  to  1839;  Ma- 
teria Medica  and  Therapeutics,  1839  to  1840;  Diseases  of  Women  and  Children,  1840 
to  1842. 

Amos  Dean,  Esq.,  Medical  Jurisprudence,  1839  to  1859;  Emeritus  Professor  of 
Medical  Jurisprudence,  1867  to  1868;  died  1868. 

Thomas  Hun,  M.  D.,  Institutes  of  Medicine,  1839  to  1853;  Institutes  of  Medicine, 
1853  to  1855;  Institutes  of  Medicine,  1855  to  1859;  Emeritus  Professor  of  the  Insti- 
tutes of  Medicine,  1876  to  1896;  died  1896. 

Gunning  S.  Bedford,  M.  D.,  Obstetrics,  1839  to  1840. 

James  McNaughtun,  M.  D.,  Theory  and  Practice  of  Medicine,  1840  to  1874;  died 
18T4. 

Lewis  C.  Beck,  M.  D.,  Chemistry  and  Therapeutics,  1840  to  1841;  Chemistry  and 
Pharmacy,  1841  to  1853;  died  1853, 


J.   M.   BIGHLOW,   M.   D. 


203 

T.  Romeyn  Beck,  M.  D.,  Materia  Medica,  1842  to  1853;  Emeritus  Professor  of 
Materia  Medica,  1853  to  185G;  died  1856. 

Howard  Townsend,  M.  D.,  Obstetrics,  1853  to  1855;  Materia  Medica,  1855  to  1859; 
Materia  Medica  and  Physiology,  1859  to  1867;  died  1867. 

Ezra  S.  Carr,  M.  D.,  Chemistry  and  Pharmacy.  1853  to  1857. 

John  V.  P.  Ouackenbush,  M.  D.,  Obstetrics  and  Diseases  of  Women  and  Children, 
1855  to  1856;  Midwifery  and  Diseases  of  Women  and  Children,  1856  to  1859;  Obstet- 
rics and  Diseases  of  Women  and  Children,  1859  to  1870;  Diseases  of  Women  and 
Children,  1876;  died  1876. 

Charles  H.  Porter,  M.  D.,  Chemistry  and  Pharmacy,  1857  to  1859;  Chemistry 
and  Medical  Jurisprudence,  1859  to  1864. 

George  F.  Barker,  M.  D.,  Acting  Professor  of  Chemistry,  1862  to  1863. 

Jacob  S.  Mosher,  M.  D.,  Ph.  D.,  Lecturer  on  Chemistry,  1864;  Chemistry  and 
Medical  Jurisprudence,  1864  to  1876;  Medical  Jurisprudence  and  Hygiene,  1 8 7 f >  to 
1882;  Pathology,  Practice,  Clinical  Medicine  and  Hygiene,  1882  to  1883;  died  1883. 

S.  Oakley  Vander  Poel,  M.  D.,  LL.  D  ,  General  Pathology  and  Clinical  Medicine, 
1867  to  1870;  Theory  and  Practice  and  Clinical  Medicine,  1876  to  1878;  Pathology, 
Practice  and  Clinical  Medicine,  1878  to  1882;  Emeritus  Professor  of  Pathology,  Prac- 
tice and  Clinical  Medicine,  1882  to  1886;   died  1886. 

James  E.  Pomfret,  M.  D.,  Lecturer  on  Anatomy,  1861;  Physiology,  1867  to  L869; 
died  1869. 

John  V.  Lansing,  M.  D.,  Materia  Medica,  1867  to  1870;  Physiology  and  Clinical 
Medicine,  1870  to  1873;  Principles  and-Practice  of  Medicine  and  Clinical  Medicine, 
1873  to  1876;  died  1880. 

Henry  R.  Haskins,  M.  D.,  Surgical  and  Descriptive  Anatomy,  1869  to  1874;  Anat- 
omy, 1874  to  1S76;  died  1884. 

Albert  Vander  Veer,  M.  D.,  General  and  Special  Anatomy,  1869  to  1873;  Princi- 
ples and  Practice  of  Surgery,  1876  to  1880 ;  Principles  and  Practice  of  Surgery  and 
Clinical  Surgery,  1880  to  1883;  Surgery  and  Clinical  Surgery,  1883  to  1889,  Didatic, 
Abdominal  and  Clinical  Surgery,  1889  to . 

Edmund  R.  Peaslee,  M.  D.,  Diseases  of  Women,  1870  to  1873. 

Meredith  Clymer,  M.  D.,  Diseases  of  the  Nervous  System  and  the  Mind,  187n  to 
1873. 

William  P.  Seymour,  M.  D.,  Obstetrics  and  Diseases  of  Women  and  Children, 
1870  to  1876. 

Ceorge  T.  Stevens,  M.  D.,  Ophthalmology  and  Orthopaedic  Surgery,  1870  t<>  L873 
Physiology  and  Ophthalmology,  is;:;  to  L875;  Ophthalmology,  1875  to  1876. 

John  M,  Bigelow,  M.  I>.,  Materia  Medica,  1870  to  187:'.;  Materia  Medica  and  The- 
rapeutics, 1873;  Materia  Medica  and  Therapeutics,  1876  to  1882;  Materia  Medica  and 
Therapeutics,  Diseases  of  the  Throat  and  Clinical  Laryngoscopy,  1882  to  1888;  Ma- 
teria Medica,  Therapeutics  and  Diseases  of  the  Throat  and  Nose,  1888  to  1896;  Dis- 
eases of  the  Throat  and  Nose,  1896  to . 

Maurice  Perkins,  M.  D.,  Chemistry  and  Toxicology,  L870  to  1876;  Chemical  Phi- 
losophy and  Organic  Chemistry,  1876  to . 

Ira  Harris,  LL.  D.,  Medical  Jurisprudence,  1870  to  1874. 

Willis  G.  Tucker,  M.  D.,  Assistant  Professor  of  Chemistry,  1871  to  1SM;  Lec- 
turer on  Materia  Medica  and  Assistant  Professor  of  Chemistry,  1874  to  1875;  A<  - 
junct  Professor  of  Materia  Medica  and  Chemistry,  1*75  to  1876;  Inorganic  and  Ana- 


204 

lytical  Chemistry,  1876  to  1882;  Inorganic  and  Analytical  Chemistry  and  Medical 
Jurisprudence,  1882  to  1887;  Inorganic  and  Analytical  Chemistry  and  Toxicology, 
1887  to . 

William  Hailf.s,  M.  D.,  Lecturer  on  Pathological  Anatomy  1874  to  1875;  Adjunct 
Professor  of  Pathological  Anatomy,  1875  to  1876;  Histology  and  Pathological  Anat- 
omy, 1876  to  1886;  Histology  and  Pathological  Anatomy  and  Clinical  Surgery,  1886 
to . 

Harrison  E.  Webster,  A.  M.,  Lecturer  on  Physiology,  1875  to  1880. 

John  Swinburne,  M.  D.,  Fractures  and  Dislocations  and  Clinical  Surgery,  1876  !o 
1880 ;  died  1889. 

Lewis  Bai.cii,  M.  D.,  Anatomy,  1876  to  1887;  Anatomy  and  Medical  Jurispru- 
dence, 1887  to  1890;  Medical  Jurisprudence,  1890  to  1891;  Emeritus  Professor  of 
Anatomy  and  Lecturer  on  Medical  Jurisprudence,  1891  to  1893;  Emeritus  Professor 
of  Anatomy  and  Professor  of  Medical  Jurisprudence,  1893  to  1895 ;  Emeritus  Pro- 
fessor of  Anatomy  and  Professor  of  Medical  Jurisprudence  and  Hygiene,  1895  to 
1896;  Professor  of  Medical  Jurisprudence  and  Hygiene,  1896  to . 

Samuel  B.  Ward,  M.  D.,  Surgical  Pathology  and  Operative  Surgery,  1876  to  1880; 
Surgical  Pathology  and  Operative  Surgery  and  Clinical  Surgery,  1880  to  1883;  Pa- 
thology, Practice,  Clinical  Medicine  and  Hygiene,  1883  to . 

John   P.  Gray,  M.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Psychological  Medicine,  1876  to  1886;  died  1886 

Edward  R.  Hun,  M.  D.,  Diseases  of  Nervous  System,  1876  to  1880;  died  1880. 

James  P.  Boyd,  Jr..  M.  D. ,  Diseases  of  Women  and  Children,  1876;  Obstetrics 
and  Diseases  of  Women  and  Children,  1876  to  1886;  Obstetrics,  Gynecology  and 
Diseases  of  Children,  1886  to . 

Cyrus  S.  Merrill,  M.  D.,  Opthalmology,  1876  to  1881;  Opthalmology  and  Otology. 
1881  to . 

S.  O.  Vander  Poel,  Jr.,'  Adjunct  Professor  of  Pathology.  Practice  and  Clinical 
Medicine,  1880  to  1884. 

Franklin  Townsend,  Jr.,  M.  D.,  Lecturer  on  Physiology,  1880  to  1881;  Professor 
of  Physiology,  1881  to  1891;  Emeritus  Professor  of  Physiology,  1891  to  1895;  died 
1895. 

Frederic  C.  Curtis,  M.  D.,  Adjunct  Professor  of  Dermatology,  1880  to  1884;  Pro 
fessor  of  Dermatology,  1884  to . 

Henry  Hun,  M.  D.,  Lecturer  on  Nervous  Diseases,  1883  to  1885;  Professor  of  Dis- 
eases of  the  Nervous  System.  1885  to  1887;  Diseases  of  the  Nervous  System  and 
Psychological  Medicine,  1887  to  1890;  Diseases  of  the  Chest  and  of  the  Nervous  Sys- 
tem, 1890  to  1892;  Diseases  of  the  Nervous  System,  1892  to . 

Samuel  R.  Morrow,  M.  D.,  Lecturer  Adjunct  to  the  Chair  of  Surgery,  1884  to 
1886;  Adjunct  Professor  of  Surgery,  1886  to  1887;  Adjunct  Professor  of  Surgery  and 
Lecturer  on  Anatomy,  1887  to  1889;  Adjunct  Professor  of  Anatomy  and  Orthopedic 
Surgery,  1889  to  1890;  Professor  of  Anatomy  and  Orthopedic  Surgery,  1890  to . 

JosErH  D.  Craig,  M.  D.,  Lecturer  on  Anatomy,  1890  to  1892;  Adjunct  Professor 
of  Anatomy,  1892  to '. 

Howard  Van  Rensselaer,  M.  D.,  Lecturer  on  Materia  Medica,  1890  to  1892;  Ad- 
junct Professor  of  Materia  Medica  and  Lecturer  on  Diseases  of  the  Chest,  1892  to 
1895;  Adjunct  Professor  of  Materia  Medica  and  Diseases  of  the  Chest,  1895  to  1896; 
Adjunct  Professor  of  Theory  of  Practice  of  Medicine  and  Thereapeutics,  1896  to . 


205 

Herman  C.  Gordinier,  M.  D.,  Lecturer  on  Anatomj'  of  the  Nervous  System,  1890 
to  1894;  Lecturer  on  Physiology  and  Anatomy  of  the  Nervous  System,  1894  to  L895; 
Professor  of  Physiology,  1895  to . 

CARLOS  F.  MacDonald,  M.  D.,  Lecturer  on  Insanity,  1891  to  1892. 

Willis  G.  MacDonald,  M.  D.,  Lecturer  on  Operative  Surgery,  1891  to  1895;  Ad- 
junct Professor  of  Surgery,  1895  to . 

Herman  Bendeli.,  M.  D.,  Lecturer  on  Physiology,  1892  to  1894;  Lecturer  on  <  otol- 
ogy, 1894  to  1896;  Clinical  Professor  of  Otology,  1896  to . 

Ezra  A.  Bartlett,  M.  D.,  Lecturer  on  Electro  Therapeutics,  1892  to . 

G.  Alden  R.  Bli'mer,  M.  D.,  Lecturer  on  Insanity,  1893  to  1896;  Adjunct  Professor 
of  Insanity,  1896  to . 

Theodore  F.  C.  Van  Allen,  M.  D.,  Lecturer  on  Ophthalmology,  1894  to  Is'.m;  . 
Clinical  Professor  of  Ophthalmology,  1896  to . 

Andrew  MacFarlane,  M.  D.,  Lecturer  on  Physical  Diagnosis  and  Clinical  Mi- 
croscopy, 1895  to  1896;  Clinical  Professor  of  Physical  Diagnosis  and  Microscopy, 
1896  to . 

Clinton  B.  Herrick,  M.  D  ,  Lecturer  on  Clinical  Surgery,  1895  to . 

John  V.  Hennessy,  M.  D,  Lecturer  on  Materia  Medica,  1896  to . 

William  G.  Lewi,  M.  D,  Lecturer  on  Pharmacy,  1896  to . 

Leo  H.  Ne«  man,  M.  D,  Lecturer  on  Symptomatology,  1896  to . 

The  Alumni  Association  of  the  A.  M.  C.  was  organized  January  20, 
L874,  and  incorporated  February  6,  of  the  same  year.  The  object  of 
this  association  is  to  promote  the  interest  of  the  college  in  the  work  of 
medical  education,  and  to  cultivate  social  intercourse  among  the 
alumni.  The  names  and  addresses  of  1,302  graduates  are  on  the  roll 
of  membership.  The  management  of  this  association  is  entrusted  to  an 
executive  committee  and  a  general  meeting  is  held  annually  on  com- 
mencement day. 

The  Albany  College  of  Pharmacy  was  created  by  act  of  the  Board  of 
Governors  of  Union  University,  June  21,  1881,  and  incorporated  Au- 
gust 27,  1881.  Chemistry,  Botany  and  Materia  Medica,  Pharmacy  and 
the  Microscope  and  its  application  to  pharmacy  arc  taught  in  a  two 
years'  course.  The  lectures  are  delivered  and  the  laboratory  classes  in 
chemistry  conducted  in  the  class  rooms  of  the  Medical  College  building. 
A  commodious  pharmaceutical  laboratory  is  connected  with  the  c<>i 
The  school  is  well  managed  and  equipped  to  impart  thorough  instruc- 
tion in  pharmacy  and  its  kindred  branches. 

The  following  constitute   the  faculty:   Willis  ('..    Tucker,  M.  I'.,  I'll.  I>.,  F.  C.  S., 
prcsideut,   professor  of  chemistry;  Alfred    B.    Ilucstcd,    M.   I'..  I'll.  G.,  pr< 
botany  and   materia   medica;  Gustavus   Michaelis,    I'll.    <1..  professor  of  pharmacy ; 
Theodore  J.  Bradley,  I'll.  (1..  lecturer  on  pharmacy;  De  Baun  Van  Aken,   insti 
in  chemistry;   Frank  Richardson,  Ph.  G.,  instructor  in  materia  medica   and  director 
of  the  pharmaceutical  laboratory;  Thomas  W.  Jenkins,  M.  1>.,    instructor  in  n 
copy. 


206 

The    Albany    Hospital. 

The  Albany  Hospital  was  founded  in  1849.  In  1830  Dr.  Alden 
March,  professor  of  anatomy  and  physiology  in  the  Vermont  Academy 
of  Medicine,  delivered  a  public  lecture  on  the  "  Propriety  of  Establish- 
ing a  Medical  College  and  Hospital  at  Albany."  The  late  John  C. 
Spencer  was  the  first  president,  and  to  his  popularity  and  energy,  coupled 
with  the  unremitting  efforts  of  Dr.  James  H.  Armsby  and  the  support 
of  generous  contributors,  this  institution  was  opened  for  the  reception 
of  patients  November  1,  1851.  The  male  and  female  wards,  the  child's 
ward,  endowed  by  the  late  William  H.  De  Witt,  are  comfortably  fur- 
nished and  well  appointed.  The  rooms  for  the  treatment  of  private 
patients,  fitted  up  and  furnished  by  charitably  inclined  ladies  represent- 
ing the  various  churches  of  Albany,  have  largely  added  to  the  comfort 
and  accommodation  of  patients  admitted  to  this  institution.  The  dis 
pensaries  are  open  to  the  poor,  and  the  hospital  records  show  that  thou- 
sands of  charity  patients  have  been  provided  with  medicines  and  at- 
tendance. The  entire  management  is  vested  in  a  Board  of  Governors, 
who  have  endeavored  to  combine  thoroughness  and  efficiency  in  every 
department,  and  that  they  have  merited  the  support  and  confidence  of 
the  citizens  of  Albany  is  apparent  by  the  general  interest  manifested 
and  the  liberal  contribution  of  funds  to  provide  for  the  accommodation 
and  care  of  the  sick.  In  1851  and  1852  sufficient  funds  were  collected 
by  special  subscription  to  purchase  and  equip  an  adjoining  building  for 
the  purpose  of  affording  rooms  for  clinical  instruction  to  students  at- 
tending the  Albany  Medical  College.  The  building,  originally  erected 
as  a  county  jail,  before  being  occupied  required  remodeling  to  adapt 
it  for  hospital  purposes.  From  1849  to  1873,  principally  due  to  the 
unremitting  efforts  of  Dr.  James  H.  Armsby,  over  one  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  were  subscribed  to  defray  the  cost  of  enlarging  the  build- 
ing and  providing  proper  hospital  accommodations.  As  the  city  in- 
creased in  population  greater  facilities  for  the  treatment  of  private  and 
dispensary  patients  became  necessary  and  the  friends  of  the  institution 
have  annually  and  liberally  responded  to  the  appeals  of  the  governors 
for  subscriptions  to  enlarge  and  continue  this  worthy  charity.  The  City 
Council  appropriates  a  liberal  sum  annuall)'  toward  the  support  of  the 
charity  wards,  and  the  income  of  an  increasing  endowment  fund,  together 
with  the  receipts  from  private  patients,  help  to  meet  the  expenditures. 
The  projected  new  hospital  and  training  school  to  be  connected  with  the 


207 

same,  a  scheme  encouraged  by  mutual  cooperation  of  those  interested 
in  the  future  prosperity  of  the  Albany  Hospital,  will  not  be  erected  on 
the  site  of  the  present  building',  it  being  deemed  advisable  for  the 
proper  care  and  comfort  of  the  sick  and  convalescent  that  the  new  hos- 
pital shall  be  erected  remote  from  the  crowded  city  thoroughfares.  The 
present  staff  of  the  hospital  consists  of: 

Medical  and  Surgical  Staff. — Consulting  physicians,  Samuel  H.  Freeman,  M.  1  >., 
Joseph  Lewi,  M.D.;  consulting  specialist,  William  II.  Bailey,  M.D. ;  surgeons,  Al- 
bert Vander  Veer,  M.D.,  William  Hailes,  M.  D.,  Samuel  R.  Morrow,  M.  I  >.  ;  attend- 
ing specialists,  Cyrus  S.  Merrill,  M.D.,  eye  and  ear,  Herman  Bendell,  M  I).,  eye  and 
ear,  John  M.  Bigelow,  M.D.,  throat  and  nose,  James  P.  Boyd,  M.  I).,  gynecology, 
Frederic  C.  Curtis,  M.D.,  dermatology,  Ezra  A.  Bartlett,  M.D.,  electricity ;  physi- 
cians, Samuel  B.  Ward,  M.D.,  Henry  Hun,  M.D.,  Joseph  D.  Craig,  M.D.',  Howard 
Van  Rensselaer,  M.  D. 

St.   Peter's   Hospii  \i  . 

The  building  occupied  as  St.  Peter's  Hospital  was  formerly  the  resi- 
dence of  Governor  King.  Subsequently  this  building  was  purchased  by 
the  late  Peter  Cagger  and  transferred  by  him  to  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop 
Conroy,  who  transferred  the  building  to  the  Order  of  the  Sisters  of 
Mercy  to  be  used  as  a  hospital.  St.  Peter's  Hospital  was  opened  for 
the  reception  of  patients  November  1,  1869.  This  hospital  is  managed 
by  the  Sisters  of  Mercy  aided  by  an  advisory  Board  of  Managers;  it 
lias  been  conducted  with  success,  and  its  benefits  bestowed  as  liberally 
as  means  and  facilities  would  permit.  Many  additions  and  improve- 
ments have  been  made  to  the  building  to  adapt  the  same  for  hospital 
purposes,  and  with  increased  accommodations  the  managers  have  been 
enabled  to  provide  for  the  many  applicants  seeking  the  care  and  com- 
forts of  this  benevolent  institution.  Credit  is  due  to  the  untiring 
efforts  and  charitable  work  of  the  Sisters  of  Mercy  in  promoting  and 
dispensing  the  benefits  of  this  noble  charity.  Thousands  of  poor  are 
gratuitously  provided  with  medical  attendance  and  medicines,  and  the 
contributions  of  its  benefactors  are  expended  in  the  true  cause  of 
charity,  for  the  relief  of  the  afflicted,  without  regard  to  creed  or  con- 
dition. The  Sisters  of  Mercy  who  act  as  nurses  receive  no  compensa- 
tion for  their  services;  their  work  is  a  labor  of  love  for  suffering  hu- 
manity, and  those  who  are  familiar  with  the  daily  work  of  these  de- 
voted women,  can  best  appreciate  the  real  good  of  true  charity. 

This  hospital  is  supported  by  private  contributions,  by  the  income 
received   from   private  patients,  and   by  an   annual   appropriation   from 


208 

the  city  for  the  care  of  charity  patients.  Connected  with  the  hospital 
is  a  dispensary  for  the  treatment  of  out  door  patients.  The  male  and 
female  wards  and  private  rooms  are  well  ventilated  and  neatly  fur- 
ished,  and  the  entire  management  of  the  institution  is  in  thorough  keep- 
ing with  the  aims  of  the  administration  entrusted  with  its  care.  Con- 
nected with  the  hospital  is  an  amphitheatre  and  lecture  room,  where 
clinical  lectures  and  instruction  to  the  students  of  the  Albany  Medical 
College  are  given.  Modern  improvements  for  the  treatment  and  com- 
fort of  patients  are  being  continually  made,  thus  enabling  the  manage- 
ment to  fully  consummate  the  object  which  prompted  the  founding  of 
this  hospital.  It  is  a  worthy  tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  eminent 
jurist,  to  whose  liberal  contribution  the  public  is  indebted  for  this  great 
charity. 

Hospital  Staff. — Consulting  physicians,  Samuel  B.  Ward,  M.D.,  D.  V.  O'Leary 
M.  D.  Consulting  surgeons,  A.  Vander  Veer,  M.D.,  Lewis  Balch,  M.D.,  James  P. 
Boyd.  M.D.  Attending  physicians,  Henry  Hun,  M.D.,  T.  K.  Perry,  M.D.,  Howard 
Van  Rensselaer,  M.D.,  Andrew  MacFarlane,  M.D.  Attending  surgeons,  S.  R.  Mor- 
row, M.D. ,  P.  J.  Keegan,  M.D.,  William  Hailes,  jr.,  M.D.,  J.  V.  Hennessy,  M.D. 
Specialists,  C.  S.  Merrill,  M.D.,  T.  F.  C.  Van  Allen,  M.D.,  Clement  F.  Theisen,  M.D., 
F.  C.  Curtis,  M.D.,  George  S.  Munson,  M.D.,  John  M.  Bigelow,  M.D. 

The  Child's  Hospital.  t 

The  Child's  Hospital  was  opened  for  the  treatment  of  patients  March, 
1875.  It  is  one  of  the  works  of  charity  undertaken  -by  the  "  Corning 
Foundation  for  Christian  Work  in  the  Diocese  of  Albany,"  of  which  the 
Rt,  Rev.  William  Croswell  Doane  is  the  president.  The  hospital  was 
originally  located  in  a  small  building  on  Lafayette  street.  Subsequently, 
owing  to  an  inceased  demand  for  its  benefits,  the  hospital  was  removed 
to  a  larger  house  on  Elk  street.  In  1877  the  first  hospital  building  was 
erected  having  accommodations  for  forty  patients.  The  present  build- 
ing, erected  in  1891,  equipped  with  all  modern  appointments  for  the 
comfort  of  patients  and  treatment  of  medical  and  surgical  cases,  is  also 
located  on  Elk  street  and  contains  ninety  beds.  In  the  erection  of  this 
building  great  care  was  given  to  all  details  pertaining  to  sanitary  pro- 
visions and  arrangements  for  the  care  and  treatment  of  patients.  Chil- 
dren between  the  ages  of  one  and  fifteen  years,  requiring  medical  or 
surgical  treatment,  are  admitted  to  this  hospital.  This  worthy  charity 
is  in  charge  of  the  "  Sisterhood  of  the  Holy  Child  Jesus,  "and  its  finan- 
cial management  entrusted  to   a  committee  of  lady   managers.     It  is 


200 

mainly  supported  by  voluntary  contributions,  and  its  benefits  arc  ex- 
tended for  the  relief  of  the  afflicted  without  regard  to  creed  or  condition. 
The  annual  reports  record  the  gifts  of  money  from  subscribers  and 
churches  showing  broad  charity  for  the  support  of  this  benevolent  in- 
stitution. Closely  related  to  this  hospital,  and  forming  a  group  of 
charity  institutions,  is  the  Sisters'  House  and  St.  Margaret's  House. 
These  buildings,  completed  and  occupied  during  the  past  year,  were 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $70,000;  of  this  amount  $G0,000  were  donated  by 
generous  friends  and  the  buildings  are  entirely  free  from  debt.  A 
large  number  of  cases  are  treated  annually  at  this  hospital;  its  success 
is  due  to  the  unremitting  care  and  faithful  work  of  the  Sisterhood  in 
charge  of  its  affairs.  During  the  summer  the  little  patients  are  sent  to 
the  St.  Christina  Home,  a  retreat  located  at  Saratoga  Springs,  N.  Y. 
The  Child's  Hospital  is  open  to  the  students  of  the  Albany  Medical  Col- 
lege for  clinical  instruction,  and  no  efforts  are  spared  by  the  manage- 
ment in  liberally  providing  for  the  comfort  of  children  entrusted  to 
their  care. 

The  following  constitute  the  medical  and  surgical  staff : 

Attending  Physicians,  Dr.  T.  M.  Trego,  Dr.  Henry  Hun ;  Attending  Surgeons, 
Dr.  Lewis  Balch,  Dr.  S.  R.  Morrow;  Ophthalmic  and  Aural  Surgeon,  Dr.  C.  S. 
Merrill;  Physician  to  Out-Patient  Department,  Dr.  H.  Van  Rensselaer;  Dental  Sur- 
geon, Dr.  Fr.  G.  Michel;  Assistant  Aural  and  Ophthalmic  Surgeon,  Dr.  C.  H.  Moore. 

The  Albany  City  Homoeopathic  Hospital  was  founded  in  1872.  The 
nucleus  for  this  hospital  was  the  establishment  of  a  free  dispensary  by 
the  County  Medical  Homoeopathic  Society  in  1867.  Soon  after  the 
opening  of  the  dispensary  it  was  evident  that  in  order  to  provide  addi- 
tional facilities  to  meet  the  growing  demands  for  dispensary  work,  it 
was  necessary  to  equip  a  building  for  both  dispensary  and  hospital  pur- 
poses. In  1871  a  building  was  purchased  and  the  plan  of  combining 
the  dispensary  and  hospital  carried  into- effect.  Although  this  build- 
ing was  well  equipped,  it  soon  became  evident  that  it  was  undesirable 
and  that  a  larger  one  was  necessary.  In  1875  the  building  now  occu- 
pied was  purchased  and  remodeled  to  adapt  it  tor  hospital  purposes. 
This  hospital  is  centrally  located  and  has  accommodations  for  fifty 
patients  It  is  successfully  conducted  under  the  management  of  the 
board  of  trustees  who  are  elected  annually.  The  resources  of  both  the 
hospital  and  dispensary  are  derived  from  the  income  of  private  patients, 
from  voluntary  contributions,  and  an  annual  appropriation  by  the  city 
government.      Much   credit   is  due   to  the   homoeopathic  profession  of 

27 


210 

Albany  for  the  establishment  of  this  worthy  charity.  It  is  an  institu- 
tion doing  good  work,  and  its  benefits  are  liberally  dispensed.  It  has 
gratuitously  afforded  medical  and  surgical  treatment  to  many  appli- 
cants who  preferred  to  avail  themselves  of  its  medical  service.  The 
number  of  dispensary  cases  treated  is  unusually  large,  and  accommoda- 
tion for  the  treatment  of  indoor  patients  not  adequate  to  the  demands. 
The  feasibility  of  enlarging  the  present  hospital,  or  procuring  a  site 
for  the  erection  of  a  new  building,  is  being  considered  by  the  board  of 
trustees.  The  services  performed  by  the  physicians  and  surgeons  con- 
nected with  this  institution  have  been  rendered  in  the  true  interests  of 
charity,  and  the  management  of  the  hospital  conducted  to  fully  accom- 
plish the  objects  for  which  it  was  established.  The  present  staff  of  the 
hospital  consists  of  the  following  physicians: 

Attending  physicians:  C.  E.  Jones,  M.  D.,  George  E.  Gorham,  M.  D.,  W.  M. 
Nead,  M.  D.,  W.  J.  McKown,  M.  D.,  F.  J.  Cox,  M.  D.  Attending  surgeons:  W.  E. 
Milbank,  M.  D.(  A.  B.  Van  Loon,  M.  D.,  Edmund  G.  Cox,  M.  D. 

This  brief  history' is  based  upon  research  from  records,  and  presents 
in  concise  form  and  as  accurately  as  could  be  obtained,  the  part  per- 
formed by  the  medical  profession  in  the  history  of  Albany  city  and 
county.  Many  changes  to  meet  the  demands  of  a  growing  city,  that 
has  celebrated  its  bi  centennial  anniversary,  have  necessitated  larger 
facilities  for  medical  education  and  more  ample  provisions  for  the  care 
of  its  needy  and  afflicted  citizens.  The  Albany  Hospital,  St.  Peter's 
Hospital,  Homoeopathic  Hospital,  Child's  Hospital,  and  Hospital  for 
Incurables,  besides  the  Open  Door  Mission  and  Asylums,  institutions 
that  have  contributed  so  largely  in  providing  for  the  care  of  the  sick 
and  indigent,  are  entitled  to  a  more  exhaustive  history  than  detailed 
in  this  book  In  no  city  in  the  Union  is  the  progressive  and  humani- 
tarian element  of  the  medical  profession  more  active.  The  State  Medi- 
cal Library,  the  Albany  Medical  College,  the  Bender  Hygienic  Labora- 
tory, the  Hospitals  and  Dispensaries,  are  monuments  that  reflect  credit 
and  honor  to  their  untiring  energy  and  efforts.  The  honorable  record 
of  those  members  of  the  profession  from  the  city  and  county,  who 
served  their  country  from  the  outbreak  through  the  most  trying  times 
of  the  late  Civil  war,  briefly  as  it  is  here  detailed,  merits  appreciation 
and  does  honor  to  those  who  shared  in  the  great  struggle.  The  num- 
ber of  physicians  registered  in  the  county  clerk's  office  since  1880  is 
468. 

This  list  represents  a  class  of  general  practitioners  and  specialists 


WM.  M.  NhAD,  M.   U. 


211 

who  rank  high  in  the  profession  and  many  are  representative  members 
of  State,  county  and  special  medical  associations.  The  faculty  of  the 
Albany  Medical  College  is  recognized  as  a  most  efficient  body  of  medi- 
cal instructors.  The  medical  and  surgical  staffs  of  the  various  hos- 
pitals and  dispensaries  are  made  up  of  men  well  qualified  to  fill  their 
respective  positions.  Lack  of  space  prevents  the  writer  from  detailing 
much  matter  pertaining  to  the  history  and  progress  of  medicine  in 
Albany  city  and  county.  It  is  a  privilege  and  a  pleasure  to  chronicle 
the  good  work  accomplished  by  distinguished  physicians  who  entered 
upon  their  career  of  usefulness  in  this  city.  Many  have  gone,  covered 
with  honors  and  duties  well  done.  Many  are  still  active  in  pushing 
forward  the  good  work  inaugurated  by  the  early  pioneers  of  reform,  in 
all  matters  relating  to  higher  education  and  greater  usefulness.  The 
day  of  primitive  education  in  medicine  has  given  way  to  the  impera- 
tive demands  of  this  age  of  progress. 


THE  ALBANY  COUNTY  HOMOEOPATHIC  MEDICAL  SOCIETY. 
By  Horace  M.  Paine,  M.  D. 

The  Albany  County  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society,  organized  Janu- 
ary 24,  1801,  has  been  a  recognized  force  in  the  establishment,  upbuild- 
ing and  permanent  development  of  the  homoeopathic  system  of  prac- 
tice, and  its  representative  institutions,  the  Albany  City  Homoeopathic 
Hospital  and  Dispensary. 

The  records  of  this  society  show  that  its  members  have  been  active 
participants  in  the  great  medico  ethical  controversy  of  this  country; 
and  that  they  have  rendered  effective  service  in  the  frequent  contests 
for  securing,  in  behalf  of  themselves  and  their  associates  throughout 
the  State,  a  status,  equal  in  every  respect  to  that  of  their  old  school 
rivals. 

There  has  ever  been  a  desire  manifested,  during  the  whole  of  the 
thirty-seven  years  since  the  organization  of  the  society,  to  make  it  a 
means  for  the  mutual  improvement  of  its  members;  the  purpose  being, 
that  the  contributions  of  practical  knowledge  by  individuals  might,  in 
turn,  be  made  available  by  the  whole  membership,  thereby  making  the 
organization  in  the  highest  and  best  sense  a  medium  through  which  the 
public  would  be  largely  benefited. 


212 

While  it  is  doubtless  true  that  these  beneficent  purposes  may  not 
have  been  carried  out  to  the  fullest  extent,  it  is  unquestioned  that  it 
has  been  a  centre  of  influence  and  power  for  maintaining  the  fellow- 
ship, integrity,  prestige  and  influence  of  the  homoeopathic  school  in 
this  city,  and,  in  fact,  in  all  the  northern  part  of  the  State. 

The    members   of    the   Homoeopathic    County    Society,    like    other 

9 

homoeopathic  physicians,  maintain  adherence  to  the  tenets  of  their 
system,  on  the  alleged  superior  curative  qualities  of  homoeopathic 
remedies,  when  subjected  to  practical  tests  in  the  treatment  of  disease. 

They  admit  that  while  some  of  the  theoretical  formulas  promulgated 
by  Hahnemann  are  strangely  absurd  and  untenable,  the  essential 
principles  on  which  the  homoeopathic  system  is  founded  are  reasonable, 
sound,  and  an  exemplification  of  a  natural  law  of  cure. 

A  proposition  to  open  to  the  public  a  homoeopathic  free  dispensary 
was  first  made  at  a  meeting  of  the  Albany  County  Homoeopathic  Med- 
ical Society,  held  February  4,  1865. 

During  the  following  two  years  various  plans  were  offered  and  an 
interest  in  the  subject  was  sustained,  and  at  length  culminated,  in  the 
fall  of  18G7,  in  the  establishment  of  a  free  dispensary,  at  that  time 
the  only  public  institution  in  Albany  for  furnishing  gratuitous  medical 
service  and  medicines  to  those  who  chose  to  avail  themselves  of  its 
benefits. 

This  charity  has  been  ably  supported  by  members  of  the  homoeo- 
pathic medical  profession,  and  the  large  numbers  of  worthy  poor  who 
have  been  the  recipients  of  its  beneficent  aid  attest  both  its  popularity 
and  usefulness. 

During  the  first  ten  years  of  its  history  it  afforded  gratuitous  medical 
and  surgical  aid  to  more  than  sixty  thousand  applicants. 

The  number  of  medical  prescriptions  and  of  minor  surgical  opera- 
tions performed  have  usually  ranged  from  two  to  three  hundred  per 
month. 

The  amount  of  charitable  work  in  the  aggregate  during  the  first 
thirty  years  of  its  history,  now  nearly  completed,  is  astonishing  in 
magnitude,  encouraging  and  gratifying  to  those  who  have  been  its 
willing  supporters,  and  pleasing  and  beneficial  to  its  thousands  of 
grateful  recipients. 

An  experience  of  five  years  of  dispensary  service  revealed  the  fact 
that  many  of  the  applicants  required  hospital  accommodations  and 
treatment. 


213 

With  a  view,  therefore,  of  increasing-  its  usefulness,  and  placing  its 
work  and  operations  upon  a  broader  foundation,  a  building  was  pur- 
chased in  the  summer  of  1872  and  supplied  with  the  requisites  for  both 
dispensary  and  hospital  uses.  The  building  at  first  selected  having 
been  found  undesirable,  in  1875  a  larger  and  more  suitable  one  was 
provided. 

The  present  hospital  and  dispensary  building  is  centrally  and  con- 
veniently located  at  No.  123  North  Pearl  street,  is  large  and  complete 
in  its  appointments,  and  is  provided  with  all  suitable  appliances  for 
accommodating  thirty  patients.  The  experience  of  the  past  three 
years  plainly  indicates  that  a  building  of  double  the  capacity  of  the 
present  one  is  greatly  needed. 

All  of  the  homoeopathic  physicians  in  the  city  hold  themselves  in 
readiness  to  render  any  assistance  that  may  be  needed.  The  staff  of 
surgeons,  Drs.  W.  E.  Milbank,  E.  G.  Cox,  W.  H.  Van  Loon  and  W.  X. 
Nead,  are  so  efficiently  maintaining  the  high  standard  of  success  in  their 
special  departments  that  the  resources  of  the  institution  are  not  only 
constantly  taxed  to  the  utmost  limit,  but  make  clear  the  pressing  need 
of  securing  a  far  greater  number  of  suitable  rooms  in  larger  and  more 
desirable  buildings. 

While  the  influence  of  the  membership  of  this  society  has  been  largely 
in  support  of  the  establishment  of  equality  in  the  exercise  of  medical 
civil  rights,  as  between  schools  of  medicine,  it  must  be  admitted  that 
its  influence  has  been  also  actively  exerted  in  support  of  the  two  essen- 
tial principles  of  homoeopathic  practice,  viz.:  the  smallness  "i  mii 
curative  dose,  and  the  physiological  (pathogenetic)  action  of  dri 

IN    HEALTH     AS    A     RATIONAL     BASIS    FOR    THEIR    CORREI    I       VPPLICATION     IN 
DISEAS1  . 

Although  the  honor  of  having  introduced  the  homoeopathic  system 
of  practice  to  the  citizens  of  Albany,  belongs  to  Dr.  A.  P.  Biegler,  who 
came  in  1837,  the  real  pioneer  of  homoeopathy  in  this  citv  was  Dr. 
I.  M.  Ward.  Dr.  Ward  came  to  Albany  in  1841.  He  was  the  first 
resident  American  homoeopathic  practitioner  north  of  New  York  city, 
and  for  several  years  the  only  homoeopathic  physician  residing  in 
Albany. 

The  representatives  of  the  homoeopathic  system  at  Albany,  prior  to 
the  advent  of  Dr.  Ward,  were  physicians  of  foreign  birth  and  education. 
Their  antecedents  and  manners  did  not  contribute  to  the  rapid  promul- 
gation  and   popularization   of   the   system   of  therapeutics   which  they 


214 


labored  hard  to  introduce.  Their  theories  were  considered  visionary 
and  their  practice  unsound. 

The  following  list  contains  the  names  of  upwards  of  one  hundred 
homoeopathic  physicians  who  have  resided  in  Albany  county,  and  have 
identified  themselves  with  homoeopathic  interests,  either  by  member- 
ship in  the  Albany  County  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society,  or  by  ser- 
vice in  the  Albany  Homoeopathic  Hospital  and  Dispensary. 

The  names  of  those  who  have  been  admitted  to  membership  in  the 
county  society,  are  printed  in  small  capitals.  The  names  of  those  who 
have  not  joined  the  county  society  are  printed  in  ordinary  type. 

The  left  hand  column  of  figures  indicates  the  chronological  order  and 
date  of  entrance  on  homoeopathic  practice  in  Albany  county. 

1837.  Augustus  Philip  Biegler,  A.  M.,  M.  D.  Born  in  Prussia,  in 
1790.  Was  graduated,  March  29,  1832,  from  the  Medical  Department 
of  the  University  of  Berlin. 

To  him  belonged  the  distinguished  honor  of  having  introduced  the 
homoeopathic  system  of  practice  to  the  citizens  of  Albany,  in  Novem- 
ber, 1837.  He  resided  in  Albany  two  and  a  half  years,  and  then  re- 
moved to  Schenectady,  and  subsequently,  to  Rochester. 

He  enjoyed  the  rare  opportunity  of  having  had  a  long  personal  ac- 
quaintance with  Hahnemann,  and  of  obtaining  from  him  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  homoeopathic  principles  and  practice.  He  died  at  Roch- 
ester, N.  Y.,  in  1849,  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years. 

1838.  Dr.  Rosenstein.  Formed  a  business  partnership  with  Dr. 
Biegler.      Resided  in  Albany  one  year,  and  then  removed  elsewhere. 

1839.  Emanuel  Sieze,  M.  D.  Dr.  Sieze  and  Dr.  Biegler  came  to- 
gether from  Germany  to  this  country,  to  engage  in  the  practice  of 
homoeopathy.  Dr.  Sieze  first  located  at  Hudson,  where  he  remained 
a  year  and  a  half.  He  resided  four  years  in  Albany.  He  was  an  ed- 
ucated physician.  In  practice  he  made  quite  an  extensive  use  of  hy- 
dropathic treatment. 

1840.  Charles  Frederic  Hoffendahl,  A.  M.,  M.  D.  Born  in  Germany 
in  1799.  Was  graduated  from  the  Medical  Departmentof  the  Univer- 
sity of  Berlin,  in  1828.  Came  to  this  country  in  1837;  settled  first  in 
Philadelphia;  came  to  Albany  in  1840;  removed  to  Boston  in  1842, 
where  he  died  in  April,  1862,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three  years. 

1841.  Isaac  Moreau  Ward,  A.  M.,  M.  D.  Born  at  Bloomfield,  N.  J., 
October  23,  1806.  Was  graduated  in  arts  from  Yale,  in  1825;  and  in 
medicine,   from  Rutgers  Medical  College  in  1829.      Began  practice  in 


215 

Newark,  N.  J.  ;  removed  to  Albany  in  1841 ;  returned  to  his  home  at 
Lyons  Farms,  N.  J.,  in  1847,  where  he  died  February  24,  1895,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-nine  years.  He  was  widely  known  as  an  eminent  physi- 
cian and  an  upright  and  highly  respected  citizen. 

1842.  Charles  Herbert  Skiff,  M.  D.  Born  at  Spencertown,  X.  V., 
May  12,  1808.  Was  graduated,  in  1832,  from  Berkshire  Medical  Col- 
lege at  Pittsfield,  Mass.  Began  practice  at  Spencertown;  removed  in 
1842  to  Albany;  and  in  1843  to  New  Haven,  Conn.,  being  the  pioneer 
homoeopathic  physician  of  that  city.  Died  at  New  Haven,  December 
11,  1875,  at  the  age  of  sixty  seven  years. 

1845.  Henry  Delavan  Paine,  A.M.,  M.D.  Born  at  Delhi,  N.  Y., 
June  19,  1816.  Was  graduated  in  1838,  from  the  College  of  Physicians 
and  Surgeons  in  New  York  city.  Began  practice  in  Newburgh,  N.  Y.  ; 
removed,  in  1845,  to  Albany;  returned  to  New  York  city  in  1865. 
During  his  residence  in  Albany  Dr.  Paine  won  the  confidence  and  re- 
spect of  the  entire  community,  his  friends  and  adherents  being  among 
the  leading,  most  influential  and  intelligent  citizens.  The  inaugura- 
tion of  special  medical  legislation  in  behalf  of  the  homoeopathic  as  a 
separate  and  distinct  school  of  medicine,  was  due  to  Dr.  Paine's  efforts, 
more  than  to  those  of  any  other  person.  By  the  enactment  of  the  law 
of  1857,  providing  for  the  organization  of  county  homoeopathic  medical 
societies,  and  the  enactment  of  the  law  of  1861,  providing  for  the  organ- 
ization of  the  State  homoeopathic  medical  society,  the  homoeopathic  pro- 
fession of  the  State  secured  the  same  legal  rights  and  privileges  as  were 
extended  to  old  school  physicians;  and  among  those  whose  wisdom, 
tact  and  zeal  were  instrumental,  during  previous  years  of  trial  and  self- 
denying  labor,  in  placing  the  homoeopathic  school  and  its  organizations 
upon  a  safe  and  enduring  foundation,  the  unflagging  energy  and  well 
directed  efforts  of  Dr.  Paine  were  exceptionally  effective,  and  are 
worthy  of  the  grateful  recognition  and  unqualified  approval  of  the 
whole  homoeopathic  profession  of  the  entire  State.  He  died  in  New- 
York  city,  June  11,  1893,  at  the  age  of  seventy  seven  years.  An  ex 
pressive  epitome  of  his  life  and  character,  and  touching  tribute  to  his 
memory;  is  found  in  the  closing  sentence  of  an  obituary  notice  of  his 
death;  "A  devoted  Churchman;  a  priestly  physician;  a  Christlike 
man." 

1846.  Erasmus  Darwin  Jones,  M.  D.  Born  at  Upper  Jay,  X.  V.. 
September,  10,  1818.  Was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  College 
in  1841.     Began  practice  at  Keeseville,  N.  Y.  ;  removed  to  Albany  in 


216 

1846,  where  for  forty-five  years  he  conducted  a  large,  successful  and 
lucrative  practice.  He  was  noted  for  self-sacrificing  devotion  to  the 
interests  and  welfare  of  his  numerous  patients.  He  excelled  in  indus- 
try, accuracy  of  discrimination,  untiring  patience,  and  a  never  exhaust- 
ing wealth  of  resources  in  all  difficult  and  complicated  cases.  And 
through,  and  with,  these  characteristic  qualities,  there  was  always  ex 
hibited  a  kindliness  of  feeling,  courtesy  of  manner,  and  fervency  of 
zeal,  that  caused  both  devoted  friends  and  professional  associates  to 
sincerely  regret  that  the  infirmities  of  advancing  years  had,  in  181)1, 
brought  forced  retirement  from  active  and  effective  work,  in  the  field 
where  his  tact  and  skill  were  so  long  recognized  as  qualities  developed 
to  a  degree  to  which  few  younger  men  could  ever  hope  or  expect  to 
attain.      He  died  August  17,  1895,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years. 

1847.  John  Alsop  Paine,  M.  D.  Born  at  Whitest  own,  N.  Y.,  July 
10,  1795.  Was  graduated  from  the  Medical  Department  of  Yale  Col- 
lege in  1825.  Began  practice  at  Volney,  and  continued  successively  in 
Paris,  New  Hartford,  and  Utica,  N.  Y. ;  in  Newark,  N.  J.,  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  four  years;  subsequently  in  Newark,  N.  J., 
and  Lake  Forest,  111.,  where  he  died  June  16,  1871,  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty six  years.  He  practiced  the  allopathic  system  nineteen,  and  the 
homoeopathic  twenty- six  years. 

1848.  Henry  Adams,  M.  D.  Born  at  Coxsackie,  N.  Y.,  July  6,  1787. 
Licensed  to  practice  under  the  law  of  1808.  Began  practice  at  Cox- 
sackie. Appointed  surgeon  to  one  of  the  regiments  of  the  American 
army  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  stationed  at  Sackett's  Harbor,  N.  Y. 
Adopted  the  homoeopathic  system  of  practice  in  1846.  Removed  to  Al- 
bany in  1848,  and  to  Cohoes  in  1850,  where  he  resided  to  the  time  of 
his  death,  July  6,  1857,  his  seventieth  birthday. 

1849.  Horace  Mansfield  Paine,  A.  M.,  M.  D.  Born  at  Paris,  N.  Y., 
November  19,  1827.  Was  graduated,  March  11,  1849,  from  the  Medi- 
cal Department  of  the  University  of  the  City  of  New  York.  Began  prac- 
tice at  Albany;  removed  to  Clinton,  Oneida  county,  in  1855;  returned 
to  Albany  in  1865.  Relinquished  active  practice  in  1895.  Resides,  in 
summer,  at  West  Newton,  Mass.,  and  in  winter,  at  Atlanta,  Ga.  He 
has,  for  forty  years,  been  actively  identified  with  the  adoption  of  meas- 
ures for  establishing  the  homoeopathic  system  of  practice  on  a  reasona- 
able  and  enduring  foundation ;  for  dissociating  it  from  untenable  and 
visionary  theories;  for  securing  the  enactment  of  such  laws  as  would  ex- 
tend to  the  representatives  of  all  recognized  schools  of  medicine  equal 


JAMES  W.  COX,  M.  D. 


217 

civil  rights  and  privileges;  and  such  laws  also,  as  would  unij  y  and  ele- 
vate medical  educational  standards,  by  transferring  the  right  of  medical 
licensure  from  medical  college  faculties  (private  corporations),  to  State 
control.  In  the  prosecution  of  these  measures,  during  the  whole  of 
that  period,  he  has  steadily  made  use  of  official  positions  on  commit- 
tees, or  as  secretary  of  a  number  of  medical  associations,  for  promot- 
ing these  desirable  purposes.  He  received  the  degree  of  Master  of 
Arts  (honorary)  from  Hamilton  College  in  1859;  and  the  honorary  de- 
gree of  Doctor  of  Medicine  from  the  Regents  of  the  University,  on  the 
recommendation  of  the  State  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society.  He  is  an 
honorary  member  of  a  number  of  State  homoeopathic  medical  societies 
in  this  and  other  countries. 

1850.  David  Springsteed,  M.  D.  Born  in  the  town  of  Bethlehem, 
Albany  county,  January  17,  1808.  Attended  medical  lectures  at  the 
Medical  Department  of  Yale  College,  and  at  the  Duane  Street  Medical 
College  in  the  city  of  New  York.  Licensed  to  practice  in  1830,  by  the 
Medical  Society  of  the  State  of  New  York.  Began  practice  in  Bethle- 
hem. Adopted  the  homoeopathic  system  in  1845.  Removed  to  Albany 
in  1850;  retired  from  active  practice  in  1880,  after  having  completed  a 
full  half-century  of  successful  professional  work.  He  removed  in  1880 
to  Saugerties,  N.  Y;  in  1884,  to  New  York  city;  and  in  L889,  to  South 
Woodstock,  Conn.,  where  he  died  March  26,  1894,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
six  years.  He  was  appointed  county  physician  by  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors of  Albany  county  in  1851,  the  first  appointment,  it  is  believed,  of 
a  homoeopathic  physician  to  such  a  position  in  the  United  States. 

1851.  William  Hi  nry  Randel,  M.  D.  Born  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  Au- 
gust 28,  1829.  Was  graduated,  in  1851,  from  the  Medical  Department 
of  the  University  of  the  City  of  New  York.  Began  practice  in  Albany, 
where  he  remained  to  the  time  of  his  death,  December  13,  1887,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-eight  years.  Dr.  Randel  was  closely  identified  with  the 
work  and  progress  of  the  Albany  Homoeopathic  Hospital  and  Dispen- 
sary, and  was  unremitting  in  his  efforts  to  promote  its  development 
and  usefulness. 

1851.  Pascal  P.  Brooks,  M.  D.  Came  to  Albany  in  L851.  He  had 
been  an  old  school  practitioner  sixteen  years,  and  had  recently  adopted 
the  homoeopathic  system.  He  remained  in  Albany  two  years,  and 
then  removed  elsewhere. 

185-2.  James  William  Cox,  M.  1).  Born  at  Gilbertsville,  X.Y..  Feb- 
ruary 5,  1828.     He  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in 

28 


218 

January,  1852:  Began  practice  in  Albany,  in  association  with  his 
former  preceptor,  Dr.  H.  D.  Paine.  He  remained  a  resident  of  Al- 
bany to  the  time  of  his  death,  June  9,  1896,  at  the  age  of  sixty  eight 
years.  Dr.  Cox  was  an  accomplished,  skillful  and  successful  physician. 
His  natural  powers  of  insight  enabled  him  to  distinguish  hidden  and 
obscure  features  of  disease;  and  he  was  blessed,  in  a  remarkable  de- 
gree, with  the  ability  to  inspire  with  courage,  cheer  and  hope,  those  to 
whom  he  ministered  as  a  physician.  These  qualities  of  mind  were  of 
the  highest  order,  and  won  for  him  the  steadfast  confidence  and  love  of 
all  who  were  fortunate  in  making  his  acquaintance. 

1853.  Charles  Gilbert  Bryant,  M.  D.  Born  at  Gilbertsville,  N.  Y., 
March  13,  1829.  Was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in 
January,  1852.  Began  practice  at  Little  Falls,  N.  Y. ;  came  to  Albany 
in  1853;  removed  in  1854  to  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  where  he  died  in 
18G6,  at  the  age  of  thirty-seven  years. 

1854.  Lester  Marcus  Pratt,  M.  D.  Born  at  Pratt's  Hollow,  N.Y., 
April  25,  1818.  Was  graduated  in  1854  from  the  Pennsylvania  HoTnoeo- 
pathic  Medical  College  at  Philadelphia.  Began  practice  the  same  year 
at  Albany.  Remained  in  Albany  until  August,  1893,  when  he  retired 
from  active  practice  and  removed  to  Homer,  N.  Y.  During  his  long 
medical  career  he  endeared  himself  to  many  personal  friends  on  account 
of  his  recognized  professional  skill,  his  readiness  to  minister  to  the 
relief  of  human  suffering  among  those  in  the  higher  walks  of  life,  as 
well  also  as  the  illiterate  and  indigent.  He  possessed  a  cheerful  and 
hopeful  disposition  and  a  sympathetic  nature.  Having  these  estimable 
qualities  of  mind  and  heart,  it  is  not  surprising  that  his  friends  were 
drawn  toward  him  with  a  strong  and  abiding  attachment;  nor  that  his 
influence  and  life  were  radiant  with  the  elevating  and  ennobling  ten- 
dencies that  mark  the  highest  and  best  type  of  true  manhood. 

1857.  George  Henry  Billings,  M.  D.  Born  at  Claremont,  N.  H., 
June  19,  1835.  Was  graduated  from  the  Castleton  Medical  College  in 
June,  1857.  Began  practice  at  Cohoes  in  September,  1857;  removed  to 
Cambridge,  N.  Y.,  in  1862,  to  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  in  1865,  and  returned 
to  Cohoes  in  1871,  where  he  died  May  20,  1893. 

1862,  John  Savage  Delavan,  M.  D.  Born  at  Ballston,  N.  Y.,  Oc- 
tober 18,  1840.  Was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  College, 
December  23,  1861.  Began  practice  at  Albany  in  1862.  Served  three 
years  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  in  the  capacity  of  assistant  surgeon. 
Returned  to  Albany  in  1865;  removed  to  Geneva,  Switzerland,  in  1872; 


219 

returned  to  Albany  in  1876,  where  he  remained  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  by  accidental  drowning,  August  7,  1885.  Dr.  Dclavan 
was  respected  for  his  noble  and  generous  impulses.  He  stood  in  the 
front  rank  of  the  profession.  His  smile  of  recognition,  his  cordial 
greeting,  and  his  faithful  services  were  characteristic  of  a  whole  souled, 
generous  hearted  friend. 

1803.  Walter  Samuel  Baker,  M.  D.  Born  at  Newark,  N.  J.,  July 
18,  1841.  Was  graduated  in  March,  1803,  from  the  Xew  York  Homoeo- 
pathic Medical  College  and  Hospital.  Began  practice  at  Cohoes  in 
June  of  the  same  year,  and  in  1870  removed  to  Newark,  N.  J.,  where 
(in  1897)  he  still  resides. 

1865.  Joseph  C.  Butler,  M.  D.  Pursued  the  study  of  medicine  under 
the  supervision  of  Dr.  W.  H.  Randel,  of  Albany,  and  was  graduated  in 
1865  from  the  New  York  Homoeopathic  Medical  College  and  Hospital. 
Began  practice  in  Albany  immediately  thereafter  in  association  with 
his  former  preceptor.  After  a  residence  in  Albany  of  two  years  he 
removed  to  Florida,  where  he  died  the  following  year. 

1867.  Harmon  Sun/,  M.  D.  Born  at  Schenectady,  N.Y.,  June  29, 
1818.  Began  the  study  of  medicine  in  the  office  of  Dr.  L.  S.  Roe,  a 
homoeopathic  physician  of  that  city ;  entered  on  practice  before  he  had 
completed  his  studies  on  account  of  the  sudden  death,  by  accident,  of 
his  preceptor.  He  subsequently  attended  medical  lectures,  and  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine  in  1865  from  the  Xew  York 
Homoeopathic  Medical  College  and  Hospital.  He  became  a  member 
of  the  Albany  County  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society  in  1867.  He  was 
for  many  years  the  sole  representative  of  the  homoeopathic  school  of 
practice  in  the  city  where  he  was  born,  and  where  he  resided  during 
the  whole  period  of  his  life.  Possessing  the  faculty  of  close  observa- 
tion with  acuteness  of  perception,  he  acquired  a  thorough  practical 
knowledge  of  the  theory  and  practice  of  medicine  long  before  he  be- 
came a  legally  qualified  practitioner. 

1867.  Joseph  N.  White,  M.  D.  Born  at  Deerfield,  N.  Y..  July  4, 
1816.  Was  graduated  in  1854  from  the  Medical  College  of  Ohio  at 
Cincinnati.  He  began  practice  at  Amsterdam,  X.  V.,  and  remained 
there  to  the  time  of  his  death,  April  "24,  1890,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
four  years.  He  became  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Homoeo- 
pathic Medical  Society  in  1867.  He  possessed  a  natural  aptitude  for 
his  profession.  He  was  gentle  and  sympathetic  in  manners,  of  simple 
tastes  and  habits,  tenacious  of  principle,  a  Puritan  in  morals,  yet  withal 
possessed  of  the  broadest  charity. 


220 

1807.  Herman  Brownell  Horton,  M.  D.  Born  at  New  Lebanon, 
N.  Y.,  October  9,  1831.  Was  graduated  in  1858  from  the  Berkshire 
Medical  College  at  Pittsfield,  Mass.  Began  practice  at  Eden,  N.  Y.  ; 
removed  in  1865  to  Poestenkill,  Rensselaer  county,  to  Bath,  in  the  same 
county,  in  1866;  to  Albany  in  1867;  to  Kinderhook  in  1869;  and  in 
1871,  to  Huntington,  Suffolk  county,  where  he  died  September  1,  1890. 
Dr.  Horton  took  an  active  interest  in  the  canvass  which  resulted  in  the 
establishment  of  the  Albany  Homoeopathic  Dispensary,  and  on  its  or- 
ganization was  appointed  its  first  resident  physician.  He  practiced  the 
allopathic  system  seven,  and  the  homoeopathic  twenty-three  years. 

1867.  J.  Fenimore  Niver,  M.  D.  Born  at  Bethlehem,  N.  Y.,  April 
31,  1839.  Was  graduated  in  1864  from  the  Berkshire  Medical  College 
at  Pittsfield,  Mass.  Began  practice  at  Stillwater,  N.  Y. ;  removed  in 
1867  to  Cohoes;  and  in  1871  to  Cambridge,  Washington  county,  where, 
in  1897,  he  is  still  engaged  in  active  practice. 

1867.  James  Henry  Augustus  Graham,  M.  D.  Born  at  Sandisfield, 
Mass.,  January  11,  1809.  Was  graduated  from  the  Berkshire  Medical 
College  at  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  in  1836.  Began  practice  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  where  he  remained  a  number  of  years :  resided  at  Catskill  several 
years ;  and  during  the  last  few  years  of  his  life,  at  Berne,  Albany  county, 
where  he  died  in  October,  1878,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years.  He 
adopted  the  homoeopathic  system  in  1871,  and  adhered  to  it  during  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  He  had  been  an  old  school  practitioner  thirty- 
five  years. 

1868.  James  Francis  McKown,  M.  D.  Born  at  Guilderland,  N.  Y., 
April  1,  1844.  Was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  College,  No- 
vember 25,  1866.  Began  practice  (old  school)  at  Albany  the  same  year. 
Adopted  the  homoeopathic  system  in  1868,  and  adhered  to  it  during 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  August  25,  1892,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
eight  years. 

1868.  George  Aldomer  Cox,  M.  D.  Born  at  Butternut,  N.  Y.,  May 
17,  1846.  Was  graduated  in  December,  1868,  from  the  Albany  Medi- 
cal College.  He  began  practice  at  Albany  immediately  after  gradua- 
tion; removed  to  Cohoes  in  1870;  returned  to  Albany  in  1871,  where, 
in  1897,  he  is  engaged  in  the  duties  of  active  practice.  He  served  two 
and  a  half  years  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  and  was  mustered  out  of 
the  service  in  June,  1865. 

1869.  John  Smithwick,  A.  M.,  M.  D.  Born  at  Boston,  Mass.,  No- 
vember 8,  1842.     Was  graduated  in  December,  1868,  from  the  Albany 


221 

Medical  College.     Began  practice  at  Albany  in  1809;  removed,  in  1871, 
to  Weston,  Mass.;  in  1880,  to  Sharon,  Mass.,  his  residence  in  1807. 

1869.  Porter  Lafayette  Reynolds,  M.  D.  Born  at  Cabot,  Vt., 
May  18,  1823.  Was  graduated  in  the  spring  of  18G1  from  Castleton 
(Vermont)  Medical  College,  and  in  December,  1861,  from  the  Albany 
Medical  College.  Began  practice  (old  school)  at  Troy  in  1862;  enlisted 
as  assistant  surgon,  and  served  two  years  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion; 
began  practice  (homoeopathic)  in  1864,  at  Albany;  removed,  in  L878, 
to  Saratoga  Springs;  returned,  in  1880,  to  Albany;  and  in  1887,  to 
Oneida,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died  April  21,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years. 

1870.  Nelson  Hunting,  M.  D.  Born  at  Gallupville,  N.  Y.,  Novem- 
ber 21,  1837.  Was  graduated  in  18G9  from  the  New  York  Homoeo- 
pathic College  and  Hospital.  Began  practice  at  Gallupville,  remained 
one  year,  and  came  to  Albany  in  1870,  where  in  1897  he  is  engaged  in 
active  practice. 

1870.  Edward  Annon  Carpenter,  M.  D.  Born  at  Albany,  Novem- 
ber 11,  184G.  Was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in 
December,  18G9.  Entered  immediately  on  practice  in  Albany ;  removed 
in  1872,  to  Plattsburg,  N.  Y.  ;  thence,  in  1882,  to  Cambridge,  Mass.. 
where,  in  1897,  he  is  practicing  his  profession. 

1870.  Stephen  H.  Carroll,  M.  D.  Born  at  Milanville,  N.  Y.,  Au- 
gust 22,  1S42.  Was  graduated  in  1870  from  the  New  York  Homoeo- 
pathic College  and  Hospital.  Began  practice  in  Albany  immediately 
after  graduation,  and  in  1897  is  still  engaged  in  the  duties  of  active 
practice. 

1870.  Thomas  Henry  Mann,  M.  D.  Born  at  Norfolk,  Mass.,  April 
8,  1843.  Was  graduated  in  December,  1870,  from  the  Albany  Medical 
College.  Began  practice  in  1871  at  Willimantic,  Conn.  ;  removed  in 
1872  to  Block  Island,  R.  I.;  in  1876  to  Woonsocket,  R.  I.,  where  for 
ten  years  he  successfully  pursued  the  practice  of  his  profession.  In  1  885 
he  relinquished  the  practice  of  medicine,  and  entered  other  business 
pursuits.  Residence  in  1 8'.»7 ,  Pitchburg,  Mass. ,  at  which  place  he  holds 
the  office  of  postmaster,  and  is  the  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Fitchburg 
Evening  Mail.  Dr.  Mann  enlisted  in  the  army  in  L861,  serving  during 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion ;  was  held  a  whole  year  at  Andersonville  Prison, 
and  was  mustered  out  of  service  in  May,  L865. 

1870.  Philip  I.  Cromwell,  M.  D.  Born  at  Queensburg,  X.  V..  July 
12,1848.  Was  graduated  December  22,  L870,  from  the  Albany  Med- 
ical College.     Began  practice  at  Albany,  remaining  one  year;  removed 


222 

in  1872  to  Cleveland,  Oswego  county,  N.  Y.  ;  in  1874  to  DeKalb,  111. ; 
and  subsequently  to  Wilmington,  Will  county,  111.,  where,  in  1897,  he 
still  resides. 

1871.  Henry  Green  Preston,  B.  A.,  M.  D.  Born  at  Hartford,  Conn., 
in  1847.  Was  graduated  in  1869  from  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  Col- 
lege. Began  practice  in  1869  at  St.  John,  New  Brunswick;  removed 
in  1871  to  Albany  and  in  1876  to  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  where  in  1897  he  is 
still  engaged  in  successful  practice. 

1871.  John  Hiram  Fitch,  M.  D.  Born  at  New  Scotland,  N.  Y., 
April  2,  1837.  Was  graduated  in  1868  from  the  Eclectic  Medical  Col- 
lege in  New  York  city.      Began  practice  in  1868  in  New  York  city;  in 

1871  came  to  Albany;  in  1873  returned  to  New  York  city,  and  in  the 
fall  of  the  same  year  removed  to  New  Scotland,  Albany  county,  where 
in  1897  he  still  resides.  He  enlisted  in  the  army  in  1861,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  of  the  service  in  September,  1864. 

1871.  Frank  W.  Thomas,  M.  D.  Born  at  Watertown,  N.  Y.,  De- 
cember 29,  1846.  Was  graduated  in  1871  from  the  Hahnemann  Med- 
ical College,  of  Philadelphia.  Began  practice  the  same  year  at  Albany; 
removed  in  1873  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  he  died  September  16,  1890, 
at  the  age  of  forty-four  years.  His  death  was  occasioned  by  severe 
burns,  caused  by  the  explosion  of  a  lamp. 

1871.  Elliot  Calvin  Howe,  M.  D.  Born  at  Jamaica,  Vt. ,  February 
14,  1828.  Was  graduated  in  1853  from  the  Metropolitan  Medical  Col- 
of  New  York  city.  Began  practice  (eclectic)  the  same  year  at  Troy, 
remaining  until  1868;  pursued  the  occupation  of  teaching  seven  years; 
in  1868  resumed  practice  and  removed  to   New   Baltimore,    N.   Y.  ;  in 

1872  removed  to  Yonkers;  and  in  1884,  to  Lansingburgh,  where  in  1897 
he  still  resides. 

1871.  D.  A.  Cooringham,  M.  D.  Had  been  an  old  school  physician 
for  a  number  of  years.  On  coming  to  Albany  in  1871  he  adopted  the 
homoeopathic  system  of  practice;  removed  in  1872  to  Schenectady; 
thence  in  1874  to  Chicago,  111. 

1872.  William  Edward  Milbank,  M.  D.  Born  at  Coeymans,  N.  Y. , 
March  6,  1841.  Was  graduated  in  December,  1872,  from  the  Albany 
Medical  College.  Began  practice  in  Albany  the  same  year,  and  still 
(in  1897)  is  engaged  in  a  large,  successful  and  lucrative  practice.  Dr. 
Milbank  has  attained  the  highest  standing  in  his  profession;  his  coun- 
sel is  often  sought  by  his  associates  in  the  care  of  complicated  and 
difficult   cases;    and  his  official    connection   with    the   State   Board  of 


I 


223 

Health  contributed  largely  to  the  promotion  of  the  purposes  for  which 
it  is  established. 

1872.  Frederick  Wadsworth  Halsey,  M.  D.  Born  at  Plattsburgh, 
July  3,  1849.  Was  graduated  in  1871  from  the  National  Medical  College 
at  Washington,  D.  C.  Began  practice  at  Albany  in  1872 ;  removed  in  the 
fall  of  the  same  year  to  Fort  Henry,  Essex  county;  removed  in  1876  to 
Middleburg,  Vt.,  and  in  1885  removed  to  Boston,  Mass.,  where  in  1807 
he  is  conducting  an  extensive  and  remunerative  practice. 

1872.  Townsend  Bowen,  M.  D.  Was  graduated  in  December,  1872, 
from  the  Albany  Medical  College.  Began  practice  at  Albany  the  same 
year,  removing  in  1873  to  Huntington,  N.  Y.,  subsequently  to  Oneonta, 
N.  Y.,  thence  to  Denver  and  Leadville,  Col. 

1873.  Charles  Edmund  Jones,  A.  M.,  M.  D.  Born  in  Albany,  Feb- 
ruary 13,  1819.  Was  graduated  in  arts  in  1870  from  Hope  College,  at 
Holland  City,  Mich.;  in  medicine  in  December,  1872,  from  the  Albany 
Medical  College;  also  in  March,  1873,  from  the  New  York  Homoeo- 
pathic Medical  College  and  Hospital.  He  began  practice  immediately 
after  graduation,  in  association  with  his  father,  Dr.  E.  D.  Jones.  He 
is  still  (in  1897)  conducting  an  extensive  and  exceptionally  successful 
practice.  He  has  held  many  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility,  and, 
as  his  father  was,  is  regarded  as  a  physician  of  distinguished  ability. 

1873.  Horace  Curran  Miller,  M.  D.  Born  at  Schodack,  N.  Y.,  in 
1846.  Was  graduated  January  20,  1874,  from  the  Albany  Medical  Col- 
lege. Held  the  position  of  resident  physician  at  the  Albany  Homoeo- 
pathic Hospital  six  months  prior  to  graduation.  After  graduation  he 
began  practice  in  Greenbush,  Rensselaer  county,  where  (in  1897)  he 
still  resides. 

1873.  Catharine  Elizabeth  Goewey,  M.  D.  Born  in  the  town  of 
Greenbush,  N.  Y.,  November  26,  1835.  Was  graduated  in  May,  is;.;, 
from  the  New  York  Medical  College  and  Hospital  for  Women.  Began 
practice  in  Albany  the  same  year;  removed  in  1887  to  Brooklyn,  X.  Y.  ; 
returned  in  1890  to  Bath,  Rensselaer  county,  where  she  died  in  L896,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-one  years. 

1873.  Rufus  Reed,  M.  D.  Born  at  Rockville,  111.,  April  12,  1843. 
Was  graduated  in  1871  from  the  Hahnemann  Medical  College  of  Phila- 
delphia. Resided  and  practiced  one  year  in  Staunton,  \'a.  ;  removed 
in  is;:i  to  Cohoes,  Albany  county,  remaining  three  years;  removed  in 
is;;  to  Lambertville,  X.  J.;  thence  in  1882  to  Philadelphia,  his  resi- 
dence in  1897. 


224 

1874.  John  Jefferson  Wallace,  M.  D.  Born  at  Niagara,  Can.,  De- 
cember 15,  1805.  He  attended  medical  lectures  and  was  graduated 
from  one  of  the  New  York  medical  colleges  about  the  year  1835.  En- 
tered on  practice  (old  school)  in  that  city;  was  persuaded  to  make  a 
study  of  the  homoeopathic  system ;  was  graduated  in  1862  from  the 
New  York  Homoeopathic  Medical  College  and  Hospital,  being  one  of 
the  first  to  graduate  from  that  institution;  removed  in  1874  to  Albany, 
and  in  1877  to  East  Albany,  where  he  died  December  15,  1878,  at  the 
age  of  seventy- three  years. 

1874.  David  Edward  Collins,  L.  M.  Began  the  study  of  medicine 
in  1870;  attended  four  full  courses  of  medical  lectures  at  the  Albany 
Medical  College;  rendered  essential  and  helpful  service  three  years  as 
assistant  physician  at  the  Albany  Homoeopathic  Hospital;  was  licensed 
to  practice  in  the  spring  of  1874  by  the  Columbia  County  Homoeo- 
pathic Medical  Society;  began  practice  in  1874  at  Grapeville,  Greene 
county;  removed  to  Medway,  an  adjoining  town,  and  is  still  (in  1897) 
rendering  active  professional  service. 

1874.  Edgar  Valentine  Trull,  M.  D.  Born  at  Cohoes,  N.Y.,  August 
26,  1853.  Was  graduated  in  December,  1874,  from  the  Albany  Medical 
College.  Began  practice  at  Cohoes,  remaining  three  years;  removed 
in  1873  to  Manchester,  Vt.,  where  (in  1897)  he  still  resides. 

1874.  William  Wesley  Seeley,  M.  D.  Born  at  Carlisle,  N.  Y.,  in 
1852.  Was  graduated  in  1874  from  the  Detroit  Homoeopathic  Medical 
College.  Began  practice  after  graduation  at  Albany;  removed  in  1876 
to  East  Walworth,  N.  Y. ;  returned  in  1880  to  Albany,  and  in  1889  re- 
moved to  Poughkeepsie. 

1874.  William  Henry  Van  Derzee,  M.  D.  Born  at  Bethlehem,  Al- 
bany county,  December  18,  1856.  Was  graduated  in  December,  1874, 
from  the  Albany  Medical  College.  Began  practice  in  Albany  the  same 
year,  where  he  remained  to  the  time  of  his  death,  August  29,  1883. 

1875.  Nathaniel  Emmons  Paixe,  A.  M.,  M.  D.  Born  at  New  Hart- 
ford, N.  Y.,  July  14,  1853.  Was  graduated  in  arts  in  1874  from  Ham- 
ilton College;  in  medicine,  December  :23,  1875,  from  the  Albany 
Medical  College.  Began  practice  at  Albany;  appointed  in  1877  assist- 
ant physician  at  the  Middletown  State  Homoeopathic  Hospital  for  the 
Insane;  returned  in  1880  to  Albany;  appointed  in  1885  superintendent 
of  the  Westborough  State  Homoeopathic  Hospital  for  the  Insane  at 
Westborough,  Mass.  ;  removed  in  1892  to  conduct  a  private  institution 
of  his  own  for  the  care  and  treatment  of  nervous  and  mental  diseases 
at  West  Newton,  Mass.,  his  residence  in  1897. 


225 

1875.  John  Nelson  Bradley,  M.  D.  Born  at  Berne,  Albany  count}-, 
December  30,  1852.  Was  graduated  December  23,  1875,  from  the  Al- 
bany Medical  College.  Began  practice  at  Cedarhill,  Albany  county, 
and  has  resided  successively  in  the  following  places:  Delmar,  Albany 
county;  Cheyenne,  Wyoming;  Fort  Fetterman,  Wyoming;  Delmar; 
South  Plattsburg,  Tenn.  ;  Clarksville,  Albany  county;  Westerlo,  Al- 
bany county,  his  residence  in  1897. 

1875.  Richard  Bennett  Sullivan,  M.  D.  Born  at  Ithaca,  N.  Y., 
November  27,  1850.  Was  graduated,  in  1875,  from  the  New  York  Ho- 
moeopathic Medical  College  and  Hospital.  Began  practice  at  Albany, 
and  resided  successively  in  the  following  places:  New  York  city;  Plain- 
ville,  Onondaga  county;  Baldwinsville,  in  the  same  county;  Albany; 
Colorado  Springs,  Col.;  Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died,  October  29, 
1890. 

1875.  Howard  Lansing  Waldo,  M.  D.  Born  at  Centreville,  X.  Y., 
September  13,  1852.  Attended  lectures  at  the  Albany  Medical  College; 
admitted  to  an  examination  by  the  State  Board  of  Homoeopathic  Med- 
ical Examiners,  appointed  under  the  law  of  1872;  approved  by  such 
board;  received  June  30,  1875,  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine  from 
the  Regents  of  the  University.  Began  practice  in  Watervliet  (West 
Troy);  removed,  in  1887,  to  the  city  of  Troy,  his  residence  in  1897. 

1876.  John  Jay  Peckii  \m.  M.  D.  Born  at  Easton.  X.  Y.,  in  1851,  was 
graduated,  in  March,  187-4,  from  the  Hahnemann  Medical  College  of 
Philadelphia.  Began  practice,  in  1874,  at  Crescent,  Saratoga  county; 
removed,  in  1876,  to  Albany;  in  1877,  to  California;  in  the  spring  of 
1878,  to  Greenbush,  Rensselaer  county,  and  in  the  fall,  to  Albany.  Re- 
turned, in  1883,  to  Los  Angeles,  Cal. ;  removed,  subsequently,  to  San 
Francisco,  and  later,  to  Emigrant  Gay),  Cal.,  his  place  of  residence  in 
1897. 

1876.  Burdette  Warren,  M.  1).  Was  graduated,  in  L872,  from  the 
New  York  Homoeopathic  Medical  College  and  Hospital.  Began  prac- 
tice at  Worcester,  Otsego  county,  and  in  July,  1876,  came  to  Albany; 
returned  to  Worcester  in  January,  187*3 

L876.  Elisha  Bakkkk  Graham,  M.  D.  Bora  at  Italy,  X.  Y.  January 
•is,  L840.  Was  graduated,  in  1866,  from  the  Cleveland  Homoepathic 
Medical  College.  Began  practice  at  Three  Rivers,  Mich.,  removed  in 
is]''.,  to  Albany;  in  L878,  to  Cheyenne.  Wyo.  :  in  1888,  to  <  >gden,  Utah, 
his  residence  in  1891 . 

1877.  GEORf.i    Podmqke  II  \ ri u !•.  Taylor,  M.  1).      Horn  at  Turk's   Isl- 
29 


22  G 

and,  West  Indies,  April  20,  1847.  Was  graduated,  in  1874,  from  the 
Medical  Department  of  the  University  of  the  City  of  New  York.  Be- 
gan practice  in  the  city  of  New  York;  removed,  in  1876,  to  Stillwater, 
Saratoga  county,  his  residence  in  1807.  He  became  a  member,  in 
1877,  of  the  Albany  County  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society. 

1877.  Richard  Rowe  Trotter,  M.  D.  Born  at  Roxbury,  Mass., 
April  5,  1849.  Was  graduated,  in  1877,  from  the  Boston  University 
School  of  Medicine.  Began  practice  at  Springfield,  Mass  ;  removed,  in 
1877,  to  Albany;  in  1878,  to  Berne,  Albany  county;  and,  in  1883,  to 
Yonkers,  N.  Y. ,  his  residence  in  1897. 

1877.  George  H.  Benjamin,  M.  D.  Began  old  school  practice  about 
the  year  1870.  Gave  attention  to  the  study  of  the  homoeopathic  sys- 
tem of  therapeutics,  and  adopted  it  in  practice.  Was  admitted  in  1877 
to  membership  in  the  Albany  County  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society. 
Removed,  in  1879,  to  New  York  city. 

1878.  George  Elmer  Gorham,  M.  D.  Born  at  Le  Raysville,  Pa., 
November  8,  1850.  Was  graduated,  in  1874,  from  the  Homoeopathic 
Medical  College  of  Chicago.  Began  practice  at  Athens,  Pa.  ;  removed, 
in  1877,  to  Cheyenne,  Wyo. ;  and  in  1878,  to  Albany,  where,  in  1897, 
he  is  engaged  in  active  professional  duties.  Dr.  Gorham  is  held  in 
very  high  esteem  by  his  medical  associates  and  by  his  many  personal 
friends,  for  strength  and  accuracy  of  judgment ;  for  high  moral  tone 
that  pervades  every  action ;  for  his  assiduous  and  enthusiastic  work  as 
a  student ;  and  for  the  decisive  way  in  which  he  blends  reading  and  ex- 
perience and  puts  them  to  practical  uses.  His  genius  for  applying  well 
known  principles  to  new  uses  and  purposes,  is  strikingly  illustrated  in 
the  construction  of  the  celebrated  and  unique  apparatus  known  as 
"The  Gorham  Bed,"  manufactured  by  the  Albany  Invalid  Bed  Com- 
pany. 

1878.  Gertrude  Anna  Goewey  Bishop,  M.  D.  Born  at  Greenbush, 
Rensselaer  county,  June  23,  1838.  Was  graduated,  in  April,  1877,  from 
the  New  York  Medical  College  and  Hospital  for  Women.  Began  prac- 
tice at  Albany,  in  1878,  removing,  in  1879,  to  Brooklyn,  her  residence 
in  1897. 

1878.  Lyman  Byles  Waldo,  A.  M.3  M.  D.  Born  at  Edmeston,  N.  Y. 
Was  graduated,  in  arts,  in  1844,  from  Hamilton  College;  and  in  medi- 
cine in  1863  from  the  Cleveland  Homoeopathic  Medical  College.  Be- 
gan practice  at  Adams,  N.  Y.  ;  removed,  in  1869,  to  Oswego;  in  1872, 
to  Lansingburgh ;  and  in  1878,  to  West  Troy,  Albany  county,  where  he 
died  in  1879,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years. 


227 

1878.  William  H.  Griffith,  M.  D.  Held  the  appointment  of  resident 
physician  to  the  Albany  Homoeopathic  Hospital  during'  the  summer 
and  fall  of  1878.      He  removed  elsewhere. 

1879.  George  Washington  Gregory,  M.  D.  Born  at  Fleming,  X.  Y., 
September  22,  1854.  Was  graduated,  in  1879,  from  the  Albany  Medi- 
cal College.  Began  practice  in  Albany;  removed,  in  1880,  to  Troy, 
Pa.,  and  in  1805,  to  Elmira,  X.  Y.,  his  residence  in  1897. 

1879.  Edson  Wyckoff  Masten,  M.  D.  Born  at  Schodack,  X.  Y.,  in 
1857.  Was  graduated,  in  1879,  from  the  Albany  Medical  College.  Al- 
though well  qualified  to  enter  on  active  practice,  he  has  given  his  whole 
time  to  the  business  of  preparing  and  dispensing  medicines.  Has  been 
engaged  since  graduation  in  medicine  in  conducting  a  large  and  profit- 
able drug  business  in  the  city  of  Albany. 

1879.  Mary  Almeda  Garrison  Po.mkroy,  M.  D.  Was  born  at  Os- 
wego, N.  Y.,  February  10,  1823.  Was  graduated,  in  1875,  from  the 
Boston  University  School  of  Medicine.  Began  practice  immediately 
after  graduation,  at  Syracuse,  X.  Y. ;  removed,  in  1878,  to  Albany;  and 
in  18<S1,  removed  to  Ocean  Grove,  N.  J.,  where  she  died,  in  January, 
1892,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years. 

1881.  Howard  Simmons  Paine,  A.  M.,  M.  D.  Born  at  New  Hartford, 
X.  Y.,  July  14.  L856.  Was  graduated  in  arts  in  187s,  from  Hamilton 
College,  and  in  medicine  in  1881,  from  the  Albany  Medical  College. 
Was  admitted  to  an  examination  by  the  State  Homoeopathic  Board  of 
Medical  Examiners;  was  approved  by  the  board  and  received  a  second 
time  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine  from  the  Regents  of  the  Univer- 
sity. Began  practice  at  Albany  immediately  after  graduation,  and 
removed  in  1804  to  Glens  Falls,  N.  Y.,  his  residence  in  1897,  his  prac- 
tice being  limited  to  the  treatment  of  diseases  of  the  eyes,  ears  and 
throat. 

1  s s l .  Edward  Llewellyn  Crandall,  M.  I).  Born  at  Greenbush, 
N.  V.,  in  1857.  Was  graduated  in  L880  from  the  Albany  Medical  Col- 
lege. Began  practice  at  Troy  immediately  after  graduation;  removed 
iu  L881  to  Albany;  returned  in  188.']  to  Troy,  his  residence  in  L897. 

L882.  Roberi  Kennedy,  Jr.,  A.  M.,  M.I).  Born  at  Washington, 
D.  C,  July  2'.),  1856.  Was  graduated  in  1881  from  the  Hahnemann 
Medical  College  of  Philadelphia.  He  received  the  degree  (honorary) 
of  Master  of  Arts  from  the  Philadelphia  High  School,  from  which  insti- 
tution he  was  graduated  in  18?S.  Began  practice  in  L881  at  Ocean 
Grove,  X.  J.,  removed  in  1882  to  Green  Island,  Albany  county;  in  L883 


228 

to  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  and  subsequently  to  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
died  in  April,  1894,  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight  years. 

1883.  Aaron  John  Bond,  M.  D.  Born  at  Dalton,  N.  H.,  May  7,  1857. 
Was  graduated  in  March,  1883,  from  the  New  York  Homoeopathic 
Medical  College  and  Hospital.  Was  appointed  the  same  year  resident 
physician  to  the  Albany  Homoeopathic  Hospital ;  resigned  in  1884  to 
accept  a  similar  position  at  the  Brooklyn  Homoeopathic  Hospital ;  re- 
moved in  1886  to  Adams,  Berkshire  county,  Mass.,  his  residence  in 
1897. 

1884.  Walter  Foot  Robinson,  M.  D.  Was  born  at  Albany  in  Octo- 
ber, 1859.  Was  graduated  in  1884  from  the  Albany  Medical  College. 
Began  practice  in  Albany ;  spent  three  years  in  study  in  various  Euro- 
pean hospitals;  returned  in  1890  to  Albany,  where  in  1897  he  is  giving 
special  attention  to  the  study  and  treatment  of  nervous  diseases. 

1884.  Clark  Durant  Welch,  M.  D.  Born  at  Albany  June  14,  1844. 
Was  graduated  in  1876  from  the  New  York  Homoeopathic  Medical 
College  and  Hospital.  Began  practice  .in  1877  at  Cobleskill,  N.  Y., 
and  in  1879  removed  to  Castleton,  Rensselaer  county,  his  residence  in 
1897. 

1884.  Margaret  Jackson  Reynolds,  M.  D.  Born  near  Cloues,  Mona- 
ghan  county,  Ireland,  April  12,  1836.  Was  graduated  in  1884  from 
the  Boston  University  School  of  Medicine.  Began  practice  the  same 
year  at  Albany  in  association  with  her  husband;  removed  in  1887  to 
Oneida,  Madison  county,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1888  removed  to  Richmond, 
Ind. ,  her  residence  in  1897. 

1885.  Joseph  Ezra  Wright,  M.  D.  Born  at  Fox  Chase,  Philadelphia 
county,  Pa.,  June  4,  1862.  Was  graduated  in  March,  1884,  from  the 
Hahnemann  Medical  College  of  Philadelphia.  Was  appointed  immedi- 
ately after  graduation  to  the  position  of  interne  to  the  Ward's  Island 
Homoeopathic  Hospital ;  also  the  same  year  to  the  position  of  ambulance 
surgeon  to  the  Brooklyn  Homoeopathic  Hospital ;  resigning  in  the  winter 
of  1884,  entered  on  private  practice  at  Royersford,  Pa.,  in  1885,  ap- 
pointed resident  physician  to  the  Albany  Homoeopathic  Hospital;  re- 
moved in  1886  to  Sommerville,  N.  J.  ;  and  in  1890  removed  to  Phoenix- 
ville,  Pa.,  his  residence  in  1897. 

1885.  Elmer  Arkell  Blessing,  M.  D.  Was  born  at  Albany,  August 
20,  1861.  Was  graduated  in  1885  from  the  Medical  Department  of  the 
University  of  Vermont  at  Burlington.  Began  practice  at  Albany  imme- 
diately after  graduation,  and  in  1897  has  risen  to  a  position  of  distinc- 
tion and  prominence  in  his  profession. 


229 

1886.  Edward  Willers  Campbell.  Born  at  Albany,  February  6,  1863, 
attended  two  full  courses  of  medical  lectures  at  the  Albany  Medical 
College,  and  while  an  undergraduate  held  the  position  of  resident-phy- 
sician to  the  Albany  Homoeopathic  Hospital.  Before  graduation  he 
entered  mercantile  pursuits. 

1886.  Robert  Edward  Fivey,  M.  D.  Was  born  at  New  York  city, 
July  28,  1862.  Was  graduated  in  1887  from  the  Albany  Medical  Col- 
lege. While  an  undergraduate  in  1885  he  held  the  appointment  of 
resident  physician  to  the  Albany  County  Alms  House;  in  1886  held  a 
similar  appointment  in  the  Albany  Homoeopathic  Hospital.  Removed 
in  1887  to  New  York  city,  his  residence  in  1897. 

1886.  David  James  Barry,  M.  D.  Born  at  Lee,  Mass.,  June  30,  1858. 
Was  graduated  in  1888  from  the  Albany  Medical  College.  Was  ap- 
pointed while  an  undergraduate  to  the  position  of  resident  physician  to 
the  Albany  Homoeopathic  Hospital.  After  graduation  began  practice 
at  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  his  residence  in  1897. 

1886.  Charles  William  Schwartz,  M.  D.  Born  at  Littlestown,  Pa., 
October  19,  1857.  Was  graduated  in  1880  from  the  Hahnemann  Medi- 
cal College  of  Philadelphia.  Began  practice  in  1882  at  Emmettsburg, 
Md.  ;  removed  in  1886  to  Albany,  and  in  L894  to  Ticonderoga,  N.  Y. , 
his  residence  in  1897. 

1886.  Will  Melangchton  Nead,  M.  D.  Born  at  Lodi,  Ohio,  No- 
vember 30,  1859.  Was  graduated  in  March,  1884,  from  the  Cleveland 
Homoeopathic  Hospital  College.  Began  practice  at  Keeseville,  N.  Y.  ; 
removed  in  1886  to  Albany,  his  residence  in  1897.  Dr.  Nead  has  suc- 
ceeded in  establishing  a  large  and  steadily  increasing  practice. 

1887.  Frank  William  Van  Alstvne,  M.  D.  Born  at  Chatham 
Centre,  N.  Y.,  August  3,  1863.  Was  graduated  in  1886  from  the  New 
York  Homoeopathic  Medical  College  and  Hospital.  After  graduation 
held  the  position  of  assistant  surgeon  at  the  Ward's  Island  Homoeo- 
pathic Hospital ;  removed  in  L887  to  West  Troy,  where  he  died  December 
33,  L890. 

1887.  Henry  Oscar  Rockefeller,  M.  D.  Born  at  Germantown,  X.  V.. 
June  8,  1862.  Was  graduated  in  1887  from  the  Chicago  Homoeopathic 
Medical  College.  After  graduation  he  held  the  position  of  resident 
physician  to  the  Albany  Homoeopathic  Hospital;  removed  in  L888  to 
Brooklyn,  his  residence  in  1897. 

L887.  Claren(  i  Mann  Paine,  A.  M.,  M.  D.  Born  at  Clinton,  (  >neida 
county,  X.Y.,  July  9,  1860.     Was  graduated  in  arts  in  1884  from  Ham- 


230 

ilton  College;  in  medicine,  in  1887  from  the  Albany  Medical  College. 
Began  practice  at  Albany  immediately  after  graduation,  removing  in 
1889  to  Atlanta,  Ga. ,  his  residence  in  1897. 

1887.  Owen  Frank  McAvenue,  M.  D.  Born  at  Little  Falls,  N.  Y., 
September  21,  1861.  Was  graduated  in  1887  from  the  Albany  Medical 
College.  After  graduation  held  the  position  of  resident  physician  to 
the  Albany  Homoeopathic  Hospital;  removed  in  1888  to  Amsterdam, 
N.  Y. ;  returned  in  1890  to  Albany,  his  residence  in  1897. 

1889.  David  Wesley  Pitts,  M.  D.  Born  at  Nassau,  Rensselaer 
county,  N.  Y.,  September  10,  1835.  Was  graduated  in  1865  from  the 
New  York  Homoeopathic  Medical  College  and  Hospital.  Began  prac- 
tice at  johnsonville,  Rensselaer  county;  removed  in  1889  to  West 
Troy,  where  he  resided  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  De- 
cember 21,  1895. 

1889.  Wilbur  Fiske  Lamont,  A.  M.,  M.  D.  Born  at  Richmondville, 
N.  Y.,  July  29,  1864.  Was  graduated  in  arts  in  1886  from  Union  Col- 
lege; in  medicine  in  1889  from  the  Albany  Medical  College.  He  held 
the  position  of  resident  physician  to  the  Albany  Homoeopathic  Hos- 
pital one  year.  Removed  in  the  fall  of  1889  to  Catskill,  Greene 
county,  his  residence  in  1897. 

1890.  Edward  Bernard  Coburn,  A.  M.,  M.  D.  Born  at  Troy,  N.  V., 
February  6,  1868.  Was  graduated  in  arts  in  June,  1888,  from  Union 
College;  in  medicine  in  1890  from  the  Albany  Medical  College.  He 
held  the  position  of  resident  physician  to  the  Albany  Homoeopathic 
Hospital  one  year.  Gave  special  attention  to  the  study  of  diseases  of 
the  eye  and  ear,  spending  one  year  in  New  York  city  and  one  year  in 
Europe.  On  returning  in  1893  he  located  in  New  York  city,  his 
residence  in  1897.  Treatment  of  diseases  of  the  eye  and  ear  ex- 
clusively. 

1890.  William  Melancthon  Campbell,  M.  D.  Born  at  Stillwater, 
N.  Y.,  November  21,  1861.  Was  graduated  in  1889  from  the  Albany 
Medical  College.  Began  practice  in  1889  at  Waterford,  Saratoga 
county;  removed  in  1890  to  Cohoes,  his  residence  in  1897. 

1881.  Robert  Brockway  Lamb,  M.  D.,  Ph.  G.  Born  at  Jamestown, 
N.  Y.,  August  4,  1867.  Was  graduated  in  1889  from  the  Albany  Col- 
lege of  Pharmacy;  also  in  1891  from  the  Albany  Medical  College.  He 
held  the  position  of  resident  physician  to  the  Albany  Homoeopathic 
Hospital  four  months  in  1891.  Appointed  in  1891  clinical  assistant  at 
the  Matteawan  State  Hospital  for  the  Insane;  promoted  in  1893  to  the 


231 

position  of  second  assistant  physician,  which  position  (in  L897)  he  still 
holds. 

1891.  Arthur  Burton  Van  Loon,  M.  D.  Born  at  Albany,  X.  V., 
December  23,  1868.  Was  graduated  in  1891  from  the  Albany  Medical 
College.  Began  practice  in  Albany  immediately  after  graduation; 
pursued  post-graduate  studies  in  the  winter  of  1891  and  of  L892;  at- 
tended a  course  of  lectures  in  1892,  and  was  graduated  from  New  York 
Homoeopathic  Medical  College  and  Hospital,  receiving  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Medicine  the  second  time.  Held  the  position  of  interne  one 
year  at  Ward's  Island  Homoeopathic  Hospital;  returned  to  Albany  in 
L893,  his  residence  in  1897.  Member  of  the  surgical  staff  of  the  Al- 
bany Homoeopathic  Hospital. 

L891.  Alexander  Charles  Calisch,  M.  D.  Born  at  Jersey  City,  X.  ]., 
January  29,  1870.  Was  graduated  in  1891  from  the  New  York  Homoeo- 
pathic Medical  College  and  Hospital.  Was  appointed  the  same  year  to 
the  position  of  resident  physician  to  the  Albany  Homoeopathic  Hos- 
pital, which  position  he  held  six  months.  Removed  in  1893  to  Sharon 
Springs,  X.Y.,  and  in  1894  to  Port  Chester,  Westchester  county,  N.Y., 
his  residence  in  1897. 

L892.  Frederick  Joseph  Cox,  B.  A.,  M.  D.  Born  at  Albany,  N.  Y., 
June  27,  1800.  Was  graduated  in  arts  in  1889  from  Williams  College; 
and  in  medicine  in  L892  from  the  Albany  Medical  College.  Began 
practice  in  Albany  immediately  after  graduation,  where  he  is  engaged 
in  active  practice,  and  is  giving  special  attention  to  some  of  the  new 
and  inviting  fields  of  bacteriological  studies. 

L893.  Albert  Mott,  M.  D.  Born  at  Moreau,  Saratoga  count v,  N.Y., 
November  28,  1X50.  Was  graduated  in  187:5  from  the  Long  Island 
Cellege  and  Hospital.  Began  practice  at  Sandy  Hill,  Washington 
county,  remaining  twenty  years.  He  removed  in  1893  to  Cohoes,  Al- 
bany county,  his  residence  in  1897. 

IS!):;.  Edward  Gilberi  Cox,  A.M.,  M.  D.  Born  at  Albany,  X.  Y., 
February  6,  lsos.  Entered  Williams  College  in  1889,  remaining  two 
years;  received  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  after  graduation  in  med- 
icine. Was  graduated  in  L893  from  the  Albany  Medical  College.  En- 
tered at  once  on  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Albany  in  his  father's 
office,  where  (in  L897)  he  is  successfully  engaged  in  the  active  duties  of 
professional  life.  He  is  a  gifted  physician  and  skillful  and  successful 
operator.  He  is  a  member  of  the  surgical  staff  of  the  Albany  Homoeo- 
pathic Hospital       To  his  skill   and  high   standing  as  an    accomplished 


232 

surgeon  the  present  prosperity  and  gratifying  success  of  the  Albany 
Homoeopathic  Hospital  is  largely  due. 

1894.  William  James  McKown,  M.  D.  Born  at  Albany,  N.Y.,  Jan- 
uary 23,  1872.  Was  graduated  in  1894  from  the  Albany  Medical  Col- 
lege. Began  practice  immediately  after  graduation,  where  (in  1897) 
he  is  engaged  in  active  professional  work. 

1894.  Charles  Van  Schaick  Evans,  M.  D.  Born  at  Cohoes,  N.  Y., 
September  24,  1864.  Was  graduated  in  1893  from  the  New  York 
Homoeopathic  Medical  College  and  Hospital.  Began  practice  in  1893 
in  the  city  of  New  York;  removed  in  1893  to  Albany,  his  residence  in 
1897. 

1894.  Charles  Burnstein,  M.  D.  Born  at  Carlisle,  N.Y.,  December 
21,  1872.  Was  graduated  in  1894  from  the  Albany  Medical  College. 
Immediately  after  graduation  was  appointed  to  the  position  of  resident 
physician  to  the  Albany  Homoeopathic  Hospital,  retaining  the  posi- 
tion six  months.  Appointed  in  1894  assistant  physician  to  the  State 
Custodial  Asylum  at  Rome,  Oneida  county,  which  position  (in  1897) 
he  still  holds. 

1895.  Archibald  Gilbert,  M.  D.,  Ph.  G.  Born  at  Albany,  N.  Y., 
June  7,  1868.  Was  graduated  in  pharmacy  in  1889  from  the  Albany 
College  of  Pharmacy;  in  medicine  in  1895  from  the  Albany  Medical 
College.  Was  appointed  in  1895  resident  physician  to  the  Albany 
Homoeopathic  Hospital,  resigning  the  position  after  an  acceptable 
service  of  three  months  to  enter  on  a  course  of  special  studies  in 
Europe. 

1895.  George  Everett  Noble,  M.  D.  Born  at  Freehold,  N.  Y., 
November  17,  1871.  Was  graduated  in  1895  from  the  New  York 
Homoeopathic  Medical  College  and  Hospital.  Appointed  in  May,  1895, 
resident  physician  to  the  Albany  Homoeopathic  Hospital,  and  held  that 
position  one  year.  Resigned  in  1896  to  form  a  business  association 
with  Dr.  George  E.  Gorham.      Residence,  in  1897,  Albany,  N.  Y. 

1896.  Albert  Husted  Rogers,  A.  B.,  M.  D.  Born  at  Albany,  N.  Y., 
July  4,  1867.  Was  graduated  in  arts  in  1890  from  Hamilton  College;  in 
medicine  in  1896  from  the  Albany  Medical  College.  Received  the  ap- 
pointment in  May,  1896,  to  the  position  of  resident  physician  to  the 
Albany  Homoeopathic  Hospital,  which  position  (in  1897)  he  still  holds. 


233 


CHAPTER  XIV. 
JOURNALISM  IN  ALBANY  COUNTY. 

The  historical  record  of  Albany  county  must  be  followed  for  many 
years  before  it  appears  that  its  inhabitants  were  blessed  with  a  local  news- 
paper. Even  when  that  appeared  in  1771  it  was  one  of  the  very  few  then 
printed  in  this  State.  In  1811  there  were  only  thirty-four  in  the  whole 
State,  and  within  two  years  thereafter  a  paper  was  founded  in  Albany  that 
is  still  in  existence.  The  city  of  Albany  boasts  of  a  long  list  of  eminent 
journalists,  as  they  are  termed  in  these  modern  years ;  indeed,  it  is  doubt- 
ful if  any  other  city  in  the  Union  of  similar  size  has  been  the  home  and 
field  of  newspaper  work  of  so  many  who  were  among  the  leaders  in  this 
profession.  The  antiquity  of  the  city,  its  position  as  the  political  cen- 
ter and  capital  of  the  Empire  State,  and  other  less  definite  causes,  have 
doubtless  contributed  to  bring  within  its  gates  so  many  men  who  en- 
joyed high  repute  as  makers  of  newspapers. 

The  first  number  of  the  first  Albany  newspaper,  the  Albany  Gazette, 
appeared  in  November,  1771;  it  lived  less  than  a  year.  Those  were 
turbulent  times,  and  the  publishers,  Alexander  and  James  Robertson, 
were  loyal  to  Great  Britain.  This  may  have  been  the  cause  of  *the  early 
suspension  of  the  Gazette.  In  any  event,  when  the  revolutionary  up- 
rising came  the  brothers  left  for  Nova  Scotia.  The  following  quaint 
apology  appeared  in  their  issue  of  January  13,  1772: 

The  printers  of  the  Gazette,  from  motives  of  gratitude  and  duty,  are  obliged  to 
apologize  to  the  public  for  the  omission  of  one  week's  publication;  and  hope  the 
irregularity  of  the  mail  from  New  York  since  the  first  great  fall  of  snow,  and  the 
severe  cold  preceding  Christmas,  which  froze  the  paper  prepared  for  the  press  so  as 
to  put  a  stop  to  its  operation,  will  sufficiently  account  for  it. 

To  old-time  printers  this  extract  will  convey  vivid  impressions  of  a 
pile  of  dampened  paper  left  over  night  in  a  room  warmed  with  a  wood 
fire  which  often  died  out  during  the  night  and  left  the  sheets  of  paper 
to  freeze  together  in  a  solid  mass.  The  omission  of  a  number  of  one 
of  the  very  early  papers  was  not  an  infrequent  occurrence. 

Before  continuing  the  long  mortuary  list  of  Albany   newspapers,  we 

30  * 


234 

shall  first  describe  those  that  are  still  in  existence  and  potent  forces  in 
the  community,  with  their  direct  ancestors.  The  Albany  Argus,  the 
first  number  of  which  appeared  January  26,  1813,  is  the  oldest  news- 
paper in  Albany  county,  and  among  the  oldest  in  the  State.  Its  founder 
was  Jesse  Buel,  whose  name  must  forever  be  prominently  and  honor- 
ably associated  with  local  journalism.  He  was  born  in  Coventry,  Conn., 
January  4,  1778,  learned  the  printing  trade  and  in  June,  1797,  began 
the  publication  of  the  Troy  Budget  in  association  with  Robert  Moffitt. 
He  left  that  paper  in  1804,  having  meanwhile  published  the  Guardian 
in  Poughkeepsie  in  1801,  and  the  Political  Banner,  both  of  which  lived 
but  a  short  time.  Late  in  1802  he  established  the  Plebeian  in  Kings- 
ton, which  he  published  with  success  until  the  close  of  1813,  when  he 
settled  in  Albany  and  founded  the  Argus.  In  December,  1820,  he  sold 
the  latter  establishment 1  to  Moses  I.  Cantine  and  I.  Q.  Leake.  The 
former  became  editor-in-chief,  and  in  the  following  year  the  Argus  was 
made  the  State  paper,  which  aided  in  rapidly  increasing  its  influence. 
Mr.  Cantine  was  a  native  of  Catskill,  received  a  classical  education  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1798.  His  natural  talent  for  writing  led  him 
into  the  editorial  profession.  He  died  suddenly  in  January,  1823, 
necessitating  a  change  in  the  Argus  management.  Edwin  Croswell 
had  been  one  of  the  editors  of  the  Catskill  Recorder,  and  possessed  ex- 
cellent ability  as  a  political  writer.  Attending  Mr.  Cantine's  funeral, 
he  there  met  Martin  Van  Buren,  Benjamin  F.  Butler,  and  Judge  Will- 
iam Duer,  then  leading  Democrats  in  the  State  and  deeply  interested 
in  the  prosperity  of  the  Argus.  They  strongly  urged  him  to  take  the 
position  of  assistant  editor  with  Mr.  Leake,  which  he  soon  did.  In 
1825  the  daily  edition  of  the  Argus  was  established.  In  1831  Sherman 
Croswell,  cousin  of  Edwin,  became  an  associate  in  the  editorial  conduct 
of  the  Argus.  He  was  a  native  of  New  Haven,  Conn.,  studied  law  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1826.  In  1833  he  became  Assembly  re- 
porter for  the  Argus,  retaining  the  position  for  twenty-five  years,  with 
the  sole  exception  of  one  year  (1854).  At  the  time  of  his  retirement  in 
1857  he  had  no  superior  in  the  country  in  his  chosen  field  of  work. 
He  became  proprietor  of  the  Argus  establishment  July  26,  1834,  and 

1  After  Mr.  Buel  sold  the  Argus  he  took  up  farming  in  this  county,  in  which  he  was  very  suc- 
cessful. In  March,  1834,  he  founded  the  Cultivator  under  auspices  of  the  State  Agricultural  Soci- 
ety. So  successful  was  this  paper  that  in  March,  1838,  it  had  a  subscription  list  of  23,000.  Mr. 
Buel  was  long  the  soul  of  this  successful  journal,  which  is  perpetuated  through  consolidation 
with  the  Country  Gentleman,  noticed  further  on.  Outside  of  his  newspaper  and  agricultural 
prominence,  Mr.  Buel  held  numerous  offices  and  positions  of  responsibility  and  honor.  He  died 
October  1,  1839 


235 

so  continued  until  January,  1855.  In  the  previous  year  Edwin  Cros- 
well  retired  from  the  Argus  and  was  succeeded  by  Gideon  J.  Tucker, 
who  was  chosen  secretary  of  state  in  1857.  In  1855  Sherman  Croswell 
and  Mr.  Tucker  sold  out  to  James  I.  Johnson,  who  associated  with 
himself  Calvert  Comstock  as  editor. 

[n  1841  the  firm  of  Vance  &  Wendell  started  the  publication  of  the 
Daily  Albany  Atlas,  as  the  organ  of  the  Barnburners,  between  which 
and  the  so-called  Hunker  faction  of  the  Democratic  party  a  determined 
and  bitter  strife  was  waged,  the  Argus  taking  the  side  of  the  Hunkers. 
In  the  spring  of  1843  William  Cassidy  became  associated  with  Henry 
II.  Van  Dyke  in  the  editorial  control  of  the  Atlas.  Mr.  Cassidy  was 
born  in  Albany  August  12,  1815,  received  his  education  in  Union  Col- 
lege, and  studied  law.  At  the  age  of  twenty  five  years  he  entered  the 
field  of  journalism  as  a  writer  on  the  Plaindealer  and  Rough  Hewer, 
then  being  published  in  Albany.  From  1841  to  1843  he  was  State 
librarian.  Mr.  Cassidy,  as  the  friend  of  Silas  Wright  and  a  Free  Soiler 
and  Barnburner,  wielded  his  vigorous  pen  in  their  interest  and  made 
his  antagonists  feel  his  power.  The  contest  continued  unabated  until 
the  birth  of  the  Republican  party  in  1856  wrought  momentous  political 
changes.  The  Atlas  and  the  Argus  now  saw  that  their  interests  were 
mutual  and  a  consolidation  was  effected.  Mr.  Cassidy 's  power  as  a 
writer  led  to  his  selection  as  editor  of  the  Atlas  and  Argus,  which  soon 
demonstrated  his  ability  and  fitness  for  the  position  in  largely  increased 
influence  and  patronage.  In  1865  the  Argus  Company  was  formed,  as 
a  joint  stock  organization,  of  which  Mr.  Cassidy  was  made  president, 
and  the  weekly  edition  was  established.  He  continued  to  edit  the  paper 
almost  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  took  place  January  '!'■),  is;:;. 
At  this  time  Daniel  Manning  (who  had  for  some  time  acted  as  assist- 
ant to  Calvert  Comstock),  partner  with  Mr.  Cassidy  in  the  Argus,  took 
full  charge  of  the  establishment  and  was  made  president  of  the  company. 
Mr.  Manning  was  born  in  Albany  August  L6,  L831,  and  at  eleven  years 
of  age  began  work  in  the  Atlas  establishment,  where,  by  his  native 
ability,  his  unflagging  industry,  and  his  fealty  to  his  employers,  he  rose 
to  the  lofty  position  that  he  finally  attained.  He  was  born  for  a  leader 
in  whatever  field  of  endeavor  he  might  enter.  It  has  been  written  of 
him  that  "  No  public  man  of  either  party  in  State  service  at  Albany 
for  years  past,  has  failed  to  feel  the  governing  strength  of  Mr.  Man- 
ning's mind  on  the  higher  and  larger  interests  of  polities."  He  never 
sought  political  office,  but  was  long  a  leader  in   committees   and   con- 


236 

ventions,  where  his  influence  was  paramount.  He  served  efficiently 
and  honorably  in  many  positions  of  responsibility  in  his  native  city,  and  ■ 
was  appointed  secretary  of  the  treasury  in  President  Cleveland's  cabinet 
in  1885;  he  resigned  in  1887,  and  died  December  24,  1887.  Stephen  C. 
Hutchins  was  editor  of  the  paper  from  1873  to  1878,  and  St.  Clair  McKel- 
way  from  1878  to  1887.  A  change  was  made  in  the  summer  of  1893  under 
which  William  H.  Johnson  became  president  of  the  Argus  Company; 
William  R.  Cassidy  vice-president,  and  William  McMurtie  Speer,  treas- 
urer and  manager.  In  the  fall  of  1894  Mr.  Cassidy  retired  from  the 
company,  and  Edward  Murphy,  2d,  was  elected  vice-president,  and 
Amasa  T.  Parker,  jr.,  secretary.  In  the  spring  of  1896  Mr.  Speer  re- 
tired from  the  management  of  the  Argus  and  James  C.  Farrell  suc- 
ceeded him  as  treasurer  and  general  manager.  At  the  same  time  T. 
C.  Callicott  was  made  editor  of  the  paper. 

The  first  number  of  the  Albany  Evening  Journal  was  issued  March 
22,  1830,  by  D.  B.  Packard  &  Co.,  with  Thurlow  Weed  editor.  This 
is  not  the  place  to  speak  at  length  of  the  long  and  honorable  career 
of  Thurlow  Weed ;  nor  is  it  necessary,  for  his  life  has  been  well  writ- 
ten and  is  found  in  most  libraries.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Cairo, 
Greene  county,  N.  Y.,  November  15,  1797,  was  given  only  limited 
opportunity  to  obtain  an  education,  and  in  1808  went  with  his  parents 
to  Cincinnatus,  Cortland  county,  to  aid  in  building  a  log  house  and 
clearing  land.  In  the  following  year  the  family  removed  to  Onondaga 
Hollow,  near  Syracuse,  and  there  he  learned  the  printing  trade  with 
Lewis  H.  Redfield,  the  pioneer  journalist  of  that  locality.  He  was 
next  found  about  1812  publishing  the  Tocsin  in  the  town  of  Scipio, 
Cayuga  county.  Next  he  was  working  at  his  trade  with  Seward  &  Will- 
iams in  Utica,  whence  he  left  for  the  frontier  with  the  army  in  1813. 
Returning  he  found  employment  with  Webster  &  Skinner  in  Albany. 
From  that  time  until  1815  he  worked  in  various  offices,  and  then  again 
located  in  Albany,  where  he  learned  his  first  lessons  in  politics  by  lis- 
tening to  debates  in  the  Legislature^  He  worked  in  the  Argus  office 
in  1816,  and  in  the  following  year  was  given  the  foremanship  of  the 
Albany  Register.  There  he  began  his  first  efforts  at  editorial  writing, 
giving  early  indication  of  his  future  powers.  Between  1818,  in  which 
year  he  purchased  an  office  and  established  the  Agriculturist  in  Che- 
nango county,  and  1830,  Mr.  Weed  was  employed  in  the  Albany  Argus 
office,  and  the  Rochester  Telegraph  office,  and  from  Rochester  he  was 
elected  to  the  Assembly  in  1825  and  again  in  1830.    During  this  interven- 


237 

ing  period  he  had  made  the  acquaintance  of  many  of  the  leading  politi- 
cians of  the  State.  It  was  while  Mr.  Weed  was  in  the  Assembly  in  L830 
that  the  project  of  founding-  the  Albany  Evening  Journal  was  discussed 
and  finally  consummated,  and  he  was  chosen  its  editor.  He  held  that 
position  more  than  thirty  years,  attaining  a  position  in  the  political 
field  and  as  a  writer  that  has  been  reached  by  few.  He  retired  in  1869, 
and  was  succeeded  by  George  Dawson  as  editor.  Mr.  Weed  died  in 
New  York  November  22,  1882. 

George  Dawson  was  a  native  of  Scotland  where  he  was  born  March 
L3,  L813.  His  father  came  to  America  in  181(3  and  two  years  later 
brought  over  his  wife  and  three  young  children.  The  son  was  given 
very  limited  opportunity  to  obtain  education,  and  when  eleven  years 
old  began  learning  the  printing  trade  in  the  office  of  the  Niagara  Glean- 
er, the  family  at  that  time  being  residents  of  that  locality.  In  1826  the 
family  removed  to  Rochester  where  Thurlow  Weed  was  then  editing 
the  Anti-Masonic  Inquirer.  There  Dawson  found  employment  and 
began  the  acquaintance  and  friendship  with  the  man  with  whom  he  was 
eventually  to  be  so  intimately  associated.  When  Mr.  Weed  came  to 
Albany  and  was  given  the  editor's  chair  on  the  Evening  Journal,  he 
was  followed  by  Mr.  Dawson,  who  was  made  foreman  of  the  office  He 
soon  began  contributing  to  the  editorial  columns  of  the  Journal  and  his 
articles  were  influential  in  extending  the  patronage  of  the  paper.  In 
the  legislative  session  of  1831  he  began  reporting  the  proceedings, 
showing  marked  ability  in  that  line  of  work,  which  he  continued  until 
L836,  when  he  was  called  to  the  editorship  of  the  Rochester  Democrat. 
'There  he  was  remarkably  successful  and  gained  a  reputation  that  led  to 
his  being  requested  to  accept  a  similar  position  on  the  Detroit  Adver- 
tiser, in  August,  1839.  Very  soon  after  assuming  this  position  he  was 
appointed  State  printer  for  Michigan,  and  held  that  office  until  L842, 
in  which  year  the  Advertiser  office  was  burned.  He  then  returned  to 
the  editorial  chair  of  the  Rochester  Democrat  and  there  remained  until 
August,  1846,  when,  at  the  urgent  and  prolonged  solicitation  of  Mr. 
Weed,  he  accepted  the  post  of  associate  editor  of  the  Albany  Evening 
Journal.  During  all  of  Mr.  Weed's  career  the  Journal  was  almost  om- 
nipotent with  the  Whig  and  Republican  parties,  and  Mr.  Dawson  shared 
almost  equally  its  care  and  prosperity.  In  1862  Mr.  Weed  retired  from 
the  editorship  of  the  paper  and  Mr.  Dawson  succeeded  him  as  senior 
editor  and  proprietor.  He  ably  filled  this  station  until  1877,  when 
George  W.   Demers  was  given  the  editorial  chair,  ami  in  the  same  year 


238 

Mr.  Dawson  sold  his  interest  in  the  establishment  to  Charles  E.  Smith, 
afterwards  editor  of  the  Philadelphia  Press.  Mr.  Dawson  did  some 
desultory  editorial  work  for  the  Journal  until  1880,  when,  for  a  time, 
he  again  took  the  managing  helm,  on  account  of  the  retirement  of  Mr. 
Smith,  who  had  endorsed  Governor  Cornell's  nomination  of  John  F. 
Smyth  as  superintendent  of  the  Insurance  Department,  which  was  dis- 
approved of  by  the  controlling  partners.  Mr.  Dawson  finally  retired 
in  September,  1882,  and  was  succeeded  by  Harold  Frederick,  who  has 
since  obtained  high  recognition  as  London  correspondent  of  New  York 
papers.  Mr.  Dawson  was  appointed,  without  personal  solicitation,  post- 
master of  Albany  in  1861  and  held  the  office  six  years.  Outside  of 
journalism  Mr.  Dawson  was  gifted  as  a  writer.  He  was  possessed  of 
a  poetic  temperament,  loved  nature  in  all  her  moods,  and  was  an  enthu- 
siastic angler,  for  the  benefit  it  was  to  him  and  the  opportunity  it  gave 
him  to  study  the  works  of  the  Creator.  He  was  author  of  the  very 
pleasing  work,  "  Pleasures  of  Angling."  He  died  in  Albany  February 
17,  1883. 

In  March,  1884,  the  Albany  Journal  Company  was  formed,  with  W. 
J.  Arkell,  president;  J.  W.  Drexel,  secretary;  James  Arkell,  treasurer, 
the  editorial  chair  being  given  to  John  A.  Sleicher.  The  Albany 
Morning  Express  was  started  September  13,  1847,  and  after  passing 
through  the  control  of  different  publishers,  among  whom  were  Munsell 
&  Co.,  in  L854,  its  name  was  changed  to  the  Daily  Statesman  in  1857. 
It  continued  as  such  a  few  years  and  suspended.  The  Albany  Morning 
Express  was  revived  by  Stone  &  Henly,  who  were  the  original  propri- 
etors, on  May  4,  1857,  with  J.  C.  Cuyler,  editor.  The  Albany  Weekly 
Express  was  first  issued  August  4,  1881,  and  a  Sunday  edition  March 
4,  1883.  These  were  published  by  the  Albany  Express  Company,  com- 
posed of  Edward  Henly,  J.  C.  Cuyler,  Addison  A.  Keyes,  and  Nathan 
D.  Wendell.  In  1S88  the  Express  establishment  was  purchased  by 
William  Barnes,  jr.,  and  became  part  of  the  Journal  Company  in  1889. 
The  officers  of  the  Journal  Company  are  William  Barnes,  jr.,  president; 
J.  H.  Lindsay,  secretary  and  manager;-  John  M.  Davis,  treasurer. 
The  managing  editor  of  the  Journal  is  John  Hastings,  while  Arthur 
Lucas  occupies  this  position  on  the  Express.  Mr.  Barnes  is  editor-in- 
chief  of  both  papers. 

The  Albany  Knickerbocker  was  founded  and  its  first  number  issued 
September  4,  1843,  by  Hugh  J.  Hastings.  Mr.  Hastings  was  a  native 
of  Ireland  and  came  to  this  country  with  his  parents  when  eight  years 


WILLIAM    BARNES.   JR. 


Sird-tftL,  U.T: 


1  |  ■!'!  VATOR  AND  COUNTRY  GENTLEMAN.  A' 


239 

old.  Though  his  opportunities  were  not  the  best  for  obtaining  an  educa- 
tion, he  was  a  great  reader  and  gradually  acquired  a  large  store  of 
general  information.  He  mingled  in  politics,  made  the  acquaintance 
of  influential  men,  and  soon  made  his  paper  popular  and  successful. 
The  Weekly  Knickerbocker  was  first  published  June  8,  1857.  Mr. 
Hastings  sold  his  establishment  in  1867  and  purchased  a  controlling 
interest  in  the  New  York  Commercial  Advertiser,  his  conduct  of  which 
added  to  his  high  reputation  as  a  journalist.  He  died  in  September, 
1883.  The  first  number  of  the  Sunday  Press  was  issued  May  13,  L870, 
and  of  the  Daily  Press  on  February  26,  1877.  On  August  10  of  the  last 
named  year  these  journals  were  consolidated  and  published  under  the 
title.  Press  and  Knickerbocker,  by  the  Press  Company,  then  composed 
of  John  H.  Farrell,  Myron  H.  fcooker,  and  James  McFarlane.  The 
officers  of  the  company  at  the  present  time  are:  President  and  treas- 
urer, Myron  H.  Rooker;  secretary,  John  W.  Walsh. 

The  Albany  Times-Union  is  composed  of  two  separate  newspapers. 
The  Albany  Morning  Times  (later  the  Evening  Times)  was  started 
April  21,  1856,  by  Barnes  &  Godfrey ;  it  was  afterwards  published  by 
Alfred  Stone,  by  David  M.  Barnes,  Edward  H.  Bovd,  and  later  by 
Samuel  Wilbor.  On  the  1st  of  March,  1861,  the  Times  was  con- 
solidated with  the  Evening  Courier  (started  in  August,  1858).  The 
Albany  Weekly  Times  was  first  issued  July  16,  1872.  The  paper 
passed  through  the  usual  vicissitudes  under  various  changes  in  man- 
agement and  editorship.  In  May,  1881,  Theophilus  C.  Callicot,  now 
editor  of  the  Argus,  took  the  editorial  chair.  The  Albany  Evening 
Union  was  first  issued  by  the  Union  Printing  ami  Publishing  Company 
on  May  29,  L882.  On  July  15,  L883,  John  J.  Parr  became  editor  and 
proprietor,  and  a  little  later  Fred  W.  White  was  made  president  of  the 
company  and  editor  of  the  paper.  Mr.  White  was  succeeded  by  Ira 
L.  Wales,  an  editoral  writer  on  the  Albany  Argus,  and  a  man  of  indom- 
itable perseverance,  great  natural  ability,  and  a  wide  acquaintance 
among  public  men.  Mr.  Wales  assumed  entire  control  of  the  Union, 
and  had  succeeded  in  making  it  a  paying  property  when  death  inter- 
vened and  wrote  an  untimely  "30"  to  a  rising  and  brilliant  career.  In 
November,  1891,  John  II.  Farrell  bought  both  papers  and  consolidated 
them  under  the  present  title.  Mr.  Callicott  acted  as  editor  until  the 
summer  of  L896,  when  he  took  his  present  position  on  the  Argus. 

The  Cultivator  was  a  monthly  agricultural  journal  established,  as  be- 
fore   stated,    by    Jesse  Buel    in    March,    1834.      Others   who  were  early 


240 

connected  with  the  paper  were  J.  P.  Beekman  and  J.  D!  Wasson.  It 
was  subsequently  published  by  W.  Gaylord  and  L.  Tucker,  and  later 
by  L.  Tucker  &  Son.  Luther  Tucker's  name  is  prominent  among 
those  of  Albany  journalists.  He  was  born  in  Brandon,  Vt.,  May  7, 
1802.  He  early  learned  the  printing  trade,  at  which  he  worked  a  num- 
ber of  years  as  a  journeyman,  and  in  1825  joined  with  Henry  C. 
Sleight  in  the  publication  at  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  of  works  for  New  York 
firms.  In  1826  he  went  to  Rochester,  where  he  had  formerly  worked, 
and  on  October  27  issued  the  first  number  of  the  Rochester  Daily  Ad- 
vertiser— the  first  daily  newspaper  west  of  Albany.  The  new  paper 
was  a  success,  and  on  January  1,  1831,  while  still  conducting  it,  he 
issued  the  initial  number  of  the  Genesee  Farmer.  This  was  one  of 
the  earliest  of  the  long  list  of  agricultural  newspapers,  and  its  name 
soon  became  familiar  throught  the  country.  Having  finally  acquired 
sufficient  means  to  carry  out  his  wish,  he  purchased  a  farm  near  Roch- 
ester and  sold  his  daily  paper,  which  still  exists  as  the  Rochester  Union 
and  Advertiser.  Before  a  year  had  passed  Jesse  Buel  died,  leaving  his 
agricultural  paper,  the  Cultivator,  without  a  head  and  a  proposition 
was  made  to  Mr.  Tucker  to  consolidate  the  two.  This  arrangement 
was  effected  and  the  new  journal  was  removed  to  Albany  where  the 
number  for  January,  1840,  was  issued.  This  journal  was  continued  as 
the  Cultivator  and  in  January,  1853,  Mr.  Tucker,  associated  with  John 
T.  Thomas,  started  the  Country  Gentleman,  another  very  successful 
paper,  the  character  of  which  is  happily  set  forth  in  its  name.  The 
two  journals  were  consolidated  and  issued  as  a  weekly  January  4,  18G6, 
which  soon  ranked  high,  as  it  does  to  day,  among  the  leading  agricul- 
tural papers  of  the  country.  Mr.  Tucker  died  January  26,  1873,  hav- 
ing previously  associated  in  his  business  his  sons,  Luther  H.  and  Gil- 
bert M.  Tucker.  On  the  1st  of  December,  1893,  L.  H.  Tucker,  jr.,  was 
admitted  to  the  firm.     Luther  H.  Tucker  died  February  23,  1897. 

The  first  number  of  the  Albany  Telegram  (weekly)  was  issued  March 
14,  1888,  by  James  Hill,  in  association  with  Messrs.  Hazard  &  Brooks, 
publishers  of  the  Elmira  Telegram,  and  as  a  part  of  that  enterprise. 
A  dissolution  was  effected  in  January,  1893,  Mr.  Hill  taking  the  Albany 
edition  and  his  partners  the  Elmira  paper.  The  Telegram  has  a  large 
circulation  both  in  Albany  and  the  surrounding  country. 

The  German  population  of  Albany  county  has  for  many  years  been 
represented  by  excellent  papers  printed  in  their  own  language.  Of 
these  the  oldest  is  the  Freie  Blaetter,  which  was  started   by  August 


LUTHER  H.   TUCKER. 


241 

Miggael  and  Henry  Bender  in  1852;  the  former  has  for  many  years 
been  sole  proprietor,  with  Julius  Kaestner  editor.  The  paper  is  Dem- 
ocratic in  politics, 

The  Albany  Daily  Herold  (German)  was  started  in  1868,  by  Jacob 
Heinmiller.  Upon  his  death  it  was  conducted  by  his  widow  until  1895, 
when  she  sold  to  the  present  proprietors,  L.  Munchausen  and  W.  Ves- 
perman,  the  latter  being  the  editor.  The  Herold  is  Republican  in 
politics. 

The  Albany  Sonntag  Journal  was  started  in  1884  by  the  German 
Publishing  and  Printing  Company,  of  which  Max  Kurth  is  president 
and  manager;  Michael  Schrodt,  vice-president;  John  Gutman,  secre- 
tary and  treasurer.  This  company  publishes,  also,  the  Freie  Deutsche 
Presse  in  Troy. 

The  Farmers'  Union  League  Advocate  was  started  March  31,  1892, 
by  L.  D.  Collins,  jr.,  who  is  still  publisher  and  editor.  It  is  an 
agricultural  journal  and  the  organ  of  the  Farmers'  League  of  this 
State. 

There  are  a  number  of  small  religious,  family  and  temperance 
papers  issued  in  Albany,  but  which  do  not  possess  local  importance. 
Seven  of  this  character  are  published  by  the  Leonard  Publishing  Com- 
pany, as  follows:  Everybody's  Paper,  started  January  1,  1875;  Tem- 
perance Truths,  started  January  1,  1875;  Bright  Jewels,  started  January 
1,  1875;  Everybody's  Magazine,  started  January  1,  1885;  Little  Folks' 
Paper,  started  January  1,  1885;  Buds  of  Promise,  started  January  1, 
1885;  The  Sunday  Hour,  started  January  1,  1894. 

The  existing  newspapers  published  in  Albany  county  outside  of  the 
city  are  few  in  number  and  are  properly  noticed  in  the  histories  of  the 
towns  in  this  volume. 

The  list  of  newspapers  that  have  been  published  in  Albany  for  lon- 
ger or  shorter  periods  and  suspended  is  a  long  one.  They  can  be  but 
briefly  mentioned  here.  One  of  the  earliest  printers  in  Albany  was 
Solomon  Balentine,  and  he  was  connected  with  the  publication  of  the 
second  journal  issued  in  the  city.  In  1782  Charles  R.  Webster  settled  in 
Albany  and  joined  with  Mr.  Balentine  in  the  publication  of  the  New 
York  Gazette  and  Northern  Intelligencer,  the  first  number  of  which 
was  issued  June  2.  Webster  was  a  practical  printer.  In  1783  he  left 
the  partnership  and  went  to  New  York  where  he  began  publishing  the 
New  York  Gazette.  This  was  not  a  permanent  enterprise  and  in  1784 
he   returned  to  Albany  (Mr.  Balentine  having  meanwhile  left)  and  on 

31 


242 

May  28  issued  the  first  number  of  the  Albany  Gazette.  This  paper  had 
Federal  proclivities,  though  its  columns  were  held  open  to  some  extent 
to  both  parties.  Its  editorial  management  was  on  a  high  plane  and  the 
paper  wielded  a  powerful  influence  in  the  early  years.  On  the  25th  of 
May,  1789,  the  publication  of  a  semi-weekly  edition  was  begun,  and  in 
March,  1817,  it  was  consolidated  with  the  Albany  Advertiser.  This 
latter  paper  was  started  September  25,  1815,  by  John  Walker,  prin- 
ter, and  Theodore  Dwight,  editor,  as  a  daily.  At  the  time  of  the 
consolidation  it  was  published  by  William  L  Stone.  Mr.  Webster  soon 
associated  with  himself  his  brother,  George  Webster,  and  the  firm  of 
C.  R.  &  G.  Webster  became  widely  known.  On  January  26,  1788,  they 
began  the  publication  of  a  semi-weekly  with  the  long  title,  The  Albany 
Journaly  or  Montgomery,  Washington  and  Columbia  Intelligencer; 
this  paper  was  issued  in  connection  with  the  Gazette,  and  was  discon- 
tinued May  25,  1789.  The  Webster  firm  was  dissolved  in  1821  by  the 
death  of  George.  The  survivor  purchased  his  brother's  half  of  the 
property  at  the  Elm  Tree  corner  for  $13,000,  and  the  firm  of  E.  W. 
Skinner  &  Co.  was  formed,  which  purchased  one-half  of  the  stock  of 
the  establishment.  The  firm  of  Webster  &  Skinner  then  continued 
until  the  death  of  Mr.  Webster,  July  18,  1834.  The  original  publica- 
tion continued  in  existence  until  April  14,  1845. 

In  February,  1788,  the  Federal  Herald  was  removed  to  Albany  from 
Lansingburgh  by  Claxton  &  Babcock,  but  remained  but  a  short  time. 
In  the  same  year  the  Albany  Register  was  started  by  John  and  Robert 
Barber  and  continued  until  1808,  when  Solomon  Southwick  took  it 
and  continued  until  1817.     It  was  revived  in  1818  by  Israel  W.  Clark. 

In  November,  1796,  the  Chronicle  was  started  by  John  McDonald; 
discontinued  in  1799.  The  Albany  Centinel  was  started  in  1797  by 
Loring  C.  Andrews,  and  suspended  November  10,  1806.  It  was  at  once 
revived  with  the  title,  the  Centinel  Revived  in  The  Republican  Crisis, 
by  Backus  &  Whiting,  and  later  was  published  by  Isaac  Mitchell,  Harry 
Croswell  &  Co.,  in  1808,  and  Croswell  &  Frary  in  1809,  when  the  name 
was  changed  to  the  Balance  and  New  York  State  Journal.  In  1811  it 
was  removed  to  Hudson. 

In  1807  the  Guardian  was  started  by  Van  Benthuysen  &  Wood;  it 
lived  about  two  years.  It  was  a  literary  publication  and  was  issued 
from  what  was  the  beginning  of  the  oldest  printing  establishment 
now  in  existance  in  Albany.  O.  R.  Van  Benthuysen  left  the  part- 
nership with  Wood  in   1808   and  opened  a  separate  office  in  rear  of 


243 

the  present  376  Broadway.  In  1814  Robert  Packard  became  associated 
with  him.  In  1839  the  firm  of  Charles  Van  Benthuysen  &  Co.  was 
formed,  composed  of  father  and  son  Charles.  In  1848  Charles  Van 
Benthuysen  became  the  sole  proprietor,  continuing  such  until  I860, 
when  his  sons,  Charles  H.  and  Frank,  were  admitted  to  the  partnership. 
The  business  is  still  in  existence  under  proprietorship  of  Charles  Van 
Benthuysen. 

On  April  11,  1812,  Samuel  R.  Brown  started  the  Albany  Republican, 
and  was  soon  succeeded  by  B.  F.  Romaine;  the  paper  was  finally  taken 
to  Saratoga.  In  1813-14  the  Stranger,  8vo. ,  was  published  by  John 
Cook.  In  June,  1815,  Horatio  Gates  Spofford  began  publishing  the 
American  Magazine,  which  lived  less  than  a  year.  The  Christian  Vis- 
itant, by  Mr.  Southwick,  started  this  year,  has  been  mentioned.  The 
Friend  was  another  ephemeral  publication  of  this  year,  by  D.  &  S.  A. 
Abbey ;  it  lived  a  year.  The  Statesman  was  published  and  edited  by 
Nathaniel  H.  Carter  in  1815,  and  was  removed  to  New  York  in  1818. 

♦Solomon  Southwick'sl  Ploughboy  was  started  in  1819  and  in  1820 
Charles  Galpin  started  the  Albany  Microscope,  which  lived  but  a  few 
years.  August  3,  1822,  Bezaleel  Howe  issued  the  first  number  of  the 
Oriental  Star,  a  religious  weekly.  In  1823  William  McDougal  began 
publishing  the  National  Democrat  in  Albany  and  New  York;  it  was 
discontinued  in  April  of  the  next  year,  but  was  at  once  revived  by 
Solomon  Southwick,  but  proved  to  be  short-lived.  In  May,  1824, 
Chauncey  Webster  started  the  Religious  Monitor,  which  was  removed 
to  Philadelphia.  In  1825,  August  8,  George  Galpin  issued  the  first 
number  of  the  Albany  Patriot  and  Daily  Commercial  Intelligencer. 
This  was  doubtless  short-lived,  for  on  July  25,  182(1,  Mr.  Galpin  started 
the  National  Observer,  with  Mr.  Southwick  editor,  which  continued 
four  years. 

The  year   1826  saw   the  birth  of  a  long  list  of  newspapers,    few   of 

1  Solomon  Southwick  was  distinguished  not  alone  as  a  publisher,  but  as  a  politician  and  man 
of  affairs.  He  was  a  native  of  Newport,  R.  I.,  where  he  published  and  edited  the  Newport  Mer- 
cury during  a  part  of  the  Revolutionary  period.  Later  he  located  in  Albany  where  he  was  asso- 
ciated with  his  brother-in-law,  John  Barber,  in  the  Register  office.  He  was  soon  made  a  partner 
and  upon  Mr.  Barber's  death  in  1808,  he  succeeded  to  the  establishment.  The  Register  was  a 
Democratic  organ  and  Mr.  Southwick  made  it  a  power  in  the  State,  being  himself  a  leader  in 
the  party.  The  Register  continued  for  a  number  of  years,  and  after  its  suspension  be  published 
the  Ploughboy.  He  also  edited  the  Christian  Visitant,  and  later  the  National  Democrat.  During 
the  anti-Masonic  excitement  he  established  and  for  several  years  conducted  the  National  Ob- 
server, as  organ  of  that  misguided  movement.  He  received  the  nomination  for  governor  against 
Martin  Van  Huron  and  Smith  Thompson.  Failing  of  election,  he  withdrew  from  the  turmoil  of 
political  life.     He  died  in  November,  1839. 


244 

which  survived  more  than  a  brief  period.  On  April  22  the  Albany 
Daily  Chronicle  was  started  by  Charles  Galpin  and  M.  M.  Cole.  In 
the  same  month  John  Denio  and  Seth  Richards  started  the  Albany 
Morning  Chronicle,  which  was  discontinued  within  a  year.  E.  B. 
Child  started  the  Escritoire,  or  Masonic  and  Miscellaneous  Album, 
which  in  February  was  changed  to  the  American  Masonic  Record  and 
Albany  Saturday  Magazine.  January  30,  1830,  the  name  was  again 
changed  to  American  Masonic  Record  and  Albany  Literary  Journal, 
which  title  probably  killed  it.  In  May,  1826,  L.  G.  Hoffman  started 
the  Albany  Christian  Register,  with  J.  R.  Boyd,  editor.  This  paper 
was  subsequently  united  with  a  religious  journal  in  Utica  and  pub- 
lished as  the  Journal  and  Telegraph  by  Hosford  &  Wait  in  1831.  Mr. 
Hoffman  at  about  this  time  started  and  published  about  five  years  the 
American  Masonic  Register. 

In  May,  1827,  Solomon  Southwick  started  the  Antidote,  which  was 
continued  only  a  short  time.  Matthew  Cole  started  the  Standard, 
which  was  short-lived.  On  August  4,  the  Comet  was  started  with 
Daniel  McGlashan  editor.  October  13  the  Albany  Signs  of  the  Times 
and  Literary  Writer  was  born,  with  Daniel  McGlashan  publisher,  and 
J.  B.  Van  Schaick  and  S.  D.  W.  Bloodgood  editors. 

The  Daily  Morning  Chronicle  was  issued  in  1828  by  Beach,  Denio  & 
Richards.  The  Age,  by  Galpin  &  Sturtevant ;  and  the  Albany  Times  and 
Literary  Writer,  with  slight  change  in  name,  passed  to  James  McGlash- 
an, publisher.  The  Albany  Minerva  was  started  this  year  by  Joel 
Munsell,1  whose  name  and  fame  is  indissolubly  connected,  with  print- 
ing and  publishing  in  Albany.  The  Minerva  was  continued  several 
years. 

Arthur  N.  Sherman  started  the  Albanian  January  30,  1830,  and  on 
April  3  the  Farmers',  Mechanics',  and  Workingmen's  Advocate  was 
issued  by  McPherson  &  McKercher.  In  the  same  month  the  Albany 
Bee  was  started  by  J.  Duffy,  W.  S.  McCulloch  and  C.  Angus. 

1Joel  Munsell  was  born  in  Northfield,  Mass.,  April  14,  1808.  He  early  learned  the  printing 
trade  in  Greenfield,  Mass.,  and  soon  came  to  Albany.  Here  he  worked  at  his  trade  as  a  journey- 
man until  1830,  when  he  started  his  first  paper.  In  1834  he  was  associated  with  Henry  D.  Stone  in 
successfully  publishing  the  Microscope.  In  1836  he  set  up  a  job  printing  office  at  58  State  street. 
He  was  a  skillful  workman  himself  and  soon  gained  a  high  reputation  in  the  art.  He  engaged 
largely  in  book  printing  and  publishing,  among  his  most  useful  publications  being  the  Annals  of 
Albany,  in  ten  volumes,  which  were  begun  in  1840  and  completed  in  1859.  He  also  published  four 
volumes  of  Collections  on  the  History  of  Albany.  About  a  dozen  newspapers  and  periodicals 
were  issued  from  his  printing  office,  on  some  of  which  he  was  eflitorially  employed.  No  man 
has  done  more  for  the  perpetuation  of  local  history  and  in  the  local  publication  of  worthy  books 
than  Mr.  Munsell.  His  death  took  place  January  15,  1880,  his  sons  Charles  and  Frank  succeeding 
to  his  business. 


245 

On  September  7,  1831,  the  Albany  Literary  Gazette  appeared  with 
John  P.  Jermain,  editor,  and  James  D.  Nicholson,  publisher.  On  No- 
vember 21,  Hosford  &  Wait  took  up  the  publication  of  the  Journal  and 
Telegraph  before  mentioned.  The  Temperance  Recorder  had  a  brief 
existence  beginning  this  year.  In  1832  the  Daily  Craftsman  began  a 
short  existence,  and  the  Albany  Quarterly  was  first  issued  by  the  Al- 
bany Historical  Society.  In  February,  1833,  the  American  Quarterly 
Hemp  Magazine  was  started  and  continued  two  years.  In  1834  the 
Daily  News,  by  Hunter  &  Hoffman,  and  the  Albany  Whig,  by  J.  B. 
Van  Schaick,  were  started.  In  January  the  American  Temperance 
Intelligencer  began  a  brief  existence. 

On  October  12,  1835,  the  Albany  Transcript  was  started  as  a  penny 
paper  by  C.  F.  Powell  &  Co.  In  May  of  this  year  the  Silk  Worm  was 
established  and  continued  two  years  as  a  monthly,  when  it  was  changed 
to  the  Silk  Worm  and  Sugar  Manual;  discontinued  in  1858.  The  Al- 
bany Bouquet  and  Literary  Spectator  was  started  this  year  by  George 
Trumbull ;  it  was  a  short-lived  monthly.  In  1836  was  commenced  the 
publication  of  a  monthly  called  the  Zodiac,  by  De  Coudrey  Holstein, 
and  another  paper,  the  Common  School  Assistant,  by  J.  Orville  Tay- 
lor.     Neither  lived  long. 

In  1838  Solomon  Southwick  published  a  short  time  the  Family  News- 
paper; and  on  July  4  was  started  the  Daily  Patriot,  an  anti-slavery 
paper,  by  J.  G.  Wallace.  In  1840  Horace  Greeley  started  the  Jeffer- 
sonian.  The  Albany  Patriot  was  published  by  J.  C.  Jackson  and  con- 
tinued four  years.  Other  ephemeral  publications  of  the  year,  chiefly 
for  campaign  purposes,  were  the  Unionist,  the  Tomahawk  and  Scalp- 
ing Knife,  and  the  Rough  Hewer.  In  1842  H.  O'Kane  published  the 
Irishman  seven  weeks.  Other  unimportant  papers  of  the  year  were 
the  Sunday  Tickler,  the  Albany  Switch,  and  the  Youth's  Temperance 
Enterprise;  the  latter  lived  three  years. 

Besides  the  Knickerbocker,  elsewhere  noted,  the  Subterranean  was 
started  in  1843  by  James  Duffy.  On  April  9,  1845,  Thomas  A.  Devyr 
started  the  Albany  Freeholder,  an  anti-rent  organ.  Joel  Munsell 
started  the  Gavel ;  Woodward  &  Packard  began  the  Scourge,  and 
Abbott  &  Crosby  the  Vesper  Bell. 

On  December  8,  1846,  the  Albany  Herald  was  started  by  A.  B.  Van 
O'Linda.  December  17  the  Albany  Morning  Telegraph  was  first  issued. 
In  1S47  the  District  School  Journal  was  published  by  Francis  Dwight; 
the  Castigator,  by  M.  J.  Smith,  and  the  year  saw  the  beginning  of  the 


246 

Express,  now  controlled  by  the  Journal  Company.  Jasper  Hazen  be- 
gan the  issue  of  the  Christian  Palladium  in  1848,  which  was  removed 
to  New  Haven  in  1855,  with  the  name  changed  in  1849  to  the  Christian 
Herald.  E.  Andrews  began  the  publication  of  the  Busy  Bee  and  con- 
tinued it  two  years.  On  May  15,  1849,  the  Albany  Daily  Messenger 
was  started  by  B.  F.  Romaine.  On  June  30  the  Sunday  Dutchman  was 
started.  Besides  the  first  issue  of  the  Albany  Daily  Times,  elsewhere 
described,  B.  F.  Romaine  started  the  Half-Dollar  Monthly  in  1850. 
The  Albany  Atlas  was  also  begun  in  this  year. 

On  the  1st  of  September,  1851,  John  Sharts  started  the  Albany  Daily 
Eagle,  which  survived  four  months.  On  January  4,  the  American 
Mechanic  was  started  by  J.  M.  Patterson.  The  Carson  League,  a  rad- 
ical temperance  organ,  was  started  by  T.  L.  Carson  and  J.  T.  Hazen, 
and  soon  removed  to  Syracuse.  The  Albany  Mirror  and  Literary  Cab- 
inet was  published  by  J.  H.  Carroll  and  W.  M.  Colburn,  and  the  Cith- 
ren,  by  Warner  &  Hooker.  The  Northern  Light  was  also  issued  in  this 
year  and  continued  about  three  years,  with  able  editors. 

The  papers  of  1852  which  were  soon  wrecked,  were  the  Temperance 
Recorder;  the  Family  Intelligencer,  by  Rev.  Jasper  Hazen;  and  the 
New  York  Teacher,  the  organ  of  the  New  York  State  Teachers'  Asso- 
ciation. 

On  February  1,  1853,  Cuyler  &  Henly  started  a  penny  paper  called 
the  Evening  Transcript.  The  Prohibitionist  was  started  this  year  as 
the  organ  of  the  State  Temperance  Society;  in  1857  it  united  with  the 
Journal  of  the  American  Temperance  Union.  In  1854  D.  C.  Estes 
started  the  Family  Journal.  July  21,  1855,  the  State  Police  Tribune 
was  started  by  S.  H.  Parsons  and  R.  M.  Griffin;  it  was  removed  to 
New  York.  March  26,  1856,  the  Albany  Daily  Statesman  was  started; 
September  8,  was  begun  the  Albany  Evening  Union,  a  penny  paper, 
by  James  McFarlane,  which  became  consolidated  with  the  Times.  George 
Herb  began  the  publication  of  the  Albany  Volksblatt  this  year.  In 
1857  was  started  the  Albany  Evening  Herald,  the  name  of  which  was 
changed  in  June,  1857,  to  Albany  Evening  Union.  On  May  4,  Charles 
Galpin  started  the  Microscope. 

The  papers  of  1858  were  the  American  Citizen ;  the  Evening  Courier, 
started  in  August;  the  Hour  ,and  the  Man,  daily  and  weekly,  by  George 
W.  Clarke  and  John  J.  Thomas;  the  Mercantile  Horn,  started  in  Oc- 
tober; the  Voice  of  the  People,  a  campaign  paper;  the  Evening  Stan- 
dard, by  R.  M.  Griffin  &   Co.,    started   in  December;  the  Independent 


247 

Press,  which  lived  only  a  few  months ;  Astronomical  Notes,  by  Pro- 
fessor Brunow;  the  American  Magazine,  monthly,  by  J.S.  &  B.  Wood; 
the  Gavel,  by  John  Tanner;  and  the  State  Military  Gazette,  by  C.  G. 
Stone,  afterward  removed  to  New  York. 

The  first  issue  of  the  Evening  Post  appeared  in  October,  I860,  pub- 
lished by  R.  M.  &  E.  Griffin;  R.  M.  Griffin,  editor.  This  journal  was 
successfully  conducted  until  July,  1895,  when  it  was  merged  with  The 
State,  a  new  Republican  daily,  which  was  established  with  a  heavy  in- 
vestment and  apparently  bright  prospects.  The  enterprise  was,  how- 
ever, a  very  injudicious  one  and  the  paper  lived  less  than  a  year. 

On  Januray  17,  1863,  appeared  the  first  number  of  the  Standard  and 
Statesman,  which  did  not  long  survive.  The  Voice  was  started  as  a 
monthly  by  Edgar  S.  Werner,  in  January,  1879.  The  Albany  Law 
Journal  was  first  issued  January  9,  1870,  with  Isaac  Grant  Thompson, 
editor  and  still  continues,  under  the  editorship  of  AmasaJ.  Parker,  jr., 
to  be  one  of  the  leading  legal  journals  of  the  country.  The  first  num- 
ber of  the  Catholic  Telegraph  appeared  in  January,  1880.  The  Poultry 
Monthly  was  started  by  the  Ferris  Publishing  Company  in  November, 
1879.  Forest,  Forge  and  Farm  was  started  by  H.  S.  Quackenbush  in 
1882.  Outing  was  started  in  1883  by  the  Outing  Publishing  and  Print- 
ing Company,  and  was  removed  to  Boston.  The  Inquirer  and  Criterion 
was  first  issued  by  Charles  S.  Carpenter;  taken  in  February,  1882,  by 
Burdick  &  Taylor;  discontinued  January  5,  1884,  and  revived  as  The 
Inquirer  April  30,  1884.  The  Daily  News  was  incorporated  March  27, 
1895,  but  the  publication  ceased  after  a  few  months. 

The  following,  supplied  by  a  well-known  and  versatile  writer,  is 
thought  to  be  of  sufficient  interest  to  warrant  its  insertion  in  this 
chapter : 

SOME  ALBANY  PERIODICALS. 
Joseph  A.    Lawson. 

The  progress  of  a  city  in  its  literary  development  is  attested  in 
various  ways.  One  of  the  most  satisfactory  evidences  to  be  adduced 
is  the  encouragement  it  has  given  to,  or  withheld  from,  publications  of 
a  periodical  nature.  The  following  brief  summary  of  such  ventures, 
incomplete  though  it  be,  will  go  very  far  toward  assigning  Albany  to 
its  proper  place  as  a  literary  center. 

One  of  the  earliest  magazines  to  make  its   appearance   was     "The 


248    . 

Stranger,"  a  literary  paper,  published  by  John  Cook  at  his  reading 
room.  This  was  in  1814.  The  title  page  bore  the  following  line  from 
Hamlet,  "  Therefore  as  a  Stranger  bid  it  welcome." 

The  editor,  in  his  valedictory,  explaining  its  suspension  at  the  close 
of  the  first  year  of  its  existence,  would  have  it  understood  that  patron- 
age was  not  wanting,  but  that  which  was  far  worse,  the  utter  lack  of 
contributors.  And  so  the  Stranger  silently  stole  away  into  the  shades 
of  oblivion. 

The  year  1815  was  more  prolific  in  periodical  literature.  Two  mag- 
azines had  the  temerity  to  come  into  existence;  and  their  aims  and 
objects  are  amply  set  forth  in  their  titles.  The  first,  the  American 
Magazine,  a  monthly  miscellany,  devoted  to  literature,  science,  history, 
biography  and  fine  arts,  etc.,  etc.  This  was  edited  by  Horatio  Gates 
wSpofford.  Editor  Spofford  had  a  good  bit  of  confidence  in  the  early 
Albanian,  or  else  he  thought  the  odd  half  dollar  more  of  an  induce- 
ment than  it  is  at  this  date,  for  he  offered  his  publication  at  $2.50  if 
paid  in  advance,  or  $3.00  if  paid  at  the  end  of  the  year.  As  it  resulted, 
the  half  dollar  was  no  inducement,  and  the  confidence  misplaced,  for, 
at  the  end  of  one  year,  Editor  Spofford  was  forced  to  make  an  assign- 
ment to  one  "  Absolom  Townsend,  Jun.  Esq."  after  sinking  two  thou- 
sand dollars  in  the  venture.  To  our  eyes,  accustomed  to  the  "infinite 
variety"  of  the  magazines  of  the  present  day,  this  periodical  has  an  ex- 
ceedingly dry-as-dust  flavor.  This  editor  thinks  he  has  fathomed  the 
reason  of  its  non-success  for,  in  his  closing  editorial  he  says:  "Should 
this  publication  be  again  revived,  it  will  be  in  the  hands  of  people  hav- 
ing ample  pecuniary  resources,  and  who  will  punctually  distribute  the 
numbers  on  the  first  of  each  month.  This,  I  think,  is  all  that  is  now 
wanted  to  ensure  a  respectable  patronage,  and  that  permanency  for 
which  it  was  designed."     Delightful  ingenuousness! 

The  second,  contemporaneous  with  the  foregoing,  was  "The  Friend, 
a  periodical  work,  devoted  to  religion,  literature  and  useful  miscel- 
lany." The  following  quotation  ornamented  its  title  page,  and  was 
evidently  fondly  hoped  to  be  the  entering  wedge  to  popular  favor: 

"  The  greatest  blessing  is  a  pleasant  friend." 

The  publishers  to  undertake  this  enterprise  were  D.  &  S.  A.  Abbey. 
The  editor's  announcement  in  the  first  number  ran  as  follows,  and 
proved  him  anything  but  a  "pleasant  friend"  to  his  confrere  in  the 
field  of  literature : 


249 
To  the  Public. 

As  we  feel  an  unaccountable  aversion  to  puffing,  we  shall  not  imitate  the  conduct 
of  some  of  our  brethren  of  the  quill  in  making  a  multitude  of  fine  promises  which 
can  never  be  performed.  We  arrogate  to  ourselves  no  extraordinary  genius  or  un- 
common literary  acquirements;  nor  shall  we  attempt  to  make  amends  for  lack  of 
abilities  by  adding  to  our  name  a  long  list  of  titles.  .  .  .  We  shall  endeavor 
to  "  satisfy  our  readers;"  but  we  shall  never  attempt  to  attain  that  object  by  serving 
up  "  a  small  select  dish"  of  vulgar  and  profane  jests  and  tales.  Those  who  prefer 
such  fare  will,  therefore,  seek  it  in  another  quarter. 

This  charming  bit  of  editorial  courtesy  was  "  starred"  to  refer  to  the 
bottom  of  the  page,  where  the  following  explanation  was  found: 

For  the  information  of  persons  of  this  description,  we  subjoin  the  following 
elegant  extract  from  the  prospectus  of  a  periodical  work,  published  in  this 
city,  entitled  "The  American  Magazine,"  conducted  by  Horatio  Gates  Spofford, 
A.  M.,  author  of  a  Geography  of  the  United  States,  a  Gazetteer  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  etc.,  a  member  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society,  and  one  of  the  Counsellors 
of  the  Society  for  the  Promotion  of  the  Useful  Arts— a  member  of  the  American  An- 
tiquarian Society,  and  of  the  Berkshire  Agricultural  Society,  Massachusetts. 

Extract  from  the  prospectus  of  the  American  Magazine: 

The  editor  is  no  friend  to  those  medleys  of  bo7i  mots,  and  vulgar  and  profane  jests 
and  tales;  but  if  he  cannot  satisfy  his  readers  without,  he  will  occasionally  serve  up 
a  small,  select  dish. 

Even  at  that  early  date  these  little  amenities  were  current  among 
the  "brethren  of  the  quill."  But  "The  Friend"  fared  no  better  than 
its  contemporary,  and  at  the  expiration  of  its  first  publication  year, 
"joined  the  silent  majority."  Certain  it  is,  it  contained  no  "medleys 
of  bon  mots,"  so  far  as  we  are  able  to  discover  in  a  hasty  perusal,  and 
we  ourselves  think  we  would  hardly  have  been  able  long  to  tolerate  a 
"  friend"  that  bore  so  striking  a  resemblance  to  the  Knight  of  the  Sor- 
rowful Countenance. 

From  1827  to  1831  appeared  the  American  Masonic  Record,  and  Al- 
bany Saturday  Magazine.  This  was  a  weekly  periodical  devoted  t<> 
Masonry,  science  and  the  arts,  popular  tales,  miscellany,  current  news, 
etc.,  etc.  Published  by  E.  B.  Childs,  corner  of  North  Market  and 
Steuben  streets. 

Appealing,  as  it  did,  to  so  large  a  class  of  the  community  as  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity,  and  having  the  celebrated  Morgan  episode  to  dwell 
upon,  placed  it  upon  a  foundation  that  insured  it   a  much   longer   l< 
of  life  than  its  predecessors  had  enjoyed.      And,   too,   it   was  cleverly 
32 


250 

edited,  and  contained  much  matter  that  appealed  to  the  popular  taste. 
A  clear  case  of  the  "survival  of  the  fittest." 

The  Albany  Quarterly,  edited  by  James  R.  Wilson  and  Samuel  Wil- 
son, made  its  appearance  in  1832,  published  under  the  patronage  of  the 
Albany  Historical  Society. 

This  was  scarcely  a  literary  effort ;  partaking  more  of  the  nature  of 
a  denominational  publication.  The  opening  paper  in  the  first  number 
was  a  history  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  church. 

A  short  extract  from  one  of  the  articles  appearing  in  it  serves  to  show 
how  much  we  have  to  be  grateful  for,  more  than  half  a  century  later, 
that  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York  has  become,  in  truth,  a 
"reform  "  Legislature,  and  no  longer  closes  its  ears  to  the  "means  of 
grace  "  daily  offered  it.      The  extract  reads: 

Immediately  after  the  assembling  of  the  legislature  in  1832,  a  resolution  was  offered 
to  dispense  with  prayer.  .  .  .  Ministers,  except  Methodists,  refused  to  pray  in 
either  senate  or  assembly. 

We  should  be  eternally  grateful  to  these  long  suffering  Methodists 
whose  patience  accomplished  such  beneficent  results.  A  slight  perusal 
convinced  us  that  The  Albany  Quarterly  might,  with  propriety,  be  de- 
scribed as  a  "  blue-light  "  antique. 

The  Albany  Bouquet  and  Literary  Spectator  was  next  to  venture 
into  the  troubled  waters  of  periodical  publication,   in  1835.     George 
Trumbull  was  the  hardy   mariner   who   stood  at  the  helm.     The  pro 
spectus  ran  as  follows: 

The  undersigned  will  issue,  as  soon  as  sufficient  encouragement  shall  have  been 
obtained  to  warrant  the  undertaking,  a  semi-monthly  work,  under  the  above  title,  to 
be  devoted  exclusively  to  polite  literature,  viz,  popular  tales,  essays,  biography, 
natural  history,  traveling  sketches,  anecdotes,  etc.  It  is  believed  that  Albany,  with 
a  population  of  nearly  thirty  thousand,  and  embracing  as  much  intelligence  and  lit- 
erary taste  as  any  city  of  equal  size  in  the  union,  is  competent  to  sustain  a  publication 
of  this  kind;  and  although  similar  experiments  have  been  unsuccessful,  that  result, 
it  is  thought,  is  to  be  attributed  to  other  causes  than  the  lack  of  liberality  on  the  part 
of  the  citizens.  [Here  was  another  editor  who  thought  he  knew  to  what  lethargy  of 
the  Albany  public  was  attributable.]  The  papers  at  present  published  in  this  city 
are  so  exclusively  occupied  with  the  political  controversies  of  the  day  as  to  exclude 
all  matter  of  a  literary  character ;  and  it  is  believed  that  a  publication  devoted  entirely 
to  miscellaneous  reading,  which  shall  "  strew  the  rugged  path  of  politics  with  the 
flowers  of  literature"  will  meet  with  ample  encouragement. 

The  bulk  of  this  magazine  was  made  up  of  translations  and  clippings. 
The  original   story  contained   in  the  first  number,  to  which  attention 


251 

was  called  editorially,  was  entitled  "The  Storm,"  and  its  hero  and 
heroine,  Egbert  and  Lucinda.  Vision  of  bell-crowned  hats  and  crin- 
oline ! 

Editor  Trumbull  also  thought  to  lure  the  wily  Albanians  by  his 
terms,  which  were  $1.00  per  annum  in  advance,  $1.50  after  six  months 
and  $2.00  at  the  end  of  the  year.  But  to  no  purpose,  for  The  Al- 
bany Bouquet  was  doomed  to  become  as  ''  the  flowers  that  bloom 'in 
the  spring,  tra-la, "  and  at  the  end  of  six  months  expired  gracefully  in 
the  arms  of  the  Zodiac  (a  copy  of  which  we  have  been  unable  to  find,' 
although  we  have  seen  signs  of  it),  without  editorial  comment.  It 
would  seem  as  though  a  magazine  holding  out  such  inducements  as  the 
following  editorial  contain,  merited  a  kinder  fate: 

No  critical  Cerberus  guards  our  columns  to  crush  the  germs  of  genius  with  the 
withering  blasts  of  malicious  criticism;  and,  we  trust,  therefore,  that  our  young 
men,  and  particularly  the  members  of  the  Young  Men's  Association,  will  favor  us 
with  some  original  flowers  for  our  bouquet. 

From  1842  to  1844  the  New  York  State  Mechanic,  a  weekly  paper 
devoted  to  the  interests  of  mechanics  and  artisans,  and  placed  within 
their  reach  by  being  published  at  $1.00  a  year,  was  put  out  by  Joel 
Munsell  of  this  city,  and  enjoyed  a  well  deserved  circulation  and  pop- 
ularity. A  few  more  such  efforts  at  this  period  would  go  far  to  lessen 
the  recurring  conflicts  between  labor  and  capital. 

In  1844  Alfred  B.  Street,  assisted  by  S.  S.  Randall,  esq.,  Prof.  James 
Hall  and  others,  began  the  publication  of  the  Northern  Light,  devoted 
to  music,  literature,  general  information,  education,  science,  and  the 
arts.  The  publication  price  was  one  dollar  a  year,  or  six  and  a  quarter 
cents  each.      Its  objects  were  outlined  as  follows: 

We   hope  the   appearance  of    the    present  number  will  please    our   patrons  and 

readers.     It  is  a  specimen  of  what  we  pledge  ourselves  the  future  numbers  will  be. 

.  .  .  Indeed,  so  far  from  deteriorating,  we  intend  making  greater  and  greater 
improvements. 

But  alack,  and  alack!  So  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  ascertain,  but 
five  numbers  of  this  clever  periodical  ever  appeared.  The  literary 
firmament  was  again  darkened  as  the  Northern  Light  went  out. 

It  was  now  left  for  the  fair  sex  to  take  up  the  pen  fallen  from  the 
nerveless  fingers  of  those  "lords  of  creation"  who  had  essayed  lite- 
rary efforts  theretofore.  In  1845,  The  Monthly  Rose  bloomed,  "con- 
ducted by  the  present  and  former  members  of  the  Albany  Female 
Academy."  The  initial  number  contained  the  following  plea  for  recog- 
nition : 


252 

Our  Monthly  Rose !  Silently,  have  we  watched  its  unfolding.  Silently,  yet  with 
deep  feeling  and  earnest  thought.  Carefully  have  we  nurtured  it,  yet  with  trem- 
bling hope ;  calmly  have  we  turned  it  to  the  scanty  sunshine,  while  the  chilling  fear 
frost  has  fallen  upon  our  hearts. 

This  magazine  contained  many  bright  contributions,  although  some 
of  the  verses  were  strikingly  characteristic  of  a  young  ladies'  magazine. 
One  in  particular,  entitled  The  Phantom  Bride,  attracted  our  attention. 
The  valedictory,  appearing  at  the  close  of  the  first  year  of  its  existence, 
shows  a  decided  revulsion  of  feeling  in  the  mind  of  the  fair  editor : 

"...  But  what  mean  these  words,  "  leave  taking  "  ?  Simply  that  the  time  has 
expired  for  which  we  were  pledged  to  conduct  a  monthly  periodical  connected  with 
the  Albany  Female  Academy.  For  good  and  sufficient  reasons  we  decline  the  re- 
newal of  that  pledge,  as  none  of  our  friends  seem  to  court  the  inheritance  of  the 
editorial  mantle,  the  Monthly  Rose  will  be  discontinued  after  this  present  year. 

And,  with  this  graceful  farewell,  the  Rose  folded  its  petals,  and  mod- 
estly withdrew  from  public  gaze. 

The  last  periodical  to  make  its  appearance  before  the  Albany  reading 
public,  was  The  Fort  Orange  Monthly,  published  by  the  Riggs  Print- 
ing and  Publishing  Company,  and  under  the  editorial  management  of 
Joseph  A.  Lawson,  a  member  of  the  Albany  bar,  who  sought  to  diver- 
sify his  calling  by  incursions  into  the  realms  of  literature,  and  inci- 
dentally, to  develop  the  latest  talent  of  the  capital  city.  The  first  num- 
ber appeared  in  February,  1886.  The  valedictory  appeared  in  the  issue 
of  September  of  the  same  year,  when  the  advertising  contracts  had  all 
expired.     0  tempora,  O  mores! 


253 


CHAPTER   XV. 

GENERAL  EDUCATION. 

Though  the  men  of  Holland  who  were  directly  responsible  for  the 
first  settlements  along  the  Hudson  River  and  in  the  territory  now  em- 
braced inAlbany  county,  seem  to  have  possessed  the  wisdom  to  realize 
that  one  of  the  principal  factors  of  prosperity  and  advancement  in  this 
far-off  country  would  be  the  education  of  children,  yet  their  ideas  of 
ways  and  methods  for  the  accomplishment  of  this  purpose  were  at  that 
early  date  necessarily  crude  and  imperfect,  and  seem  to  have  been 
carried  out  in  careless  and  ineffective  manner.  In  the  charter  to  the 
West  India  Company  is  found  the  following  pertinent  section : 

XXVII. — The  Patroons  and  Colonists  in  particular,  and  in  the  speediest  manner, 
must  endeavor  to  find  out  ways  and  means  whereby  they  may  supply  a  minister  and 
schoolmaster,  that  thus  the  service  of  God  and  zeal  for  religion  may  not  grow  cool 
and  be  neglected  among  them,  and  they  shall,  for  the  first,  procure  a  comforter  of 
the  sick  there. 

Furthermore,  in  the  charter  of  Exemptions  and  Privileges  under 
which  Patroon  Van  Rensselaer  established  his  "  Colonie,"  we  find  the 
following: 

The  patroons  shall,  also,  particularly  exert  themselves  to  find  speedy  means  to 
maintain  a  clergyman  and  schoolmaster,  in  order  that  Divine  Service  and  zeal  for 
religion  may  be  planted  in  that  country,  and  send,  at  first,  a  comforter  of  the  sick 
thither. 

The  West  India  Company  was  at  a  later  date  bound  by  the  following 
regulations : 

Each  householder  and  inhabitant  shall  bear  such  tax  and  public  charge  as  shall 
hereafter  be  considered  proper  for  the  maintenance  of  clergymen  and  comforters  of 
the  siek.  schoolmasters,  and  such  like  necessary  officers. 

It  is  known  that  this  office  of  "comforter  of  the  sick  "  was  often,  and 
probably  nearly  always,  combined  with  that  of  schoolmaster.  The 
incumbent  aided  the  minister  of  the  gospel  in  his  charge,  and  gave 
such  time  as  he  could  to  teaching.  Much  of  that  teaching  was  of  a 
religious  character,  and   outside  of  inculcating  the  youthful  mind  with 


254 

the  Scriptures,  the  Dutch  teacher  worked  in  the  most  primitive  man- 
ner. 

Adam  Roelantsen,  who  had  taught  school  in  Amsterdam,  came  to 
Rensselaerwyck  in  1639.  He  undoubtedly  taught  a  short  time  at  New 
Amsterdam  before  coming-  up  the  river,  and  was  probably  the  first  school- 
master there.  The  masses  of  the  immigrants  of  the  early  years  were 
unable  to  read  and  write,  and  the  immorality  that  always  accompanies 
ignorance  prevailed.  Dr.  O'Callaghan  is  authority  for  the  statement 
that  "the  state  of  morals  in  New  Amsterdam  was,  at  this  period  [1088] 
by  no  means  healthy — a  statement  which  applies  as  well  to  Beverwyck. 
The  early  schools  were  not  eagerly  sought  nor  liberally  supported  by 
the  people,  and  the  teachers  were  frequently  ignorant  and  sometimes 
unprincipled.  The  records  of  the  Dutch  period  are  almost  bare  of  the 
mention  of  schools.  "While  the  community  were  required  to  have  their 
children  instructed  by  good  schoolmasters,  the  requirement  was  little 
heeded.  A  schoolmaster  in  1644  received  thirty  florins  a  month,  board- 
ing himself;  this  was  only  one-fourth  what  was  paid  to  a  minister;  but 
quite  likely  it  was  more  than  he  was  usually  worth.  By  1661  his  pay 
had  advanced  to  eighteen  guilders  per  month  and  his  board." 

In  a  remonstrance  against  the  management  of  the  West  India  Com- 
pany, made  in  1649  (one  of  the  many  alluded  to  in  early  chapters  of 
this  volume),  is  found  the  following  paragraph  : 

There  ought  to  be,  also,  a  public  school,  provided  with  two  good  teachers,  so  that 
the  youth  in  so  wild  a  country,  where  there  are  so  many  dissolute  people,  may,  first 
of  all,  be  instructed  and  indoctrinated,  not  only  in  reading  and  writing,  but  also  in 
the  fear  of  the  Lord.  Now  the  school  is  kept  very  irregularly,  by  this  one  or  that, 
according  to  his  fancy,  as  long  as  he  thinks  proper. 

There  is  an  epitome  of  the  whole  situation  in  that  pregnant  para- 
graph ;  and  it  indicates  to  what  an  extent  scriptural  teaching,  such  as 
it  was,  was  combined  with  the  secular.  It  would  appear  that  the  West 
India  Company  cared  more  for  new  and  profitable  schemes  for  obtain- 
ing furs  from  the  Indians  than  for  education.  The  reply  to  the  above 
mentioned  remonstrance  was  made  in  the  same  year  by  Secretary  Van 
Tienhoven  for  the  Director-General ;  it  is  admitted  therein  that  the 
new  school  house  had  not  been  built  and  that  "there  is  no  Latin  school 
or  Academy;"  but  asserted  that  a  place  for  a  school  to  be  taught  by 
Jan  Cornelissen  had  been  selected,  while  other  schools  sufficient  for 
"the  circumstances  of  the  country,"  were  being  taught  in  hired  houses. 

Further  complaint  of  the  neglect  to  build  a  school  house  was  made  in 


255 

1G50,  and  it  was  probably  in  that  year  that  a  committee  was  appointed 
for  that  task  and  to  collect  the  necessary  funds.  Andries  Janse  was 
appointed  to  take  charge  of  the  school  when  the  building  was  ready; 
he  probably  served  only  a  short  time.  Rev.  Gideon  Schaets  was  called 
to  Rensselaerwyck  as  a  minister  in  1652,  and  a  little  later  was  directed 
to  teach  the  catechism  in  Beverwyck  and  Fort  Orange,  and  "to  pay 
attention  to  the  office  of  schoolmaster  for  the  old  and  young." 

The  early  wretched  condition  of  education  in  the  colony  was  slow  to 
to  change.  Regarding  the  subject  as  it  was  in  1656  Dr.  O'Callaghan 
remarks : 

Bad  as  it  was  with  the  churches,  it  was  worse  as  regards  schools;  not  one  of  all 
these  places,  whether  Dutch  or  English,  had  a  schoolmaster,  except  the  Manhattans, 
Beverwyck  and  Fort  Cassimer. 

Revs.  John  Megapolensis  and  Samuel  Drisius  wrote  in  the  same 
strain  in  1657.  Stuyvesant  knew  the  value  of  learning  and  the  neces 
sity  for  schools,  for  he  employed  a  private  tutor;  but  he  was  the  sub 
missive  agent  of  the  West  India  Company.  If  that  company  did  not 
advise  or  order  the  building  of  school  houses  and  the  employment  of 
teachers,  he  certainly  would  not,  so  that  at  the  close  of  his  administra- 
tion in  1004  there  had  been  little  improvement. 

Educational  affairs  improved  under  the  English.  John  Shutte  was 
the  first  teacher  at  Albany  after  the  change,  as  is  shown  by  the  follow- 
ing license: 

Whereas,  the  teaching  of  the  English  tongue  is  necessary  in  this  government;  I 
have,  therefore,  thought  fitt  to  give  License  to  John  Shutte  to  bee  the  English 
Schoolmaster  at  Albany ;  And,  upon  condition  that  the  said  John  Shutte  shall  not 
demand  any  more  wages  from  each  Schollar  than  is  given  by  the  Dutch  to  their 
Dutch  Schoolmasters.  I  have  further  granted  to  the  said  John  Shutte  that  hec  shall 
bee  the  onely  English  Schoolmaster  at  Albany. 

Civen  under  my  hand,  at  Fort  James,  in  New  York,  the  12th  day  of  <  >ctober,  1665. 

Rich'd  Nicoi  i  s. 

An  order  is  on  record  of  May  L6,  L670,  signed  by  Francis  Lovelace, 
the  preamble  of  which  says:  "  Whereas,  Jan  Jeurians  Beecker  [Bleecker 
or  Becker]  had  a  Graunt  to  keep  ye  Dutch  school  at  Albany  for  ye 
teaching  of  youth  to  read  &  Wryte  ye  which  was  allowed  of  and  con- 
firmed to  him  by  my  predecessor,  Coll.  Richard  Nicolls,"  etc.  On  the 
4th  of  April,  1070,  Gerritt  Swartt,  Jan  Becker  (probably  the  one  above 
named)  and  Arien  Appel  were  chosen  schoolmasters  at  Albany,  and  soon 
afterward  in  the  same  year,  Luykas  Gerritse  (Wyngaard)  was  added  to 
the  teaching  force.     These  men  had  other  business  besides  teaching 


256 

it  was  probably  necessary  that  they  should  have,  in  order  to  live. 
Becker  formerly  kept  a  tavern  at  Fort  Cassimer,  on  the  Delaware  River, 
and  was  there  convicted  of  selling  liquor  to  the  Indians,  but  his  fine  was 
remitted  because  it  was  shown  he  was  no  worse  than  many  others. 
Swartt  was  high  sheriff  of  Rensselaerwyck  from  1GG8  to  1673.  Appel 
had  a  lot  in  Beverwyck  in  1054  and  bound  himself  to  build  thereon  an 
inn  for  travelers  and  not  for  an  ordinary  tippling  house.  He  taught 
from  1676  to  1686.  Wyngaard  became  a  baker  and  had  his  shop  in 
1715  on  the  south  corner  of  Broadway  and  State  street. 

In  the  instructions  given  to  Governor  Dongan  at  Windsor,  May  20, 
1686,  was  the  following: 

38.  And  wee  doe  further  direct  that  noe  Schoolmoster  bee  henceforth  permitted 
to  come  from  England  &  to  keep  school  within  Our  Province  of  New  York  without 
the  license  of  the  said  Archbishop  of  Canterbury;  and  that  noe  other  person  now 
there  or  that  shall  come  from  other  parts  bee  admitted  to  keep  school  without  your 
license  first  had. 

Similar  instructions  were  given  to  his  successors  in  that  office.  As 
a  departure  from  the  regular  custom  of  issuing  licenses  only  by  the 
colonial  officials,  the  following  is  of  interest : 

Att  a  meeting  of  ye  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Common  Council  held  in   ye  Citty  Hall 

of  Albany,  ye  23d  of  Jannary  lyjHr 

The  request  of  Cornells  Bogardus  by  ye  mouth  of  Mr.  Willm  de  Meyer  to  be  ad- 
mitted a  schoolmaster  for  ye  Citty  is  taken  into  consideration  and  unanimously  doe 
graunt  ye  same,  as  also  a  freeman  of  this  Citty  upon  his  arrivall. 

The  following  is  from  the  records  of  the  Common  Council  of  the 
date  given  : 

Att  a  Common  Council  held  in  the  City  Hall  of  Albany,  the  8th  day  of  April,  1721. 

Whereas  it  is  very  requisite  and  necessary  that  a  fitt  and  able  Schoolmaster  settle 
in  this  city  for  teaching  and  instructing  of  the  youth  in  speling,  reading,  writeing 
and  cyffering,  and  Mr.  Johannis  Glandorf  having  offered  his  service  to  settle  here 
and  keep  a  school  if  reasonably  encouraged  by  the  corporation.  It  is  therefore  Re- 
solved by  this  Commonalty,  and  they  do  hereby  oblidge  themselves  and  their  suc- 
cessors to  give  and  procure  unto  the  said  Johan's  Glandorf  free  house  rent  for  the 
term  seaven  years  next  "ensueing  for  keeping  a  good  and  commendable  school  as 
becomes  a  diligent  Schoolmaster. 

The  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  in- 
corporated in  1701,  accomplished  something  for  the  cause  of  education 
in  the  colonies.  One  of  their  orders  as  to  qualifications  of  teachers 
contained  the  following: 

I.  That  no  person  be  admitted  a  Schoolmaster,  till  he  bring  Certificates,  with  re- 
spect to  the  Particulars  following: 


257 

1.  The  Age  of  the  Person. 

2.  His  Condition  of  Life,  whether  Single  or  Married. 

3.  His  Temper. 

4.  His  Learning. 

5.  His  Prudence. 

(i.   His  sober  and  pious  Conversation. 

7.   His  zeal  for  the  Christian  Religion  and  Diligence  in  his  Calling. 

8-  His  Affection  to  the  present  Government. 

9.   His  Conformity  to  the  Doctrine  and  Discipline  of  the  Church  of  England. 

i 
This  society   also  published  an  extended  code  of  instructions  for  its 

teachers,  covering  every  possible  contingency  and  phase  of  their  calling. 
A  grammer  school  was  opened  at  New  York  in  1702  and  continued 
to  1 709,  and  at  about  that  time  attempts  were  inaugurated  to  found  a  col- 
lege in  this  province.  In  1773  there  was  established  under  an  act  of 
the  General  Assembly  "a  public  school  to  teach  Latin,  Greek  and 
Mathematics  in  the  city  of  New  York." 

Most  of  the  school  teachers  prior  to  the  Revolution  were  men.  Down 
to  that  timeless  attention  was  given  to  the  education  of  women  than  of 
men,  and  man}'  young  women  possessed  of  brilliant  natural  talents, 
were  taught  only  to  read  and  write  and  a  few  simple  accomplishments. 
•These  unjust  conditions  have  all  happily  passed  away.  With  the  close 
of  the  Revolutionary  war  and  under  the  civilizing  influences  of  free- 
dom, the  cause  of  education  was  rapidly  advanced.  The  Regents  of  the 
State  of  New  York  were  incorporated  in  1784,  (reorganized  1787)  and 
in  their  report  of  1793  they  called  attention  to  the  benefits  likely  to 
accrue  from  the  establishment  of  more  schools  in  various  parts  of  the 
State.  "The  mode  of  accomplishiag  this  object,"  said  the  report,  "we 
respectfully  submit  to  the  wisdom  of  the  Legislature."  At  the  opening 
of  the  session  of  L795,  Governor  Clinton  thus  alluded  to  this  subject  in 
his  message: 

While  it  is  evident  that  the  general  establishment  and  liberal  endowment  of  acad- 
emies are  highly  to  be  commended,  and  are  attended  with  the  most  beneficial  conse- 
quences, yet  it  cannot  be  denied  that  they  are  principally  confined  to  the  children  of 
the  opulent,  and  that  a  great  portion  of  the  community  is  excluded  from  their  im- 
mediate advantages.  The  establishment  of  common  schools  throughout  the  State, 
is  happily  calculated  to  remedy  this  inconvenience,  and  will  therefore  engage  your 
,    early  and  decided  consideration. 

These  were  the  first  steps  taken  directly  toward  the  establishment 
of  the  common  school  system  of  the  State.  On  the  11th  of  January, 
L795,  the  Assembly  appointed  a  committee  of  six  to  consider  the  school 
subject,  and  on  February  19  they  reported  "An  Act  for  the  Encourage- 

33 


258 

ment  of  Schools,"  which  became  a  law  on  the  9th  of  April.  This  act 
appropriated  $50,000  annually  for  five  years,  for  the  general  support  of 
common  schools,  which  sum  was  at  first  apportioned  to  the  several 
counties  according  to  their  representation  in  the  Legislature;  later  it 
was  apportioned  according  to  the  number  of  electors  for  member  of 
assembly,  and  to  the  several  towns  according  to  the  number  of  taxable 
inhabitants.  The  act  provided  for  the  election  of  not  less  than  three 
nor  more  than  seven  commissioners  in  each  town,  who  should  have  super- 
vision of  the  schools  in  each  town.  The  inhabitants  in  different  sec- 
tions of  the  towns  were  authorized  to  meet  for  the  purpose  of  procur- 
curing  "good  and  sufficient  schoolmasters,  and  for  erecting  and  main- 
taining schools  in  such  and  so  many  parts  of  the  town  where  they  may 
reside,  as  shall  be  most  convenient,"  and  to  appoint  two  or  more  trus- 
tees, whose  duties  were  defined  by  the  act.  The  public  money  paid  to 
each  district  was  to  be  apportioned  by  the  commissioners  according  to 
the  number  of  days  of  instruction  given  in  each  of  the  schools.  Provi- 
sion was  made  also  for  annual  returns  from  all  districts,  towns  and 
counties. 

Lotteries  were  early  instituted  by  the  State  for  the  support  of  schools, 
first  in  1799,  when  $100,000  was  to  be  raised,  $12,500  of  which  was  to 
go  to  academies  and  the  remainder  to  common  schools.  Again  in 
1801  an  equal  amount  was  raised,  one-half  of  which  went  to  common 
schools. 

On  the  2d  of  April,  1805,  an  act  was  passed  providing  that  the  net 
proceeds  of  the  sale  of  500,000  acres  of  unappropriated  State  lands 
should  be  made  a  permanent  fund  for  the  support  of  schools,  the  avails 
to  be  invested  until  the  interest  amounted  to  $50,000,  when  an  annual 
distribution  of  that  amount  should  be  made.  By  February,  1807,  re- 
ceipts for  the  school  fund  in  the  treasury  had  reached  $151,115.69. 

In  1811  a  law  was  enacted  authorizing  the  governor  to  appoint  five 
commissioners  to  report  a  system  for  the  organization  of  the  common 
schools.  The  commission  consisted  of  Jedediah  Peck,  John  Murray,  jr., 
Samuel  Russell,  Roger  Skinner,  and  Samuel  Macomb.  Their  report, 
made  February  14,  1812,  was  accompanied  by  the  draft  of  a  bill  em- 
bodying the  main  features  of  the  common  school  system  as  it  existed 
until  1838.  One  feature  of  the  bill  was,  that  each  county  should  raise' 
by  tax  an  amount  equal  to  that  apportioned  by  the  State.  Following 
is  a  brief  outline  of  the  system : 
That  the  several  towns  in  the  State  be  divided  into  school  districts,  three  commis- 


259 

sioners  elected  by  the  citizens  qualified  to  vote  for  town  officers,  that  three  trustees 
be  elected  in  each  district,  to  whom  shall  be  confided  the  caie  and  superintendence 
of  the  school  to  be  established  therein;  that  the  interest  of  the  school  fund  be  divided 
among  the  different  counties  and  towns,  according  to  their  respective  population,  as 
ascertained  by  the  successive  censuses  of  the  United  States;  that  the  proportions  re- 
ceived by  the  respective  towns  be  subdivided  among  the  districts  into  which  said 
towns  shall  be  divided,  according  to  the  number  of  children  in  each,  between  the 
ages  of  five  and  fifteen  years;  that  each  town  raise  annually,  as  mnch  money  as  it 
shall  have  received  from  the  school  fund;  that  the  gross  amount  of  moneys  received 
from  the  State  and  raised  by  the  towns,  be  appropriated  exclusively  to  the  payment 
of  wages  of  teachers;  and  that  the  whole  system  be  placed  under  the  superintend- 
ence of  an  officer  appointed  by  the  Council*of  Appointment. 

Gideon  Hawley  was  made  the  first  superintendent  of  common  schools 
and  held  the  office  from  1813  to  1821.  In  the  first  report  (1814)  he 
called  attention  to  the  fifth  section  of  the  law  under  which  it  was  a 
possibility  that  a  single  town  in  a  county  might  receive  the  whole  of 
the  public  money  for  that  county;  and  to  other  provisions  giving  each 
town  the  choice  of  complying  with  the  law  and  receiving  its  benefits 
and  bearing  its  burdens,  or  of  refusing  such  compliance.  Under  these 
provisions  many  towns  had  refused  compliance  with  the  act,  to  the 
great  detriment  of  the  system.  The  superintendent  suggested  that  it  be 
made  obligatory  upon  the  towns  to  comply  with  the  act,  and  also  on 
the  Boards  of  Supervisors  to  levy  on  the  respective  towns  a  sum  equal 
to  the  sum  "which  shall  be  apportioned  to  such  towns  out  of  the  public 
money  to  be  distributed."  These  suggestions  were  promptly  carried 
out  by  amendments  to  the  act. 

The  founding  of  this  school  system  was  an  educational  movement  of 
the  greatest  importance  and  its  benefits  became  at  once  apparent.  In 
his  second  report  (1815)  Mr.  Hawley. said: 

But  the  great  benefit  of  the  act  does  not  lie  in  any  pecuniary  aid  which  it  may 
afford.  .  .  It  consists  in  securing  the  establishment  of  common  schools  wherever 
the  \  are  necessary ;  in  organizing  them  on  a  suitable  and  permanent  foundation; 
and  in  guarding  them  against  the  admission  of  unqualified  teachers. 

In  the  mean  time,  in  L813,the  Albany  Academy  was  incorporated,  as 
described  further  on,  and  was  succeeded  later  by  those  at  Rensselacr- 
yille,  Knoxville,  and  Coeymans.      (See  town  histories). 

In  his  sixth  annual  report  the  superintendent  renewed  his  recom- 
mendation before  made,  for  a  revision  and  consolidation  of  the  existing 
school  laws.  On  the  19th  of  April,  L819,  accordingly,  the  Legislature 
re-enacted  the  "act  for  the  support  of  Common  Schools."  making  the 
various  amendments  suggested   by  Mr.  Hawley.      To  him  is  given   the 


260 

honor  and  credit  of  having  done  more  than  any  one  person  in  the 
founding  of  the  common  school  system  in  this  State.  John  Van  Ness 
Yates  was  secretary  of  state  and  superintendent  ex  officio  of  common 
schools  from  1821  to  1826,  the  separate  office  of  superintendent  of 
schools  having  been  abolished  by  the  Constitution  of  1821.  The  Con- 
stitution, provided,  also,  "the  proceeds  of  all  lands  thereafter  to  be 
sold,  belonging  to  the  State,  with  the  exception  of  such  as  might  be  re- 
served for  the  public  use  or  ceded  to  the  United  States,  together  with 
the  existing  school  fund,  were  declared  to  constitute  a  perpetual  fund, 
the  interest  of  which  should  be  inviolably  appropriated  and  applied  to 
the  support  of  the  common  schools." 

In  1820  Albany  county  had  155  common  schools,  exclusive  of  parts 
of  districts  adjoining  other  counties.  Of  this  number  twenty-five  were 
in  Allbany,  twenty-five  in  Bethlehem,  fifteen  in  Coeymans,  sixteen  in 
Westerlo,  eighteen  in  Rensselaerville,  thirty  in  Berne,  seventy-four  in 
Guilderland,  and  "twelve  in  Watervliet. 

Azariah  C.  Flagg  held  the  office  of  secretary  of  state  and  superin- 
tendent of  schools  from  1826  to  1833,  and  was  succeeded  by  John  A. 
Dix  (1833-39),  during  which  period  great  improvements  were  made  in 
the  details  of  the  school  system.  In  1827  the  sum  annually  distributed 
to  the  various  districts  was  increased  to  $100,000;  in  1837  it  was 
$110,000.  On  the  13th  of  April,  1835,  an  act  was  passed  which  laid 
the  foundation  of  district  school  libraries;  it  authorized  the  taxable  in- 
habitants of  each  district  to  impose  a  tax  of  not  more  than  $20  the  first 
year,  and  $10  each  succeeding  year  for  the  purchase  of  a  district 
library.  Under  this  act  libraries  were  established  in  very  many  dis- 
tricts of  the  State  and  the  resultant  benefit  is  beyond  estimate. 

In  1838  $160,000  were  added  from  the  annual  revenue  of  the  United 
States  deposit  fund  to  the  amount  to  be  apportioned  among  the  various 
school  districts.  In  the  following  year  the  number  of  districts  in  the 
State  was  10,583.  The  increase  in  the  number  of  districts  from  time  to 
time  is  shown  as  follows:  1798,  1,352  districts;  1816,  about  5,000; 
1820,  5,763;  1825,  7,642;  1830,  8,872;  1855,  9,865. 

On  the  4th  of  February,  1839,  John  C.  Spencer  was  appointed  sec- 
retary of  state  and  superintendent  of  common  schools,  and  he  con- 
tinued in  the  office  until  1842.  He  advocated  several  changes  in  the 
system,  the  most  important  being,  perhaps,  the  county  supervision  of 
schools  by  regular  visitors.  These  visitors  reported  to  the  superin- 
tendent, and  one  of  the  results  of  their  early  reports  was  the  plan  of 


261 

appointing  county  superintendents,  which  went  into  effect  in  April, 
1N42,  and  resulted  in  a  great  improvement  in  the  general  character  of 
the  schools.  The  office  was  abolished  March  13,  1847,  during  which 
period  the  following  persons  from  Albany  county  held  the  office: 
Royal  Shaw,  Francis  Dwight,  Rufus  King,  Horace  K.  Willard,  Abra- 
ham Van  Vechten,  Henry  S.  McCall. 

In  his  annual  message  of  1844  Governor  Bouck  treated  largely  the 
school  question,  stating  among  other  things  the  following: 

The  substitution  of  a  single  officer,  charged  with  the  supervision  of  the  schools  of 
each  town,  for  the  board  of  commissioners  and  inspectors  formerly  existing,  in  con- 
nection with  the  supervisory  and  appellate  powers  of  the  several  county  superintend- 
ents, as  defined  by  the  law  of  the  last  session,  seems  to  have  met  with  the  general 
approbation  and  concurrence  of  the  people. 

Samuel  S.  Young  was  secretary  of  state  and  superintendent  of  schools 
from  February,  1842,  to  February,  1845,  when  he  was  succeeded  by 
Nathaniel  S.  Benton,  who  continued  until  1847,  when  the  new  Consti- 
tution was  in  effect. 

The  subject  of  Teachers'  Institutes  was  first  brought  forward  in  the 
Tompkins  County  Teachers'  Association  in  the  fall  of  1842,  and  the 
first  institute  was  held  in  Ithaca,  April  4,  1843;  they  soon  became' a 
powerful  auxiliary  in  elevating  the  teacher's  profession. 

A  persistent  and  nearly  successful  attempt  was  made  to  engraft  upon 
the  new  Constitution  of  1846  a  free  school  system  for  the  State.  The 
section  under  which  it  was  to  be  accomplished  was  the  following: 

The  Legislature  shall  provide  for  the  free  education  and  instruction  of  every  child 
of  the  State  in  the  common  schools,  now  established;  or  which  shall  hereafter  be 
established  therein. 

This  section  was' adopted  by  a  vote  of  57  to  53,  and  a  provision  was 
then  added  directing  the  Legislature  to  provide  for  raising  the  necessar)' 
taxes  in  the  districts  to  carry  out  the  plan.  The  convention  then  ad- 
journed for  dinner.  After  reassembling  the  school  article  was  referred, 
on  resolution,  to  a  committee  of  one  with  instructions  to  strike  out  the 
last  two  sections  relating  to  free  schools.  '  This  was  done  and  the  pro- 
vision for  the  establishment  of  free  schools  was  defeated. 

On  the  1 :5th  of  November,  is  IT,  the  Legislature  passed  an  act  abol- 
ishing the  office  of  county  superintendent  < >f  common  schools,  direct- 
ing appeals  authorized  to  be  made  by  law  to  be  made  to  the  state 
superintendent,  and  the  annual  reports  of  the  town  superintendents  to 
be  made  to  the  county  clerk.      This  measure  was  adopted   largely  in 


262 

response  to  popular  clamor,  and  was  in  many  respects  temporarily 
disastrous  to  the  welfare  of  the  schools.  Reports  of  town  superintend- 
ents were  often  superficial  and  incomplete,  while  they  were  "wholly 
incapable  of  supplying  the  place  in  the  system  which  had  been  assigned 
to  the  higher  class  of  officers." 

On  the  10th  of  December,  1847,  the  various  statutes  relating  to  com- 
mon schools  were  consolidated  into  one  act,  with  such  amendments  as 
seemed  expedient;  town  superintendents  were  to  hold  their  office  two 
years;  the  library  law  was  modified  so  that  library  money  in  any  dis- 
trict might  be  used  for  teachers'  wages,  with  the  consent  of  the  state 
superintendent,  provided  the  number  of  volumes  in  the  library  had 
reached  a  certain  proportion  to  the  number  of  children,  etc. 

Christopher  Morgan  was  state  superintendent  of  schools  and  secre- 
tary of  state  from  1847  to  1851,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Henry  S. 
Randall,  who  held  the  office  until  1853.  In  the  message  to  the  Legis- 
lature of  1849  Governor  Fish  expressed  his  belief  "that  the  restoration 
of  the  office  of  county  superintendent  would  be  productive  of  good  to 
the  school  system."  He  recommended  two  measures,  either  of  which 
would  improve  the  situation  : 

First,  The  repeal  of  chap.  358,  laws  of  1847,  restoring  the  office  of  county  superin- 
tendent, and  making  it  elective  by  the  people. 

Second,  The  election  of  a  superintendent  in  every  Assembly  district,  except  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  and  the  cities  which  now  have,  or  shall  hereafter  have,  a  city 
superintendent,  or  board  of  education,  to  manage  their  school  affairs. 

The  superintendent  then  reviewed  the  situation  as  to  the  problem  of 
free  schools  which  was  before  the  people.  On  the  26th  of  March,  1849, 
the  Legislature  passed  the  "Act  establishing -Free  Schools  throughout 
the  State."  For  its  provisions  in  detail  the  reader  must  be  referred  to 
the  statutes.  The  practical  application  of  this  system  met  with  wide- 
spread and  intense  opposition  from  the  first,  and  it  soon  became  ap- 
parent that  a  demand  for  its  appeal  would  have  to  be  met.  At  the 
annual  election  in  the  fall  of  1850,  therefore,  the  people  voted  upon 
the  question  of  its  repeal,  and  the  majority  in  favor  of  repeal  was 
4»i,S74,  in  forty-two  of  the  fifty-nine  counties  of  the  State;  in  the  re- 
maining seventeen  counties  the  majority  against  repeal  was  71,912, 
leaving  a  majority  of  25,088  against  repeal.  Thus  the  beneficent  free 
school  system  was  permanently  established.  The  majority  in  favor  of 
repeal  in  Albany  county  was  0,798. 

The  number  of  districts  in  the  State  reported  in  1850  was  11,397,  and 


263 

the  number  of  children  taught  was  735,188.  The  number  of  districts 
in  1895  was  11,121. 

In  185G  the  provision  of  the  law  of  1851  appropriating  annually 
$800,000  was  repealed  and  a  tax  of  three-quarters  of  a  mill  on  the 
dollar  of  real  and  personal  property  substituted  for  payment  of  teach- 
ers' wages,  and  the  rate  bill  was  continued;  the  school  commissioners 
to  be  elected  by  the  Boards  of  Supervisors. 

A  law  was  passed  in  1853  providing  for  union  free  schools,  authoriz- 
ing the  inhabitants  of  two  or  more  districts  to  elect  trustees  and  levy  a 
tax  on  the  property  in  the  united  districts  for  the  payment  of  teachers' 
wages  and  other  expenses. 

The  general  school  law  was  revised  in  1864,  and  in  1867  the  rate  bill 
was  abolished  and  a  tax  of  one  and  a  quarter  mills  on  the  dollar  of  val- 
uation substituted. 

In  1860  Albany  county  had  169  districts.  At  the  present  time  (1896) 
the  number  is  151.  Most  of  these  are  supplied  with  comfortable  school 
houses,  some  of  which  are  commodious  and  modern  in  style.  The 
town  histories  on  later  pages  of  this  volume  contain  such  reference  to 
the  local  schools  as  has  been  found  available. 

The  first  attempt  to  establish  an  educational  institution  of  a  general 
character  in  Albany  was  made  in  1767-8,  when  Eleazer  Wheelock  came 
from  Lebanon,  Conn.,  where  he  had  taught  an  Indian  school,  and  en- 
deavored to  establish  one  here.  The  Common  Council  took  an  inter- 
est in  the  undertaking  and  voted  to  raise  $7,500  for  the  erection  of 
the  necessary  buildings.  For  some  unknown  reason  the  project  failed. 
During  1779  an  attempt  was  made  to  incorporate  Clinton  College  at 
Schenectady.  The  proposed  list  of  incorporators  included  the  names 
of  the  following  citizens  of  Albany:  Eilardus  Westerlo,  Philip  Schuy- 
ler, Robert  R.  Livingston,  Abraham  Ten  Broeck,  Abraham  Yates, 
jr.,  Robert  Yates,  John  Cuyler  and  Robert  Van  Rensselaer.  This  at- 
tempt failed,  but  opened  the  way  for  the  later  founding  of  Union 
College,  in  which  many  prominent  citizens  of  Albany  count)-  took  an 
interest.  For  a  time  it  was  undecided  whether  the  institution  would 
be  located  in  Schenectady  or  in  Albany.  The  first  trustees  of  that 
college  when  it  was  founded  in  L795,  had  among  their  number  the 
following  citizens  of  Albany:  Robert  Yates,  Abraham  Yates,  jr.,  Abra- 
ham Ten  Broeck,  Goldsborb  Banyar,  John  V.  Henry,  George  Merchant, 
Stephen  Van  Rensselaer  and  Joseph  Yates.  The  first  president  of  the 
college,  Rev.  Dr.  Eliphalet  Nott,  was  called  from  the  pastorate  of  the 


264 

First  Presbyterian  church  of  Albany.  The  citizens  of  Albany  have  al- 
ways shown  an  active  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  institution. 

In  1812  the  Legislature  passed  an  act  incorporating  the  Albany  Lan- 
casterian  School  Society.  The  trustees  were  composed  of  thirteen 
citizens  with  Mayor  Philip  S.  Van  Rensselaer,  president.  The  mem. 
bers  of  the  Common  Council  were  also  members  of  the  board  ex  officio. 
It  was  the  first  attempt  to  establish  an  institution  with  partially  free 
school  character.  Any  person  contributing  $25  to  its  benefit  was  en- 
titled to  the  tuition  of  one  scholar.  Its  first  and  only  principal  here 
was  William  A.  Tweed  Dale,  a  Scotchman  and  disciple  of  Joseph  Lan- 
caster, of  England.  Charles  R.  Webster,  whose  career  as-the  pioneer 
Albany  printer  is  sketched  in  the  preceding  chapter,  was  one  of  the 
leaders  in  founding  this  school.  The  school  was  taught  in  the  upper 
part  of  the  building  of  the  Mechanics'  Society,  corner  of  Chapel  and 
Columbia  streets.  In  1815  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  Medical  College 
was  purchased  and  a  school  house  built  thereon  at  a  cost  of  $24,000, 
which  was  opened  April  5,  1817,  and  accommodated  500  pupils.  In  sup- 
port of  the  school  the  city  corporation  allowed  $500  a  year  from  the  ex- 
cise receipts,  and  about  the  same  amount  came  from  the  school  fund,  while 
receipts  received  from  scholars  amounted  to  about  $400  a  year.  This 
school  was  continued  until  1836.  when  it  was  closed  by  the  Common 
Council,  as  the  attendance  had  decreased  and  the  pupils  could  be  accom- 
modated in  the  common  schools.  The  basis  of  the  Lancasterian  system 
was  the  teaching  of  the  masses  of  children  with  small  expense,  few 
teachers  and  self-help. 

In  the  summer  of  1780  the  founding  of  an  academy  in  Albany  was 
earnestly  discussed  and  finally  acted  upon  by  the  Common  Council. 
In  September  proposals  made  by  George  W.  Merchant,  of  Philadel- 
phia, to  take  charge  of  the  institution  in  rooms  which  had  been  fitted 
up  in  a  private  dwelling,  were  accepted.  This  was  not  a  permanent  ar- 
rangement, and  in  1804,  and  again  in  1806,  further  efforts  were  made 
toward  the  erection  of  a  suitable  academy  building,  resulting  only  in 
failure.  Finally  in  1812,  just,  as  the  country  was  assuming  another  war, 
the  project  was  again  taken  up  under  the  auspices  of  Philip  S.  Van 
Rensselaer,  mayor,  and  on  January  18,  1813,  the  Common  Council 
called  a  meeting  for  the  25th  in  the  Capitol.  The  council  appropri- 
ated the  old  jail  on  the  south  side  of  State  street,  just  below  Eagle, 
and  about  $5,000  in  other  property.  The  academy  was  incorporated 
March  4,  1813,  by  the  Regents  of  the  University,  and  the  trustees  held 
their  first  meeting  March  23,  the  trustees  being  as  follows: 


265 

Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  John  Lansing,  Archibald  Mclntyre,  Smith  Thompson, 
Abraham  Van  Vechten,  John  V.  Henry,  Henry  Walton,  Rev.  William  Niel,  Rev. 
John  M.  Bradford,  Rev.  John  McDonald,  Rev.  Timothy  Clowes,  Rev.  John  Mcjimp- 
sey,  Rev.  Frederic  G.  Myer,  Rev.  Samuel  Merwin,  and  the  mayor  and  recorder  of 
Albany,  ex  officio. 

The  Common  Council  also  donated  the  site  where  the  academy  now 
stands,  appropriated  funds  for  the  building,  and  grants  were  made  by 
the  Regents.  On  July  28,  1815,  the  corner  stone  of  the  building  was 
laid  and  the  structure  was  completed  within  the  nex^t  two  years  at  a 
cost  of  $90,000.  It  is  of  stone  and  is  a  handsome  edifice.  In  the  mean 
time  the  school  was  kept  temporarily  in  a  wooden  building  on  the  south- 
east corner  of  State  and  Lodge  streets,  where  the  first  session  opened 
September  11,  1815,  under  the  presidency  of  Benjamin  Allen,  LL.D. 
With  him  were  associated  Rev.  Joseph  Shaw,  professor  of  languages; 
they  with  Trustees  Niell,  Beck  and  Sedgwick  welcomed  the  first  class. 
It  numbered  about  eighty.  In  August,  1817,  Theodore  Romeyn  Beck, 
M.D.,  LL.D.,  was  appointed  principal,  and  held  the  position  until  1848, 
excepting  from  1841  to  1844,  when  Rev.  Andrew  Shiland  acted.  Dr.  Beck 
was  born  in  Schenectady  in  1791,  and  graduated  at  Union  College  in 
1807.  When  called  to  the  principalship  he  was  practicing  medicine  in 
Albany.  It  was  in  this  old  academy  that  Joseph  Henry,  LL.D.,  pro- 
fessor of  mathematics  and  natural  philosophy  from  182*5  to  L832,  made 
himself  and  the  institution  immortal  by  the  discovery  that  the  electric 
current  could  be  transmitted  long  distances  and  communications  made 
by  its  agency  from  one  point  to  another.  He  arranged  a  coil  contain- 
ing a  mile  of  wire  in  the  upper  rooms  of  the  academy,  and  there  for 
the  first  time  transmitted  through  it  the  signals  which  constitute  the 
germ  of  the  electric  telegraph.  In  L836  II.  W.  Delavan  died  and  left 
§2,000  to  the  academy,  the  income  from  which  has  been  used  for  the 
education  of  a  few  poor  boys  each  year.  In  183]  William  Caldwell 
gave  $100,  the  income  of  which  was  to  be  devoted  each  year  to  the  pur- 
chase of  a  medal  for  the  student  of  four  years'  standing  who  had  made  the 
greatest  proficiency  in  mathematics."  The  Albany  Institute  has  had 
rooms  in  the  academy  building  from  the  time  it  was  first  occupied. 
The  later  principals  of  the  academy  have  been  as  follows:  Rev.  Will- 
iam II.  Campbell,  1848-51;  George  H.  Cook.  A.  M.,  L851  53;  Rev. 
William  A.  Miller,  A.  M.,  1853-51;;  David  Murray,  Ph.D  ,  LL.D., 
L856  63;  James  W.  Mason,  A.  M.,  is.;:;  68;  Rev.  Abel  Wood,  L869  70; 
Merrill  E.  Gates,  Ph.D.,  LL.D..    L870  82;  James  M.    Cassety,   Ph.D., 

34 


26  G 

to  January,  1887;  Henry  P.  Warren,  M.  A.,  the  present  incumbent. 
For  a  long  time  prior  to  1858  the  records  do  not  show  a  graduating 
class.  In  that  year  six  are  recorded  as  graduates,  as  follows:  William 
H.  Hale,  Charles  E.  Smith,  Edward  S.  Lawson,  Thomas  M.  Gaffney, 
Thaddeus  R.  White,  and  Thomas  S.  Willes.  In  the  spring  of  1872  the 
academy  was  made  a  military  school,  the  students  wearing  a  cadet  uni- 
form and  being  drilled  and  governed  under  the  regulations  applying  to 
such  institutions.  The  entire  record  of  Albany  Academy  is  one  of 
prosperity.  From  its  walls  have  gone  out  more  than  7,000  students, 
while  the  Faculty  has  increased  from  the  original  two  members  to  four- 
teen. Several  literary  societies  are  connected  with  the  academy,  con- 
tributing to  the  welfare  of  the  students. 

The  nucleus  of  the  Albany  Female  Academy  was  a  school  for  the 
higher  education  of  young  women  which  was  opened  mainly  through 
the  efforts  of  Ebenezer  Foot,  a  prominent  lawyer,  on  May  21,  1814. 
It  first  occupied  a  one  story  building  on  Montgomery  street,  and  was 
called  the  Union  School,  but  was  incorporated  under  its  present  title 
February  16,  1821.  The  first  board  of  trustees  were  James  Kent,  John 
Chester,  Joseph  Russell,  John  V.  Henry,  Asa  H.  Center,  Gideon  Haw- 
ley,  William  Fowler,  Teunis  Van  Vechten,  and  Peter  Boyd.  In  the 
year  of  its  incorporation  a  building  was  erected  in  rear  of  the  Delavan 
House,  at  a  cost  of  $3,000,  which  would  accommodate  120  pupils.  The 
institution  prospered,  and  to  provide  the  necessary  larger  accommoda- 
tions the  old  building  on  North  Pearl  street  was  erected  in  1834,  at  a 
cost  of  $30,000,  and  it  was  first  opened  May  12  of  that  year.  The  first 
principal  of  this  academy  was  Horace  Goodrich,  who  was  succeeded  by 
Edwin  James.  In  1815  Lebbeus  Booth  took  the  position  and  was  suc- 
ceeded in  1824  by  Frederick  Matthews.  In  1826  Alonzo  Crittenden 
was  appointed  and  continued  until  1845.  Under  his  long  and  suc- 
cessful administration  the  academy  nourished  to  a  remarkable  degree. 
L.  Sprague  Parsons  succeeded  Mr.  Crittenden,  and  resigned  in  1854 
to  be  succeeded  by  Eben  S.  Stearns,  who  held  the  position  until 
1868,  when  Caroline  G.  Greeley  was  appointed  for  a  brief  term  and  was 
succeeded  by  Louisa  Ostrom;  she  continued  to  1879,  since  which  year, 
with  a  short  intermission,  Lucy  A.  Plympton  has  been  principal.  The 
academy  is  now  in  a  prosperous  condition,  having  removed  from  the 
old  property  on  North  Pearl  street  to  Washington  avenue,  next  to  the 
Harmanus  Bleecker  Hall,  where  it  occupies  two  large  and  well  equipped 
building's. 


LUCY  A.   PLYMPTON. 


267 

The  Albany  State  Normal  .School  is  the  oldest  of  the  several  now  in 
existence  in  this  State.  It  was  established  by  the  Legislature  May  7, 
1844,  and  opened  on  the  18th  of  December  with  twenty-nine  pupils, 
in  the  old  depot  building  of  the  Mohawk  &  Hudson  River  Railroad, 
which  was  procured  for  the  purpose  by  the  city,  the  first  principal 
being  David  B.  Page,  of  New  Hampshire.  In  1848  the  school  was  made 
a  permanent  institution,  its  previous  work  being  in  the  nature  of  an 
experiment.  In  that  year  a  new  building  was  erected  on  Lodge  street 
at  a  cost  of  $25,000,  which  was  first  opened  July  31,  1849.  Mr.  Page, 
the  first  principal,  died  in  1848,  and  his  successors  have  been  as  follows: 
George  R.  Perkins,  1848;  Samuel  B.  Woolworth,  1852;  David  H. 
Cochran,  1856;  Oliver  Arey,  1864;  Joseph  Alden,  1867;  Edward  P. 
Waterbury,  1882;  William  J.  Milne,  Ph.  D.,  LL.D.,  incumbent.  In 
1  885  the  school  was  removed  to  its  new  building  on  Willett  street,  fac- 
ing Washington  Park,  which  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $140,000.  This 
accommodates  670  students,  including  400  normals,  200  in  the  model 
department,  fifty  in  kindergarten,  and  twenty  in  the  object  class.  This 
institution  has  been  of  incalculable  benefit  to  the  educational  system  oi 
the  State. 

The  Convent  and  Academy  of  the  Sacred  Heart  was  founded  through 
an  application  made  in  1853  by  Rt.  Rev.  John  McCloskey,  bishop  of 
Albany,  to  the  Mother  House  of  the  Ladies  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  in 
Paris,  France.  It  was  his  desire  to  establish  a  school  for  higher  ed- 
ucation of  young  Catholic  women.  His  request  was  granted  and  sev- 
eral women  left  the  convent  at  Manhattanville  and  settled  in  Albany 
to  found  the  new  school.  .V  boarding  and  day  school  was  at  first 
opened  in  the  Westerlo  mansion  on  North  Pearl  street,  but  pupils 
increased  so  rapidly  that  more  ample  accommodations  were  needed  and 
the  extensive  grounds  of  Thomas  Hillhouse,  on  the  Troy  road,  were 
purchased.  The  building  thereon  was  fitted  up  for  school  purposes  and 
for  a  time  served  its  purpose. 

In  L858  the  splendid  residence  of  Joel  Rathbone,  near  Kenwood,  was 
red  for  sale.  The  mansion  was  nearly  new  and  the  grounds  very 
extensive  and  picturesque,  The  Ladies  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  with  the 
bishop's  permission,  asked  the  Very  Rev.  J.  J.  Conroy  and  Mr.  John 
Tracey  to  purchase  the  premises  for  them,  which  was  done  at  a  cost  of 
$45,000.  The  property  on  the  Troy  road  was  sold.  The  Rathbone 
residence  was  used  for  the  school  several  years,  but  in  L866  a  new 
building  was  erected  with  accommodations  for  about  200  pupils,  with  a 


268 

wing  for  a  training  academy  for  those  who  wished  to  consecrate  their 
lives  to  the  work.  A  chapel  was  also  erected  in  the  building  between 
the  academy  and  the  novitiate.  The  entire  buildings  have  cost  about 
$200,000. 

St.  Agnes  school  was  founded  in  1870  through  the  efforts  of  Rt.  Rev. 
William  Croswell  Doane,  bishop  of  Albany,  for  the  education  of  Christian 
women.  The  Corning  Foundation  for  Christian  Work  was  incorporated 
March  14,1871,  and  ground  was  broken  for  thebuilding  May  8  ;  thecorner 
stone  was  laid  June  19,  and  the  school  was  opened  on  Hallowe'en,  1872. 
The  financial  basis  of  this  now  well  known  institution  was  laid  by  Erastus 
Corning,  sr.  The  building  accommodates  110  students  with  board  and 
rooms,  and  the  annual  attendance  is  about  200.  Its  purpose  is  most 
beneficent  and  it  has  been  successful  from  the  beginning. 

The  Christian  Brothers'  Academy  was  founded  in  1864  and  incorpo- 
rated by  the  Regents  of  the  State  August  3,  1869.  The  object  of  the 
institution  is  to  train  young  men  for  business  or  college  life,  at  the  same 
time  offering  moral  and  religious  education  to  its  students.  These  are 
chiefly  Catholics,   but  students  of  other    denominations  are  received. 

The  school  system  of  the  city  of  Albany  is  described  in  the  pages 
devoted  to  the  history  of  the  city. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
PUBLIC  INSTITUTIONS  AND  BUILDINGS. 

The  State  Capitol. — In  1803  the  Common  Council  of  the  city  of  Al- 
bany sent  a  request  to  the  Legislature  to  pass  an  act  authorizing  the 
erection  of  a  State  House  and  Court  House,  and  appointed  a  committee 
to  prepare  a  petition  and  a  map.  This  committee  were  John  Cuyler, 
Charles  D.  Cooper,  and  John  Van  Ness  Yates.  Their  report  was  sub- 
mitted March  7,  1803,  and  the  Legislature  authorized  the  erection  of 
the  structure  then  called  the  New  Capitol,  by  act  passed  April  6,  1804. 
The  capital  commissioners  were  John  Taylor,  Daniel  Hale,  Philip  S. 
Van  Rensselaer,  Simeon  De  Witt,  and  Nicholas  N.  Quackenbush.  The 
act  required  the  supervisors  of  Albany  county  to  raise  by  tax  $12,000. 
Provision  was  made  for  raising  an  equal   sum  by  lottery,  a  practice 


269 

then  much  in  vogue  for  raising-  money  for  public  improvements,  but 
which  was  abolished  in  1821.  The  $24,000  thus  provided  for  was  added 
to  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  the  Old  Stadt  Huys.  The  building 
erected  cost  $110,688.42,  including  the  furnishing  of  the  council  cham- 
ber. Of  this  sum  the  city  of  Albany  paid  $34,200,  the  county  $3,000,' 
and  the  State  the  remainder.  The  commissioners  chose  what  was 
known  as  Pinkster's  Hill  for  the  site  of  the  structure,  and  on  April  23, 
1806,  the  corner  stone  was  laid  with  impressive  ceremonies.  The 
building  was  first  occupied  by  the  Senate  and  Assembly  in  special  ses- 
sion November  1,  1808.  It  was  an  imposing  edifice  for  those  times  and 
was  visited  by  many  people.  The  following  careful  description  of  the 
edifice  was  written  by  H.  G.  Spafford,  of  Gazetteer  fame: 

It  stands  at  the  head  of  State  street,  130  feet  above  the  level  of  the  Hudson.  It 
is  a  substantial  stone  building,  faced  with  freestone  taken  from  the  brown  sandstone 
quarries  on  the  Hudson  below  the  Highlands.  The  walls  are  fifty  feet  high,  consist- 
ing of  two  stories  and  a  basement  story  of  ten  feet.  The  east  or  main  front  is 
adorned  with  a  portico  of  the  Ionic  order,  tetrastile,  the  entablature  supporting  an 
angular  pediment  in  the  tympanum  of  which  is  to  be  placed  the  Arms  of  the  State. 
The  ceiling  of  the  wall  is  supported  by  a  double  row  of  reeded  columns ;  the  floors 
are  vaulted  and  laid  with  squares  of  Italian  marble;  the  building  is  roofed  with  a 
double  hip  of  pyramidal  form,  upon  the  center  of  which  is  a  circular  cupola,  twenty 
feet  in  diameter.  On  its  dome  is  a  statue  of  Themis,  facing  eastward — a  carved 
figure  of  wood,  eleven  feet  in  height,  holding  a  sword  in  her  right  hand  and  the  bal- 
ance in  her  left. 

This  is  a  description  applicable  as  the  building  appeared  in  1883, 
when  it  was  taken  down,  with  the  exception  of  minor  additions  in  the 
rear,  and  more  or  less  interior  alteration.  The  city  and  county  officials 
met  in  the  Capitol  until  the  completion  of  the  City  Hall  in  1831,  when 
they  removed  thither. 

The  New  Capitol,  upon  which  work  is  still  in  progress,  is  fully  de- 
scribed in  numerous  current  publications,  rendering  it  unnecessary  to 
give  in  these  pages  more  than  an  account  of  the  steps  which  led  to 
its  erection.  The  subject  of  a  new  Capitol  building  and  of  removing 
the  State  capital  to  some  other  city  than  Albany  was  agitated  to  some 
extent  about  1860.  On  April  24,  L863,  on  motion  of  James  A.  Bell, 
senator  from  Jefferson  county,  the  Senate  referred  the  subject  to  the 
Trustees  of  the  Capitol  and  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  In 
L865  the  Senate  appointed  a  committee  of  three  to  receive  propositions 
from  various  cities  as  to  what  action  they  would  take  regarding  the 
removal    of    the    capital    from    Albany.      No  satisfactory    result    was 


270 

reached  through  this  committee.  Albany  proposed  to  convey  Congress 
Hall  Block,  or  any  other  lands  in  the  city  suitable  for  the  new  Capitol 
building,  and  the  proposal  was  promptly  accepted.  On  May  1,  1865, 
an  act  was  passed  by  the  Legislature  authorizing  the  erection  of  a  new 
Capitol.  Work  upon  the  foundations  of  the  structure  was  begun  July 
7,  1869.  In  the  summer  of  1871  the  superstructure  was  far  enough 
advanced  to  receive  the  corner  stone.  June  24  was  set  as  the  day  for 
that  ceremony,  which  was  grand  and  imposing.  An  introductory  ad- 
dress was  delivered  by  Hamilton  Harris,  followed  by  the  reading  of 
documents  that  were  to  be  placed  in  the  stone  by  William  A.  Rice;  an 
address  by  John  T.  Hoffman,  then  governor;  and  Masonic  ceremonies 
conducted  by  Most  Worshipful  John  Anton,  grand  master  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  the  State. 

The  first  Board  of  Capitol  Commissioners  was  composed  of  Hamilton 
Harris,  May  3,  1866;  John  V.  L.  Pruyn,  May  3,1866;  Obadiah  B. 
Latham,  May  3,  1866;  James  S.  Thayer,  May  19,  1868;  William  A. 
Rice,  May  19,  1868;  James  Terwilliger,  May  19,  1868;  John  T.  Hud- 
son, May  19,  1868;  Alonzo  B.  Cornell,  May  19,  1808  The  second 
board  was  thus  constituted:  Hamilton  Harris,  April  26,  1871;  William 
C.  Kingsley,  April  26,  1871;  William  A.  Rice,  April  26,  1871;  Chaun- 
cey  M.  Depew,  April  26,  1871;  De  Los  De  Wolf,  April  26,  1871;  Edwin 
A.  Merritt,  April  26,  1871.  The  second  Board  was  superseded  by  act 
of  Legislature  passed  in  1875,  and  the  lieutenant-governor,  attorney- 
general,  and  auditor  of  the  canal  department  were  made  commissioners. 
On  July  15,  1875,  an  advisory  board  to  these  commissioners  was  ap- 
pointed consisting  of  F.  Law  Olmsted,  Leopold  Eidlitz,  and  Henry 
Richardson.  This  board  was  superseded  in  1876  by  the  appointment 
of  architects.  An  act  passed  March  30,  1883,  authorized  the  governor, 
with  consent  of  the  Senate  to  appoint  an  officer  to  be  known  as  the 
Commissioner  of  the  New  Capitol,  and  who  was  to  have  charge  of  the 
completion  of  the  structure  in  all  respects.  His  term  of  office  is  the 
same  as  that  of  the  governor,  two  years.  The  same  act  abolished  the 
office  of  Superintendent  of  the  Capitol.  A  subsequent  law  passed  the 
same  year  designated  the  governor,  lieutenant-governor  and  speaker  of 
the  assembly,  cx-officio,  trustees  of  the  finished  parts  of  the  building, 
and  of  other  State  buildings  in  Albany,  for  which  they  appoint  a  super- 
intendent with  an  annual  salary  of  $5,000.  The  Capitol  building  is 
now  nearing  completion.  Situated  in  what  is  to  be  hereafter  known 
as  Capitol  Park,  on  the  lofty  eminence  overlooking  the  valley  of  the 


F.  J.   H.  MERRILL. 


271 

historic  Hudson,  it  forms  one  of  the  grandest  State  buildings  in  the 
country.  For  a  detailed  description  of  the  structure  the  reader  is  re- 
ferred to  H.  P.  Phelps's  Albany  Hand  Book. 

State  Hall. — On  February  14,  1797,  a  bill  passed  the  Legislature  au- 
thorizing the  erection  of  a  public  building  in  the  city  of  Albany  with 
the  view  of  making  it  the  seat  of  State  government.  A  site  was  chosen 
on  the  corner  of  State  and  Lodge  streets  and  ground  was  broken  for 
the  foundation  early  in  that  year.  The  building  was  completed  in  the 
spring  of  1799.  The  building  is  still  standing  and  presents  nearly  the 
same  appearance  that  it  did  nearly  a  century  ago.  It  is  substantially 
built  of  brick,  four  stories  high,  with  the  front  on  State  street.  In  the 
eastern  wall  is  a  tablet  with  the  following  inscription: 

Erected  for  State  Purposes, 
a.  d.  1797. 
John  Jay,    Governor.  C  Philip  Schuyler,  Abraham  Ten  Broeck, 

-|  Teunis  T.  Van  Vechten,  Daniel  Hale, 
William  Sanders,  Arc /it.      I  Jeremiah  Van  Rensselaer,  Commissioners. 

In  this  building  were  located  the  State  departments,  by  which  it  was 
occupied  until  1842,  when  they  were  removed  to  the  new  State  Hall, 
and  the  State  Museum  was  placed  in  this  building.  Interior  changes 
were  made  to  fit  it  for  its  new  purpose.  The  museum  consists  of  de- 
partments in  botany,  zoology,  geology,  and  mineralogy,  which  embrace 
nearly  all  of  the  natural  productions  of  the  State.  At  a  later  period 
the  building  was  used  in  part  for  the  State  Agricultural  Society.  This 
so  crowded  the  apartments  that  the  Legislature  subsequently  made  an 
appropriation  for  the  erection  of  a  building  in  rear  of  the  old  Capitol, 
and  in  1858  the  libraries,  antiquities  and  other  collections  of  a  literary 
and  art  character  were  removed  thereto.  In  1SG5  the  Legislature  pub- 
licly recognized  the  importance  of  making  the  State  Cabinet  of  Natural 
History  a  museum  of  scientific  and  practical  geology  and  comparative 
zoology.  In  1870  a  law  was  passed  organizing  the  State  Museum  of 
Natural  History,  and  providing  an  annual  appropriation  for  its  support. 
Since  that  time  the  old  hall  has  been  known  as  Geological  Mall. 

State  House. — What  is  known  as  the  State  House,  situated  on  Eagle 
street,  was  finished  in  1842,  and  at  once  occupied  by  the  various  State 
departments  which  were  removed  from  the  old  hall.  It  is  a  substantial 
and  handsome  structure,  and  until  its  really  grand  proportions  were 
overshadowed  by  the  new  City  Hall  which  stands  just  to  the  south  of 
it,  it  was  one  of  the  finest  buildings  in  the  city.      It  is  built  of  the  white 


272 

stone  from  the  Sing  Sing  quarries  and  cost  the  State  $350,000.  The 
building  is  now  occupied  by  the  comptroller,  the  state  engineer  and 
surveyor,  the  bank  department  and  state  geologist. 

The  Post-office. — As  far  as  known  there  were  no  public  postal  facili- 
ties established  at  Albany  until  after  the  Revolution.  Prior  to  that 
time  each  person  made  such  arrangements  as  he  could  to  get  his 
meager  mail.  But  the  new  government  at  the  close  of  hostilities 
promptly  established  the  post-office  department,  by  the  appointment  in 
July,  1775,  of  a  postmaster-general,  with  headquarters  in  Philadelphia, 
Benjamin  Franklin  being  the  first  incumbent  of  the  office.  Regulations 
for  the  guidance  of  postmasters,  the  carrying  of  mails  duties  of  post- 
riders,  etc.,  were  rapidly  established,  and  routes  between  different 
points  opened.  The  first  congressional  act  relating  to  mails  in  Albany 
was  the  following: 

September  7,  1785.  Resolved,  That  the  Postmaster-General  be  and  is  hereby 
authorized,  and  instructed,  to  enter  into  contract  for  the  conveyance  of  the  mails  by 
stage-carriages  from  the  City  of  New  York  to  the  City  of  Albany,  according  to  the 
accustomed  route. 

No  paper  money  to  be  received  for  postage. 

The  history  of  the  Albany  post-office  as  a  government  institution 
begins  in  1783,  when  Abraham  Yates  was  appointed  postmaster.  There 
is  a  tradition  that  Col.  Henry  Van  Schaick  performed  the  duties  of 
postmaster  in  Albany  in  1775,  but  if  so  it  was  only  in  a  partially 
private  capacity.  The  early  mail  facilities  were  confined  largely  to 
individual  enterprise;  messages  were  sent  to  New  York  by  river  con- 
veyance and  by  post-riders  to  other  points.  The  post-riders  met  at 
certain  points  and  exchanged  their  letters  and  papers,  a  custom  that 
prevailed  in  some  localities  as  late  as  1820.  The  building  of  steamboats 
and  the  construction  of  railroads  worked  a  marvellous  change.  The 
policy  of  the  government  was  from  the  first,  and  still  continues,  to  give 
the  people  the  best  and  cheapest  postal  facilities,  even  at  a  heavy  out- 
lay. In  1785  Albany  was  mail  headquarters  for  Green  bush,  Schenec- 
tady, Cherry  Valley,  Orange  and  Dutchess  counties,  and  Vermont 
letters  were  advertised  here.  In  178(1  mails  came  twice  a  week  from 
New  York  and  once  a  week  from  Springfield,  Mass.  In  1789-90  routes 
were  opened  westward,  the  old  stages  which  have  been  described  car- 
rying the  mails  along  the  line  of  what  is  now  the  Central  Railroad.  In 
1792  post  routes  were  extended  eastward  to  Bennington  and  Burling- 
ton, Vt.       In    1798   regular  mails   were   carried   between   Albanv  and 


273 

Philadelphia,  280  miles,  and  delivered  in  three  days;  in  the  same  year 
mail  facilities  were  extended  west  into  the  Genesee  country,  and  post- 
riders  began  to  traverse  the  county  in  various  directions  to  the  hamlets 
and  settlements. 

The  earliest  post-office  in  Albany  of  which  there  is  reliable  record 
stood  in  1784  a  few  doors  above  Maiden  Lane  on  the  east  side  of  Mar- 
ket street  (now  Broadway),  and  was  kept  by  Abraham  Yates.  During 
the  war  of  1812,  on  the  corner  of  State  street  and  Broadway,  was 
Jacob  Mancius's  drug-  store,  in  rear  of  which,  in  a  small  room,  was 
located  the  post-office.  The  clerk  mingled  the  selling  of  drugs  and  the 
handling  of  mail.  In  1823  the  post  office  was  situated  on  North 
Market  street  (Broadway)  a  little  north  of  the  site  of  the  Government 
building.  The  office  was  removed  to  the  Exchange  building  in  1.840 
and  there  remained  until  1862.  During  repairs  in  that  building  the 
office  was  temporarily  located  on  State  street  above  Green,  and  in  1863 
went  back  to  the  Exchange,  where  it  remained  until  1873.  Its  next 
location  was  on  the  east  side  of  North  Pearl  street,  south  of  Columbia, 
where  it  continued  until  1877,  when  it  was  removed  to  the  Delavan 
block  on  Broadway.  There  it  remained  until  it  was  placed  in  the  new 
government  building,  January  1,   L884. 

The  postmasters  in  Albany  have  been  as  follows:  1795,  George  W. 
Mancius,  Jacob  Mancius;  J 812,  James  Mayer;  1815,  Peter  P.  Dox; 
L816,  Gerrit  L.  Dox;  1821,  Solomon  Southwick;  1822-30,  Solomon 
Van  Rensselaer;  1839-40,  Azariah  C.  Flagg;  1842-43.  Solomon  Van 
Rensselaer;  1843-49,  James  I).  Wasson;  1850-58,  James  Kidd;  1858- 
61,  Calvert  Comstock;  18»>l-65,  George  Dawson;  1865-69,  Joseph 
Davis;  1869-71,  Morgan  L.  Filkins;  L871  77,  John  F.  Smyth;  1*77-85, 
William  H.  Craig;  1885-89,  Dr.  D.  V.  O'Leary;  1889,  James  M.  War- 
ner; January  1,  1894,  Francis  H.  Woods. 

The  Government  building,  corner  State  street  and  Broadway,  eon- 
tains  the  po'st- office  and  all  other  Federal  offices.  The  first  definite 
action  relating  to  its  erection  was  taken  by  Congress  March  21,  L872, 
when  an  act  was  passed  providing  for  such  a  building  and  limiting  the 
appropriation  to  $350,000.  The  appropriation  was  not  made  at  that 
time,  as  it  was  required  that  a  site  be  donated  by  the  city.  The  city 
subsequently  purchased  the  Exchange  building  for  $100,000  and  the 
site  was  aeeepted  by  the  government.  It  was  afterwards  determined 
that  the  site  was  too  small,  and  in  is;:;  (March  '■'<)  an  appropriation  of 
$150,000  was   made  for  the  purchase  of  the  Mechanics' and  Farmers' 

35 


274 

Bank  property  on  the  north  and  separated  from  the  Exchange  site  by- 
Exchange  street.  Another  appropriation  of  $5,000  was  made  June  3; 
1874,  making  the  total  cost  to  the  city  and  government  $225,000.  In 
March,  1877,  an  act  was  passed  limiting  the  cost  of  the  building  to 
$500,000,  but  meanwhile  work  had  progressed  in  demolishing  the  Ex- 
change building.  In  June,  1877,  work  was  resumed,  and  the  corner 
stone  was  laid  May  7,  1879.  The  building  is  of  granite  in  the  Italian 
renaissance  style  of  architecture.     It  was  first  occupied  during  1883-84. 

The  I  Tnited  States  A  rsenal  was  located  in  the  town  of  Watervliet,  with  - 
in  the  bounds  of  the  present  city  of  Watervliet,  in  1813,  upon  twelve 
acres  of  land,  constituting  the  original  purchase.  The  arsenal  was 
commenced  in  1811  under  direction  of  Col.  George  Bumford,  of  the 
ordnance  department;  later  its  supervision  was  given  to  Major  Daliba, 
and  still  later  at  different  periods  to  various  other  officers  of  the  gov- 
ernment. In  1825  James  Gibbons  offered  to  sell  the  government  forty 
acres  of  land  at  $300  an  acre,  to  constitute  an  addition  to  the  arsenal 
property.  The  purchase  was  effected  from  his  widow  after  his  death, 
on  April  28,  1828.  Some  minor  additional  lots  have  been  since  pur- 
chased. The  arsenal  is  under  charge  of  the  Ordnance  Bureau  of  the 
War  Department  at  Washington,  and  is  fully  equipped  for  the  rapid 
production  of  every  description  of  heavy  ordnance  for  the  army.  The 
cost  of  the  buildings  for  arsenal  purposes,  including  machinery  and  all 
fixtures,  is  estimated  at  $1,500,000,  and  the  cost  of  all  the  land  was 
about  $57,000.  During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  the  arsenal  employed 
1,500  men,  many  of  the  departments  running  day  and  night.  The 
average  number  employed  in  recent  years  has  been  about  150,  though 
this  number  is  increased  at  the  present  time. 

The  New  York  State  Library,  for  the  use  of  the  government  and 
people  of  the  State,  was  established  April  21,  1818,  in  charge  of  the 
governor,  lieutenant-governor,  chancellor  and  chief  justices  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  as  trustees.  By  an  act  of  May  4,  1844,  the  Legislature 
placed  the  library  completely  in  the  custody  and  control  of  the  Regents 
of  the  University  as  trustees  ex  officio^  thus  protecting  it  from  the 
political  dangers  which  have  nearly  ruined  many  other  State  libraries. 
The  rapid  growth  in  size  and  usefulness  under  the  Regents'  control 
resulted  in  the  erection  of  a  fine  new  library  building  just  west  of  the 
Capitol  and  connected  with  it  by  a  two-story  corridor.  Into  this  build- 
ing, 114  by  48  feet,  the  library  was  moved  in  1854,  where  it  remained 
till    the   building   was  demolished   in  1883  to  make  room  for  the  ap- 


GEORGE  ROGERS  HOWELL. 


275 

proaches  to  the  new  Capitol.  For  the  following  six  years  the  library- 
was  in  temporary  quarters  under  the  present  Assembly  chamber. 

In  18S9  there  was  a  radical  revision  of  the  laws  governing  the  library. 
All  existing  laws  were  repealed,  and  the  library  was  made  an  important 
and  integral  part  of  the  University  of  the  State  of  New  York.  Early 
in  the  same  year  it  was  moved  to  its  present  magnificent  quarters  in 
the  west  end  of  the  Capitol.  By  day  the  reading-rooms  are  flooded 
with  light,  and  the  dark  places  in  the  stacks  have  electric  lights,  avail- 
able at  all  hours  both  day  and  night.  Electric  student-lamps  light  the 
tables,  and  carefully  shaded  ceiling  or  bracket  lamps  light  the  shelves, 
aisles  and  alcoves. 

The  Capitol  Library — a  new  feature  which  has  amply  justified  itself 
— is  a  lending  library,  free  to  every  State  employee  residing  in  Albany 
or  vicinity.  It  has  the  choicest  books  in  the  best  editions,  and  the 
State's  mechanics,  porters,  and  laboring  men  are  as  welcome  as  the 
clerks  or  officials  to  any  assistance  the  library  can  give  in  finding  the 
most  entertaining  or  profitable  reading.  This  collection  is  largely 
used  and  highly  appreciated. 

There  are  also  nearly  five  hundred  similar  collections  of  about  one 
hundred  volumes  each  which  are  called  traveling  libraries  and  which 
are  lent  for  periods  of  six  months  to  any  community  in  the  State  wish- 
ing access  to  the  best  reading.  This  system  has  been  productive  of  so 
great  educational  results  for  the  expenditure  that  it  is  being  rapidly 
copied  by  the  other  leading  States  of  the  country. 

Through  the  paid  help  department  any  person  in  New  York  or  in 
any  part  of  the  world  may  have  any  service  in  the  library  for  which  he 
is  willing  to  pay  actual  cost.  The  least  expensive  assistant  competent 
to  do  the  work  is  assigned  to  it,  and  the  charge  is  simply  enough  to 
prevent  its  being  a  burden  on  the  taxpayers. 

The  library  now  contains  201,7!)!)  volumes  besides  29,801  volumes  in 
the  traveling  libraries  and  1  12,225  duplicates.  It  is  open  every  week 
day  from  8  a.  m.  to  10  p.  m.  ,  except  Saturdays  and  holidays,  when  it 
closes  at  0  p.  m. 

The  Albany  Institute. — This  useful  institution  is  the  direct  successor 
of  similar  organizations  with  different  names,  the  inception  of  which 
dates  back  to  1791.  On  February  27,  L829,  a  charter  was  granted 
under  the  present  title,  the  Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Useful  Arts, 
anil  the  Albany  Lyceum  of  Natural  History  being  consolidated  to  form  it. 
The  Institute  has  a  library  containing  about  7,000  volumes,    and   many 


276 

valuable  papers.      It  has  published  ten   volumes  of  Transactions,    be- 
sides volumes  of  its  proceedings. 

The  Dudley  Observatory  stands  in  the  western  part  of  the  city,  on  high 
ground,  215  feet  above  mean  tide,  and  a  short  distance  from  Washington 
Park.  It  was  founded  through  the  munificence  of  Mrs.  Blandina  Dudley, 
widow  of  Charles  E.  Dudley,  with  co-operation  of  leading  citizens  of  the 
city.  The  act  of  incorporation  was  passed  in  1852,  and  the  first  Observa- 
tory building  was  formally  dedicated  in  August,  1856,  under  the  auspices 
of  the  American  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science.  Geologi- 
cal Hall,  Albany,  was  opened  on  the  previous  day,  as  elsewhere  explained. 
The  address  commemorating  the  inauguration  of  the  Observatory  was 
delivered  in  Academy  Park  by  Edward  Everett.  Previous  to  the 
address  an  additional  and  unexpected  gift  of  $50,000  was  received  from 
Mrs.  Dudley.  The  total  donations  to  the  Observatory  exceed  $200,000, 
of  which  sum  $105,000  came  from  Mrs.  Dudley.  More  than  $100,000 
was  expended  on  the  old  buildings  and  their  equipment  and  about  the 
same  sum  is  invested  for  a  permanent  fund.  While  the  first  Ob- 
servatory served  its  purpose  for  many  years  and  gained  celebrity,  the 
time  came  when  it  was  deemed  necessary  that  the  former  buildings 
should  be  superseded  by  more  modern  structures,  located  on  a  more 
desirable  site.  Land  was  selected  on  Lake  avenue,  about  two  miles 
southwest  of  the  former  site,  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  city,  and 
efforts  were  begun  to  collect  the  necessary  funds  for  the  new  institu- 
tion. Among  the  contributors  was  Miss  Catherine  W.  Bruce,  of  New 
York  city,  who  offered  to  donate  $25,000,  chiefly  for  permanent  endow- 
ment, provided  the  change  was  made  as  contemplated.  Other  contrib- 
utions raised  the  fund  to  more  than  $70,000.  The  work  of  erecting  new 
buildings  was  prosecuted  in  1892-93.  In  October  of  that  year  Miss 
Bruce  added  $10,000  to  her  first  gift,  to  be  used  largely  in  supplying 
additional  equipment  to  the  institution.  The  site  was  donated  by  the 
city  of  Albany  from  property  in  possession  of  the  Park  Commission, 
and  it  also  gave  $15,000  in  exchange  for  the  original  property.  The 
sons  of  the  late  Thomas  W.  Olcott  provided  means  for  refitting  the 
Olcott  Meridian  Circle,  for  remounting  it  on  the  new  site  and  for  housing 
it  in  a  proper  manner.  The  sons  of  the  late  Robert  H.  Pruyn  gave  $6,000 
for  the  construction  of  a  new  equatorial  telescope,  to  be  twelve  inches 
in  aperture,  and  adapted  both  to  visual  and  photographic  use.  Both 
instruments  are  in  position,  and  are  in  active  use.  The  new  establish- 
ment was  formally  dedicated  to   the   advancement   of    astronomy  in 


277 

November,  1893,  the  National  Academy  of  Sciences  taking  part  in  this 
ceremony.  The  institution  is  now  doing  work  of  high  scientific  value 
under  the  director,  Lewis  Boss,  A.  M.  The  observations  and  studies 
of  the  institution  relate  principally  to  the  motions  of  the  stars,  and  to 
the  motion  of  the  sun  in  space.  These  researches  of  the  Observatory 
have  been  aided  for  several  years  by  appropriations  from  the  Bache 
Fund  of  the  National  Academy  of  Sciences. 

Young  Mens  Association. — -This  is  the  oldest  institution  of  its  char- 
acter in  the  United  States;  it  was  founded  with  a  memebrship  of  about 
750  on  December  10,  1833.  Amos  Dean  was  its  first  president  and 
was  re-elected  in  the  second  year.  The  association  was  incorporated 
March  12,  1835,  its  chief  purpose  being  the  maintenance  of  a  library, 
a  reading  room,  literary  and  scientific  lectures,  and  other  means  of 
mutual  improvement.  During  twenty- two  years  it  sustained  a  debat- 
ing society  through  which  much  good  was  effected.  Its  rooms  were  in 
Knickerbocker  Hall  on  Broadway  until  1840,  from  where  it  was  re- 
moved to  Exchange  building,  site  of  the  Government  building,  remain- 
ing there  until  1852;  it  was  next  located  until  1870  in  the  Commercial 
Bank  building,  and  from  there  went  to  the  Music  Hall  building  un- 
til 1877.  In  that  year  it  first  occupied  rooms  in  the  Bleecker  building 
on  North  Pearl  street.  Harmanus  Bleecker  died  in  April,  1849,  and  his 
widow  created  a  fund,  retaining  only  a  life  interest  in  same,  and  made 
John  V.  L.  Prnyn,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  sole  trustee,  with  power  to  name 
his  successor.  This  trust  consisted  of  reai  estate  and  securities,  which 
in  course  of  time  had  a  value  of  about  $80,000,  though  ultimately  it 
attained  a  value  of  over  $130,000.  This  property  came  under  control 
of  Mr.  Pruvn  in  1852.  He  died  in  1877,  and  his  will,  recorded  January 
1 ! .  1  *78,  transferred  all  this  property  to  Amasa  J.  Parker.  ( >n  the  1  3th 
of  December,  1886,  Judge  Parker  addressed  a  communication  to  the 
association,  that  he  had  at  his  disposal  for  the  benefit  of  the  association, 
this  property,  if  the  necessary  arrangements  could  be  made  for  funds 
towards  the  building  in  the  city  of  Albany  of  a  large  public  hall. 
les  this  property  there  was  a  fund  of  $10,000,  left  to  the  association 
by  will  by  Erastus  Corning  in  1872.  The  Board  of  Managers  of  the 
association  on  December  14,   L886,  adopted  the  following  resolution: 

Resolved,  That  the  generous  proposition  of  lion.  Amasa  J.  Parker  giving  to  the 

Y.  M.  A.  the  use  of  the  Bleecker  fund,  for  the  building  of  a  public  Hall  and  Library 
Building,  to  be  under  the  management  of  the  Association  be  accepted,  and  that  the 
Association  will  endeavor  to  carry  the  same  to  a  successful  completion. 


278 

In  January,  1887,  a  committee  from  the  association  was  appointed  to 
formulate  the  views  and  wishes  of  the  body  relative  to  this  subject, 
who  reported  March  9,  1887.  One  feature  of  the  suggested  plans  for 
using  the  fund  was  the  raising  of  $50,000  additional,  which  was  ac- 
complished after  considerable  effort.  Upon  the  raising  of  this  sum 
Judge  Parker  transferred  the  whole  Bleecker  property  to  the  associa- 
tion, on  January  7,  1888,  a  part  of  the  property  consisting  of  land  on 
Washington  avenue,  on  which  the  hall  of  the  association  has  since 
been  erected.  The  building  erected  is  finely  adapted  for  its  purposes, 
and  is  called  Harmanus  Bleecker  Hall.  It  is  capable  of  seating  about 
2,500  persons. 

The  Young  Men's  Association  has  been  of  incalculable  benefit  to  the 
city  of  Albany  in  many  directions.  Among  its  officers  have  been 
many  of  the  leading  citizens  of  the  city,  an  indication  of  which  fact  is 
gained  in  the  list  of  presidents,  which  is  as  follows: 

Amos  Dean,  Robert  E.  Ward,  Charles  A.  Hopkins,  John  Davis,  Robert  H.  Pruyn, 
Denison  Worthington,  William  E.  Bleecker,  Charles  P.  Smyth,  Walter  R.  Bush, 
Arthur  C.  Southwick,  Rufus  King,  Charles  H.  Stanton,  Franklin  Townsend,  William 
A.  Rice,  Hooper  C.  Van  Vorst,  George  B.  Steele,  William  Dey  Ermand,  Rufus  G. 
Beardslee,  James  I.  Johnson,  Theodore  Townsend,  Gilbert  L.  Wilson,  George  C. 
Lee,  Ralph  P.  Lathrop,  Richard  Merrifield,  Clinton  Cassidy,  Charles  T.  Shepard, 
Robert  L.  Johnson,  Charles  P.  Easton,  Edmund  L.  Judson,  John  T.  McKnight, 
John  Templeton,  Samuel  Hand,  Franklin  Edson,  William  D.  Morange,  Edward  De 
Forest,  Frank  Chamberlain,  Robert  Lenox  Banks,  Grenville  Tremain,  John  S.  Dele- 
van,  Frederick  T.  Martin,  John  Swinburne,  Henry  C.  Littlefield,  Charles  A.  Robert- 
son, Amasa  J.  Parker,  jr.,  Fred  W.  Brown,  Jacob  S.  Mosher,  Thurlow  Weed  Barnes, 
John  M.  Bigelow,  William  P.  Rudd,  George  E.  Oliver,  Frederick  Harris,  Oren  E. 
Wilson,  Eugene  Burlingame,  Isaac  D.  F.  Lansing,  Harmon  P.  Reed,  Curtis  N. 
Douglas,  Charles  B.  Templeton,  C.  V.  Winne. 

The  Albany  Penitentiary. — This  institution  was  incorporated  in 
April,  1844,  and  on  December  19,  of  that  year  the  supervisors  author- 
ized the  purchase  of  a  suitable  site  and  the  erection  of  buildings.  The 
site  selected  comprises  now  about  forty-five  acres,  to  the  south  of  Wash- 
ington Park.  Work  on  the  first  buildings  was  commenced  at  once,  and 
was  largely  performed  by  prisoners  who  were  taken  to  and  from  the  jail 
for  the  purpose.  It  was  opened  in  1846.  AmosPilsbury  was  appoint- 
ed superintendent  in  1844,  and  held  the  position  until  his  death  in 
1872.  During  his  administration  of  almost  thirty  years  he  established 
a  system  of  government  for  the  penitentiary  that  was  so  wonderfully 
successful  as  to  give  it  and  its  author  a  world-wide  reputation.  The 
system  has  been   perpetuated  under  subsequent  management.     ( )rig- 


279 

inally  the  prison  had  only  ninety  cells,  but  this  number  has  been  in- 
creased to  more  than  600.  Many  new  workshops  have  been  erected 
and  the  grounds  enclosed  by  a  high  wall.  The  penitentiary  has  been 
made  a  paying  institution  through  its  acceptance  of  prisoners  from 
other  counties,  and  from  contract  labor  done  by  convicts.  General 
Pilsbury  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Louis  D.  Pilsbury,  who  held  the 
office  of  superintendent  until  1879,  when  John  McEwen  was  appointed. 
He  held  the  position  until  1889,  when  James  Mclntyre  was  appointed. 
He  was  succeeded  in  1896  by  Chester  F.  Dearstyne.  On  May  11, 
1885,  an  act  was  passed  by  the  Legislature,  which  relieved  the  super- 
visors and  the  mayor  and  recorder  of  the  city  of  responsibility  for  the 
management  of  the  penitentiary,  which  was  vested  in  a  Penitentiarv 
Commission. 

Albany  County  Almshouse. — The  office  of  overseer  of  the  poor  is  one 
of  the  oldest  in  the  State,  being  in  existence  long  before  the  beginning 
of  the  present  century,  and  has  always  had  an  important  bearing  upon 
Albany  county  and  city.  Unlike  most  other  counties  of  this  State, 
Albany  county  has  never  made  any  material  distinction  between  the 
poor  of  the  towns  and  those  of  the  county.  The  poor  laws  are  exe- 
cuted by  the  superintendent  of  the  almshouse,  the  overseers  of  the 
poor,  and  to  some  extent  through  a  few  of  the  charitable  institutions. 
The  powers  of  the  office  of  overseer  of  the  poor  were  considerablv  en- 
larged by  the  act  of  1703,  and  so  continued  through  the  colonial  period 
and  were  retained  nearly  intact  by  the  legislative  act  of  March  7,  ]  ;ss. 
This  act  made  provision  for  establishing  an  almshouse  in  Albany, 
which  was  the  first  one  in  the  State  established  under  State  law.  The 
churches  had,  previous  to  that  time,  maintained  parish  almshouses, 
one  of  which  is  described  in  the  act  of  August  10,  1720,  incorporating 
the  Reformed  Protestant  Dutch  Church  in  Albany.  The  act  of  L788 
gave  the. overseers  of  the  poor,  with  consent  of  the  towns,  authority  to 
build,  purchase  or  hire  houses  for  the  poor,  and  to  provide  work  for 
them.  An  act  of  April  •>,  1819,  amended  the  former  act  extending  the 
powers  and  duties  of  the  overseers  to  lunatics,  habitual  drunkards  and 
poor  children.  The  supervisors  have  the  power  under  certain  restric- 
tions, to  abolish  the  distinction  between  town  poor  and  county  poor, 
making  them  all  chargeable  to  the  county.  This  law  provides  that  in 
those  counties  where  the  poor  arc  made  a  charge  upon  the  counties, 
there  shall  be  a  superintendent  of  the  poor,  with  the  same  powers  and 
rights  as  the  overseers  of  the  poor  in  respect  to  compelling  relatives  to 


280 

care  for  their  own  paupers,  the  seizure  of  property,  etc.  There  are  no 
superintendents  of  the  poor  in  Albany  county.  The  charter  for  1883, 
and  the  city  ordinances  under  it,  passed  in  Ma)T,  1884,  provide  that  the 
overseer  of  the  poor  in  the  city  of  Albany  shall  have  charge  of  and 
apply  and  distribute  funds  for  the  temporary  relief  and  support  of  the 
poor  of  the  city. 

The  site  of  the  almshouse  is  south  of  Washington  Park  and  west  of 
the  penitentiary.  A  farm  of  eighty-six  acres  belongs  to  the  institution. 
Here  are  the  poor  house,  hospital,  pest  house,  and  other  structures 
for  proper  care  of  the  poor.  The  expense  is  borne  in  the  ratio  of 
sixty  per  cent,  by  the  city  and  forty  per  cent,  by  the  county.  The 
lands  granted  under  the  Dongan  charter  have  all  been  alienated 
to  the  city,  excepting  the  farm  before  mentioned,  and  the  parade 
ground  and  old  burying  ground  which  are  included  in  Washington 
Park.  The  first  buildings  for  the  poor  were  erected  in  182G,  at  a  cost 
of  $14,000.  The  poor  house  proper  of  to-day  was  built  about  1850,  and 
other  structures  and  improvements  have  been  made  as  necessity  de- 
manded. 

Albany  County  Agricultural  Society. — The  first  agricultural  society 
in  this  county  was  formed  in  1818,  and  thereafter  held  three  annual 
fairs.  The  county  was  then  without  an  organization  akin  to  an  agri- 
cultural society  until  the  organization  of  the  Albany  and  Rensselaer 
Horticultural  Society,  which  held  its  first  exhibition  in  the  Geological 
rooms  in  September,  1847.  Fairs  and  exhibitions  followed  in  1848,  1849 
and  1850.  In  1851  the  town  of  Coeymans  organized  an  agricultural  soci- 
ety, with  James  W.  Jolley,  president ;  this  was  afterwards  merged  into  the 
county  society.  On  May  14,  1853,  a  meeting  was  held  in  Albany,  in 
which  James  W.  Jolley  was  chairman,  and  Joseph  Warren,  of  Albany, 
secretary.  After  some  discussion  an  organization  was  effected  with 
the  following  officers:  President,  James  W.  Jolley;  treasurer,  E.  E. 
Piatt ;  secretary,  Joseph  Warren ;  with  a  vice-president  from  each 
town.  The  first  annual  fair  of  this  society  was  held  at  Bethlehem 
Center,  October  4-6,  1853.  While  this  was  in  a  measure  successful, 
it  was  seen  that  the  fairs  must  be  held  in  or  near  the  city;  the  second 
fair  accordingly  was  held  on  the  Washington  Parade  Ground  in  No- 
vember, 1854.  A  number  of  succeeding  fairs  were  held  on  these 
grounds.  On  May  8,  1862,  was  organized  the  Town  Union  Agricul- 
tural Association  of  the  County  of  Albany,  with  the  following  officers: 
President,   Jurian   Winne;  vice-president,  James  W.  Jolley;  treasurer, 


281 

William  H.  Sling'erland ;  secretary,  Samuel  C.  Bradt.  In  the  next 
month  the  title  of  this  association  was  changed  to  Albany  County  Ag- 
ricultural Society.  In  1803  a  fair  was  held  by  the  society  on  the  Wash- 
ington Parade  Ground.  Fairs  continued  to  be  held  down  to  1870, 
with  the  exception  of  one  year,  some  of  which  were  moderately  suc- 
cessful, but  as  a  whole  they  were  not  very  generously  supported  In  J  une, 
L873,  the  Albany  Agricultural  and  Arts  Association  was  organized  with 
the  following  officers:  President,  Thomas  W.  Olcott;  vice-president, 
Maurice  E.  Viele;  treasurer,  William  H.  Haskell;  secretary,  Volkert 
P.  Douw.  This  society  purchased  about  forty-four  acres  of  land  four 
miles  north  of  the  city,  a  tract  which  was  happily  adapted  to  the  pur- 
poses of  the  organization  and  where  it  was  hoped  permanent  buildings 
might  be  erected  and  the  institution  start  upon  a  long  career  of  useful- 
ness The  land  was  properly  laid  out  and  buildings  were  erected  at  a 
cost  of  $30,000.  The  State  Agricultural  Society  held  its  fair  of  1873 
on  these  grounds.  In  1874  this  society  and  the  Albany  County  Society 
held  a  joint  fair  September  22-25,  with  Volkert  P.  Douw,  superintend- 
ent. The  county  society  held  no  fairs  after  that  year.  The  other 
association  continued  in  existence  and  held  exhibitions  several  years. 
The  grounds  are  now  in  market  for  sale. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE  CITY  OF  ALBANY. 

The  general  history  of  Albany  count}-,  which  has  been  traced  in  the 
preceding  pages  of  this  volume,  necessarily  includes  very  much  of  the 
history  of  the  city  of  Albany  down  to  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary 
war;  but  a  few  salient  facts  relating  to  that  period  of  about  L50  years 
must  be  briefly  noticed  here. 

It  cannot  be  truthfully  stated  that  the  topography  of  the  site  of 
Albany  was  originally  favorable  in  all  respects  as  a  situation  for  a  great 
city.  Consisting  of  a  narrow  level  tract  along  the  Hudson  River,  low 
enough  to  be  sometimes  partially  overflowed,  backed  by  a  slope  extending 
westward  for  nearly  a  mile,  quite  steep  in  some  sections  and  divided 
into   four  well-defined   ridges,    separated   bv  deep   valleys  or  ravines, 

36 


282 

this  much  of  its  area  was  not  especially  inviting  to  the  early  seekers 
for  a  city  site.  Still  farther  westward  extended  a  sandy  plain,  into 
which  the  ravines  mentioned  cut  their  way  for  some  distance.  But 
causes  other  than  favorable  topographical  conditions  have  often  deter- 
mined the  situation  of  large  communities.  If  the  land  on  which  Albany 
was  to  be  built  seemed  forbidding  as  necessitating  vast  labor  to 
render  it  suitable  for  close  settlement,  it  on  the  other  hand  offered  in 
its  sloping  hill  sides  and  parallel  ravines,  the  best  of  conditions  for  per- 
fect drainage,  excellent  facilities  for  military  fortifications,  which  were 
so  important  to  the  early  residents,  and  picturesque  natural  attractions. 
It  is  not  probable  that  the  future  drainage  facilities  or  the  beauties  of 
nature  awakened  remarkable  enthusiasm  in  the  Dutch  settlers,  but  the 
proximity  to  the  Indians  and  their  rich  furs,  facilities  for  self-protection 
and  for  traveling  and  shipping  southward  on  the  great  river  and  west- 
ward on  the  Mohawk,  were  something  tangible. 

There  are  five  creeks,  or  kills,  as  they  were  called  by  the  Dutch, 
flowing  wholly  or  partially  across  the  territory  which  was  incorporated 
in  the  city  of  Albany.  These  are  the  Normanskill,  Beaverkill,  Rutten- 
kill, Foxenkill,  and  Patroon'sor  Mill  Creek,  some  of  which  have  become 
parts  of  the  city  sewer  system.  The  Normanskill  is  one  of  the  largest 
streams  in  the  county  and  is  represented  in  city  territory  only  by  the 
headwaters  of  the  Krumkill,  one  of  its  smaller  branches,  though  the 
creek  itself  empties  into  the  Hudson  at  Kenwood,  but  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  south  of  the  city  limits.  Beaverkill  (sometimes  called  Buttermilk 
Creek)  rises  in  the  westerly  part  of  the  city  and  empties  into  the  Hud- 
son a  little  below  the  steamboat  landing.  This  was  formerly  a  con- 
siderable mill  stream,  and  a  part  of  it  is  now  incorporated  in  the  sewer 
system.  The  Ruttenkill  had  its  source  above  Lark  street  and  flowed 
wholly  within  the  old  city  walls.  Ordinarily  a  small  stream,  it  was 
periodically  swollen  into  a  torrent  by  rains  and  melting  snows  and 
poured  its  waters  down  through  a  deep  ravine,  where  Hudson  avenue 
now  is,  crossed  Pearl  street  at  the  site  of  the  Beaver  block  and  emptied 
into  the  Hudson  a  little  below  State  street.  It  was  bridged  at  South 
Pearl  street  and  Broadway.  Clay  was  found  on  its  banks  from  which 
were  made  bricks  for  some  of  the  old  buildings,  and,  in  early  years, 
fish  abounded  in  its  waters.  The  ravine  of  the  Ruttenkill  was  about 
350  feet  broad  and  fifty  feet  deep  through  most  of  its  length  and  was 
a  neglected,  filthy  place.  Here  was  erected  the  gallows  for  public 
executions,  which  was  last  used  for  the  hanging  of  Strang  in  1827  for 


283 

the  murder  of  Whipple.  Between  1845  and  1850  the  ravine  was  filled 
and  the  hills  lowered  by  contract  which  was  given  to  Charles  Stanford, 
a  brother  of  Gov.  Leland  Stanford.  The  Foxenkill  flowed  outside  of 
the  city  before  the  extension  of  the  boundaries,  being  a  stream  of  con- 
siderable size,  and  affording  excellent  fishing.  It  was  bridged  on  North 
Pearl  street  near  Canal.  Patroon's  Creek  once  supplied  power  to  the 
Patroon's  mills  and  discharged  its  waters  into  the  Hudson  near  the 
old  manor  house. 

The  names  given  to  this  city  have  been  :  Pem-po-tu-wuth-ut  (place  of 
the  council-fire),  by  the  Mohegans;  Sche-negh-ta-da  (through  the  pine 
woods),  by  the  Iroquois;  Ga-ish-tin-ic,  by  the  Minci ;  Fuyck  (fouk),  a 
hoop-net,  otherwise  Beversfuyck,  supposed  to  refer  to  a  bend  in  the 
river  where  fish  were  caught,  probably  first  Dutch  name;  Beverwyck, 
a  place  for  beavers,  retained  from  about  1634  to  1664  (sometimes  writ- 
ten Beverswyck);  Fort  Orange,  in  honor  of  William,  Prince  of  Orange 
and  Nassau ;  Rensselaerwyck,  in  honor  of  the  Patroons,  the  Van  Rens- 
selaers;  Aurania,  another  name  for  Orange;  Williamstadt,  in  honor  of 
William,  the  Stadtholder ;  New  Orange,  in  honor  of  the  Duke  of  Orange 
probably  (a  designation  seldom  used);  Oranjeburgh,  city  or  fortress  of 
Orange  (a  name  spoken  of  by  Mrs.  Grant);  Albany,  in  honor  of  James, 
Duke  of  York,  Albany  and  Ulster,  brother  of  King  Charles  II,  who 
made  him  proprietor  of  the  New  Netherlands.  He  afterward  ascended 
the  English  throne,  from  which  he  was  driven  soon  after  because  of  his 
odious  character. 

The  boundaries  of  Albany  as  given  in  the  charter  of  1686  were  as 
follows: 

East,  the  Hudson  at  low  water  mark;  south,  a  line  drawn  from  the  southernmost 
end  <>(  the  pasture  at  the  north  end  of  Martin  Gerritseu's  Island,  and  running  back 
due  northwest  sixteen  miles  into  the  woods,  to  a  certain  creek  called  Sandkill ;  north, 
a  line  parallel  to  the  former,  about  a  mile  distant;  and  west,  a  straight  line  drawn 
from  the  western  extremities  of  the  north  and  south  line. 

The  charter  included  ferry  rights,  all  waste  land,  rights  to  certain 
fields  and  public  buildings,  the  right  of  fishing  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Hudson  within  the  limits  of  the  county,  and  of  purchasing  from  the 
Indians  500  acres  of  meadow  land  at  Schaahtecogue  on  the  north,  and 
L,000  acres  at  Tiononderoga  (Fort  Hunter)  on  the  west,  whereon  to 
establish  colonies  for  frontier  protection.  After  the  organization  of 
counties  from  the  western  district  of  Rensselaerwyck,  that  part  which 
was  west  of  the  Hudson,  the  city  boundaries  were: 


284 

Westerly,  Rotterdam  and  Niskayuna  in  Schenectady  county;  easterly,  a  line  run- 
ning through  the  center  of  the  Hudson  River  channel;  southerly,  Bethlehem  and 
Guilderland;  northerly,  Colonie  and  Watervliet. 

The  first  territorial  change  was  made  February  25,  1815.  when  a  part 
of  old  Colonie  was  annexed,  the  line  of  which  adjoining  Albany  ex- 
tended from  the  river  westerly  along-  Patroon  street,  where  are  now 
Quackenbush  street  and  Clinton  avenue.  This  constituted  the  old 
Fifth  ward.  The  remainder  of  Colonie  was  annexed  to  Watervliet 
at  the  same  time.  The  changes  which  gave  the  city  its  present  bound- 
aries were  made  April  6,  1870,  and  April  26,   1871. 

The  islands  constituting  a  part  of  Albany  are  Kasteel  (or  Castle) 
Island,  as  it  was  called  in  early  years,  and  which  has  had  various  other 
titles,  but  is  now  known  as  Van  Rensselaer  Island,  and  which  has  been 
referred  to  in  earlier  chapters  as  the  probable  site  of  Elkins's  trading 
post,  established  about  1614,  and  as  where  Corstiaensen  landed,  and 
another  island,  lying  between  the  city  and  Greenbush,  and  belonging 
to  the  Boston  and  Albany  Railroad. 

The  granting  of  the  charter  of  1686  makes  Albany  one  of  the  oldest 
existing  cities  of  the  original  thirteen  colonies.  It  was  for  that  reason, 
as  well  as  for  others,  that  the  issue  of  that  document  was  a  most  im- 
portant historical  event.  Dongan  was  known  as  a  just  man,  one  of 
large  views  for  his  time,  of  good  judgment  and  clear  foresight,  with 
the  result  that  the  charter  was  drawn  upon  broad  lines.  It  sought  in 
no  way  to  interfere  with  the  then  existing  privileges  of  the  people  nor  to 
abridge  their  rights  and  liberties.  While  he  may  not  have  foreseen  the 
future  importance  of  the  place  in  times  of  war,  he  evidently  clearly 
understood  its  commercial  advantages,  which  were  even  then  attracting 
notice.  These  facts  are  indicated  by  some  of  the  provisions  of  the 
charter.  It  provided  that  "  the  said  town  should  forever  thereafter  be 
called  by  the  name  of  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Commonalty  of  the 
City  of  Albany."  It  granted  "to  the  city  of  Albany,  all  the  waste, 
vacant,  unappropriated  land  lying  and  being  in  the  City  and  the  pre- 
cincts and  liberties  thereof,  extending  and  reaching  to  the  low-water 
mark  in,  by  and  through  all  parts  of  the  said  City,  together  with  all 
rivers,  coves,  creeks,  ponds,  water  courses  in  the  said  City  not  hereto- 
fore granted."  It  gave  the  city  corporation  its  power  to  purchase  and 
hold  land  in  its  corporate  name  —  a  most  important  provision- — as 
follows : 


GEN.   ROBERT  SHAW  OLIVER. 


285 

I  do,  by  these  presents,  give  and  grant  unto  the  said  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Com- 
monalty, full  power  and  license  at  their  pleasure,  likewise  to  purchase  from  the  In- 
dians the  quantity  of  1,000  acres  of  low  or  meadow  land  lying  at  a  certain  place  called 
or  known  by  the  name  of  Tionondoroge,  which  quantity  of  1,000  acres  of  low  or  meadow 
land  shall  and  may  be  in  what  part  of  Tionondoroge,  or  the  land  adjacent  on  both 
sides  of  the  river,  as  they,  the  said  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the  said  City 
of  Albany  shall  think  most  convenient;  which  said  several  parcels  of  low  or  meadow 
land  I  do  hereby,  in  behalf  of  his  said  Majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors,  give,  grant 
and  confirm  unto  the  said  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the  City  of  Albany 
aforesaid,  to  be  and  remain  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  them  and  their  successors  for- 
ever. To  have  and  to  hold  all  and  singular,  the  premises  to  the  said  Mayor.  Alder- 
men and  Commonalty  of  the  said  City  of  Albany  and  their  successors  forever,  ren- 
dering and  paying  therefor  unto  his  most  sacred  Majesty,  his  heirs,  successors  and  as- 
signs, or  to  such  officer  or  receiver  as  shall  be  appointed  to  receive  the  same,  year- 
ly, forever  hereafter,-  the  annual  quit  rent  or  acknowledgement  of  one  beaver  skin, 
in  Albany,  on  the  five  and  twentieth  day  of  March,  yearly  forever. 

The  charter  designates  the  officers  of  the  city  as  follows: 

There  shall  be  forever  hereafter,  within  the  said  City,  a  Mayor,  Recorder,  Town 
Clerk,  and  six  Aldermen  and  six  Assistants,  to  be  appointed,  nominated,  elected, 
chosen  and  sworn,  as  hereinafter  is  particularly  and  respectively  mentioned,  who 
shall  be  forever  hereafter  called  the  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the  City 
of  Albany,  and  that  there  shall  be  forever,  one  Chamberlain,  or  Treasurer,  one 
Sheriff,  one  Coroner,  one  Clerk  of  the  Market,  one  High  Constable,  three  sub-Con- 
stables, one  Marshall  or  Sergeant-at-Mace  to  be  appointed,  chosen  and  sworn  in 
manner  hereinafter  mentioned. 

It  provided  further: 

The  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Recorder  shall  be  Justices  and  Keepers  of  the  Peace, 
and  Justices  to  hear  and  determine  matters  and  causes  within  the  said  City  and  pre- 
cincts thereof,  to  hear,  determine  and  punish  all  petty  larcenies  and  all  other  petty 
offences. 

The  mayor  was  made  ex-officio  coroner  and  clerk  of  the  market,  and 
he  with  the  aldermen  and  recorder  of  the  city  were  to  be  justices  of  the 
peace  of  the  county,  and  as  such,  "shall  and  may  sit  in  the  Court  of 
Sessions  or  County  Courts  and- Courts  of  Oyer  and  Terminer,  that  from 
time  to  time  shall  beheld  in  said  County;  and  that  the  Mayor,  Re- 
corder, and  some  one  of  the  Aldermen  shall  preside  at  such  County 
Courts  and  Courts  of  Sessions.  The  town  Clerk  of  the  said  city  shall 
always  he  the  Clerk  of  the  Peace,  and  Clerk  of  the  Sessions  or  Court  of 
the  County." 

Early  in  July  of  168(i  Peter  Schuyler  and  Robert  Livingston  were 
appointed  commissioners  tojgo  to  New  York  and  receive  the  charter. 
On  the  22d  of  Jul)-  they  returned  with   the    important    document    and 


286 

were  given  a  public  reception  "with  all  the  joy  and  acclamations  im- 
aginable, and  received  the  thanks  of  the  magistrates,  burgesses  and 
other  dignitaries  of  the  city,  for  their  diligence  and  care." 

By  the  terms  of  the  charter  the  following  persons  were  appointed  the 
first  officers  of  the  city : 

Peter  Schuyler,  mayor ;  Jan  Bleecker,  chamberlain;  Isaac  Swinton,  recorder; 
Richard  Pretty,  sheriff;  Robert  Livingston,  clerk;  James  Parker,  marshal. 

Aldermen. — Dirk  Wessels,  Jan  Jans  Bleecker,  David  Schuyler,  Johannis  Wendell, 
Lavinus  Van  Schaack,  Adrian  Gerritse. 

Assistant  Aldermen. — Joachim  Staats,  John  Lansing,  Isaac  Verplanck,  Law- 
rence Van  Ale,  Albert  Ruyckman,  Melgert  Winantse. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  "Justices  of  ye  peace  for  ye  County  of  Al- 
bany," was  held  on  the  26th  of  July,  and  the  previously  named  officers 
took  their  oaths  of  office.  From  the  judicial  powers  conferred  upon  the 
mayor  and  aldermen,  those  of  the  justices  of  the  peace,  all  the  court 
proceedings  of  minor  character  came  before  them,  which  had  previous 
to  the  charter  been  brought  before  justices  of  the  peace,  whose  limited 
powers  were  conferred  by  the  governor-general.  The  first  meeting  of 
the  Mayor's  Court,  which  was  also  a  meeting  of  the  mayor  and  alder- 
men for  transaction  of  municipal  business,  was  held  in  the  city  hall 
August  31,  1686.  On  that  occasion,  it  is  recorded,  a  negro  with  the 
classical  name  of  Hercules,  was  charged  by  Myndert  Frederickse  with 
stealing  wampum  out  of  his  house.  The  prisoner  confessed  and  was 
sentenced  "to  be  whipped  through  ye  towne  at  ye  carte  tale  by  ye 
hangman,  for  an  example  to  others."  The  sense  of  justice  of  this 
court  apparently  exceeded  its  ability  to  spell  correctly. 

In  those  days  city  officials  were  placed  under  penalties  to  attend  to 
their  duties  which  at  the  present  day  would  impoverish  some  aldermen. 
The  following  ordinance  was  adopted  at  that  meeting: 

Whoever  of  the  members  of  the  Common  Council  shall  be  absent  att  ye  second 
ringing  of  ye  bell,  being  in  towne,  at  any  common  council  day,  shall  forfeit  six  shil- 
lings,   toties  quoties. 

Upon  the  expulsion  of  King  James  II  of  England  in  1680,  and  the 
accession  of  William  and  Mary,  the  event  was  celebrated  in  Albany. 
The  news  reached  the  city  on  the  1st  of  July  and  a  meeting  of  the  Com- 
mon Council  was  promptly  called.  A  procession  was  formed  in  which 
marched  the  mayor,  council,  other  officials  and  citizens.  Proceeding 
to  the  fort  the  mayor  there  proclaimed,  in  English  and  Dutch,  that 
William  and  Mary  were  their  lawful  sovereigns.      Then  guns  of  the  fort 


2*7 

were  fired  and  bells  were  rung.  The  imagination  may  picture  the 
peculiar  scene.  Compare  it  with  a  modern  political  procession  follow- 
ing a  presidential  election.  The  little  concourse  of  probably  less 
than  a  hundred  stolid  Dutchmen  tramping  up  the  hill,  destitute  of  ban- 
ners and  band,  to  hear  the  mayor  announce  that  a  new  king  was  their 
master  on  the  other  side  of  the  broad  ocean.  The  Dutchmen  were 
evidently  happy  over  the  change,  as  well  they  might  be. 

It  was  as  difficult,  probably,  in  those  days  to  collect  taxes  as  it  is  at 
the  present  time.  It  was  found  in  1095  that  the  city  was  a  number  of 
thousand  pounds  in  arrears,  and  at  a  meeting  of  the  Council  October 
14,  1695,  when  Evert  Bancker  was  mayor,  the  following  report  was 
made: 

Whereas,  the  Arriears  of  ye  .£2,000  and  ,£1,500  tax  having  been  directed  to  ye 
constables  of  each  warde  by  an  warrant  from  Dirk  Wessells,  Justice,  which  consta- 
bles give  in  their  report,  that  all  who  are  indebted  to  ye  said  arriears  gives  them  an 
answer  that  they  have  paid  it,  and  setts  them  aft  from  time  to  time. 

At  the  same  meeting  the  accounts  of  the  treasurer  were  examined 
and  a  warrant  was  directed  to  be  issued  to  "  fetch  up  all  the  lycenses. " 
The  justices  were  also  directed  to  appear  before  the  board  on  Decem- 
ber 9,  following,  "  to  correct  all  affairs  between  the  Citty  and  County. " 
The  licenses  mentioned  were  those  granted  for  the  sale  of  various 
kinds  of  merchandise. 

A  case  that  would  have  been  summarily  disposed  of  in  these  days, 
but  which  seems  to  have  puzzled  the  city  dignitaries  at  that  time,  for 
they  never  adjusted  it  as  far  as  the  record  shows,  is  described  in  the  fol- 
lowing: 

Cornelia  Vanderheyden  appears  here  at  ye  barr,  and  gives  in  the  oath  of  her  suster 
Ariaantje,  who  is  brought  to  child-bed,  that  Lief  t.  Symon  Young  is  ye  father  thereof,  ye 
only  father,  and  none  but  he;  and  deseres  that  ye  Mayor  and  aldermen  would  use 
some  methodd  or  anoyr  with  ye  sd  Young  for  the  maintenance  of  the  child. 

"  Ye  only  father"  is  decidedly  quaint.  Lieutenant  Young  was  subse- 
quently appointed  sheriff  and  offered  to  take  and  support  the  child,  but 
the  mother  refused;  and  there  the  matter  probably  ended. 

The  old  line  of  stockades  which  enclosed  the  city  gave  the  inhabitants 
considerable  trouble.  On  December  17,  1695,  an  order  was  made  for  re- 
pairing "the  City  Stoekadoes,  which  were  out  of  repair  toward  the 
river  side,  and  that  four  hundred  and  fifty  new  Stoekadoes  should  be 
provided,  to  be  thirteen  feet  long  and  afoot  over,  and  that  a  warrant 
may  be  directed  to  the  assessors,  to  make  an  equal  assessment   thereof 


288 

upon  the  inhabitants,  and  then  deliver  the  same  to  the  Mayor."  The 
line  of  this  stockade  was  on  what  is  now  Steuben  street  on  the  north, 
Hudson  avenue  on  the  south,  the  river  on  the  east,  and  Lodge  street 
on  the  west.  Later  the  boundaries  of  the  stockade  were  much  ex- 
tended. 

The  year  of  1096  witnessed  a  great  deal  of  suffering  from  a  scarcity 
of  grain,  particularly  wheat.  The  crop  was  poor  and  prices  became 
very  high  so  that  the  poor  people  were  utterly  unable  to  obtain  it.  The 
thrifty  Dutch  merchants  saw  their  opportunity  and  bought  up  all  that 
was  available,  for  shipment  to  New  York,  where  the  price  was  about 
double  what  they  were  compelled  to  pay  in  Albany,  whereupon  the 
Common  Council  took  a  hand  in  the  matter,  as  indicated  in  the  follow- 
ing: 

Whereas  Several  persons  of  ye  citty  and  county  has  given  in  a  complaint  to  ye 
Mayor  and  justices  of  the  citty  and  county,  yt  there  is  severall  persons  doe  goe  with 
money  in  thare  hands  to  buy  wheat,  and  can  not  have  it,  by  reason  of  ye  marchants 
has  engrossed  in  there  hands,  being  resolved  to  ship  it  to  New  York ;  the  Mayor, 
aldermen,  and  ye  justices  of  ye  peace  have  resolved  and  agreed  upon  yt  no  merchts 
or  any  other  persons  whatsoever  shall  ship  any  corn  aboard  any  sloop,  vessel,  boat 
whatsoever  untill  such  time  wee  have  his  Excell.  directions  in  it,  as  they  will  answer 
upon  there  utmost  perill. 

On  Jul)7  17,  1697,  the  following  was  adopted,  showing  that  the  Dutch 
city  officials,  in  spite  of  their  general  stolidity,  were  not  wholly  in- 
sensible to  flattery : 

Whereas,   Mr.    Lieft.   Oliver  doth  make  his  addresse  to  the   Court  for  bedding, 

since  he  complains  that  he  is  in  great  necessity  for  want  thereof,  ye  gent'n  of  ye 

Court  cannot  fynde  that  they  are  obliged  to  furnish  such  supplies  but,  in  considera- 
tion of  his  Civility,  doe  give  as  a  gift  ye  summe  of  five  pieces  of  eight. 

There  was  an  officer  with  the  title  of  city  porter,  whose  chief  duty  it 
was  to  open  and  close  the  city  gates.  On  November  23,  1697,  the  fol- 
lowing order  relative  to  this  office  was  adopted : 

Whereas,  It  is  by  the  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  concluded,  who  have 
appointed  John  Ratecliffe  as  Citty  Porter,  instead  of  Hend.  Marselis,  Deceased,  that 
he  is  upon  all  occasionable  times  to  open  and  shutt  ye  gates  of  this  Citty,  especially 
in  ye  mornings  and  in  ye  evenings  at  ye  appointed  time,  as  also  to  attend  ye  Church 
Ringing  of  ye  bell  on  all  occasions,  for  which  he  is  to  receive  yearly  eight  and 
twenty  Pieces  of  Eight  at  six  shillings,  and  to  be  paid  quarterly;  moreover,  he,  ye 
sd  John  Ratecliff,  is  to  attend  ye  Burger  Guards,  to  keep  them  clain,  and  to  make 
every  eveing  a  fyre,  wherefore  he  is  to  receive  Three  pence  per  Diem.  Who  hath 
made  oath  to  be  true. 

It  is  well  known   that  the    Dutch  set  a  good  example  to   the  other 


WILLIAM    C.  VAN  ALSTYNL. 


289 

colonists  in  their  treatment  of  the  Indians,  the  city  of  Albany,  for 
instance,  being  obliged,  if  it  required  more  land,  to  purchase  it  in  a 
fair  and  open  trade.  The  same  policy  was  pursued  in  nearly  all  of  their 
relations  with  the  natives,  for  which  the  settlers  in  after  years  had 
much  cause  for  thankfulness.  A  resolution  was  adopted  by  the  Com- 
mon Council  May  9,  1698,  providing  for  building  an  Indian  House  on 
the  hill,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  Indians,  and  on  the  1st  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1G99,  the  Council  resolved  as  follows: 

Resolved,  That  one  other  Indian  house,  besides  ye  two  heretofore  resolved  on  in 
January  last,  shall  be  built  just  upon  ye  hill  going  up  from  ye  Pearl  street  geat 
northwesterly,  in  or  about  ye  middle  part  of  said  hill,  where  ye  whole  Common 
Council  forthwith  shall  a;jpoynt  ye  Place,  and  yt  ye  Building  and  Charges  thereof 
shall  bee  in  ye  lyke  manner  as  ye  two  houses  aforesaid. 

These  brief  records  of  the  more  important  proceedings  of  the  city 
authorities  down  to  the  year  1700,  quaint  and  primitive  as  some  of 
them  are,  indicate  nevertheless  much  wisdom  and  a  determination  to 
govern  the  little  settlement  in  the  interests  of  morality  and  for  the  com- 
mon good.  It  may  here  be  remarked  that  a  similar  intelligent,  prudent 
and  conservative  administration  of  municipal  affairs  continued  to  the 
close  of  the  colonial  period  in  1776. 

In  1700  Albany  was  still  but  a  small  village,  two  years  earlier 
(1698)  the  number  of  inhabitants  being  only  803,  of  which  five  families 
were  English,  one  was  Scotch,  and  the  remainder  were  Dutch.  Many 
years  were  to  pass  before  there  would  be  much  change,  except  in 
gradual  growth,  and  when  it  did  come  it  was  through  the  introduction 
of  new  elements  into  the  population,  and  not  through  any  desire  for  in- 
novations on  the  part  of  the  Dutch  settlers,  who  were,  as  a  general 
rule,  contented  with  the  existing  order  of  things,  they  being  slow, 
stolid,  industrious,  and  usually  thrift}-.  They  cared  more  for  the 
profit  of  the  trade  they  were  pursuing,  than  for  the  amenities  of  life, 
so  that  wdiat  are  now  known  by  the  general  name  of  public  im- 
provements possessed  little  attraction  for  them.  What  if  it  required  a 
week  to  make  the  journey  down  the  river  to  New  York,  were  there  not 
more  weeks  coming  and  was  it  not  a  pleasant  trip?  So  slow  was  the 
process  or  change  in  those  early  times  that  in  Ills  the  place  was  de- 
scribed by  a  traveler  as  little  else  than  a  fortified  village,  with  unpaved, 
dirty  and  irregular  streets.  Most  of  the  residences  were  situated  on 
the  margin  of  the  river,  the  lower  end  of  State  street,  and  on  Court 
street   (now   Broadway).      A   few    stores   were  on   the   present   Chapel 

37 


290 

street.  In  the  middle  of  State  street  and  in  Broadway  were  all  the 
public  buildings — the  town  house,  two  churches,  the  guard  house,  and 
the  market.  On  the  river  were  three  docks — lower  or  King's  dock, 
middle  and  upper  docks.  The  docks  must  have  been  of  the  most  prim- 
itive character  and  of  recent  construction,  for  the  records  show  no 
mention  of  them  until  some  years  later.  The  Common  Council  took  the 
initiatory  steps  towards  providing  suitable  wharves  in  October,  1727, 
when  an  ordinance  was  adopted  requiring  that  the  "freeholders  of  the 
city  who  held  lands  or  ground  fronting  on  the  east  near  or  to  the  Hudson 
river,  be  directed  to  produce  their  titles  to  the  same,  in  order  that  the 
Common  Council  may  be  better  enabled  to  consider  of  finding  out  the 
proper  ways  and  means  for  docking  and  regulating  of  streets  on  the 
east  thereof,  along  the  Hudson  river,  and  that  such  titles  be  produced 
in  Common  Council  at  the  city  Hall  on  the  10th  day  of  November 
next."  As  against  this,  Kalm,  the  Swedish  traveler,  from  whose 
writings  we  shall  have  further  occasion  to  quote,  visited  Albany  in 
1749,  and  said:  "The  Hudson  river  at  Albany  is  from  twelve  to 
twenty  feet  deep;  that  there  is  as  yet  no  quay  made  for  the  landing  of 
yachts,  because  the  people  feared  it  would  be  swept  away  in  the  spring; 
that  the  vessels  come  pretty  near  the  shore  and  receive  their  cargoes 
from  two  canoes  lashed  together." 

The  scarcity  of  water  or  its  impure  character  occupied  the  attention 
of  the  authorities  at  an  early  date,  about  which  Kalm,  from  whose 
writings  we  have  already  quoted,  said  : 

The  water  of  several  wells  in  this  town  was  very  cool  about  this  time,  but  had  a 
kind  of  acid  taste  which  was  not  very  agreeable.  On  a  nearer  examination  I  found 
an  abundance  of  little  insects  in  it,  which  were  probably  monoculi. 

After  a  description  of  these  insects  he  continues: 

I  think  this  water  is  not  very  wholesome  for  people  who  are  not  used  to  it,  though  the 
inhabitants  of  Albany  who  drink  it  every  day  say  they  do  not  feel  the  least  incon- 
venience from  it.  I  have  several  times  been  obliged  to  drink  water  here,  in  which  I 
have  plainly  seen  monoculi  swimming;  but  I  generally  felt  the  next  day  something 
like  a  pea  in  my  throat,  or  as  if  I  had  a  swelling  there. 

The  water  question  was  under  discussion  in  1760,  and  on  April  3d  of 
that  year  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  mayor  and  council,  praying 
for  the  right  to  bring  water  in  pipes  from  the  hills,  collect  it  in  reser- 
voirs and  establish  pumps.  After  a  hearing  the  board  adopted  the  fol- 
lowing resolution : 

Resolved,  That  the  petitioners  have  an  instrument  drawn,  including  their  petition ; 


291 

that  the  Mayor  will   sign  the  same  and  cause  the  Seal   of  the  City  to  be  thereupon 
fixed  by  virtue  of  this  resolution. 

It  was  many  years  later  before  an  adequate  supply  of  wholesome 
water  was  provided  for  Albany.  Wells  were  long  used  and  doubtless 
with  evil  results.  Morse's  Geography,  published  in  1796,  has  the  fol- 
lowing on  the  subject : 

The  well  water  in  this  city  is  extremely  bad,  scarcely  drinkable  by  those  not  accus- 
tomed to  it.  It  oozes  through  a  stiff  blue  clay  and  it  imbibes  in  its  passage  the  fine 
particles  common  to  that  kind  of  soil.  This  discolors  it,  and  when  exposed  any 
length  of  time  to  the  air  it  acquires  a  disagreeable  taste.  Indeed  all  the  water 
for  cooking  is  brought  from  the  river,  and  many  families  use  it  to  drink.  The 
water  in  the  wells  is  unwholesome,  being  full  of  little  insects,  except  in  size,  like 
those  which  are  frequently  seen  in  stagnated  water. 

The  city  ultimately  obtained  a  satisfactory  water  supply,  which  is 
described  in  later  pages. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  city  in  1800  were  obtaining  their  drinking 
water  from  wells,  though  something  must  have  been  accomplished 
prior  to  that  time  towards  a  water  supply  for  the  extinguishment  of 
fire.  In  the  year  in  which  the  charter  was  granted  (1686)  there  was  a 
fire,  concerning  which  the  records  have  the  following: 

It  has  been  found  by  experience  that  the  bringing  of  water  of  the  fountains  from  the 
hill  has  not  only  been  of  great  use  to  the  inhabitants  for  water,  but  the  only  means 
of  quenching  the  late  fire,  which  otherwise,  by  all  probability,  would  have  destroyed 
the  whole  town. 

A  well  was  sunk  in  Jonker  (now  State)  street  in  l(J!)o,  though 
whether  there  were  others  prior  to  1712  is  not  known,  but  in  that  year 
(1712)  one  was  constructed  in  the  First  ward,  about  twelve  yards  from 
the  east  side  of  the  market  house,  and  another  on  the  north  side  of 
Cross  street.  Two  years  later  three  more  were  added,  one  in  each  of 
the  three  wards.  In  the  mean  time  something  had  been  accomplished 
towards  providing  apparatus  for  use  in  extinguishing  tires.  An  old 
record  of  October  15,  1094,  names  certain  fire  officials  called  "  Brant- 
masters,"  and  continues: 

It  is  ordered,  and  found  very  requisite  yt  ye  Aldermen  of  each  respective  Ward 
Shall  cause  to  be  made  two  Brantleere  [fire  ladders]  a  greate  one  and  a  little  one. 
with  yron  hooks,  and  yt  in  time  of  one  month,  and  cause  to  be  brought  to  a  ready 
place  in  case  of  any  occasion  whatsome  ever,  and  they  to  bring  in  their  accounts. 

In    L706  a  primitive  fire  department  was  organized  by  the  appoint- 
ment of  certain  "  Fy re-masters, "  which  is  described  further  on. 
The  Dongan  charter  conferred  the  right  of  establishing  ferries  across 


292 

the  river  between  the  city  wards  and  Greenbush.  A  ferry  had,  how- 
ever, been  in  existence  since  the  year  1642,  which  is  claimed  by  some 
authorities  to  be  the  oldest  established  ferry  in  the  United  States. 
The  ferry  landing  on  the  Albany  side  was  a  little  north  of  the  Beaver- 
kill,  which  emptied  into  the  river  at  what  is  now  the  termination  of 
Arch  street ;  the  Greenbush  landing-  was  directly  opposite.  The  first 
ferry  boat  was  a  mere  scow  which  was  propelled  with  setting  poles, 
being,  however,  large  enough  to  carry  horses  and  wagons,  while  a 
smaller  craft  was  used  for  passengers.  The  first  ferry-master  was 
Hendrick  Albertsen,  who  also  built  the  first  ferry  house  on  the  Albany 
side  of  the  river.  He  was  succeeded  by  Jacob  Janse  Stall,  who  settled 
at  Beverwyck  in  1630,  and  who  held  the  post  until  1657.  At  that  time 
and  for  many  years  after  the  date  of  the  Dongan  charter,  no  charge 
was  made  by  the  authorities  for  the  right  of  operating. 

Owing  to  the  slope  of  much  of  the  land  on  which  stood  the  early  Al- 
bany it  is  probable  that  the  unpaved  streets  could  be  kept  in  much  bet- 
ter condition  and  with  considerably  less  labor  than  would  have  been 
possible  upon  a  level.  The  old  records  contain  frequent  allusions  to 
sidewalks  and  to  measures  for  promoting  cleanliness  in  the  streets,  but 
paving  did  not  come  until  many  years  later.  It  was  ordered  in  the 
Common  Council  March  12,  1694,  that  "  every  householder  shall  make, 
or  cause  to  be  made,  eight  foot  ground  before  his  own  house,  fronting 
on  the  streets,  paved  with  stone,  under  a  penalty  after  the  first  of  June, 
of  every  week,  of  six  shillings."  This  refers,  of  course,  merely  to  a 
paved  sidewalk.  In  1695  the  sum  of  ,£50  was  raised  by  the  Common 
Council  for  thus  paving  sidewalks.  In  1817  a  number  of  streets  were 
ordered  to  be  paved,  but  it  is  difficult  to  distinguish  in  the  early  records 
between  sidewalk  paving  and  street  paving. 

A  few  of  the  ordinances  of  the  Council  in  the  early  years  are  inter- 
esting. In  1686  it  was  decreed  that  every  Saturday  morning  each  in- 
habitant should  clean  the  street  in  front  of  his  dwelling  and  that  no  filth 
should  be  thrown  in  the  street.  Only  a  few  years  after  the  granting  of 
the  charter  the  following  ordinance  was  passed: 

Resolved,  That  an  ordinance  be  issued  forth  that  all  the  respectable  inhabitants 
within  said  city  do  severally  clean  the  streets  from  the  dung,  dust,  chips  and  filth 
before  their  houses  or  lots  in  the  said  streets;  and  that  all  wood  and  stone,  except  for 
present  building,  or  cooper's  wood,  be  removed  out  of  the  said  street  before  the  15th 
of  April  next  ensuing,  on  penalty  of  paying  for  every  default  afterwards  by  them 
made,  the  sum  of  six  shillings  to  the  use  of  the  Sheriff  or  any  Constable  who  shall 
sue  for  the  same.     An  that  hereafter,  if  any  dung,  dust,  chips  or  filth  shall  be  found 


1 


HOWARD   N.   FULLER. 


293 

(on  any  Saturday  after  twelve  o'clock  noon)  lying  in  the  said  streets  against  the  house 
or  lot  of  any  person  within  the  said  city,  that  such  person  shall  pay,  also,  for  such 
default  and  contempt,  the  like  sum  of  six  shillings,  to  be  sued  for  as  aforesaid.  And 
that  hogs  or  swine  belonging  to  any  of  the  said  inhabitants  be  ringed  with  one  ring 
in  the  nose  before  Saturday  night  next,  and  remain  ringed  from  that  time  ;  and  if  the 
hog  or  swine  of  any  person  as  aforesaid  shall  be  found  not  ringed,  the  owners  of  such 
hog  or  swine  shall  pay  for  every  such  default  or  neglect  the  sum  of  six  shillings  to 
the  Sheriff  or  Constable  who  shall  sue  for  the  same. 

Another  ordinance  forbade  driving  through  the  streets  faster  than  a 
walk,  under  penalty  of  three  shillings.  In  writing  of  the  streets  of  Al- 
bany in  1749,  Kalmsaid: 

The  streets  are  broad  and  some  of  them  are  paved.  In  some  parts  they  are  lined 
with  trees:  the  long  streets  are  almost  parallel  to  the  river,  and  the  others  intersect 
them  at  right  angles.  The  street  which  goes  between  the  two  churches  is  five  times 
broader  than  the  others,  and  serves  as  a  market  place.  The  streets  upon  the  whole, 
are  very  dirty,  because  the  people  have  their  cattle  in  them  during  the  summer 
nights. 

On  the  early  maps  of  Beverwyck  only  a  few  streets  are  mentioned, 
but  in  early  conveyances  the  following  names  appear:  Broadway  was 
called  Cow,  de  Breede  (or  Broad),  Lower  Hondlaers,  and  Brewers 
street;  Hudson  avenue  was  Spanish  street;  Green  south  of  Beaver  was 
Esplanade  or  Plain  street;  north  of  Beaver  it  was  the  Voddemart,  or 
Rag  market,  and  Cheapside;  Chapel  was  Berg  street;  State  was  Jon- 
kers  street,  and  South  Pearl  was  De  Klyne  street.  After  the  charter 
of  1686  the  city  was  divided  into  three  wards,  the  first  of  which  em- 
braced all  that  part  of  the  city  south  of  Exchange  and  State  streets; 
the  second  the  territory  north  of  State  and  west  of  James  streets;  the 
third  the  portion  north  of  State  and  Exchange  streets  and  east  of  James 
street.  When  State  street  was  laid  out  it  was  made  of  unusual  width 
for  those  times,  to  accommodate  the  old  Dutch  church  which  stood  in 
its  center.  The  map  of  L792  shows  it  149  feet  wide  at  Pearl  street 
and  gradually  increasing  in  width  until  it  is  158  feet  at  Lodge  street, 
but  from  Broadway  to  the  river  it  was  very  narrow  as  it  is  to  this 
day..  This  broad  street  ascending  straight  up  the  hill  has  been  an 
impressive  one  from  the  first.  Spafford's  Gazetteer,  L813,  describes  it 
as  a  grand  avenue  in  the  heart  of  the  city,  "  where  its  opulence  is  to  be 
displayed,  where  taste  shall  vie  with  taste,  architect  with  architect,  age 
with  age,  in  perpetual  succession."  It  was  an  unpaved  avenue  until 
1796. 

Perhaps   the   best   description  of  Albany  in  about  the  middle  of  that 


294 

century  is  from   the  entertaining  pen  of  Mrs.  Grant,  in  her  delightful 
Memoirs  of  an  American  Lady  (1704),  as  follows: 

The  City  of  Albany  stretched  along  the  banks  of  the  Hudson.  One  very 
wide  and  broad  street  lay  parallel  to  the  river,  the  intermediate  space  be- 
tween it  and  the  shore  being  occupied  by  gardens.  A  small  but  steep 
hill  rose  above  the  center  of  the  town,  on  which  stood  a  fort,  intended  (but  very  ill 
adapted)  for  the  defense  of  the  place  and  of  the  neighboring  country.  From  the  foot 
of  this  hill  another  street  was  built,  sloping  pretty  rapidly  down  till  it  joined  the  one  be- 
fore mentioned,  that  ran  alongthe  river.  This  street  was  still  wider  than  the  other.  It 
wasonlypaved  on  each  side, the  middlebeing  occupied  by  public  edifices.  These  con- 
sisted of  a  Market-place  or  Guard-house,  a  Town  Hall,  and  the  English  and  Dutch 
churches.  The  English  Church,  belonging  to  the  Episcopal  persuasion,  and  in  the  dio- 
cese of  the  Bishop  of  London,  stood  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  at  the  upper  end  of  the  street. 
The  Dutch  Church  was  situated  at  the  bottom  of  the  descent,  where  the  street  ter- 
minated. Two  irregular  streets,  not  so  broad,  but  equally  long,  ran  parallel  to 
those,  and  a  few  even  ones  opened  between  them.  The  town,  in  proportion  to  its 
population,  occupied  a  great,  space  of  ground.  The  city,  in  short,  was  a  kind  of 
semi-rural  establishment.  Every  house  had  its  garden,  well,  and  a  little  green  be- 
hind. Before  every  door  a  tree  was  planted,  rendered  interesting  by  being  coeval 
with  some  beloved  member  of  the  family.  Many  of  these  trees  were  of  prodigious 
size  and  extraordinary  beauty,  but  without  regularity,  every  one  planting  the  kind 
that  best  pleased  him.  or  which  he  thought  would  afford  the  most  agreeable  shade  to 
the  open  portico  at  his  door,  which  was  surrounded  by  seats  and  ascended  by  a  few 
steps.  It  was  in  these  that  each  domestic  group  was  seated  in  summer  evenings  to 
enjoy  the  balmy  twilight  or  the  serenely  clear  moonlight. 

This  picture  of  rural  simplicity  has,  however,  a  reverse  side  of  busi- 
ness activity  that  was  not  so  carefully  noticed  by  Mrs  Grant.  The 
business  advantages  of  the  place  were  attracting  residents  quite  rapid- 
ly, the  population  of  the  county  in  1723  having  reached  6,501,  which 
had  increased  in  1731  to  8,703,  and  was  in  1790  3,500  in  the  city  alone. 

The  Common  Council  on  July  31,  1753,  made  an  order  that  the  pave- 
ment between  the  houses  of  Jacob  Lansing  and  David  Schuyler  in  the 
Third  ward,  be  raised,  so  that  the  water  that  came  down  from  the  hill 
between  those  houses  "  may  vent  itself  through  the  lane  or  street,  and 
so  down  to  the  river." 

In  1754  the  council  fixed  the  following  rates  of  ferriage  across  the 
river: 

For  every  person,  if  single. . . 3  coppers 

"       if  more  than  one 2  coppers 

"         "  head  of  cattle . 9  coppers 

"         "  cwt.    of  beaver  or  skins 4  coppers 

The  ferry-masters  were  directed  to  run  their  boats  from  sunrise  to 


295 

eight  o'clock  in  the  evening-.  At  this  time  the  ferry  was  in  charge  of 
Barnardns  Bradt  and  Johannes  Ten  Broeck,  who  had  paid  the  city  jQo  for 
its  use  and  privilege.  From  that  date  until  1786  the  ferrymen  were 
Harmes  Gansevoort,  Philip  John  Schuyler,  John  Courtney,  John  Brom- 
ley, Thomas  Lotridge,  Dirck  Hansen  and  Baltus  Van  Benthuysen.  At 
stated  times  the  council  advertised  that  the  right  of  ferriage  would  be 
sold  to  the  highest  bidder,  a  course  that  could  be  profitably  adopted  by 
the  authorities  in  granting  franchises  in  modern  times  and  which  has 
been  followed  in  some  cities  in  recent  years.  From  1754  to  1786  the 
amount  paid  for  the  ferry  privilege  ranged  from  £5  to  ^130.  In  the 
last  named  year  a  new  ferry  house  forty  by  fifty  feet  in  size  was  built 
by  Baltus  Van  Benthuysen,  and  the  city  corporation  issued  the  follow- 
ing schedule  of  rates: 

Man  or  horse,   ox  or  cow.. 9d. 

A  calf  or  hog 2  coppers 

A  sheep  or  lamb 2  coppers 

For  every  wagon,  or  two  horses  with  its  loading,  provided  the  same  re- 
mains on  the  wagon ._.   2  shillings 

For  every  cart  or  wagon  drawn  by  four  horses  or  oxen,  with  or  without 

loading 3  shillings 

And  6d.  for  every  ox  or  horse  above  that  number 

For  every  chaise  or  chair  or  horse Is.  (id. 

For  every  full  chest  or  trunk 4  coppers 

For  every  empty  chest  or  trunk 2  coppers 

For  every  barrel  rum,  sugar,  molasses,   full  barrel 4  coppers 

Articles  of  agreement  were  entered  into  November  15,  1768,  between 
the  city  corporation  and  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  under  which  the 
latter  agreed  that  within  three  months  of  the  granting  to  him  bv  the 
Crown  of  letters  patent  giving  him  exclusive  ferry  privileges  over  the 
Hudson  between  Bears'  Island  and  Cohoes,  he  would  grant  to  the  city 
the  exclusive  ferry  privileges  "  from  the  mouth  of  a  certain  creek,  com- 
monly known  as  De  Vysele  Kill,  on  the  south  of  the  city  limits,  to 
lands  of  11.  Van  Schack;  with  one  acre  of  ground,  to  be  taken  by  said 
Corporation  in  such  position  as  it  shall  think  most  convenient  to  them, 
joining  to  and  on  the  north  bounds  of  John  Van  Rensselaer."  Two 
years  later  (1770)  the  ferry  to  Greenbush  was  leased  to  Thomas  Lott- 
ridge  for  three  years  at  ^30  a  year,  he  to  make  a  dock  fourteen  feet 
wide. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Common  Council  held  Jul}-  L0,  [756,  the  follow- 
ing important  resolution  was  adopted: 


296 

Resolved,  That  the  Clerk  draw  a  deed  to  the  Minister,  Church  Wardens  and 
Vestrymen  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  in  the  City  of  Albany,  for  them  and  their  suc- 
cessors, in  trust  forever,  for  a  piece  of  ground  for  a  burial  place,  lying  upon  the  hill 
adjoining  the  fort,  agreeable  to  a  map  made  by  John  R.  Bleecker,  and  that  the  Mayor 
execute  a  deed,  and  cause  the  City  Seal  to  be  thereupon  affixed  in  behalf  of  the 
Corporation. 

It  has  been  stated  herein  that  by  the  Dongan  charter  the  title  to  all 
the  land  within  the  city  corporation  was  vested  in  the  mayor,  recorder, 
aldermen  and  Common  Council.  Under  their  right  to  sell,  which  was 
thus  conferred,  a  great  many  transfers  were  made  in  early  years,  some 
of  which  are  of  historical  importance.  The  first  deed  executed  by  the 
city  corporation  is  dated  November  1,  1687,  the  year  after  the  charter. 
It  conveyed  land  to  Dr.  Godfredius  Dellius,  pastor  of  the  Dutch  church. 
On  account  of  its  early  date  and  its  quaint  wording  we  quote  the  con- 
veying clause : 

To  All  Christian  People  to  whom  these  presents  Shall  Come,  the  Mayor,  Alder- 
men, and  Commonalty  of  ye  Citty  of  Albany  Send  Greeting  in  our  Lord  God  Ever- 
lasting. Know  ye  that  for  and  in  consideration  of  ye  sum  of  three  hundred  an  ninty 
pounds  currant  money  of  this  province  to  them  in  hand  paid,  at  and  before  ye  en- 
sealing and  delivery  hereof,  by  Doctor  Godfredius  Dellius,  Minister  of  ye  Reformed 
Nether  Dutch  Congregational  Dutch  Church,  Albany,  a  certain  piece  or  parcel  of 
land  commonly  called  or  known  by  ye  name  of  Pasture,  Situate,  lying  and  being  to 
ye  Southward  of  ye  said  Citty,  near  ye  place  where  ye  Fort  Stood,  and  extending 
along  Hudson  River  till  it  comes  over  against  ye  most  northerly  point  of  ye  island, 
commonly  called  Marston  Gerrittsen's  Island;  having  to  ye  east  Hudson  River,  to 
Ye  south  ye  manor  of  Renslarewck,  to  ye  west  of  highway  leading  to  ye  Towne,  Ye 
pasture  lots  in  ye  occupation  of  Martin  or  Marston  Geritsen,  and  the  pasture  lot  in 
ye  occupation  of  Casper  Jacobs,  to  the  north  of  ye  several  pasture  lots  in  ye  occupa- 
tion of  Robert  Sanders,  Myndert  Harmons,  and  Evert  Wendell,  and  ye  Several 
Garden  lots  in  ye  tenure  and  Occupation  of  Killian  Van  Rensselaer  and  Abraham 
Staats.  Together  with  All  and  Singular  ye  profits,  commodities  and  appurtenances 
whatsoever  to  ye  said  Pasthur  Piece  or  Parcel  of  land  and  Premises,  or  any  part  or 
parcel  thereof  Belonging  or  in  any  way  appertaining  to  or  with  the  same,  now  or  at 
any  time  heretofore  belonging  or  own'd  occupied,  enjoyed  as  part,  parcell  or  mem- 
ber thereof,  and  All  deeds,  Evidences  and  writings  Touching  and  Concerning  the 
premises  only. 

This  deed  was  signed  by  Peter  Schuyler,  mayor.  Some  of  these 
public  lands  were  sold  at  auction  as  seen  in  the  following: 

Resohied,  By  this  Board,  That  the  Clerk  put  up  Advertisements  that  a  piece  of 
land  lying  on  Gallows  hill  containing  between  10  and  11  acres,  as  per  Draft  to  be 
seen  at  the  time  of  Sale,  to  be  sold  at  Public  Vendue  on  Saturday,  the  20th  day  of 
this  current  month,  by  the  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  at  two  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  at  the  City  Hall  in  the  City  of  Albany. 


CHARLES  F.  STOWELL. 


297 

On  the  19th  of  February,  1761,  the  council  by  resolution  directed 
John  R.  Bleecker  to  make  a  survey  of  the  land  described  in  a  petition 
of  the  minister  and  officers  of  the  Dutch  church,  leaving  room  for 
highways,  for  which  land  the  board  was  to  give  a  deed  to  the  church 
in  consideration  of  £50,  and  a  reserve  of  £20  per  annum  forever.  The 
tract  thus  conveyed  contained  153  acres  and  is  described  in  Bleecker's 
survey.  In  1762  an  important  land  transaction  was  consummated  in 
the  transfer  of  what  has  been  known  as  the  Wendell  Patent,  a  tract  in 
the  heart  of  the  city;  the  northwest  line  of  this  lot  extended  1,207  feet 
in  a  straight  line ;  the  southwesterly  corner  was  situated  in  the  center 
of  the  block  west  of  Eagle  street,  between  Hamilton  and  Hudson 
streets;  and  the  northeasterly  corner,  which  was  the  end  of  the  above 
mentioned  straight  line,  terminated  on  the  west  side  of  Lodge  street 
about  152  feet  north  of  Howard  street.  The  other  boundaries  of  the 
tract  were  irregular,  the  southeast  corner  terminating  in  the  corner  of 
William  street,  about  fifty  feet  south  of  Beaver  street.  In  following 
the  southeast  line  a  bend  and  corner  is  situated  in  the  center  of  the 
block  between  Philip,  Grand,  Hudson  and  Plain  streets,  the  other  re- 
maining corner  terminating  about  ninety-five  feet  east  of  Eagle  on  the 
north  side  of  Hamilton  street.  The  original  map  of  this  tract  is  still 
in  possession  of  descendants  of  the  patentee,  and  the  outline  of  the 
tract  appears  on  some  of  the  early  maps. 

The  old  records  show  that  there  was  a  corporation  officer  in  those 
days  called  the  town  whipper,  who  had  considerable  employment  in  his 
peculiar  official  capacity.  There  are  frequent  instances  where  he  was 
complimented  for  his  good  work  in  his  particular  line.  In  one  case  in 
1762,  when  one  Rick  Van  Toper  held  the  office,  he  was  voted  live  shil- 
lings and  sixpence,  in  addition  to  his  regular  fees,  "  for  the  due  and 
wholesome  manner  in  which  he  laid  the  lash  upon  the  hack  of  Tiberius 
Haines,"  who  had  been  convicted  of  beating  his  wife.  (  >n  the  30th  <>t 
January,  1789,  the  corporation  agreed  with  Benjamin  Gable  to  act  as 
town-whipper  at  a  yearly  salary  of  £20. 

At  the  beginning  of  Mayor  Cuyler's  administration  in  1780  8  ques- 
tion arose  as  to  the  right  of  the  mayor  and  aldermen,  who  were  by  the 
charter  made  ex-officio  members  of  the  Supreme  Court  and  the  Court 
of  Oyer  anil  Terminer,  to  sit  on  the  bench  with  the  judges  of  those 
courts.  When  these  courts  sat  on  June  ■">,  L771,  they  were  waited  upon 
by  a  committee  (appointed  by  the  council),  consisting  of  the  mayor 
and  Aldermen  Yates  and  Ten  Broeck,  and  informed  that  the  mayor, 
38 


208 

recorder  and  six  aldermen  intended  to  sit  with  them  on  that  day. 
After  their  withdrawal  from  the  court  the  city  officials  received  a  com- 
munication from  the  judges  denying  their  right  to  sit  in  such  judicial 
capacity  and  concluding  as  follows : 

We  cannot  conceive  that  your  city  charter  can  be  so  construed  as  to  render  this 
honorable  Court  a  Mob,  instead  of  a  Bench  of  Judges  with  full  consideration  of  their 
dignity  and  responsibility.  We  have  therefore  directed  the  Officers  of  the  Court  to 
prevent  your  taking  your  seats  upon  the  Bench,  in  case  you  insist  upon  so  doing. 

As  a  result  of  this  singular  contest,  the  council  adopted  resolutions 
in  October,  expressing  their  determination  to  send  a  commission  to 
New  York  and  submit  the  matter  to  the  colonial  authorities.  Alder- 
man Abraham  Yates  was  selected  for  this  mission,  which  was  probably 
unsuccessful,  as  the  records  contain  no  allusion  to  the  sitting  of  those 
officials  in  those  courts;  they  were,  however,  members  of  the  Court  of 
Sessions  of  the  City  and  County  of  Albany,  as  elsewhere  explained. 

In  April,  1774.  various  changes  were  made  in  the  city  ordinances, 
among  them  being  provisions  for  regulating  the  ferry  between  Albany 
and  Greenbush  ;  for  grading  and  paving  some  of  the  streets;  for  regu- 
lating the  line  of  vessels  at  the  docks  and  wharves;  regulating  cartmen 
and  their  carts  and  the  public  market;  against  profaning  the  Lord's 
day;  protecting  the  city  from  danger  of  gunpowder;  preventing  fires 
and  accidents  from  fast  driving,  and  many  other  minor  matters. 

It  will  already  have  been  inferred  by  the  reader  that  by  far  the  most 
important  business  of  the  Common  Council  for  many  years  was  in  rela- 
tion to  the  real  property  owned  by  the  city  corporation  or  coming  into 
its  possession  under  the  provisions  of  the  first  charter.  The  provision 
enabling  the  corporation  to  purchase  1,000  acres  of  low  land  at  "Tion- 
deroge "  will  be  remembered.  Under  this,  several  Indians  in  June, 
1721,  conveyed  a  tract  of  eleven  morgen  of  land  to  Mr.  Cinder  in  fee, 
whose  heirs  obtained  from  the  corporation,  April  24,  1769,  for  ^30  a 
conveyance  releasing  the  land.  Again,  on  July  7,  1730,  certain  Indians 
conveyed  about  the  same  quantity  land  to  Peter  Brower  for  999  years; 
he  on  November  29,  1734,  conveyed  the  same  to  the  corporation,  and 
on  April  27,  1749,  the  corporation  leased  the  land  to  Peter  Brower  for 
999  years  at  the  annual  rent  of  one  skipple  of  wheat  for  each  morgen. 
Other  parts  of  these  lands  were  obtained  from  the  corporation  at  the 
same  annual  rent,  but  leaving  the  larger  part  of  the  1,000  acres  the 
property  of  the  city.  In  1779  the  Indians  had  all  removed  from  these 
lands,    and    they   had   become   occupied   principally    by   refugees    and 


299 

squatters.  What  to  do  under  these  conditions  and  how  to  recover  the 
rights  of  the  city,  was  an  important  problem  of  that  time.  The  whole 
question  was  finally  referred  to  Peter  W.  Yates,  one  of  the  ablest  law- 
yers of  that  era.  His  subsequent  report  was  to  the  effect  that  the  city  and 
its  successors  had  an  undoubted  estate  in  fee  simple  in  the  lands  in 
question;  that  although  the  Indian  deeds  could  not  be  considered  a 
part  of  the  title,  yet  the  city's  title  was  paramount  to  that  of  any  other 
claimant. 

Other  land  difficulties  soon  arose  in  connection  with  the  large  and 
valuable  tracts  owned  by  the  city  at  Schaghticoke  (now  in  Rensselaer 
county).  These  lands  were  occupied  by  tenants  who  began  to  neglect 
to  pay  their  rents.  In  order  to  learn  the  particulars  of  the  situation 
the  mayor  and  aldermen  held  a  meeting  at  the  house  of  Johannes 
Knickerbacker,  at  Schaghticoke,  September  20,  1780,  where  they  sum- 
moned the  delinquents  before  them.  Various  excuses  for  the  non  pay- 
ment of  rent  were  made,  many  claiming  that  none  was  due.  There 
was  no  course  left  the  city  authorities  but  to  proceed  to  extremities, 
and  Peter  W.  Yates  and  John  Lansing,  jr.,  were  retained  and  instructed 
to  bring  actions  against  all  the  tenants  from  whom  rent  was  due,  which 
was  done.  At  a  meeting  held  at  the  city  hall  January  30,  1T^4,  at 
which  were  present  the  mayor,  aldermen  and  assistant  aldermen,  the 
following  resolution  was  adopted  : 

A' V solved,  That  Peter  W.  Yates,  Esq.,  be  directed  to  immediately  write  letters,  as 
Attorney  for  the  Corporation,  to  the  tenants  of  this  Board  at  Schaghticoke,  and  who 
were  lately  prosecuted  for  non-payment  of  rent,  acquainting  them  that  unless  they 
pay  this  winter  the  wheat  stipulated  in  the  agreement  for  the  stay  of  suits,  they 
must  depend  upon  being  prosecuted. 

The  resolution  explains  itself.  When  the  actions  were  first  brought 
in  L780,  the  suits  were  stayed  upon  agreement  by  the  tenants  to  pay  a 
certain  quantity  of  wheat  in  regular  settlement.  Many  did  so,  while 
Others  delayed,  and  some  never  paid.  It  was  customary  in  those  times 
for  the  city  to  receive  its  rents  in  wheat  and  large  storehouses  were 
frequently  filled  with  grain  and  kept  in  charge  of  the  chamberlain,  who 
sold  it  under  direction  of  the  council.  In  times  of  scarcity  this  policy 
was  of  great  benefit  to  the  poor,  and  the  sales  to  those  who  might  be 
disposed  to  speculate  were  restricted  in  quantity  to  each  buyer.  In 
January,  1777,  an  order  is  recorded  directing  the  chamberlain  "to  sell 
LOO  skepelsof  the  wheat  belonging  to  the  Corporation,  at  four  shillings 
sixpence  per  skepel,  to  those  persons  who  had  demands  on  the  board. 
No  person  to  have  more  than  three  skepels  at  a  time." 


300 

In  February,  1780,  the  question  came  before  the  Common  Council 
of  surrendering  some  of  the  privileges  granted  by  the  charter  of  1686, 
and  applying  to  the  State  Legislature  for  others.  The  matter  met 
with  much  opposition  and  was  long  discussed,  and  final  action  post- 
poned until  1787,  when  on  March  21,  the  act  entitled  "An  Act  for  alter- 
ing the  Charter  Rights  of  the  City  of  Albany,"  passed  the  Legislature. 
The  principal  changes  took  from  the  mayor  the  right  to  grant  licenses 
to  tavern  keepers,  victualers,  and  all  retail  dealers  in  liquors;  also  the 
right  of  the  mayor  and  the  aldermen  to  have  the  sole  regulation  of 
trade  with  the  Indians;  annulled  the  provision  that  a  court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas  should  be  held  once  in  every  fortnight  before  the  mayor; 
and  altered  the  time  of  election  of  aldermen,  their  assistants  and  the 
chamberlain  to  the  last  Tuesday  in  each  year. 

The  city  of  Albany  was  now  one  hundred  years  old,  and  at  the  close 
of  the  war  of  the  Revolution  its  growth  was  stimulated  and  its  busi- 
ness interests  rapidly  increased.  The  enterprising  Yankees  saw  their 
opportunity  and  came  in  large  numbers  to  supplant  the  slow  methods 
of  the  Dutch  with  their  activity  and  ingenuity.  Up  to  this  time,  it 
has  been  written,  the  city  "old  as  it  was,  still  retained  its  primitive 
aspect,  and  still  stood  in  all  its  original  simplicity,  unchanged,  un- 
modified, unimproved,  still  pertinaciously  adhering  in  all  its  walks  to 
the  old  track  and  the  old  form.  The  rude  hand  of  innovation  was 
then  just  beginning  to  be  felt;  and  slight  as  was  the  touch,  it  was 
regarded  as  an  injury,  or  resented  as  an  insult."  The  Dutch  resisted 
Yankee  encroachment  on  their  trade,  but  the  new  element  was  daily 
becoming  strong,  and  before  long  they  were  overmatched. 

Albany  celebrated  its  one  hundredth  anniversary  on  July  22,  178*',. 
A  meeting  of  the  Common  Council  was  held  July  15,  in  the  City  Hall, 
when  the  following  resolution  was  adopted: 

Resolved,  That  the  22d  instant,  being  the  jubilee  of  the  charter  of  this  city,  be 
commemorated  by  a  public  feast  at  the  City  Hall;  that  a  committee  of  five  be  ap- 
pointed to  procure  the  materials  necessary,  and  to  regulate  the  same. 

The  committee  appointed  were  Aldermen  Philip  Van  Rensselaer, 
Peter  W.  Yates,  and  Assistants  John  W.  Wendell,  Richard  Lash  and 
Jelles  Winne.     On  the  18th  of  July  this  committee  reported  as  follows: 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  mode  of  celebrating  the  22d  of  July 
instant,  being  the  century  anniversary  of  this  city,  do  report  that,  in  their  opinion, 
the  Common  Council  do  convene  in  the  forenoon  of  that  day,  at  ten  o'clock,  at  the 


301 

City  Hall,  and  from  thence  proceed  in  procession  toi;he  hill  westward  of  the  city, 
attended  by  such  citizens  as  shall  choose;  that,  during  the  procession,  all  the  bells  of 
the  several  churches  in  this  city  shall  ring;  and  at  the  arrival  at  the  place  assigned 
for  the  purpose,  on  the  hill,  thirteen  toasts,  and  one  for  the  charter,  under  the  dis- 
charge of  fourteen  cannon ;  and  that  a  barrel  of  good  spirits  be  purchased  for  the 
occasion. 

This  report  was  accepted  and  another  committee  was  appointed  to 
have  entire  charge  of  the  celebration.  When  the  day  arrived  an  im- 
posing procession  for  that  time  was  formed,  which  marched  up  State 
street  to  the  grounds  formerly  occupied  by  the  Old  Capitol,  where  the 
ceremonies  took  place.  Later  in  the  day  the  mayor,  alderman  and 
commonalty  of  the  city  partook  of  a  supper  served  at  Lewis's  tavern, 
where  it  may  be  presumed  some  of  that  "barrel  of  good  spirits"  lent 
its  inspiring  influence  to  the  flow  of  reason.  The  expenses  of  this 
celebration  were  ordered  paid  by  the  chamberlain. 

The  year  1797  saw  Albany  made  definitely  and  permanently  the 
State  capital.  Previous  to  this  time  the  Legislature  had  met  here  on 
several  occasions,  the  first  being  one  of  the  three  sessions  of  the  third 
Legislature  in  1780,  the  next  being  a  session  of  the  Fourth  Legislature, 
which  also  held  three  sessions,  in  1781.  Aside  from  these,  however,  the 
Legislatures  up  to  1788-89  were  held  in  Poughkeepsie  and  New  York. 
The  twelfth  session  was  held  in  Albany;  from  1789  to  1793  the  meet- 
ings were  in  New  York ;  the  seventeenth  session  was  held  in  Albany 
in  1794,  the  eighteenth  at  Poughkeepsie  and  in  New  York,  the  nine- 
teenth in  New  York,  179G,  and  the  twentieth,  1796-7,  in  New  York 
and  Albany.  At  this  session  the  question  of  permanently  locating  the 
State  capital  was  finally  settled  in  favor  of  Albany.  While  political 
influence  and  the  power  of  wealth  had  something  to  do  with  this  choice, 
the  chief  factors  determining  the  selection  were  the  situation  of  the 
city  with  reference  to  the  remainder  of  the  State  and  the  natural  ad- 
vantages of  the  place.  Albany  became  the  capital  in  the  same  year 
that  the  United  States  Constitution  was  transmitted  to  Congress  for 
ratification  or  rejection.  The  constitution  received  bitter  opposition 
from  the  Anti  Federalists  of  New  York  State,  with  George  Clinton  at 
their  head,  and  of  course  Albany  was  the  center  of  the  local  strife; 
but  the  old  governor  and  his  political  adherents  were  destined  to  defeat. 
Prom  the  adoption  of  that  constitution  down  to  the  present  time  Al- 
bany  lias  been  the  center  of  great  political  influence  and  power.  From 
this  ancient  city  into  every  part  of  the  State  have  ramified  the  various 


302 

parts  of  the  vast  and  intricate  system  of  political  machinery  which  has 
controlled  public  affairs. 

The  beginning  of  the  century  found  Albany  city  with  a  population  of 
5,289,  which  increased  to  9,350  in  1810,  these  figures  being  according 
to  the  United  States  census.  The  State  census  in  1814  gave  Albany 
10,083  inhabitants.  This  shows  the  remarkable  growth  during  the  first 
twenty  years  succeeding  the  Revolution.  "  About  1781,"  wrote  a  local 
editor,  "not  more  than  seventy,  at  the  utmost  calculation,  shops  and 
stores  were  kept  in  this  city,  nor  had  we  manufactories  of  any  kind,  but , 
depended  on  importation  for  every  manufactured  article.  Now  [seven 
or  eight  years,  later]  we  behold  Market  and  State  streets  crowded  with 
stores,  and  rents  in  those  streets  enhanced  to  such  a  degree  as  to  put 
houses  out  of  the  reach  of  inconsiderable  traders."  In  alluding  to  the 
business  of  one  day  (February  8,  1794),  the  Gazette  said: 

On  a  moderate  estimate,  it  is  presumed  the  purchases  and  sales  of  produce  and 
merchandise  exceeded  §50,000.  Of  the  article  of  wheat,  between  25  and  30,000 
bushels  were  brought  to  this  market;  a  quantity  far  exceeding  the  receipts  of  any 
one  day  since  the  settlement  of  this  country.  The  price  of  wheat  rose  during  the 
the  day  from  7s.  6d.  to  8s.,  or  the  highest  price  between  this  and  the  first  of  March. 
The  last  mode  of  purchase  is  truly  novel  and  must  be  convincing  to  the  farmer  that 
the  merchants  of  this  city  are  too  independent  to  form  combinations. 

Count  Liancourt  visited  Albany  in  1795,  and  has  left  the  following 
regarding  business  interests  at  that  time: 

The  trade  of  Albany  is  chiefly  carried  on  with  the  produce  of  the  Mohawk 
countrv,  and  extends  eastward  as  far  as  agriculture  and  cultivated  lands  expand. 
The  State  of  Vermont  and  a  part  of  Xew  Hampshire  furnish  many  articles  of  trade, 
and  the  exports  chiefly  consist  in  timber  and  lumber  of  every  sort  and  description, 
potatoes,  potash  and  pearl  ashes,  all  species  of  grain,  lastly,  in  manufactured 
articles.  These  articles  are  most  of  them  transported  to  Albany  in  winter  on 
sledges,  housed  by  the  merchants,  and  by  them  successively  transmitted  to  New 
York,  where  they  are  either  sold  for  bills  on  England  or  exchanged  for  English 
goods,  which  are  in  return  sent  from  Albany  to  the  provinces,  whence  the  articles 
for  transportation  were  drawn.  .  .  The  trade  of  Albany  is  carried  on  in  ninety 
vessels,  fortv-five  of  which  belong  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  and  the  rest  to 
New  York  or  other  places. 

This  French  nobleman  was  surprised  that  no  vessels  had  yet  sailed 
direct  from  Albany  to  England,  causing  a  loss  to  the  local  merchants 
and  a  gain  to  the  shippers  in  New  York.  At  the  beginning  of  the  cen- 
tury the  great  tide  of  migration  westward,  a  large  part  of  which  passed 
through  Albany,  had  begun  its  flow,  and  within  a  few  years  reached 
enormous  proportions.      In  one  day  in   1795  a  citizen  counted  five  hun- 


,  303 

dred  sleighs  laden  with  emigrants.  All  of  this  travel  through  the  city 
left  a  constantly  increasing  profit  to  tradesmen,  and  stores  multiplied 
rapidly.  In  1796  there  were  one  hundred  and  thirty-one  stores,  almost 
double  the  number  of  sixteen  years  earlier,  and  sixty-eight  storehouses. 
During  the  war  of  1812,  as  the  reader  has  already  been  informed,  the 
city  was  one  of  the  principal  places  for  accumulating  and  transporting 
government  supplies,  for  the  armies  in  the  West  and  North.  It  then 
cost  from  $20  to  $30  a  ton  to  transport  goods  from  Albany  to  Buffalo, 
and  it  was  estimated  that  9,000  tons  were  shipped  from  this  port.  This 
account  of  trade  conditions  early  in  the  century  may  be  closed  with  the 
following  from  the  Spafford  Gazetteer  of  1813: 

Situated  on  one  of  the  finest  rivers  in  the  world,  at  a  distance  of  200  miles  from 
the  ocean,  whose  tide  it  enjoys;  with  an  uninterrupted  sloop  navigation;  and  in  the 
the  center  of  an  extensive  and  fertile  country,  of  which  it  becomes  the  natural  mart, 
Albany  carries  on  an  immense  trade  already,  and  seems  destined  to  become  one  of 
the  greatest  inland  towns  in  America.  .  .  .  Of  the  shipping  belonging  to  Albanv 
I  am  not  precisely  informed,  but,  agreeable  to  information  derived  from  the  dock- 
master,  there  are  fifty  Albany  sloops  that  pay  wharfage  by  the  year;  sixty  belonging 
to  Troy,  Lansingburgh  and  Waterford  ;  twenty-six  from  Tarrytown  and  New  York  ; 
seventy  from  New  Jersey  and  the  eastern  States,  including  twenty  schooners,  in  all 
two  hundred  and  six;  and  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  from  different  places  have 
paid  wharfage  by  the  day,  being  engaged  in  different  kinds  of  trade,  during  the 
season  of  1812,  making  a  total  of  356.  The  quantity  of  wheat  purchased  annuallv 
in  Albany  is  immensely  great ;  and  good  judges  have  estimated  it  at  nearly  a  million 
bushels.  Other  grain,  and  every  article  of  the  agricultural  and  other  common  pro- 
ducts, nearly  in  the  same  proportion,  swell  the  aggregate  exports  from  this  city  to  an 
enormous  amount. 

This  growing  business  interests  in  Albany  gave  rise  to  the  need 
of  banking  facilities.  Prior  to  1792  the  project  of  establishing  a  bank 
in  the  northern  part  of' the  State  was  much  discussed,  some  favoring  it 
and  many  violently  opposing  it.  On  the  3d  of  February  of  that  year  a 
meeting  was  called  at  Lewis's  tavern  in  Albany,  at  which  many  leading 
capitalists  attended  for  discussion.  There  was  at  that  time  only  one 
bank  in  the  State,  the  Dank  of  New  York,  the  stock  of  which  was  fifty 
per  cent,  above  par.  It  was  announced  in  the  newspapers  that  $100,000 
in  subscriptions  could  he  taken  for  stock  in  a  new  bank.  At  a  later 
meeting  the  project  assumed  definite  form  and  it  was  determined 
to  found  a  financial  institution  here  with  the  name  of  the  Albany  Bank 
and  a  capital  of  $75,000,  to  be  divided  into  rive  hundred  shar< 
$150  each,  $15  to  be  paid  on  each  share  at  the  time  of  subscribing  and 
the   remainder  in   three  installments.      Thirteen    directors   were   to   be 


304 

chosen,  nine  of  whom  should  be  residents  of  Albany.  Jeremiah  Van 
Rensselaer,  Jacob  Van  Derheyden  and  Barent  Bleecker  were  appointed 
to  open  the  subscription  books  and  close  them  as  soon  as  five  hundred 
shares  were  taken.  The  books  were  opened  February  17  and  in  less 
than  three  hours  the  amount  of  stock  was  over-subscribed.  As  soon  as 
the  books  were  closed  the  stock  advanced  ten  per  cent,  and  on 
the  Saturday  following  it  rose  to  100  per  cent,  advance.  A  char- 
ter was  applied  for  and  obtained  towards  the  close  of  the  session  of  the 
Legislature.  Further  description  of  this  and  other  banks  is  given  in 
later  pages.  A  second  bank  was  established  in  1803  and  the  third  in 
1811. 

While  deeply  engrossed  in  promoting  the  various  business  interests 
and  public  affairs  of  the  city,  the  people  very  properly  sought  some 
means  of  amusement  and  recreation.  A  theatrical  company  under 
management  of  Hallam  Brothers  played  a  season  in  New  York  in  1769, 
and  obtained  permission  to  appear  in  Albany  three  times  a  week  for 
one  month,  opening  July  3,  in  "Venice  Preserved."  Airs.  Grant  has 
recorded  that  the  officers  of  an  English  regiment  stationed  here,  played 
the  "Beau's  Stratagem"  in  a  barn  in  1700;  but  the  Hallam  company 
were  the  first  to  open  a  regular  season.  In  1785  a  company  came  up 
from  New  York  and  in  the  Gazette  of  December  5,  announced  performan- 
ces of  "Cross  Purposes,"  and  "Catharine  and  Petruchio. "  Permission  had 
been  obtained  from  the  authorities,  but  before  the  performances,  a 
storm  of  opposition  arose  against  the  theatre,  and  a  petition  signed  by 
seventy  persons  was  presented  to  the  officials  asking  withdrawal  of 
their  consent  to  the  company.  But  the  mayor,  recorder  and  council, 
by  a  vote  of  nine  to  four  decided  that  as  consent  had  been  given,  and 
expense  incurred  by  the  company  in  fitting  up  rooms,  it  would  not  be 
just  to  turn  them  away.  The  performances  were  given  twice  a  week 
until  the  latter  part  of  February.  In  1803  a  company  managed  by 
William  Dunlap  and  Lewis  Hallam  played  in  Albany  three  nights  a 
week  from  August  22  to  October  27,  in  a  dancing  room  on  North  Pearl 
street,  in  the  company  being  the  grandparents  of  Joseph  Jefferson,  the 
comedian.  In  the  spring  of  1811  John  Howard  Payne,  then  twenty 
years  old,  who  is  better  known  as  the  author  of  "  Home,  Sweet  Home," 
than  as  an  actor,  played  an  engagement  there.  In  November  of  that 
year  an  actor  named  John  Bernard  came  from  Boston  with  the  .avowed 
intention  of  establishing  a  permanent  theatre  in  a  building  to  be  erected 
for  the  purpose.     At  that  time  there  was  much  opposition  among  some 


305 

classes  to  the  theatre  as  an  institution;  the  theatre  in  Richmond, 
Va.,  had  recently  burned  with  the  loss  of  seventy-one  lives,  and  the 
Boston  manager  was  not  warmly  welcomed  in  Albany.  The  feeling 
against  his  project  was  intense,  and  a  motion  was  made  in  the  council 
to  abolish  all  theatrical  performances  as  a  nuisance.  The  matter  was 
referred  to  the  committee  on  law,  who  made  a  long  report  dated  Janu- 
ary 12,  1812.  In  the  report  the  opinion  was  expressed  that  "a  well- 
regulated  theatre,  supported  by  the  respectable  portion  of  society,  so 
far  from  being  contrary  to  good  order  and  morality,  must  essentially 
contribute  to  correct  the  language,  refine  the  taste,  ameliorate  the 
heart,  and  enlighten  the  understanding."  The  report  closed  with  an 
opinion  that  the  council  could  not  interfere  with  the  projected  building. 
During  its  erection,  which  was  begun  at  once,  Bernard's  company 
played  in  the  Thespian  Hotel,  which  was  the  name  of  a  hall  near  Clin- 
ton avenue.  The  theatre  was  situated  on  the  west  side  of  Green  street, 
south  of  Hamilton,  and  was  formally  opened  to  the  public  January  18, 
L813,  with  the  plays,  "West  Indian,"  and  "Fortune's  Frolic,"  the  ad- 
mission being  about  the  same  as  commonly  demanded  now — $1,  To  and 
50  cents,  and  the  opening  address  being  written  by  Solomon  Southwick. 
Mr.  Bernard  managed  the  theatre  for  four  years,  and  though  he  had  a 
good  company  met  with  but  indifferent  financial  success,  and  in  1S18  sold 
it  to  the  Baptist  Society  who  used  it  for  many  years  for  a  church.  In 
L824-5  a  theatre  was  built  on  the  site  of  the  Leland  Opera  House,  a 
portion  of  which  is  incorporated  in  the  present  building,  being  opened 
May  L3,  1825,  and  here  many  of  the  great  actors  of  their  times  have 
played.  There  was  also  an  Albany  Museum,  established  in  a  small 
way  as  early  as  1797,  which  was  continued  from  1826  by  Harry  Meech, 
and  was  removed  in  1831  from  the  corner  of  Hudson  avenue  and  Broad- 
way to  the  corner  of  State  and  Broadway,  where  in  later  years  theatri- 
cal performances  were  given  in  connection  with  the  museum. 

Between  the  beginning  of  the  present  century  and  the  war  of  L812 
the  administration  of  the  city  government  moved  quietly  along,  the 
proceedings  involving  little  of  importance.  The  public  revenue  for 
the  fiscal  year  l?(.t:i  was  /,'14<;  U.v.  id.  and  the  city  was  in  debt  /  t79 
Is.  %d. 

At  this  time  the  yellow  fever  was  raging  in    New  York,    and   collec- 
tions were   taken  up  in  the  Albany  churches  for  the  relict'  of  suffi 
the  total  contributions  amounting  to  $555.87.     For  a  number  of  years 

39 


306 

there  was  more  or  less  of  this  dreaded  disease  in  New  York,  causing 
grave  fears  that  it  would  be  brought  up  the  river  to  Albany.  In  1803 
the  Common  Council,  acting  as  a  Board  of  Health,  passed  an  ordinance 
requiring  all  vessels  from  New  York  city  to  be  quarantined  for  a  short 
time  at  a  point  some  miles  down  the  river.  There  was  one  death  from 
the  disease  in  Troy  that  year,  but  none  in  Albany. 

When  the  news  of  the  death  of  Washington  reached  Albany,  Decem- 
ber 23,  1799,  the  Common  Council  immediately  assembled  and  recom- 
mended the  closing  of  all  places  of  business,  directed  the  tolling  of  bells 
from  three  to  five  o'clock,  and  that  the  members  of  the  board  wear  crape 
during  six  weeks.  The  9th  of  the  following  January  was  designated  as 
a  day  for  the  observance  of  public  funeral  ceremonies,  which  were  most 
solemn  and  impressive.  Many  of  the  citizens  were  then  living  who  had 
been  present  at  the  reception  given  to  Washington  in  the  city  at  the 
close  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  the  loss  of  the  great  statesman 
and  general  was  deeply  felt. 

In  the  early  years  a  part  of  the  duty  of  the  Common  Council  was  to 
fix  the  weight  and  price  of  a  loaf  of  bread,  this  being  known  as  "the 
assize  of  bread,"  and  any  baker  who  was  detected  in  selling  a  loaf  that 
was  below  the  prescribed  weight  was  subject  to  a  fine  of  one  dollar. 
For  example  in  1799  a  loaf  weighing  two  pounds  and  five  ounces,  made 
from  inspected  wheat,  sold  for  8c/.,  and  other  weights  in  proportion. 
In  1813,  during  and  on  account  of  the  war,  flour  rose  to  $11  a  barrel, 
and  the  Council  adopted  an  ordinance  requiring  the  flour  merchants  so 
to  assize  the  bread  that  it  would  correspond  to  $9  a  barrel.  The  bakers 
complained  bitterly  at  this  and  called  a  meeting,  at  which  a  resolution 
was  adopted  to  the  effect  that  it  was  inexpedient  to  longer  interfere 
with  the  baking  and  sale  of  bread. 

It  will  surprise  some  readers  of  to-day  to  learn  that  prior  to  1818  all 
meetings  of  the  council  were  held  behind  closed  doors.  On  November 
16  of  that  year  the  board  adopted  a  resolution  that  thereafter  the  meet- 
ings should  be  open  to  the  public.  The  council  at  that  time  occupied 
the  northeast  corner  of  the  first  floor  of  the  Old  Capitol,  all  the  other 
rooms  on  the  first  floor  being  used  by  the  State.  It  will  be  remembered 
that  the  city  had  paid  about  $34,000  towards  the  expense  of  erect- 
ing the  Capitol.  At  this  time  several  efforts  were  made  in  the  council 
to  pass  a  resolution  ordering  the  sale  of  the  city's  interest  in  that  build- 
ing and  the  Board  of  Supervisors  also  discussed  the  policy  of  disposing  of 
the  interest  of  the  county  to  the  State.      These  measures  were  destined 


307 

to  be  postponed  for  many  years,  and  meanwhile  the  Council  and  the 
supervisors  met  in  the  Old  Capitol  until  the  erection  of  the  first  city 
hall. 

With  the  passing  years  the  city  became  deeper  and  deeper  involved 
in  debt,  that  being  the  history  of  most  cities  in  that  respect.  On 
September  30,  1822,  the  council  directed  a  tax  to  raise  $3,000  with 
which  to  pay  the  interest  on  the  city  debt,  and  at  the  same  time  $6,000 
was  ordered  raised  for  lighting  the  streets  and  for  the  night  watch,  and 
$8,000  for  caring  for  the  poor.  The  following  table  shows  the  condi- 
tion of  the  city's  finances  at  the  close  of  the  first  quarter  of  this  cen- 
tury : 

Sinking  Fi  m>. 

City  Stock  held  by  Commissioners $6,000  00 

Albany  Insurance  Stock.,.. 2,500  00 

Bonds,  notes  and  interest  due  for  lands  sold 2,879  67 

Cash  loaned 4,535  00 

"     on  hand 3,130  88 

359  Shares  in  Great  Western  Turnpike .' . . .  8,975  00 

4(i  Shares  in  Bethlehem  Turnpike 1,150  00 

Total $29,170 

Mayor 

Chamberlain 

City  Superintendent 

Superintendent  of  Alms-house 

Overseers  of  the  Poor . . 

Police  Justice 

' '      Constables  (2) 

Deputy  Excise  Officer. 

City  Physician 

Clerk  of  Common  Council 

Deputy  Clerk  of  Market 

Bellringers 


;>29,17<>  55 

$400  00 

5 0 

450  00 

400  00 

200  00 

450  00 

400  00 

200  00 

550  00 

L50  00 

Hill  mi 

4 

Total 13,840  00 

Cm    Debt. 

Funded $205,000  00 

Due  on  bonds  to  individuals 40,100  00 

Small  notes  unredeemed 10,300   L8 


Total $255,400  1"- 

Returning  for  a  moment  to  the  year  lSls,  we  find  that  the  Common 


308 

Council  had  been  authorized  by  law  to  fund  the  city  debt,  to  the  amount 
of  $205,000.  On  the  14th  of  April,  1820,  a  law  was  passed  by  the  Leg- 
islature authorizing  the  council  to  sell  certain  lands  belonging  to  the 
city  to  an  amount  not  exceeding  $250,000,  on  a  lottery  basis,  valuation 
being  placed  on  the  various  lots  which  were  to  be  the  prizes,  but  the 
scheme  under  this  arrangement  did  not  succeed.  The  council  there- 
fore, in  1825,  applied  to  the  Legislature  for  permission  to  sell  the  lands, 
and  at  the  same  time  for  the  privilege  of  raising  the  remainder  of  the 
fund  necessary  by  selling  tickets  in  a  lottery  created  under  the  act  of 
1820,  the  prizes  to  be  paid  out  of  the  proceeds  of  the  sale.  This  plan 
was  carried  out  and  called  forth  much  denunciation  from  individuals 
and  from  the  press  The  New  York  Evening  Post  said  :  ' '  The  capital  of 
the  State,  with  the  aid  of  the  Legislature,  has  become  an  immense  gam- 
bling establishment."  It  is  well  known  that  lotteries  were  favorite  insti- 
tions  in  early  years  for  raising  money  for  all  sorts  of  public  purposes. 
In  January,  1814,  a  law  authorized  a  lottery  to  raise  $200,000  for  Union 
College,  and  was  favored  by  Dr.  Nott,  the  distinguished  president  of 
the  institution.  In  May,  1825,  the  council  appointed  a  committee  to 
negotiate  with  Yates  &  Mclntyre,  who  had  made  a  proposition  to  pur- 
chase the  Albany  City  Lottery,  as  the  institution  was  called,  for  $200,- 
000,  which  arrangement  was  subsequently  carried  out,  though  the  pur- 
chase price  was  $240,795,  to  be  paid  in  five  years.  The  total  valua- 
tion of  the  city  lands  which  constituted  the  basis  of  this  lottery  was 
$254,385. 

For  the  year  ending  in  October,  1820,  the  receipts  by  the  chamberlain 
were  $60,060.19,  the  expenses  $62,004.98.  The  chamberlain's  report 
for  1829  showed  the  gross  receipts  of  the  city  treasury  to  be  $320,- 
878.52,  the  disbursements,  $317,126.15.  The  heavy  expenses  of  the 
year  were  due  in  part  to  the  erection  of  two  markets,  the  beginning  of 
the  City  Hall,  and  large  cost  of  keeping  the  poor.  The  population  of 
the  city  had  now  (1830)  reached  24,209,  having  increased  to  that  number 
from  12,630  in  1820,  and  progress  was  everywhere  manifest. 

In  1835  the  county  clerk  reported  to  the  Common  Council  that  the 
population  of  the  city  according  to  a  recent  canvass  was  13,712  males 
and  14,373  females,  a  total  of  28,085,  of  whom  4,489  were  voters. 
Erastus  Corning  was  inaugurated  mayor  of  the  city  on  January  1,  1836, 
in  which  year  the  election  of  members  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  took 
place  in  the  spring  for  the  first  time.  Improvements  were  made  that 
year  in  the  basin,  and  the  government  improved  navigation  in  the  river. 


309 

Of  the  city  debt  of  more  than  $250,000  in  1817,  there  remained  now  due 
only  $95,000.  The  Utica  and  Schenectady  Railroad  was  nearing  com- 
pletion and  the  early  opening  of  an  uninterrupted  line  to  Buffalo  was 
in  sight.  At  this  time  the  Common  Council  adopted  measures  to  open 
a  space  in  the  pier  between  the  Columbia  and  the  State  street  bridges, 
and  a  resolution  was  also  adopted,  to  allow  the  Hudson  and  Mohawk 
Railroad  to  continue  its  track  from  Gansevoort  street  to  North  Ferry 
street. 

In  1840  the  canvassers  reported  to  the  Common  Council  that  the  pop- 
ulation of  the  city  was  33,627,  which  number  was  increased  in  1850  to 
a  little  more  than  50,000.  Previous  to  1848  the  money  raised  annually 
by  tax  for  the  expenses  of  the  city  government  was  usually  nearly  or 
quite  exhausted  by  the  1st  of  May,  in  the- temporary  loans  made  in  an- 
ticipation of  the  tax  levy,  a  practice  which  has  prevailed  in  most  cities, 
but  in  that  year  a  law  was  passed  by  the  Legislature  doing  away  with 
this  method,  greatly  to  the  benefit  of  the  city.  The  reports  from  1844 
to  1850  inclusive  show  the  following  sums  of  money  applicable  to  the 
support  of  the  city  government  in  the  years  named : 

1844.. $19,464.67 

1 845 10, 677. 81 

1846 _ 6, 797.98 

1847.. 793.70 

1848 662.:;:. 

1849 41,668.78 

1850 67,731.34 

These  figures  indicate  the  great  increase  in  the  amounts  immediately 
available  in  the  last  two  years,  under  the  operation  of  the  law  just 
mentioned.  The  chamberlain's  report  for  1850  gives  the  amount  of 
money  received  from  all  sources,  inclusive  of  $41, Mis.  ;s  which  was  the 
balance  on  hand,  as  $695,366.67,  and  the  expenditures,  as  $627,635.42, 
leaving  a  balance  of  $67,731.34.  The  mayor's  statement  of  that  year 
upon  the  financial  condition  of  the  city  has  the  following: 

On  the  first  of   May,   1*4S,  debt  of  the  city  (exclusive  of  certain  loans  so  amply 
secured  that  they  cannot  be  considered  absolute  liabilities  of  the  city)  amounted  to 
996.93.      Since  that  date  this  debt  has  been  reduced  $211,764.90;  and  the  exact 
amount  of  the  same  at  this  time  is  $541,132.08. 

The  assessment  rolls  in  1849  give  the  valuation  of  the  taxable  prop- 
erty of  the  city  as  $11,971,263.  Such  was  the  condition  of  the  city's 
financial  affairs  in  the  middle  of  this  century. 


310 

During  this  period  of  growth  in  municipal  affairs,  vast  changes  took 
place  in  other  directions.  The  steamboat  came  in  1807,  to  be  followed 
ere  long  by  the  canals  and  the  railroads,  all  of  which  were  of  great 
importance  to  Albany,  revolutionizing  methods  of  transportation  and 
travel,  and  river  commerce  was  greatly  extending,  with  the  greatest 
benefit  to  all  industries  and  trades  of  the  city.  Fulton's  first  steam- 
boat, the  Clermont,  was  thus  noticed  in  the  Albany  Gazette  of  Sep- 
tember 2,  1807: 

The  north  river  steamboat  will  leave  Paulus'  Hook  Ferry  on  Friday,  the  4th  of 
September,  at  nine  in  the  morning,  and  arrive  in  Albany  on  Saturday,  at  nine  hi  the 
afternoon.     Provisions,  good  berths  and  accommodation  are  provided. 

The  through  fare  was  $7.  In  the  Gazette  supplement  of  September 
7  appeared  the  following  notice  of  the  first  trip  of  the  steamboat  to 
Albany: 

This  morning  at  six  o'clock,  Mr.  Fulton's  steamboat  left  the  ferry  stairs  at  Court- 
land  street  dock  for  Albany.  She  is  to  make  her  passage  in  36  hours  from  the  time 
of  her  departure,  touching  at  Newburg,  Poughkeepsie,  Esopus,  and  Hudson  on  the 
way.  The  steamboat  arrived  at  Albany  on  Saturday  afternoon,  and  this  morning 
at  nine  o'clock  again  departed  for  New  York,  with  about  forty  ladies  and  gentlemen. 

The  first  steamer  continued  her  regular  trips,  gradually  reducing 
the  time  of  passage  to  twenty-eight  hours,  receiving  constantly  in- 
creasing patronage.  Other  boats  soon  followed.  The  Hudson  River 
Line  was  established  in  1825,  with  three  boats,  and  within  four  years 
added  three  more.  The  North  River  Line  was  established  in  1820  and 
the  Troy  Line  in  1832.  In  the  next  year  these  three  lines  were  con- 
solidated as  the  Hudson  River  Association  Line,  which  sailed  three 
day  and  three  night  boats.  The  People's  Line  was  established  in  1S34 
in  opposition  to  the  day  boats  of  the  Hudson  River  Association,  but 
was  sold  in  1835  to  the  association  for  $100,000  cash  and  $10,000  a  year 
for  ten  years.  The  People's  Line  was  revived  in  1830  by  Daniel  Drew, 
and  within  the  next  twenty- five  years  bought  or  built  seven  or  eight 
splendid  boats,  among  them  the  Dean  Richmond  and  the  Drew,  and 
ending  with  the  superb  Adirondack  of  to-day. 

By  the  year  1848  the  fleet  of  sailing  vessels  on  the  river  had  in- 
creased to  331  sloops  and  284  schooners,  and  at  the  end  of  the  suc- 
ceeding thirty-seven  years  (1885)  the  character  and  numbers  had 
changed  to  to  53  sailing  vessels,  113  steam  vessels,  175  canal  boats, 
and  SO  barges,  with  a  total  tonnage  of  61,201.  The  number  of  canal 
boats    indicates    the    importance    of    the   great    artificial    waterways, 


311 

which  have  already  been  alluded  to  in  detail.  Between  1840  and 
1850  railroad  traffic  became  an  important  factor  in  the  general  pros- 
perity of  Albany,  bringing  hither  from  the  West  the  immense  grain 
product  for  reshipment  to  New  York,  and  successfully  contending 
for  a  large  share  of  the  passenger  traffic.  A  great  lumber  interest 
had  been  created,  the  receipts  of  which  in  the  year  1840  reached 
1-.'  1,173,383  feet  of  boards,  and  784,310  feet  of  timber.  By  1850 
these  figures  were  increased  to  425,095,436  feet  of  boards,  and  3,039,- 
588  feet  of  timber.  In  the  year  1840  there  were  eighty- four  saw 
mills  running  in  Albany  county,  though  these  were  only  a  small  factor 
in  the  local  lumber  business.  The  iron  industry  had  become  large  and 
the  manufacture  of  stoves,  begun  in  1808,  reached  enormous  propor- 
tions. In  1833  the  quantity  of  iron  castings,  a  large  part  of  which 
consisted  of  stove  plates,  is  given  as  follows:  Howard,  Nott  &  Co. 
(manufacturers  of  the  famous  Nott  stove),  1,000  tons;  Bartlett,  Bent 
&  Co.,  350  tons;  I.  &  J.  Townsend,  300  tons;  Rathbone  &  Silliman, 
200  tons;  Maney  &  Ward,  450  tons;  a  total  of  2,300  tons.  Besides 
this  in  that  year  Heermans,  Rathbone  &  Co.  sold  750  tons  of  stove- 
plates  brought  from  Philadelphia,  and  nearly  as  man}-  more  were  sold 
by  other  firms.  The  manufacture  of  brick,  begun  here  in  1708,  was 
large  and  at  one  time  reached  about  20,000,000  a  year.  A  large  brew- 
ing interest  had  grown  up  which  has  continued  to  the  present  time. 
The  manufacture  of  pianos,  begun  at  Albany  by  James  A.  Gray  in 
L825,  was  successfully  continued  by  himself  and  with  William  G. 
Boardman,  and  many  other  departments  of  industry  were  successfully 
developed. 

The  insurance  business  was  begun  in  Albany  in  1811  by  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Albany  Insurance  Company  with  the  following  directors: 
Elisha  Jenkins,  Philip  S.  Van  Rensselaer,  Isaiah  Townsend,  Dudley 
Walsh,  Henry  Guest,  jr.,  Charles  Z.  Piatt,  Simeon  De  Witt,  Stephen 
Lush,  Charles  D.  Cooper,  Thomas  Gould.  John  Woodworth,  Peter 
Gansevoort,  and  Christian  Miller.  The  capital  stock  was  $500,000,  and 
the  first  president  was  Isaiah  Townsend,  an  able  business  man  and 
good  citizen.  This  old  company  has  continued  in  successful  operation 
ever  since.  The  Merchants'  Insurance  Company  was  organized  in 
L824,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $250,000,  and  having  Charles  E.  Dudley 
for  its  president.  The  Clinton  Insurance  Company  was  organized  in 
1829,  with  capita]  stock  of  $300,000.  The  Firemen's  Insurance  Com- 
pany was  incorporated   in  .April,  1831,  with  capital   stock  of  $150,000, 


312 

and  with  James  Stevenson  as  the  first  president,  while  the  Mutual  In- 
surance Company  was  organized  in  1836  and  is  still  in  business. 

Banking  facilities  were  also  extended  to  meet  the  demands  of  increas- 
ing business.  The  Commercial  Bank  was  incorporated  in  1823;  the 
Canal  Bank,  which  failed  in  1848,  in  1829;  the  Albany  City  Bank  in 
1837 ;  the  Albany  Exchange  Bank  in  1838.  Besides  these  two  savings 
institutions  were  founded,  the  Albany  Savings  Bank  in  1820  and  the 
Albany  City  Savings  Institution  in  1850. 

As  the  capital  of  the  State  and  an  active  business  center,  Albany  has 
always  attracted  a  large  number  of  strangers,  and  is  also  the  tempo- 
rary residence  for  the  members  of  the  State  government.  This  fact 
will  in  a  measure  account  for  the  number  and  high  character  of  the 
hotels  of  the  city,  the  names  of  some  of  which  have  become  familiar 
throughout  a  wide  extent  of  territory.  The  old  American  Hotel  was 
opened  in  1838  and  for  some  years  had  a  large  patronage.  The  Delavan 
began  its  long  and  popular  career  in  1845  and  is  still  open  to  the  public, 
though  reduced  in  its  accommodations  by  fire;  the  Stanwix  was  opened 
in  1844  and  continues  to  care  for  hosts  of  guests,  while  the  Kenmore  is 
the  latest  addition. 

The  principal  public  improvements  and  most  important  proceedings 
of  the  city  government  during  the  past  forty- five  years  may  now  be 
briefly  summarized.  Illuminating  gas  was  first  introduced  into  the  city 
in  1845  and  is  now  supplied  by  the  Municipal  Gaslight  Company,  which 
came  into  existence  by  the  consolidation  of  the  Albany  Gaslight  Com- 
pany (incorporated  in  1841),  and  the  People's  Gaslight  Company  (incor- 
porated in  1872).  The  Fire  Department  was  wholly  reorganized  in 
1848,  as  described  in  detail  further  on,  and  measures  were  adopted  to- 
wards the  early  development  of  the  sewer  system  begun  in  1854. 

The  city  chamberlain's  report  for  1860  shows  the  following  figures: 

Balance  on  hand  November  1,  1859 §  24,210  31 

Receipts  for  current  year. 448,418  58 

$472,628  89 

Disbursements §423,276  93 

On  hand  November  1,  1860 49,351  96 

$472,628  89 

Similar  statements  at  the  close  of  each  year  up  to  1870  since  the 
above  date,  and  for  1880  and  1890,  will  give  the  reader  a  fair  knowledge 
of  the  gradually  changing  financial  condition  of  the  city.  They  are  as 
follows : 


313 

Balance  on  hand  November  1 ,  1861 $  40,906  40 

Receipts  for  current  year 525,749  14 

$566,652  54 

Disbursements $463,528  19 

On  hand  November  1,  1862 103,124  35 

— ■ $566,652  54 

Balance  on  hand  November  1.  1862 _ .       $103,124  35 

Receipts  for  current  year . .        608,422  86 

$711,547  21 

Disbursements $607,946  69 

On  hand  November  1,  1863 103,600  52 

$711,547  21 

Balance  on  hand  November  1,  1863 $103,600  22 

Receipts  for  current  year _ .        756,936  82 

■ — $863,7:!7  04 

Disbursements $796,981  34 

On  hand  November  1,  1864.. 66,555  70 

$863,737  04 

Balance  on  hand  November  1,  1864 $66,555  70 

Receipts  for  current  vear . 905,457  60 

$972,013  30 

Disbursements $883,210  77 

On  hand  November  1,  1865   88,802  53 

8972,013  30 

Balance  on  hand  November  1,  1865 $88,802  53 

Receipts  for  current  year _  _ 961,026  ?:> 

$1,049,829  28 

Disbursements. $978,037  71 

On  hand  November  1,  1866 71,791  57 

SI, 049, 829  28 

Balance  on  hand  November  1,  1867 $78,632  47 

Receipts  for  current  year 890,307  19 

$968,939  66 

Disbursements $871,155  63 

On  hand  November  1,  1868 97,784  03 

$968,939  66 

Balance  on  hand  November  1,  1868... $97,784  03 

Receipts  for  current  year ..  $1,367,647  01 

$1,465,431  04 

Disbursements  _ $1,338,109  52 

On  hand  November  1,  1869 127,321  52 

$1,465,431  04 

Balance  on  hand  November  1,  1869 $127,321  52 

Receipts  for  current  year $1,510,538  37 

si.i;:!7.s:,!i  s!( 

Disbursements $1,448,487  36 

On  hand  November  1 ,  1870 l S7,:;72  53 

$1,637,859  89 

Balance  on  hand  November  1,  1871 $366,989   14 

Receipts  for  current  year 1,080,323  18 

$1,447,812  :!'-' 

Disbursements $1,266,410  28 

On  hand  November  1,  1S72 180,902  04 

$1,447,812  82 

40 


314 

Balance  on  hand  November  1,  1879 $84,493  01 

Receipts  for  current  year. . -.  $1,306,457  41 

$1,390,950  42 

Disbursements §1,296,665  60 

On  hand  November  1,  1880 94,288  82 

$1,390,950  42 

Balance  on  hand  November  1,  1889 $665,110  29 

Receipts  for  current  vear ..- 81,889,106  50 

$2 ,  554, 2 1 6  7  9 

Disbursements 82,029,942  26 

On  hand  November  1,  1890 524,274  53 

$2,554,216  79 

Balance  on  hand  November  1,  1894 8685,907  96 

Receipts  for  current  year 81,983,496  21 

82,669,4114   17 

Disbursements  _. 82,001,602  46 

On  hand  November  1,  1895 667,801  71 

82,669,404  17 

For  the  year  closing  November  1,  1895,  the  chamberlain's  report  shows 
that  the  expense  of  maintaining-  the  almshouse  was  $30,715. 07.  There 
was  paid  on  Washington  and  Beaver  parks,  $64,313.88.  The  board  of 
health  cost  $9, 524. 35;  the  city  hall  and  city  building  about  $10,000; 
the  city  poor,  $12,481.46;  the  fire  department,  $111,065.15;  hospitals, 
$22,490.79;  police  department,  $149,272.85 ;  street  cleaning,  $13,000- 
27:  and  street  improvements.  $42,503.90. 

Horse  cars  were  introduced  into  Albany  in  1863,  the  first  car  being 
run  on  June  22,  of  that  year.  This  improvement  was  the  work  of  the 
Watervliet  Turnpike  and  Railroad  Company,  which  was  incorporated 
April  16,  1S62,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $240,000.  In  1864  the  line  was 
continued  to  the  Albany  Cemetery  and  in  1865  to  Green  Island.  The 
Albany  Railway  Company  was  incorporated  September  14,  1863,  with 
a  capital  stock  of  $100,000.  Its  first  line  of  track  was  finished  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1864,  extending  through  State,  Washington  and  Central  avenue 
to  Knox  street.  This  line  was  extended  to  West  Albany  in  the  follow- 
ing year,  and  other  lines  were  added  until  the  present  complete  system 
was  established. 

For  a  number  of  years  the  subject  of  establishing  a  large  public  park 
in  Albany  attracted  attention  and  caused  much  discussion  in  the  public 
press  and  among  the  people,  and  in  June,  1863,  an  able  paper  on  the 
subject  was  read  before  the  Common  Council.  Nothing,  however,  was 
definitely  accomplished  until  1869,  when  a  law  was  passed  creating  a 
Board  of  Park  Commissioners  for  the  city  and  setting  apart  what  was 


315 

then  known  as  the  burial  ground  property,  the  old  Washington  Parade 
Ground,  the  penitentiary  ground  and  the  almshouse  farm.  The  Board 
of  Commissioners  comprised  John  Bridgford,  Arthur  Bott,  George 
Dawson,  Dudley  Olcott,  William  Cassidy,  John  Fair,  Rufus  W.  Peck- 
ham,  jr.,  Samuel  H.  Ransom,  and  John  H.  Van  Antwerp.  Plans  were 
made  for  improvements  on  a  part  of  this  territory  and  work  began  in 
L870,  under  supervision  of  R.  H.  Bingham,  chief  engineer.  In  the  fol- 
lowing year  the  old  burial  ground  was  divested  of  its  dead,  laid  out  and 
opened  to  the  public  as  part  of  the  park.  Further  improvements  con- 
tinued every  year.  In  1880  and  1882  additional  land  was  purchased, 
including  the  Knox  street  property  of  nine  acres,  and  a  tract  lying  on 
Madison  and  Lake  avenues.  Washington  Park  now  contains  about 
eighty-two  acres  and  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  its  area  in  the 
country. 

By  an  act  of  the  Legislature  passed  March  16,  1870,  the  city  charter 
was  largely  amended.  There  had,  of  course,  been  many  minor  changes 
in  the  charter  since  the  city  was  founded  in  108G,  but  none  of  very  radi- 
cal character,  and  the  corporation  still  retained  its  original  title  of  The 
Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the  City  of  Albany.  By  the  act 
referred  to  this  title  was  abridged  to  that  of  the  City  of  Albany.  For 
the  other  important  amendments  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  original 
and  the  present  charters,  which  are  accessible  in  many  places  in  the 
city.  Still  further  amendments  were  made  in  April,  1883,  some  of 
which  were  of  importance. 

As  indicated  in  succeeding  pages  under  separate  headings,  the  history 
of  Albany  during  the  last  half  century  is  a  record  of  continuous  ad- 
vancement. In  the  extension  and  improvement  of  streets;  in  beauti- 
fying the  public  parks;  in  largely  adding  to  the  number  of  its  Christian 
and  benevolent  institutions;  in  building  up  the  public  school  system 
until  it  is  excelled  nowhere  in  the  country ;  in  all  the  departments  of 
public  works  that  better  the  condition  of  the  community  at  large,  and 
in  the  extent  and  variety  of  its  manufactures,  it  has  more  than  kept 
abreast  of  its  growth  in  population. 

The  city  of  Albany  celebrated  the  two  hundredth  anniversary  of  its 
existence  as  a  ehartered  city  in  1880.  For  some  time  prior  to  that  the 
subject   of  appropriately   observing  the  day  had   been   considered  and 

discussed  among  leading  citizens.  The  matter  was  definitely  brought 
up  by  a  resolution  offered  in  the  Common  Council   November  It',,  L885, 


316 

by  Alderman  James  B.  Lyon,  that  the  celebration  of  the  bi-centennial 
be  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Public  Celebrations  and  Entertain- 
ments of  the  council.  The  city  budget  of  1886  contained  an  item  of 
$10,000  "for  celebrating-  the  bi-centennial  of  Albany."  On  December 
18,  the  bi-centennial  proclamation  was  issued  by  the  mayor,  A.  Bleecker 
Banks,  and  the  committee  before  mentioned,  which  consisted  of  Galen 
R.  Hitt,  Patrick  McCann,  Jeremiah  Kieley,  James  Thornton,  and 
August  Whitman.  In  response  to  a  call  in  the  proclamation  a  meeting 
of  citizens  whs  held  in  the  council  chamber  January  6,  1886,  where 
many  local  organizations  were  represented.  The  proceedings  adopted 
for  the  celebration  of  the  centennial  in  1786,  described  on  an  earlier 
page,  were  read,  and  a  committee  of  twenty-five  citizens  was  appoint- 
ed, with  the  mayor  as  chairman,  to  act  in  conjunction  with  the  council 
committee  in  carrying  out  the  plans  for  the  celebration.  This  commit- 
tee were  A.  Bleecker  Banks,  chairman,  Robert  Lenox  Banks,  Lewis 
Boss,  Anthony  N.  Brady,  Walter  Dickson,  Franklin  M.  Danaher,  Douw 
H.  Fonda,  Charles  E.  Jones,  Rufus  H.  King,  J.  Townsend  Lansing, 
James  H.  Manning,  Archibald  McClure,  Edward  J.  Meegan,  John  C. 
Nott,  Michael  N.  Nolan,  Amasa  J,  Parker,  jr.,  Robert  C.  Pruyn,  John 
H.  Quinby,  Simon  W.  Rosendale,  Samuel  B.  Towner,  William  B.  Van 
Rensselaer,  John  L.  Van  Valkenburgh,  Daniel  W.  Wemple,  William  M. 
Whitney,  Robert  D /Williams,  Horace  G.  Young,  John  Zimmerman. 
Aldermen — Galen  R.  Hitt,  Patrick  McCann,  Jeremiah  Kieley,  James 
Thornton,  August  Whitman,  John  J.  Greagan,  David  J.  Norton,  George 
L.  Thomas,  James  O.  Woodward.  Robert  D.  Williams  was  chosen 
recording  secretary,  and  James  H.  Manning,  corresponding  secretary 
of  the  committee. 

The  full  account  of  the  proceedings  of  this  committee  and  of  the 
celebration  itself  has  been  published  in  a  handsome  volume  of  401 
pages,  which  is  in  the  hands  of  many  citizens  of  the  city  and  is  acces- 
sible to  all.  This  fact  renders  it  unnecessary,  as  it  is  also  entirely  im- 
practicable, to  give  more  than  a  very  brief  outline  of  the  event  in 
these  pages. 

The  committee  above  named  appointed  sub-committees,  including 
the  executive,  finance,  reception,  historical  pageant,  regatta,  military 
parade,  civic  parade,  educational  day,  trades'  parade,  all  nations'  day, 
fireworks,  decorations  and  monumenting,  music,  bi-centennial  flag  and 
medal,  printing  and  press  committees,  with  a  loan  commission,  a  bureau 
of  information  and  accommodation,  an  auditing  board  and  an  advisory 


317 

committee  of  147  members  to  aid  all  the  others.  These  committees 
met  frequently  and  labored  with  energy  to  carry  out  the  elaborate 
plans.  On  March  4,  1886,  the  executive  committee  reported  that  the 
celebration  should  begin  on  Sunday,  July  18,  and  end  on  July  23. 
Sunday  was  named  as  a  day  of  general  religious  observance,  with  his- 
torical and  memorial  sermons  in  the  churches ;  Monday,  educational 
da}-,  on  which  the  school  children  were  assembled  in  a  public  place  for 
exercises,  singing,  recitations  and  addresses,  and  historic  spots  were 
monumented,  with  addresses  appropriate  to  the  occasion  delivered  at 
each  place  marked.  Tuesday  was  the  day  of  all  nations,  devoted  to 
national  sports,  exercises  and  observances,  under  direction  of  the  Ger- 
man, Irish,  English.  Scotch,  French,  Italian,  Holland  and  other  national 
societies ;  in  the  afternoon  a  regatta,  amateur  and  professional,  was 
held  over  the  Island  course,  and  a  yacht  race  in  front  of  the  city;  in  the 
evening  a  river  parade  of  illuminated  and  decorated  steamboats,  with 
music  and  fireworks.  Wednesday  was  civic  da}",  and  was  ushered  in 
by  a  national  salute  of  thirty-eight  guns;  a  grand  parade  of  civic 
bodies  at  K)  a.  m.,  with  a  firemen's  tournament;  in  the  afternoon  there 
was  a  continuation  of  the  regatta,  and  a  canoeing  tournament  in  front 
of  the  city;  in  the  evening  a  grand  historical  pageant  under  colored 
fires  and  electric  lights,  showing  the  contrast  between  past  and  present, 
the  growth  of  two  centuries,  and  placing  before  the  people  in  living 
tableaux  the  historical  events  and  great  men  in  Albany's  history.  This 
pageant  massed,  after  the  parade,  in  State  street  at  12  o'clock  midnight, 
and  there  amid  a  blaze  of  fireworks,  ringing  of  church  bells,  sounding 
of  whistles  and  singing  of  the  national  anthem,  ushered  in  the  anni- 
versary day.  Thursday,  bi-centennial  day,  a  salute  of  200  guns  was 
given  at  sunrise,  fifty  guns  being  fired  in  four  separate  places;  a  grand 
military  procession  in  the  morning  as  escort  to  orator,  poet,  guests, 
etc.,  to  place  of  exercises,  these  exercises  consisting  of  music,  invoca- 
tion, singing,  poems,  orations,  addresses,  etc.;  in  the  evening,  fire- 
works and  municipal  reception,  Friday,  trades  and  manufacture 
parade  of  all  trades'  unions,  assemblies  and  Knights  of  Labor,  manu- 
facturing and  business  interests,  represented  by  floats  bearing  work- 
men carrying  on  their  various  trades;  in  the  afternoon,  grand  open  air 
concert;  in  the  evening  singing  by  Albany  societies  in  the  Capitol 
Park,  with  fireworks  as  a  finale. 

It  can  be  stated  in  a  general   manner  that   this   programme    was,  in 
the  main  features,  carried  out  in  a  most  successful  manner.      The  van- 


318 

cms  committees  arranged  plans  for  the  different  features  of  each  day's 
proceedings  and  reported  frequently  to  the  general  committee ;  thus 
the  entire  work  of  preparation  moved  along  harmoniously  to  its  con- 
summation. On  April  1  it  was  resolved  that  the  National  Association 
of  Amateur  Oarsmen  be  invited  to  hold  their  regetta  in  Albany  during 
bi-centennial  week,  and  $1,850  was  appropriated  to  cover  the  expenses; 
this  was  a  substitute  for  the  first  proposed  regatta. 

About  the  middle  of  April  the  committee  on  the  historical  pageant 
made  an  elaborate  report,  which  was  adopted,  and  the  sum  of  $10,000 
appropriated  to  carry  out  its  provisions.  On  April  22  an  estimate  of 
the  entire  expenses  of  the  celebration  placed  it  at  between  $35,000  and 
$40,000.  On  the  29th  of  April,  Gov.  David  B.  Hill  was  appointed  ora- 
tor, and  William  H.  McElroy,  poet  of  the  occasion.  On  May  6  Mayor 
Ranks  was  succeeded  in  that  office  by  John  Boyd  Thacher,  and  resigned 
his  chairmanship  of  the  bi-centennial  committee;  Mr.  Thacher  was 
elected  in  his  place  and  Mr.  Banks  was  chosen  vice-chairman. 

During  the  month  of  May  the  work  of  collecting  funds  progressed 
satisfactorily  and  a  committee  of  five  was  appointed  to  meet  with  the 
committee  on  celebrations  of  the  Common  Council,  to  appropriate  and 
distribute  the  $10,000  given  by  the  city.  The  sum  of  $3,000  was  ap- 
propriated for  fireworks;  $2,500  for  monumenting  and  decorating; 
$1,900  for  expenses  of  the  reception  committee,  and  $500  for  prelimi- 
nary expenses- of  the  loan  exhibition. 

On  June  10  Walter  Dickson,  of  the  committee  on  monuments  and 
decoration  reported,  advising  the  placing  of  the  following  bronze  tab- 
lets, with  appropriate  inscriptions,  which  were  given  in  the  report  and 
which  now  appear  on  the  tablets  in  various  parts  of  the  city: 

No.  1,  located  50  feet  east  of  the  bend  in  Broadway,  at  Steamboat  Square.  No.  '2, 
inserted  in  the  exterior  surface  of  the  Eagle  street  wall  of  the  city  hall.  No.  3,  on 
the  government  building  fronting  State  street.  No.  4,  the  first  Patroon,  placed  in 
the  city  hall.  No.  5,  the  Old  Dutch  church,  in  the  government  building  adjoining 
No.  3.  No.  6,  Lutheran  church,  on  the  South  Pearl  street  face  of  the  city  building. 
No.  7,  First  English  church,  in  the  wall  near  the  curb,  northwest  corner  of  Chapel 
and  State  streets.  No.  8,  Old  St.  Mary's,  in  the  wall  of  the  present  St.  Mary's.  No. 
9,  First  Presbyterian  church,  in  the  wall  of  building  northeast  corner  of  Grand  and 
Hudson  streets.  No.  10,  Schuyler  Mansion,  in  front  of  wall  inclosing  grounds  on 
Catherine  street.  No.  11,  Fort  Frederick,  in  sidewalk  at  the  head  of  State  street 
on  lower  edge  of  Capitol  Park.  No.  12,  Philip  Livingston,  in  Tweddle  Building 
wall.  No.  13,  Anneke  Janse  Bogardus,  on  front  door  pier  of  State  street  side  of 
Farmers'  and  Mechanics'  Bank.  No.  14,  the  old  Lansing  House,  in  granite  block  in 
front  of  the   present  house,   corner  of  Pearl  and  Columbia  streets.     No.  15,  oldest 


319 

building  in  Albany,  southeast  corner  of  State  and  North  Pearl  street  (this  building 
has  since  been  removed).  No.  16,  old  Elm  Tree  Corner,  on  granite  block  northwest 
corner  of  State  and  North  Pearl  streets.  No.  17,  Vanderheyden  Place,  in  front  wall 
of  Perry  Building.  No.  18,  Lydius  Corner,  in  Pearl  street  wall  on  northeast  corner 
of  State  and  North  Pearl  streets.  No  19,  Washington's  Visit,  in  Beaver  street  wall 
northwest  corner  of  Beaver  and  Green  streets.  No.  20,  First  Theater,  in  front  wall 
of  the  original  building,  the  Green  street  theater.  No.  21,  First  English  School- 
master,  on  the  High  School  building.  No.  22,  Foxenkill,  in  southern  wall  of  build- 
ing northwest  corner  of  Canal  and  North  Pearl  streets.  No.  23,  Beaverkill,  in  granite 
block  corner  of  South  Pearl  and  Arch  streets.  No.  24,  City  Gate,  in  face  of  north 
wall  of  American  Express  building,  Broadway  and  Steuben  street.  No.  25.  Manor 
House,  in  granite  near  the  Van  Rensselaer  business  office  on  Broadwav.  No.  20, 
Johannes  Van  Rensselaer,  in  the  wall  of  the  original  mansion  on  the  Greenbush 
banks.  No.  27,  Joel  Munsell,  in  gable  building  58  and  60  State  street.  No.  28, 
Northwest  (late,  in  budding  on  North  Pearl  street,  occupied  by  Johnson  &  Reillv. 
No.  29,  Northeast  Gate,  in  granite  block  in  walk  in  front  of  the  Van  Benthuysen 
printing  office,  Broadway.  No.  30,  First  Methodist  church,  in  wall  of  building  cor- 
ner of  North  Pearl  and  Orange  streets.  No.  31,  Academy  Park,  in  granite  block  in 
the  park.  No.  32,  Washington  Avenue,  on  corner  of  Capitol  Budding.  No.  33, 
Hamilton  Street,  on  corner  building  at  Hamilton  and  Pearl  streets.  No.  34,  Dean 
Street,  in  Government  Building  corner  of  State  and  Dean  streets.  No.  35,  State 
Street,  on  old  Museum  corner.  No.  36,  James  Street,  on  Farmers'  and  Mechanics' 
Bank.  No.  37,  Eagle  Street,  on  corner  building  State  and  Eagle  streets.  No.  38, 
Exchange  Street,  on  north  side  of  government  building.  No.  39,  Norton  street, 
north  side  of  Beaver  Block.  No.  40,  Franklin  Street,  corner  of  Franklin  and  Mad- 
ison avenue.  No.  41,  Clinton  Avenue,  corner  of  North  Pearl  street.  No.  42.  Mon- 
roe street,  south  side  of  Dutch  Reformed  Church. 

The  placing  of  these  historical  tablets  was  one  of  the  most  important 
and  useful  features  of  the  celebration. 

In  June  it  was  determined  to  eliminate  Friday  from  the  programme 
of  the  parade,  and  the  Trades'  Parade  was  transferred  to  Monday,  the 
19th  of  July.  June  17  was  reported  the  aceeptance  of  Rev.  William 
Crosswell  Doane,  Bishop  of  Albany,  as  chaplain  of  Bi-Centennial  Daw 
On  the  '-24th  of  June  the  committee  on  bi-centennial  flag  presented  a 
design,  which  is  described  and  illustrated  in  the  volume  before  alluded 
to.  The  committee  on  medals  also  presented  the  design  that  had  been 
adopted;  the  scene  represents  Governor  Dongan  seated  at  lbs  desk 
with  Livingston  and  Schuyler  on  his  either  side,  commemorativi 
the  statement  that  these  two  men  went  to  Xew  York  to  receive  the 
charter  from  Dongan.  '  >n  the  reverse  is  the  inscription,  "  In  memory 
of  the  two  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  cityof  Albany,  X.  V.,  L8S 

On  July  1  the  sum  of  $2,000  was  appropriated  for  expenses  of  the 
military  committee;   it  was  also  resolved  that  all  persons  subscribing     - 


320 

or  more  to  the  All-Nations'  Day  fund  should  be  entitled  to  a  bi-centen- 
nial  flag;  subscribers  of  $20  two  flags;  $50,  three  flags,  and  $100,  four 
flags. 

On  July  13,  Amasa  J.  Parker,  jr.,  presented  a  resolution  which  had 
been  adopted  in  a  joint  meeting  of  the  Senate  and  Assembly,  to  the 
effect  that  the  senators  and  members  of  the  then  present  Legislature 
and  all  previous  Legislatures  be  cordially  invited  to  meet  the  legis- 
lative committee  at  the  Delavan  House  July  22,  to  make  such  arrange- 
ments as  seemed  desirable.  The  Senate  committee  were  Amasa  J. 
Parker,  jr.,  J.  Sloat  Fassett,  John  Raines,  James  F.  Pierce,  and  Ed- 
mund L.  Pitts.  The  Assembly  committee  were  James  W.  Huested, 
George  S.  Batcheller,  George  L.  Erwin,  Henry  D.  Hotchkiss,  George 
W.  Lyon,  William  F.  Sheehan,  Michael  F.  Collins,  Thomas  McCarthy, 
George  W.  Green,  and  Edward  D.  Cutler. 

A  grand  stand  was  erected,  a  short  time  before  the  opening  of  the 
celebration,  on  the  Capitol  grounds  opposite  the  City  Hall,  with  a  seat- 
ing capacity  of  2,500. 

The  celebration  opened  auspiciously.  The  elaborate  programme  as 
carried  out  cannot  be  followed  here,  but  the  principal  events  were  the 
opening  of  the  Loan  Exhibition  July  5,  and  the  reading  of  a  poem  on 
that  day  by  William  D.  Morange,  and  an  oration  by  Leonard  Kip;  the 
reception  of  the  Caughnawaga  Indians  on  July  17;  the  services  appro- 
priate to  the  event  in  most  of  the  churches  on  Sunday,  the  18th ;  the 
parade  of  industrial  interests  and  the  children's  exercises  on  the  19th; 
the  parade  of  the  nations  on  the  20th,  and  their  review  at  the  Capitol 
by  high  State  officials ;  the  very  interesting  exercises  of  Civic  Day  on 
the  21st;  the  grand  military  display  and  the  reading  of  the  poem  by 
William  H.  McElroy;  the  legislative  reunion,  and  the  delivery  of  the 
oration  on  Bi-Centennial  Day,  the22d. 

This  hasty  glance  at  this  great  celebration,  perhaps  the  grandest 
ever  held  for  a  similar  purpose  in  this  country,  must  suffice  for  these 
pages.  It  was  in  every  way  a  fitting  culmination  of  the  two  hundred 
years  of  the  city's  history. 

Mayors  of  Albany. — The  first  mayor  of  Albany  is  named  in  the  Don- 
gan  charter  of  July  22,  1686.  That  charter  provided  for  the  annual 
appointment  of  a  mayor  "upon  the  feast  day  of  St.  Michael,  the  Arch- 
angel." By  virtue  of  his  office  the  mayor  was  also  commander  of  the 
militia  of  the  county,  and   possessed  the   authority  of  a  justice   of  the 


EDWARD  DE  L.   PALMER. 


321 

peace,  coroner,  commissioner  of  excise,  and  clerk  of  the  market. 
Twenty-six  mayors  were  thus  appointed  under  the  Colonial  govern- 
ment, down  to  the  English  accession ;  among  them  were  five  members 
of  the  Schuyler  family,  three  of  the  Bleecker  family,  and  three  of  the 
Cuyler  family.  Following  the  Declaration  of  Independence  the  may- 
ors of  Albany  were  for  a  period  appointed  by  the  governor;  later  and 
down  to  and  including  1830  they  were  chosen  by  the  Common  Council. 
In  1840  and  since  they  have  been  elected  by  the  people. 

The  first  mayor  was  Peter  Schuyler,  with  whose  eminent  career  the  reader  must 
now  be  comparatively  familiar.  He  filled  the  office  with  dignity  and  ability ;  exer- 
cised a  powerful  influence  over  the  neighboring  Indians,  and  for  some  years  held  the 
office  of  Indian  Commissioner. 

The  second  Mayor  was  John  Abeel,  appointed  October  14,  1694,  who  also  served 
another  term,  1709-10.  He  was  recorder  in  1702  and  held  several  other  local  offices. 
He  died  January  28,  1711. 

Evert  Bancker,  mayor  1695-96  and  1707-09,  was  born  January  24,  1665.  He  was  a 
merchant  of  Beverwyck  and  held  several  offices,  among  them  master  in  chancery, 
Indian  commissioner,  and  member  of  assembly.  (See  civil  list.)  He  was  buried 
July  10,  1734. 

Dirck  Wessels,  mayor  1696-98,  was  also  the  first  recorder  under  the  charter  of 
1686.  He  was  a  prominent  fur  trader,  held  the  rank  of  major  in  the  militia  and  was 
conspicuous  in  public  affairs.     He  died  September  13,  1717. 

Hendric  Hansen,  1698-99,  held  the  office  of  alderman,  commissioner  of  Indian 
affairs,  and  assemblyman.  He  was  buried  February  19,  1724.  Nicholas  Hansen,  the 
last  male  representative  of  this  family,  died  in  1869. 

Peter  Van  Brugh,  son  of  Johannes  Pieterse  Verbrugge,  a  leading  Holland  trader, 
was  mayor  1699-1700  and  in  1721-23.  He  resided  on  State  street,  on  the  north  side, 
west  of  Pearl.     He  was  buried  July  20,  1740. 

Jans  Janse  Bleecker,  mayor  1700-01,  was  a  blacksmith  and  later  a  trader,  and  also 
held  the  offices  of  recorder,  justice  of  the  peace  and  member  of  the  Provincial  As- 
scmoly. 

Johannes  Bleecker,  1702-03,  was  brewer  and  a  captain  in  the  militia;  was  buried 
January  12,   1737. 

Johannes  Schuyler,  1703-06,  was  the  son  of  Philip  Peter  Schuyler  and  brother  of 
.  the  first  mayor.  He  was  attached  to  the  army  of  General  Winthrop  in  1691 
as  captain,  and  exhibited  great  bravery  and  energy  in  border  warfare.  He  took  an 
active  part  in  several  important  military  movements;  was  alderman  several  years, 
Indian  commissioner,  in  1705.  He  died  at  his  home,  corner  of  State  and  I 'earl 
streets,  July  25,  1727. 

David  Schuyler,  1706-07,  one  of  the  five  sons  of  David  (brother  of  Philip  Peter), 
also  held  the  offices  of  alderman,  justice  of  the  peace,  and  Indian  commissioner.  He 
was  twice  married  and  had  seven  children. 

Robert  Livingston,  1710  -19,  was  the  first  settler  of  that  name  in  the  province  from 
whom  were  descended  many  eminent  men.  The  family  is  of  Scotch  descent  and 
espoused  the  cause  of  the  patriots  in  the  Revolution.  Robert  was  secretary  of  Al- 
41 


322 

bany  nearly  fifty  years,  1675-1721,  and  held  other  offices.  His  house  stood  on  the 
northwest  corner  of  State  and  North  Pearl  streets.     He  died  April  20,  1725. 

Myndert  Schuyler,  1719-21  and  1723-25.  was  son  of  David  Pieterse  Schuyler,  and 
also  held  the  office  of  alderman  and  other  public  positions.  He  was  sent  in  1720  into 
the  Seneca  country  where  he  succeeded  in  dissuading  the  Senecas  from  further  war 
upon  the  Western  Indians.  He  acted  as  Indian  commissioner  with  signal  ability. 
He  died  October  10,  1755. 

Johannes  Cuyler,  1725-6,  son  of  Hendrick,  was  a  trader  and  settled  in  Albany  in 
1637. 

Rutger  Bleecker,  1726-9,  held  also  the  office  of  recorder  in  1725.  He  was  buried 
in  the  old  church  August  5,  1756. 

Johannes  De  Peyster,  1729-31  and  1732-3,  and  1741-2,  was  son  of  Johannes,  who 
was  mayor  of  New  York,  and  grandson  of  Johannes,  one  of  the  wealthiest  and  most 
influential  citizens  of  that  city,  who  was  the  founder  of  the  family  in  this  country,  which 
was  of  Huguenot  origin.  The  Albany  mayor  also  held  the  offices  of  Indian  commis- 
sioner, member  of  assembly  and  was  the  first  surrogate  of  the  county.  He  died 
February  26,  1789. 

Hans  Hansen,  1731-2,  and  1754-6,  was  a  successful  trader.  He  died  December  6, 
1756. 

Edward  Holland,  1733-40,  was  the  first  man  of  English  descent  to  hold  the  office  of 
mayor.  His  father,  Henry  Holland,  was  in  command  of  the  Albany  garrison  in 
1632. 

John  Schuyler,  jr.,  1740-41,  second  son  of  Mayor  John  Schuyler,  was  born  in  1697. 
One  of  his  nine  children  was  Major-Gen.  Schuyler,  of  Revolutionary  fame.   . 

Cornelius  Cuyler,  1742-46,  was  father  of  Col.  Abraham  C.  Cuyler,  who  was  mayor 
at  a  later  date. 

Dirck  Ten  Broeck  was  mayor  174G-48.     He  died  in  January,  1751. 

Jacob  C.  Ten  Eyck,  1748-50,  was  also  a  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas;  he 
died  September  9,  1793. 

Robert  Sanders,  1750-54,  was  a  leading  merchant  and  died,  probably,  in  1795. 

Sybrant  G.  Van  Schaick,  1756-61,  was  a  son  of  Goosen  Van  Schaick,  who  was 
prominent  in  the  army. 

Volkert  P.  Douw,  1761-70,  one  of  the  nine  children  of  Petrus  Douw,  was  born  in 
Greenbush  and  married  a  daughter  of  John  De  Peyster,  by  whom  he  had  ten  chil- 
pren,  among  whom  was  Gen.  John  De  Peyster  Douw,  a  distinguished  officer.  Dur- 
ing Mr.  Douw's  mayoralty  grave  responsibilities  devolved  upon  him,  but  he  proved 
himself  equal  to  the  emergency  and  conducted  public  affairs  with  ability.  He  was  a 
jddge  of  the  Common  Pleas,  1759-70;  recorder,  1750-60;  member  of  assembly,  1757-59; 
member  of  the  first  Congress,  1775;  State  senator,  etc.     He  died  March  20,  1801. 

Abraham  C.  Cuyler,  1770-78,  was  the  last  mayor  to  serve  under  royal  commission. 
He  became  an  open  royalist  and  finally  went  to  Canada,  where  he  died  February  5, 
1810. 

John  Barclay,  1778-9,  was  the  first  mayor  under  the  State  government.  He  was 
president  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  and  Correspondence,  organized  in  1774,  and  a 
man  of  high  character.      He  died  while  in  office  in  1779. 

Abraham  Ten  Broeck,  1779-83  and  1796-99,  son  of  Mayor  Dirck  Ten  Broeck,  was 
a  merchant,  and  a  man  prominent  iu  public  life  ;  was  a  member  of  the  Colonial  As- 


323 

sembly  1760-65  ;  member  of  the  Provincial  Congress  in  1775,  and  ranked  high  as  a 
militia  officer  in  Revolutionary  times.  After  the  war  he  was  State  senator,  1780-83, 
and  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  1781-94. 

John  Jacob  Beekman,  was  mayor  1783-86,  and  died  December  17,  1802. 

John  Lansing,  jr.,  1786-90;  was  delegate  to  the  convention  that  framed  the 
United  States  Constitution,  and  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1788. 
While  in  New  York  and  about  to  start  for  Albany  he  suddenly  disappeared  Decem- 
ber 12,  1829,  and  was  never  after  heard  from. 

Abraham  Yates,  jr.,  1790-96,  was  one  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  president  of  the 
Provincial  Congress  1775-6,  and  an  active  patriot.     He  died  June  30,  1796. 

Phillip  S.  Van  Rensselaer,  1796-1816  and  1819-21,  had  the  longest  term  of  any 
Albany  mayor.     He  was  a  son  of  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer, 

Elisha  Jenkins,  1816-19,  was  the  son  of  Thomas  Jenkins,  and  was  also  member 
of  assembly,  State  senator,  and  secretary  of  state,  the  latter  in  1806-09,  comptroller 
1805-06,  and  a  Regent  of  the  University. 

Charles  E.  Dudley,  1821-24  and  1828-29;  settled  in  Albany  in  1819  and  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits.  He  was  State  senator  1823-25;  U.  S.  senator  1829-31.  He 
died  January  23,  1841.     His  widow  was  the  founder  of  Dudley  Observatory. 

Ambrose  Spencer,  1824-26,  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  and  an  LL.  D.,  studied 
law  and  early  in  life  was  called  to  public  office.  He  was  attorney-general  1802-04, 
at  which  time  he  settled  in  Albany,  coming  from  Hudson.  He  was  also  a  justice  of 
the  Supreme  Court  1804,  and  chief  justice  1819-23,  and  a  member  of  congress  1829- 
81.  He  held  other  local  offices  and  was  eminent  in  his  profession.  He  died  .March 
13,  1848. 

James  Stevenson,  1826-28,  was  long  a  prosperous  and  active  citizen.  He  died 
July  3,  1852. 

John  Townsend  was  mayor  in  1829-31  and  in  1832-33.  He  was  a  brother  of  Isaiah 
Townsend  and  for  a  long  time  his  partner  in  their  extensive  business  operations. 
Isaiah  settled  in  Albany  in  1799  and  John  in  1802.  The  firm  of  John  &  Isaiah 
Townsend  was  formed  in  1804  and  continued  until  the  death  of  Isaiah  in  1838.  The 
business  consisted  largely  of  the  purchase  and  sale  of  iron,  but  they  also  had  an 
interest  in  the  Troy  Nail  and  Iron  factory,  in  a  furnace  and  machine  shop  in  Albany, 
and  in  other  large  industries.  John  was  a  counselor  of  De  Witt  Clinton  in  the  Erie 
Canal  enterprise;  was  the  founder  of  the  insurance  business  in  Albany;  prominent 
in  the  banking  business,  and  in  all  ways  a  leading  citizen.  He  died  August  26, 
I B5 1 

Francis  Bloodgood,  1833-34,  son  of  Abraham  Bloodgood,  who  was  a  merchant  in 
West  India  trade.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Yale,  and  studied  and  practiced  law;  was 
clerk  of  the  Supreme  Court,  a  director  and  president  of  the  State  Bank,  and  presi- 
dent of  the  Albany  Insurance  Company.  He  was  a  man  of  high  character  and 
ability.     He  died  March  5,  1840. 

Erastus  Corning,  1834-37,  was  born  in  Norwich,  Conn.,  December  14,  1794,  and 
died  April  8,  1872.  During  his  long  life  he  was  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of 
Albany  and  one  of  its  foremost  citizens.  Beginning  in  a  humble  position  in  the 
store  of  Hart  &  Smith,  he  later  became  confidential  clerk  for  John  A.  Spent 
Co.,  in  which  firm  he  soon  became  a  partner.  He  remained  in  the  hardware  trade 
for  nearly  half  a  century,  with  different  persons  as  partners,  among  them   his  son, 


324 

Erastus  Corning,  jr.  He  was  a  leader  in  establishing  the  early  railroads  of  the 
State,  the  importance  of  which  he  clearly  foresaw,  and  was  chosen  president  of  the 
New  York  Central  when  the  consolidation  of  several  lines  was  effected  in  1854.  He 
occupied  similar  responsible  positions  in  various  other  great  corporations.  In  official 
life  he  was  alderman  in  1828:  a  Regent  of  the  University;  State  senator,  1841;  dele- 
gate to  the  Democratic  national  conventions  of  1848  and  1852;  member  of  congress 
1857-59,  and  two  later  terms,  and  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of 
1867.  In  all  of  these  high  stations  he  acquitted  himself  with  signal  ability.  He  was 
benevolent  and  generous  with  the  large  fortune  which  he  had  accumulated,  giving 
largely  to  many  of  the  most  useful  institutions  in  the  city.  Endowed  with  a  high 
degree  of  public  spirit,  he  was  ever  ready  to  devote  his  powerful  influence  to  the  ad- 
vancement of  every  good  work. 

Teunis  Van  Vechten,  1837-39  and  1841-42,  was  born  November  4,  1785,  and  died 
February  4,  1859.  He  bore  the  same  given  name  as  his  father  and  grandfather, 
both  of  whom  lived  in  the  county,  his  father  having  been  a  merchant  in  Albany  in 
1805,  on  the  corner  of  Broadway  and  Maiden  Lane ;  later  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  and  was  counsel  for  the  old  Patroon  and  his  son  Stephen.  The  mayor  was  for 
many  years  a  director  and  president  of  the  Albany  Insurance  Company,  and  was 
alderman  for  several  terms. 

Jared  L.  Rathbone,  1839-41,  was  the  first  mayor  elected  by  popular  vote.  He  was 
a  trustee  and  president  of  the  Albany  Medical  College,  and  was  prominently  con- 
nected with  the  educational,  industrial  and  benevolent  interests  of  the  city.  He 
died  in  1845. 

Barent  P.  Staats,  1842-43,  was  a  member  of  one  of  the  oldest  Holland  families  in 
the  State.  He  was  born  in  Rensselaer  county  in  1796  and  died  in  1871.  He  was  a 
practicing  physician  in  Albany  for  about  fifty  years  and  was  eminent  in  his  profes- 
sion.    He  also  held  the  offices  of  supervisor  and  alderman. 

Friend  Humphrey,  1843-45  and  1849-50,  was  born  in  Simsbury  in  1787  and  settled 
in  Albany  in  1811.  He  was  a  successful  leather  dealer  and  prominent  in  educational 
and  religious  work.     He  died  March  15,  1854. 

John  Keyes  Paige,  1845-46,  was  an  attorney  and  clerk  of  the  Supreme  Court  for 
nineteen  years  before  he  was  elected  mayor,  and  was  also  president  of  the  Canal 
Bank,  which  failed.  He  afterwards  resided  in  Schenectady,  where  he  died  Decem- 
ber 10,  1857. 

William  Parmalee,  1846-48  and  1854-56,  was  a  native  of  Lansingburgh,  born  in 
1807,  and  graduated  from  Yale  in  1826 ;  practiced  law  in  Albany ;  was  city  attorney 
in  1836;  county  judge  in  1839  and  1847-52;  and  recorder  1840-46.  He  died  during 
his  term  as  mayor,  March  15,  1856. 

John  Taylor,  1848-49,  was  born  in  Durham,  England,  in  March,  1790,  died  in  Al- 
bany September  31,  1863.  He  came  to  Albany  in  1793  with  his  father,  whom  he 
joined  in  the  tallow  chandler  business.  Later  he  was  very  successful  as  a  brewer, 
and  gained  great  wealth  and  popularity  through  his  generosity  to  the  poor. 

Franklin  Townsend,  son  of  Isaiah  Townsend,  1850-51,  took  charge  of  the  Townsend 
furnace  and  machine  shop  while  yet  a  boy.  He  served  also  as  alderman  and  super- 
visor, member  of  assembly  and  for  nine  years  as  adjutant  general  of  the  State ;  he 
was  prominent  also  in  the  banking  business.  General  Townsend  now  resides  on  Elk 
street. 


325 

Eli  Perry,  1851-54,  1856-60  and  1862-64,  held  also  the  office  of  alderman  and 
served  one  term  in  Congress.  He  accumulated  a  fortune  in  the  meat  packing  busi- 
ness, which  he  greatly  increased  by  judicious  real  estate  investments.  His  term  as 
mayor  included  most  of  the  war  period,  during  which  his  duties  were  arduous  and 
of  great  responsibility.  These  he  performed  with  rare  energy  and  ability  and  for 
many  years  he  was  among  the  foremost  citizens  of  the  city.  His  second  election 
was  contested  by  John  V.  P.  Ouackenbush  and  the  case  was  taken  to  the  courts, 
Recorder  W.  S.  Paddock  acting  in  the  mean  time.  The  case  was  never  tried,  Mr. 
Paddock  serving  the  term,  and  Mr.  Perry  and  Dr.  Ouackenbush  both  receiving  the 
full  salary  of  mayor.  Mr.  Perry  was  born  December  25,  1799,  and  died  May  17, 
1881. 

George  H.  Thacher,  1860-62,  1866-68  and  1870-74,  was  descended  from  Rev. 
Thomas  Thacher,  a  Puritan  and  first  pastor  of  the  old  South  Congregational  church 
of  Boston.  He  was  born  in  Hornellsville,  June  4,  1818,  and  settled  in  Albany  in 
1848,  where  he  was  successful  in  the  manufacture  of  stoves,  and  later  of  car  wheels 
and  other  foundry  products.  He  was  a  man  of  indomitable  energy,  active,  public 
spirited  and  ready  at  all  times  to  co-operate  in  every  enterprise  that  promised  to  be 
for  the  public  good.  The  present  mayor,  John  Boyd  Thacher,  is  a  son  of  George 
H.  Thacher. 

Charles  E.  Bleecker  was  mayor  1868-70. 

Edmund  L.  Judson,  1874-76,  is  the  grandson  of  Nathaniel  Judson,  one  of  the  New- 
England  immigrants  who  came  to  Albany  in  1796,  and  son  of  Ichabod  L.  Judson, 
who  was  a  prominent  Albany  business  man.  He  was  born  November  30,  is:i(),  and 
succeeded  to  his  father's  business.     He  was  alderman  1862-66. 

A.  Bleecker  Banks,  1876-78  and  1884-86,  is  a  native  of  New  York  city  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  law  publishing  house  of  Banks  Brothers.  He  represented  Albany  county 
in  the  Assembly  in  1862  and  in  the  State  Senate  in  1868-71,  was  a  member  of  the 
Constitutional  Convention  of  1894  and  has  held  numerous  offices  of  trust  and  honor, 
both  of  a  public  and  private  nature. 

Michael  N.  Nolan,  1878-83,  a  native  of  Ireland,  was  member  of  congress  1881-83, 
is  president  of  the  Beverwyck  Brewing  Company,  and  a  man  of  rare  business 
sagacity. 

John  Swinburne  was  mayor  1883-84.  The  contest  for  the  office  of  mayor  in  1882 
was  a  very  exciting  one  between  Mr.  Nolan  and  Dr.  Swinburne  and  Nolan  was  de- 
clared elected  by  a  small  majority,  The  case  was  taken  to  the  courts  and  Nolan 
resigned  after  filling  the  office  about  fifteen  months  and  Dr.  Swinburne  was  seated 
June  25,  1883.  Dr.  Swinburne  was  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  the  city.  (See 
chapter  on  the  medical  profession  herein.) 

John  Boyd  Thacher,    1886-88  and  1896 ,  is  a  son  of  George  H.  Thacher  and  a 

prominent  citizen  of  Albany.  Mr.  Thacher  has  held  many  offices  both  of  a  public 
and  private  nature,  notably  state  senator,  1884-86,  world's  fair  commissioner, 
L892  98.  He  still  continues  with  his  brother,  i'ieorge  H.  Thacher,  the  car  wheel 
foundry  established  by  their  father. 

Edward  A.  Maher  was  mayor  1888-90.  Mr.  Maher  was  formerly  manager  of  the 
Albany  Illuminating  Company,  and  is  now  president  of  the  Union  Railway  Company 
of  New  York  city. 

James  II.  Manning,  1890  94,  is  the  son  of  Daniel  Manning,  the  distinguished 


326 

nalist  and  politician,  of  whom  a  sketch  is  given  in  the  chapter  devoted  to  the  news- 
papers of  Albany  county.  James  H.  Manning  received  a  liberal  education  and  subse- 
quently occupied  the  post  of  managing  editor  of  the  Argus,  and  is  now  president  of 
the  Weed-Parsons  Printing  Company. 

Oren  E.  Wilson  was  mayor  May  1,  1894,  January  1,  1896,  being  the  candidate  of 
the  Honest  Election  party.  Mr.  Wilson  was  at  the  time  of  his  election  associated 
with  the  large  dry  goods  house  of  W.  M.  Whitney  &  Co.,  but  is  now  in  the  insurance 
business. 

Schools  of  Albany. 

The  reader  of  Chapter  XV  has  learned  something  of  educational 
affairs  at  large  and  as  they  existed  in  Albany  county  in  early  years. 
It  is  there  made  clear  that  the  education  of  the  young  in  Albany  city 
was  much  neglected  prior  to  the  beginning  of  the  present  century. 
Elkanah  Watson  has  left  a  record  that  the  schools  of  Albany  in  1788 
were  mostly  taught  in  the  English  language;  but  how  many  there 
were  or  what  their  character  he  did  not  state.  In  1796  the  Com- 
.mon  Council  passed  an  ordinance  for  the  establishment  of  free  schools ; 
but  it  was  many  long  years  before  anything  of  a  practical  nature  was 
accomplished.  The  Albany  Gazette  of  November  26, 1804,  has  an  item 
of  news  regarding  a  school  that  was  taught  in  a  building  erected  through 
contributions  for  the  benefit  of  helpless  female  children,  where  twenty- 
three  pupils  were  instructed  by  a  matron  in  reading,  writing,  and  plain 
work.  Munsell's  Annals  of  1810  note  the  fact  that  there  were  no  pub- 
lic schools  in  the  city  at  that  time,  and  the  corporation  was  then  con- 
sidering the  project  of  starting  the  Lancasterian  school,  which  "is  de- 
scribed in  Chapter  XV.  In  1813  the  record  shows  that  the  following 
schools  were  in  existence  in  the  city: 

Widow  Catherine  Goheen,  1  Liberty;  Widow  Esther  Bedford,  119  Washington; 
Catherine  Peck,  39  Hudson;  Widow  Martha  Wilson,  39  Steuben;  Miss  Brenton,  US 
State;  Catherine  B.  Thompson,  Young  Ladies' School,  38Colonie:  Sarah  McGeorge, 
Young  Ladies'  Seminary,  66  Market ;  Mrs.  Smith,  School,  13  Washington ;  John 
Nugent,  Young  Ladies'  Seminary,  81  Pearl ;  and  the  following  male  teachers:  Thomas 
D.  Huggins,  43 and 45  Pearl;  John  Keys,  57  Church  ;  Joshua  Tinker,  16  Deer;  George 
Upfold,  8  Van  Tromp;  William  Andruss,  19  Pearl;  Robert  O.  K.  Bennet,  67  Pearl; 
James  W.  Blacket,  70  Hudson;  John  Brainard,  35  Chapel;  Joseph  Caldwell,  25  Steu- 
ben ;  Thomas  Ennis,  48  Beaver. 

Between  1830  and  1865  the  schools  of  Albany  do  not  seem  to  have 
advanced  in  proportion  to  the  growth  and  intelligence  of  the  city, 
though  the  causes  for  this  condition  maybe  difficult  to  determine.  The 
first  important  step  towards  the  founding  of  the  free  school  system  in 


327 

Albany  was  taken  in  1830  when,  on  April  17,  an  act  was  passed  by  the 
Legislature  providing  for  the  annual  election  of  a  Board  of  School  Com- 
missioners and  a  Board  of  School  Inspectors,  one  commissioner  and 
one  inspector  to  be  chosen  from  each  ward.  This  action  divided  the 
city  into  nine  districts  for  common  schools.  The  commissioners  had 
power  to  appoint  three  trustees  for  each  school  district,  and  to  appor- 
tion the  money  received  from  the  State  on  the  basis  of  the  number  of 
scholars  of  school  age,  and  they  prescribed  the  rate  of  tuition  so  as  not 
to  exceed  two  dollars  a  quarter  for  each  scholar.  Under  this  law  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  was  directed  to  cause  a  sum  of  money  to  be  raised 
and  paid  to  the  chamberlain  of  the  city  for  the  support  of  the  common 
schools  of  the  city.  The  schools  east  of  Perry  street  were  to  be  taught 
nine  months  of  each  year,  and  those  west  of  that  street,  four  months, 
in  order  to  enable  them  to  draw  this  public  money.  This  was  the  old 
free  school  system.  The  several  boards  of  trustees  were  at  that  period 
compelled  to  supply  the  necessary  rooms  for  school  purposes  for  which 
no  provision  had  been  made  by  the  city  authorities.  The  school  in  the 
first  district  was  kept  in  a  building  which  had  formerly  been  a  stable; 
in  the  ninth  district  the  cellar  of  the  old  Universalist  church  on  Herki- 
mer street  was  used  for  a  time  and  afterwards  the  basement  of  a  church 
on  Westerlo  street.  In  district  No.  8  the  school  was  taught  for  some 
years  in  the  lecture  room  of  St.  Peter's  church,  while  another  school 
occupied  the  upper  part  of  the  engine  house  on  William  street.  The 
other  schools  were  most  of  them  located  in  equally  undesirable  quar- 
ters. 

In  1832  the  first  school  building,  excepting  the  Lancaster  school,  was 
erected  by  the  trustees  of  district  No.  2.  at  a  cost  of  $22,000;  being 
three  stories  high,  and  containing  four  large  school  rooms,  two  halls,  and 
a  room  for  an  engine  company.  It  stood  at  218  State  street,  and  was 
Bold  in  1884,  when  the  present  building  on  Chestnut  street,  known  as 
No.  2,  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about  $37,000.  George  H.  Benjamin  is 
the  present  principal  of  this  school,  and  has  twelve  teachers  under  him. 

In  the  year  1838,  after  the  Lancaster  school  had  been  abolished,  a 
new  impulse  was  given  to  educational  affairs  in  Albany  by  the  erection 
of  eight  new  school  buildings,  as  follows:  No.  1,  310 South  Pearlstreet, 
three  stories,  312  seats,  cost  $13,000.  No.  3.  at  7  Van  Tromp  street, 
three  stories,  200  seats,  cost  $13,000,  sold  in  L882.  No.  1,  at  :>:.  Union 
street,  three  stories,  206  seats,  cost  $11,000,  sold  in  L882.  X".  :>.  at  172 
North  Pearl  street,  three  stories,  29G  seats,  cost  $13,000,  sold  in    1882, 


328 

and  the  present  building  erected.*  No.  7,  at  56  Canal  street,  three  sto- 
ries, 300  seats,  cost  $11,000.  No.  8,  at  157  Madison  avenue;  three  sto- 
ries, 338  seats,  cost  $17,000;  rebuilt  in  brick  in  1880,  with  448  seats  at 
a  cost  of  $25,000.  No.  9,  corner  of  South  Ferry  and  Dallius  streets, 
three  stories,  210  seats,  cost  $12,000.  No.  10,  at  182  Washington  ave- 
nue, three  stories,  312  seats.  No.  18,  formerly  at  No.  6,  and  located 
at  the  junction  of  Madison  and  Western  avenues,  originally  one  story, 
a  second  added  in  1870,  cost  originally  $7,000.  The  change  in  the 
number  of  this  district  was  caused  by  alteration  of  the  city  school  limits, 
leaving  that  school  out  of  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Board  of  Education 
and  placing  it  under  control  of  the  trustees  west  of  Perry  street; 
thereupon  the  school  on  Second  street  (Arbor  Hill)  in  1840,  took  the 
number  6. 

The  sum  of  money  thus  expended  in  1838  for  school  buildings  was 
about  $110,000,  affording  accommodations,  with  those  of  the  buildings 
erected  in  1832,  for  2,783  scholars;  but  at  that  time  there  were  at  least 
7,000  children  of  school  age  in  the  city.  While  very  many  of  these 
attended  private  schools  (as  they  were  forced  to  do  in  order  to  obtain 
education),  the  utter  inadequacy  of  school  facilities  in  the  city  at  that 
time  is  apparent.  Nothing  further  was  done  until  1840,  when  the 
old  school  No.  6  was  erected  at  105  Second  street. 

In  1844  a  law  was  passed  authorizing  the  creation  of  the  Board  of 
Education,  to  be  elected  by  the  people  and  to  take  the  place  of  the 
former  Board  of  Commissioners  and  trustees.  In  1854  school  No.  24 
(formerly  No.  11),  at  417  Madison  avenue,  was  erected.  It  was  en- 
larged in  1868,  and  on  completion  of  the  Grammar  School  adjoining 
the  number  was  changed,  the  latter  school  taking  the  old  number  and 
No.  24  going  to  the  old  building.  The  present  school  No.  ^24  was 
erected  in  1893  on  Delaware  Square,  near  the  corner  of  Delaware  and 
Madison  avenues,  at  a  cost  of  $47,000;  it  seats  700  and  is  under  charge 
of  Jennie  A.  Utter,  principal. 

In  1850  School  No.  12,  corner  of  Washington  avenue  and  Robin  street, 
was  erected  as  it  stands  at  present,  at  a  cost  of  about  $75,000;  it  seats 
1,000  and  is  under  E.  E.  Packer,  principal. 

At  this  time  there  were  thirteen  public  schools  in  the  city,  besides 
academies,  while  there  were  seventy  private  schools,  some  of  which  were 
excellent,  while  many  were  inferior  and  insignificant.  In  the  year  1856 
there  were  registered  6,813  scholars  in  the  public  schools,  which  was 


329 

nearly  double  the  number  for  which  there  were  proper  accommoda- 
tions; at  the  same  time  5,292  attended  private  schools.  This  condition 
called  out  in  the  report  of  the  Board  of  Education  for  1857  a  statement 
that  the  public  schools  were  wholly  inadequate  and  led  to  the  erection 
of  several  new  structures.  School  No.  16,  201  Hudson  avenue  (the 
Wilberforce  school  for  colored  children),  was  opened  in  1858,  with  ac- 
commodations for  143  scholars;  it  ceased  its  existence  as  a  distinctive 
colored  school  in  1874  and  was  sold  in  1883.  During  the  period  of 
1850-58  the  school  buildings  from  No.  1  to  10  inclusive,  excepting  No. 
0,  were  enlarged  and  improved  by  the  addition  of  another  story  or  more 
recitation  rooms.  In  1858  the  Common  Council  purchased  the  old  State 
Arsenal,  corner  of  Broadway  and  Lawrence  street,- for  $10,800,  and  re- 
modeled it  into  a  school  building  for  594  scholars,  at  a  cost  of  $7,300. 
This  is  now  No.  13.  The  arsenal  was  erected  in  1799.  A.  Elizabeth 
McCarthy  is  principal. 

School  No.  14,  at  No.  70  Trinity  Place,  was  built  in  1801  substan- 
tially as  it  at  present  stands,  at  a  cost  of  $$5,000.  This  was  the  last 
school  building  erected  under  the  supervision  of  the  old  Board  of  Edu- 
cation. James  L.  Bothwell,  A.M.,  is  principal  of  this  school,  which 
seats  804. 

By  act  of  the  Legislature,  passed  in  1800,  the  Board  of  Education  was 
given  the  title  of  the  Board  of  Public  Instruction.  The  new  board  took 
charge  of  the  schools  and  under  its  subsequent  supervision  the  school 
system  of  the  city  has  been  developed  to  its  present  magnificent  propor- 
tions. At  that  time  the  value  of  the  school  property  was  estimated  at 
$187,000,  while  the  annual  expense  of  maintaining  the  schools  was 
about  $09,000.  The  new  board  was  confronted  by  the  same  conditions 
that  had  surrounded  their  predecessors — the  great  lack  of  school  ac- 
commodations. Moreover,  there  existed  at  that  time  a  feeling  ol 
serious  opposition  among  the  people  to  the  expenditure  of  much  money 
for  public  improvements,  while  the  condition  of  the  currency  and  of 
business  generally  was  unsettled  through  the  effects  of  the  war.  The 
need  of  a  higher  department  of  education  in  which  more  advanced 
studies  could  be  pursued  was  imperative,  and  led  to  an  effort  to  estab- 
lish a  free  academy.  A  majority  of  the  board  and  many  progressive 
citizens  favored  this  plan,  and  on  December  11,  L866,  a  bill  was  pre- 
sented to  the  Legislature  for  this  purpose.  The  Common  Council  and 
a  large  body  of  prominent  citizens  opposed  the  measure.  Upon  a  thor- 
ough examination  of  the  law  of  L806  it  was  discovered  that  the  board 
42 


330 


was  amply  clothed  with  authority  to  establish  such  an  academy,  with- 
out further  legislation,  and  measures  were  promptly  adopted  to  carry 
out  the  plan.  The  board  leased  Van  Vechten  Hall  on  State  street, 
where  the  Normal  School  had  formerly  been  held.  The  Free  Academy 
was  opened  in  September,  1868,  with  Prof.  John  E.  Bradley,  principal, 
and  141  pupils.  The  other  teachers  were  Charles  W.  Cole,  A.M.  (now 
superintendent  of  schools  of  the  city),  Samuel  B.  Howe,  A.M.,  Mary 
Morgan,  and  Rebecca  I.  Hindman.  Soon  afterward  Mr.  Howe  re- 
signed and  Charles  A.  Home,  A.  M.,  was  chosen  in  his  place.  The 
hall  was  soon  found  inadequate  for  the  attendance  and  other  rooms 
connected  with  the  premises  were  engaged  and  occupied.  In  1870  the 
rooms  over  the  Harris  livery  stable  on  Maiden  Lane  were  fitted  up,  anc 
in  1873  those  in  the  second  story,  formerly  a  part  of  a  carpet  store,  wen 
adapted  to  school  purposes.  The  academy  prospered  and  was  placet 
under  visitation  of  the  Regents  of  the  University  in  1873,  at  whicl 
time  its  name  was  changed  to  the  Albany  High  School.  In  1873  then 
were  130  academic  scholars  in  the  High  School;  this  number  gradually 
increased  until  1896,  the  report  of  which  year  shows  that  there  were  800. 
The  High  School  was  continued  in  Van  Vechten  Hall  until  1876,  when 
the  western  part  of  the  present  splendid  structure  was  erected.  It  has 
a  front  on  Eagle  street  of  eighty  seven  feet,  135  feet  on  Steuben  street, 
120  feet  on  Columbia  street,  and  ninety-two  feet  in  rear.  The  cost 
of  the  building  with  the  addition  erected  in  1893  was  $185,000.  John 
Edwin  Bradley  was  chosen  as  principal  of  the  High  School  and  was 
succeeded  in  1886  by  the  present  incumbent,  Oscar  D.  Robinson,  A.M., 
Ph.  D.  The  following  table  shows  the  enrollment  in  the  High  School 
from  its  establishment  to  1896: 


Year. 
1868-69.. 

Whole 

number  of 

pupils. 

141 

Increase. 

Decrease. 

Year. 

1882-83. 

Whole 

number  of 

pupils. 

591 

Increase. 

7 

Decrease 

1869-70.. 

209 

68 

1883-84. 

607 

16 

1870-71 . . 

279 

70 

_. 

1884-85. 

608 

1 

1871-72.. 

314 

35 

1885-86. 

622 

14 

1872-73.. 

328 

14 

1886-87. 

623 

1 

1873-74.. 

....  362 

34 

1887-88. 

646 

23 

1874-75 . . 

429 

67 

1888-89. 

646 

1875-76.. 

494 

65 

1889-90. 

698 

52 

1876-77 . . 

532 

38 

.. 

1890-91 . 

758 

60 

1877-78.. 

580 

48 

1891-92. 

765 

7 

1878-79.. 

581 

1 

1892-93. 

794 

29 

1879-80... 

595 

14 

1893-94. 

..773 

21 

1880-81.. 

583 

12 

1894-95 . 

..812 

39 

.. 

1881-82.. 

584 

1 

1895-96 . 

800 

12 

331 

The  number  of  "Academic  scholars" — that  is,  those  holding  Re- 
gents' preliminary  certificates — in  the  institution  each  year  since  it  was 
received  under  the  visitation  of  the  Regents,  has  been  as  follows: 

1872-73 130      1884-85. 527 

1873-74 250      1885-86 531 

1874-75 320      1886-87 534 

1875-76 348      1887-88 512 

1876-77 401       1888-89... 562 

1877-78 447      1889-90.... 629 

1878-79 455      1890-91 672 

1879-80... 501       1891-92 643 

1880-81 466      1892-93 643 

1881-82 471       1893-94 643 

1882-83 473      1894-95 728 

1883-84 :  491       1895-96 721 

The  Albany  High  School  occupies  an  enviable  position  in  the  educa- 
tional world ;  being  admittedly  in  the  front  rank  of  the  secondary  schools 
of  the  country.  Its  varied  and  elastic  courses  of  study  offer  opportu- 
nities for  choice  in  lines  of  work  that  permit  special  preparation  for  all 
walks  in  life,  thus  meeting  the  needs  of  the  great  majority  of  its  pupils 
who  must  end  their  scholastic  career  with  the  High  School,  and  that  also 
afford  the  best  facilities  for  preparation  for  collegiate  and  professional 
study.  Evidently  the  success  of  such  an  institution  must  largely  de- 
pend on  the  organization  of  the  elementary  schools  from  which  it  draws 
its  students.  The  elementary  public  schools  of  this  city  are  organized  on 
a  broad  and  generous  plan,  in  accordance  with  the  best  educational 
thought  of  the  day,  and  are  equipped  with  skillful  instructors  and  the 
most  approved  apparatus  and  material  in  all  grades. 

Returning  to  the  other  schools  of  the  city,  we  find  that  No.  15, 
corner  of  Herkimer  and  Franklin  streets,  was  erected  in  1871,  the  cost 
of  the  building  and  lot  being  $91,000.  This  was  the  first  school  build- 
ing erected  in  the  city  on  modern  plans  and  now  seats  040  scholars. 
Levi  Cass,  A.  M.,  is  principal. 

School  No.  17,  corner  of  Second  avenue  and  Stephen  street,  was 
erected  in  1856  by  the  town  of  Bethlehem.  It  came  within  the  city 
limits  in  1870.  The  present  building  was  erected  in  I  sis  and  has  a 
seating  capacity  of  440.  Its  cost  was  $15,000.  Martha  P>.  McFarland 
is  principal. 

The  school  formerly  situated  in  West  Albany,  and  then  known  as 
No.  1  '.i,  was  erected  by  the  town  of  Watervliet,  but  came  within  the  city 


332 

limits  in  1870,  and  was  abandoned  in  1875,  and  School  No.  21,  at  666  Clin- 
ton avenue  was  erected  to  take  its  place.  This  building  seats  854,  and 
cost  $48,000.      P.  H.  McQuade  is  principal. 

What  was  formerly  school  No.  20,  on  Mohawk  street,  was  erected  in 
1872,  but  was  sold  in  1880,  and  the  present  brick  two  story  structure, 
corner  of  North  Pearl  and  North  Second  streets  was  erected  to  take  its 
place.  The  building  seats  668  and  cost  $18,000.  Ernest  A.  Corbin, 
A.  M  ,  is  principal. 

School  No.  22,  at  292  Second  street,  is  of  brick,  two  stories  and  base- 
ment, and  was  erected  in  1874  at  a  cost  of  $24,000.  It  seats  440.  Mary 
A.  Simpson  is  principal. 

School  No.  25  was  erected  in  1878,  corner  of  Morton  and  South  Swan 
streets,  at  a  cost  of  $15,000.  It  is  two  stories,  brick,  and  seats  440. 
Julia  Cordell  is  principal. 

School  No.  11,  at  409  Madison  avenue  (before  mentioned  in  connec- 
tion with  No.  24),  was  erected  in  1873  at  a  cost  of  $50,000.  The  build- 
ing is  of  brick,  three  stories,  and  seats  640.  Lewis  H.  Rockwell,  A.M., 
is  principal. 

In  1882  school  buildings  Nos  3  and  5  were  sold  and  the  Tabernacle 
Baptist  church,  North  Pearl  street,  was  purchased  and  converted  into 
a  school  building,  at  a  cost  of  about  $35,000.  It  is  now  known  as  No. 
5,  and  seats  584.      Thomas  S.  O'Brien  is  principal. 

The  present  School  No.  6,  at  105  Second  street,  was  erected  in  1893, 
at  a  cost  of  $50,000.  Almond  Holland  is  principal.  School  No.  7,  at 
165  Clinton  avenue,  was  erected  in  1886;  it  is  of  brick,  three  stories, 
and  cost  $30,000.  It  seats  600,  and  C.  E.  Franklin,  A.  M.,  is  prin- 
cipal. The  present  School  No.  8,  at  157  Madison  avenue,  was  erected 
in  1881,  at  a  cost  of  $25,000.  It  is  of  brick,  two  stories,  and  John  E. 
Sherwood,  A.  M.,  is  principal.  The  present  School  No.  10,  corner  of 
Central  avenue  and  Perry  street,  was  erected  in  1890,  at  a  cost  of  $37,- 
000.  It  is  of  brick,  two  stories,  and  seats  440.  Mary  E.  Howard  is 
principal. 

The  following  statement  shows  the  number  of  schools  in  the  city 
and  the  number  of  scholars  registered  in  each  from  1857  to  1895  in- 
clusive: 


t\ 


333 


Year. 

1857.. 
1858  . . 
1859.. 
I860.. 
1861.. 
1862  . . 
1863.. 
1864.. 
1865.. 
1866.. 
1867.. 
1868.. 
1869.. 
1*70  .. 

1871  .. 

1872  . . 
1873 . . 
1874  . . 
1875.. 
L876  _ 


Number 

of 
schools. 

Registered 

number. 

Yes 

12 

6,529 

1877 

13 

7,760 

1878 

13 

7,832 

1879 

14 

8,395 

1880 

15 

9,182 

1881 

15 

9,614 

1882 

15 

9,507 

1883 

15 

8,917 

1884 

15 

8,850 

1885 

15 

8,924 

1886 

15 

8,880 

1887 

15 

9,414 

1888 

16 

9,665 

1889 

16 

9,933 

1890 

22 

10,939 

1891 

24 

12,060 

1892 

24 

12,327 

1893 

25 

12,460 

1894 

25 

13,773 

1895 

24 

13,941 

1896 

Number 

of 
schools. 

'^tered 

number  . 

24 

14,  -112 

25 

14,024 

26 

14,632 

26 

14.049 

26 

13,976 

26 

13,984 

26 

13,914 

24 

13,708 

24 

13,720 

24 

13,410 

24 

1:3,410 

24 

13,580 

24 

13,616 

23 

14,389 

23 

14.412 

22 

13,914 

22 

13,655 

21 

13,491 

21 

13,522 

21 

13,418 

Connected  with  the  city  schools  is  an  admirable  kindergarten  system 
which  is  now  under  supervision  of  Frances  C.  Hayes.  There  are 
eighteen  of  these  schools,  all  of  which  are  well  attended.  The  follow- 
ing table  shows  their  condition  for  the  school  year,  from  September, 
1895,  to  June,  189G: 


Schools. 
No.    1 

Number 

of  boys 

register'd. 

40 

Number 

of  girls 

register'd. 

38 

No.    2 .. 

24 

31 

No.    3 

30 

33 

No.    4.. 

23 

33 

No.    5 

29 

22 

vr          p  (  A.    M. 

21 

24 

No.    6  - 

I   P.    M 

16 

is 

No.    7 

20 

18 

No.    8 

25 

19 

Schools. 


No.  10 27 


33 


No.  12 32 

No.  13 ..  18 

No.  15 40 

No.  20 44 

No.  21.. 29 

No.  22 30 

No.  24 34 

No.  25 in 

501 


Xumber       Number 

of  boys         of  girls 

regisd  ter'd. 

is 


32 

07 

32 

20 
35 

47 

19 

535 


The  grand  proportions  of  the  public  school  system  may  be  judged 
from  the  present  total  valuation  of  the  buildings  and  lots  devoted  to 
public  education,  namely,  $1,030,000. 

The  Board  of  Public  Instruction  was  reorganized  March  Is.  L892, 
the  membership  of  the  body  being  reduced  from  twelve  to  seven  in 


334 


number,  and  other  desirable  changes  effected.      Following  is  a  list  of 
the  officers  of  the  board  since  its  organization  in  1866: 

Presidents.—  *John  O.  Cole1,  1866-1869;  George  W.  Carpenter,  1869-1871; 
*Charles  P.  Easton,  1872;  *Addison  A.  Keys,  1873-1874;  *Charles  P.  Eastern,  1875- 
1880;  Herman  Bendell,  1881-1882;  Alden  Chester,  1883;  *George  B.  Hoyt,  1884; 
Peter  J.  Flinn,  1885;  Oren  E.  Wilson,  1886;  James  M.  Ruso,  1887;  William  P.  Rndd, 
1888;  Henry  W.  Lipman,  1889;  Charles  H.  Gaus,  1890;  Michael  F.  Walsh,  1891; 
William  L.  Learned,  1892. 

Superintendents  of  Schools.—  *Henry  B.  Haswell,2  1866-1869;  ■•John  O.  Cole,* 
1869-1878;  Charles  W.  Cole,  A.  M.,  Ph.  D.,  1878. 

Superintendents  of  Buildings. — *John  G.  Treadwell,4  1872-1879;  Alexander 
Sayles,  1879-1885;  *Hugh  J.  McDonald,5  1885-1886;  Robert  Parker,  1886-1887; 
John  H.  Oliver,  1887-1892;  Thomas  H.  Dwyer,  1892. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  members  of  the  Board  of  Public  Instruc- 
tion since  its  organization  in  1866 : 


When 

chosen.  Term  of  service. 

1866  *John   O.  Colef8 1866-1869 

1866    George  W.  Carpenterf. .1866-1872 

1866    Michael  Delhantyf 1866-1869 

1866*Charles  P.   Eastonf 1866-1881 

1866  *Paul  F.  Cooperf 1866-1868 

1866    John   G.  Tread wellf7  ....1866-1872 

1866  *Charles  Van  Benthuysenfl866-1868 

L866  -Stewart  McKissickf 1866-1868 

1866  *James  L.  Babcockf 1866-1873 

1866  ^Bradford  R.  Woodf8 

1866  *Jacob  S.   Mosherf  ■' 1866-1868 

L866    William  C.  McHargf....  1866-1873 

1866  -Howard  Townsend1  ° -1866 

1867  *Porter  L.  F.  Reynolds..  .1867-1870 

1868  Joseph  Lewi 1868-1880 

1868 -Robert  H.  Waterman1  *_  1868-1872 

1 868  *  Warren  S.  Kelly 1868-1871 

L868    William  L.  Learned 1868-1869 


When 

chosen.  Term  of  service. 

1869    Barnet  B.  Sanders 1869-1875 

1869    Daniel  V.  O'Leary1  -'....  1869-1 872 

1869  William  L.  Learned 1869-1870 

1870  *John  Tracy1 3 1870-1871 

1870*Daniel  L.  Babcock 1870-1876 

1871  *Arthur  C    Quinn14 -1871 

1871  -Alfred   Edvvards15 1871-1872 

1872  Daniel  V.  O'Leary 1872-1874 

18721*Thomas  Hayes ...1872-1875 

1872  »Addison  A.  Keyes 1872-1875 

1872    John  McKenna 1872-1873 

1872*Charles  Senrick 1872-1874 

1872  *George  B.  Hoyt 1872-1886 

1873  James  J.  Franklin 1873-1875 

1873 -James  H.  White 1873-1876 

1873*John  V.  Lansing 1873-1874 

1874  *Samuel  Templeton 1874-1883 

1874    Joseph  P.  Morrow 1874-1877 


*  Deceased. 

t  Appointed  by  the  act  creating  the  Board— the  first  four  named  to  serve  for  three  years,  the 
second  four  for  two  years  and  the  last  four  for  one  year. 

i  Resigned  October  4,  1809,  and  elected  sup-  8  Registered  June  1,1800,  without    taking 

erintendent.  his  seat. 

2  Died  in  office  August  10,  1809.  •'  Resigned  June  1,  1868. 

s  Died  in  office  January  4,  1878.  1  °  Died  in  office  January  — ,  1867. 

4  Resigned  March  3,  1879.  1 1  Resigned  April  15,  1872. 

6  Died  in  office  January  21,  1886  l  s  Resigned  April  15,  1872. 

6  Resigned  October  4.  1869.  *  3  Resigned  July  0.  1871. 

v  Resigned  July  1,  1872.  i  *  Died  in  office  September  12,  1871. 

1  6  Appointed  by  the  Mayor. 


335 


When 
chosen 

1884 

1884 

1884 

1885 

1885 


Term  of  service. 

Oren  E.  Wilson 1884-1892 

Edward  A.  Durant,  Jr.9.  1884-1886 

Peter  A.  Stephens 1884-1888 

Francis  B.  Delehanty. .  .1885-1886 

Robert  G.  Scherer 1885-1886 

1885  "John  Neil,  Jr. 10 1885-1886 

1885  Edward  Phillips _„  1885-1886 

1886  Fred  C.  Ham.... 1886-1889 

1886    William  F.  Hourigan....  1886-1 889 
1886  *William  F.  Reddy 1886-1890 

1886  William  P.  Rudd 1886-1892 

1876    Charles  H.  Gaus 1886-1892 

1887  •••Cornelius  D.  Mosher11  ..1887- 1890 

1888  William  Reynolds 1888-1891 

1888    Michael  F.  Walsh 1888-1892 

1888  James  J.  Fitzsimmons...  1889-1892 

1889  Agnus  McD.  Shoemaker.  1889-1892 

1889  Bowen  Staley 1889-1892 

1890  Stephen  J.  Bergen 1890-1892 

1890  John  L.  Goodley 1890-1892 

1891  George  H.  Guardineer..  1891-1892 


When 

chosen.  Terra  of  service. 

1874  John  Kautz... ....1874-1877 

1875  Daniel  V.  O'Leary1 1875-1877 

1875    Peter  J.   Flinn 1875-1887 

1875  *Isaac  Edwards2 .1875-1879 

1876  Timothy  D.   Keleher  ...1876-1879 
1876  *James  Morris 1876-1879 

1876  William  Morgan 1876-1882 

1877  Daniel  Casey 1877-1878 

1877    Henry  W.  Lipman 1877-1892 

1877  -Charles  A.  Robertson3..  1877-1880 

1878  John  H.  Lynch4 1878-1883 

1879  John  A.  McCall' 1879-1885 

1879  Linzee  T.  Morrill6 1879-1881 

1779    Andrew  S.  Draper 1879-1881 

1880  Douw  H.  Fonda7 ..1880-1885 

1880  Herman  Bendell 1880-1886 

1881  Alden  Chester ..1881-1884 

1881    Charles  E.  Jones 1881-1884 

1881  James  M.  Ruso. 1881-1892 

1882  He  ny  T.  Sanford 1882-1885 

1883  Robert  D.  Williams 1883-1889 

1883  Edward  J.   Graham8..  ..1883-1885 

The  following  have  constituted  the  Board  of  Public  Instruction  since 
its  reorganization  March  18,  1892.      Full  term  of  office  seven  years. 

Term  of  service. 

William  L.  Learned)...... (Appointed  for  seven  years) 1892 

Andrew  S.   Draper1- _.  (Appointed  for  six  years) 1892-1894 

John  II.  Lynch (Appointed  for  five  years) 1892 

Herman   Bendell (Appointed  for  four  years) 1892 

William  J.  Maher (Appointed  for  three  years) 1892 

Charles  H.   Gaus13 (Appointed  for  two  years). 1892-1894 

James  M.  Ruso (Reappointed  Jan.  1.  1894) 1892 

Howard  X.  Fuller1  ' ...  (Appointed  vice  Draper) 1894-1894 

Angus  McD.  Shoemaker1-"' (Appointed  vice  Gaus) 1894 

Lewis  B.  Hall (Appointed  vice  Fuller) 1894 

Harlau  P.  French (Appointed  vice  Maher) 1S9C, 

*  Deceased. 

1  All  of  the  first  seven  date  from  January  i,  [893,  but  actual  service  begrn  March  18, 
i  Resigned  February  81,  1877.  '■'  Resigned  June  n.  i-v, 

-  Died  in  office  March  86,  1879  "'  Died  in  office  July  87,  1881 

1  in  office  April  1,  1880.  •  '  Died  in  office  Septemb. 

'  Resigned  July  Hi,  1863  i  -  Resigned  April  30,  1894. 

•'•  Resigned  December  1,  1884.  I  --1  Resigned  May  ;,  1894. 

•  Resigned  September  18,  1881  '  '  Resigned  October  29,  1894. 

i  Resigned  September  28,  1885.  I »  Appointed  vice  Gaus,  resigned  May :,  1894 

-  Resigned  May  18,  1885.  • 


336 

Religious  Institutions. 

The  first  ecclesiastical  organization  in  Albany  was  the  First  Re- 
formed Dutch  church,  the  society  which  now  worships  in  the  First 
Reformed  church,  corner  of  North  Pearl  and  Orange  streets,  and  is 
one  of  the  two  oldest  in  the  country,  the  other  being  the  Collegiate 
Reformed  church  of  New  York  city.  The  first  minister  of  this  faith 
was  Rev.  Johannes  Megapolensis,  who  was  sent  over  by  the  Patroon 
in  1642.  This  church  was  maintained  chiefly  from  the  public  rev- 
enues until  after  the  English  accession  when,  in  1686,  one  hundred 
acres  of  land  were  granted  it.  During  more  than  140  years  the  services 
were  conducted  only  in  Dutch.  The  first  church  edifice  of  this  society 
was  built  near  Fort  Orange  on  what  is  now  Steamboat  Square,  and 
Church  street  received  its  name  on  account  of  its  proximity  to  this  ed- 
ifice. That  building  was  only  34  by  19  feet  in  size  and  its  cost  was 
about  $32  in  the  money  of  to-day.  In  1656  a  new  church  was  built 
near  the  intersection  of  the  present  State  street  and  Broadway,  which 
was  in  use  until  1715,  when  a  larger  edifice  was  erected.  This  stood 
for  ninety-one  years,  and  many  engravings  of  it  are  in  existence.  It 
was  nearly  square,  the  roof  sloping  to  each  of  the  four  sides,  with  a 
belfry  and  spire  at  the  apex.  The  site  of  the  old  church  was  finally 
sold  to  the  city  for  $5,000,  and  the  materials  of  the  building  were  used 
in  erecting  the  Reformed  church  in  Beaver  street.  The  present  First 
Reformed  church  edifice  was  erected  and  dedicated  in  1799,  its  outer 
appearance  remaining  much  the  same  as  at  first.  The  interior  has  been 
changed  materially  in  1820,  1850,  and  1860.  Mr.  Megapolensis  was 
pastor  until  1649  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Gideon  Schaets,  who  served 
the  church  for  more  than  twenty  years  and  was  a  prominent  man  in 
the  community.      Pastors  since  have  been: 

Revs.  William  Niewenhuysen,  1675;  Godfriedus  Dellius,  1683-99;  Johannes  Petrus 
Nucella,  1699-1702;  Johannes  Lydius,  1703-09;  Gualterus  Du  Bois,  1710;  Petrus  Van 
Driessen,  1712-39;  Cornelius  Van  Schie,  1739-44;  Theodoras  Frelinghuysen,  1746-60 ; 
Eilardus  Westerlo,  1760,  90;  John  A.  Livingston,  1776;  John  Bassett,  1787,  1805; 
John  B.  Johnson,  1796,  1802;  John  M.  Bradford,  1805,  20;  William  Linn,  1808;  John 
DeWitt,  1813-15;  John  Ludlow,  1823-33;  Thomas  E.  Vermilye,  1835-39;  Duncan 
Kennedy,  1841-55;  Ebenezer  P.  Rogers,  1856-62;  Rufus  W.  Clark,  1862-83;  J.  Wil- 
bur Chapman,  1885.     The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  Edward  P.  Johnson. 

A  Second  Reformed  church  was  organized  and  until  1816  formed, 
with  the  one  above  described,,  the  First  Collegiate  Dutch  Church  of  the 
City  of  Albany.     When  they  finally  separated  into  two  distinct  bodies, 


337 

two  church  buildings  were  in  use,  the  one  above  described  and  a  sec- 
ond one  in  Beaver  street,  which  was  erected  very  early  in  the  present 
century.  This  was  at  first  known  as  the  South  church,  and  later,  when 
the  third  society  was  formed,  as  the  Middle  church.  The  church  prop 
erty  in  Beaver  street  was  subsequently  sold  to  the  city  for  a  market 
site  and  the  present  church  edifice  was  built  on  Madison  avenue,  on  the 
corner  of  Swan  street,  in  1881.  At  the  time  of  the  separation  the  pas- 
tors in  charge  were  Revs,  John  M.  Bradford  and  John  De  Witt,  of  whom 
the  latter  became  sole  pastor  of  the  Second  church.  Edward  G.  Selden, 
the  present  pastor,  took  up  his  charge  in  October,  1893. 

The  Third  Reformed  church  was  organized  December  19,  1834, 
mainly  through  efforts  of  Rev.  Isaac  Ferris,  D.  D.,  then  pastor  of  the 
Second  church.  An  edifice  was  at  once  erected  on  the  north  corner  of 
Green  and  South  Ferry  streets,  which  is  still  in  use,  though  the  interior 
has  been  altered  and  thoroughly  renovated.  A  two- story  chapel  has 
also  been  erected.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Edwin  Holmes.  The 
present  pastor  is  Rev.  W.  N.  P.  Dailey,  who  began  his  labor  in  May, 
1891. 

The  Fourth  Reformed  church  (German)  is  situated  on  Schuyler 
street  below  South  Pearl,  and  was  organized  in  1855.  The  first  pastor 
was  Rev.  H.  F.  Schnellendrussler.  He  remained  until  1864,  when 
he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Jacob  Neef.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev. 
Henry  Miller. 

The  First  Lutheran  church  of  Albany  was  formed  very  early  in  the 
history  of  the  city,  the  exact  date  not  being  known.  Lutherans  are 
mentioned  as  living  here  in  1644,  and  ten  years  later  are  spoken  of  as 
strong  enough  to  support  their  own  church,  though  receiving  much 
opposition  in  early  years  from  the  Reformed  church  element.  There 
was  certainly  a  congregation  in  Albany  in  1656.  In  the  next  year  Rev. 
John  Ernest  Goetwater  came  over  to  serve  two  congregations,  one  at 
New  Amsterdam  and  one  at  Beverwyck,  but  he  was  made  to  return  by 
the  same  ship.  In  1660  a  subscription  was  made  for  the  support  of  a 
clergyman  of  their  own,  and  in  1664  it  is  known  that  a  permanent  or- 
ganization was  in  existence.  The  first  church  edifice  was  built  on  Pearl 
street  between  what  is  now  Howard  street  and  Beaver  street,  facing 
Pearl,  which  was  standing  in  L674.  It  is  not  known  just  how  long  it 
was  used,  but  in  the  Annals  we  read  that  in  1795  "there  is  in  Albany 
a  Dutch  Lutheran  Church  of  a  Gothic  and  very  peculiar  shape."  This 
43 


338 

may  have  been  the  second  edifice  and  in  it  in  1786  was  organized  the 
second  synod  in  America.  The  edifice  preceding  the  present  one  was 
erected  on  that  site  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  F.  G.  Mayer  in  1816, 
and  cost  $25,000.  Among  the  early  pasfors  of  this  congregation  were 
Rev.  Jacob  Fabritius,  the  first.  In  1671  Rev.  Bernardus  Arensius  as- 
sumed the  place.  In  1703  Rev.  Justus  Falckner  preached  here,  and  at 
his  death  in  1723  Rev.  William  Christopher  Berkenmeyer  assumed  the 
pastorate.  From  that  time  until  1806  Revs.  Michael  Christian  Knoll, 
Henry  Moeller,  Mr.  Schwerdfeger,  A.  T.  Braun,  Mr.  Groetz,  and  John 
Frederick  Ernst  occupied  the  pulpit.  Since  that  date  the  pastors  have 
been  Revs.  F.  G.  Mayer,  who  served  thirty-seven  years  from  1807; 
Henry  N.  Pohlman,  twenty  three  years;  S.  P.  Sprecher,  I.  Magee,  and 
the  present  pastor.  The  present  edifice  was  erected  in  1871  at  a  cost 
of  $85,000. 

The  congregation  of  the  Lutheran  Tabernacle  was  organized  pn  Jan- 
uary 1,  1893,  and  have  purchased  a  lot  on  Clinton  avenue,  where  a 
church  edifice  will  be  erected  in  the  near  future.  John  G.  Henry  is 
the  pastor,  having  been  installed  in  September,  1892. 

Besides  these  Lutheran  societies,  the  Germans  of  Albany  have  six  con- 
gregations of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  denomination.  The  Church  of 
the  Evangelical  Association  was  incorporated  in  1817  and  the  first 
house  of  worship  was  erected  on  Grand  street.  The  second  one  stood 
on  the  corner  of  Clinton  and  Nucella  streets.  The  present  church,  on 
the  north  side  of  Elm  street  between  Grand  and  Philip  streets,  was 
built  in  186!).  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  John  Wagner;  the  present 
one,  Rev.  P.  C.  Braunschweiger. 

St.  Matthew's  German  Evangelical  Lutheran  church  was  organized 
in  L854  under  the  pastoral  charge  of  Rev.  William  A.  Frey,  who  is  still 
in  charge  of  the  congregation.  The  church  edifice  is  situated  on 
Fourth  avenue,  corner  of  Franklin  street. 

St.  Paul's  Evangelical  church,  Western  avenue,  was  organized  by 
the  separation  from  the  First  Lutheran  church  of  a  part  of  the  mem- 
bership, under  the  pastorate  of  G.  Fr.  Stutz,  who  still  occupies  the 
pulpit.  The  church  edifice  was  erected  and  first  occupied  in  1872,  the 
congregation  having  worshiped  prior  to  that  year  in  the  building  now 
used  by  the  Albany  Law  School. 

St.  John's  Evangelical  church,  Central  avenue,  was  organized  in 
1857,  and  the  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1859.  The  first  pastor  was 
Rev.  Ernest  Hoffman  who  labored  with  the  church  nearly  thirty  years. 
The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  Bernard  Pick. 


339 

Trinity  Evangelical  Lutheran  church,  58  Alexander  street,  was 
erected  soon  after  the  organization  of  the  society.  The  building  has 
since  been  extended  ten  feet  in  rear  and  greatly  improved  in  the  in- 
terior. A  new  parsonage  was  built  in  1894.  Rev.  John  Flierel  is  the 
present  pastor. 

The  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  the  Redeemer  was  organized 
in  1888,  and  the  church  edifice  was  erected  soon  after;  it  is  situated  on 
Lake  avenue  near  Western  avenue.  Rev.  John  C.  Seegers,  the  pres- 
ent pastor,  began  his  charge  over  the  congregation  in  March,  1895. 

Churches  of  the  Episcopal  denomination  are  among  the  oldest  in  Al- 
bany. In  1G75  Rev.  Nicolaus  Van  Rensselaer,  son  of  Killian  Van  Rens- 
selaer, the  Patroon,  was  a  contemporary  of  Rev.  Gideon  Schaets  (before 
mentioned),  then  pastor  of  the  Reformed  church.  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer 
had  received  holy  orders  in  the  Church  of  England,  on  which  account 
serious  differences  arose  between  him  and  his  collegue.  The  matter  was 
taken  to  the  Governor  and  Council  and  there  decided  in  Mr.  Van  Rensse- 
laer's favor.  He  remained  in  Albany  until  his  death  in  1G78.  Episcopal 
chaplains  at  Fort  Amsterdam  occasionally  visited  Albany  and  held 
services  for  the  benefit  of  the  few  English  families  and  the  English  gar- 
rison in  Fort  Frederick,  which  stood  on  the  site  of  St.  Peter's  church 
until  1704,  when  Rev.  Thoroughgood  Moore  was  sent  by  the  English 
vSociety  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  on  mission 
work  to  the  Mohawk  Indians.  He  remained  in  Albany  one  year,  but 
without  making  much  progress  in  converting  the  natives,  and  held 
regular  services  in  Fort  Frederick.  In  1702  Rev.  John  Talbot  spent  a 
few  weeks  in  Albany  and  held  divine  service.  In  1708  Rev.  Thomas 
Barclay,  who  was  chaplain  at  Fort  Frederick,  organized  a  parish  and 
held  services  six  years  in  the  Lutheran  chapel,  which  stood  on  the  site 
of  the  old  City  Building,  corner  of  South  Pearl  and  Beaver  streets.  On 
October  21,  1714,  a  piece  of  ground  in  the  middle  of  what  is  now  State 
street,  next  below  Fort  Frederick,  was  granted  by  the  English  crown 
for  an  English  church  and  burial  ground.  The  Common  Council  re- 
monstrated against  the  erection  of  a  church  edifice  there,  but  without 
effect,  and  the  building  was  opened  for  services  in  November,  1716. 
It  was  built  of  blue  stone  and  was  58  by  42  feet  in  size.  Mr.  Barclay 
continued  his  unselfish  labor  in  Albany  and  Schenectady,  and  among 
the  Indians  until  1721,  when  his  pay  of  ^50  a  year  was  withdrawn  by 
the  English   society  before  named.      The  parish  in  Albany  was  named 


340 


St.  Peter's,  and  in  1727  Rev.  John  Miln  assumed  charge  of  the  church, 
and  about  the  same  time  a  parish  school  was  opened  under  John  Beas- 
ley's  teaching,  which  was  conducted  many  years.      In  1738  Rev.  Henry 
Barclay,  son  of  the  first  rector,  and  a  native  of  Albany,  who  had  been 
laboring  among  the  Mohawks,  succeeded  his  father  as  rector  of  St.  Pe- 
ter's.     He   remained   until  1740,  when  he  accepted   the   rectorship   of 
Trinity  church  in  New  York,   where  he  died  in   1764.     In  1750  Rev. 
John  Ogilvie  was  called  to  St.  Peter's.     When,  in  1758,  the  French  and 
Indian   war  had  somewhat  scattered  his  congregation,    he    became  a 
chaplain  in  the  army  going  on  General  Amherst's  expedition  and  on  that 
of  Sir  William  Johnson  in  the  next  year,  1759.     Resigning  in  December, 
1760,  he  still  remained  with  the  army  until  1764,  and  died  ten  years 
later  in  New  York.      In  1751  the  tower  of  St.  Peter's  was  erected  and  a 
clock  and  bell  placed  therein,  both  of  which  were  brought  from  Eng- 
land.     Rev.  Thomas  Brown  succeeded  Mr.  Ogilvie  as  rector,  and  was 
followed  in  1768,  by  Rev.    Harvey  Munro.      Under  his  administration 
the  parish  prospered,  the  church  was  repaired,  and  an  act  of  incorpora- 
tion obtained  under  date  of  April  25,  1769.     The  church  was  closed 
during  most  of  the  Revolutionary  period.     On  May  1,  1787,  the  vestry 
elected  Rev.  Thomas  Ellison  rector.      He  was  an  able  man  and  died  in 
the  midst  of  his  usefulness  in  1802,  just  after  preparations  had  been 
made  for  the  erection  of  a  new  church,  of  which  the  plans  had   been 
drawn  by  Phillip  Hooker,  a  prominent  architect  of  Albany.     The  build- 
ing was  finished  in  the  summer  of  1803,  the  consecration  taking  place 
October  4,  1803,  under  the  rectorship  of  Rev.  Frederick  Beasley,  who 
resigned  in  1809.     He  was  succeeded  the  next  year  by  Rev.  Timothy 
Clowes,  who  acted  as  officiating  minister  for  a  time  and  was  made  rector 
in  1811.     A  controversy  arose  over  the  disposition  of  the  income  from 
church  lands  in  which  he  took  part,  and  this  led  to  his  temporary  suspen- 
sion from  the  ministry  in  1817,  when  Rev.  William  B.  Lacy  succeeded 
him  at  St.  Peter's,  who  was  in  turn  succeeded  in  January,  1833,  by  Rev. 
Horatio  Potter.      In  1821  the  spire  of  the  church  edifice  was  erected  and 
in  1831  a  rectory  was  built,  which  was  superseded  ten  years  later  by 
another  on  the  corner  of  Lodge  street  and  Maiden  Lane.     Dr.  Potter 
remained  with  the  church  twenty- one  years  and  was  succeeded  in  De- 
cember,  1855,  by  Rev.   Thomas  C.  Pitkin.      In  1858,   the   foundations 
of  the  church  having  become  unstable,  a  new  edifice  was  contracted 
'  for,  after  plans  by  Upjohn  &  Co.,  of  New  York,  and  the  present  church 
erected  and   consecrated  October  4,  1860.      Rev.  Mr.    Pitkin   was  sue- 


RT.  REV.  WILLIAM  CROSWELL  DOANE,   D.D.,  LL.D. 


341 

ceeded  in  1862  by  Rev.  William  T.  Wilson,  with  Rev.  William  Tatlock, 
associate,  but  both  resigned  in  1866,  and  in  the  next  year  Rev.  William 
Crosswell  Doane  accepted  the  charge.  In  December,  1868,  Dr.  Doane 
was  elected  the  first  bishop  of  Albany  by  the  primary  convention  of 
the  diocese,  his  consecration  taking  place  February  2,  1869.  He  re- 
signed the  rectorship  in  that  year,  but  remained  with  the  church  until 
Easter,  1870.  His  successor  was  William  A.  Snively,  who  resigned  in 
1874,  when  the  present  rector,  Rev.  Walton  W.  Battershall,  was  in- 
stalled on  September  29,  of  that  year.  Under  his  administration  the 
church  has  been  progressive  and  successful.  In  1876  the  parish  house 
was  erected  on  Lodge  street,  for  Sunday  school,  charitable  and  social 
purposes.  In  the  same  year  the  church  tower  was  built  as  a  memorial 
to  the  late  warden,  John  Tweddle,  and  supplied  with  a  beautiful  chime 
of  bells.  Since  that  time  the  arrangement  of  the  chancel  has  been 
altered,  and  new  chancel  windows,  altar  and  reredos  provided,  with 
other  interior  improvements.  The  church  property  is  valued  at  $250,- 
000.  Connected  with  St.  Peter's  church  is  the  St.  Peter's  Orphan 
Home,  which  was  organized  in  1864.  After  a  few  years  devoted  to  the 
care  of  orphan  children  the  Home  was  incorporated  under  the  name  of 
the  Albany  Juvenile  Retreat,  but  the  rector  having  received  assurances 
of  support,  took  the  institution  under  parish  charge,  and  in  October, 
1804,  it  was  reorganized  under  its  present  name.  A  board  of  mana- 
gers was  chosen  from  the  women  of  the  congregation,  and  a  matron 
appointed.  In  1805  a  commodious  building  was  erected  at  59  Chapel 
street;  this  was  sold  to  the  Albany  Savings  Bank  in  1873,  and  in  the 
next  year  the  trustees  purchased  the  house  No.  1  Pine  street.  This 
was  rendered  unsuitable  in  1883  by  the  erection  of  the  City  Hall,  and 
the  household  was  transferred  to  No.  2  Madison  Place.  The  school 
and  home  have  accomplished  great  good.  The  present  handsome  rec- 
tory of  the  parish,  adjoining  the  church,  was  built  in  1895. 

St.  Paul's  parish  was  organized  November  12,  1827,  though  services 
had  previously  been  held  in  a  school  room  on  South  Pearl  street.  Rev. 
Richard  Bury  was  the  first  rector,  through  whose  efforts  and  those  of 
the  vestry  a  lot  on  South  Pearl  street  was  purchased,  a  church  erected 
and  consecrated  August  24,  1829,  being  then  known  as  St.  John's 
church.  Mr.  Burey  resigned  in  1830  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
William  Linn  Keese,  who  served  for  three  years,  greatly  extending 
the  parish,  but  resigned  on  account  of  ill  health.  Rev.  Joseph  II. 
Price  was  the  third  rector  and  was  succeeded   in  is:;;  by  Rev.  William 


342 

Ingraham  Kip,  D.  D.  In  1839  the  church  property  was  sold  and  a 
theatre  property  on  the  same  street  purchased,  the  building  being  re- 
fitted and  consecrated  in  1840.  Dr.  Kip  was  elected  bishop  of  Califor- 
nia in  1853  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  T.  A.  Starkey,  D.  D.  He  oc- 
cupied the  pulpit  until  1858,  and  in  April,  1859,  Rev.  William  Rudder 
was  called.  During  his  rectorship  the  Pearl  street  church  was  sold  and 
in  1862  the  present  property  on  Lancaster  street  was  purchased.  Rev. 
J.  Livingston  Reese  succeeded  Mr.  Rudder  in  June,  1864,  and  in 
December  of  that  year  the  church  was  consecrated,  the  rectory  being 
added  in  1867,  while  the  Free  Chapel  on  Madison  avenue  was  opened 
in  1808  and  the  parish  house  in  1883.  Extensive  improvements  have 
been  made  in  the  church  itself  from  time  to  time  since  its  erection. 
The  present  rector  is  Rev.  F.  G.  Jewett. 

The  first  meeting  with  reference  to  the  organization  of  Grace  Church 
was  held  Sexigesima  Sunday,  1846,  in  a  room  over  a  store  at  the  cor- 
ner of  State  and  Lark  streets,  under  the  auspices  of  Rev.  Maunsell 
Van  Rensselaer,  who  had  been  for  some  time  in  charge  of  St.  Peter's 
in  the  absence  of  the  rector.  Services  were  continued  in  this  room  until 
Sunday  May  24,  of  that  year,  when  a  meeting  was  held  to  perfect  the 
organization  and  adopt  the  name,  and  at  which  Rev.  Mr.  Van  Rens- 
selaer was  chosen  rector.  At  the  close  of  -that  year  the  congregation 
accepted  the  use  of  the  Spring  street  mission  building,  which  had  been 
tendered  them.  On  February  11,  1847,  the  lot  on  the  corner  of  Lark 
street  and  Washington  avenue  was  purchased  for  a  church  site,  and 
the  corner  stone  of  the  edifice  was  laid  September  10,  1850,  and  on 
Christmas  day  of  that  year  the  first  service  was  held  in  the  building, 
though  it  was  not  wholly  finished,  and  was  not  consecrated  until  De- 
cember 15,  1S52.  In  June,  1873,  the  building  was  removed  to  the  cor- 
ner of  Clinton  avenue  and  Robin  street,  and  a  rectory  was  built  in  1874 
at  a  cost  of  $9,000.  The  church  has  been  much  improved  since,  par- 
ticularly in  1884,  1892  and  1894,  resulting  in  a  new  transept  and  choir, 
a  new  roof,  and  the  guild-hall  and  a  choir  room.  The  rectors  since 
Mr.  Van  Rensselaer  have  been  Revs.  John  Alden  Spooner,  James  R. 
Davenport,  Theodore  M.  Bishop,  Philander  K.  Cady,  Edwin  B.  Rus- 
sell, James  Hutchings  Brown,  William  A.  Snively,  Thaddeus  A.  Snively, 
C.  W.  Knauff,  David  L.  Schwartz,  William  H.  Bown,  and  George  D. 
Silliman. 

Trinity  church,  Trinity  Place,  was  organized  in  1839,  and  leased  the 
Presbyterian   (Cameronian)  church  on  Westerlo  street  until   1841.      In 


343 

1842  a  frame  edifice  was  built  on  the  corner  of  Herkimer  and  Franklin 
streets,  and  in  1849  the  present  church  building-  was  erected,  since  which 
time  the  chancel  has  been  rebuilt  and  other  improvements  made.  The 
present  rector  is  Rev.  Russell  Woodman,  who  began  his  service  in  1888. 

The  Holy  Innocents'  Church  society  was  organized  February  15, 
1850,  and  the  handsome  church,  corner  of  North  Pearl  and  Colonic 
streets,  the  gift  of  the  late  William  H.  De  Witt,  was  consecrated  in 
September  of  the  same  year.  During  the  rectorship  of  Rev.  Richmond 
Shreve,  which  began  in  1888,  the  parish  added  to  its  property  by  the 
purchase  of  a  rectory  on  Ten  Broeck  street.  Rev.  Mr.  Shreve  resigned 
July  31,  1896,  and  was  siicceeded  by  Rev.  A.  Randolph  B.  Hagerman. 
the  present  rector. 

The  Cathedral  of  All  Saints  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  Legisla- 
ture March  27,  1873,  and  on  All  Saints'  day  in  1872  the  building  at 
first  used  for  cathedral  purposes,  and  which  was  originally  an  iron 
foundry,  was  first  occupied  for  religious  services.  On  the  festival  of 
All  Saints  in  1881  the  bishop  announced  the  purpose  of  at  once  begin- 
ning the  erection  of  the  cathedral,  and  at  a  meeting  held  in  November 
23,  1881,  the  bishop,  Erastus  Corning,  and  Orlando  Meads  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  select  a  site.  It  was  also  resolved  to  raise  the 
sum  of  $150,000  for  building  purposes,  exclusive  of  cost  of  site,  and  a 
subscription  book  was  opened  with  James  Moir  (acting  under  Gen.  S. 
E.  Marvin,  treasurer  of  the  chapter)  as  treasurer.  On  April  30,  1883, 
the  plans  of  R.  W.  Gibson,  architect,  were  adopted  for  the  edifice,  and 
on  November  28,  1883,  the  grounds  donated  by  Erastus  Corning,  valued 
at  $80,000,  were  accepted  for  the  site,  and  work  on  the  structure  soon 
began.  At  a  meeting  held  March  24,  1884,  it  was  resolved  to  lay  the 
corner  stone  on  June  3,  and  at  the  same  meeting  a  special  subscription 
was  authorized  for  the  columns  of  the  building,  to  stand  as  memorials 
of  eminent  churchmen.  These  columns  are  twenty-four  in  number  and 
cost  over  $1,000  each.  When  the  day  arrived  for  laying  the  corner 
stone  the  subscriptions  had  reached  nearly  $100,000.  The  edifice  was 
carried  to  its  present  partial  state  of  completion  within  the  year. 

Methodism  was  first  established  in  Albany  county  in  L788,  although 
services  in  this  faith  had  been  held,  probably,  as  early  as  1766  in  Al- 
bany by  Capt.  Thomas  Webb,  of  the  British  army.  He  was  then 
stationed  here  as  barrackmaster  and  having  been  converted  to  Method- 
ism in  his  own  country,  held  family  prayers  at  which  some  of  his  neigh- 


344 

bors  attended,  and  probably  preached  in  the  streets.  In  February, 
1767,  he  was  in  New  York  where  he  labored  as  an  evangelist.  The 
pioneer  Methodist  preacher  to  labor  regularly  in  the  local  field  was  Rev. 
Freeborn  Garretson,  a  native  of  Maryland,  one  of  the  earliest  Methodist 
preachers  of  American  birth.  He  went  to  New  York  in  1788  and  en- 
gaged in  the  revival  work  that  was  then  spreading  northward. 

Francis  Asbury,  who  had  been  elected  bishop  in  1771,  and  Mr.  Gar- 
retson were  assigned  with  a  number  of  other  young  men  to  this  district, 
the  bishop  himself  passing  over  the  territory  once  each  three  months. 
Albany  soon  became  an  important  point  in  this  field  and  Mr.  Garretson 
obtained  permission  to  preach  in  the  City  Hall.  It  can  be  easily  imag- 
ined that  the  new  doctrine,  which  had  received  more  or  less  opposi- 
tion wherever  planted,  received  little  encouragement  in  Albany,  espe- 
cially from  the'clergy  of  other  denominations,  so  that  Mr.  Garretson 
wrote  on  July  1,  1770,  that  "  Albany  still  appears  to  be  a  poor  place  for 
Methodism."  The  following  day  he  met  a  few  friends  in  a  private 
dwelling  and  united  them  in  a  society  under  Methodist  discipline, 
and  in  the  evening  preached  to  them  in  the  City  Hall.  Within  the 
next  two  years  a  house  of  worship  was  built  on  the  southeast  corner  of 
North  Pearl  and  Orange  streets.  This  church  and  society  were  incor- 
porated in  1784  as  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  the  City  of  Al- 
bany, with  John  Bloodgood,  Abraham  Ellison,  Isaac  Lawson,  Elisha 
Johnson,  William  Fradenberg,  Nathaniel  Ames,  and  Calvin  Chessman, 
trustees.  In  1812  a  new  church  edifice  was  built  on  Division  street,  the 
old  one  being  occupied  for  a  time  by  a  Baptist  congregation,  and  finally 
in  1882  being  sold  to  the  Scotch  Presbyterians.  The  first  preacher 
stationed  at  Albany  after  it  was  taken  from  the  circuit  was  Joel 
Ketcham,  after  whom  changes  in  pastors  were  frequent,  as  is  cus- 
tomary in  this  denomination.  In  1813  it  was  proposed  to  found  a  Sun- 
day school,  but  as  the  older  members  of  the  church  frowned  upon 
the  proposition  as  a  desecration  of  the  day,  the  project  was  temporarilv 
abandoned  in  favor  of  a  liberal  circulation  of  tracts.  The  school  was, 
however,  finally  established  through  the  efforts  of  a  woman,  a  Mrs. 
Brockway,  who  in  1816  had  organized  a  day  school  and  added  Sabbath 
services.  The  church  was  slow  in  growth,  its  membership  of  forty  per- 
sons in  1790  being  only  a  little  more  than  one  hundred  in  1811.  In 
February,  1812,  two  lots  on  the  south  side  of  Division  street,  a  little 
below  South  Pearl,  were  purchased  and  there  a  new  church  was  erected 
and  first  used  in   1813,  the  membership  then   being  153   white  persons 


REV.  WILLIAM  GRIFFIN,  D.  D. 


345 

and  sixteen  blacks.  The  introduction  in  1829  of  the  policy  of  renting 
seats  caused  great  dissatisfaction  and  led  to  the  withdrawal  of  a  consid- 
erable number  of  the  congregation,  who  rented  a  hall  on  the  corner  of 
Pearl  and  Columbia  streets  and  obtained  preachers  from  the  Water- 
vliet  circuit,  and  in  February  purchased  a  large  building  on  the  east  side 
of  Pearl  street  near  the  site  they  had  occupied.  Here  a  revival  soon  be- 
gan which  greatly  enlarged  not  only  the  Methodist  church,  but  ex- 
tended its  influence  among  other  denominations.  At  the  Conference  of 
1834  a  third  church  was  organized — the  Wesleyan  Chapel  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  city.  In  1835  the  membership  of  the  three  societies  was 
440  in  the  first;  435  in  the  second  (called  Garretson  Station),  and  -ill 
in  the  Wesleyan.  Another  church  was  now  authorized  by  the  Confer- 
ence called  the  West  Station.  The  organization  was  effected  by  mem- 
bers of  the  Division  street  society  and  the  Garretson  Station,  who 
united  in  the  purchase  of  a  small  house  of  worship  which  the  Primitive 
Methodists  had  built  on  State  street,  above  the  Capitol.  This  society, 
feeble  at  first,  soon  increased  in  numbers  and  in  1845  purchased  a  site 
on  the  corner  of  Washington  avenue  and  Swan  streets  and  there  erected  a 
new  edifice.  The  society,  through  lack  of  wisdom  in  financial  manage- 
ment, finally  became  reduced  in  number  and  heavily  encumbered  with 
debt.  In  1839  the  Wesleyan  Chapel  was  burned.  This  organization 
had  also  become  involved  in  debt  and  small  in  number,  largely  through 
its  anti-slavery  proclivities  and  activity,  so  that  the  property  was  sold  to 
pay  debts  and  in  May,  1842,  the  society  disbanded;  but  on  the  follow- 
ing vSabbath  (May  27)  the  teachers  of  the  Sunday  school  met  and  deter- 
mined to  reorganize,  which  they  did  at  the  Ferry  Street  M.  E.  church. 
While  still  under  pressing  difficulties  Thomas  Schuyler  joined  the  con- 
gregation and  relieved  their  financial  burdens.  In  1843  the  Division 
Street  church  found  a  more  eligible  site  on  Hudson  street  between 
Philip  and  Grand  and  built  a  new  edifice  which  they  occupied  within 
the  same  year.  A  parsonage  has  been  erected  in  connection  with  the . 
church  property,  and  the  church  building  has  been  extensively  im- 
proved, particularly  in  1865.  The  fifth  Methodist  church  in  Albany  was 
organized  in  1848,  succeeding  the  formation  of  a  class  on  Arbor  Hill. 
In  the  year  1854  the  Albany  Methodist  Sunday  School  Union  was  formed 
which  within  a  few  years  established  five  schools — one  on  Central 
avenue,  one  at  West  Albany,  one  called  the  South  Mission,  on  Benja- 
min street,  one  at  Bath,  and  one  at  East  Albany,  the  two  latter  being 
across  the  river.      Some  of  these  formed  the  nucleus  of  later  churches. 

44 


346 

In  1870  a  remarkable  revival  was  experienced  in  the  Central  avenue 
chapel,  conducted  by  a  number  of  zealous  laymen  and  the  missionary 
who  had  been  appointed  in  1868.  At  the  ensuing  Conference  a  second 
missionary  was  appointed  with  special  charge  of  the  Central  avenue 
congregation,  which  had  a  membership  of  ninety  at  the  close  of  the  first 
pastorate  in  1873.  Meanwhile  the  West  Station,  or  Washington  Street 
church,  which  was  merely  a  mission  in  1853,  had  prospered,  funds  had 
been  raised,  and  in  1867  a  fine  edifice  was  erected  on  the  corner  of 
Lark  and  Lancaster  streets.  It  took  the  name  of  Trinity  M.  E.  church 
and  was  dedicated  in  December,  1875.  Within  the  past  four  years  the 
interior  of  the  church  has  been  somewhat  changed  and  redecorated.  In 
1881  the  Garretson  Station  congregation,  which  had  in  the  mean  time 
erected  its  second  church  building,  united  with  the  Central  avenue 
congregation.  Separate  worship  was  kept  up,  however,  until  the  com- 
pletion of  the  new  church  edifice,  situated  on  the  corner  of  Clinton  and 
Lexington  avenues,  in  1883-4,  which  took  its  present  name  of  St.  Luke's. 
In  1869  the  Broadway  Mission  and  the  Arbor  Hill  congregation  were 
united  under  the  name  of  Grace  church,  and  a  lot  was  purchased  on  the 
corner  of  Ten  Broeck  street  and  Livingston  avenue,  where  a  temporary 
structure  was  built  which  was  superseded  a  few  years  later  by  the  present 
edifice.  When  the  pressure  of  business  establishments  began  to  crowd 
upon  the  church  property  of  the  Methodists  and  Presbyterians  on  Hud- 
son avenue,  it  was  realized  that  a  removal  must  be  made.  The  latter 
congregation  finally  built  their  new  church  edifice  on  the  corner  of  State 
and  Willet  streets,  at  the  northeast  corner  of  the  Park,  while  the  Metho- 
dists purchased  the  building  previously  occupied  by  the  Presbyterians, 
at  the  same  time  selling  their  own  property.  The  Ferry  Street  church 
prospered  and  in  1863  sought  a  better  location,  a  site  being  purchased 
on  the  corner  of  Westerlo  and  Grand  streets  where  the  present  Ash 
Grove  church  was  erected,  with  a  parsonage  adjoining. 

The  fourth  church  society  organized  in  Albany  was  in  the  Presby- 
terian faith,  the  organization  having  been  perfected  in  1762.  Preach- 
ing had  been  maintained  for  about  two  years  previous  to"  that  date  by 
supplies  sent  by  the  New  York  and  Philadelphia  Synods,  among  whom 
were  Revs.  Hector  Alison,  Andrew  Bay,  William  Tennant,  Abraham 
Kettletas,  John  Smith,  and  Aaron  Richards.  The  site  for  the  first 
church  edifice  was  purchased  in  1762  and  in  the  next,  year  the  society 
was  recognized   as  an  incorporated    body.      The  church    was  at  first 


347 

connected  with  the  Dutchess  County  Presbytery,  organized  in  October, 
1762,  but  in  1775  it  was  transferred  to  the  Presbytery  of  New  York. 
The  first  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1764,  on  the  lot  on  Gallows  Hill, 
on  a  site  bounded  by  Beaver  street  on  the  north,  Hudson  street  on  the 
south,  William  street  on  the  east,  and  Grand  street  on  the  south,  and 
was  a  plain  wooden  structure,  painted  red,  and  having  a  bell  tower 
surmounted  by  a  spire.  This  was  occupied  until  about  1795,  in  which 
and  the  following  year  the  second  edifice  was  erected  on  South  Pearl 
street  on  the  site  occupied  in  recent  years  by  the  Beaver  block,  at  a 
cost  of  about  $13,000.  This  building  was  sold  to  the  Congregational  - 
ists  in  1850  and  the  congregation  removed  to  their  third  church  on  the 
corner  of  Hudson  avenue  and  Philip  street,  which  was  erected  in  1849- 
50,  at  a  cost  of  $15,000,  the  lot  having  been  purchased  two  years 
earlier,  and  which  was  opened  for  service  March  10,  1850.  In  185G  this 
building  was  sold  to  the  First  M.  E.  Society  (as  before  stated)  for  $25,000, 
and  in  1883-4  the  fourth  church  of  this  society  was  built  on  the  corner 
of  vState  and  Willett  streets,  fronting  Washington  Park,  and  with  its 
session  house  cost  about  $110,000.  William  Force  Whittaker  is  the 
present  pastor. 

On  the  third  Monday  in  July,  1813,  certain  subscribers  to  a  building 
fund  for  a  new  Presbyterian  church  met  and  appointed  James  Kane, 
John  L.  Winne,  Joseph  Russell,  Nathaniel  Davis,  and  Robert  Sedg- 
wick, trustees.  Work  was  at  once  commenced  on  a  building,  which 
was  opened  for  worship  in  September,  1815,  and  over  which  Rev.  John 
Chester  was  installed  as  the  first  pastor  November  8,  1815.  On  De- 
cember 3,  John  L.  Winne,  John  Boardman,  Chester  Bulkley,  and 
Uriah  Marvin  were  chosen  ruling  elders  of  the  church.  This  society 
was  greatly  prospered  under  Dr.  Chester's  administrations,  the  mem- 
bership reaching  365  in  1829.  Among  the  pastors  of  this  church  was 
Rev.  William  Buell  Sprague,  1829-69,  eminent  as  the  author  of  "  The 
Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit,"  a  work  of  nine  volumes. 

The  third  Presbyterian  church  in  Albany,  now  known  as  the  Second 
Presbyterian  church,  was  organized  by  a  number  of  members  from  the 
First  church  and  some  from  the  Associate  Reformed  church,  in  1817. 
An  edifice  was  soon  erected  on  Montgomery  street,  which  was  occu- 
pied until  1844,  when  it  was  sold  to  the  Bethel  Society,  the  present 
church,  corner  of  Clinton  avenue  and  North  Pearl  street,  being  dedi- 
cated December  3,  1845.     The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Hooper  dimming. 

The  fourth  Presbyterian  church  was  incorporated  December  1,1- 


348 

the  edifice  of  which,  on  the  north  side  of  Broadway,  was  erected  in 
1829,  and  dedicated  May  30,  1830;  but  this  was  taken  down  in  1865  and 
the  present  church  erected  in  1866.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Edmund 
N.  Kirk,  the  present  being  Rev.  David  O.  Mears.  During  a  few  years 
past  this  society  has  erected  a  permanent  building  for  the  Viaduct 
Mission,  which  it  established,  and  has  considerably  improved  the 
church  itself. 

The  fifth  Presbyterian  church  in  Albany  was  organized  in  1831,  the 
first  meeting  being  held  in  the  City  Hall,  the  first  pastor  being  Rev. 
Alonzo  Welton,  whose  services  began  in  1832. 

The  sixth  Presbyterian  church  in  Albany  was  organized  as  a  result 
of  a  prayer  meeting  held  in  December,  1855,  in  a  room  on  what  is  now 
Livingston  avenue,  and  in  October  of  the  next  year  a  Sunday  school 
was  organized.  The  work  continued  until  the  spring  of  1868,  when 
Rev.  John  R.  Young  was  employed  as  a  missionary  to  aid  in  organiz- 
ing the  church.  His  place  was  taken  in  May,  1868,  by  Rev.  Amos 
Hammond  Dean,  and  the  organization  was  perfected  December  8,  of 
that  year.  The  church  edifice  on  Second  street  was  completed  in  the 
fall  of  1871  and  dedicated  on  November  16.  Rev.  Leslie  R.  Groves  is 
the  present  pastor. 

The  State  Street  Presbyterian  church  was  organized  in  1860,  with 
Rev.  Alexander  S.  Tombley  as  pastor,  and  the  present  church  edifice 
was  erected  and  dedicated  October  12,  1862,  since  which  time  it  has 
been  little  changed.  Rev.  John  McC.  Holmes  is  the  present  pastor, 
having  served  the  church  since  1877. 

The  West  End  Presbyterian  church  was  built  in  1877  on  the  corner 
of  New  York  Central  avenue  and  Third  street.  The  first  pastor  was 
Rev.  Robert  Ennis,  the  present  being  Rev.  George  N.  Earner.  Within 
a  few  years  past  the  main  audience  room  of  the  edifice  has  been  en- 
larged and  the  interior  otherwise  improved,  and  a  chapel  has  been 
added  to  the  building. 

Madison  Avenue  Presbyterian  church  was -organized  and  a  temporary 
building  erected  in  1888,  which  was  occupied  until  1894,  when  it  was 
enlarged  to  meet  the  increasing  numbers  of  the  congregation.  A  new 
and  handsome  edifice  in  pressed  brick  is  now  (1896)  in  process  of  erec- 
tion, which  is  due  to  the  untiring  efforts  of  Rev.  Charles  A.  Richmond, 
the  present  pastor. 

The  United  Presbyterian  church  in  Albany  had  its  inception  as  early 
as  October,  1800,  when  the  society  was  connected  with  the  Presbytery 


349 

of  Montreal,  the  first  pastor  being-  Rev.  John  McDonald,  who  con- 
tinued until  1819  and  died  in  Albany.  In  1820  the  church  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Presbytery  of  Cambridge  and  Rev.  James  Martin  became 
pastor,  continuing  to  1842.  The  first  church  edifice  stood  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Chapel  and  Canal  streets  and  was  occupied  in  January,  1802.  A 
new  edifice,  situated  en  Lancaster  street  near  Eagle,  was  erected  in 
1860  and  opened  on  the  first  Sabbath  of  1861.  In  May,  1858,  the  As- 
sociate and  Associate  Reformed  churches  were  united  to  form  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church  of  North  America,  and  this  congregation 
then  took  its  present  title.     Rev.  S.  C.  McKelvey  is  the  present  pastor. 

The  first  meeting  of  Baptists  in  Albany  was  held  January  1,  1810, 
by  Joshua  A.  Burke,  Salem  Dutcher,  John  Gray,  William  Penrey, 
Charles  Boyington,  Tamer  Page,  Betsey  Burke,  Catharine  Gordon, 
Margaret  Jones,  Elenor  Penrey,  and  on  January  23,  1811,  a  church  or- 
ganization was  perfected  with  twenty-one  members.  In  1818  what  was 
then  known  as  the  Green  Street  Theater  was  purchased,  refitted  and 
occupied  many  years  as  a  place  of  worship,  until  in  1852  a  site  on  the 
corner  of  Hudson  avenue  and  Philip  street  was  purchased  and  there  the 
present  edifice  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $20,000.  The  building  was  ex- 
tensively improved  in  1865.  Rev.  De  Witt  T.  Van  Doren  is  the  pres- 
ent paster. 

The  Tabernacle  Baptist  Church  is  an  outgrowth  of  a  mission  formed 
in  1856,  consisting  of  a  few  members  of  the  society  now  constituting 
the  Emmanuel  Baptist  church,  who  met  in  a  building  on  North  Pearl 
street.  The  rapid  growth  of  the  society  led  to  its  organization  in  Oc- 
tober, 1859,  under  the  present  title,  and  in  1875  the  site  of  the  present 
edifice  was  purchased,  a  new  church  built  and  dedicated  February  14, 
1877.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Justin  D.  Fulton,  the  present  being- 
Rev.  Thomas  M.  Eastwood. 

Emmanuel  Baptist  church  was  organized  in  1834  and  bore  the  name 
of  the  Pearl  Street  Baptist  church  until  1871.  The  first  pastor  was 
Rev.  Bartholomew  T.  Welch,  D.  I).,  who  had  during  the  seven  pre- 
vious years  preached  to  the  First  Baptist  church,  but  was  released  from 
that  pulpit  to  form  the  new  church,  whose  first  edifice  was  erected  on 
North  Pearl  street  and  cost  $4<;,000.  In  1869-70  the  present  church 
was  built  on  the  north  side  of  State  street,  between  Swan  and  Dove 
streets,  and  was  dedicated  in  February,  1871,  the  tower  being  added  in 
1883,   a  gift  from    Mrs.    Eli   Perry  in  memory  of  her  husband.      The 


350 

entire  church  property  cost  about  $220,000.  Rev.  Wallace  Buttrick  is 
the  present  pastor. 

Calvary  Baptist  church  was  organized  January  16,  ,1860,  under  the 
name  of  Washington  Avenue  Baptist  church,  and  was  first  under  pas- 
toral charge  of  Rev.  Wm.  P.  Everett,  but  the  rapid  early  growth  of  the 
congregation  led  them  to  purchase  the  church  on  Washington  avenue 
which  had  been  built  for  the  German  Baptists,  and  February  4,  1865, 
the  society  purchased  the  State  street  Baptist  church  building  (corner 
of  High  street),  and  took  the  present  title.  That  building  was  occu- 
pied until  1880  when  it  was  demolished  and  the  present  edifice  erected. 
The  State  Street  church,  mentioned  above,  was  organized  in  1845,  and 
in  the  same  year  built  the  edifice  which  was  finally  sold  to  the  Calvary 
church.      Rev.  Joseph  F.  Elder  is  present  pastor  of  the  Calvary  church. 

The  Washington  avenue  German  Baptist  church,  situated  on  Wash- 
ington avenue,  was  purchased  in  1859,  and  sold  within  a  few  years  to 
the  Roman  Catholics.      The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  William   P.    Everett. 

The  German  Baptist  church,  situated  at  No.  252  Washington  avenue 
was  organized  and  the  edifice  built  and  dedicated  in  1854.  Rev.  A. 
Yon  Pattkammer  was  the  first  pastor.  In  1892  a  new  front  to  the  ed- 
ifice was  erected.      Rev.  A.  M.  Petersen  is  the  present  pastor. 

Hope  Baptist  church,  on  Clinton  avenue,  originated  in  a  mission, 
and  was  regularly  organized  in  1891,  when  the  present  beautiful  brick 
edifice  was  erected  and  dedicated.      Rev.  Henry  S.  Potter  is  pastor. 

The  organization  of  Roman  Catholic  churches  in  Albany  followed 
closely  upon  the  work  of  the  Jesuit  missionaries.  On  October  6,  1796, 
a  meeting  was  held  in  Albany  at  the  house  of  James  Robichaux,  where 
an  organization  was  effected  which  was  soon  followed  by  incorporation, 
the  certificate  of  which  is  on  file  in  the  county  clerk's  office  and  is  signed 
by  Lewis  Le  Coulteaux  and  David  McEvers,  and  is  witnessed  by  Se- 
bastian Visscher  and  Archibald  Yates.  The  first  church  edifice  was 
erected  on  the  site  of  the  present  St.  Mary's  church,  the  corner  stone 
being  laid  in  1797  by  Thomas  Barry,  then  a  prominent  merchant.  St. 
Mary's  is  older  than  any  other  Roman  Catholic  parish  in  this  State  ex- 
cepting St.  Peter's  in  New  York  city.  The  entrance  to  the  first  St. 
Mary's  was  on  Pine  street  and  the  interior  was  about  fifty  feet  square. 
Among  the  early  clergy  who  officiated  over  this  congregation  were  Rev. 
Fathers  Thayer,  Whelan,  O'Brien,  and  La  Yalenure.  Rev.  D.  Maho- 
ney  was  here  in  1806-7;  Father  James  Buyshe  in  1808;  Father  Hurley 
in  1809  ;  Father  Weddin  in  1810-11 ;  FatherO'Gorman  in  1812-13.   Others 


351 

served  the  parish  from  time  to  time  until  1816.  Father  Charles  Smith, 
formerly  a  Methodist,  was  called  and  served  the  congregation  until 
1836.  The  first  Roman  Catholic  Sunday  school  was  formed  in  1828. 
The  demolition  of  this  first  church  building  began  September  14,  1829, 
and  the  corner  stone  of  a  new  edifice  was  laid  on  October  13,  the  church 
being  opened  fur  service  August  29,  1830.  It  fronted  on  Chapel  street 
and  was  entered  by  high  steps,  and  contained  a  school  room  in  the 
basement.  A  dwelling  on  Lodge  street  adjoining  the  rear  of  the  church 
was  used  at  first  for  an  orphan  asylum  and  afterwards  as  a  rectory.  In 
1847,  when  the  Diocese  of  Albany  was  set  off  from  that  of  New  York 
Bishop  McCloskey  ruling  over  it  became  its  first  bishop,  and  St.  Mary's 
became  his  Cathedral.  The  edifice,  while  perhaps  sufficient  for  the 
period,  was  rather  poorly  constructed  and  did  not  long  suffice  for  the 
rapidly  increasing  congregation.  Several  priests  succeeded  Father 
Smith  as  rectors  for  short  periods  until  Bishop  McCloskey's  administra- 
tion began  in  1846,  when  he  took  charge  in  person,  assisted  by  Fathers 
Edgar  P.  Wadhams  and  Thomas  Doran,  until'  finally  in  September, 
1866,  Father  Clarence  A.  Walworth  began  his  long  pastorate.  Upon 
his  appointment  it  was  apparent  that  a  new  church  edifice  was  a  neces- 
sity. A  new  incorporation  act  was  procured  March  25,  1863,  changing 
the  name  of  the  church  to  St.  Mary's  Church  of  the  City  of  Albany, 
and  all  the  property  passed  to  the  new  trustees.  A  subscription  for  a 
new  edifice  was  started  and  the  city  conceded  to  the  society  twenty  feet 
of  land  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  site.  Association  Hall  was  tempo- 
rarily occupied  during  the  erection  of  the  new  edifice,  the  corner  stone 
of  which  was  laid  August  11,  1867.  The  structure  was  so  far  com- 
pleted by  February  16,  1868,  that  it  was  then  used  for  services,  and 
was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Conroy  March,  14,  1869.  St.  Mary's  parish 
originally  included  all  that  part  of  the  Diocese  of  Albany  lying  in  the 
valleys  of  the  Hudson  and  the  Mohawk,  but  at  the  present  time  it  is 
only  one  of  Albany's  twelve  parishes.  In  1839  St.  John's  church  on 
South  Ferry  street  was  bought  from  the  Episcopalians  and  all  the  south- 
ern part  of  the  city  was  set  off  to  that  parish.  In  1843  the  section  of  the 
city  north  of  Clinton  avenue  was  constituted  a  third  parish  called  St. 
Joseph's  and  a  new  edifice  was  erected  on  the  corner  of  North  Pearl 
and  Lumber  streets.  Next  followed  the  formation  of  a  parish  for  the 
new  Cathedral,  built-in  1852  on  Eagle  street,  which  left  St.  Mary's  lim- 
ited on  the  south  by  Beaver  and  Lancaster  streets;  and  finally,  in  1858, 
St.  Patrick's  parish  was  formed  with  a  church  on  Central  avenue,   tak- 


352 

ing  from  the  old  mother  church  the  territory    west  of  Knox    street. 
Since  then  St.  Mary's  parish  has  not  been  changed. 

The  corner  stone  of  the  Cathedral  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  was 
laid  July  2,  1848,  by  Archbishop  Hughes,  and  on  November  21,  1852, 
the  building  was  dedicated  with  imposing  ceremonies.  The  cost  of  the 
structure  was  $180,000.  It  is  a  magnificent  building  and  its  twin  spires 
attract  attention  from  the  east  and  south  for  a  long  distance,  but  much 
still  remained  to  be  done  to  the  structure  when  Bishop  McCloskey  suc- 
ceeded to  the  archbishopric  in  1864.  Rt.  Rev.  John  J.  Conroy  succeeded 
Bishop  McCloskey  as  bishop  of  Albany  and  filled  the  station  twelve 
years,  and  he  was  followed  by  Rt.  Rev.  Francis  McNeirny  on  October 
16,  1877.  Under  Bishop  Conroy  little  was  done  on  the  cathedral,  but 
since  his  administration  and  under  that  of  Bishop  McNeirny,  the  in- 
terior has  been  provided  with  a  new  chancel  for  which  the  apse  was 
extended  thirty  feet;  the  seven  bays  beautifully  decorated;  a  reredos 
of  great  beauty  added  to  the  transept;  handsome  stained  windows  put 
in,  and  new  altars  built.  Bishop  McNeirny  died  January  2,  1894,  and 
was  succeeded  on  July  2,  1894,  by  Rt.  Rev.  T.  M.  A.  Burke. 

The  diocese  of  Albany  includes  territory  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  north  line  of 
Warren  county,  and  portions  of  Herkimer  and  Hamilton,  north  of  the  northern  lines 
of  the  townships  of  Ohio  and  Russia  in  Herkimer  couuty;  on  the  east  by  Massachu- 
setts and  Vermont ;  on  the  south  by  the  southern  line  of  Columbia,  Greene  and 
Delaware  counties ;  on  the  west  by  the  western  line  of  Otsego  and  Herkimer  and 
part  of  Hamilton. 

It  has  an  estimated  Catholic  population  of  130,000,  ministered  to  by  159  priests. 
It  has  ninety-two  churches  with  resident  pastors,  and  forty  without;  forty-five  chap- 
els, eighty  stations;  eight  academies,  and  select  schools,  with  1,300  pupils;  thirty- 
eight  parochial  schools  with  13,000  pupils;  seven  orphan  asylums;  two  homes  for  the 
aged;  two  hospitals;  two  houses  of  the  Good  Shepherd. 

St.  John's  Catholic  church  was  founded  in  1837,  with  Rev.  J.  Kelly 
in  charge,  the  first  place  of  worship  being  on  the  corner  of  Herkimer 
and  Franklin  streets,  but,  July  1,  1839,  the  present  church,  on  the  cor- 
ner of  South  Ferry  and  Dallius  streets,  was  purchased  from  St.  Paul's 
.society.  The  parish  has  been  at  different  periods  in  charge  of  priests 
who  were  or  became  eminent  in  the  church,  among  them  the  present 
Bishop  Ludden. 

St.  Joseph's  Catholic  church  was  organized  in  1842  to  meet  the  wants 
of  the  residents  in  the  northern  part  of  the  city,  and  measures  were  at 
once  adopted  for  the  erection  of  a  church  edifice  on  the  corner  of  North 
Pearl  and  Lumber  streets,  the  corner  stone  of  which  was  laid  July  25, 


-+-  VJVvvr^M  X.  i^\  \^v*A\^_ 


UU> 


353 

1842,  and  the  building  consecrated  May  7,  1843.  The  first  regular  pas- 
tor was  Father  John  J.  Conroy,  who  was  installed  March  25,  1844,  and 
under  whom  the  parish  made  rapid  progress.  He  erected  what  is 
known  as  the  Girl's  Orphan  Asylum,  on  North  Pearl  street,  built  a 
parochial  residence,  and  established  a  school  for  both  boys  and  girls. 
The  church  soon  became  inadequate  for  the  congregation  and  a  new 
site  was  purchased,  bounded  by  Ten  Broeck,  First,  and  Second  streets, 
for  $45,000.  Ground  was  broken  for  the  present  edifice  in  the  fall  of 
1855  and  the  corner  stone  was  laid  June  1,  1856,  in  which  year  the 
structure  was  completed.  In  1865  the  Holy  See  appointed  Father  Con- 
roy bishop  of  Albany,  but  he,  however,  retained  the  title  of  rector  of 
this  church  until  1874.  When  Bishop  Conroy  took  up  his  permanent 
residence  at  the  Cathedral  in  1866,  he  left  the  Rev.  T.  M.  A.  Burke  in 
charge  of  St.  Joseph's.      Father  Burke  was  appointed  pastor  in  1874. 

During  the  administration  and  pastorate  of  Father  Burke  a  commo- 
dious school  for  boys  was  erected,  the  church  and  grounds  were  im- 
proved and  beautified,  a  large  and  handsome  parochial  residence  was 
built,  and  more  than  $100,000  of  debt  was  paid.  Father  Burke  remained 
in  charge  of  St.  Joseph's  until  December  6,  1396,  when  he  removed  to  the 
Episcopal  residence  on  Madison  avenue.  From  this  parish  have  been 
taken  the  parishes  of  the  Sacred  Heart  (North  Albany)  and  St.  Patrick's. 
Father  Joseph  H.  Mangan  is  now  in  charge  of  this  church.  The  Church 
of  the  Holy  Cross  (German),  corner  of  Hamilton  and  Philip  streets,  was 
erected  in  1849-52,  and  was  consecrated  in  the  latter  year  during  the 
rectorship  of  Father  Noethen.  He  remained  with  the  church  until 
1878  and  was  succeeded  by  Father  Ottenhaus,  who  is  still  rector.  Al- 
though the  church  has  been  a  prosperous  one,  it  was  in  later  years 
greatly  reduced  by  withdrawals  to  form  other  congregations,  which 
were  the  Church  of  Our  Lady  of  Angels,  1868;  Church  of  the  Assump- 
tion, 1869,  and  Our  Lady  Help  of  Christians,  1880. 

St.  Ann's  parish  was  formed  in  1866  from  the  Cathedral  parish  and 
St.  John's;  its  first  priest  was  Father  Thomas  Doran,  who  had  pre- 
viously been  in  charge  of  St.  Mary's.  The  corner  stone  of  St.  Ann's 
was  laid  in  1867  and  the  edifice  was  dedicated  December  20,  1868,  the 
site,  on  the  corner  of  Fourth  avenue  and  Franklin  streets,  having  been 
donated  by  John  Tracy,  who  with  Thomas  Kearnan,  John  Carmody, 
and  James  Coyle,  were  the  trustees.  The  congregation  has  always 
been  zealous  in   advancing  the  church  and  in   establishing  connecting 

45 


354 

societies,  among  which  are  Sunday  School  Union,  St.  Vincent  de 
Paul's,  and  a  Ladies'  Aid  Society.     Father  Terry  is  now  the  rector. 

Church  of  the  Assumption. — On  January  1,  1868,  the  French  Cana- 
dians of  Albany  founded  the  St.  Jean  Baptist  society  with  twenty- five 
members,  its  objects  being  to  aid  sick  members  and  provide  a  fund 
from  which  to  pay  a  certain  sum  at  death.  In  1869  there  were  130 
French  Canadians  in  Albany  without  church  accommodations,  and  this 
led  to  the  immediate  erection  of  their  church  on  the  corner  of  Dallius 
street  and  Fourth  avenue.  In  the  spring  of  1871  the  residence  ad- 
joining the  church  was  bought  for  $4,000.  The  parsonage  was  erected 
in  1876  and  cost  $8,000.  Father  Alphonse  Villeneuve  is  the  present 
pastor., 

The  Catholic  congregation  bearing  the  name  of  Our  Lady  Help  of 
Christians  is  an  outgrowth  of  the  Holy  Cross  church,  and  was  organ- 
ganized  in  1873  by  Father  Teodore  Noethen,  vicar-general  for  the 
Germans  of  the  Albany  diocese.  The  church  property  on  Second  ave- 
nue was  purchased  in  1873  and  a  frame  building  then  standing  was 
converted  into  a  chapel  and  a  school  was  soon  opened  in  connection 
and  taught  by  John  Hess,  which  is  now  in  charge  of  the  Sisters  of  St. 
Francis  of  Syracuse.  In  June,  1874,  Father  Stephen  A.  Preisser  was 
placed  in  charge  of  the  congregation,  and  the  corner  stone  of  the  pres- 
ent church  was  laid  June  28,  1880,  and  the  dedication  services  are  held 
August  28,  1881.     Father  Bernard  Schoppe  is  the  present  rector. 

Our  Lady  of  Angels  Church  (German),  on  Central  avenue  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Robin  street,  was  erected  in  1868,  soon  after  the  organization  of 
the  society,  the  first  priest  being  Father  Francis  Neubauer,  who  con- 
tinued until  1877.  In  1887  the  church  was  considerably  improved,  and 
in  1892  a  convent  was  erected  adjoining.  Rev.  Fidelis  M.  Voight  is  the 
rector. 

St.  Patrick's  church,  the  organization  of  which  in  1859  has  been 
alluded  to,  is  situated  on  the  corner  of  Central  avenue  and  Perry  street, 
having  been  erected  in  1868  and  consecrated  on  August  30th  of  that 
year.  The  first  priest  in  charge  was  Father  McGough,  who  began  his 
work  in  1859.      Father  P.  J.  Smith  is  the  present  priest. 

The  parish  of  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus  was  formed  August  5,  1884, 
by  Bishop  McNeirny,  who  appointed  Father  Francis  J.  McGuire  the 
first  rector.  The  site  of  the  present  church  on  Walter  street  was  pur- 
chased at  a  cost  of  about  $7,000,  but  for  temporary  use  a  chapel  was 
built  on   Erie  street.      The   necessity  for  larger  accommodations  was 


355 

soon  felt  and  the  present  new  church  was  begun  in  July,  1876,  and  the 
church  was  dedicated  May  23,  1880.  The  property  was  valued  at 
nearly  $100,000.     Father  McGuire  is  still  in  charge  of  the  parish. 

In  1849  thirteen  citizens  of  Albany  joined  in  the  purchase  for  $20,- 
000,  of  the  church  which  had  long  been  occupied  by  the  First  Presbyte- 
rian society,  corner  of  South  Pearl  and  Beaver  streets.  After  being 
repaired  it  was  first  used  for  Congregational  purposes  April  7,  1850, 
the  sermon  being  preached  by  Rev.  Leonard  Bacon,  D.  D.,  and  the 
10th  of  July  of  that  year  a  Congregational  church  was  organized  with 
eighty-one  members.  On  December  10,  1850,  Rev.  Ray  Palmer,  D.  D., 
was  installed  over  the  church,  his  pastorate  continuing  until  I860,  when 
his  successor,  Rev.  William  S.  Smart,  began  his  long  charge.  The  last 
sermon  in  the  old  church  was  preached  February  8,  18C8,  after  which 
Association  Hall  was  used  during  the  erection  of  the  present  edifice,  on 
the  corner  of  Eagle  and  Beaver  streets,  which  was  dedicated  October 
14,  1869,  having  cost  with  the  site,  $130,000.  Rev.  J.  Brainerd  Thrall, 
the  present  pastor,  was  installed  in  March,  1894. 

The  Second  Congregational  church  was  organized  in  1862,  but  was 
dissolved  in  the  following  year.  The  Clinton  Avenue  Congregational 
church  was  organized,  their  church  being  on  Clinton  avenue,  of  which 
Rev.  Francis  A.  Strough  is  pastor.  The  chapel  of  the  church  was 
partly  burned  in  the  fall  of  1895  but  was  at  once  rebuilt. 

The  First  Christian  church  was  organized  in  1881,  and  a  building  was 
erected  on  Chestnut  street,  between  Lark  and  Dove,  the  first  pastor 
being  Rev.  E.  C.  Abbott.  The  Rev.  P.  A.  Canada  is  at  present  in 
charge. 

Besides  the  foregoing  churches  of  Albany,  the  Hebrews  have  three 
religious  organizations:  Beth  El  Jacob,  28  Fulton  street,  Rev.  Albert 
Kauterivitz,  rabbi;  Beth  Emeth,  on  Lancaster  street,  organized  L850, 
Dr.  Max  Schlesinger,  rabbi;  Sons  of  Abraham,  South  Ferry  street, 
Rev.  J.  Block,  rabbi. 

An  Unitarian  society  was  incorporated  in  Albany  in  1842,  and  ser- 
vices were  held  in  various  places,  until  finally  the  society  purchased  the 
edifice  of  the  Methodists  on  Division  street,  which  they  sold  in  1869, 
since  which  time  they  have  had  no  active  existence. 

The  Universalists,  also,  had  a  society  and  held  meetings  from  about 
1825,  and  built  their  first  church  on  Herkimer  street  in  1829,  and  a 
second  in  1833  on  Green  street.  Their  present  church  is  situated  on 
the  corner  of  Jay  and  Swan  streets. 


356 

There  ars  a  number  of  patriotic  hereditary  orders  and  societies  in 
Albany,  and  probably  they  have  a  larger  membership  than  those  of 
any  other  city  of  its  population  in  the  country.  Prominent  among  these 
is  the  Philip  Livingston  Chapter  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution,  which 
was  organized  in  1893  and  chartered  December  3,  1895.  Following 
is  the  muster  roll  of  this  Chapter: 

Baker,  George  Comstock. — Great-great-grandson  of  Private  Reuben  Baker,  Barn's 
Regiment,  Massachusetts  Militia,  1781. 

Balch,  Dr.  Lewis. — Great-grandson  of  John  Jay,  member  and  president  of  the  Con- 
stitutional Congress,  1774;  member  of  New  York  Provincial  Convention,  1775;  mem- 
ber of  Committee  of  One  Hundred,  1775 ;  colonel  2d  Regiment  New  York  City  Militia  ; 
member  New  York  Council  of  Safety ;  prepared  draft  of  Constitution  of  New  York, 
1777;  chief  justice,  1777-9. 

Banks,  Maj.,  Robert  Lenox,  jr. — Great -great-grandson  of  Jedediah  Turner,  private 
in  Captain  Fitch's  Company  of  Independent  Volunteers,  Connecticut. 

Barker,  James  Franklin. — Great  great-grandson  of  Lieut.  Walter  Swits  in  regiment 
commanded  by  Col.  Seth  Warner. 

Barnes,  John  O. — Great-grandson  of  Artificer  Benjamin  Johnson,  Captain  Saxton's 
Company,  Colonel  Mason's  Regiment,  Connecticut  Militia. 

Bartlett,  Dr.  Ezra  Albert. — Great-grandson  of  Chief  Justice  Josiah  Bartlett  of  New 
Hampshire,  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

Boutelle,  Frank  Warren  and  Frederick  A. — Great-grandsons  of  Ebenezer  Boutelle. 
drummer  at  Lexington. 

Brandow,  Frank  Hammond. — Great-grandson  of  Joel  Tuttle,  private  in  Connec- 
ticut Volunteers. 

Bridge,  Charles  Francis. — Great-grandson  of  Col.  Ebenezer  Bridge,  captain  in  Col. 
John  Witcomb's  Regiment,  Massachusetts  Minute-men,  "  Lexington  Alarm;"  colonel 
27th  Regiment  Massachusetts  Continental  Infantry,  April  30,  1775;  2d  major,  8th 
Regiment,  Worcester  County  Militia,  Col.  Abijah  Stearns,  February  6,  1776;  lieuten- 
ant-colonel Asa  Whitcomb's  Massachusetts  Regiment,  June  3,  1775;  colonel  Massa- 
chusetts Militia,  August  1,  1775;  member  of  Massachusetts  Provincial  Congress, 
1775. 

Browne,  Hon.  Goodwin. — Great-great-grandson  of  Joseph  Hopkins,  civil  officer 
committee  State  of  Connecticut. 

Bulkeley,  Alpheus  Tompkins. — Great-great-grandson  of  Stephen  N.  Tompkins, 
corporal  in  Captain  Sage's  Company.  Col.  Henry  Ludington's  7th  Regiment  New 
York,  was  granted  a  pension  for  services  by  Congress,  October,  1833. 

Byington,  Charles  Sperry. — Great-grandson  of  Justus  Byington,  private  in  Capt. 
Ambrose  Sloper's  Company,  Connecticut  Militia,  New  Haven  Alarm,  1779. 

Byington,  William  Wilberforce. — Grandson  of  Private  Justus  Byington,  Capt.  Am- 
brose Sloper's  Company,  Connecticut  Militia. 

Chapin,  Josiah  Dexter.^Great-grandson  of  Private  Abel  Chapin,  Capt.  Charles 
Colton's  Company,  Massachusetts  Militia,  1776. 

Clark,  Seth  Henry. — Great-great-grandson  of  Abel  Lines,  Capt.  Samuel  Peck's 
Company,  5th  Battalion,  Wadsworth's  Brigade,  Connecticut  troops,  Col.  William 
Douglass,  June-December  25,   1776,  at  Long  Island  and  White  Plains. 


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%  357 

Corbin,  Prof.  Ernest  Albert  Morrison. — Great-grandson  of  Clement  Corbin,  private 
in  Captain  Chandler's  Company,  11th  Regiment  Connecticut  Militia. 

Culver,  Dr.  Charles  Mortimer. — Great-great-grandson  of  Sergeant  David  Culver, 
sr. ,  4th  Connecticut  Regiment,  Continental  line ;  also  great-grandson  of  Private  David 
Culver,  jr. ,  4th  Connecticut  Regiment,  Continental  Line;  also,  great-grandson  of 
Private  Comfort  Bullock,  who  participated  in  battle,  Rhode  Island,  Massachusetts 
Continental  Line. 

Curtis,  Dr.  Frederick  Cotton. — Great-grandson  of  Private  Abel  Curtis,  Capt.  John 
Woodbridge's  Company,  Col.  John  Brown's  Regiment,  Berkshire  County  Mass. 
Militia,  July  8-26,  1777,  served  at  Ticonderoga;  private  in  Capt.  Ebenezer  Cook's 
Company,  same  regiment,  September  22-October  4,  1777;  private  in  Capt.  Ezra 
Whittlesey's  Company,  same  regiment,  October  14-17,  1780. 

Douglass,  Charles  H. — Great-great-grandson  of  Major  Oliver  Root,  Colonel  Burns' s 
Regiment,  Massachusetts  Line,  at  Saratoga,  October,  1777. 

Durant,  Clark  Terry. — Great-great-grandson  of  Private  Allen  Durant,  Colonel 
Gardinier's  Regiment  at  Bunker  Hill  and  Lexington. 

Elmendorf,  William  Burgess. — Great-great-grandson  of  Private  Abraham  Elmen- 
dorf,  Capt.  Frederick  Schoonmaker's  Company,  Col.  Levi  Pawling's  Regiment,  Ulster 
County  Regiment,  August  1,  1777;  also  private  in  Capt.  Tobias  Van  Bemen's  Com- 
pany, Col.  Cornelius  Wynkoop's  Regiment,  New  York  Continental  Line. 

French,  Harlan  Page. — Grandson  of  Jonathan  French,  private  in  Captain  Goss's 
Company,  Colonel  Nicholas's  Regiment,  with  General  Stark  at  Bennington,  July  20, 
1777. 

Gibbons,  Eugene  Campbell,  —  Great  great-grandson  of  Lieut. -Col.  Samuel  Camp- 
bell, 1st  Battalion  Tryon  County  Militia,  1778  and  1781,  a  member  of  Tryon  County 
Committee  of  Safety. 

Griffith,  William  Herrick. — Great-great-grandson  of  Col.  Rufus  Herrick,  captain 
of  Colonel  Holmes's  4th  Regiment,  New  York  Line,  1775-6;  colonel  Dutchess  county, 
New  York,  Exempts,  1779;  also,  great-great-grandson  of  Capt.  Israel  Piatt,  Dutchess 
County  Regiment,  at  Kingsbridge,  1776;  also,  great-great-grandson  of  Lieut.  Daniel 
Knowlton,  Connecticut  Continental  Line.  Engagements:  Long  Island,  Harlem 
Heights,  White  Plains,  Fort  Washington,  Fort  Trumbull,  and  Horseneck ;  twenty- 
three  months  a  prisoner  of  war  on  Long  Island,  and  on  prison  ship  "Jersey;"  an  in- 
timate friend  of  Washington;  also,  great-great-great-grandson  of  Major  Robert 
Freeman,  captain  in  Col.  David  Sutherland's  6th  Regiment,  New  York  Line,  1775, 
major  in  same  regiment,  1776;  also,  great- great-grandson  of  Sergeant  Jonathan 
Freeman,  Capt.  Benjamin  Pelton's  Company,  Col.  Philip  Van  Cortlandt's  Regiment, 
New  York  Line;  also,  great-great-grandson  of  Private  Wm.  Griffith,  Capt.  Joel 
Mead's  Company,  Col.  Henry  Ludington's  Regiment,  7th  New  York  Line. 

Hale,  Hon.  Matthew,  1st  Regent  of  the  Chapter. — Grandson  of  Col.  Nathan  Hale, 
captain  New  Hampshire  Militia;  "Lexington  Alarm;"  major  3d  Regiment  New 
Hampshire  Line,  1775;  lieutentant-colonel  2d  Regiment  New  Hampshire  Line, 
1776;  colonel  of  same,  1777;  prisoner  of  war,  Hubbardton,  \'t.,  1777,  and  died  a 
prisoner  of  war  at  New  Utretcht,  Long  Island,  September  23,  1780;  also,  grandson 
of  Ephraim  Eddy,  Capt.  Joshua  Eddy's  Company,  14th  Regiment,  Massachusetts 
Line,  Col.  Gamaliel  Bradford  ;  private  and  corporal  in  Capt.  Caleb  Gibbs's  Company. 
Washington  Life  Guards,  March,  1777-March,  1780;  also,  great-grandson  of  Joseph 
Safford,  Vermont  Militia,  1780.     Mr.  Hale  died  March  25,  1897. 


358 


Hastings,  Hon.  Hugh. — Great-great-grandson  of  Corporal  Joseph  Jewell,  Captain 
Ballard's  Company,  Colonel  Frye's  Regiment,  New  Hampshire  Continental  Line; 
served  six  years. 

Herrick,  Frank  Castle. — Great-great-grandson  of  Col.  Rufus  Herrick,  captain  in 
Colonel  Holmes's  4th  Regiment  New  York  Line,  1775-6;  colonel  Dutchess  County 
N.  Y.  Associate  Exempts,  1779. 

Hoyt,  Albert  Ellis. — Great-great-grandson  of  Thomas  Chandler,  first  secretary  of 
Vermont. 

Husted,  Prof.  Albert  Nathaniel. — Grandson  of  Private  Thaddeus  Husted,  Connec- 
ticut Militia  Regiment,  Continental  Line. 

Judson,  Capt.  Albert  Lewis. — Great-grandson  of  Adjutant  Nathaniel  Judson,  pri- 
vate in  Capt.  Joseph  Smith's  Company,  5th  Connecticut  Continental  Regiment,  Col. 
David  Waterbury,  May  9-October  13,  1777,  at  St.  John's,  Canada;  private  Connec- 
ticut Militia,  1776,  served  one  month  at  New  York;  private  and  sergeant-major  in 
Colonel  Lewis's  Regiment,  Connecticut  Militia,  1776,  served  four  months;  private 
in  Connecticut  Militia,  1777,  served  three  months;  private  in  Capt.  John  Yeats's 
Company,  Col.  Samuel  Whiting's  Regiment,  Connecticut  Militia,  October  2-22,1777; 
adjutant  1st  Regiment,  4th  Brigade,  Connecticut  Militia,  September  25,  1778-80. 

Laimbeer,  Hon.  Francis  Effingham. — Grandson  of  Private  William  Pinto,  Connec- 
ticut Militia,  New  Haven  Alarm,  July  5.  1779. 

Lawyer,  George. — Great-great-grandson  of  Jacob  Lawyer,  ensign  15th  Regiment, 
Albany  County  N.  Y.  Militia,  Col.  Peter  Vrooman ;  also,  great-great-great-grandson 
of  Lawrence  Lawyer,  sergeant  1st  Regiment  Albany  County  N.  Y.  Militia,  Col.  Peter 
Vrooman. 

Leonard,  Edgar  Cottrell. — Great-great-grandson  of  Capt.  Nathaniel  Gardner  of 
Massachusetts  Militia  in  the  battle  of  Bennington;  also,  great-great- great-grandson 
of  Private  Stephen  Savage  of  Middletown,  Conn.,  who  served  through  the  war;  also, 
great-great  grandson  of  Private  Jacob  Fenn,  1st  Regiment,  Connecticut  Continental 
Line. 

Livingston,  Phillip,  (Honorary  member.  New  York  city). — Great-great-grandson 
of  Hon.  Philip  Livingston,  member  of  Continental  Congress,  1774-78;  signer  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence;  president  New  York  Provincial  Convention,  1775; 
member  New  York  Committee  of  One  Hundred,  1775;  member  of  New  York  Provin- 
cial Congress,  177G-7  7. 

Mills,  Charles  Hood. — Great-grandson  of  George  Mills,  private  Captain  Hubbard's 
Company,  Massachusetts  Militia,  1776,  with  Arnold's  expedition  to  Ouebec  taken 
prisoner,  chained  to  a  log  with  ten  others,  exchanged  in  1777;  later  private  in  Captain 
Webster's  Company,  Col.  Fellows's  Regiment,  Massachusetts  Militia. 

Munson,  Samuel  Lyman. — Great-great-grandson  of  Stephen  Munson,  private  in 
Captain  Durkee's  Company,  Wyoming,  Pa. 

Murphey,  Elijah  Warrener. — Great-grandson  of  Corporal  Daniel  Murphey  of  Col. 
Rufus  Putnam's  Massachusetts  Regiment;  served  at  the  siege  of  Boston  and  until 
end  of  the  war;  also,  great-great-grandson  of  Private  Jonas  Coolidge  of  Massachu- 
setts Minute  Men;  served  at  Bunker  Hill,  siege  of  Boston,  and  Ticonderoga,  where 
he  died  in  camp. 

Nellis,  Dr.  William  Jacob. — Great  great-grandson  of  Private  Peter  Nellis,  2d  Reg- 
iment, Tryon  County,  New  York,  Militia. 


SAMUHL  L.  MUNSON, 


359 

Newman,  Charles,  and  Major  John  Ludlow. — Great-grandsons  of  Lieut.  James 
Lyman,  Phineas  Wright's  Regiment,  Massachusetts  Militia,  1777,  at  Stillwater  and 
.Saratoga;  Northfield,  Massachusetts  Militia,  1779,  at  Ticonderoga;  Murray's  Regi- 
ment, Massachusetts,  Militia,  1780;  served  on  the  Hudson. 

Noble,  Henry  Harmon. — Great  great-grandson  of  Asahel  Noble,  member  of  Com- 
mittee of  Inspection  and  Correspondence,  New  Milford,  Litchfield  County,  Conn. 

Norton,  John  Treadwell. — Great  great-grandson  of  Major  Ichabod  Norton,  Cap- 
tain Mott's  Battalion  Connecticut  State  Troops,  1776;  in  Northern  Department  under 
Gates,  1776-7;  major  15th  Connecticut  Militia  Regiment,  Hooker's,  1779;  also  great- 
great-grandson  of  John  Treadwell.  member  of  Connecticut  Assembly. 

Parsons,  Hon.  James  Russell,  jr. — Great-great-grandson  of  Surgeon  Jonas  Fay, 
M.  D.,  Col.  Ethan  Allen's  Regiment,  Green  Mountain  Boys,  1775  at  Ticonderoga; 
appointed  by  Massachusetts  to  muster  troops  at  Ticonderoga,  1775;  surgeon  Col. 
Seth  Warner's  Regiment,  additional  Continental  Infantry,  1776;  clerk  of  Dorset 
Convention,  1776;  secretary  convention  to  form  Constitution  of  Vermont,  July,  1777; 
agent  for  Vermont  to  Continental  Congress,  1777,  1779,  1781,  1782;  member  of  Ver- 
mont State  Council,  1778-84;  judge  Vermont  Supreme  Court,  1782;  judge  of  pro- 
bate, Vermont,  1782-87. 

Parsons,  John  D.,  jr. — Great-grandson  of  Corporal  Henry  Browne,  New  Jersey 
Line. 

Peltz,  John  Dewitt. — Great-great-grandson  of  Capt  John  L.  De  Witt,  1st  Regi- 
ment Dutchess  County  N.  Y.  Minute-men,  Col.  Jonathan  Van  Ness,  October  17, 
1775;  captain  1st  Regiment  Ulster  County  N.  Y.  Militia,  Col.  Abraham  Hasbrouck, 
January,  1776. 

Pierce,  George  William. — Grandson  of  Joshua  Johnson,  minute  man;  also,  great- 
grandson  of  Col.  Samuel  Johnson,  4th  Massachusetts  Militia. 

Pruyn,  Col.  Augustus. — Great-grandson  of  Lieut.  Casparus  Pruyn,  Capt.  John  N. 
Bleeker's  Company,  Col.  Jacob  Lansing,  jr.'s  1st  Regiment  Albany  County  N.  Y. 
Militia,  October  20,  1775. 

Pruyn,  Col.  John  Van  Schaick  Lansing. — Great-grandson  of  Lieut.  Casparus  Pruyn, 
Albany  County  Militia,  1775;  also,  great-grandson  of  Quartermaster  Christopher 
Lansing,  Albany  County  Militia,  1775-8. 

Pruyn,  Robert  Clarence. — Great-great-grandson  of  Lieut.  Casparus  Pruyn ;  also, 
great-great-grandson  of  Abraham  Yates,  jr.,  member  New  York  Provincial  Conven- 
tion, 1775;  member  New  York  Provincial  Congress,  1775-7;  member  New  York 
Council  Safety  and  Appointment,  1777-8;  member  New  York  Senate,  1779-90. 

Pumpelly,  John  Hollenback. — Great-grandson  of  Col.  Elizur  Talcott,  6th  Regiment 
Connecticut  Militia,  1775-6. 

Read,  Gen.  John  Meredith,  former  consul-general  to  France,  former  U.  S.  minis- 
ter to  Greece,  knight  Grand  Cross  of  the  Order  of  the  Redeemer,  etc. — Great-grand- 
son of  His  Excellency  George  Read,  one  of  the  six  signers  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  who  were  framers  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States;  president 
of  Delaware;  president  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  that  State;  judge  of  the 
Admiralty,  1782;  United  States  senator;  twice  elected  chief  justice  of  Delaware; 
also,  great-grandson  of  Brig. -Gen.  Samuel  Meredith,  major  3d  Battalion,  Philadel- 
phia Associators,  Col  John  Cadwalader,  1775;  major  3d  Battalion,  Philadelphia  Mil- 
itia, Col.  John  Nixon,  1777;    brigadier-general   Pennsylvania  Militia,  April  5,   1777, 


360 


at  Trenton,  Princeton,  Brandywine,  Germantown  and  Valley  Forge;  also,  great- 
grandson  of  Lieut.  Isaac  Marshall,  private  Capt.  Moses  Parker's  Company,  Chelms- 
ford Mass.  Militia,  "  Lexington  Alarm;"  private  Capt.  Zaccheus  Wright's  Company, 
Colonel  Brooks's  Regiment,  Massachusetts  Militia,  at  White  Plains;  private  Capt. 
John  Minot's  Company,  Col.  Josiah  Whitney's  Regiment,  Massachusetts  Militia,  May 
10,  1777;  lieutenant  2d  Company,  7th  Division,  Middlesex  County  Mass.  Militia, 
1780;  also,  great-great-grandson  of  Thomas  Cadwalader,  examining  surgeon  Penn- 
sylvania Militia,  177G. 

Read,  Major  Harmon  Pumpelly  and  John  Meredith. — Great-great-grandsons  of  His 
Excellency  George  Read,  one  of  the  six  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
who  were  framers  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States;  president  of  Delaware; 
president  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  that  State;  judge  of  the  Admiralty, 
1782;  United  States  senator;  twice  elected  chief  justice  of  Delaware;  also  great-great- 
grandsons  of  Brig. -Gen.  Samuel  Meredith,  major  3d  Battalion,  Philadelphia  Asso- 
ciators,  Col.  John  Cadwalader,  1775;  major  3d  Battalion  Philadelphia  Militia,  Col. 
John  Nixon,  1777;  brigadier-general  Pennsylvania  Militia,  April  5,  1777,  at  Tren- 
ton, Princeton,  Brandywine,  Germantown,  and  Valley  Forge ;  also  great-great-grand- 
sons of  Lieut.  Isaac  Marshall,  private  Capt.  Moses  Parker's  Company,  Chelmsford 
Mass.  Militia,  "Lexington  Alarm;"  private  Capt.  Zaccheus  Wright's  Company,  Col. 
Brooks's  Regiment,  Massachusetts  Militia,  at  White  Plains;  private  Capt.  John 
Minot's  Company,  Col.  Josiah  Whitney's  Regiment,  Massachusetts  Militia,  May  10, 
1777;  lieutenant  2d  Company,  7th  Division,  Middlesex  County  Mass.  Militia,  1780; 
also,  great-great-great-grandsons  of  Thomas  Cadwalader,  M.  D.,  examining  surgeon 
Pennsylvania  Militia,  1776. 

Rice,  Col.  William  Gorham. — Great-grandson  of  Private  Joseph  Rice,  Capt.  Robert 
Oliver's  Company,  Col.  Ephraim  Doolittle's  Regiment,  Massachusetts  Continental 
Line,  April-December,  1775. 

Richardson,  Rev.  Leonard  Woods. — Great-great-grandson  of  Rev.  Joseph 
Wheeler,  private  in  Captain  Stone's  Company.  Colonel  Prescott's  Regiment,  Massa- 
chusetts Militia. 

Richmond,  Adelbert  G. — Great-grandson  of  Private  Thomas  Hart,  Captain  Stod- 
dard's Company,  Colonel  Hooker's  Regiment,  Connecticut  Militia,  on  duty  at  White 
Plains  and  along  the  Hudson,  1777. 

Root,  Dr.  Arthur  Guernsey. — Great-grandson  of  Corporal  Jonathan  Root,  Massa- 
chusetts Continental  Line. 

Sage,  Dean. — Great-grandson  of  Chaplain  Rev.  William  Linn,  D.  D. ,  5th  and  (ith 
Battalions  Pennsylvania  Continental  Infantry,  February  to  December,  1776. 

Sanford,  Roscoe  Conkling. — Great-great-grandson  of  Private  Joseph  Sanford,  Col- 
onel Hooker's  Regiment,  Connecticut  Militia. 

Sanger,  Hon.  William  Cary.—  Great  great-grandson  of  Richard  Sanger,  member 
Massachusetts  Provincial  Congress,  1775;  also,  great-grandson  of  Lieut.  Joseph 
Requa,  Dubois's  Regiment  New  York  Levies,  to  reinforce  the  army,  1780. 

Sard,  Grange. — Great-grandson  of  Private  Joseph  Russell,  Capt.  William  Two- 
good's  Company,  Col.  Thomas  Nixon's  Regiment,  6th  Massachusetts  Line,  1777-79; 
sergeant  in  Capt.  Benjamin  Haywood's  Company,  same  regiment,  January-De- 
cember, 1780. 

Scudder,    Myron   Tracey. — Great-grandson   of  Col.    Nathaniel   Scudder,    M.    D., 


> 


GEN.    FREDERICK    TOWNSEND. 


361 

member  of  New  Jersey  Council  of  Safety,  1775-6 ;  member  of  New  Jersey  Legisla- 
ture and  speaker  of  Assembly,  November,  1776;  member  of  Continental  Congress, 
1777-79;  colonel  1st  Regiment  Monmouth  County  N.  J.  Militia,  November  28,  1778. 
Killed  in  action  near  Shrewsbury,  N.  J.,  October  16,  1781. 

Shoemaker,  Angus  McDuffie,  and  James  Duncan. — Great  grandson  and  great- 
great-grandson  of  Private  Gottfried  Shoemaker,  Van  Rensselaer  Regiment,  New 
York  Line ;  siege  and  capture  of  Saratoga. 

Slingerland,  Cornelius  H. — Great-great-grandson  of  Ensign  Robert  Andrews, 
Captain  Colton's  Company,  Colonel  Brewer's  Regiment,  Massachusetts  Continental 
Line. 

Stedman,  Francis  W. — Great-great-grandson  of  Corporal  Amos  Hooker,  Colonel 
Leonard's  Regiment,  Massachusetts  Continental  Line. 

Townsend,  Gen.  Frederick. — Great-great  grandson  of  Samuel  Townsend,  member 
of  New  York  Provincial  Congress,  1775-7;  member  of  committee  to  draft  the  Consti- 
tution of  New  York,  1777;  paymaster  5th  Regiment,  New  York  Line,  Col.  Lewis 
Dubois,  June  25,  1777-January  1,  1778. 

Treadwell,  Col.  George.  Curtis. — Great-great-grandson  of  Gov.  John  Treadwell  of 
Connecticut. 

Tucker,  Willis  Gaylord,  M.  D. — Great- great-grandson  of  Stephen  Tucker,  corporal 
in  Captain  McClellan's  Company,  Woodstock,  Conn.,  lieutenant  in  command  of  6th 
Company  of  11th  Regiment  of  Militia  at  New  York  in  1776. 

Van  Allen,  Theodore  Frelinghuysen  Collier,  M.D.  —Great-great  grandson  of  Col. 
Frederick  Frelinghuysen,  New  Jersey  Militia ;  major  in  Colonel  Stewart's  Battalion 
New  Jersey  Minute-men,  February  15,  1776;  captain  Eastern  Company  of  Artillery, 
N.  Y.  State  troops,  March  1,  1776;  colonel  1st  Battalion  Somerset  County  N.  J.  Mili- 
tia, February  28,  1778;  member  New  Jersey  Provisional  Congress,  1775-8;  member 
Continental  Congress,  1778  and  1782-3. 

Van  Antwerp,  John  Henry. — Great-grandson  of  Lewis  Simon  Van  Antwerp, 
member  of  Committee  of  Correspondence  and  Safety,  Schaghticoke,  Albany  count)-, 
N.  Y.,  1776. 

Vander  Veer,  Edgar  Albert,  M.  D. — Great-great-grandson  of  Jacob  Dievendorf, 
captain  in  1st  Company,  5th  Battalion,  Tryon  County,  New  York,  Militia. 

Van  Heusen,  John  Manning. — Great-great-grandson  of  Joseph  Manning,  private 
in  Captain  Olney's  Company,  Angell's  Regiment,  Rhode  Island,  1780  and  1782. 

Van  Tuyl,  George  Casey,  jr. — Great-great-grandson  of  John  Van  Tuyl,  corporal 
in  Lansing's  Company,  Orange  County  Regiment,  New  York  Line. 

Viele,  Maurice  Edward. — Great-grandson  of  Col.  John  Knickerbocker,  Albany 
County  Militia,  1775-8. 

Wadhams,  Frederick  Eugene. — Great-grandson  of  Ebnezer  Bostwick,  private  in 
Capt.  Elizur  Warner's  Company,  7th  Regiment  Connecticut  Line,  Col.  Hcman 
Swift;  corporal  same  company,  and  sergeant  same  company. 

Wallace,  Major  William  Addison. — Great-grandson  of  Abijah  Thompson,  Capt, 
Samuel  Belknap's  Company,  Woburn,  Massachusetts,  Militia,  at  Lexington  and  Cam- 
bridge, 19  April,  1775;  also,  great-great  great-grandson  of  Private  Rowlandson 
Bond,  Captain  Warner's  Company,  Colonel  Collins's  Regiment,  Massachusetts  Line, 
1777-80;  also,  great-great-grandson  of  Capt.  John  Wisner,  captain  of  Florida  and 
46 


3G2 

Warwick  Company,  Orange  County  Minute-men,  Col.  Isaac  Nichols's  Regiment, 
March,  1776. 

Warner,  Gen.  James  Meech. — Great-grandson  of  Lieut.  Joseph  Little,  Welch's 
Regiment,  New  Hampshire  Volunteers;  joined  the  Northern  Army  at  Saratoga, 
September  28,  1777.     Gen.  J.  M.  Warner  died  March  16,  1897. 

Wetmore,  Prof.  Edward  Willard. — Great-grandson  of  Surgeon  Ellis  Willard; 
private  Massachusetts  Militia;  at  Boston,  April,  1775;  hospital  surgeon,  New  York, 
1775-9;  surgeon  in  military  hospitals  at  Boston,  1780  5. 

Whitney,  William  Minott. — Grandson  of  Brig-Gen.  Josiah  Whitney,  one  of  the 
"Boston  Tea  Party,"  December  16,  1773;  at  Concord,  April  19,  1775;  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  Col.  Asa  Whitcomb's  Massachusetts  Continental  Regiment  at  Bunker  Hill 
and  Siege  of  Boston,  April  to  December,  1765;  colonel  of  Massachusetts  Militia  be- 
fore Boston,  January  to  April,  1776;  colonel  of  "Colony"  Regiment  raised  to  fortify 
the  town  and  harbor  of  Boston,  April,  1776 — January,  1777;  colonel  in  command  of 
Massachusetts  Militia,  Rhode  Island  Alarm,  April,  May  and  June,  1777,  and  Ben- 
nington Alarm,  August,  1777;  at  Saratoga,  September  and  October,  1777;  member 
of  last  Provincial  Legislature,  1779;  member  of  convention  that  framed  State  Con- 
stitution for  Massachusetts  in  1780;  member  of  first  State  Legislature  in  1780,  and 
also  those  of  1788  and  1789;  promoted  to  brigadier-general,  July,  1781. 

Williams,  Captain  Chauncey  Pratt. — Great-grandson  of  Jehiel  Williams,  corporal 
in  Captain  Tilden's  Company,  engaged  at  Bunker  Hill;  enlisted  from  Connecticut. 

Williams,  Robert  Day. — Great-grandson  of  Corporal  Isaac  Foot,  gunner  2d  Regi- 
ment Connecticut  Artillery,  Col.  John  Lamb,  1777;  corporal  same,  1780. 

Woodruff,  Hon.  Timothy  Lester,  Lieutenant-Governor  of  New  York  State. — Great- 
grandson  of  Private  Samuel  Scott,  Capt.  William  Judd's  Company,  Col.  Samuel 
Wylly'sM  Regiment,  Connecticut  Line,  served  on  the  Hudson  May  1,  1777-January 
1,  1778. 

Youngman,  Hon.  Yreeland  Houghwout. —  Grandson  of  Private  John  Youngman, 
Wingate's  New  Hampshire  Militia  Regiment;  private,  also,  in  Frye's  Company,  3d 
New  Hampshire  Line;  at  Saratoga,  Monmouth,  and  Valley  Forge;  and  Harry 
Vreeland  Youngman,  great  grandson  of  above. 

Following"  are  lists  of  members  of  other  organizations  of  the  charac- 
actei  under  consideration,  which  have  been  prepared  for  this  work: 

Order  of  tJie  Cincinnati. — J.  Howard  King,  Richard  Varick  De  Witt. 

Sons  of  the  American  Revolution. — William  H.  McClure,  Archibald  Jermain  lie- 
Clure,  William  Herrick  Griffith,  George  Comstock  Baker,  Captain  C.  C.  Cussick, 
Captain  Chauncey  Pratt  Williams,  Hon.  Erastus  Corning,  Dr.  Frederick  Joseph 
Cox,  Hon.  James  A.  Roberts,  William  N.  Stetson,  John  N.  Cutler,  Hon.  Edward  T. 
Bartlett. 

Society  War  of  1S12  in  the  State  of  New  York. — Henry  Harmon  Noble,  William 
Herrick  Griffith  (Pennsylvania  Society),  George  Comstock  Baker,  Elijah  Warriner 
Murphey,  James  William  Cox,  jr.,  Frederick  Eugene,  Wadhams,  James  Duncan 
Shoemaker. 

V.  S.  Daughters  of  1812. — Mrs.  Henry  Harmon  Noble. 

Society  of  Colonial  Wars. — There  are  thirty-six  members,  nearly  all  of  whom  are 
members  of  Sons  of  Revolution. 


363 

Military  Order  of  Foreign  Wars  of  the  U.  S. — Henry  Harmon  Noble,  George 
Lawyer. 

Military  Order  of  the  Members  of  the  Loyal  Legion  in  Albany. — Major  Richard 
L.  Annesley,  Lieut.  John  M,  Bailey.  Judson  Hooker  Bailey,  2d  class,  Major  Herman 
Bendell,  Major  Charles  J.  Buchanan,  Col.  Stephen  P.  Corliss,  M.  H.,  Lieut.-Col. 
Frank  Chamberlain,  Eugene  T.  Chamberlain,  2d  class,  Capt.  Louis  Dietz,  Lieut. 
Bertold  Fernow,  Lieut.  William  Kidd,  Henry  M.  Kidd,  2d  class,  Capt.  Charles  R. 
Knowles,  Gen.  Selden  E.  Marvin,  Selden  E.  Marvin,  jr.,  2d  class,  Lieut.-Col.  An- 
drew E.  Mather,  Major  John  S.  McEwan,  Major  John  L.  Newman,  Lieut.-Col.  Dud- 
ley Olcott,  Capt.  John  Palmer,  Ensign  Clarence  Rathbone,  Capt.  Oscar  D.  Robin- 
son, Gustavius  C.  Sniper,  Lieut.  Col.  Alexander  Strain,  Lieut.  David  A.  Teller, 
Major  Jacob  H.  Ten  Eyck,  Franklin  Townsend,  3d  class,  Gen.  Frederick  Townsend, 
Frederick  Townsend,  jr.,  2d  class,  Major  Albert  Vander  Veer,  Edgar  A.  Yander 
Veer,  2d  class,  Capt.  Samuel  B.  Ward,  Lieut.  Andrew  G.  White,  Major  Bradford 
R.  Wood,  Major  George  H.  Treadwell,  George  Curtis  Treadwell,  2d  class.  Col.  Fred 
Phisterer,  Gen.  Nathaniel  Wales,  Mass.  Commandery;  Gen.  Robert  Shaw  Olliver, 
Mass.  Commandery;  Edward  Bowditch,  3d  class,  Mass.  Commandery. 

Ancient  Chivalric  and  Heraldic  Order  of  Knights  of  Albion. — Major  Harmon 
Pumpelly  Read,  Director-General  and  Herald;  William  Herrick  Griffith,  Registrar 
General  and  Genealogist, 

Older  of  Old  Citard,  Chicago. — George  Comstock  Baker,  William  Herrick 
Griffith. 

Daughters  of  the  Cincinnati. — Mrs.  Abraham  Lansing. 

Society  of  the  Colonial  Dames  of  America. — Mrs.  Erastus  Corning,  Mrs.  Selden 
E.  Marvin,  Mrs.  Anna  Parker  Pruyn,  Miss  Hybertie  L.  Pruyn,  Mrs.  William  Gor- 
ham  Rice. 

Society  of  Colonial  Dames  of  State  of  N.  Y. — Mrs.  William  H.  McClure,  Mrs. 
John  DeWitt  Peltz,  Miss  Mary  B.  S.  Tibbets,  Mrs.  Garret  A.  Van  Allen,  Mrs.  Will- 
iam Bayard  Van  Rensselaer,  Mrs.  Levi  P.  Morton,  Mrs.  James  W.  Cox,  jr. 

BANKS. 

This  city  lias  always  been  the  home  of  banking  institutions  of  high 
character  and  ample  means.  Failure  in  such  institutions  have  been 
comparatively  few,  while  the  facilities  afforded  by  them  to  tradesmen 
and  manufacturers  have  been  liberal  and  progressive.  The  first  dis- 
cussion, as  far  as  known,  relating  to  the  establishment  of  a  bank  in 
Albany  took  place  in  Lewis's  tavern  on  February  :!,  1792.  At  that  early 
date  the  need  of  a  bank  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State  was  felt. 
there  being  but  one  in  the  whole  State.  At  a  subsequent  meeting  plans 
were  outlined,  the  name,  Bank  of  Albany,  settled,  and  the  capital  fixed  at 
$75,000,  in  five  hundred  shares,  with  a  board  of  thirteen  directors,  nine 
of  whom  should  reside  in  Albany.  Jeremiah  Van  Rensselaer,  Jacob 
Van  Derheyden  and   Barent  Bleecker  were  to  open  subscription  books 


364 

in  the  following-  week  and  close  them  when  five  hundred  shares  were 
taken.  The  books  were  opened  February  17,  and  the  stock  was  over- 
subscribed in  less  than  three  hours.  After  the  books  were  closed  offers 
of  ten  per  cent,  advance  on  the  stock  were  made,  and  within  a  week  it 
rose  to  one  hundred  per  cent.  Considerable  difficulty  was  encountered 
in  obtaining  a  charter,  and  the  price  of  the  stock  fluctuated  somewhat 
until  towards  the  close  of  the  legislative  session,  when  the  act  of  incor- 
poration became  a  law.  The  first  board  of  directors  was  elected  June 
12,  1792,  as  follows:  Abraham  Ten  Broeck,  Cornelius  Glen,  Stephen 
Van  Rensselaer,  Jeremiah  Van  Rensselaer,  John  Maley,  Abraham  Van 
Vechten,  Henry  Cuyler,  John  Stephenson,  James  Caldwell,  Jacob  Van 
Derheyden,  Goldsboro  Banyar,  Daniel  Hale  and  Elkanah  Watson.  Mr. 
Ten  Broeck  was  elected  president  of  the  bank,  and  business  was  com- 
menced on  the  16th  of  July.  The  incorporating  act  limited  the  bank 
capital  to  $260,000,  but  in  February,  1 794,  it  was  increased  to $540, 000,  in 
L35  shares.  In  1832  the  charter  of  the  bank  was  extended  to  January, 
1855,  at  which  time,  for  the  purpose  of  more  widely  diffusing  the  stock, 
its  par  value  was  reduced  to  $30  and  the  number  of  shares  proportion- 
ately increased.  The  bank  was  at  first  located  in  an  old  Dutch  edifice 
in  North  Pearl  street,  but  in  1794  a  bank  building  was  erected  and  oc- 
cupied until  1810,  when  a  second  building  was  erected  by  the  bank  on 
the  corner  of  State  and  Broadway.  This  was  demolished  in  1832  in 
widening  State  street,  and  the  bank  removed  to  No.  42  State  street, 
and  from  there  to  the  Merchants'  Bank  building,  where  it  remained 
until  1861.  The  presidents  of  this  bank  from  1792  to  1861  were  Abra- 
ham Ten  Broeck,  1792-98;  Jeremiah  Van  Rensselaer,  1798-1806;  Philip 
S.  Van  Rensselaer,  1806-10;  Dudley  Walsh,  1810-14;  John  Van  Schaick, 
1814-20;  Barent  Bleecker,  1820-10;  Jacob  H.  Ten  Eyck,  1840-61. 
During  this  period  of  seventy  years  there  were  only  four  cashiers, 
namely:  Garret  W.  Van  Schwaick,  1792-1815;  John  Van  Zandt,  1815- 
32;  Jellis  Winne,  jr.,  1832-49;   E.  E.  Kendrick,  1849-61. 

This  bank  failed  on  May  11,  1861,  at  a  time  when  the  utmost  con- 
fidence was  felt  in  the  institution  and  $100  shares  commanded  $150  in 
the  market.  It  resulted  from  a  combination  of  causes  from  which  four 
Albany  banks  failed  in  that  year.  Adam  Van  Allen  "was  appointed 
receiver  of  the  bank  and  closed  up  its  affairs. 

New  York  State  Bci)ik. — This  institution  owed  its  existence  largely 
to  Elkanah  Watson,  and  was  incorporated  and  began  business  in  1803. 
The  original   directors  were:    The  State  comptroller,  Elisha  Jenkins, 


365 

John  Tayler,  Thomas  Tillotson,  Abraham  G.  Lansing,  Peter  Ganse- 
voort,  Elkanah  Watson,  John  R.  Bleecker,  Francis  Bloodgood,  John 
Robison,  Gilbert  Stewart,  John  De  Peyster  Douw,  Richard  Lush  and 
Thomas  Mather. 

At  a  meeting-  of  the  directors  on  March  25,  1803,  John  Tayler  was 
chosen  president,  and  John  W.  Yates,  cashier.  The  bank  began  busi- 
ness on  September  7.  Opposition  to  the  incorporation  of  this  bank 
was  very  bitter,  especially  from  the  officials  and  prominent  stockholders 
in  the  Bank  of  Albany.  The  original  capital  was  $460,000.  It  is  at 
the  present  time  $250,000  and  the  surplus  is  an  equal  amount. 

John  Tayler  continued  president  until  his  death  in  1829.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Francis  Bloodgood,  who  died  in  1840,  the  last  survivor  of 
the  original  board  of  directors.  Rufus  H.  King  was  elected  president 
in  1840  and  remained  as  such  until  his  death  in  1867.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Gen.  Franklin  Townsend.  J.  Howard  King  was  elected 
president  in  1879.  John  W.  Yates  died  in  1828,  and  was  succeeded  as 
cashier  by  his  son,  Richard  Yates,  whose  successor  was  Aaron  D. 
Patchin.  J.  B.  Plumb  succeeded  Mr.  Patchin,  who  was  succeeded  by 
John  H.  Van  Antwerp.  He  was  followed  by  D.  W.  Wemple.  In  1850 
the  charter  of  the  bank  expired,  when  it  closed  up  its  business,  paying 
back  to  its  stockholders  their  capital  with  a  handsome  surplus.  Under 
the  same  name,  with  new  articles  of  association,  and  under  the  general 
banking  laws  of  the  State,  it  commenced  business  on  January  1,  1851. 
Nearly  all  the  old  stockholders  subscribed  for  equal  amounts  in  the 
new  association.  In  1849  the  capital  in  this  bank  was  reduced  to 
$369,000.  The  new  bank  began  with  a  capital  of  $350,000.  In  1892 
the  bank  gave  back  to  stockholders  fifty  per  cent,  as  an  extra  dividend. 
The  present  cashier  is  Willis  G.  Nash,  who  took  the  position  in  1888. 
J.  Howard  King,  president;  J.  H.  Van  Antwerp  and  Ledyard  Cogs- 
well, vice-presidents;  John  H.  Van  Antwerp,  J.  Howard  King,  Fred- 
erick Townsend,  James  H.  Pratt,  Marcus  T.  Hun,  Henry  K.  McHarg, 
Ledyard  Cogswell,  William  Bayard  Van  Rensselaer,  Edward  N.  Mc- 
Kinney,  Nelson  H.  Salisbury,  James  Ten  Eyck,  J.  Townsend  Lansing 
and  Rufus  H.  King,  directors. 

Canal  Bank. — This  institution  was  incorporated  in  1829,  with  a  cap- 
ital of  $300,000.  The  first  directors  were  John  T.  Norton,  Jeremiah 
Clark,  Edward  C,  Delavan,  Lyman  Root,  Israel  Smith,  John  I.  God- 
frey, Aaron  Thorpe,  David  Wood,  Henry  L.  Webb,  James  Goold, 
Alexander  Marvin,  Edwin  Croswell,  James  Porter,  Richard  V.  De  Witt, 
Lyman  Chapin. 


366 

From  1829  to  1835  John  T.  Norton  was  president.  John  Keyes 
Paige  succeeded  him,  who  a  short  time  after  was  followed  by  Joseph 
Russell.  The  last  president  was  Robert  Hunter.  Theodore  Olcott  was 
was  the  first  and  only  cashier  of  this  bank. 

The  failure  of  this  bank  in  Jul}7,  1848,  was  memorable  as  the  first 
failure  of  a  banking  institution  in  Albany.  It  was  closed  by  order  of 
the  comptroller,  and  a  commission  appointed  to  examine  into  the  affairs 
of  the  bank.      No  irregularity  was  discovered. 

Mechanics'  and  Farmers  Rank. — This  institution  was  incorporated 
March  4,  1811,  and  opened  for  business  July  29,  1811.  By  the  act  of 
incorporation,  the  following  were  named  as  directors :  Samuel  South- 
wick,  Benjamin  Knower,  Elisha  Dorr,  Isaac  Denniston,  Benjamin  Van 
Benthuysen,  William  Fowler,  George  Merchant,  Thomas  Livingston, 
Giles  W.  Porter,  Willard  Walker,  Walter  Weed,  Peter  Boyd,  Isaac 
Hutton,  Spencer  Stafford  and  John  Bryan.  This  bank  was  chartered 
ostensibly  for  the  benefit  of  the  mechanics  and  farmers  of  Albany 
county,  and  its  charter  provided  that  none  but  farmers  and  mechanics 
should  be  elected  as  bank  officers;  but  some  years  after,  application 
was  made  to  the  Legislature  for  an  amendment  to  the  charter,  so  as  to 
authorize  the  election  of  president  and  directors  without  reference  to 
the  pursuits  or  employments  in  which  they  may  have  been  engaged. 

This  bank  was  first  located  on  the  site  of  the  post-office  building. 
It  is  a  memorable  fact  and  one  that  for  a  time  created  some  uneasiness, 
that  the  entire  first  board  of  directors  were  Democrats.  It  had  been 
understood  that  two  Federalists  would  have  a  place  on  the  board,  and 
a  substitution  was  made  a  little  later. 

The  first  president  was  Solomon  Southwiek,  who  filled  the  office  un- 
til 1813,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Isaac  Hutton.  Isaac  Hutton  was 
succeeded  by  Benjamin  Knower  in  1817,  who  remained  president  until 
1  s : 5 4 ,  when  financial  embarrassments  having  caused  his  resignation,  he 
was  succeeded  by  Charles  E.  Dudley  as  president  pro  ton.,  February 
3,  1834.  At  the  election  in  June  of  this  year,  Ezra  Ames  was  elected 
president  and  Charles  E.  Dudley,  vice-president.  This  seems  to  have 
been  the  first  vice-president  ever  elected  by  this  bank.  Ezra  Ames 
filled  the  office  of  president  until  1836,  when  Thomas  W.  Olcott  having 
resigned  the  office  of  cashier,  was  elected  president,  which  office  he 
held  until  his  death  in  1880.  As  a  clerk,  cashier  and  president  Mr. 
Thomas  W.  Olcott  had  been  connected  with  the  bank  for  the  long  pe- 
riod of  sixty-nine  years,  besidestwo  or  three  years  passed  in  the  Colum- 


367 

bia  Bank  of  Hudson,  N.  Y. ,  a  period  of  time  almost  beyond  parallel  in 
this  country.  At  his  death,  in  1880,  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
Dudley.  There  is  no  record  of  the  election  of  a  vice-president  from 
the  date  of  the  death  of  Charles  E.  Dudley  in  1841,  until  1844,  when 
Samuel  S.  Fowler  was  chosen.  He  was  succeeded  by  William  H.  De 
Witt,  who  held  this  office  until  January  1,  1853,  the  date  of  the  expira- 
tion of  the  charter  of  the  old  Mechanics'  and  Farmers'  Bank.  From 
this  period,  until  June,  1865,  the  bank  had  no  vice-president,  when  Mr. 
Thomas  Olcott,  resigning-  the  position  of  cashier,  was  elected  vice- 
president,  which  office  he  held  until  his  death  in  1873.  From  this  date 
until  January  1,  1879,  there  was  no  election  of  vice-president,  when 
Dudley  Olcott  having  resigned  as  cashier  was  elected  to  that  office. 
He  held  it  until  March,  1880,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  John  J.  Ol- 
cott, who  now  holds  the  position. 

Gorham  A.  Worth  was  the  first  cashier,  which  position  he  held  until 
1817,  when  he  resigned  to  accept  the  position  of  cashier  of  the  Branch 
Bank  of  the  United  States,  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio  Thomas  W.  Olcott 
was  appointed  to  the  vacancy  and  held  the  position  until  June  7,  1836, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  E.  E.  Kendrick.  E.  E.  Kendrick  held  the 
office  until  February  23,  1849,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Thomas  Ol- 
cott, who  resigned  the  position  in  June,  1865.  Dudley  Olcott  was  his 
successor  in  the  office,  until  January  1,  1879,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  George  G.  Davidson.  At  the  time  of  the  appointment  of  Thomas 
W.  Olcott  as  cashier,  in  1817,  the  bank's  capital  had  become  impaired, 
owing  to  the  financial  troubles  growing  out  of  the  depression  following 
the  close  of  the  last  war  with  Great  Britain ;  but  from  this  date,  the 
financial  history  of  the  bank  has  been  one  of  unvarying  prosperity. 

At  the  expiration  of  the  charter  of  the  old  bank  January  1,  1853,  the 
stockholders  received  about  115  per  cent.,  besides  their  stock  in  the 
new  bank,  which  was  $350,000.  The  first  charter  expired  in  1833  and 
was  renewed  for  twenty  years.  At  the  expiration  of  the  second  charter, 
1853,  the  bank  closed  its  affairs,  dividing  its  surplus,  and  went  into 
operation  again  with  the  same  officers.  During  the  war  of  the  Rebel- 
lion it  again  wound  up  its  affairs,  and  went  under  the  national  bank 
system;  this  was  abandoned  in  1868.  Thomas  W.  Olcott,  to  whom  must 
be  credited  a  large  share  of  the  success  of  this  institution,  is  by  general 
consent  acknowledged  to  have  been  the  great  banker  of  Albany. 

The  present  capital  of  this  bank  is  $250,000,  and  it  has  a  surplus  of 
nearly  a  million  dollars. 


368 

National  Commercial  Bank. — A  bill  for  the  incorporation  of  the  Com- 
mercial Bank  of  Albany  was  passed  by  the  Senate  of  the  State  of  New 
York  on  March  30,  1825,  and  by  the  Assembly  on  April  8,  1825,  and 
became  a  law  by  the  signature  of  Governor  De  Witt  Clinton  on  April 
12,  1825.  The  following-  were  named  as  commissioners  in  the  bill,  and 
constituted  the  first  board  of  directors:  AVillard  Walker,  Joshua  Tuffs, 
George  W.  Stanton,  Lewis  Benedict,  William  Cook,  David  E.  Gregory, 
vSeth  Hastings,  Ira  Jenkins,  Joseph  Alexander,  Robert  Gilchrist,  Rich- 
ard Marvin,  John  Townsend,  Asa  H.  Center. 

The  directors  of  the  bank  were  for  a  time  enjoined  from  opening  on 
account  of  the  dissatisfaction  of  the  subscribers  with  the  distribution 
of  the  capital  stock,  but  August  29,  1826,  the  chancellor  decided  that 
the  bank  might  go  into  operation  so  far  as  to  issue  bills  and  discount 
notes,  but  prohibited  any  transfer  of  stock,  or  making  any  loan  or 
pledges  on  stock.  A  meeting  of  the  board  of  directors  was  held  at 
Knickerbocker  Hall  on  the  evening  of  May  23,  1826,  at  which  all  the 
directors,  with  the  exception  of  William  Cook  were  present.  At  this 
meeting  the  board  was  organized  and  Joseph  Alexander  was  elected 
president.      On  July  13,  1826,   Henry  Bartow  was  appointed    cashier. 

The  bank  began  business  September  5,  1826,  with  a  capital  of  $300,- 
000,  and  continued  until  the  expiration  of  its  charter  on  July  1,  1845, 
and  under  an  extension  of  its  charter  until  July  1,  1847,  when  it  was 
reorganized  under  the  general  banking  law  of  the  State.  On  May  31, 
1865,  the  bank  was  chartered  under  the  act  of  Congress  as  a  national 
institution,  and  was  reorganized  and  began  business  under  that  act  Au- 
gust 1,  1865.  It  continued  under  this  charter  for  twenty  years,  until 
May  31,  1885,  when  an  extension  of  the  charter  was  granted  to  May  31, 
11)05.  The  capital  stock  was  increased  to  $500,000  February  1,  1855, 
and  on  June  10,  1875,  was  reduced  to  $300,000,  in  shares  of  $100  each, 
the  amount  of  the  reduction  being  paid  to  the  stockholders.  On  Jan- 
uary 13,  1880,  the  number  of  directors  was  reduced  to  nine,  and  on 
September  10,  1887,  the  number  was  again  changed,  so  that  it  should 
not  be  less  than  five  nor  more  than  fifteen. 

Mr.  Alexander  was  succeeded  in  the  office  of  president  by  the  follow- 
ing persons,  who  were  elected  at  the  dates  given:  John  Townsend, 
June  7,  1832;  John  L.  Schoolcraft,  August  31,  1854;  Ezra  P.  Prentice, 
June  13,  1860;  Robert  H.  Pruyn,  November  24,  1875;  Daniel  Manning, 
March  4,  1882;  Robert  C.  Pruyn,  May  23,  1885. 

Vice-presidents:  Seth  Hastings,  June  18,  1836;  John  L.  Schoolcraft, 


369 

October  28,  1839;  Andrew  White,  June  16, 1855.  The  death  of  Andrew 
White,  in  1857,  made  a  vacancy  until  the  election  of  Robert  H  Pruyn, 
November  2,  1872;  Robert  L.  Johnson,  November  24,  1875;  Daniel 
Manning,  April  9,  1881;  Robert  C.  Pruyn,  March  4,  1882;  Nathan  B. 
Perry,  November  20,  1885;  Grange  Sard,  April  11,  1890. 

The  following  cashiers  have  been  appointed :  Henry  Bartow,  July  13, 
1826;  James  Taylor,  October  21,  1835;  Andrew  White,  March  17,  1854; 
Powers  L.  Green,  June  16,  1855;  Visscher  Ten  Eyck,  July  7,  1858; 
Eliphalet  Wickes,  August  11,  1862;  James  Martin,  February  24,  1866; 
Edward  A.  Groesbeck,  April  30,  1873. 

Assistant  cashiers:  James  Martin,  August  11,  1862;  Edward  A. 
Groesbeck,   November  2,  1872;  Edward  J.  Hussey,  December  1,  1891. 

The  present  board  of  directors:  Abraham  Lansing,  Simon  W.  Rosen- 
dale,  Robert  C.  Pruyn,  Grange  Sard,  Robert  L.  Fryer,  James  H.  Man- 
ning, Hamilton  Harris,  Horace  G.  Young,  Anthony  N.  Brady,  Charles 
Tracey,  William  H.  Weaver,  William  J.  Walker.  This  bank  has  been 
the  depositary  of  the  State  of  New  York  for  nearly  sixty  years. 

Albany  City  National  Bank. — This  staunch  institution  was  organized 
as  the  Albany  City  Bank  April  30,  1834,  with  capital  of  $500,000.  It 
began  business  on  October  1,  of  that  year,  with  Erastus  Corning,  presi- 
dent; Samuel  S.  Fowler,  vice-president;  Watts  Sherman,  cashier. 
Charles  L.  Garfield  was  appointed  clerk  in  October,  1836  ;  in  June,  1837, 
he  was  appointed  teller  in  place  of  Moses  B.  Wright,  and  held  that  po- 
sition many  years.  In  1840  the  bank  purchased  from  Joel  Rathbone 
his  store  at  47  State  street,  and  converted  it  into  a  bank  building. 
Watts  Sherman  continued  cashier  until  1847,  when  his  health  failed 
and  he  was  given  a  vacation  in  Europe,  Henry  L.  Lansing  taking  the 
position  in  his  absence.  In  October,  1850,  John  V.  L.  Pruyn  was 
elected  vice  president.  In  July,  1851,  Mr.  Sherman  resigned  as  cashier 
and  Henry  H.  Martin  was  elected  to  the  position.  The  charter  of  this 
bank  expired  January  1,  1864,  and  it  was  immediately  reorganized 
under  the  National  Banking  Laws  with  the  same  officers  and  capital. 
The  stockholders  were  then  paid  eighty  per  cent,  in  addition  to  their 
regular  dividends,  and  the  sum  of  $90,000  of  the  undivided  profits  of 
the  old  bank  was  carried  as  a  surplus  fund  of  the  new  one.  On  June 
1,  1885,  the  charter  of  the  bank  was  renewed  with  its  present  title.  In 
December,  1870,  Mr.  Martin  resigned  as  cashier  and  Amos  P.  Palmer 
was  selected  as  his  successor.  Erastus  Corning  died  in  April,  L872, 
and  was  succeeded  as  president  by  his  son,  Erastus,  who  still  holds  the 

47 


370 

office.  Father  and  son  have  served  the  bank  in  the  capacity  of  presi- 
dent for  a  period  of  sixty-three  years  up  to  the  present  date  (1897).  In 
March,  1873,  work  was  begun  on  a  new  bank  building  on  the  same  site, 
and  it  was  occupied  in  June,  1874  In  February  of  that  year  the  direc- 
tors reduced  the  capital  of  the  bank  to  $300,000.  In  November,  1877, 
John  V.  L.  Pruyn,  one  of  the  oldest  officers  of  the  bank,  died  and  Eli 
Perry  was  elected  vice-president  in  his  place.  Upon  the  death  of  Mr. 
Perry  George  H.  Thacher  succeeded  to  the  office  of  vice-president,  and 
after  his  death  his  son,  George  H.  Thacher,  was  elected  in  his  stead. 
The  present  officers  are  Erastus Corning,  president;  George  H.  Thacher 
and  George  I.  Amsdell,  vice-presidents;  Jonas  H.  Brooks,  cashier; 
Joseph  S.  House,  assistant  cashier. 

National  Exchange  Bank. — This  bank  was  organized  in  1838  as  the 
Albany  Exchange  Bank,  with  capital  of  $311,100,  and  privileged  to  in- 
crease it  to  $10,000,000.  It  was  among  the  earliest  associations  under 
the  general  banking  act  passed  in  April  of  that  year.  Its  first  board 
of  directors  was  composed  of  John  Q.  Wilson,  who  was  elected  presi- 
dent, George  W.  Stanton,  Alfred  Douglas,  Galen  Batchelder,  Fred- 
erick J.  Barnard,  Lansing  G.  Taylor,  John  Thomas,  Robert  Hunter, 
Oliver  Steele,  Henry  Greene,  John  M.  Newton,  James  McNaughton, 
Giles  Sanford,  Samuel  Stevens,  Robert  L.  Noyes.  Soon  after  organ- 
ization, and  before  business  was  commenced,  John  Q.  Wilson  and 
Robert  Hunter  resigned  as  directors,  and  Ichabod  L.  Judson  and  Gay- 
lor  Sheldon  were  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancies.  A  vacancy  thus 
occurring  in  the  office  of  president,  George  W.  Stanton  was  elected 
president  and  filled  the  office  until  his  death  in  April,  1841. 

Some  unfortunate  speculations  in  the  early  history  of  this  bank  and 
the  loss  of  money  through  other  bank  failures,  weakened  its  credit  so 
that  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  its  stock  was  offered  at  seventy 
cents  on  the  dollar.  Careful  management  by  its  officers,  however, 
averted  serious  trouble,  and  when,  in  1865,  the  affairs  of  the  institution 
were  wound  up  preparatory  to  forming  it  into  a  national  bank,  a 
creditable  showing  was  made.  On  January  4,  1865,  it  became  the 
National  Albany  Exchange  Bank,  with  a  capital  of  $300,000.  Chaun- 
cey  P.  Williams,  who  had  acted  as  receiver  of  the  former  bank,  was 
appointed  cashier;  William  Gould,  president;  William  G.  Thomas, 
vice  president.  Mr.  Gould  was  succeeded  as  president  by  Ichabod  L. 
Judson;  he  by  Chauncey  P.  Williams.  He  died  May  31,  1894,  and  the 
office  was  filled  by  John  D.    Parsons,  jr.,  the  present  president.      In 


371 

1875  Theodore  L.  Scott  succeeded  Mr.  Williams  as  cashier;  he  died  in 
February,  1881,  and  was  succeeded  by  Jonas  H.  Brooks.  The  latter 
was  succeeded  in  1891  by  John  J.  Gallogly. 

In  view  of  the  expiration  of  the  charter  of  the  bank  on  the  10th  of 
January,  1885,  the  directors  decided  to  not  apply  for  the  extension  of 
its  corporate  existence,  but  recommended  the  formation  of  a  new 
national  banking  association.  Under  direction  of  C.  P.  Williams, 
Lansing  Merchant  and  A.  V.  De  Witt  the  institution  was  given  its 
present  organization,  the  National  Exchange  Bank  of  Albany.  The 
present  paid  up  stock  is  $300,000; '  the  surplus,  $60,000. 

Merchants'  National  Bank. — This  institution  was  incorporated  under 
the  name  of  the  Merchants'  Bank  January  19,  1853,  with  capital  of 
$250,000.  The  first  board  of  directors  was  John  Tweddle,  Billings  P. 
Learned,  Richard  Van  Rensselaer,  Matthew  J.  Hallenbeck,  Gilbert  L. 
Wilson,  Maurice  E.  Viele,  Henry  P.  Pulling,  Joseph  N.  Bullock,  John 
Sill.  The  bank  began  business  at  No.  59  State  street  April  7,  1853, 
with  John  Tweddle,  president;  John  Sill,  cashier.  On  April  22,  1805, 
the  institution  was  organized  as  a  national  bank  with  its  present  title. 
In  1801  it  was  removed  to  its  present  quarters,  No.  458  Broadway.  In 
1870  Richard  Van  Rensselaer  became  president,  and  was  succeeded  by 
the  present  incumbent,  J.  W.  Tillinghast  in  1880.  Nathan  D.  Wendell 
was  made  cashier  in  1804,  and  was  succeeded  by  J.  Irving  Wendell  in 
1880.  Nathan  D.  Wendell  became  vice-president  in  1880  and  held  that 
office  until  his  death  in  1880,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  John  G.  Myers, 
the  present  incumbent.  The  present  capital  and  surplus  of  this  bank 
is  $400,000. 

Union  Bank. — This  institution  was  first  organized  under  the  general 
banking  law  as  the  Bank  of  the  Union,  June  8,  1853.  It  began  busi- 
ness January  1,  1854,  at  No.  35  State  street,  with  a  capital  of  $250,000. 
The  first  board  of  directors  was  composed  of  Billings  P.  Learned,  Gil- 
bert C.  Davidson,  William  N.  Strong,  Chauncey  Vibbard,  Amos  P. 
Palmer,  Charles  Coates,  George  H.  Thacher,  William  L.  Learned, 
John  H.  Reynolds,  Daniel  D.  T.  Charles,  Alfred  Wild,  Le  Roy  Mowry 
and  Adam  Cottrell.  Billings  P.  Learned  was  the  first  president  of  this 
bank,  holding  the  position  from  the  date  of  its  organization  to  the  time 
of  his  death,  April  10,  1884,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Bill- 
ings P.  Learned. 

John  F.  Batchelder  was  the  first  cashier,  holding  the  office  until  his 
resignation  in  1857,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Adam  Van  Allen,  who 
resigned  in  1801,  and  was  succeeded  by  Amos  P.  Palmer. 


372 

In  the  early  part  of  the  year  1865,  the  stockholders  of  the  Union 
Bank  decided  to  abandon  their  organization  under  the  State  law,  and 
organize  under  the  National  Bank  act;  and  March  8,  1865,  it  was  au- 
thorized to  continue  business,  under  the  title  of  the  Union  Bank  of  Al- 
bany, for  twenty  years.  At  the  expiration  of  its  charter,  March  8, 
1885,  by  agreement  with  the  stockholders,  this  bank  was  satisfactorily 
closed  and  its  affairs  liquidated  in  full.  Shortly  after  its  organization 
as  a  national  bank,  a  bank  building  was  erected  at  No.  446  Broadway, 
which  was  occupied  until  the  expiration  of  its  charter.  The  last  cashier 
was  James  C.  Cook,  who  held  this  position  from  1870. 

Bank  of the  Capitol. — This  was  one  of  the  four  banks  that  failed  in 
1861,  to  which  allusion  has  been  made ;  one  of  them  has  been  described. 
The  Bank  of  the  Capitol  was  incorporated  in  1853,  with  a  capital  of 
$300,000.  The  first  directors  were  Thomas  Schuyler,  M.  H.  Read, 
John  G.  White,  Adam  Van  Allen,  A.  D.  Shepard  James  Van  Nostrand, 
Matthew  Vassar,  Alfred  Noxon,  and  Noah  Lee.  The  latter  was  chosen 
president,  and  was  succeeded  by  Thomas  Schuyler,  and  he  by  John  G. 
White.  Horatio  G.  Gilbert  was  the  first  cashier,  and  was  succeeded 
by  John  Templeton.  The  bank  failed  May  18,  1861,  when  M.  H.  Read 
was  appointed  receiver. 

The  National  Bank  was  another  of  the  four  failures  and  went  into 
operation  in  1856,  with  a  capital  of  $600,000,  and  the  following  directors: 
William  E.  Bleecker,  Albion  Ransom,  James  C.  Kennedy,  Richard  J. 
Grant,  Samuel  W.  Burnett,  Charles  Adams  and  Robert  C.  Martin. 
William  E.  Bleecker  was  chosen  president,  and  Robert  C.  Martin, 
cashier.  Both  of  these  officers  remained  in  their  positions  until  the 
failure  of  the  bank  May  23,  1860.  James  Edwards  was  appointed 
receiver. 

The  Bank  of  the  Interior  was  the  fourth  one  of  those  which  failed  in 
1861  and  was  incorporated  in  1851.  Josiah  B.  Plumb  was  its  principal 
founder  and  was  elected  president,  with  John  F.  Batchelder,  cashier; 
both  men  were  in  office  at  the  time  of  the  failure,  May  1,  1861.  Orlando 
Meads  was  made  receiver. 

First  National  Bank. — This  bank  was  organized  January  26,  1S64, 
and  began  business  on  the  25th  of  the  next  month.  It  was  the  first 
bank  in  Albany  organized  under  the  national  system  and  became  the 
financial  agent  of  the  government  for  receiving  and  disbursing  its  funds 
in  this  vicinity.  Thomas  Schuyler  was  the  first  president,  and  Adam 
Van  Allen  the  first  cashier.     The  directors  were  Thomas  Schuyler, 


373 

Garret  A.  Van  Allen,  Matthew  H.  Read,  Charles  H.  Adams,  and  Frank 
Chamberlain.  Matthew  H.  Read  was  chosen  president  in  1869  and 
continued  such  until  his  death  in  1883,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Adam 
Van  Allen.  He  died  in  1884  aud  was  succeeded  by  Garret  A.  Van 
Allen.  The  present  cashier,  S.  W.  Rowell,  has  handed  in  his  resigna- 
tion to  take  effect  May  1,  1897,  and  up  to  the  date  of  this  writing  his 
successor  has  not  been  appointed.  The  directors  besides  Mr.  Van  Allen 
are  William  M.  Whitney,  C.  S.  Merrill,  John  M.  Bailey,  Horace  S.  Bell, 
Noel  E.  Sisson  and  John  A.  Dix.  The  capital  of  the  bank  is  $200,000; 
surplus,  $100,000,  and  it  has  paid  to  stockholders  since  its  organization, 
$750,000. 

The  Hope  Bank. — Organized  and  incorporated  under  the  general 
State  law,  began  busines  in  1863  with  $100,000  capital.  James  Hen- 
drick  was  president  and  William  Young,  cashier.  It  was  continued 
under  these  officers  until  1874,  when  it  was  discontinued  and  the  stock- 
holders paid  in  full.  In  the  same  year  it  was  succeeded  by  the  Hope 
Banking  Company,  of  which  Mr.  Hendrick  was  president.  This  in- 
stitution was  discontinued  in  1877. 

Albany  County  Batik — This  institution  was  incorporated  under  the 
State  banking  law,  and  commenced  business  May  15,  1871,  in  Tweddle 
Hall  building.  Removed  to  present  building  corner  State  and  South 
Pearl  streets,  January  16,  1883.  Capital,  $200,000.  Its  first  board  of 
directors  was  composed  of  Jacob  Learned,  B.  W.  Wooster,  Theodore 
D.  Smith,  A.  W.  Brumaghim,  Royal  Bancroft,  Elvin  Taylor,  Francis 
N.  Sill,  Cornelius  Smith,  Joseph  Mann,  Henry  A.  Fonda  and  John 
Templeton.  Jacob  Learned  was  president  from  1871  to  1878,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  B.  W.  Wooster.  John  R.  Cornell  now  holds  that 
office.  John  Templeton  was  the  first  cashier.  The  present  cashier  is 
Win.  N.  S.  Sanders  with  George  C.  Lee,  assistant.  James  Moore  is  vice- 
president.  Directors,  John  R.  Carnell,  James  Moore,  Jacob  Leonard, 
James  Mix,  Seth  Wheeler,  Lansing  Hotaling,  Albert  V.  Bensen,  Clif- 
ford D.  Gregory,  John  J.  White,  Frank  C.  Herrick.  The  capital  of 
this  bank  is  $250,000. 

The  Park  Hank  of  Albany  was  organized  in  1889  with  capital  of 
$100,000.  It  has  been  prudently  conducted  and  now  has  a  surplus  of 
$25,000.  The  officers  are  Grange  Sard,  president;  Robert  C.  Pruyn, 
first  vice-president;  James  D.  Wasson,  second  vice-president ;  Charles 
H.  Sabin,  cashier. 


374 


SAVINGS    BANKS. 


The  Albany  Savings  Bank  is  the  second  oldest  savings  bank  in  this 
State  and  was  organized  through  efforts  of  William  James,  Charles  R. 
Webster,  Jesse  Buel,  John  Townsend,  and  Joseph  Alexander,  who 
petitioned  the  Legislature  for  an  act  of  incorporation.  The  act  was 
passed  March  25,  1820.  The  first  officers  of  the  institution  were 
Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  president;  William  James,  first  vice  president; 
Joseph  Alexander,  second  vice-president;  John  Townsend,  third  vice- 
president;  Charles  R.  Webster,  Jesse  Buel,  Thomas  Russell,  Volkert 
P.  Douw,  William  Durant,  Douw  Fonda,  Simeon  De  Witt,  Peter  Boyd, 
John  Spencer,  John  L.  Winne,  William  McHarg,  Matthew  Gill,  Har- 
manus  Bleecker  and  Sylvanus  P.  Jermain,  managers,  none  of  whom 
received  directly  or  indirectly,  pay  for  their  services.  The  first  meet- 
ing of  these  officers  was  held  May  16,  1820,  at  the  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce room,  when  Sylvanus  P.  Jermain  was  appointed  secretary;  and 
a  short  time  after,  John  W.  Yates  was  made  treasurer. 

The  first  deposit  was  made  June  10,  1820,  the  money  being  received 
at  the  New  York  State  Bank,  with  which  the  Savings  Bank  had  made 
arrangements  for  the  safe  keeping  of  its  funds.  The  deposits  received 
this  day  amounted  to  $527.  The  first  depositor  was  Joseph  T.  Rice,  a 
silversmith.  The  arrangements  made  with  the  New  York  State  Bank 
continued  until  1828,  when  a  contract  was  made  with  the  Commercial 
Bank  to  keep  and  invest  the  funds  of  the  Savings  Bank.  In  1872  the 
business  of  the  Savings  Bank  was  conducted  in  the  rooms  formerly 
occupied  by  the  First  National  Bank.  It  occupied  its  own  building, 
No.  89  State  street,  in  May,  1875,  but  is  about  to  remove  to  a  new 
structure,  corner  of  Maiden  Lane  and  North  Pearl  street. 

Mr.  Van  Rensselaer  was  succeeded  as  president,  in  1840,  by  John 
Townsend;  in  1854,  by  Gerrit  Y.  Lansing;  by  Rufus  H.  King  in  1863; 
by  Harmon  Pumpelly,  in  1867;  by  Henry  H.  Martin,  in  1882.  J. 
Howard  King  is  now  president,  with  Marcus  T.  Hun,  vice-president. 

John  W.  Yates  was  succeeded  as  treasurer,  in  1844,  by  James  Taylor; 
by  Visscher  Ten  Eyck,  1861;  James  Martin,  1869;  Henry  H.  Martin, 
1874;  Theodore  Townsend,  in  1882. 

This  institution  is  one  of  the  strongest  in  the  State  and  has  always 
had  the  confidence  of  the  community.  Its  deposits  have  increased  from 
about  $14,000  in  the  first  year  until  its  assets  now  amount  to  nearly 
$20,000,000,  with  a  surplus  of  about  $2,250,000. 

The  Albany  City  Savings  Institution  was  incorporated  on  March  29, 


GEN.  SELDEN   E.   MARVIN, 


375 

1850,  and  began  business  in  the  Albany  City  National  Bank  build- 
ing, No.  47  State  street.  The  first  trustees  were  Erastus  Corn- 
ing, sr  ,  John  Taylor,  James  Maher,  Lansing  Pruyn,  James  Kidd, 
James  McNaughton,  John  V.  L.  Pruyn,  William  Humphrey,  Watts 
Sherman,  John  T.  Norton,  James  Goold,  Samuel  Pruyn,  Henry  H. 
Martin,  John  Knower,  John  McKnight,  William  Boardman,  John  G. 
White,  Ellis  Baker,  Christopher  W.  Bender  and  Thomas  Noonan.  The 
first  president  was  Erastus  Corning,  sr. ,  who  was  succeeded  by  his  son, 
Erastus  Corning.  Selden  E.  Marvin  now  holds  that  position.  Watts 
Sherman  was  the  first  treasurer  and  was  succeeded  by  Henry  H.  Mar- 
tin. In  1874  Amos  P.  Palmer  took  this  office  and  was  succeeded  by 
Russell  C.  Case.  The  present  treasurer  is  William  S.  Hackett.  John 
E.  Walker  and  Horace  S.  Bell,  vice-presidents.  The  deposits  and  sur- 
plus amount  to  $2,740,582.71.  The  present  trustees  are:  Selden  E. 
Marvin,  Rodney  Vose,  George  I.  Amsdell,  Francis  H.  Woods,  Charles 
R.  Knowles,  James  W.  Cox,  jr.,  John  E.  Walker,  John  E.  Palmer,  Geo. 
H.  Thacher,  E.  De  L.  Palmer,  Albert  Hessberg,  Horace  S.  Bell,  Ed- 
ward J.  Gallien,  J.  H.  Brooks,  John  Bowe,  P.  N.  Bouton. 

The  Mechanics'  and  Farmers'1  Savings  Bank  was  incorporated  April 
12,  1855,  and  commenced  business  in  the  Mechanics'  and  Farmers' 
Bank  building.  Thomas  W.  Olcott  was  its  first  president.  He  was 
succeeded  by  his  son,  Dudley  Olcott,  who  still  holds  the  office.  Both 
Thomas  W.  and  Dudley  Olcott  held  the  office  of  secretary,  of  which 
the  present  incumbent  is  George  G.  Davidson.  Charles  Newman  is 
vice-president,  and  Horatio  N.  Snow,  accountant.  The  surplus  on 
July  1,  189G,  was  $357,085.67.     The  deposits  are  nearly  $2,000,000. 

The  Albany  Exchange  Savings  Bank  was  incorporated  in  April,  1850, 
with  James  McNaughton,  president,  and  Joseph  M.  Lovett,  treasurer. 
The  office  of  president  has  been  held  by  William  G.  Thomas,  Isaac  A. 
Chapman,  John  E.  McElroy,  and  William  Dalton,  the  present  incum- 
bent. In  1869  Chauncey  P.  Williams  was  elected  treasurer.  The 
present  treasurer  is  Abraham  V.  De  Witt,  John  DeWitt  Peltz  is  first 
vice-president,  and  James  McKinney  second  vice-president. 

The  National  Savings  Bank  was  incorporated  May  6,  1868,  and  began 
business  in  June  of  the  following  year.  The  first  president  was  Eras- 
tus Corning,  sr. ,  who  was  succeeded  by  John  H.  Van  Antwerp  in  L872  ; 
he  has  held  this  position  ever  since.  Albert  P.  Stevens  was  the  first 
treasurer,  and  he  also  has  held  the  office  to  the  present  time.  John  G. 
Myers  and  G.  A.  Van  Allen  are  vice-presidents.  On  January  1,  1897, 
its  deposits  and  surplus  reached  the  total  of  $8,443,594.56,  exhibiting 


376 

a  continuance  of  growth,  year  by  year,  measuring  the  confidence 
reposed  in  it  by  its  depositors  in  a  most  assuring  and  satisfactory  man- 
ner to  its  officers  and  trustees.  Economy  in  its  administration  is 
evidenced  by  the  fact  that  its  president,  Mr.  Van  Antwerp,  has  from 
the  first  declined  holding  the  presidency  as  a  salaried  position. 

The  Home  Savings  Bank,  located  in  its  new  building,  No.  13  North 
Pearl  street,  in  this  city,  was  incorporated  May  10,  1871.  William  White 
was  the  first  president,  holding  the  office  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  in 
January,  1882.  He  was  succeeded  by  John  D.  Capron,  who  held  the 
office  until  May,  1891.  Peter  Kinnear  was  then  chosen  to  succeed 
him,  and  held  the  office  until  January,  1806,  when  he  was  succeeded  by 
the  present  incumbent,  James  Ten  Eyck,  of  the  firm  of  Bacon,  Stickney 
&  Co.,  also  past  grand  master  of  Masons  in  this  State.  Edmund  L. 
Judson  was  treasurer  from  the  organization  of  the  bank  up  to  the  time 
of  his  death  in  April,  1890,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  the  present 
incumbent,  John  D.  Capron.  The  other  officers  are  David  A.  Thomp- 
son, first  vice-president;  John  H.  Farrell,  second  vice-president;  and 
Samuel  L.  Munson,  secretary.  The  deposits  on  January  1,  1897, 
amounted  to  $1,604,204.23.      The  surplus  on  the  same  date  was  $91,- 

719.80. 

The  Albany  County  Savings  Bank  was  incorporated  April  30,  1874, 
with  Jasper  H  Pratt,  president;  who  was  succeeded  by  the  present  in- 
cumbent, Jasper  Van  Wormer.  John  Templeton  was  the  first  treasu- 
rer, and  was  succeeded  by  William  N.  S.  Sanders,  the  incumbent.  Al- 
bert V.  Bensen  has  been  secretary  from  the  incorporation.  Seth 
Wheeler,  James  Mix  and  F.  C.  Curtis  are  vice-presidents.  Amount 
due  depositors  January  1,  1896,  $4,359,892,45;  surplus,  $200,226.33. 


MANUFACTURES. 

While  Albany  has  gained  a  high  position  as  a  center  of  political  in- 
fluence, in  art  and  educational  affairs,  and  in  the  character  of  its  financial 
institutions,  it  has  also  attained  prominence  through  the  number  and 
importance  of  its  manufacturing  industries. 

The  iron  industry  in  its  various  branches  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most 
important  in  the  city.  What  is  now  the  Townsend  Furnace  and  Ma- 
chine Shop  Company  was  established  in  1807  by  John  and  Isaiah  Town- 
send,  who  were  succeeded  in  1838  by  John  Townsend  alone,  who  was 
followed  in  1849  by  Franklin  and  Theodore  Townsend.  In  1856  Frank- 
lin Townsend  became  sole  proprietor,  and  in  1867  admitted  George  P. 


:.  :f§T! 

: 


flllHHI 


JOHN   H.  VAN  ANTWERP. 


377 

Jackson  to  a  partnership.  In  1871  Rufus  K.  Townsend,  grandson  of 
Isaiah,  took  his  father's  place  in  the  business,  and  in  July,  1882,  upon  the 
death  of  Mr.  Jackson,  became  sole  proprietor.  Rufus  K.  Townsend  died 
in  December,  1895,  and  his  father  (Franklin)  again  assumed  control  of  the 
business  and  organized  a  stock  company  with  the  above  title  and  the 
following  officers:  Ledyard  Cogswell,  vice-president;  John  T  Brad}-, 
secretary  and  treasurer;  Ezra  Loughren,  superintendent. 

The  iron  foundry  of  Isaiah  Page  &  Son  was  established  by  the  senior 
member  of  the  firm  in  1832,  and  occupied  its  present  site  in  1850.  Will- 
iam B.  Page  became  a  member  of  the  firm  in  1883,  and  two  years  later 
Isaiah  Page  died.  For  more  than  fifty  years  this  establishment  has 
conducted  a  successful  and  honorable  business. 

The  car  wheel  works  now  operated  by  Hon.  John  Boyd  Thacher 
and  his  brother,  George  H.  Thacher,  jr.,  merit  notice.  This  busi- 
ness was  founded  by  George  H.  Thacher  in  1852,  and  during  many 
years  some  of  the  leading  railroads  in  the  country,  including  the 
New  York  Central,  were  supplied  with  wheels  from  this  foundry.  The 
Albany  Saw,  Steel  and  File  Works,  conducted  by  E.  F.  Decker  &  Bros., 
was  established  by  Pruyn  &  Lansing  (Robert  H.  Pruyn  and  Charles  B. 
Lansing)  in  1855.  This  firm  was  succeeded  in  1879  by  Lansing  &  Co., 
and  they  by  the  present  firm  in  1892.  The  name  of  the  works  sufficiently 
explains  its  character.  Other  iron  industries  have  been  conducted  by 
Storks  &  Pruyn  (established  1848),  and  operated  later  by  Prince  &  Ott; 
Sullivan  &  Ehler,  steam  engines;  James  McKinney  &  Son,  the  Albany 
Malleable  Iron  Works,  E.  D.  Ransom  &  Co.,  and  others. 

During  many  years  Albany  was  the  headquarters  of  stove  manufac- 
turing in  the  United  States,  and  the  industry  is  a  prominent  one  at  the 
present  time.  Stoves  were  made  here  as  early  as  1827  by  H.  Nott  & 
Co.,  and  from  that  time  onward  the  industry  rapidly  advanced.  The 
great  establishment  of  the  Perry  Stove  Co.  was  started  in  1837  by 
Treadwell  &  Perry  and  for  fifty  years  carried  on  a  large  business.  For 
reasons  that  need  not  be  entered  upon  here  the  business  was  placed  in 
the  hands  of  Selden  E.  Marvin  as  receiver  in  1895. 

Rathbone,  Sard  &  Co.,  manufacture  the  celebrated  Acorn  stoves  and 
ranges,  and  have  branches  in  Chicago,  Detroit,  and  Aurora,  111.  The 
business  was  established  in  ls:>5  by  Gen.  John  F.  Rathbone,  who  is 
still  president  of  the  company.  George  Sard  is  vice-president  and  man- 
ager, and  Edward  Bowditch,  secretary  and  treasurer.  About  700  men  are 
employed  in  Albany  and  500  in  Aurora.  The  Littlefield  Stove  Com- 
48 


378 


pany  was  organized  in  1865  by  D.  G.  Littlefield,  who  is  now  president 
of  the  company,  with  H.  C.  Littlefield,  as  treasurer.  D.  G.  Littlefield  is 
the  inventor  of  the  first  successful  base-burning  stove.  Among  other 
firms  that  have  been  represented  in  this  industry  are  the  Albany  Stove 
Company,  organized  in  1868;  the  Ransom  Stove  Company,  Carroll  & 
Co.,  the  Albany  Co-operative  Stove  Company,  and  several  individuals. 

The  brewing  industry  in  Albany  had  its  inception  in  the  early  years 
of  the  city's  existence,  and  before  the  granting  of  the  Dongan  charter, 
Arent  Van  Corlaer  making  ale  here  in  1661.  In  1695  Ben  C.  Corlaer 
and  Albert  Ryckman  were  "authorized  and  directed  to  brew,  for  the 
use  of  the  Common  Council,  three  pipes  of  beer  at  ,£10  13.s\"  Another 
early  and  prominent  brewer  was  Harme  Gansevoort  who  died  in  1801.  ' 
At  about  the  same  period  a  Mr.  Gill  was  producing  150  barrels  a  year 
aru3  boasted  of  the  great  quantity.  At  the  present  time  there  are 
manufactured  in  the  city  approximately  half  a  million  barrels  of  malt 
liquors  annually,  Robert  Dunlop  was  an  early  brewer,  as  were  also 
John  McKnight,  and  Andrew  Kirk,  the  latter  on  the  site  of  the  present 
Capitol  City  Brewery.  Among  the  leading  brewers  of  ale  and  lager  in 
the  city  at  the  present  time  is  the  Beverwyck  Brewing  Company,  which 
had  its  inception  in  a  plant  established  in  1845  by  James  Quinn;  this 
brewery  now  has  an  annual  product  of  100,000  barrels  of  lager  and  80,- 
000  barrels  of  ale.  The  Albany  Brewing  Company  had  its  inception  in 
1797  and  now  has  a  malting  capacity  of  150,000  bushels  and  produces 
more  than  100,000  barrels  of  ale  and  porter  annually.  The  Taylor 
Brewery  was  started  in  1822  and  is  still  in  successful  operation.  The 
Fort  Orange  Brewing  Company  was  formed  in  1839  and  was  succeeded 
by  the  present  Capitol  City  Brewing  Company.  In  1842  William  Ams- 
dell  founded  the  ale  and  porter  brewery  now  conducted  by  his  son, 
George  I.  Amsdell,  the  annual  capacity  of  which  is  about  100,000  bar- 
rels. Other  brewers  of  importance  are  Quinn  &  Nolan,  the  Hincklc 
Brewing  Company,  the  Dobler  Brewing  Company,  and  the  Hedrick 
Brewing  Company,  all  of  which  are  comparatively  large  producers. 
Intimately  connected  with  this  industry  is  the  malting  interest,  in  which 
John  G.  White  and  his  son,  Andrew  G,  John  Tweddle,  J.  W.  Tilling- 
hast,  Thomas  McCredie,  William  Appleton,  Story  Brothers,  William 
Kirk  and  others  have  been  prominent. 

The  lumber  industry,  which  is  both  manufacturing  and  mercantile  in 
character,  has  for  many  years  been  a  prominent  factor  in  the  business 
interests  of  the  city.     The  Swedish  traveler,  Kalm,  noted  the  fact  that 


GEORGE  I.  AMSDELL. 


379 

vast  quantities  of  white  pine  existed  in  this  region  in  1749,  from  which 
the  early  merchants  and  others  sawed  valuable  lumber.  The  Patroon's 
early  saw  mills,  on  the  creek  that  bears  his  name,  have  already  been 
mentioned;  they  were  in  charge  of  Barent  Pieterse  Coeymans  and  Jan 
Gerritsen  for  a  time,  and  in  17G3  the  former  bought  a  large  tract  of 
land  twelve  miles  south  of  the  city,  on  which  mills  had  already  been 
built.  In  De  Liancourt's  notes  of  travel  in  1795,  he  places  timber  and 
lumber  first  among  the  exports  from  Albany.  In  1840  there  were 
eighty-four  saw  mills  in  operation  in  Albany  county;  but  the  sale  of 
local  lumber  soon  became  only  a  small  part  of  the  traffic  of  this  city. 
In  early  years  lumber  was  rafted  and  boated  on  the  upper  Hudson  and 
the  Mohawk  from  Northern  and  Central  New  York  and  here  loaded  on 
sloops  and  sent  down  the  river.  Two  lumber  yards  were  early  estab- 
lished, one  at  the  foot  of  South  Ferry  street  and  the  other  between 
Ouackenbush  street  and  Lumber  street  (now  Livingston  avenue).  With 
the  opening  of  the  canals  the  business  received  a  great  impeUis.  Lum- 
ber was  brought  here  in  immense  quantities  and  the  wharves  were 
used  for  its  temporary  storage.  These  soon  became  inadequate  and 
slips  were  cut  from  the  canal  towards  the  river  and  the  lumber  piled 
along  their  banks.  In  the  course  of  time  the  Lumber  District,  as  it  is 
termed,  occupied  about  one  and  a  half  miles  of  river  front  and  contained 
numerous  slips  running  east  and  west.  There  were  also  erected  large 
sawing  and  planing  mills  and  other  wood  working  establishments.  In 
1840  the  receipts  of  lumber  and  timber  were  124,173,383  feet  of  the 
former,  and  784,310  of  the  latter,  valued  at  over  $2,000,000.  This 
quantity  was  increased  in  1850  to  425,095,436  feet  of  lumber  and  3,039,- 
588  of  timber,  valued  at  $6,800,213  The  highest  value  in  boards  and 
scantling  received  was  recorded  in  1853,  the  figures  being  $6,299,617. 
In  1860  the  valuation  was  a  little  more  than  $5,000,000.  In  1870  the 
receipts  of  sawed  lumber  by  canal  were  415,000,000.  In  1880,  362,000,- 
000.  After  that  time  the  quantity  was  considerably  increased  for  a 
few  years.  The  trade  was  at  its  height  from  1880  to  1885,  when  about 
500,000,000  were  annually  received  by  about  thirty-five  to  forty  firms. 
I  hiring  that  period  by  far  the  larger  part  of  the  receipts  were  from 
Michigan  and  Wisconsin,  the  receipts  from' Canada  having  gradually 
diminished.  In  the  past  ten  years  the  business  as  a  whole  has  fallen 
off  largely,  until  at  the  present  time  there  are  less  than  twenty  large 
dealers,  handling  from  200,000,000  to  250,000,000  feet  annually.  The 
decline  is  due  to  changes  in  business  methods,  under  which  mill  owners 


380 


consign  directly  to  market,  driving  out  the  middle  men.  Unfavorable 
discrimination  in  railroad  freight  rates,  too,  has  had  an  unfavorable  in- 
fluence against  the  business. 

The  Board  of  Lumber  Dealers  was  organized  in  1863  and  was  incor- 
porated in  1869.  It  has  been  instrumental  in  maintaining  equitable 
business  principles  among  dealers,  disseminating  valuable  information 
and  adjusting  difficulties.  It  is  entirely  impracticable  here  to  give  a 
detailed  account  of  the  many  companies  and  individuals  who  have  been 
connected  with  this  great  industry  in  Albany.  Among  them  have  been 
Whitlock  &  Fassett,  who  began  in  1832,  and  were  succeeded  by  Will- 
iam N.  Fassett;  Douglas  L.  White  &  Co.,  Dalton  &  Kibbe,  Moore  & 
Zimmerman,  W.  H.  Weaver  &  Co.  (whose  business  was  founded  in 
L862  by  William  McEchron,  J.  Ordway,  James  Morgan,  A.  M.  Adsit 
and  W.  H.  Weaver),  Rathbun  &  Co.  (established  in  1845  by  Joshua 
Rathbun),  Rodney  Vose  (began  in  1853),  Maltbie  &  Simons  (succeeded 
by  Simons  &  Richards),  Gratwick  &  Fryer,  L.  Thompson  &  Co., 
Hughson  &  Co.,  Mattoon  &  Robinson,  J.  O.  Towner  &  Co.,  Arnold  & 
Co.,  J.  Benedict  &  Son,  William  N.  Callender,  Truman  D.  Cameron, 
J.  W.  Dunham  &  Co.,  Charles  P.  Easton  &  Co.,  Fogg,  Patton  &  Co., 
John  H.  Gordon,  Hand  &  Babbitt,  Hubbell  &  Hill,  Harvey  Hunter, 
John  Krutz,  W.  C.  Many  &  Co.,  T.  Miles  &  Co.,  Morgan  Lumber 
Company,  Thomas  Murphy,  J.  R.  Nangle,  Charles  B.  Nichols,  Phil- 
lips &  Dunscomb,  H.  W.  Sage  &  Co.,  Saxe  Bros.,  Robert  Scott,  Smith, 
Craig  &  Co.,  Henry  Spawn,  Staples  &  Van  Allen,  P.  Van  Rensselaer 
&  Co.,  Van  Santford  &  Eaton,  C.  Warren,  David  Whitney,  jr.,  N.  R. 
Wilbur  &  Son,  C.  H.  Winne  and  Waine  &  Andrews. 

The  manufacture  of  agricultural  machinery  has  been  a  considerable 
industry  in  Albany.  The  Wheeler  &  Melick  Company  was  founded  in 
ls:;o  and  for  many  years  were  the  leaders  in  this  line  of  business,  the 
value  of  their  annual  product  reaching  $500,000.  The  agricultural 
and  machine  works  of  Peter  K.  Dederick  &  Co.  also  carry  on  a  large 
industry,  manufacturing  the  Dederick  patent  hand  and  power  presses, 
and  many  other  kinds  of  apparatus  for  farmers'  use. 

The  manufacture  of  pianos  was  begun  in  Albany  in  1825  by  James  A. 
Gray.  In  1837  he  took  as  a  partner  William  G.  Boardman,  the  firm 
name  being  Boardman  &  Gray.  The  business  was  successful  and  from 
1840  to  1860  the  firm  was  among  the  leading  piano  manufacturers  of 
the  country.  In  1877  William  J.  Gray,  son  of  the  founder  of  the  busi- 
ness, became  a  member  of  the  firm.      Mr.    Boardman  died  in  1881  and 


381 

the  business  was  continued  by  the  Grays.  In  185:5  Marshall  &  Traver, 
two  practical  workmen  from  the  Boardman  &  Gray  factory,  began 
making-  pianos,  and  two  years  later  were  succeeded  by  Marshall  & 
Wendell.  In  1882  the  firm,  under  the  title  of  the  Marshall  &  Wen- 
dell Manufacturing  Co.,  was  incorporated,  with  Henry  Russell,  presi- 
dent; J.  V.  Marshall,  superintendent;  Harvey  Wendell,  manager  and 
treasurer,  and  John  Loughren,  secretary.  This  business  is  still  in  exist- 
ence, the  present  officers  of  the  company  being  Jacob  H.  Ten  Eyck, 
president;  Thomas  S.  Willes,  vice  president ;  Edward  M.  McKinney, 
manager  and  treasurer,  and  James  L.  Carpenter,  secretary. 

William  McCammon  was  an  early  manufacturer  of  pianos  in  Albany 
and  his  instruments  acquired  considerable  reputation.  Upon  his  death 
in  1881  the  business  was  continued  by  his  son,  Edward  McCammon, 
who  finally  removed  it  to  Oneonta  a  few  years  since. 

While  there  are  very  many  other  branches  of  industry  profitably 
pursued  in  this  city,  this  brief  glance  at  some  of  the  more  prominent  of 
the  past  and  present  ones  will  suffice  to  show  that  as  a  manufactur- 
ing center  Albany  is  not  far  behind  other  cities  of  its  size. 

WATER    SUPPLY. 

The  first  notice  in  the  city  records  of  a  proposed  water  supply,  other 
than  wells,  occurs  under  date  of  1794.  An  advertisement  was  then 
published  asking  for  proposals  for  supplying  the  city  with  water 
through  an  aqueduct  from  a  spring  "  at  the  Five-Mile  House  on  the 
road  to  Albany."  No  further  notice  of  this  matter  appears  in  the  re- 
cords. Two  years  later  the  Legislature  passed  an  act  to  enable  the 
corporation  to  establish  a  water  supply,  but  this,  too,  failed  of  accom- 
plishment. In  17(J?  Benjamin  Prescott  received  from  Stephen  Van 
Rensselaer  a  grant  of  the  Maezlandt  Kill,  and  he  laid  a  line  of  wooden 
log  conduits  from  the  fountain  head.  For  some  unexplained  reason 
the  grant  must  have  reverted  to  Van  Rensselaer,  who,  a  few  years 
later,  transferred  all  the  rights  on  that  stream  to  the  water  company. 
The  Albany  Water  Works  Company  was  incorporated  in  1802  with  a 
capital  of  $40,000.  The  first  trustees  were  Stephen  Lush,  Philip  Van 
Rensselaer,  and  John  Tayler.  The  work  of  laying  iron  and  wooden 
pipes  through  the  principal  streets  was  immediately  commenced,  and 
the  Maezlandt  Kill  continued  to  be  the  source  of  supply  until  L837, 
when  that   stream   failed   to  meet   the  demands  made  upon  it  and  the 


382 

Middle  Brook  was  drawn  upon.  Within  a  few  years  both  streams  proved 
inadequate,  and  in  1845  a  part  of  the  Patroon's  Creek  was  purchased  by 
the  company.  Meanwhile  in  1844  the  capital  of  the  company  was 
increased  to  $80,000,  and  in  the  same  year  the  Albany  Hydrant  Company 
was  incorporated,  with  John  Townsend,  John  K.  Paige,  Bradford  R. 
Wood,  James  D.  Wasson,  Barnum  Whipple,  Rufus  W.  Peckham,  and 
Peter  Gansevoort,  trustees.  This  company  caused  extensive  investi- 
gation and  surveys  to  be  made  for  the  purpose  of  providing  a  better 
water  supply,  but  nothing  further  was  done. 

A  long- existing  sentiment  among  progressive  citizens  that  it  would 
be  wise  for  the  city  to  own  its  own  water  works  culminated  in  the  sub- 
mission of  a  bill  to  the  Legislature  by  the  corporation,  which  became 
a  law  April  !»,  1850.  This  law  empowered  the  council  to  appoint  a 
board  of  five  water  commissioners,  whose  most  important  duty  at  that 
time  was  to  make  the  necessary  investigations  and  report  upon  the 
most  feasible  plan  for  establishing  adequate  water  works  for  the  city  at 
a  cost  not  exceeding  $000,000.  The  first  water  commission  comprised 
James  Stevenson,  Erastus  Corning,  John  Townsend,  John  Tayler  and 
Robert  E.  Temple.  The  commission  entered  at  once  upon  their  task 
and  had  examinations  made  of  the  Hudson  River,  Patroon's  Creek,  the 
Normans  Kill  and  the  lakes  on  the  Helderbergs.  Plans  were  finally 
devised  and  reported  which  met  the  approval  of  the  council.  On  Au 
gust  23,  1850,  all  the  sources  of  water  supply  owned  by  the  old  com- 
pany were  purchased  for  $150,000,  and  most  of  the  wooden  pipes  were 
superseded  by  iron,  but  the  old  method  of  obtaining  water  by  gravita- 
tion was  continued  some  years,  the  supply  being  the  Maeztland  Kill, 
with  a  further  source  which  was  adopted  in  1851.  This  was  provided 
by  building  a  dam  about  six  miles  west  of  the  city  where  three  streams 
united  to  form  the  Patroon's  Creek,  thus  creating  a  body  of  water  since 
called  Rensselaer  Lake,  covering  full  forty  acres  of  land  and  holding 
about  '200,000,000  gallons.  From  this  lake  an  egg  shaped  brick  con- 
duit four  feet  high  and  nearly  four  miles  long,  was  built  to  Bleecker 
reservoir,  with  a  capacity  of  30,000,000  gallons.  In  the  same  year  two 
other  reservoirs  were  built  a  little  east  of  West  Albany,  which  took  the 
names  of  Upper  and  Lower  Tivoli  Lakes,  the  upper  one  being  for  stor- 
age and  the  lower  for  distribution.  These  received  their  supply  from 
water  entering  the  creek  east  of  Rensselaer  Lake.  From  the  lower 
lake  a  24-inch  main  was  laid  to  the  intersection  of  North  Pearl  and 
Van  Woert  streets,  where  the   water  entered  the   distributing  mains. 


383 

This  was  the   system   of  water  supply  up  to  1875,  and  included  iron 
mains  all  through  the  city  east  of  Bleecker  reservoir. 

Before  the  year  last  named,  however,  the  demand  upon  the  water 
supply  was  so  great,  owing  to  growth  of  the  city,  that  several  water 
"famines  occurred,  and  it  was  evident  that  something  must  be  done  for 
relief.  The  Hudson  River  was  now  brought  forward  and  discussed  as  a 
proper  source  of  supply,  and  thorough  analyses  and  investigations  were 
made  to  determine  its  purity.  O.  F.  Chandler,  Ph.D.,  made  an  analysis 
of  the  water  in  1872  and  said :  "I  have  no  hesitation  in  recommending  it 
as  a  suitable  and  proper  source  of  supply."  This  decision  he  supported 
in  1885,  when  asked  by  the  water  commissioners  if  anything  had  taken 
place  since  his  first  analysis  to  lead  him  to  change  his  first  opinion. 
The  plans  of  the  water  commissioners  for  the  adoption  of  the  river  as 
a  source  of  supply  were  carried  out  in  in  1875,  the  water  being  taken 
from  beyond  the  pier,  carried  into  a  well  chamber  six  feet  in  diam- 
eter and  eighty  feet  deep  through  a  copper  wire  screen  of  one  hundred 
meshes  to  the  inch,  and  thence  through  a  culvert  below  low  water 
mark.  From  this  well  chamber  was  extended  a  tunnel  five  feet  in 
diameter  and  nearly  nine  hundred  feet  long  under  the  basin  to  the 
pumping  works,  corner  of  Montgomery  and  Ouackenbush  streets, 
where  engines  were  established  which  operated  pumps  to  force  the  sup- 
ply into  Bleecker  reservoir.  While  this  plan  gave  an  abundant  supply 
to  the  district  east  of  Bleecker  reservoir,  there  were  more  elevated 
parts  of  the  city  that  received  no  benefit  from  the  new  arrangement. 
To  improve  the  conditions  another  reservoir  was  built  in  1878  on  Pros- 
pect Hill  with  a  capacity  of  7,000,000  gallons,  and  into  this  water  is 
pumped  from  the  Bleecker  reservoir.  The  use  of  water  from  the  Hudson 
River  continued  to  cause  discussion  for  a  number  of  years,  many  intel- 
ligent persons  insisting  that  it  could  not  possibly  be  wholesome  On 
November  17,  1884,  the  Common  Council  passed  a  resolution  requesting 
from  the  water  commissioners  a  detailed  statement  of  their  information 
concerning  the  possible  sources  of  water  supply  for  the  city,  and  of 
their  reasons  for  adopting  the  plan  of  pumping  water  from  the  Hudson. 
The  board  reported  February  2,  1885,  as  follows: 

This  Board  has  no  prejudice  in  favor  of  the  river  water,  or  against  any  other  source 
of  supply,  and  if  it  can  be  shown  that  a  better  source  of  supply  exists,  it  will  gladh 
take  all  practicable  measures  within  its  power  to  secure  it. 

The  report  adds  that   judging   by  experience   and    by  the  numerous 


384 


tests  made,  the  river  is  the  only  practicable  and  attainable  source  of 
supply. 

The  water  subject  continued  to  be  agitated  and  before  long  an  addi- 
tional supply  was  needed  to  meet  the  increasing  demand  of  the  city.  In 
accordance  with  a  law  of  1885,  a  special  water  commission  was  appointed 
consisting  of  Samuel  Hand,  president;  Albert  Vander Veer,  secretary; 
Archibald  McClure  and  Owen  Golden,  "to  make  inquiry  as  to  the 
available  sources  of  supply  of  pure  and  wholesome  water  for  the  city," 
and  if  the  present  supply  was  decided  to  be  the  best  available,  what 
method  could  be  adopted  for  purifying  it.  On  November  30,  1885, 
this  commission  recommended  to  the  council  1st,  That  the  supply  then 
obtained  from  Patroon's  Creek  and  Sand  Creek  by  the  Tivoli  Lake  be 
gathered  and  transmitted  to  the  Tivoli  main,  the  cost  of  which  would 
not  exceed  $230,000.  2d,  "  That  a  contract  be-made  for  a  new  supply 
of  10,000,000  gallons  daily,  to  be  delivered  at  Quackenbush  street  pump- 
ing station,  from  the  flats  between  the  Troy  road  and  the  Hudson  River 
north  of  the  city,  at  or  about  in  the  locality  of  the  well  from  which  the 
water  has  been  tested,  to  be  furnished  by  the  patent  improved  gang- 
well  system  of  William  B.  Andrews  &  Bro.,"  the  cost  of  this  improve- 
ment not  to  exceed  $450,000. 

The  commission  further  recommended  in  the  event  of  the  council  not 
approving  of  this  plan,  an  alternative  as  follows:  A  new  intake  at  a 
point  in  the  Hudson  River  about  2,500  feet  above  the  present  intake, 
a  new  main  from  the  pumping  station  to  Bleecker  reservoir,  and  addi- 
tional pumps,  with  extensive  facilities  for  aeration  and  filtration,  and 
the  abandonment  of  Tivoli  Lake,  the  estimated  expense  of  all  this 
being  $750,000. 

In  their  report  to  the  council  for  1886  the  water  commissioners  again 
recommended  the  purchase  of  another  and  more  powerful  engine.  At 
that  time  the  consumption  of  water  was  exceeding  the  capacity  of  the 
pumps  by  more  than  twenty- five  per  cent.  Although  Tivoli  Lake  had 
been  in  one  sense  condemned,  it  was  indispensable  during  1886,  as  it 
was  furnishing  about  one-fourth  of  the  city  supply.  The  report  of  the 
board  for  1887  called  for  increased  pumping  capacity.  On  the  6th  of 
January  of  this  year  Robert  L.  Banks,  president  of  the  Board  of  Water 
Commissioners,  sent  a  communication  to  the  water  committee  of  the 
council,  stating  that  the  commissioners  recommended  such  action  by 
the  council  in  its  recommendations  to  the  Legislature  as  would  result 
in  mutual  action  with  the  commissioners.     That  even  if  the  driven  well 


385 

project  authorized  by  the  law  of  1885  should  be  successful,  an  unneces- 
sary provision  in  the  law  of  1884  restrained  the  commissioners  from 
taking  any  progressive  steps,  after  an  engine  had  been  contracted  for 
and  land  purchased  for  the  completion  of  the  plant.  The  commission- 
ers' report  for  1887  states  that  the  engines  already  contracted  for  were 
completed  and  installed,  but  that  the  city  was  under  fearful  risks  of  water 
famine  and  destructive  fire — a  condition  caused  largely  by  the  unnec- 
essary provisions  of  the  law  before  alluded  to.  The  two  new  engines  of 
5,000,000  capacity,  contracted  for  under  the  previous  law,  were  finished 
in  1888. 

On  March  16, 1891,  a  special  water  commission  consisting  of  Dr.  Albert 
Yander  Veer,  Hiram  E.  Sickels,  Owen  Golden  and  John  G.  Myers,  report- 
ed the  driven  well  project  a  failure,  and  that  in  anticipation  of  this  con- 
tingency they  had  made  investigation  as  to  the  possibility  of  adopting 
some  other  source  of  supply  at  reasonable  cost.  They  reported  that  the 
feeling  against  the  use  of  river  water  for  drinking  purposes  had  not  abat- 
ed. One  portion  of  the  city,  the  eastern,  where  the  supply  was  from  the 
new  reservoir,  was  comparatively  free  from  typhoid  and  other  diseases, 
which  were  then  so  prevalent  as  to  amount  to  an  epidemic  in  that  part 
of  the  city  south  of  Pearl  street,  which  drew  its  supply  from  the  river. 
This  commission  made  careful  examination  of  two  sources  of  supply 
which  alone  seemed  available;  one,  the  streams  and  small  lakes  in 
Rensselaer  county,  east  of  the  Hudson,  and  the  other  the  Normanskill 
and  its  tributaries.  On  account  of  the  great  cost  of  adopting  the  first 
named  source,  the  Normanskill  was  strongly  recommended  for  adoption. 
The  commission  submitted  an  estimate  of  the  cost  of  using  this  source, 
and  further  stated  that  the  quality  of  the  water  compared  favorably 
with  that  then  being  taken  from  the  new  reservoirs. 

On  December  28,  1891,  the  same  commission  submitted  a  report  on 
tlie  Normanskill,  giving  its  flow,  degree  of  purity,  and  suggesting  meth- 
ods for  using  it,  adding,  that  by  measurements  and  examinations  mack-, 
"  we  are  the  more  firmly  convinced  that  the  Normanskill  will  furnish  a 
city  supply  amply  sufficient  and  of  good  quality,  and  that  a  resort  to  it  is 
the  best,  the  most  practical,  if  not  the  only  practical,  solution  of  the 
problem,  how  to  give  the  city  of  Albany  a  better  supply  of  water. 
Various  expert  opinions  were  secured  as  to  the  excellence  of  this  water 
late  in  that  year  and  early  in  1892;  but  on  January  Hi,  L892,  the  water 
committee  of  the  council  reported  t<>  that  body  that  the  project  recom- 
49 


386 


mended  by  the  special  commission  ought  not  to  receive  their  sanction, 
and  therefore  reported  adversely  upon  the  project. 

The  Board  of  Water  Commissioners  appointed  in  May,  1892,  report- 
ed to  the  council  December  5,  1892,  that  one  promising  source  of  water 
supply  had  been  overlooked,  which  was  Kinderhook  Creek,  which  has  its 
source  in  a  number  of  streams  rising  in  the  mountainous  district  along 
the  boundary  of  Massachusetts  and  New  York.  The  commissioners 
submitted  plans  for  the  adoption  of  this  source  and  estimates  indicat- 
ing that  it  could  be  made  available  for  the  sum  of  $1,600,000.  The 
water  was  examined  by  experts  and  pronounced  superior.  On  Decern - 
18,  1893,  Frederic  P.  Stearns,  consulting  engineer  of  Boston,  reported 
to  Hon.  Elnathan  Sweet,  president  of  the  water  commissioners,  that 
the  Kinderhook  Creek  water  was  of  excellent  quality  for  all  purposes, 
and  that  a  supply  from  it  would  cost  about  $72,000  less  annually  than 
a  supply  from  the  Hudson,  if  properly  filtered. 

Two  of  the  pumps,  before  alluded  to,  and  ordered  from  Milwaukee 
are  at  the  present  time  in  use,  and  all  other  plans  for  a  better  water 
supply  were  abandoned  up  to  the  present  year,  1897,  when  there  is  a 
bill  before  the  legislature  authorizing  the  city  to  expend  $500,000  for 
an  elaborate  filtration  system  for  the  present  supply.  In  1896  a  new 
building  for  the  water  works  on  Montgomery  street  was  erected.  Will- 
iam H.  Weaver  is  now  president  of  the  board  and  George  I.  Bailey, 
superintendent. 

FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 

Something  has  already  been  written  of  the  fact  that  Albany  made 
some  effort  towards  protection  from  fire  as  early  as  1694,  through  a 
body  called  Brant-masters,  who  used  brantleere  (fire  ladders)  and  hooks. 
In  December,  1706,  the  city  had  a  primitive  fire  department,  whose 
members  were  called  "  fyre-masters. "  In  that  year  the  records  show 
that  William  Hogan,  Anthony  Coster,  William  Jacobse,  Johs  Claese, 
Jan  Evertse,  and  Jacobus  Schuyler  were  appointed  to  that  position  for 
one  year;  they  were  to  examine  chimneys,  and  "  where  they  find  chim- 
neys extraordinary  foule,  to  fine  ye  owner  in  ye  summe  of  three  shil- 
lings." These  fyre-masters  were  continued  many  years,  and  in  1726  cer- 
tain fines  were  imposed  upon  any  person  refusing  to  serve  in  that  office. 
At  a  council  meeting,  November  24,  1730,  it  was  ordered  that  "hooks 
and  ladders  be  made  with  all  speed  and  kept  within  convenient  places 
within  the  city  for  avoiding  the  peril  of  fire." 


ELNATHAN   SWbHT 


387 

No  engine  was  owned  in  the  city  until  February,  1732,  when  steps 
were  taken  resulting  in  purchasing  "the  Richard  Newsham  engine, 
fifth  size,  with  six  feet  suction  pipe  and  forty  feet  leather  hose  pipe." 
This  engine  was  soon  received  in  the  city  with  great  rejoicing  and  con- 
stituted the  only  means  of  extinguishing  fires  for  many  years.  The 
engine  was  kept  in  a  shed  on  what  is  now  the  corner  of  Beaver  and 
South  Pearl  streets.  The  second  engine  (probably)  was  purchased  in 
England  by  Harmse  Gansevoort  in  1763,  for  $397. 50,  and  in  1792  another 
engine  was  in  use  in  the  city  which  was  a  superior  machine  for  that 
period.  At  that  time  the  engine  house  was  at  the  northwest  corner  of 
the  old  English  church  on  State  street.  On  January  26,  1801,  the  Hand 
Barrow  company  was  organized  with  the  following  officers:  Garrett 
Bogart,  superintendent;  John  Cuyler,  sub-superintendent. 

The  engine  companies  constituting  the  old  fire  department  were  or- 
ganized as  follows:  No.  1,  Januarys,  1801;  No.  2,  January  15,  1801; 
No.  4,  July  1,  1805;  No.  5,  February  1,  1807;  No.  6,  June  25,  1810; 
No.  7,  November  11,  1811;  No.  8,  December  13,  1813;  No.  9,  October 
24,  1814;  No.  10,  March  13,  1815;  No.  11,  January  6,  1840;  No.  12, 
May  22,  1843;  No.  13,  October  1,  1855;  No.  15,  April  16,  1866. 

Hose  Company  No.  1  was  organized,  October  1,  1838;  Engine  No.  1 
was  reorganized  into  a  hose  company,  November  13,  1854,  known  as 
Hose  No.  2;  Hose  Company  No.  3  was  organized  October  1,  1855;  En- 
gine No.  4  was  reorganized  into  Hose  Company  No.  4,  November  13, 
1854.  On  July  9,  1810,  men  were  detailed  from  other  companies  to 
serve  as  Hook  and  Ladder  Company  No.  1.  On  April  13,  1813,  Hook 
and  Ladder  Company  No.  1  was  regularly  organized,  and  on  January 
28,  1813,  Hook  and  Ladder  Company  No.  2  was  organized. 

March  6,  1843,  the  council  passed  a  law  regulating  the  duties  of  chief 
engineer  and  fixed  his  salary  at  $600  per  annum.  On  the  27th  of  No- 
vember, 1848,  a  law  was  passed  which  entirely  reorganized  the  depart- 
ment. It  was  also  ordered  that  no  wooden  building  should  thereafter 
be  erected  in  any  part  of  Albany  east  of  Lark  street. 

Hand  engines  only  were  used  in  the  city  until  July  1.3,  L863,  when 
the  council  authorized  the  purchase  of  a  steam  fire  engine,  to  be  locat- 
ed on  Capitol  Hill  at  the  house  of  No,  4,  the  cost  not  to  exceed  $3,500. 
On  the  4th  of  April,  1864,  a  company  was  organized  for  this  engine, 
with  thirty  members,  and  J.  C.  Cuyler  was  made  foreman,  William  Mix, 
jr.,  first  assistant,  William  J.  Shankland,  second  assistant,  and  Edward 
Leslie,   clerk.      During  the  fall   of  the  same  year  two  other   steamers 


388 

were  purchased,  the  Putnam  and  the  Thomas  Kearney.  The  effective 
service  rendered  by  these  engines  soon  produced  a  change  in  public 
sentiment,  and  in  1867,  on  the  application  of  the.council,  the  Legislature 
passed  a  law  authorizing  the  council  to  reorganize  the  department  to 
use  steam  engines,  and  to  make  appointments  based  upon  merit  by 
which  certain  tenure  of  office  was  assured  the  appointees,  thereby  in- 
suring effective  service.  The  council's  action  was  taken  March  16, 
1807,  and  the  law  was  passed  by  a  vote  of  13  in  the  affirmative  to  4 
negative.  On  April  15,  1867,  the  council  appointed  the  following  com- 
missioners under  the  law:  George  Cuyler,  Lansing  Pruyn,  Thomas 
Kearney,  M.  V.  B.  Winne,  J.  C.  Cuyler,  the  last  named  being  appointed 
secretary. 

wSection  four  of  the  law  of  1867  conferred  upon  the  commissioners 
the  entire  control  and  management  of  the  department,  and  immedi- 
ately upon  their  appointment  they  took  the  necessary  steps  to  initiate 
the  work  of  reorganization.  The  old  department  consisted  of  eighteen 
companies,  with  a  complement  of  between  seven  hundred  and  fifty 
and  eight  hundred  men,  three  steamers,  seven  hand  engines,  six  hose 
carriages  and  two  hook  and  ladder  trucks.  It  was  in  a  demoralized 
condition,  and  utterly  inadequate  for  the  purposes  of  its  organization. 
The  introduction  of  steamers  in  1864  tended  to  impair  the  efficiency  of 
the  hand  service,  and  the  hand  engines  were  virtually  retired.  Al- 
though the  membership  of  the  department  numbered  upwards  of  eight 
hundred,  the  attendance  at  fires  seldom  exceeded  two  hundred.  The 
spirit  of  the  old  volunteer  system,  in  former  times  so  thorough  and 
effective,  was  broken,  and  while  there  were  some  few  who  were  prompt 
in  the  discharge  of  their  duties  as  firemen,  the  majority  absented  them- 
selves from  fires.  The  law  reorganizing  the  department  reduced  the 
number  of  companies  to  seven,  and  the  entire  working  force  to  one 
hundred  and  fifty  officers  and  men.  It  provided  for  five  steamers  and 
two  hook  and  ladder  trucks.  There  were  but  three  steamers  in  the 
department  and  none  of  them  was  in  perfect  working  order.  To  re- 
duce the  force  under  the  circumstances  would  have  been  unwise,  and 
have  left  the  property  of  the  citizens  unprotected.  The  commissioners, 
therefore,  immediately  ordered  a  steamer  from  the  Amoskeag  works, 
which  was  delivered  in  June,  1867.  It  was  at  once  put  in  service,  in 
charge  of  a  new  company,  to  be  known  as  Steamer  Company  No.  4,  and 
on  the  1st  day  of  July,  1867,  several  of  the  old  organizations  were  relieved 
from  duty.     The  steamer  Putnam  was  subsequently  removed  to  Arbor 


389 

Hill,  to  the  house  formerly  occupied  by  Hose  9,  and  a  new  company  or- 
ganized for  it,  and  known  as  Steamer  Xo.  2.  The  McQuade  steamer  was 
placed  on  Washington  avenue,  though  it  was  temporarily  located  in  a 
barn  on  Willett  street  near  State  street,  until  necessary  alterations  could 
be  made  to  the  house  of  Engine  5.  A  new  company  was  also  organized 
for  it,  known  as  Steamer  No.  1.  The  Kearney  steamer  was  allowed 
to  remain  in  its  old  location,  and  was  placed  in  charge  of  a  new  com- 
pany, known  as  Steamer  Xo.  3.  Subsequently  the  commissioners  or- 
dered a  second  Amoskeag  steamer,  which  was  completed  and  deliv- 
ered in  the  city  in  August,  1867.  As  soon  as  it  had  been  accepted,  it 
was  temporarily  located  in  the  house  formerly  occupied  by  Engine  8,  on 
Madison  avenue.  A  company  was  organized  for  it,  known  as  Steamer 
Xo.  5.  This  steamer  was  afterwards  removed  to  the  house  formerly 
occupied  by  Engine  11,  on  South  Pearl  street,  when  the  necessary  alter- 
ations were  completed.  Before  the  1st  day  of  September,  1867,  all 
of  the  old  companies  were  relieved  from  duty,  excepting  Engine  com- 
pany 13,  the  commissioners  deeming  it  unwise  to  discharge  them  from 
service  until  another  steamer  could  be  procured,  to  be  located  in  the 
house  on  the  corner  of  Jefferson  and  Swan  streets.  To  complete  the 
equipment  of  the  department,  four  substantial  tenders  were  purchased. 
On  the  2d  day  of  September,  1867,  the  board  of  commissioners  decided 
to  locate  a  steamer  in  the  house  of  Engine  13,  and  ordered  another  from 
the  Amoskeag  works.  A  new  organization  was  formed  for  it,  known 
as  Steamer  No.  6.  The  addition  of  this  company  increased  the  force 
to  one  hundred  and  sixty-nine  officers  and  men.  Truck  1  was  located 
in  the  old  house  on  Westerlo  street;  Truck  2  was  located  in  the  old 
house  on  Clinton  avenue,  near  Chapel  street,  the  horses  being  kept 
in  the  house  of  Hose  2  on  Chapel  street,  which  was  temporarily  fitted 
up  as  a  stable.  A  new  building  was  erected  on  Clinton  avenue,  west 
of  Hawk  street,  for  this  truck,  which  was  completed  about  January  1, 
L868.  Subsequently  the  commissioners  ordered  one  more  Amoskeag 
engine,  which  was  received  December  1,  1867,  to  take  the  place 
of  the  McQuade  steamer.  The  Common  Council  directed  the  com- 
missioners to  sell  such  apparatus,  etc.,  not  including  real  estate,  be- 
longing to  the  old  department,  as  in  their  judgment  was  not  required 
for  tlie  uses  and  purposes  of  the  new  department.  The  commissioners 
advertised  the  sale  by  auction,  which  took  place  on  the  30th  day  of  Au- 
gust, L867,  and  realized  the  sum  of  $5,358.55.  Some  of  the  old  appar- 
atus was  retained  and  afterwards  disposed  of  when  an  opportunity 
presented  itself. 


390 

During  the  year  1871  two  more  Amoskeag  engines  were  ordered  to 
take  the  place  of  the  Putnam  for  Steamer  Company  2,  and  the  Kearney 
for  Steamer  Company  3.  The  Putnam  and  Kearney  were  then  held  in 
reserve. 

A  destructive  fire  on  June  20,  1873,  prompted  the  commissioners  to 
add  to  the  apparatus  of  the  department,  and  two  more  steamers  were 
purchased  and  two  companies  organized,  as  noted  further  on.  On  the 
29th  day  of  January,  1883,  the  department  was  again  reorganized,  pur- 
suant to  chapter  382  laws  of  1882.  In  the  reorganization  the  commis- 
sioners were  compelled  to  drop  from  active  service  many  faithful  and 
efficient  men,  the  total  number  under  the  new  law  being  fixed  at  102, 
which  was  seventy-six  less  than  under  the  old  law.  With  two  or  three 
exceptions,  the  appointments  were  all  made  from  the  ranks  of  the  old 
department.  The  foremen,  without  exception  were  all  reappointed,  as 
were  the  four  assistant  engineers. 

The  dates  of  organization  of  the  various  companies  comprising  the 
present  department  are  as  follows:  Steamer  4,  July  1,  1867;  Truck  2, 
July  2,  1867;  Steamers  1,  2,  and  3,  July  13,  1867;  Steamer  6,  Novem- 
ber S,  1867;  Steamer  7,  September  22,  1873;  Steamer  8,  November  1, 
L873;  Steamer  9,  July  2,  1888;  Steamer  10,  November  1,  1802;  Truck 
1,  July  13,  1867;  Truck  3,  July  2,  1888. 

The  Fire  Alarm  Telegraph  was  put  in  operation  on  the  3d  of  June, 
18-68.  The  officials  in  charge  of  this  branch  of  the  service  are  as  fol- 
lows: John  M.  Carroll,  superintendent;  George  Stanwix  and  Terrance 
F.  Hagan,  operators;  William  R.  Martin,  lineman;  William  J.  Toomey, 
battery  man. 

Following  is  the  official  list  from  the  organization  in  1867  to  the 
present  time: 

Engineers— James  McQuade,  chief,  from  April  20,  18G7,  to  July  25,  1886,  when  he 
died.  Joseph  C.  Griffin,  assistant  from  June  7,  1867,  to  date.  John  C.  Mull,  assist- 
ant from  June,  1867,  to  June  1,  1885,  when  he  retired.  George  E.  Mink,  assistant 
from  June  7,  1867,  to  April  5,  1887,  when  he  resigned.  Arthur  McShane,  assistant 
from  June  29,  1870.  D.  A.  Ronan,  assistant  from  July  1,  1870,  to  June  11,  1871, 
when  he  resigned.  Patrick  M.  Mulcahy,  assistant  from  June  11,  1871,  to  March  12, 
is7:i,  when  he  resigned.  William  K.  Clute,  assistant  from  March  12,  1873,  to  May  1, 
1887,  when  he  resigned.  M.  E.  Higgins,  assistant  from  June  1,  1885,  to  August  3, 
1886,  when  he  was  promoted  to  chief,  which  position  he  now  occupies.  Matthew  C. 
Clark,  assistant  from  August  3,  1886,  to  July,  1896,  when  he  retired.  Thomas  S. 
Jones,  assistant  from  April  5,  1887,  to  date.  Joh»  J.  Hughes,  assistant  from  May  :!, 
L887,  to  date. 

On   February   10,   1896,  by  act  of  the  Common  Council,   the  depart- 


391 

ment  was  again  reorganized,  and  thirty-four  call  men  were  replaced  by 
permanent  men  as  follows:  Steamer  No.  1,  four  men;  No.  3,  four 
men;  No.  4,  eight  men;  No.  5,  four  men;  No.  6,  four  men;  Truck  1, 
five  men;  Truck  2,  five  men. 

The  present  Board  of  Fire  Commissioners  is  as  follows:  Hon.  ]ohn 
Boyd  Thacher  (mayor),  president  ex  officio.  James  McCredie,  Rich- 
ard Y.  De  Witt,  Richard  Lawrence,  Henry  Patton,  and  Lewis  J.  Miller, 
clerk  of  the  board. 

Valuation  of  Fire  Department  Property. 

Real  estate . $1 63, 000  00 

Apparatus 61,490  00 

Furniture,  fixtures,  etc ..33,000  00 

Fire-alarm  telegraph  apparatus,  fixtures  and  supplies 67,000  00 

Horses,  harness,  etc 20,000  00- 

Hose,  fixtures,  tools,  etc.  ...    31,000  00 

Repair  shop  and  supply  department.. .12,000  00 

Total §387,490  00 

Permanent  and  Call  Forces  of  the  Fire  Department  with  Compensation. 

Salary  per 
Permanent.  annum. 

1  Chief §3,000 

1  Permanent  Assistant  Engineer 1,000 

1  Clerk  ...1,500 

1  Supervising  Engineer 1,500 

1  Superintendent  Fire  Alarm  Telegraph. .    1,500 

1  Assistant  Superintendent  Fire  Alarm  Telegraph 1,340 

2  Operators  Fire  Alarm  Telegraph,  each 1,000 

1  Lineman  Fire  Alarm  Telegraph _ 900 

1  Battery-man  and  Janitor  Fire  Alarm  Telegraph 720 

1  Superintendent  Hose  and  Supply  Depots 1,200 

1  Assistant  Superintendent  Hose  and  Supply  Depots 720 

10  Engineers  of  Steamers,  each    . _  1,080 

10  Fireman  of  Steamers,  each 720 

10  Drivers  of  Steamers,  each 720 

24  Permanent  Hosemen 720 

10  Permanent  Laddermen . .   720 

3  Tillermen  of  Trucks,  each 720 

3  Drivers  of  Trucks,  each 720 

3  Permanent  Laddermen  of  Trucks,  each 720 

1  Relief  Engineer 1 ,080 

1  Relief  Fireman. 720 

1  Relief  Driver 720 

1  Relief  Truckman _ 720 


392 


Call. 

1  Secretary  of  Board $1,000 

1  Veterinary  Surgeon  (including  medicines) 600 

1  Department  Physician . 500 

3  Assistant  Engineers,  each 400 

10  Foreman  of  Steamers,  each 300 

3  Foreman  of  Trucks,  each .  300 

56  Hoseman  of  Steamers,  each 200 

23  Call  Laddermen  of  Trucks,  each _  _  _ .  201 1 

187  Total 

The  Albany  Fire  Department  is  now  one  of  the  most  efficient  in  the 
State.  This  fact  is  shown  by  the  very  limited  fire  losses  of  the  year 
from  November,  1895,  to  November,  1896,  the  amount  of  which  was 
only  $40,000. 

POLICE. 

Prior  to  1851  there  was  no  police  department,  as  the  title  is  now  un- 
derstood in  Albany.  For  more  than  a  century  and  a  half  good  order 
was  maintained  by  the  constables  appointed  by  the  Common  Council, 
though  they  were  sometimes  termed  police  constables.  The  charter  of 
1686  designated  one  high  constable  and  three  subordinates  with  the 
title  of  constable,  one  from  each  ward,  to  be  appointed  annually.  This 
practice  continued  until  1737,  when  the  number  was  increased  to  two 
from  each  ward.  These  officers  also  collected  taxes,  kept  the  public 
pound,  and  one  or  more  were  required  to  be  on  duty  on  Sundays.  For 
many  years  it  was  not  a  salaried  office,  the  small  pay  consisting  of 
certain  fees.  Anthony  Bries  was  high  constable  in  1696,  the  first  one 
named  in  the  records.  He  was  followed  by  William  Hogan  and  Jo- 
hannes Harmesen.  In  the  early  part  of  the  present  century  the  title 
police  constables  began  to  be  used  for  these  officers,  although  their 
character  had  not  been  changed.  In  1827  the  constables  asked  the 
council  for  increased  pay,  as  their  duties  then  occupied  nearly  or  quite 
their  whole  time. 

Under  certain  legislative  acts  of  1851  a  police  force  was  organized 
on  substantially  the  same  basis  of  the  present  organization.  It  then 
consisted  of  a  chief,  four  captains,  four  assistant  captains,  forty  police- 
men, four  doormen,  and  six  constables.  John  Morgan  was  the  first 
chief  of  police.  The  cost  of  maintaining  the  department  for  the  year 
1852  was  $27,000.  A  reorganization  of  the  force  took  place  in  1856, 
under  which   some  needed  changes  were  made.     In  1872  still  another 


393 

reorganization  took  place,  nnder  chapter  278  of  the  laws  of  that  year, 
which  provided  that  the  mayor -should  be  an  ex  officio  member  of  the 
Board  of  Police  Commissioners.  Other  features  of  the  act  provided 
for  the  removal  of  commissioners  by  the  Common  Council;  for  filling 
vacancies  in  the  board;  that  certain  court  attendants  be  appointed  from 
the  patrolmen ;  and  for  the  payment  of  traveling  expenses  in  connec- 
ts »n  with  the  department.  At  the  present  time  the  department  is  entirely 
under  the  control  of  a  non-partisan  board  of  police  commissioners,  four 
in  number,  in  addition  to  the  mayor,  who  is  ex  officio  president.  The 
city  is  divided  into  five  precincts,  and  the  police  force  has  been  grad- 
ually increased  as  necessity  demanded  until  it  now  numbers:  the  chief, 
six  captains,  fifteen  sergeants,  133  patrolmen,  four  detectives,  five 
station  house  keepers,  four  court  officers,  a  property  clerk,  a  surgeon 
and  a  matron.  The  salary  list  of  the  force  for  1894-5  amounted  to 
$137,316.82,  and  the  other  expenses  increased  this  sum  to  $150,000. 
The  receipts  were  about  $7,000,  chiefly  from  the  police  office. 

In  1820  a  resolution  was  offered  in  the  Common  Council  intended  to 
abolish  the  salary  of  the  police  justice,  as  it  was  claimed  that  the  office 
was  a  sinecure.  The  resolution  was  lost  and  the  board  then  chose 
Philip  Phelps  and  Tennis  Slingerland,  police  magistrates.  Since  then 
John    Cole    (father    of    Charles    W.    Cole,    present    superintendent  of 

schools),  Kane,  Cicero  Loveridge,    Isaac  N.  Comstock,  Sylvanus 

H.  H.  Parsons,  John  W.  McNamara,  William  K.  Clute,  Martin  B. 
Conway,  now  surrogate  judge,  John  C.  Nott,  Myer  Nusbaum,  John 
Gutman,  Peter  a  Stevens  since  1890,  and  Daniel  Adler,  who  succeeded 
John  Gutman  in  the  autumn  of  1894,  both  now  on  the  bench,  have  held 
the  office. 

50 


394 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE  TOWN  OF  WATERVLIET  (NOW  COLONIE),  WEST  TROY  (NOW 

WATERVLIET  CITY),  GREEN  ISLAND  AS  TOWN  AND 

VILLAGE,  AND  THE  CITY  OF  COHOES.1 


The  town  of  Watervliet  (changed  to  the  town  of  Colonie  in  1896)  is 
the  mother  of  towns  in  Albany  county.  The  Manor  of  Rensselaerwyck 
was  divided  into  the  east  and  west  districts  on  March  5,  1779,  the  Hud- 
son River  separating  the  two  districts.  The  west  district  was  defined  as 
all  that  part  of  the  manor  lying  north  of  an  east  and  west  line  from 
Beeren  (Baeren)  Island  north  to  Cumberland  county,  excepting  the  city 
of  Albany. 

The  town  of  Watervliet2  was  erected  March  7,  1788,  and  included  the 
territory  of  the  west  district  of  Rensselaerwyck,  with  certain  govern- 
ment lands  in  its  northeastern  part  which  were  transferred  to  purchasers 
direct  from  the  English  crown  by  deed.  One  of  these  old  deeds  is  in 
possession  of  the  Van  Denbergh  family,  to  one  of  whom  it  was  given, 
as  noticed  further  on  ;  it  is  written  on  parchment,  bears  the  great  wax 
seal  of  the  crown,  and  is  dated  October  21,  1697. 

From  this  great  town  of  Watervliet,  with  its  somewhat  indefinite 
boundaries,  was  set  off  Rensselaerville  in  1790  (then  embracing  what  is 
now  Berne  and  a  part  of  Westerlo) ;  Coeymans  in  1791  (then  including 
a  part  of  what  is  now  Westerlo);  Bethlehem  in  1793  (then  including 
what  is  now  New  Scotland);  Guilderland  in  1803,  and  Niskayuna  in 
1809.  Besides  these  territorial  changes,  the  original  town  has  under- 
gone several  others  of  importance.  That  part  of  the  city  of  Albany 
lying  north  of  Patroon  and  Quackenbush  streets  was  incorporated  as 

'  It  will  be  observed  that  the  town  histories  in  this  volume  succeed  each  other  as  nearly  as 
possible  in  chronological  order  as  to  the  dates  of  the  formation  of  the  towns.  This  arrangement 
is  believed  to  be  preferable  to  placing  them  in  alphabetical  order  for  reasons  that  are  apparent, 
and  chiefly  that  historical  continuity  is  thus  preserved. 

2  The  name,  Watervliet,  is  Dutch  and  derived  from  water  and  vlatke,  the  latter  meaning  level 
plains  or  flats;  it  was  applied  to  the  level  lands  along  the  river  which  are  subject  to  overflow; 
hence  "overflowed  flats,"  or  water-vlakte.    The  last  syllable  has  been  corrupted  into  "  vliet." 


395 

the  town  of  Colonie  March  31,  179 1,  and  reincorporated  March  30, 
1801.  On  the  9th  of  April,  1804,  this  territory  was  incorporated  as  a 
village,1  and  on  April  II,  1808,  it  was  erected  into  a  town  by  act  of 
Legislature.  Colonie  existed  as  a  town  until  February  25,  18 15,  when 
it  was  divided  and  a  part  annexed  to  Albany,  and  the  remainder  to  the 
town  of  Watervliet.  In  1870  a  part  of  the  town  of  Watervliet,  which 
had  been  included  in  the  old  boundaries  of  Colonie,  was  annexed  to 
Albany.  The  city  of  Cohoes  was  set  off  from  the  town  of  Watervliet 
in  1869.  The  other  territorial  changes  which  have  been  made  within 
the  past  two  years  will  be  noticed  further  on. 

The  surface  of  this  town  is  chiefly  upland  and  rises  to  a  height  of  from 
200  to  300  feet  above  the  Hudson  River.  The  declivities  of  the  uplands 
are  broken  by  many  gullies  which  have  been  worn  out  by  the  streams. 
The  intervale  extending  along  the  river  with  a  width  of  about  half  a 
mile,  has  a  rich  and  fertile  alluvial  soil  and  is  frequently  overflowed  by 
freshets.  The  soil  of  the  uplands  is  a  light  and  sandy  loam.  Quarries 
of  the  graywacke  stone  furnish  excellent  building  and  flagging  material. 
Bog  iron  ore  has  been  found  in  a  few  localities,  and  there  are  several  mild 
sulphur  and  chalybeate  springs  within  the  town,  the  waters  of  which 
have  been  used  to  some  extent.  The  principal  streams  in  the  town, 
aside  from  the  Hudson  and  Mohawk  Rivers,  are  Patroon's  Creek  and  its 
tributaries  in  the  southern  part,  the  Sandy  Kill,  Lisha's  Kill,  Town 
Branch,  Schauline  Creek,  Donker  Kill,  Dry  Branch,  Ralger  Kill,  and 
Red  Creek. 

At  Cohoes  the  Mohawk  flows  over  a  rocky  declivity  seventy  eight 
feet  high,  about  half  of  which  distance  is  nearly  perpendicular.  The 
banks  above  and  below  the  falls  are  high  and  precipitous.  Here  an 
immense  water  power  has  been  developed  and  applied  to  extensive 
manufacturing  industries. 

1  In  reference  to  the  village  incorporation  the  following  is  quoted  from  the  session  laws  of 
1804:  "An  act  to  vest  certain  powers  in  the  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  thai  pari  of  the 
Town  of  Water  Vliet,  in  the  County  <>f  Albany,  commonly  called  the  Colonic,  which  was  ini 
rated,  April  9,  1804,  as  follows:  'Lying  on  the  west  bank  of  Hudson's  River,  in  the  northeast 
bounds  of  the  City  of  Albany,  extending  north  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  to  Mill  Creek; 
thence  west  one  mile  up  along  said  creek;  thence  southerly  with  aline  parallel  to  the  said  rivet- 
till  it  strikes  the  north  bounds  of  said  city;  thence  easl  to  the  place  of  beginning.'  "  The  village 
was  to  elect  rive  persons  as  trustees,  who  were  empowered  to  maki  by-laws,  levy  taxes  and  per- 
form  other  duties;  a  treasurer,   collector  and   five   assessors  were  also  to 

holders.  The  lirsi  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  William  Kane,  in  April,  1809,  no  records 
of  which  can  be  found. 


396 

The  Champlain  Canal  was  opened  southward  to  the  village  of  Water- 
ford  in  November,  1822,  and  fully  completed  in  September  of  the  fol- 
lowing year.  It  extends  from  Lake  Champlain  to  the  Erie  Canal  at  a 
point  a  little  north  of  West  Troy.  The  Erie  Canal,  finished  in  1825, 
crosses  the  eastern  part  of  this  town  in  a  northerly  and  southerly  direc- 
tion, passing  through  Cohoes  and  West  Troy.  It  rises  from  the  Hudson 
through  Cohoes  by  a  series  of  eighteen  locks  to  the  most  northerly 
portion  of  the  town,  188  feet  above  tide.  There  it  crosses  the  river 
into  Saratoga  county  in  a  stone  aqueduct  1,137^  feet  long,  twenty- 
six  feet  high,  which  rests  on  twenty-six  piers. 

The  first  settlements  in  the  territory  now  included  in  the  town  of 
Watervliet,  as  well  as  in  other  parts  of  the  great  Manor  of  Rensselaer- 
wyck,  the  trading  operations  carried  on  by  the  pioneers  in  early  years, 
and  their  relations  with  the  Indians,  have  been  quite  fully  treated  in 
earlier  chapters.  The  richness  and  beauty  of  the  lands  along  the  Hudson 
and  Mohawk  Rivers,  and  their  proximity  to  Fort  Orange,  which  gave  them 
protection,  early  attracted  settlers  to  this  immediate  region.  The  first 
of  these  located  north  of  Albany  along  the  river  as  far  as  the  site  of 
Fort  Schuyler,  which  became  a  part  of  West  Troy.  A  map  of  the  Van 
Rensselaer  Manor,  made  in  1767,  shows  that  at  that  date  there  were 
only  148  families  located  west  of  the  Hudson  River.  Within  the  terri- 
tory now  embraced  in  the  town  of  Watervliet  the  following  names  ap- 
pear on  that  map  :  Those  along  the  Hudson  from  Albany  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Mohawk  were  Jeremiah  Schuyler,  Peter  Schuyler,  Col.  Philip 
Schuyler,  Peter  Cluet  (to  the  westward  of  the  Schuylers),  Jonas  Sharp, 
Guy  Young,  Hans  Van  Arnum,  Jan  Outhout,  Henry  Bullsing,  Cornel- 
ius Van  Denbergh,  and  Wirt  Van  Denbergh.  Thosealong  the  Mohawk 
from  its  mouth  northward  were  Jonas  Outhout.  Abram  Van  Denbergh, 

Cornelius  Van  Denbergh.  Lansing,  Henry  Lansing,  Cornelius  On- 

derkerk,  Douw  Fonda,  Franz  Lansing,  Dirk  Hemstraet.  At  the  Boght 
were  Hans  Lansing,  William  Liverse,  Jan  Douwve  Fonda  (with  Fred- 
erick Clute  and Wynans  on  colonial  lands).      Along  the   Mohawk 

west  of  the  Boght  were  Daniel  Van  Olinda,  Jacob  Clute,  Bastian  Visher, 
Jacob  Freltie,  Diederick  Scheffer,  Martys  Bovee,  Fransway  Bovie,  Hans 

Heemstraet,   Bastian  Cregier,  Duyvepagh,    Simon    Groet,   Hans 

Cluet,   Robert  Canier.      In  the  northwest  corner  were Consaloe, 


397 

Hans  Consaloe,  Isaac  Truax,     The  following  lived  over  the  Manor  line: 

Cluet,  John  Schuyler,  Nicholas  Hallenbeck,  and  Glen  Braat.      On 

the  sand  road  to  Schenectady  were  John  Richies,  at  the  Knil ;  Christie 
at  the  Sandbergh,  and  one  family  at  the  Verfbergh.1  This  list  gives  a 
clear  idea  of  the  early  comers  who  leased  lands  of  the  Patroon  and  laid 
the  foundation  of  homes. 

The  old  Schuyler  mansion  is  still  standing  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
Hudson  River,  near  the  southern  boundary  of  West  Troy.  It  was  erected 
about  1768,  and  replaced  and  stands  on  the  old  foundation  of  the  still 
earlier  building  that  was  burned.  The  first  structure  was  erected 
probably  before  1700.  In  1672  Philip  Schuyler,  father  of  Col.  Peter 
Schuyler,  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  of  the  Patroon,  which  included 
territory  within  the  southern  limits  of  what  became  West  Troy  and  ex- 
tended over  part  of  the  flats  still  farther  south.  These  flat  lands  were  used 
for  agricultural  purposes  as  early  as  1642,  and  were  occupied  from  that 
date  to  1660  by  Arent  Van  Curler,  and  after  him  by  Richard  Van  Rens- 
selaer. On  September  14,  1691,  Peter  Schuyler,  son  of  Philip,  married 
Maria  Van  Rensselaer,  sister  of  Killian  Van  Rensselaer,  the  Patroon, 
and  in  April,  171 1,  took  up  his  residence  in  the  mansion.  At  that 
time  the  main  road  from  Albany  ran  between  the  residence  and  the 
river.  For  a  time  during  Col.  Schuyler's  occupancy  of  the  mansion 
public  safety  was  greatly  endangered  by  French  and  Indian  hos- 
tility, but  through  Colonel  Schuyler's  friendship  and  influence  with 
the  latter,  serious  outbreak  was  averted  or  mitigated.  This  fact  gave 
him  a  commanding  position  in  the  colony.  Hence,  when  it  was  decided 
to  send  a  delegation  of  Indian  chiefs  to  England,  to  see  the  sovereign 
of  that  nation  and  thus  gain  their  further  alliance,  Col.  Schuyler  was 
selected  to  accompany  them.  After  considerable  difficulty  the  chiefs 
consented  to  go,  provided  their  friend,  in  whom  they  implicitly  trusted, 
would  be  their  escort.  The  expedition  was  in  every  way  successful 
and  the  chiefs  were  much  gratified  with  their  reception  by  Queen  Anne 
and  her  court.  The  English  sovereign  desired  to  confer  knighthood 
upon  Colonel  Schuyler,  an  honor  which  he  respectfully  declined  as  out 
of  keeping  with  his   present   habits  and   surroundings.      In  [719  Philip 

1  The  reader  will  ni>i  Dames,  which  lias  materially  changed  in 

recenl   years. 


398 

Schuyler,  eldest  son  of  Colonel  Peter,  married  Catalina  Schuyler,  his 
cousin,  whose  father  had  been  for  a  number  of  years  mayor  of  Albany. 
Upon  the  death  of  his  father  Philip  Schuyler  became  owner  of  the  lands 
and  the  mansion,  and  rose  to  prominence  in  public  affairs;  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Colonial  Assembly,  a  colonel  in  the  army  and  the  first  per- 
son to  raise  a  body  of  soldiers  in  the  interior  of  the  province  to  join  in 
the  French  and  Indian  war.  Colonel  Philip  Schuyler  died  in  February, 
1758,  leaving  a  widow,  but  no  children.  The  property  was  devised  to 
the  widow  during  her  lifetime  and  thereafter  to  go  to  his  nephew,  Peter 
Schuyler,  who  was  an  orphan  and  who  had  lived  with  the  Colonel.  The 
old  mansion  has  always  remained  in  the  Schuyler  family  and  is  still  a 
landmark  of  great  interest. 

With  few  exceptions  the  early  settlers  were  Dutch,  and  in  the  fore- 
going list  are  found  many  of  the  names  of  families  that  have  ever  since 
been  prominent  in  this  vicinity  and  many  whose  descendants  are  still 
among  the  foremost  men  of  Albany  and  Rensselaer  counties.  Of  some 
of  these  it  is  proper  to  speak  more  in  detail. 

The  Lansing  family  is  descended  from  Hendrick  Lansing,  of  the  town 
of  Hasselt,  Province  of  Overyssel.  He  had  a  son,  Gerret,1  who  was  an 
early  settler  at  Beverwyck  and  died  before  October,  1679.  This  Gerret 
was  father  of  Hendrick,  Gerrit,  and  Johannes  (sons),  and  Hilletie,  who 
married  Storm  Van  Derzee,  son  of  Albert  Andriesen  Bradt ;  Alltie, 
who  married  Gerrit  Van  Slichtenhorst ;  Gysbertie,  who  married  Hen- 
drick Janse  Roseboom.  From  these  children  have  originated  the  vari- 
ous Lansing  families  of  the  country.  Hendrick  Lansing,  son  of  the 
first  Gerret,  was  in  Albany  as  early  as  1666,  and  died  in  July,  1709. 
He  had  a  son  Jacob  who  married  Hellina  Piuyn  ;  Jacob  died  in  1792 
and  his  wife  in  1827.  Their  son  Hendrick  J.  married  Lena  Wynne  in 
1769,  and  their  other  son,  Benjamin,  married  Mary  Tymerson.  The 
children  of  the  last  named  couple  were  Peter,  who  married  Catharine 
Norris  ;  Helen,  who  married  Lewis  Morris  ;  Henry  B.,  who  married 
Eliza  Putnam  and  afterward  Sarah  Knight  ;  Cornelius  T.,  who  married 
Catharine  Gillson  and  afterward  Caroline  Steers.  This  family  settled 
at  Lisha's  Kill  and  constitute  one  branch  of  the  Lansing  family. 

1  This  name  is  spelled  in  the  records  in  several  different  ways,  leaving  the  writer  no  alterna- 
tive but  to  follow  the  same  course. 


399 

Col.  John  V.  A.  Lansing  came  here  in  1791  or  1792,  married  Harriet 
Verplank  and  settled  on  the  farm  occupied  in  recent  years  by  his  grand- 
son, Vischer  Lansing.  He  had  four  sons  and  four  daughters.  The  sons 
married  four  daughters  of  Cornelius  Groat,  and  the  daughters  married 
respectively  Richard  J.  Pearse  (second,  Garret  L.  Winne),  Sebastian 
Pearse,  Jacob  Weaver,  and  Jacob  C.  Lansing. 

Gerret  and  Ryckert-Claas  Van  Vranken,  sons  of  Claas  Van  Vranken, 
early  took  up  lands  in  Niskayuna  and  from  them  descended  many  fami- 
lies of  that  name.  Pctrus  Van  Vranken,  a  great-grandson  of  Gerret 
Van  Vranken,  married  a  daughter  of  Dirk  Groat,  from  which  family 
came  the  Watervliet  descendants  of  that  name. 

Jacob  Lansing, who  had  previously  married  Hellena  Huyck,  came  from 
Holland  about  1700.  He  had  a  son  John  who  settled  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  Boght,  on  the  farm  owned  in  recent  years  by  Egbert  Lansing. 
Gerret,  son  of  Rutger  Lansing,  settled  on  the  Mohawk  River  above  the 
falls.  There,  in  1795,  near  the  site  of  the  Cohoes  dam,  Isaac  D.  F. 
Lansing,  a  descendant,  erected  a  large  two-story  brick  house,  and  made 
other  improvements. 

Isaac  Fonda,  born  in  Holland  in  171 5,  came  early  to  this  country 
and  in  1749  married  Cornelia  De  Friest.  He  became  the  owner  of 
landed  interests,  portions  of  which  still  remain  in  possession  of  his  de- 
scendants. These  are  traced  through  his  son,  Isaac  I.,  and  his  descend- 
ants, Isaac  I.,  jr.,  Cornelius  I.,  James  V.  V.,  Daniel  D.,  and  Charles 
Fonda.  A  part  of  the  old  Fonda  house,  built  before  the  Revolution,  is 
still  attached  to  a  dwelling  on  the  homestead  farm.  In  that  small  room 
Richard  Kloet  kept  a  tavern  in  Revolutionary  times,  and  there  is  a 
tradition  that  General  Washington  was  once  a  guest  in  the  old  house. 
Gerardus  Kloet,  Hendrick  Rider,  Jocob  Lansing,  and  Dirk  Bradt,  occu- 
pied lands  adjoining  those  of  the  pioneer,  Isaac  Fonda.  Other  Fonda 
families  were  those  of  Henry  I.,  Isaac  H.,  and  Douw.  The  latter  came 
with  his  wife  from  Holland,  and  the  family  is  now  represented  by  de- 
scendants of  his  sons,  Abram  and  Douw. 

Daniel  Van  Olinda  was  another  early  resident  of  the  town  and  ob- 
tained a  tract  of  land  from  John  De  Puyster,  which  is  described  in  a  deed 
given  to  Isaac  Fonda. 

The   government  lands   alluded    to    on   a   preceding  page,  came  into 


400 

possession  of  Peter  P.  and  Gerret  Van  Denbergh,  sons  of  Peter  Van 
Denbergh.  In  1805  Peter  P.  gave  a  partition  deed  to  his  sons,  Douw, 
Peter  G.,  Isaac  G.,  and  Cornelius  G.  Portions  of  this  property  have 
remained  in  possession  of  descendants  of  these  families  to  the  present 
time. 

Jacob  Cluet  and  his  sons,  Johannes  J.  and  Jacob,  were  early  settlers 
and  owned  a  farm  north  of  Town-House  Corners.  This  property  passed 
by  deed  from  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer  to  Luykes  Witbeck  February  27, 
1769.  The  latter  had  three'  sons,  Abram  L.,  Gerrit,  and  John;  from 
these  have  descended  the  families  of  that  name.  The  homestead  has 
been  occupied  in  recent  years  by  John  L.  Witbeck,  grandson  of  John. 
The  land  deed  before  alluded  to  was  witnessed  by  Lucas  Van  Vechten, 
Nicholas  Cluet,  and  Cornelus  Wendell.  The  names  of  many  others 
of  the  early  and  later  settlers  in  this  town  will  appear  as  we  proceed. 

A  conspicuous  element  in  the  development  of  this  town  are  the 
Shakers,  who  began  their  settlement  in  1775,  northwest  of  the  center 
of  the  town,  where  they  leased  lands  of  the  Patroon.  The  settlement 
was  founded  by  Ann  Lee,  a  native  of  Manchester,  England,  where  she 
was  born  in  1726  ;  she  came  to  America  with  a  few  followers  when  she 
was  thirty-eight  years  old,  claiming  to  be  directed  hither  by  a  special 
revelation.  Her  companions  in  immigration  were  her  husband,  Abra- 
ham Stanley,  her  brother  William  Lee,  James  Whittaker,  John  Hock- 
nell,  Richard  Hocknell,  James  Shepherd,  Mary  Partington,  and  Nancy 
Lee.  Arriving  in  this  country,  they  sought  temporary  employment 
wherever  they  could  find  it,  at  the  same  time  planning  to  establish  a 
permanent  home.  For  the  latter  purpose  John  Hocknell  and  William 
Lee  came  into  this  county  and  arranged  for  their  land,  while  the  others 
remained  temporarily  in  Albany.  Soon  after  their  arrival  Mother  Ann 
Lee  separated  from  her  husband,  Abraham  Stanley,  on  account  of  his 
misdoings.  John  Hocknell  returned  from  England  with  his  family, 
December  25,  1775,  and  was  met  in  New  York  by  Mother  Ann.  They 
remained  there  until  the  following  February  and  then  came  to  their 
lands  in  Watervliet  and  spent  the  summer  in  clearing  portions  of  it  and 
establishing  their  home.  They  labored  zealously  and  held  their  meetings 
there  three  and  a  half  years,  when  they  were  ready  to  give  their  testi- 
mony to  the  world  in  the  spring  of  1780.      In  this  year  their  member- 


401 

ship  was  increased  and  many  came  to  their  meetings  from  a  distance, 
particularly  from  New  Lebanon.  Remaining  non-combatants  in  the 
then  existing  war,  they  were  accused  of  being  traitors  and  Mother  Ann 
and  a  number  of  her  followers  were  placed  in  prison  in  Albany.  The 
result  of  this  action  was  not  what  was  anticipated,  for  it  served  to  create 
sympathy  for  the  unoffending  Shakers.  Regarded  as  fanatics  and  en- 
emies of  the  country,  it  was  next  sought  to  put  an  end  to  the  sect  by 
separating  Mother  Ann  from  her  followers.  About  the  middle  of 
August,  1780,  she  was  sent  down  the  river,  landed  at  Poughkeepsieand 
imprisoned.  In  the  following  December  those  who  had  been  imprisoned 
at  Albany  were  released  without  trial,  and  immediately  visited  Mother 
Ann.  Through  their  prompt  and  persistent  intercession  she  was  re- 
leased about  the  last  of  December  of  that  year,  thus  ending  Shaker  per- 
secution in  this  State. 

It  was  to  be  renewed,  however,  in  another  locality.  In  May,  1781, 
Mother  Ann  and  part  of  her  followers  visited  Harvard,  in  Massachu- 
setts. There  the  old  charges  were  reiterated  and  new  ones  of  living  in 
debauchery  and  practicing  witchcraft  were  brought  against  them.  The 
consequences  were  not  unlike  those  experienced  in  Albany;  much 
sympathy  was  awakened  for  the  Shakers,  their  testimony  was  extended 
and  numbers  joined  the  faith.  In  July,  1783,  they  returned  westward, 
visiting  the  other  societies.  In  1784  the  society  suffered  a  great  loss, 
first  in  the  death  of  Elder  William  Lee.  in  July,  and  later,  on  Septem- 
ber 8,  in  the  death  of  Mother  Ann  Lee.  Elder  James  Whittaker  suc- 
ceeded her  in  the  ministry  and  the  society  continued  to  prosper.  In 
the  fall  of  1785  the  first  house  of  worship  was  erected,  which  is  still 
standing.  Father  James  (as  he  was  called)  died  July  20,  1787,  and  was 
succeeded  in  the  ministry  by  Joseph  Meacham  and  Lucy  Wright,  the 
latter  being  the  first  appointed  leader  in  the  female  line.  Under  their 
ministration  the  people  were  gathered  into  a  united  body  and  gradually 
assumed  church  relations  with  the  New  Lebanon  Shakers,  finally 
uniting  all  their  interests,  spiritual  and  temporal. 

The  society  now  comprises  four  so-called  families,  known  as  the 
Church  family,  the  North  family,  the  West  family,  and  the  South  family, 
numbering  in  all  about  300  persons.  The  society  owns  about  3,000  acres 
of  land,  which  is  under  excellent  cultivation  and  well  stocked.   The  dwell- 

51 


402 

ings,  offices,  stores,  shops  and  farm  buildings  are  plain,  substantial 
structures  and  well  kept.  Water  power  and  steam  are  used  for  manu- 
facturing purposes,  and  all  Shaker  products  bear  a  high  reputation  in 
markets. 

Their  belief  may  be  substantially  epitomized  as  follows  ;  They  believe 
in  the  second  coming  of  Christ ;  that  all  will  become  heirs  of  Christ 
when  fitted  by  self  denial ;  that  Jesus  became  the  Christ  at  his  baptism  ; 
in  a  life  of  consecrated  celibacy;  in  non-interference  in  politics,  non- 
resistance  and  non-combativeness  in  war.  Their  moral  training  is 
strict  in  every  direction  ;  this  with  industry  and  sobriety  has  brought  to 
them  a  high  degree  of  prosperity.  A  post-office  with  the  name, 
"Shakers,"  was  established  many  years  ago,  and  the  settlement  is  a 
place  of  considerable  resort  in  summer,  over  the  Shaker  road  from 
Albany. 

With  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war  the  New  England  element 
came  into  the  population  of  this  town,  as  it  did  to  some  extent  in  other 
parts  of  the  county,  bringing  the  characteristics  of  enterprise,  activity 
and  thrift  which  have  distinguished  them  wherever  they  have  settled. 
Public  improvements  were  rapidly  inaugurated,  schools  and  churches 
multiplied,  manufactures  were  established  and  the  never  ceasing  march 
of  progress  began. 

Although  the  territory  of  this  town  was  not  directly  invaded  by  the 
British  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  it  will  be  correctly  inferred 
that  the  inhabitants  felt  the  most  lively  interest  in  the  struggle,  and 
many  took  an  active  part  therein.  The  gallant  career  of  General  Schuyler 
is  well  known  and  has  already  been  touched  upon  in  these  pages. 
Among  others  who  participated  in  the  war  were  Henry  Ostrom,  who 
was  a  captain  of  militia;  and  Jacob  and  Gerret  Lansing.  So  too  in  the 
war  of  1 8 1 2,  Watervliet  furnished  the  required  quota  of  men,  either  by 
volunteer  or  draft.  The  names  of  the  following  men  who  took  part  in  that 
war  are  recorded  :  Andrew  Chadwick,  Henry  Runkle,  Frederick  Roff, 
Tohn  G.  Lansing,  John  Van  Aernum,  Lansing  Fonda,  John  Cory,  David 
Turner,  John  Steenburgh  and  his  brother,  Timothy  Hodgeman,  Stephen 
Culver,  Jeremiah  and  Gerret  Clute,  and  Wynant  Van  Denbergh.  In 
the  late     war  of  the    Rebellion,  also!  the   patriotism   of  the   town   was 


403 

clearly  demonstrated  in  the  promptness  with  which  response  was  made 
to  each  of  the  calls  of  the  government  for  volunteers,  the  conspicuous 
features  of  which  period  have  been  treated  in  an  earlier  chapter. 

The  close  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution  found  the  people  of  the  country 
ready  and  willing  to  enter  upon  public  improvements,  as  well  as  to  labor 
with  renewed  energy  for  the  founding  of  peaceful  and  happy  homes.  One 
of  the  earliest  of  the  large  undertakings  which  had  a  marked  influence 
upon  this  immediate  locality  was  the  construction  of  the  canal  and  locks 
of  the  Northern  Inland  Lock  and  Navigation  Company,  chartered  in 
1792,  which  has  already  been  described  in  these  pages.  It  was  a  fore- 
runner of  the  Erie  Canal.  What  was  known  as  the  old  Cherry  Val'ey 
Turnpike  was  placed  in  the  control  of  a  corporation  through  legislation 
in  1798,  though  the  road  extending  from  Albany  to  Cherry  Valley, 
Utica  and  Rome,  had  been  in  use  many  years  previous  to  that  date. 
The  first  act  was  soon  repealed  and  in  1799  a  second  one  was  passed 
chartering  a  corporation  to  improve  the  State  road,  as  it  was  called, 
from  the  house  of  John  Weaver  in  Watervliet  to  Cherry  Valley.  The 
incorporators  were  William  North,  John  Taylor,  Abram  Ten  Eyck, 
Charles  R.  Webster,  Calvin  Cheeseman,  Zenas  Penio,  Ephraim  Hudson, 
Joseph  White,  Elihu  Phinney,  and  Thomas  Machin. 

In  the  spring  of  1802  a  bill  passed  the  Legislature  constituting  John 
Lansing,  jr.,  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  Stephen  Lush,  Dudley  Walsh, 
Garret  W.  Van  Schaick,  Daniel  Hall,  John  Taylor,  Abraham  Oadthout 
(Oothout)  and  Joseph  C.  Yeates,  a  corporation  to  construct  a  turnpike 
between  the  cities  of  Albany  and  Schenectady;  the  capital  stock  was 
$200,000.  This  road  was  not  to  interfere  with  the  old  State  road  be- 
tween these  cities.  It  was  a  costly  turnpike  and  then  the  best  highway 
in  the  country.  For  many  years  it  was  a  source  of  profit,  in  face  of  the 
fact  that  it  cost  in  all  about  $180,000;  but  the  building  of  the  Erie  Canal 
lessened  its  importance  and  greatly  curtailed  the  freighting  by  wagon. 
It  is  stated  that  in  1803  there  were  on  the  line  of  this  road  twenty-eight 
taverns  of  various  kinds,  to  the  open  doors  of  which  the  old  stages  and 
the  hundreds  of  wagons  which  traveled  westward  and  return,  drew  up 
for  refreshment. 

The  Troy   and    Schenectady   Turnpike   Company   was   incorporated 


404 

April  2,  1802,  by  George  Tibbits,  Ephraim  Morgan,  Abraham  Oothout, 
and  their  associates.  This  turnpike  was  constructed  and  was  largely 
used  for  travel  and  freight,  until  the  canal  and  the  railroads  robbed  it  of 
much  of  its  usefulness. 

An  act  incorporating  the  Watervliet  Turnpike  Company  was  passed 
March  31,  1828.  Thomas  Hillhouse,  Jeremiah  Schuyler,  Robert  Dun- 
lap  and  their  associates  were  authorized  to  construct  a  road  "  from  the 
north  boundary  line  of  the  city  line  of  Albany  to  the  upper  ferry  oppo- 
site the  city  of  Troy."  This  turnpike  was  constructed  in  first  class 
manner  and  became  a  very  popular  drive. 

Among  the  plank  roads  of  this  town  was  that  of  the  Watervliet 
Plank  Road  Company,  which  was  incorporated  and  the  road  built  in 
1850;  it  extended  from  Buffalo  street  north  through  Broad  street  (now 
Broadway)  to  Auburn  street,  where  it  crossed  the  canal  and  thence  on 
to  Cohoes.  The  road  never  paid  dividends  and  was  abandoned  after  ten 
years  of  use. 

The  Albany  and  Mohawk  Flank  Road  Company  extended  across  a 
part  of  the  town  of  Watervliet  and  was  built  previous  to  1850.  It  was 
one  of  the  last  of  those  highways  in  the  State  to  be  abandoned,  which 
took  place  April,  1896. 

What  is  now  Broadway  in  West  Troy  was  originally  a  turnpike  road 
and  was  called  the  Whitehall  Turnpike,  and  also  the  Northern  Turn- 
pike. It  was  an  important  thoroughfare  and  one  of  the  early  post 
routes. 

Manufacturing  operations  in  this  town,  outside  of  those  described  in 
the  history  of  West  Troy  (now  Watervliet  city),  Green  Island  and 
Cohoes,  have  not  been  very  important.  In  the  early  years  of  settle- 
ment saw  mills  were  numerous  and  several  small  grist  mills  were  erect- 
ed. Many  of  these  have  passed  away.  The  Shakers  had  a  grist  mill 
and  a  saw  mill  very  early  in  the  century.  Caldwell,  Frazier  &  Co.  had 
a  factory  and  a  Mr.  Muir  a  cloth  works  on  Mill  Creek  as  early  as  1803. 
The  Lansings  had  a  saw  mill  on  Lisha's  Kill.  Other  grist  and  saw 
mills  were  built  at  an  early  period  on  Town  Creek  near  its  junction  with 
the  Mohawk.  On  the  same  stream,  near  Watervliet  Center,  a  woolen 
factory  was  established  and  operated  by  the  Waterburys.  Truman  G. 
Younglove  built  in  1866  a  large  brick  straw  board  mill  just  below  the 


405 

Cohoes  Company's  dam  and  near  the  city  line.  There  were  situated 
also  lime  and  cement  kilns  and  the  Lansing  grist  mill.  The  lime 
and  cement  works  were  started  in  1869  by  the  Capitol  Lime  and 
Cement  Company,  composed  of  Truman  G.  Younglove,  George  Stew- 
art, and  David  T.  Lamb,  of  Waterford,  and  Henry  Dunsback,  of 
Crescent.  The  grist  mill  was  originally  owned  by  Gerrit  Lansing  and 
later  by  I.  D.  F.  Lansing. 

The  oldest  settled  hamlet  in  this  town  is  Boght  (or  Groesbeck's  Cor- 
ners) in  the  northeastern  corner  in  the  bend  of  the  Mohawk,  from 
which  it  takes  its  Dutch  name.  This  locality  and  the  vicinity  of  the 
Aqueduct  were  settled  by  Van  Den  Bergh,  Van  De  Mark,  Fonda, 
Clute,  Van  Vranken  and  Lansing  families  in  the  early  years,  and  later 
by  William  Groesbeck,  the  Simons,  Godfrey,  Roff,  Dunsback  and  Runkel 
families.  North  of  the  Boght  is  the  aqueduct,  where  a  post  office  of 
that  name  is  located,  and  farther  north  is  the  Dunsback  Ferry  across 
the  Mohawk.  John  Van  De  Mark  kept  an  early  tavern  here.  There 
is  little  business  at  these  points. 

Town  House  Corners  (known  in  later  years  as  Van  Vranken's  and 
still  later  and  down  to  the  present  time  as  Latham's  Corners)  is  a  hamlet 
at  the  crossing  of  the  Loudonville  road  and  the  Troy  and  Schenectady 
turnpike,  six  miles  north  of  Albany.  This  neighborhood  was  early 
settled  by  Van  Den  Bergh,  Witbeck,  Van  Olinda,  Van  Vranken.  Oothout, 
and  Markle  families.  Early  taverns  were  kept  by  Joseph  Yearsley  and 
Myndert  Van  Denbergh.  Dr.  Jonas  Wade  settled  here  in  1806  and 
was  a  successful  physician  and  useful  citizen  many  years. 

Watervliet  Center  is  a  small  hamlet,  with  post-office  by  that  name, 
in  the  north  central  part  of  the  town,  on  the  Troy  and  Schenectady 
turnpike,  two  miles  north  of  the  Shaker  settlement.  There  has  for 
many  years  been  a  small  mercantile  business  here  and  a  few  shops. 
The  vicinity  was  early  settled  by  the  Witbeck,  Orlop,  Van  Vranken,  Groat, 
P'ero,  Fraley,  Sickles,  and  Fort  families,  the  latter  at  Fort's  Ferry. 
Later  comers  were  the  Chamberlains,  Gallagers,  Weatherwax,  Cragiers, 
and  Lewis  Morris;  the  latter  came  about  1835,  built  a  hotel,  a  store 
and  several  shops  of  which  he  was  proprietor.  The  woolen  factory  of 
Henry  Waterbury,  before  mentioned,  was  near  here  on  the  Town  Creek, 
and  on  the  same  stream  near  Fort's  Ferry  were  the  Shaker  mills. 


406 

Lisha's  Kill  is  a  post-office  and  hamlet  in  the  northwestern  corner  of  the 
town,  on  the  Albany  and  Schenectady  turnpike,  nine  miles  from  Albany. 
The  first  settler  here  was  Jacob  Lansing,  from  whom  are  descended 
many  families  of  that  name.  Another  settler  here  was  John  V.  A. 
Lansing,  who  came  in  1792,  and  has  many  descendants  in  this  vicinity. 
Others  were  the  Van  Benthuysen,  Ostrom,  Van  Zandt,  Groat,  Bulson, 
Campbell,  and  Stanford  families.  Charles  Stanford  kept  a  tavern 
on  the  turnpike  as  early  as  1803,  and  was  an  enterprising  and  useful 
citizen,  and  father  of  Ex-Senator  Stanford  of  California.  The  post-office 
was  established  about  1830,  with  Lewis  Morris  postmaster  ;  he  also  kept 
a  store.  Jacob  Morris  succeeded  him  and  was  followed  in  1848  by 
Peter  Lansing,  who  held  the  office  nearly  forty  years.  Mr.  Lansing 
was  long  a  successful  merchant. 

Newtonville  is  a  post-office  and  hamlet  on  the  Loudon  road  four 
miles  north  of  Albany.  The  post-office  was  established  here  in  1850 
and  the  place  called  Newton's  Corners,  in  honor  of  John  M.  Newton, 
who  settled  here  about  1840,  built  a  dwelling  and  afterwards  a  store 
in  which  he  conducted  a  successful  business.  John  Holmes  was  the 
first  postmaster  and  held  the  office  for  more  than  thirty  years.  John 
H.  Kemp  was  a  later  merchant,  and  here  was  established  the  wagon 
manufactory  of  James*  Brewster  ;  he  settled  first  at  Ireland's  Corners, 
farther  south,  and  removed  to  Newtonville  in  1876,  when  the  firm  was 
James  Brewster  &  Son.  Later  it  was  James  Brewster's  Sons  (James  C. 
and  William  H.) 

Passing  south  on  the  plank  road  one  reaches  the  hamlet  that  was  form- 
erly called  Ireland's  Corners,  from  Elias  H.  Ireland,  who  obtained  lands 
in  1832  from  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer.  The  name  of  this  pretty  village  was 
changed  to  Loudonville  in  1 87 1 ,  with  post  office  of  the  same  name,  in 
honor  of  Lord  Loudon.  It  is  believed  that  this  road  was  used  prior  to 
the  Revolution.  Jonathan  Seeley  Ireland,  father  of  Elias  H.,  had  settled 
in  this  vicinity  prior  to  1 832  ;  he  was  a  Methodist  preacher.  Charles  T. 
Ireland  and  John  Ruby  were  also  early  settlers.  Dr.  Peter  B.  Noxen 
located  here  soon  after  Elias  H.  Ireland  and  practiced  during  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  Mr.  Ireland  conducted  a  hotel  and  carried  on  a 
mercantile  business  in  which  he  was  successful.  He  died  in  1870.  The 
post  office  was  established  about  1850,  with  Elias  H.  Ireland,  postmaster. 


407 

Loudonville  is  now  one  of  the  most  attractive  suburbs  of  Albany  and 
many  fine  residences  have  been  built  by  persons  whose  business  is  in 
the  city. 

What  is  now  known  as  West  Albany  was  formerly  called  Spencer- 
ville.  It  is  a  point  of  considerable  manufacturing  importance  lying 
north  of  Patroon's  Creek  and  just  west  of  the  city  line.  It  has  long 
been  the  site  of  extensive  shops  of  the  New  York  Central  Railroad,  and 
also  of  extensive  stock  yards.  The  stock  business  was  commenced  here 
about  1 847  by  William  Wolford  and  a  Mr.  Gallup,  on  Washington  avenue 
who  transferred  their  business  to  the  Troy  road  at  the  old  Bull's  Head. 
Later  it  v  as  removed  to  what  is  now  the  end  of  Central  avenue  and 
carried  on  by  Hunter  &  Gallup.  About  i860  the  business  was  removed 
to  West  Albany  where  extensive  buildings  and  sheds  were  erected. 
Allerton,  Dutcher  &  Moore  were  for  some  years  proprietors  of  the 
yards,  but  in  November,  1868,  they  transferred  their  business  to  East- 
man Brothers.  The  post-office  here  was  established  in  September,  1862, 
with  Joseph  Mather,  postmaster  The  business  transacted  here  has 
decreased  in  recent  years. 

Between  Albany  and  Troy  is  the  railroad  station  called  Menand's, 
from  Louis  Menand,  who  established  his  present  large  horticultural  gar- 
dens and  green-houses  here  in  1842.  The  Schuyler,  Ten  Eyck,  Gor- 
way,  Glen,  Jermain  and  Hillhouse  families  were  among  the  early  settlers 
in  this  vicinity.  The  grounds  originally  intended  for  the  State  fair  are 
situated  at  this  point.  It  is  now  a  thickly  settled  district,  many  fine 
residences  having  been  erected. 

Churches  in  the  Town  of  Watervliet  (uoiv  Colonic.) — For  many  years 
in  the  early  settlement  in  this  town  the  Reformed  Dutch  church  was  the 
only  organized  religious  body.  In  1642  Rev.  Johannes  Megapolensis 
came  to  Albany  and  labored  in  this  region.  For  seventy- five  years 
this  faith  was  the  ruling  one  in  this  colony,  and  for  140  years  services 
were  conducted  in  the  language  of  Holland.  In  1716  the  first  Epis- 
copal church  west  of  the  Hudson  River  was  established,  which  was  fol- 
lowed by  the  first  Presbyterian  church  in  1761  or  1762  The  New 
York  Charter  of  Liberties  contained  the  following :  "No  person  pro- 
fessing faith  in  God  by  Jesus  Christ  shall  at  any  time  be  in  any  ways 
disquieted  or   questioned  for  any  difference  of  opinion."     There  is  the 


408 

very  foundation  stone  of  freedom  of  religious  thought  and  belief.  The 
Dutch  company  was  bound  to  give  churches  local  government ;  officers 
were  to  be  appointed  by  the  directors  and  council  and  were  invested 
with  religious  privileges,  as  shown  by  the  following:  "No  other  relig- 
ion was  to  be  publicly  tolerated,  save  that  taught  and  exercised  by  the 
authority  of  the  Reformed  church  in  the  United  Provinces."  Member- 
ship in  the  churches  was  largely  controlled  by  ministers,  and  civil  and 
religious  obedience  was  exacted  from  all.  The  Dutch  and  the  English 
colonists  contended  for  religious  liberty.  Churches  were  slow  to 
organize  in  districts  at  all  remote  from  Albany,  for  reasons  that  are  ap 
parent  in  the  slow  progress  of  settlement,  and  the  poverty  and  ever 
present  necessities  of  the  pioneers,  and  the  disturbed  condition  of  the 
country  through  many  long  years.  They  met  for  worship,  but  gen- 
erally in  private  dwellings,  and  the  interchange  of  religious  experience 
and  thought  at  such  meetings  had  to  suffice. 

The  organization  of  the  Reformed  churches  in  Watervliet  took  place 
before  it  was  constituted  a  town,  and  those  of  other  denominations  soon 
followed.  The  Boght  Reformed  Dutch  church  in  the  northeastern  part 
of  the  town  was  organized  at  a  very  early  period.  A  petition  signed 
by  forty-two  persons  was  presented  to  the  Classis  of  Albany  Feb- 
ruary 22,  1784,  and  the  organization  was  effected  April  14  of  that  year. 
It  is  probable  that  the  Niskayuna  church  was  organized  about  1760, 
but  soon  after  the  organization  of  the  congregation  at  the  Boght  the 
two  congregations  were  under  one  pastorate.  The  first  Consistory 
of  the  Boght  church  were  David  Fero  and  Isaac  Fonda,  elders  ;  Abram 
A.  Fonda  and  Gerrit  I.  Lansing,  deacons.  Rev.  E.  Westerlo,  of  Al- 
bany, was  in  charge  of  this  church  for  some  time,  and  in  1790  Rev. 
John  Demarest  assumed  the  pastorate  of  the  two  churches.  The  rec- 
ords during  his  ministry  are  written  in  Dutch.  He  closed  his  labors  in 
1803  at  which  time  the  connection  between  the  two  churches  ceased. 
Changes  in  the  pastorate  were  somewhat  frequent  after  that.  In  1806 
measures  were  adopted  for  the  erection  of  a  new  church  building,  which 
was  completed  in  the  following  year.  It  stood  on  the  road  which  now 
forms  the  western  boundary  of  Cohoes.  This  was  used  until  1847, 
when  the  present  church  was  erected.  The  land  on  which  the  parson- 
age was  built  had    been  given  to   the  church   a   hundred  years   earlier. 


409 

Eight  acres  were  donated  to  the  society  and  the  Patroon  afterwards 
gave  twenty-five  acres  on  the  south  side  of  the  manor  line;  this  land 
was  sold  in  later  years.  The  building  of  the  new  church  at  the  Boght 
caused  disagreement  over  the  site  and  as  a  consequence  twenty-two 
members  were  dismissed  ;  they  organized  the  Church  of  Rensselaer 
in  the  same  year  and  built  a  house  of  worship  at  Van  Vranken's  Cor- 
ners. Anniversary  exercises  were  held  commemorating  the  centennial 
of  the  Boght  church  on  April  12,  1884.  The  following  list  of  the  per- 
sons constituting  the  original  church  is  appended  for  its  value  in  show- 
ing who  were  residents  of  this  locality  at  that  early  date  : 

Francis  Lansing,  Gerrit,  Evart,  Mans,  Wynant,  Peter,  Petras,  Cornelius  C,  Cor- 
nelius :5d  and  Nicholas  C.  Van  Denbergh,  Gerrit  Wendell,  Luycas  Witbeck,  Jacob 
Van  Olinda,  Johannes  Lansing,  Rutgers  Lansing,  Johannes  Clute,  Isaac  Fonda, 
Isaac  H.  Fonda,  Timothy  Hutton,  Henry  Fero,  Christian  Fero,  David  Fero,  Jacob 
I.  Lansing,  Dirck  Heemstraat,  Charles  Heemstraat,  Isaac  Onderkerk.  Andrew  On- 
derkerk,  Johannes  Fonda,  Gerrit  Clute,  Isaac  J.  Fonda,  Francis  Cramer,  Hendrick 
Wendell,  Abram  A.  Fonda,  Noah  Gillet,  Gerrit  I.  Lansing,  Abraham  II.  Lansing, 
Jacob  Lansing,  Dirck  Clute,  Hendrick  Fonda,  Jacob  D.  Fonda,  Abraham  L.  Wit- 
beck,  Abraham  Onderkerk. 

The  first  officers  of  the  Rensselaer  church,  before  named,  were  Mar- 
tin Van  Olinda,  E.  J.  Lansing  and  A.  W.  Van  Denbergh,  elders; 
Obadiah  Van  Denbergh,  Nicholas  V.  V.  Van  Denbergh,  and  Henry 
Van  Alstine,  deacons. 

The  people  in  the  Lisha's  Kill  neighborhood  in  the  northwestern  part  of 
the  town  attended  the  old  Niskayuna  church  for  many  years  and  until 
about  1850.  At  that  time  the  old  church  was  sadly  out  of  repair,  and 
when  the  question  arose  of  expending  a  considerable  sum  of  money  to 
place  it  again  in  good  condition  the  inhabitants  at  Lisha's  Kill  disap- 
proved, and  on  November  16,  1852,  application  was  made  to  the  Classis 
of  Schenectady  by  forty-eight  members  of  the  old  church  for  the  priv- 
ilege of  forming  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  Lisha's  Kill.  The 
organization  was  effected  December  5  of  that  year  at  the  school  house 
in  district  No.  8,  and  Abraham  V.  P.  Lansing  and  Jeremiah  Ketchum 
were  chosen  elders  ;  and  Joseph  Consaul  and  Cornelius  Lansing,  deacons. 
In  the  next  year  (1853)  a  brick  church  was  erected,  and  in  1859  a 
parsonage  was  built.  In  1868  an  addition  of  fifteen  feet  was  made  to 
the  length  of  the  building. 


410 

The  Baptist  church  at  Newtonville  resulted  from  missionary  work 
performed  by  R.  M.  Pease  just  before  i860.  In  that  year  John  M. 
Newton,  a  generous  citizen  of  Newtonville,  donated  a  piece  of  land  for 
the  church  and  on  it  a  brick  edifice  was  built.  The  society  went  out  of 
existence  in  1869  and  the  property  was  sold. 

Records  of  the  beginning  of  the  Congregational  Society  and  Church 
of  Watervliet  bear  date  of  May,  1859.  The  first  trustees  were  Van 
Buren  Lockrow,  John  Frost,  Peter  Steers,  James  Cramer,  Daniel  P. 
Sigourney,  and  Henry  Woolley  ;  Rev.  James  G.  Cordell  was  the  first 
pastor.  A  church  was  erected  which  was  burned  May  25,  1865,  but 
immediately  rebuilt.  On  December  20  of  that  year  a  resolution  was 
adopted  "  that  the  society  assume  the  name  of  the  Presbyterian  Society 
of  Pine  Grove."  On  February  5,  1867,  the  church  was  accepted  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Albany  and  named  "The  Pine  Grove  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Watervliet,"  and  on  March  29  it  was  thus  organized  by  Rev.  William 
H.  Carr,  who  was  its  pastor  for  a  time.  The  elders  were  Van  Buren 
Lockrow  and  Daniel  P.  Sigourney.  The  church  has  at  intervals  been 
without  a  regular  pastor. 

Intimately  associated  with  the  religious  institutions  of  this  town  is  the 
Home  for  Aged  Men,  situated  just  north  of  the  city  line  on  the  Van 
Rensselaer  boulevard.  The  founding  of  this  benevolent  institution  was 
due  largely  to  early  efforts  by  Mrs.  Elizabeth  McClure,  Mrs.  William  B. 
Gourley,  and  Mrs.  Cornelius  Ten  Broeck,  with  William  Sawyer's  co-opera- 
tion. After  interest  in  the  matter  was  thoroughly  awakened  a  meeting 
was  held  in  November,  1875, at  which  a  sermon  appropriate  to  the  subject 
was  preached  by  Rev.  Ebenezer  Halley,  D.D  ,  and  the  announcement  was 
made  that  at  a  previous  meeting  an  organization  had  been  effected  and 
officers  elected.  Subscriptions  were  persistently  sought  and  by  the 
autumn  of  1876  the  sum  of  $18,000  had  been  accumulated.  On  Octo- 
ber 6,  1876,  the  Home  for  Aged  Men  was  incorporated,  with  the  fol- 
lowing trustees:  John  Taylor  Cooper,  Maurice  E.  Viele,  William  Saw- 
yer, S.  Visscher  Talcott,  Dudley  Olcott,  Ebenezer  Halley,  William  Van 
Antwerp,  Benjamin  W.  Arnold,  James  H.  McClure,  James  B.  Jermain, 
Jeremiah  Waterman,  and  David  A.  Thompson.  Of  these  John  Taylor 
Cooper  was  elected  president;  James  B.  Jermain  and  Jeremiah  Water- 
man, vice-presidents;    Dudley  Olcott,  treasurer;   David  A.  Thompson, 


411 

secretary.  On  the  16th  of  November,  1876,  the  trustees  purchased  the 
present  site  of  Mrs.  Harriet  Day  Perry,  paying  $1 1,000  for  the  dwelling 
and  about  four  acres  of  land  ;  this  amount  was  increased  to  $20,000  by 
needed  changes  and  improvements.  The  Home  was  dedicated  March 
28,  1878,  and  has  accommodations  for  about  thirty  inmates. 

At  the  time  of  the  erection  of  the  town  of  Watervliet  there  was  no 
school  system  in  existence.  Facilities  for  acquiring  education  were  lim- 
ited to  scattering  transient  schools,  usually  miserably  taught,  with  here 
and  there  a  so-called  private  school,  where  some  young  man,  oftentimes 
a  preacher,  who  had  received  a  little  better  education  than  his  immediate 
associates,  endeavored  to  eke  out  a  slender  income  by  teaching. 

In  1795,  Albany  county  received  from  the  State  ^"1,590  for  school 
purposes,  which  was  properly  divided  among  the  several  towns.  This 
was  the  first  effective  step  towards  founding  the  free  school  system  and  has 
has  been  described  in  Chapter  XVI.  In  September,  1813,  this  town 
was  subdivided  into  twelve  school  districts.  This  number  has  been 
repeatedly  changed,  gradually  increasing,  except  as  it  may  have  been 
decreased  by  reduction  of  the  town  area.  In  i860,  for,  example,  there 
were  twenty-nine  districts,  while  at  the  present  time  there  are  only  twenty- 
six  having  school  houses.  The  towns  of  Watervliet,  Knox,  and  Guilder- 
land  now  constitute  the  third  school  commissioner  district  of  the  county. 
The  last  report  of  the  commissioner  for  the  district  states  that  many  of 
the  school  buildings  of  the  district  had  undergone  repairs  in  the  pre- 
ceding year,  and  he  believed  they  compared  favorably  with  those  of 
any  district  in  the  State. 

WEST  TROY— CITY  OF  WATERVLIK1 

What  has  been  for  many  years  known  as  the  village  of  West  Troy, 
but  which  has  very  recently  been  made  the  new  city  of  Watervliet,  is 
situated  opposite  Troy  city,  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Hudson  River  and 
extending  northward  to  the  southern  "  sprout  "  of  the  Mohawk,  which 
there  empties  into  the  Hudson  forming  Green  Island.  West  Troy  was 
incorporated  April  30,  1836,  taking  within  its  boundaries  what  had 
previously  been  known  as  the  villages  of  Gibbonsville,  Port  Schuyler, 
and  West  Troy.      Of  these  three   only   Gibbonsville   was   incorporated. 


412 

Port  Schuyler  was  that  part  of  the  present  village  (or  city)  lying  south 
of  the  arsenal  property,  the  land  being  a  part  of  the  farm  of  John 
Schuyler  and  Peter  Schuyler,  which  was  purchased  in  1827  of  them  by 
Willard  Earl,  Jabez  Burrows,  Abijah  Wheeler,  David  Wheeler,  Enoch 
Burrows,  Gilbert  C.  Bedell  and  Jonathan  Hart.  These  purchasers 
formed  the  Port  Schuyler  Company,  who,  after  the  purchase,  laid  out 
the  land  in  village  lots.  This  settlement  was  known  still  earlier  as  the 
village  of  Washington,  the  settlement  of  which  began  at  an  early  period, 
as  the  Reformed  Dutch  church  was  organized  at  a  meeting  held  in  the 
village  of  Washington  in  18 14. 

Gibbonsville  was  that  part  of  West  Troy  lying  between  Port  Schuyler 
on  the  south  and  Buffalo  street  on  the  north,  the  land  having  been 
originally  owned  by  James  Gibbons,  an  Albany  merchant,  who  laid  it 
out  in  lots  and  gave  it  his  name.  The  settlement  grew  and  in  1824 
was  incorporated.  It  was  governed  by  the  usual  village  officers  until 
1836,  when  the  act  incorporating  it  was  repealed  by  the  act  creating 
the  village  of  West  Troy. 

The  trustees  of  Gibbonsville,  elected   each   succeeding  year,  were  as 

follows,  the   first  named  in    each  instance   being  chosen   as  president  at 

the  first  meeting  of  the  board: 

1827,  Elijah  Ranny,  Edward  Learned,  Isaac  Chapman,  James  T.  Morrison,  Moses 
Tyler;  1828,  Amos  Larcom,  Moses  Tyler,  William  G.  Groesbeck,  David  Morrison, 
Isaac  H.  Williams;  1829,  Daniel  T.  Wandell,  Isaac  Chapman,  David  Wheeler,  Moses 
Tyler,  Charles  Learned;  1830,  Jonathan  II.  Dyer,  Hiram  M.  Hopkins,  Levi  Lincoln, 
Moses  Tyler,  James  T.  Morrison;  1831,  Isaac  Chapman,  Ephraim  Baldwin,  Hiram 
M.  Hopkins,  William  P.  Hall,  David  Wheeler;  1832,  William  G.  Groesbeck,  Moses 
Tyler,  .Smith  Ballon,  Jonathan  H.  Dyer,  Zachariah  Graver;  1833,  Isaac  Chapman, 
Henry  Thalhimer,  Zachariah  Craver,  John  Tisdall,  Leonard  Hannnm;  1834,  Isaac 
Chapman,  Charles  Learned,  John  B.  Chollar,  Eben  Jones.  Benjamin  Brown;  1835, 
Edward  Learned,  Martin  Witbeck,  John  C.  Green,  Jonathan  H.  Dyer. 

Previous  to  its  incorporation  West  Troy  was  that  part  of  the  present 
village  lying  north  of  ISuffalo  street  and  south  of  the  northern  boundary 
line  established  by  the  act  of  incorporation.  This  was  the  old  line 
dividing  the  farms  of  John  Bleeker  x  and  Volkert  Oothout.  The  West 
Troy  site  was  originally  the  farm  of  John  Bleeker  and  was  purchased  of 
him  in  1823  by  a  number  of  capitalists  associated  as  the  West  Troy 
Company.     The   deed  transferred   about  400  acres  of  land,  with  some 

1  In  the  old  records  this  name  is  spelled  as  here;  in  later  times  it  has  been  spelled  "  Bleeeker." 


MERLIN    J.  ZEH,   M.  D. 


413 

small  reservations,  to  George  Tibbetts,  Nathan  Warren  and  Richard 
Hart,  of  Troy,  and  Philip  Schuyler,  of  Saratoga,  as  trustees;  their 
associates  were  Esaias  Warren,  Stephen  Warren,  Jacob  Merritt,  George 
Vail,  Samuel  Gale,  Ebenezer  Wiswall,  Elias  Pattison,  Philip  Hart,  jr., 
John  D.  Dickinson,  John  P.  Cushman,  John  Paine,  Theodore  F.  French, 
and  William  Hart.  The  consideration  was  $45,000.  That  part  of  the 
tract  lying  east  of  West  street  was  laid  out  in  village  lots  and  streets, 
while  the  remainder  was  laid  out  in  so-called  farm  lots  of  ten  to  twenty- 
five  acres  each  ;  most  of  the  latter  lots  have  since  been  subdivided  and 
built  upon.  At  the  date  of  the  purchase  there  was  no  building  on  the 
tract  of  any  account  excepting  a  small  two-story  tavern  ;  this  stood 
on  the  site  of  the  Rath  block  of  recent  times,  and  may  have  been 
erected  before  the  Revolution.  The  act  incorporating  West  Troy  di- 
vided the  village  into  four  wards  and  the  first  village  election  was  or- 
dered to  be  held  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  May,  1836.  It  was  so  held 
and  the  following  persons  were  elected  president  and  trustees:  Presi- 
dent, Edward  Learned  ;  trustees,  Thomas  Evans,  Jonathan  Hart,  First 
ward;  Isaac  Chapman,  Hiram  M.  Hopkins,  Second  ward;  Samuel  E. 
Ford,  Henry  Kimberly,  Third  ward  ;  Abram  Van  Arnam,  jr.,  Joseph 
Twist,  Fourth  ward.  The  number  of  votes  polled  at  this  election  was 
476.  The  inspectors  of  election  were  Alva  W.  Rockwell,  David  D. 
Abrams,  and  Albert  S.  Blackman,  First  ward  ;  Isaac  Chapman,  Martin 
Witbeck  and  John  C.  Green,  Second  ward  ;  Samuel  E.  Ford,  John  T. 
Van  Alstyne  and  Andrew  Meneely,  Third  ward  ;  Abel  W.  Richardson, 
Abraham  Van  Arnam,  jr.,  and  Alexander  S.  Lobdell,  Fourth  ward. 
All  of  these  early  officials  were  then   leading  men  in  the  community. 

For  some  years  after  its  incorporation  the  village  grew  quite  rapidly. 
The  establishment  in  Gibbonsville  of  the  United  States  Arsenal  in  1813, 
the  opening  of  the  Erie  Canal  through  the  place  and  its  enlargement, 
which  was  in  progress  in  1836,  contributed  to  the  prosperity  of  the  new 
village.  The  first  purchase  of  the  United  States  from  Mr.  Gibbons 
comprised  twelve  acres;  to  this  was  added  thirty  acres  more  in  1828; 
the  price  of  the  first  tract  was  $2,585,  and  of  the  second,  $9,622.  The 
deed  of  181 3  mentions  Beaver  street  and  Albany  street,  showing  that 
some  part  of  that  village  was  laid  out  prior  to  that  year  ;  but  most  of 
the  survey  of  lots  and  streets  was  made  in  1828.      In  what  was  the  vil- 


414 

lage  of  Washington  (afterwards  Port  Schuyler)  a  canal,  known  as  the 
lower  side  cut,  was  constructed  from  the  river  to  the  Erie  Canal.  Later 
the  proprietors  of  West  Troy  constructed  a  canal,  beginning  at  the 
south  side  of  the  side-cut  at  Union  street  between  Broadway  and  the 
Erie  Canal,  and  extending  south  to  the  north  side  of  Genesee  street, 
where  it  turned  and  ran  into  the  Erie  ;  there  a  dry  dock  was  built.  This 
canal  was  ultimately  filled  up.  The  West  Troy  people  also  contem- 
plated another  canal  to  begin  at  the  west  side  of  the  Erie  at  Union  street, 
extending  through  that  street  to  West  street,  through  West  to  the  South 
side  of  Genesee,  where  it  was  to  turn  east  and  extend  into  Burlington 
street,  thence  through  Burlington  to  Canal  street  (now  Central  avenue), 
and  thence  east  through  Canal  street  to  the  Erie.  It  was  never  built, 
but  the  intention  is  commemorated  in  the  extra  width  of  Union,  Bur- 
lington and  Canal  streets.  The  first  weigh  lock  for  the  Erie  Canal  was 
built  in  1825  on  the  south  side  of  Union  street  a  little  west  of  Broad- 
way, and  the  weighing  was  done  by  the  measurement  of  water  drawn 
from  one  reservoir  to  another,  in  one  of  which  the  boat  was  stationed. 
It  did  not  prove  reliable  and  was  soon  superseded  by  scales  of  a  crude 
pattern;  these  were  followed  in  1853  by  the  present  improved  weigh- 
lock.  The  canal  was  so  far  completed  in  October,  1823,  as  to  allow 
boats  to  run  from  Gibbonsville  to  Rochester.  This  is  shown  by  the 
following  from  the  Troy  Sentinel  of  October  10,  1823  : 

The  opening  of  the  Erie  Canal  on  Wednesday,  October  8,  1823,  was  celebrated  by 
the  people  of  Troy  in  the  following  practical  manner.  When  the  procession  of  boats 
from  the  junction  of  the  northern  and  western  canals  had  passed  on  to  Albany, 
according  to  the  order  of  arrangements  previously  made,  the  Trojan  Trader,  a  west- 
ern freight  boat,  came  down  to  the  bridge  near  the  Gibbonsville  basin,  opposite  this 
city,  and  took  on  board  the  first  load  of  merchandise  sent  from  the  Hudson  west  on 
the  Erie  Canal.  ...  As  the  side  cut  into  the  river  opposite  to  Troy  was  not  yet 
done,  and  as  the  junction  canal,  though  completed  and  tilled  with  water,  could  not 
yet  be  opened,  so  as  to  permit  the  Trojan  Trader  to  come  around  by  Waterford, 
down  the  Hudson,  to  be  loaded  at  the  wharf,  it  became  necessary  to  transport  the 
goods  on  wheels  across  the  river  to  the  place  of  embarkation  on  the  main  trunk  of 
the  canal.  Accordingly,  in  the  morning,  this  necessity  being  intimated  to  the  car- 
men of  Troy,  with  an  alacrity  highly  honorable  to  their  public  spirit,  they  volun- 
teered their  services  with  one  accord,  to  take  the  goods  over.  After  loading  their 
teams,  they  proceeded  in  two  divisions  to  the  two  ferries,  and  being,  through  the 
liberality  of  Mr.  Vanderheyden,  the  proprietor  of  the  two  ferries,  taken  across  in  his 
horse  boats,  toll  free,  they  had  the  goods  all  on  the  bank  of  the  canal  by  five  o'clock. 
Several  of  our  citizens  lent  their  assistance  to  load  the  boat,  and  at  two  o'clock  the 


415 

Trader,  having  on  board  upwards  of  twenty-five  tons  of  merchandise,  with  her  flag 
flying,  and  amid  the  cheers  of  assembled  Trojans,  started  for  the  west.  The  Trojan 
Trader  is  commanded  by  Captain  Brace ;  she  is  bound  for  Rochester,  and  on  her  flag 
are  painted  the  following  words:  "From  Troy;  the  first  western  boat  loaded  at 
Hudson  River." 

These  three  villages  which  formed  West  Troy  in  1836  would  have 
doubtless  been  more  active  through  the  influence  of  the  canal,  had  it 
not  been  for  the  fact  that  as  a  rule  all  first- class  passengers  going  to  or 
from  Albany  did  not  pass  through  the  village  ;  they  took  or  left  the 
boats,  as  the  case  might  be,  at  Schenectady,  between  which  place  and 
Albany  ran  a  regular  line  of  coaches,  which  shortened  the  time  required 
to  make  the  trip  on  the  canal. 

The  side  cut  opposite  to  Troy,  mentioned  in  the  foregoing  extract, 
was  finished  on  Saturday,  November  15,  1823.  In  the  afternoon  the 
locks  were  ready,  the  water  was  let  in,  and  the  packet  Superior,  with  a 
large  party  of  citizens  on  board,  passed  through  and  crossed  the  river 
to  Troy  ;  two  freight  boats  followed,  one  loaded  with  staves  and  the 
other  with  wheat. 

It  has  been  incidentally  stated  that  there  were  two  ferries  across  the 
river  when  the  canal  was  opened.  One  of  these  was  at  the  foot  of 
Ferry  street,  and  was  called  the  Gibbonsville  ferry  ;  the  other  was  at 
the  foot  of  Canal  street  (now  Central  avenue),  which  was  called  the 
West  Troy  ferry.  Both  of  these  were  undoubtedly  owned  at  one 
period  by  Derrick  Y.  Van  Derheyden.  The  West  Troy  Ferry  was  sub- 
sequently purchased  by  the  West  Troy  Company.  The  date  at  which 
it  was  established  is  unknown,  but  Van  Derheyden  purchased  the  land 
on  which  the  city  of  Troy  stands  in  1707,  and  the  ferry  may  have  been 
established  soon  afterward.  In  1794  it  was  being  operated  by  his  son, 
Jacob  D.  Van  Derheyden.  It  was  over  this  ferry  that  the  American 
troops  crossed  in  1777  to  take  part  in  the  battle  at  Stillwater. 

In  1807  Daniel  T.  Wandell,  of  Troy,  established  what  is  known  as 
the  Middle  Ferry,  from  a  point  near  Buffalo  street,  to  a  point  on  the 
Troy  side  a  little  south  of  Division  street.  This  ferry  was  sold  in  1810 
to  Derrick  Y.  Van  Derheyden,  who  thereupon  discontinued  it.  For 
some  time  prior  to  1834  Mr.  Wandell  was  superintendent  of  the  Gib- 
bonsville and  the  West  Troy  ferries.  Some  of  the  early  ferry  boats 
were  operated   by  horse  power,    the  horse  being  stationed  on  the  boat 


41G 

and  supplying  the  power  that  turned  the  paddles.  This  kind  of  boat 
was  the  invention  of  a  Mr.  Langdon  and  was  first  used  in  1819.  The 
first  steam  ferry  boat  was  run  over  the  West  Troy  ferry  by  Mr  Wandell 
about  1833  ;  but  it  did  not  prove  successful  and  was  abandoned.  Soon 
after  the  purchase  of  the  Van  Derheyden  ferry  by  the  West  Troy  Com- 
pany, they  purchased  also  the  Gibbonsville  ferry  and  discontinued  it, 
their  intention  being  to  force  the  line  of  travel  farther  up  town. 

The  three  ferries  now  running  are,  the  oldest  at  the  foot  of  Cen- 
tral avenue,  commonly  known  as  the  Mark  Ferry;  another  from  the 
southerly  point  of  Green  Island  near  the  foot  of  Union  street,  owned 
by  Thomas  Rath,  John  Reiley  and  Joseph  McLean  ;  and  the  third  from 
a  point  a  little  north  of  North  street,  near  the  Arsenal  ;  this  one  is 
owned  and  operated  by  Clark  W.  Delano  and  Frederick  T.  Hathaway. 

The  iron  highway  bridge  at  the  foot  of  Genesee  street  to  the  foot  of 
Congress  street  in  Troy  was  built  by  the  Troy  and  West  Troy  Bridge 
Company,  incorporated  April  23,  1872  ;  the  bridge  was  completed  Oc- 
tober 1,  1874,  the  entire  cost  being  $350,000. 

West  Troy  was  in  early  years  a  center  of  a  large  river  business  in 
both  passenger  and  freight  traffic  on  sailing  vessels  called  either  sloops, 
schooners  or  scows,  according  to  their  style  of  construction.  Passenger 
traffic  by  sailing  vessel  was  abandoned  before  the  village  incorporation 
in  1836;  but  from  about  1830  to  1845  an  immense  trade  was  carried 
on  in  lumber,  which  came  down  the  canal,  was  unloaded  here  and  re- 
loaded on  the  sailing  vessels  for  points  further  down  the  river.  About 
130  of  these  vessels  were  engaged  in  this  business  at  one  time  at  this 
village.  The  docks  were  situated  north  of  Genesee  street  and  south  of 
Buffalo  street.  Between  those  streets  at  that  time  the  river  front  was 
not  filled  in.  The  following  is  a  list  of  vessels  of  West  Troy,  with  the 
names  of  their  masters  : 

Sloops. — American  Banner,  Capt.  Thomas  Rafferty ;  Active,  Capt.  Butler  Hubbard  ; 
Burlington,  Capt.  Silas  Betts;  Samuel  Brewster,  Capt.  Andrew  Hitchcock;  Belve- 
dere, Capt.  Peter  Hicks;  Commodore  Rogers,  Capt.  James  Warford ;  Clarissa,  Capt. 
George  Collins;  Clinton,  Capt.  Robert  Robinson;  Currier,  Capt.  Thomas  Anderson ; 
Conveyance,  Capt.  Stephen  Washburn,  sr.  ;  David  D.  Crane,  Capt.  Asahel  W.  Gil- 
bert; Don  Ramone,  Capt.  Harlow  Rhodes;  Fox,  Capt.  Stephen  Washburn,  sr.  ; 
Henry  Gage,  Capt.  William  Lobdell ;  Highlander,  Capt.  William  Crawford;  James 
North,  Capt.  William  Foot;  Juno.  Capt.  John  Silliman ;  Kinderhook,  Capt.  James 
Warford;  Leader,  Capt.  William  Wood;  Jane  McCoy,  Capt.  Andrew  Foster ;  Martha 


417 

Ann,  Capt.  James  Hardy;  Minerva,  (.'apt.  John  King;  William  Mayo,  Capt.  Meneely 
Hitchcock;  Mechanic,  Capt.  Isaac  Hubbard;  North  America,  Capt.  Daniel  Curtis; 
Miriam,  Capt.  Isaac  R.  Getty;  Pilot,  Capt.  John  King;  Ranger,  Capt.  David  King; 
Peter  Ritter,  Capt.  Charles  Mead;  Superior,  Capt.  Isaac  R.  Getty;  Shepherdess, 
Capt.  Patrick  Lamb;  Senator,  Capt.  Isaac  Hitchcock;  Pierre  Van  Cortlandt,  Capt. 
Jacob  Young;  Robert  Wiltsey,  Capt.  William  Harvey;  John  Ward,  Capt.  Alfred 
Mosher. 

Schooners, — Thomas  H.  Benton,  Capt.  John  Garrahan  ;  Ballston,  Capt.  William 
Wood;  Cadmus,  Capt.  Andrew  Hitchcock;  Eleanor,  Capt.  John  Evertsen ;  Isaac 
Merritt,  Capt.  James  Wood;  Mary  Anna,  Capt.  Asahel  W.  Gilbert;  Meridan,  Capt. 
Henry  Evertsen;  Miller,  Capt.  Medad  Wood;  Commodore  Porter,  Capt.  Richard 
McLaughlin;  Regulator,  Capt.  Henry  Finch;  Andrew  Stewart,  Capt.  Asahel  W. 
Gilbert;  David  Smith,  Capt.  James  Farrell;  Stranger,  Capt.  Edward  Lane;  Ann  S. 
Salter,  Capt.  Asahel  W.  Gilbert;  Caleb  Wright,  Capt.  Jonathan  Patridge. 

Scows. — Grampus,  Capt.  Washington  Mowry;  Hercules,  Capt.  James  Hitchcock  ; 
Ohio,  Capt.  Hiram  Tinslar;  United  States,  Capt.  Stephen  Washburn,  jr.;  Globe, 
Capt.  James  Hillis. 

Of  the  captains  above  mentioned  only  a  few  now  remain  residents  of 
this  village,  the  greater  number  having  died,  while  a  few  have  removed. 
Among  those  now  living  and  residing  here  may  be  mentioned  Isaac 
R.  Getty  and  Asahel  W.  Gilbert. 

Captain  Getty  was  born  at  Lansingburgh,  Rensselaer  count}',  N.  Y  , 
November  24,  1807,  and  began  his  life  upon  the  river  when  seventeen 
years  of  age,  and  came  to  West  Troy  to  reside  in  1838.  He  followed 
the  river  for  fifty-five  years,  and  is  now  the  oldest  river  captain  residing 
in  this  village.  At  different  times  during  the  period  of  fifty-five  years 
during  which  he  was  upon  the  river  he  was  master  of  seven  different 
sailing  vessels  and  of  eleven  different  steam  vessels. 

Captain  Gilbert  was  born  in  Troy  in  18 19,  and  followed  the  river 
from  1829  to  1870,  coming  to  West  Troy  to  reside  in  1 845.  During 
the  time  he  followed  the  river  he  was  at  different  periods  captain  of  ten 
different  sailing  vessels  and  five  steam  vessels.  He  also  built  and  sold 
a  number  of  sailing  crafts. 

The  village  of  West  Troy  was  divided  into  four  school  districts,  each 
ward  constituting  a  district,  the  First  ward  beino  district  No  I  ;  the  Sec- 
ond ward  district  No.  2  ;  the  Third  ward  district  No.  20,  and  the  fourth 
ward  district  No.  9.  This  system  was  established  in  1S13.  The  first  school 
house  in  district  No.  I  was  in  what  became  Port  Schuyler  ;  that  for  district 
No.  2  in  Gibbonsville  ;  that  for  district  No.  9  was  out  in  the  country. 
No.  20  was  created  some  years  later  from  No.  2.      With  the  growth    of 

53 


418 

the  village  additional  school  buildings  were  erected  and  the  West  Troy 
Union  School  district  was  formed.  There  are  now  two  school  buildings 
at  Port  Schuyler;  two  in  the  Second  ward  ;  one  each  in  the  Third  and 
Fourth  wards,  and  one  leased  at  Port  Schuyler  and  one  in  the  First 
ward. 

The  first  fire  department  in  West  Troy  consisted  some  thirty  years 
ago  of  three  hand  engines  and  two  hook  and  ladder  companies,  with 
names  as  follows:  Rip  Van  Winkle  Engine  Company  No.  I,  Protection 
Engine  Company  No.  2,  and  Conqueror  Engine  Company  No.  3 ; 
Hercules  Hook  and  Ladder  Company  No.  1,  and  Spartan  Hook  and 
Ladder  Company  No.  2.  The  old  hand  engines  long  ago  went  out  of 
service.  From  the  date  of  the  incorporation  of  the  village  down  to  1881 
the  fire  department  was  under  control  of  the  trustees  of  the  village.  In 
that  year  a  board  of  fire  commissioners  was  created  by  act  of  the  Leg- 
islature. There  are  at  present  in  existence  the  Oswold  Hose  Company 
No.  1,  organized  in  1859;  the  Michael  Kelly  Hose  Company  No  2, 
organized  in  1870;  Thomas  Mclntyre  Hose  Company  No.  3,  organized 
in  1873;  Protection  Hose  Company  No.  4,  organized  in  1878;  S  J. 
Gleason  Hook  and  Ladder  Company  No.  1,  organized  in  1872.  The 
first  steam  fire  engine  was  purchased  by  the  village  in  1864  and  the 
company  organized  to  take  charge  of  it  was  called  James  Roy  No.  1. 
In  1867  a  second  steamer  was  purchased  and  James  Duffy  Company 
No.  2  organized  to  take  charge  of  it.  In  1873  the  third  and  last  steamer 
was  purchased  and  Martin  Tierney  Company  No.  3  organized. 

The  West  Troy  Water  Works  Company  was  incorporated  in  1876, 
the  supply  being  taken  from  the  Mohawk  in  the  extreme  northeast  part 
of  the  town,  whence  it  is  pumped  into  a  reservoir  on  the  hill  about  a 
mile  west  of  the  Arsenal ;  from  thai  it  flows  by  gravity  through  the  vil- 
lage mains.  The  cost  of  the  system  was  about  $275,000,  and  the  water 
is  largely  used.  The  first  board  of  directors  of  the  company  were 
George  R.  Meneely,  Alfred  Mosher,  George  M.  Wiswall,  Jesse  C.  Day- 
ton, Lorenzo  D.  Collins,  John  Reiley,  George  Tweddle,  William  B. 
Williams,  Richard  S.  Lobdell,  and  George  B.  Mosher.  The  company 
has  recently  been  reorganized,  with  new  officers,  and  is  planning  for 
large  extension  of  the  system.      With    the   introduction  of  this   water 


419 

supply  the  steam  fire  engines  of  the  village  were  largely  disused,  though 
two  of  them  are  at  the  present  time  kept  in  commission  on  account  of 
the  weak  pressure  of  the  water  in  the  mains. 

West  Troy  was  without  a  regular  organized  police  force  until  1865, 
when  the  Capitol  Police  District  was  organized  under  legislative  act, 
embracing  Albany,  Troy,  Schenectady,  West  Troy,  Green  Island,  Lans- 
ingburgh,  Cohoes  and  Greenbush  with  certain  parts  of  the  towns  of 
Watervliet  and  North  Greenbush.  This  district  was  divided  into  the 
Troy  Division  and  the  Albany  Division  ;  West  Troy  was  included  in 
the  Troy  Division,  over  which  John  M.  Landon  was  the  first  deputy 
superintendent.  The  first  officers  and  patrolmen  were  as  follows: 
Captain,  Lansing  Clute ;  sergeant,  Abram  E.  Lansing;  patrolmen,  C. 
Spencer  Loomis,  Richard  Crooks,  Martin  V.  B.  Jones,  James  Smith, 
Charles  H.  Cary,  John  W.  Decker,  and  Patrick  Rogers.  By  a  legisla- 
tive act  of  1870  the  Capitol  Police  District  act  was  repealed  as  far  it 
applied  to  this  village  and  the  West  Troy  police  force  was  established. 
The  village  electors  were  authorized  to  elect  four  police  commissioners, 
the  first  board  being  Ebenezer  Scoville,  John  I.  Winne,  William  C. 
Durant,  and  Isaac  R.  Getty.  This  board  organized  the  force  with  James 
O.  Wood,  captain,  and  Sylvan  us  K.  Jefferson,  sergeant.  The  force  now 
comprises  twelve  men. 

The  building  known  as  Corporation  Hall  was  erected  in  1864  at  a 
cost  of  $20,000.  It  contains  apartments  for  the  fire  department,  the 
meeting  room  of  the  trustees,  etc. 

The  West  Troy  Gas  Light  Company  was  incorporated  in  January, 
1853,  by  Richard  S.  Lobdell,  A.  V.  Barringer,  Morgan  L.  Taylor,  Al- 
bert Richards,  and  E.  H.  St.  John,  the  capital  stock  being  $100,000.  In 
the  previous  year  John  Lockwood  and  A.  V.  Barringer,  under  the  firm 
name  of  John  Lockwod  &  Co  ,  obtained  from  the  village  an  exclusive 
franchise  to  lay  gas  mains  in  the  streets  and  build  gas  works.  In  No- 
vember, 1853,  this  company  assigned  its  rights  to  the  West  Troy  Gas 
Light  Company.  In  the  same  year  the  company  obtained  a  franchise 
to  lay  gas  mains  in  the  streets  of  Green  Island.  In  February,  1S53, 
Albert  Richards  was  elected  president  of  the  company;  Morgan  L. 
Taylor,  secretary,  and  Richard  S.  Lobdell,  treasurer.  On  April  I,  1854, 
William  L.  Oswald  was  appointed  superintendent  of  the  company.   The 


420 

company  manufactured  gas  until  1876,  when  it  discontinued  and  began 
buying  its  gas  of  the  People's  Gas  Light  Company  of  Albany.  In  De- 
cember, 1887,  the  Municipal  Gas  Company  of  Albany  purchased  the 
property  of  the  West  Troy  Company,  the  People's  Gas  Light  Com- 
pany having  meanwhile  become  merged  in  the  Municipal  Company. 

The  first  newspaper  printed  in  the  village. of  which  there  is  any  rec- 
ord was  the  West  Troy  Advocate,  founded  in  September,  1837,  by 
William  Hollands.  He  died  in  1853,  when  his  son,  William  Hollands, 
jr.,  continued  the  paper  until  July,  1864,  when  it  was  discontinued.  In 
January,  i860,  Allen  Corey  began  the  publication  of  the  Albany 
County  Democrat,  and  continued  it  until  July,  1 884  In  May,  1 880,  James 
Treanor  started  the  Watervliet  Journal.  In  July,  1884,  he  purchased 
the  Albany  County  Democrat,  consolidated  the  two  papers  under  the 
name  of  the  Journal  and  Democrat,  and  continued  connected  with  the 
publication  until  his  death  in  1896.  At  this  time  the  firm  of  Treanor 
&  Hardin  carry  on  the  business.  The  paper  is  a  well  edited  and  pros- 
perous journal. 

A  newspaper  called  the  Palladium  was  published  for  a  time  about 
1832  by  the  Warren  Brothers,  who  also  conducted  a  book  and  sta- 
tionery store. 

The  first  bank  in  the  village  was  incorporated  in  1836,  with  the  name 
of  the  Watervliet  Bank,  and  the  following  officers:  John  C  Schuyler, 
jr.,  president;  Edward  Learned,  vice-president;  Egbert  Olcott,  cashier; 
Gerrit  T.  Witbeck,  teller ;  George  M.  Wheeler,  clerk  ;  the  capital  stock 
was  $100,000.  This  institution  failed  in  1841.  The  National  Bank  of 
West  Troy  was  incorporated  under  the  State  laws  in  February,  1852, 
and  began  business  on  May  1,  of  that  year,  with  the  name,  Bank  of 
West  Troy.  The  capital  stock  was  $200,000.  The  incorporators  were 
John  Knickerbacker,  James  Van  Schoonhoven,  James  Roy,  E.  Thomp- 
son Gale,  John  Cramer,  Joseph  M.  Haswell,  William  Sands,  George  H. 
Cramer,  and  Ferdinand  J.  Suydam  ;  these  men  constituted  the  first 
board  of  directors  and  the  following  officers  were  chosen :  Ferdi- 
nand J.  Suydam,  president  ;  George  H.  Cramer,  vice-president;  Albert 
C.  Gunnison,  cashier.  In  1853  Mr.  Suydam  was  made  cashier  and 
held  the  position  until  1858,  when  he  resigned  and  was  succeeded  by 
G.  B.  Wilson,  who  held  the  place  about  nineteen  years.      He  was  sue- 


JAMES  BLUNN. 


421 

ceeded  by  Benjamin  McE.  Schafer,  who  held  the  position  until  his 
death  in  1880,  when  the  present  cashier,  Arthur  T.  Phelps,  was  ap- 
pointed. In  1853  Dillon  Becbe  was  elected  president  and  was  suc- 
ceeded in  1856  by  Joseph  M.  Haswell,  who  held  the  office  until  his 
death   in    1871.      James   Roy  was  then   chosen,  and*  was  succeeded  in 

1876  by  Thomas  A.  Knickerbacker,  the  present  incumbent.  The  insti- 
tution was  changed  to  a  national  bank  in  1865  and  the  name  changed 
to  the  National  Bank  of  West  Troy,  with  capital  stock  of  $250,000.     In 

1877  this  was  reduced  to  $150,000,  and  in  1893  to  $100,000. 

West  Troy  has  been  and  still  is  a  manufacturing  center  of  large  im- 
portance. Fortunately  situated  for  shipping  purposes,  and  with  a  num- 
erous population  near  at  hand  from  which  to  obtain  employees,  several 
large  industries  have  been  founded  in  the  village  and  are  still  success- 
fully conducted.  In  the  southern  part  of  the  village  are  the  mills  now 
operated  by  Roy  &  Co.,  for  the  manufacture  of  various  kinds  of  woolen 
cloths  and  shawls.  Of  this  company  Benjamin  Knower  is  president; 
John  F.  Roy,  treasurer,  and  F.  B.  Durant,  secretary.  The  capital  is 
$500,000.  These  mills  were  founded  by  James  Roy  about  1847  ;  he  was 
of  Scotch  birth  and  came  to  America  in  1835.  Not  long  afterwards  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  John  Knower  and  began  the  manufacture  of 
woolen  shawls,  for  which  a  number  of  workmen  were  brought  from  Scot- 
land. Other  kinds  of  goods  were  afterwards  added  to  the  products  of  the 
mills.  The  establishment  now  embraces  three  mills  and  employs  about 
700  hands  The  firm  of  Roy  &  Co.  was  incorporated  in  1  87 1 ,  by  James 
Roy,  John  Knower,  and  Peter  Roy,  for  the  manufacture  of  builders' 
hardware,  and  carried  on  a  large  business  until  1895,  when  the  works 
were  closed  up.  James  Roy  was  a  man  of  prominence  and  public  spirit 
and  accomplished  much  for  the  welfare  of  the  village.      He  died  in   1878. 

The  Meneely  Bell  Foundry,  which  has  a  reputation  extending  through- 
out the  country,  was  established  by  Andrew  Meneely  in  1826.  He 
had  learned  the  trade  of  brass  founder  and  began  the  manufacture  of 
civil  engineer's  instruments  in  what  was  then  Gibbonsville.  He  also 
made  town  clocks  and  finally  church  bells.  His  business  increased  and 
in  1835  he  took  Jonas  V  Oothout  in  partnership  ;  the  latter  withdrew 
in  1841  and  in  1849  Mr\  Meneely  took  as  partner  his  son,  Edwin  A.,  the 


422 

firm  name  being  Andrew  Meneely  &  Son.  The  senior  of  the  firm  died  in 
1 85 1,  and  the  business  was  continued  by  Edwin  A.  and  George  R. 
Meneely.  Soon  after  the  death  of  the  elder  Meneely  the  whole  atten- 
tion of  the  sons  was  given  to  the  manufacture  of  bells.  In  1874  George 
R.  Meneely  withdrew  from  the  business,  and  Edwin  A.  has  since  died. 
The  present  firm  comprises  Mrs.  E.  A.  Meneely  and  Andrew  H. 
Meneely. 

George  R.  Meneely  carries  on  a  brass  foundry,  in  company  with  his 
son,  Charles  D.,  who  came  into  the  business  in  1888,  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  a  patent  journal  bearing  for  cars,  engines,  etc.  It  has  great 
merit  and  a  large  sale. 

The  Covert  Manufacturing  Company  was  organized  in  Troy  in  1873, 
the  members  being  James  C.  Covert,  Madison  Covert,  Henry  Wakeman, 
and  Scudder  Wakeman.  In  1879  the  business  was  removed  to  West 
Troy,  and  soon  afterward  the  Wakemans  withdrew.  In  1893  Madison 
Covert  withdrew  and  James  C.  Covert  is  now  sole  proprietor.  About 
eighty  hands  are  employed  in  the  manufacture  of  saddlery  hardware 
and  wrought  iron  chains 

In  1 83 1  Sanford  S.  Perry  established  the  pottery  now  situated  on  the 
corner  of  Washington  and  Schenectady  streets,  the  factory  at  that  time 
being  situated  on  Champlain  street  fronting  the  Erie  Canal.  In  1845 
Nathan  Porter  and  Robert  H.  Fraser  purchased  the  pottery  and  removed 
it  to  its  present  location.  About  a  year  later  Mr.  Fraser  died  and  was 
succeeded  in  the  firm  by  his  brother,  George  B.  The  firm  continued  a 
successful  business  for  eighteen  years,  when  it  was  dissolved  and  the 
establishment  was  sold  to  George  H.  Seymour.  From  him  it  passed  to 
the  present  owners,  Shepley  &  Smiths. 

The  J.  M.  Jones'  Sons  horse  car  works  were  founded  as  a  wagon 
manufactory  in  1839  by  Henry  W.  Witbeck  and  John  M.  Jones,  under 
the  style  of  Witbeck  &  Jones.  The  business  continued  until  1863, 
when  Mr.  Witbeck  withdrew  and  George  Lawrence  took  his  place. 
The  manufacture  of  horse  cars  was  then  begun  and  the  making  of  wag- 
ons was  soon  abandoned.  In  1864  Mr.  Lawrence  withdrew  from  the 
business  and  Mr.  Jones  associated  his  sons  with  himself  In  February, 
1882,  John  M.  Jones  died,  and  since  that  time  his  son,  Walter  A.  has 
died,  leaving  John  H.  Jones  in  charge  of  the  works,  the  firm  name  re- 
maining the  same  as  before. 


JAMHS  C.  COVHRT. 


423 

On  the  site  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building  a  Mr.  Kilgour  built  a  saw  and 
planing  mill  in  1852,  and  was  succeeded  in  business  by  Ufford  &  Latham, 
and  they  by  James  Kerslake  in  1873.  He  continued  in  business  until 
his  death  in  July,  1892.  The  factory  finally  gave  way  to  the  present 
handsome  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building  which  was  erected  in  1892. 

Lewis  Rousseau,  senior  member  of  the  later  firm  of  Rousseau  &  Har- 
rington, established  a  planing  mill  in  1834,  and  soon  took  as  partner 
Mr.  Easton,  who  continued  as  such  for  twenty-eight  years.  Arvin  W. 
Harrington  succeeded  him  as  a  member  of  the  firm  under  the  style  of 
Rousseau  &  Harrington.  Mr.  Rousseau  died  July  2,  1884,  after  a  long 
and  active  life.  This  mill  was  subsequently  burned.  A  large  planing 
mill  and  lumber  business  is  now  conducted  by  Harrington  &  Co.,  for 
whom  A.  W.  Harrington  and  J.  H.  Harrington  are  managers. 

By  the  act  of  the  Legislature  of  May  26,  1896,  the  city  of  Watervliet 
was  erected,  embracing  the  former  village  of  West  Troy,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  small  section  at  the  southern  end.  This  act  provided  that 
the  village  officers  then  in  power  should  hold  their  places  until  January 
1,  1897  ;   they  are  as  follows  : 

President,  M.  J.  Day;  trustees,  First  ward,  S.  V.  Feary,  one  year,  Charles  M.  An- 
gus, two  years;  Second  ward,  W.  C.  Baxter,  one  year,  J.  J.  Bennett,  two  years; 
Third  ward,  James  H.  Foley,  one  year,  J.  P.  Bridgman  two  years;  Fourth  ward, 
G.  H.  Mitchell  one  year,  Robert  Williams  two  years;  William  J.  Shaughnessy,  cham- 
berlain ;  William  Lynch,  Henry  Crall,  William  H.  Cronkhite,  assessors;  Daniel 
Knower,  Charles  F.  Polk,  John  D.  Brown,  William  Fitzgerald,  police  commissioners; 
Stephen  V.  Sturtevant,  E.  A.  Foley,  George  Witbeck,  William  Foley,  lire  commis- 
sioners; Charles  II.  Fort  (president),  Thomas  Cavanaugh  (secretary),  Michael  E. 
Gunnen,  James  D.  Maloney,  Thomas  E.  Coggins,  Derwin  Mitchell,  Thomas  F.  Ma- 
bar,  board  of  health ;   Dr.  P.  E.  Fennclly,  health  officer. 

The  presidents  of  the  village  elected  in  each  succeeding  year  have 
been  as  follows  : 

is:;?,  Martin  Witbeck;  ls:'»s,  Miron  R.  Peak;  1839  Andrew  Meneely;  1840,  Martin 
Witbeck;  1841,  Samuel Wilgus ;  L842,  Miron  R.  Peak;  1843,  Andrew  Meneely;  1844, 
Albert  T.  Dunham  ;  1845,  Albert  Richards;  1846,  Archibald  A.  Dunlop;  L847,  Albert 
T.  Dunham;  ISIS,  Daniel  C.  Stewart;  1849,  lk-man  Mather;  1850,  Daniel  C.  Stew- 
art; 1851,  Samuel  Crawford;  1852,  Morgan  L.  Taylor;  1853,  Lorenzo  I).  Collins; 
18.r)4,  George  B.  Fraser;  1855-56,  Martin  Witbeck;  1857,  Samuel  II.  Waterman; 
1858,  James  Roy;  1859,  James  Brady ;  I860,  George  R.  Meneely;  1861,  William  Os- 
wald; 1862,   Peter  A.   Rogers;  .1863,  James  Duffy ;  1864-65,  Francis  Beebi      L866  61 


424 

James  Hamil;  1868,  William  B.  Williams;  1869,  Terrence  Cummings;  1870-71,  Perry 
Robinson;  1872,  Joseph  M.  Lawrence;  1873,  Terrence  Cummings;  1874-75,  Michael 
Riley;  1870-77,  Patrick  Lane;  1878,  Robert  P.  Tunnard;  1879-80,  Joseph  McLean; 
1881,  George  B.  Mosher;  1882,  John  H.  Hulsapple;  1883,  William  E.  Cox;  1884, 
Patrick  Lane;  1883,  Terrence  Cummings.     The  term  of  office  being  for  one  year. 

The  ;people  of  the  villages  of  Washington  and  Gibbonsville  early- 
adopted  measures  to  provide  themselves  with  public  religious  instruc- 
tion. One  result  of  this  action  was  the  organization  in  1 8 14  of  the 
Reformed  Protestant  Dutch  church  of  Washington  and  Gibbonsville  by 
the  Classis  of  Albany.  Peter  S.  Schuyler  was  chairman  and  Volkert 
D.  Oathout1  clerk  of  the  organizing  meeting,  which  was  held  in  the 
school  house  in  Washington  village  March  19,  18 14.  Mr.  Schuyler 
and  Mr.  Oathout  were  elected  elders,  and  Samuel  Phillips  and  Stephen 
Conger,  deacons.  The  Consistory  of  this  church  united  with  that  of 
the  Reformed  Dutch  church  at  the  Boght  in  the  town  of  Watervliet, 
and  Rev.  Robert  Bronk  preached  alternately  in  the  two  places.  Mr. 
Bronk  labored  in  the  two  churches  about  twenty  years,  when  he  re- 
signed his  charge  at  the  Boght  and  devoted  his  whole  time  to  the  vil- 
lage church  until  1834,  when  he  resigned.  The  first  church  edifice  was 
dedicated  July  10,  18 16,  more  than  a  year  having  been  devoted  to  its 
erection.  The  building  stood  on  the  west  side  of  Broadway  a  little 
north  of  North  street  on  ground  donated  by  John  Schuyler,  jr.  and 
James  Gibbons.  As  time  passed  and  it  was  seen  that  most  of  the  con- 
gregation of  this  church  resided  north  of  the  Arsenal,  it  was  deter- 
mined to  build  a  new  house  of  worship  in  a  more  convenient  locality 
A  lot  was  accordingly  purchased  on  the  cornerof  Washington  and  Buffalo 
streets,  and  the  corner  stone  of  a  new  edifice  was  laid  in  August,  1839 
The  building  was  finished  and  dedicated  in  the  following  year,  the  cost 
being  about  $13,000.  Services  were  held  for  a  few  years  in  the  old 
church  in  the  morning  and  in  the  new  church  in  the  afternoon  and 
evening.  The  former  was  commonly  called  the  South  church  and  the 
latter  the  North  church.  The  parish  was  divided  in  1844  and  soon 
the  old  church  was  sold  on  account  of  financial  embarrassment,  it 
being  purchased  by  Clarkson  F.  Crosby.  On  the  18th  of  June,  1844, 
the    "South    Reformed    Protestant    Dutch    Church    in    the   village   of 

1  This  name  in  early  years  was  sometimes  spelled  as  here. 


425 

West  Troy"  was  organized  with  Philip  S.  Schuyler,  Robert  Dunlop 
and  John  C.  Schuyler,  elders,  and  David  Moore  and  Stephen  C. 
Dermott,  deacons,  and  thirty-six  members.  This  congregation  pur- 
chased the  old  church  of  Mr.  Crosby,  and  on  July  25  called  Rev.  Theo- 
dore F.  Wyckoff  to  the  pastorate  ;  he  remained  about  ten  years.  In 
1 87 1,  the  old  church  building  having  become  entirely  inadequate 
for  the  congregation,  steps  were  taken  to  provide  better  accommoda- 
tions. At  this  time  Hon.  James  B.  Jermain  sent  to  the  Consistory  a 
proposition  to  build  a  new  church  at  his  own  expense  under  the  fol- 
lowing, among  other,  conditions:  1.  A  change  of  site  and  the  pur- 
chase of  a  lot  by  the  congregation.  2.  The  furnishing  of  the  building 
when  completed,  including  organ,  by  the  congregation.  3.  The  edifice 
to  be  a  memorial  building  in  memory  of  Sylvanus  P.  Jermain  (father  of 
James  B.)  and  of  his  family.  This  proposition  was  promptly  accepted, 
and  the  site  on  the  corner  of  Groton  and  Middle  streets  was  purchased. 
The  present  beautiful  church  was  finished  in  November,  1874,  and  dedi- 
cated December  30,  of  that  year.  During  the  year  1874  the  tower 
was  added  to  the  edifice,  and  in  J  878  the  chapel  was  added.  It  is  the 
finest  church  property  in  the  city,  the  building  having  cost  about 
$100  000.  By  a  vote  of  a  majority  of  its  members  this  church  in  1885 
severed  its  relations  with  the  Reformed  church  and  became  connected 
with  the  Presbytery  of  Albany. 

In  1840  the  "North  Church,"  as  it  theretofore  had  been  known, 
changed  its  corporate  title  to  "The  North  Reformed  Church  of  West 
Troy,"  Rev.  Dr.  O.  H.  Gregory  remaining  pastor,  and  continuing  to 
act  until  1870.  In  1865  the  chapel  was  erected.  The  society  still  has 
an  active  existence. 

Trinity  Episcopal  church  was  organized  in  1834,  mission  services 
having  been  held  for  two  years  previous  thereto  by  Rev.  Dr.  David 
Butler,  of  Troy,  in  a  school  house  on  the  west  side  of  Burlington  street. 
The  two  families  of  Raymond  Taylor  and  James  Lobdell  formed  the 
nucleus  of  the  congregation.  The  first  vestry  of  the  church  were  the 
rector,  Rev.  James  Tappan  ;  wardens,  James  Lobdell  and  A.  S.  Black- 
man  ;  vestrymen,  Raymond  Taylor,  John  Mason,  Glover  Blackmail, 
Edgar  Botsford,  Gilbert  C.  Bedell,  Thomas  Evans,    John    Worthington, 

and  Jonathan  Hart.      A  brick  church  edifice  was  built   in    1837    on  the 
54 


426 

west  side  of  Salem  street,  which  was  consecrated  June  4.  Owing  to 
the  inconvenience  of  reaching  this  church  from  the  northern  and  central 
parts  of  the  village,  a  new  society  was  organized  November  19,  1838, 
and  called  St.  Luke's.  Rev.  Washington  Van  Zandt  was  called  to  serve 
this  congregation,  and  a  church  was  built  later  on  the  north  side  of  what 
is  now  Central  avenue.  After  a  few  changes  in  the  pastorate,  Rev. 
William  H.  H.  Bissell  was  called  to  the  rectorship  of  both  Trinity  and 
St.  Luke's.  In  1844  the  Salem  street  church  was  sold  and  was  sub- 
sequently burned.  In  September,  1845,  Rev.  Joshua  Weaver  became 
rector  and  on  January  10,  1848,  the  present  church  then  just  completed, 
was  consecrated.  During  the  rectorship  of  Rev.  Joseph  S.  Saunders, 
1863-67,  the  three  story  brick  rectory  north  of  the  church  was  erected. 
In  1875  a  mission  chapel,  in  connection  with  the  church,  was  erected 
on  Groton  street,  and  called  St.  Gabriel's  chapel.  In  1878  another 
mission  chapel  was  built  on  Ford  street,  and  named  St.  Andrew's.  The 
church  edifice  was  enlarged  in  1865  by  a  wing  on  the  south  side. 
In  1877  it  was  further  enlarged  by  an  organ  chamber.  In  1882  a  chapel 
was  built  on  the  rear  of  the  church  lot. 

St.  Patrick's  Catholic  church  was  organized  in  1839,  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing year  a  lot  was  purchased  on  the  corner  of  Burlington  and  Union 
streets,  whereon  a  church  was  erected  in  1840.  The  congregation  was 
organized  and  the  building  erected  under  the  superintendence  of  Rev. 
John  Shannahan,  of  St.  Peter's  church,  Troy.  The  first  priest  in  charge 
was  Rev.  James  Quinn.  In  February,  1850,  Rev.  Thomas  A.  Kyle, 
then  in  charge,  organized  St.  Bridget's  church.  Rev.  William  F.  Shee- 
han  became  priest  of  the  church  in  October,  1868,  and  has  faithfully 
ministered  to  the  congregation  up  to  the  present  time.  The  old  church 
edifice  having  become  unsuitable  for  the  needs  of  the  congregation,  a 
site  was  purchased  on  Ontario  street  and  in  July,  the  corner  stone  of 
the  present  beautiful  edifice  was  laid. 

St.  Bridget's  Catholic  church  was  organized  and  built  in  1850  under 
the  supervision  of  Rev.  Thomas  Kyle,  who  was  then  in  charge  of  St. 
Patrick's  church.  The  church  is  situated  on  the  corner  of  Salem  and 
Mansion  streets.  Rev.  William  Cullinan  was  the  first  priest  in  charge 
of  this  parish,  and  was  succeeded  in  May,  1883,  by  Rev.  James  A. 
Curtin,  under  whose   direction  extensive  improvements  were]  made  to 


427 

the  church  edifice.  In  the  fall  of  1883  the  property,  corner  of  Salem 
and  Mansion  streets,  was  purchased  by  this  church,  whereon  a  rectory 
was  established  in  the  dwelling  with  a  school  in  adjoining  buildings  un- 
der charge  of  the  Sisters. 

The  Washington  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  organized 
in  April,  1831,  with  Daniel  T.  Wandell,  William  Tucker,  William  P. 
Hall,  Amnion  Hammond,  and  David  I.  Dutcher,  trustees.  These 
trustees  were  by  resolution  given  the  title  of  the  "Trustees  of  the  Gib- 
bonsville  Station  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  Town  of 
Watervliet."  They  purchased  of  Ebenezer  Prescott  a  lot  corner  of 
Washington  and  Ferry  streets  and  built  a  small  one-story  edifice.  This 
was  enlarged  in  1840  and  in  the  next  year  a  vestry  was  erected  on  the 
same  lot;  this  was  converted  into  a  parsonage  in  1857.  ^n  the  spring 
of  this  year  the  old  church  was  sold  and  removed  and  the  present 
church  built  on  the  site  ;  the  first  service  in  the  new  church  was  held 
in  January,  1858.  The  old  structure  was  purchased  by  John  M.  Jones 
and  became  the  machine  shop  connected  with  the  Jones  car  works.  In 
1883  a  steeple,  bell  and  clock  were  added  to  the  new  church,  and  the 
parsonage  was  extensively  improved.  In  1849  a  number  of  the  mem- 
bers of  this  society  in  the  upper  part  of  the  village  organized  the  Ohio 
Street  Methodist  Episcopal  church  ;  after  this  the  former  title  of  the 
earlier  church  was  dropped  and  the  present  one  taken — the  Washing- 
ton Street  M.  E.  church. 

The  Ohio  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  before  mentioned,  was 
organized  in  the  spring  of  1849  by  Alexander  S.  Lobdell,  Ashael  Pot- 
ter, Edward  Mallory,  R.  E.  Gorton,  and  Otis  Wood, an  on  June  5  of  that 
year  the  church  purchased  the  property  on  the  southwest  corner  of 
Ohio  and  Ontario  streets  (commonly  called  the  Bethel  church).  The 
small  wooden  church  there  standing  was  burned  November  19,  1849, 
and  in  the  following  spring  the  corner  stone  of  a  two-story  brick  struc- 
ture was  laid,  while  Rev.  I.  F.  Yates,  the  first  pastor,  was  in  charge.  In 
1 88 1  a  brick  parsonage  was  built,  adjoining  the  church.  In  1895  this 
church  was  greatly  improved  at  a  cost  of  about  $10,000. 

The  "  First  Particular  Paptist  Church  and  Society  of  Gibbonsville 
and  West  Troy,"  commonly  called  the  First  Baptist  church,  was  organ- 
ized   at  a  meeting  held   March    14,  1827,  when   the  following  trustees 


428 

were  elected  :  Edward  Learned,  Thomas  Shrimpton,  Jonathan  Caulkins, 
Hiram  M.  Hopkins,  and  Cyrus  Kenney.  The  society  consisted  at  first 
of  seventeen  members.  This  church  site  comprises  four  village  lots  on 
the  corner  of  Ohio  street  and  Central  avenue,  which  were  a  gift  by  Philip 
Schuyler  and  others  as  trustees  of  the  West  Troy  Company.  The  first 
church  edifice  was  built  in  1829,  and  was  a  small  wooden  structure. 
This  was  used  until  1842,  when  it  was  sold  to  a  French  Catholic  congre- 
gation and  removed.  The  second  building  erected  was  of  brick  and 
fronted  on  Canal  street.  This  served  its  purpose  until  1870,  when  it 
was  demolished  and  the  present  edifice  erected.  A  parsonage,  erected 
in  1847,  adjoins  the  church  The  first  regular  pastor,  Rev.  Ashley 
Vaughan,  began  his  services  in  July,  1830.  In  the  summer  of  1867 
the  Sunday  school  of  this  church  organized  a  mission  Sunday  school 
in  the  Port  Schuyler  part  of  the  village,  which  continued  actively  until 
1875.  In  1869  the  school  organized  a  mission  school  on  Green  Island 
which  continued  to  1873,  when  it  was  made  an  independent  organiza- 
tion. 

The  First  Presbyterian  church  was  organized  February  12,  1834, 
when  Hiram  Hopkins,  Horace  L.  Dann,  and  Henry  Kimberly  were 
chosen  trustees.  On  the  27th  of  that  month  the  society  organized  as  a 
Congregational  church,  which  seemed  a  preferable  form  of  government, 
and  by  September  of  that  year  a  house  of  worship  had  been  completed. 
This  was  of  wood  and  stood  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Ohio  and  Ontario 
streets.  In  1835  the  church  government  was  changed  to  the  Presbyte- 
rian and  the  name  altered  to  that  given  above.  Two  other  changes  of  the 
same  character  were  made,  the  first  a  few  years  after  the  one  just  mention- 
ed, by  which  the  Congregational  form  was  again  assumed,  and  the  second 
on  August  26,  1839,  when  it  again  became  Presbyterian  and  joined  the 
New  School  Presbytery  of  Troy.  Between  1845  and  1875  no  regular 
pastor  was  employed.  On  June  5,  1849,  the  struggle  to  properly  main- 
tain the  church  decided  the  trustees  to  sell  their  house  and  lots  to  the 
Ohio  Street  Methodist  Society,  as  before  stated.  The  society  then  re- 
mained dormant  until  about  1875  when  the  present  brick  edifice  was 
erected  on  the  north  side  of  Union  street  near  Ford. 

The  Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Mary  (French  Catholic)  was  or- 
ganized by  Rev.  Eugene  Rey,  and  the  corner  stone  of  the  first  church 


429 

edifice,  on  the  corner  of  Stafford  and  Buffalo  streets,  was  laid  September 
ii,  1 88 1.  This  church  was  burned  April  2,  1885.  The  present  building, 
was  erected  on  the  same  site. 

GREEN  ISLAND  (VILLACxE  AND  TOWN.) 

Green  Island  originally  constituted  a  part  of  Rensselaer  Manor  and 
with  what  was  called  Jan  Gownson  Island  and  land  opposite  thereto  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  sixth  sprout  of  the  Mohawk  and  extending  back 
one-half  an  English  mile,  comprised  the  farm  or  "  Bowery  "  called 
Turkee.  This  farm  was  sold  by  Killian  Van  Rensselaer  to  Col.  Peter 
Schuyler  on  May  6,  1708,  the  consideration  being  one-tenth  part  of  the 
annual  crops  of  the  farm.  Maria  Schuyler  the  colonel's  wife,  was  a  sister 
of  the  Patroon.  On  June  8,  1 7 1 3,  Schuyler  sold  the  Turkee  farm  to 
Hendrick  Oothout  of  Albany,  a  carpenter,  for  ,£850  New  York  money. 
Green  Island  remained  the  property  of  Oothout  and  his  descendants 
until  the  early  part  of  the  present  century,  when  George  Tibbitts  became 
the  owner  of  262  acres  of  the  northern  part,  which  is  about  two- thirds 
of  the  whole. 

In  1835  the  Rensselaer  and  Saratoga  Railroad  Company  built  its 
bridge  from  the  island  to  Troy  and  the  first  train  of  cars  passed  over  it 
on  October  8,  of  that  year.  A  little  later  the  company  erected  a  wooden 
bridge  connecting  the  island  with  West  Troy,  and  opened  the  roadway 
across  the  island  which  became  and  now  is  Albany  street;  this  was  the 
first  public  street  opened.  Previous  to  these  improvements  the  island 
had  little  importance.  Until  1854  the  cars  were  drawn  by  horses  from 
the  island  terminus  of  the  bridge  to  the  Troy  House  in  Troy;  in  that 
year  a  second  bridge  was  built  adjoining  the  first  and  locomotives  took 
the  place  of  horses  in  crossing  it,  while  the  first  bridge  was  repaired  and 
given  up  to  teams  and  pedestrians.  On  May  10,  1862,  the  eastern  half 
of  the  old  bridge  was  burned,  but  at  once  rebuilt  with  wood.  In  1879 
the  western  half  was  rebuilt  of  iron  and  in  1884  the  eastern  end  was 
likewise  renewed. 

In  1823  the  State  constructed  a  dam  across  the  Hudson  River  from 
Green  Island  to  Troy,  its  completion  being  duly  celebrated.  This  dam 
is  1,100  feet  long  and  nine  feet  high.  At  its  eastern  end  was  built  a 
sloop  lock  with   a  length  of  1 14  feet,  a  width  of  thirty  feet,    height  of 


430 


twenty- five  feet  and  nine  feet  lift.  In  the  year  1849  work  was  begun 
by  Daniel  Hartnett,  James  Brady,  and  Ephraim  Baldwin  of  West  Troy, 
under  State  direction,  on  a  dyke  and  pier,  the  first  at  the  northern  end 
and  the  second  at  the  southern  end  of  the  island.  The  dyke  was  so 
located  as  to  turn  the  water  of  this  sprout  of  the  Mohawk  into  the  Hud- 
son, while  the  pier  at  the  southern  end  acts  as  a  dam  and  raises  the 
water  in  the  large  basin  thus  formed  several  feet.  At  the  southern  end 
of  the  pier  a  lock  was  built  through  which  boats  pass  from  the  basin  to 
the  Hudson.  This  work  was  finished  in  1852.  In  carrying  out  these 
improvements  the  former  bluff,  eight  to  ten  feet  high,  along  the  east 
side  of  the  island,  was  cut  away  to  obtain  dirt.  Human  bones  and 
other  evidences  of  early  occupation  were  found  while  making  this 
excavation.  Prior  to  1850  that  part  of  the  island  south  of  Albany  av- 
enue was  in  a  wild  state  and  was  used  for  picnic  grounds.  Thither  the 
remnant  of  the  St.  Francis  Indians  came  in  the  summer  months  to  camp 
and  sell  their  baskets  and  other  goods.  In  1840  was  begun  the  con- 
struction of  the  Troy  and  Schenectady  Railroad,  which  crosses  the 
island,  the  first  trains  on  which  ran  about  November  1,  1842.  At  this 
time  there  were  only  six  dwellings  on  the  island,  a  small  school  house, 
a  saw  mill  at  the  State  dam,  and  a  few  shops. 

After  these  various  improvements  Green  Island  was  rapidly  settled 
and  eventually  a  village  was  built  up  and  called  by  the  name  of  the 
island  itself.  This  village  was  incorporated  April  5,  1853,  and  on  the 
1 8th  of  June  of  that  year  the  first  election  was  held  and  the  following 
officers  elected :  Trustees,  Stephen  Viele,  Jacob  Yates,  Robert  Bo- 
gardus,  Warner  Groat  and  Alexander  Morrison,  the  latter  being  chosen 
president  of  the  board.  Other  officers  elected  were  two  assessors,  a 
collector,  treasurer,  clerk,  street  commissioner,  poundmaster,  and  two 
fire  wardens.  On  May  12,  1869,  a  new  village  charter  was  granted  by 
the  Legislature,  which  more  fully  met  the  needs  of  the  people.  Fol- 
lowing is  a  list  of  the  presidents  of  the  village  from  its  incorporation  to 
the  present  time  : 

1853,  Alexander  Morrison;  1854,  James  Remington;  1855,  Stephen  Yiele;  1856, 
James  Remington  ;  1857,  Charles  M.  Parker;  1858,  James  Torrance  ;  1859-61,  Thomas 
Stantial;  1862,  Jonas  Clute;  1863-4,  William  M  Strong;  1865,  John  Miller;  1866-7, 
James  Glass;  1868,  William  E.  Gilbert;  18(19-70,  Henry  S.  Marcy;  1871-73,  James 
Glass;  1874,  Edgar  Gardner ;  1875-77,   Benjamin  F.  Manier;  1878,  William  M.  Tor- 


431 

ranee;  1879,  William  E.  Keating;  1880,  William  Bliss;  1881,  Thomas  H.  Richardson; 
1882,  James  Torrance;  1883-87,  Joseph  Hines;  1888,  George  A.  Van  Bergen ;  1889-90, 
Joseph  Hines;  1891-92,  Thomas  H.  Richardson;  1893-6,  Carroll  Coon;  1895  s.  E.  J. 
Gilbert. 

Green  Island  was  originally  school  district  No.  23  of  the  town  of 
Watervliet.  On  November  17,  1854,  the  inhabitants  met  and  voted 
that  it  be  made  a  union  free  school  district,  and  a  board  of  education 
was  elected  consisting  of  Joseph  D.  Eaton,  Stephen  Viele,  James  Glass, 
"William  C.  Rodgers,  and  Edmund  J.  Gilbert.  As  the  population  in- 
creased new  school  buildings  were  erected,  the  first  on  Hudson  avenue 
in  1865,  of  brick,  and  the  second  at  the  corner  of  West  and  Arch 
streets,  built  in  1879.  In  connection  with  the  latter  is  a  circulating 
library  containing  1,625  volumes. 

The  public  peace  of  Green  Island  village  was  originally  maintained 
by  the  Capital  Police  before  mentioned,  and  the  village  with  Cohoes 
constituted  a  precinct  or  division.  The  Green  Island  police  was  organ- 
ized in  June,  1871,  the  trustees  having  received  legislative  authority 
therefor.     The  force  now  comprises  a  captain  and  two  patrolmen. 

A  newspaper  called  the  Green  Island  Review  was  started  in  January, 
1879,  by  Henry  L.  Gilbert,  and  continued  to  September,  1884,  when  he 
sold  out  to  W.  A.  Cole  and  L.  H  Weeks;  they  changed  the  name  of 
the  paper  to  the  Albany  County  Herald  and  continued  it  for  a  time, 
but  finally  discontinued  publication. 

In  early  years  the  village  depended  on  the  Troy  Fire  Department  to 
extinguish  its  fires,  the  village  paying  a  stipulated  annual  sum  therefor. 
After  the  establishment  of  the  West  Troy  Water  Works,  that  company 
extended  its  system  into  this  village  and  supplied  water  until  the  spring 
of  1884.  In  the  spring  of  1878  the  village  fire  department  was  organ- 
ized, comprising  the  William  E.  Gilbert  Hose  Company  (organized  in 
1873)  and  the  John  McGowan  Hose  Company.  When  the  village 
ceased  using  the  West  Troy  water,  as  stated,  a  steam  fire  engine  was 
purchased  and  a  company  organized  under  the  name  of  Gilbert  Steamer 
Company  No.  1.  For  the  use  of  this  engine  several  cisterns  were  con- 
structed at  convenient  points,  and  docks  and  piers  were  built  on  the 
river  bank  upon  which  the  engine  could  be  placed  and  take  its  supply 
from  the  stream. 

The  Troy  and   Cohoes   Horse   Railroad   Company  was  organized   in 


432 

February,  1862,  its  line  extending  through  George  street  in  this  village. 
Cars  began  running  from  the  eastern  approach  to  the  railroad  bridge 
to  the  Champlain  Canal,  on  October  10,  1863.  Like  almost  all  other 
street  railways  this  road  is  now  equipped  with  electric  cars  and  the 
island  is  thus  connected  with  Troy,  West  Troy,  Cohoes,  and  Albany. 

After  the  opening  of  the  first  railroad  and  the  gathering  on  the  island 
of  a  considerable  population,  it  became  a  manufacturing  point  of  im- 
portance. The  great  car  shops  of  Eaton  &  Gilbert,  citizens  of  Troy, 
were  built  here  in  1853,  for  many  years,  and  until  recently,  employing 
a  large  number  of  hands.  The  works  have  been  in  the  hands  of  a 
receiver  for  some  time  past. 

The  Torrance  Iron  Company,  George  L.  French,  president  ;  C.  A. 
McLeod,  vice-president,  and  N.  H.  Squires,  secretary  and  treasurer,  is 
successor  to  the  Green  Island  Malleable  Iron  Works,  founded  in  1852 
by  William  Torrance.  In  the  company  later  were  associated  John  O. 
Merriam,  J.  W.  Lawrence,  and  William  M.  Torrance.  Malleable  and 
grey  iron  castings  of  all  kinds  are  made. 

The  Franklin  Iron  Works  were  established  in  1865  by  Thomas  S. 
Sutherland,  who  successfully  carried  on  the  business  and  later  took 
his  son  into  partnership.  About  120  hands  are  employed  in  the 
manufacture  of  almost  everything  in  which  boiler  plate  and  sheet  iron 
is  used. 

The  Pinkerton  Iron  Works  were  established  by  Robert  Pinkerton  in 
1879,  for  the  manufacture  of  steam  boilers,  bleachers,  tanks,  etc.  The 
company  is  now  composed  of  Robert  Pinkerton  and  Abram  Mull. 

The  manufacture  of  blinds  and  doors  was  established  on  a  large 
scale  by  Crampton  &  Belden  in  1867,  and  still  continues,  employing 
upwards  of  200  hands. 

The  Trojan  Car  Coupler  Company  was  organized  in  1891,  with  a 
capital  of  $300,000.  Howard  H.  Burden,  president ;  Palmer  C.  Rick- 
etts,  vice-president  ;  Alfred  H.  Renshaw,  treasurer  and  general  man- 
ager ;  Eugene  Seitz,  secretary.  The  company  is  successfully  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  a  patent  car  coupler. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Green  Island  was  organized  in 
1853,  meetings    being  held    for  some   time  in    the  school  house.     The 


433 

present  church  edifice  was  completed  in  the  spring  of  1854.  The  first 
pastor  was  Rev.  J.  L.  Cook,  and  the  first  class  leaders  were  Hinkley 
Davis  and  Joshua  Coleburn.  The  parsonage  was  built  in  1863.  I'1 
1875  the  church  was  enlarged  by  increasing  its  length  at  the  front.  The 
society  still  leads  a  prosperous  existence. 

The  First  Presbyterian  church  was  organized  April  18,  1853,  follow- 
ing the  adoption  of  resolutions  by  the  session  of  the  Troy  Presbyterian 
church  recommending  such  action.  The  site  on  the  west  side  of  Hud- 
son avenue  was  purchased  and  a  small  wooden  church  erected,  which 
was  dedicated  February  28,  1854.  The  society  was  organized  on  the 
same  day  with  seventeen  members,  and  James  Remington,  George 
Beach  and  Stephen  Viele  were  elected  elders.  On  March  16  following 
James  Torrance,  William  F.  Adams,  William  H.  Lansing,  Fred  Kean, 
and  Joseph  D.  Hardin  were  chosen  trustees.  The  old  church  was 
used  until  1866,  when  it  was  removed  and  the  present  church  edifice 
erected. 

St.  Joseph's  Catholic  church  was  organized  in  1869,  and  a  house  of 
worship  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $5,000.  A  little  later  the  parsonage 
and  grounds  were  provided  at  a  further  cost  of  $9,000.  The  first  priest 
in  charge  was  Rev.  J  McManemy,  who  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Thomas 
Connelly.  Within  the  past  five  years  a  new  church  has  been  erected  at 
a  cost  of  about  $40,000. 

St.  Mark's  Episcopal  church  was  formed  in  November,  1865,  chiefly 
through  the  efforts  of  Rev.  Edgar  T.  Chapman,  then  assistant  rector  of 
St  Paul's  church,  Troy,  who  became  rector  of  St.  Mark's  as  soon  as 
organization  was  perfected.  The  erection  of  a  church  was  at  once  be- 
gun on  the  east  side  of  Hudson  avenue,  the  cost  of  the  church  and  chapel 
being  $17,000.  In  1880  the  chapel  was  enlarged  and  in  1884  a  rectory 
was  built  for  the  society  by  Uri  Gilbert  at  a  cost  of  $6,000. 

When  the  town  of  Colonie  was  erected  June  7,  1895.  as  before  de- 
scribed, Green  Island  and  West  Troy  were  left  in  existence  as  the  town 
of  Watervliet.  This  was  a  condition  of  affairs  that  could  not  long  con- 
tinue. The  inhabitants  of  Green  Island,  with  their  own  village  govern- 
ment to  support,  and  with  a  limited  area,  felt  that  they  were  unjustly 
burdened  with   taxation  for  the  benefit  of  those   living  in  West   Troy. 

55 


434 

This  led  to  the  passage  of  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  under  date  of  May 

21,  1896,  creating  the  town  of  Green  Island,  embracing  in  its  limits  the 

whole  island,  and  leaving  the  former  village  corporation  in  e'xistence. 

An  election  was  held  on  June  9,   1895.  and  the  following  town  officers 

chosen  : 

Supervisor,  Carroll  Coon ;  clerk,  William  F.  Miller;  assessors,  William  J.  Morrison, 
John  Rouhow,  Edward  Heffern ;  overseer  of  the  poor,  E.  J.  Gilbert ;  collector,  George 
W.  Wilcox;  justices  of  the  peace,  John  Conway,  four  years,  Luther  G.  Plnlo,  three 
years,  John  P.  Hayner,  two  years,  William  C.  Harter,  one  year. 


COHOES.1 

Many  years  before  the  turbulent  waters  of  the  Cohoes  falls  turned  a 

wheel,  the  locality  finds  historical   mention.      Rev.  Johannes  Megapo- 

lensis,  who  settled  in  Albany  in  1642,  wrote  as  follows  to  his  friends  in 

Holland  : 

Through  this  land  runs  an  excellent  river,  about  five  hundred  or  six  hundred  paces 
wide.  This  river  comes  out  of  the  Mahakas  country  about  four  miles  north  of  us. 
There  it  flows  between  two  high  rocky  banks,  and  falls,  from  a  height  equal  to  that 
of  a  church,  with  such  a  noise  that  we  can  sometimes  hear  it  with  us. 

A  little  later,  in  1656,  Adrian  Van  Der  Donck  was  here,  and  the 
account  of  his  visit  thus  alludes  to  these  falls : 

The  other  arm  of  the  North  river  runs  by  four  sprouts,  as  we  have  related,  to  the 
great  falls  of  the  Magnas  Kill  (Mohawk  river),  which  the  Indians  name  the  Chahoos, 
and  our  nation  the  Great  Falls,  above  which  the  river  is  again  several  hundred  yards 
wide,  and  the  falls  we  estimate  to  be  one  hundred  and  fifty  or  two  hundred  feet 
high.  The  precipice  of  firm  blue  rock.  .  .  The  Indians,  when  they  travel  by 
water  and  come  to  trade,  usually  come  in  canoes  made  of  the  bark  of  trees,  which 
they  know  how  to  construct.  When  they  come  near  the  falls,  they  land,  and  carry 
their  boats  and  lading  some  distance  below  the  falls,  and  proceed  on  their  voyage; 
otherwise  they  would  proceed  over  the  falls  and  be  destroyed. 

The  Irish  poet,  Thomas  Moore,  visited  this  spot  in  1804,  and  followed 
his  usual  course  by  celebrating  the  event  in  a  poem.  It  closes  as 
follows: 

Oh,  may  my  falls  be  bright  as  thine ! 

May  heaven's  forgiving  rainbow  shine 

Upon  the  mist  that  circles  me, 

As  soft  as  now  it  hangs  o'er  thee ! 

'This  name  has  been  spelled  in  various  ways,  such  as  Chahoos,  Cahoos,  Cahhoos,  Kahoos, 
Chohos,  Cohoez,  and  Cohos.  It  is  an  Indian  name  of  unknown  significance,  and  speculation  upon 
its  real  meaning  is  useless. 


JAMHS  B.  MCKEE. 


435 

The  territory  now  covered  by  the  city  of  Cohoes  formed  part  of  the 
Van  Rensselaer  Manor  and  part  of  the  lands  belonging  to  Mrs.  Illetie 
Van  Slyck  Van  Olinde,  a  half-breed,  and  wife  of  Pieter  Danielse  Van 
Olinde,  Her  land  was  given  to  her  by  the  Mohawks  in  1667,  the 
southern  line  of  her  possession  being  the  Manor  avenue  road  of  the  pres- 
ent time,  which  extends  west  from  the  falls  to  the  Boght.1  To  the 
south  of  this  road  were  the  lands  of  the  Patroon.  It  will  be  seen  that 
most  of  the  original  village  was  on  the  Van  Rensselaer  land.  On  the 
north  side  of  the  Mohawk  was  the  Halve  Maan  (Half  Moon)  patent. 
The  islands  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mohawk  came  early  into  possession  of 
Capt.  Goosen  Gerritse  Van  Schaick,  who  died  in  1676.  Subsequent 
occupants  of  that  part  of  the  present  city  were  Guert  Hendrickse  Van 
Schoonhoven,  Harmon  Lieverse,  and  Roeloff  Gerritse  Van  DerWerken. 
Beginning  at  the  north  line  of  the  Van  Rensselaer  Manor  (Manor 
avenue),  the  colonists  under  the  Patroon  were  the  Heamstreet,  Onder- 
kirk,  Lansing,  Fonda,  and  Clute  families,  some  of  whom  have  already 
been  alluded  to.  The  Patroon  prudently  reserved  from  settlement  a 
strip  of  land  below  the  falls  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  which  subse- 
quently became  of  great  value  as  a  site  for  factories. 

A  part  of  the  Van  Olinde  estate,  north  of  Manor  avenue,  has  been 
sold  in  city  lots,  a  considerable  part  passed  into  the  possession  of 
James  Morrison  in  recent  years,  and  part  went  into  the  estate  of  the 
late  Isaac  D.  F.  Lansing.  In  the  deed  of  the  lands  next  north  of  Manor 
avenue  from  Daniel  Van  Olinde,  who  was  next  in  succession  to  the 
original  owner,  to  Walran  Clute,  there  was  granted  a  privilege  to  build 
one  or  more  saw  mills  and  "  a  grind  mill."  This  was  the  inception  of 
the  great  manufacturing  interests  of  Cohoes. 

As  a  village  Cohoes  was  of  little  importance  until  after  1830.  In 
that  year  it  contained  only  about  twenty  houses.  In  1740  the  Lansing 
family  owned  a  saw  mill  near  the  site  of  the  Cohoes  Company's  dam. 
A  grist  mill  was  built  just  south  of  the  saw  mill  at  a  later  date  and  the 
two  were  operated  for  some  years  by  Gerret  Clute  and  Rutger  Lansing 
as  partners.  A  grist  mill  was  at  an  early  period  erected  on  the  Clute  farm, 
a  short  distance  above  the  falls.  Another  grist  mill,  subsequently  trans- 
formed into  a  carding  mill,  was  situated  on  the  Heamstreet  farm,  opposite 

'  Boght  is  the  Dutch  for  "bund,"  referring  here  to  tin-  bend  in  the  Mohawk  River. 


436 

Simmons  Island.  In  1811  the  Cohoes  Manufacturing  Company  pur- 
chased sixty  acres  of  land  extending  from  the  bridge  south  to  a  point 
below  the  site  of  the  Episcopal  church  and  between  Mohawk  street 
and  the  river.  A  wing  dam  was  built  to  supply  water  power  and  a 
screw  factory  was  established.  Most  of  the  employees  came  from  New 
York,  and  several  tenements  were  built  for  them.  Regarding  these 
early  operations  Spafford's  Gazetteer  of  this  State  has  the  following: 

About  three  miles  north  of  Gibbonsville  [West  Troy]  there  is  a  bridge  across  the 
Mohawk,  a  short  distance  below  the  Cohoes  falls.  Since  the  above  was  written  a 
manufactory  of  screws  of  iron  for  wood  work,  erected  on  the  lower  sprout  of  the 
Mohawk  near  the  Cohoes  bridge,  has  got  into  successful  operation.  Works  are 
about  to  be  added  for  drawing  the  wire  from  which  the  screws  are  formed,  when  the 
iron  will  be  taken  in  the  bar  and  manufactured  into  screws,  now  made  of  foreign 
wire.  The  machinery  is  all  driven  by  water,  and  is  said  to  be  very  ingenious,  the 
invention  of  a  self-taught  artist,  Mr.  William  C.  Penniman.  Some  samples  of  the 
screws  which  I  have  seen  appear  to  be  well  formed,  and  they  are  cut  with  great  dis- 
patch. These  works  are  owned  by  an  incorporated  company  with  a  sufficient  capi- 
tal, and  are  situated  directly  opposite  Lansingburgh,  and  about  ten  miles  below 
Waterford. 

This  screw  factory  was  burned  in  1827,  the  corporation  failed  in  1829, 
and  the  property  passed  to  the  Cohoes  Company  by  sale.  While  this 
screw  factory  was  in  operation  the  manufacture  of  writing  paper  was 
begun  here  in  Gerret  Clute's  mill.  That  building  had  previously  been 
used  as  a  grist  mill  and  afterwards  for  the  manufacture  of  flannel.  The 
proprietor  of  the  paper  mill  was  Elisha  Sheldon.  A  small  cotton  fac- 
tory was  also  established  previous  to  the  organization  of  the  Cohoes 
Company,  by  the  De  Milt  Brothers,  of  New  York  ;  they  also  made 
shovels  and  other  implements,  the  establishment  being  managed  by 
Collins  &  Jones. 

The  real  prosperity  of  Cohoes  began  with  the  existence  of  the  Cohoes 
Company,  described  a  little  further  on,  and  was  greatly  enhanced  by 
the  organization  of  the  Harmony  Manufacturing  Company  in  1836. 
So  rapid  was  the  growth  of  the  place  between  that  year  and  1848.  that 
in  the  latter  year  measures  were  adopted  for  incorporation.  At  a  pub- 
lic meeting  a  resolution  was  adopted  favoring  such  action,  and  a  com- 
mittee of  five  was  appointed  to  carry  out  the  plans.  The  committee 
was  composed  of  Egbert  Egberts,  William  N.  Chadwick,  John  Van 
Santvoord,  Jeremiah  Clute,  and  Henry  D.  Fuller.      Charles  A.  Olmsted 


437 

was  afterwards  added  to  the  committee.  The  vote  of  the  electors  for 
and  against  the  measure  resulted  in  346  in  favor  of  incorporation  and 
26  against.  The  first  election  was  held  June  12,  1848,  and  the  follow- 
ing officers  elected  : 

Trustees,  Alfred  Phelps  Joshua  R.  Clarke,  George  Abbott,  Henry  D.  Fuller, 
William  Burton,1  Joshua  R.  Clarke  being  chosen  president  of  the  board ;  asses- 
sors, Henry  En  Earl,  John  P.  Steenberg,  William  H.  Hollister;  treasurer, 
Charles  A.  Olmsted  ;  collector,  John  B.  Harrison  ;  clerk,  John  Van  Santvoord  ;  pound- 
master,  Isaac  F.  Fletcher;  fire  wardens,  Jacob  Upham,  Henry  Van  Auken,  John 
McGill,  William  Osterhout,  and  Abram  Ostrom. 

The  successive  presidents  of  the  village  were  Henry  D.  Fuller,  William  F.  Carter. 
X.  W.  En  Earl,  William  N.  Chadwick,  Henry  E.  Landon,  Sidney  Alden,  George  H. 
Wager,  Murray  Hubbard,  Augustus  Ellmaker. 

At  this  time  the  population  of  the  village  was  about  4. 000  and  there 
were  evidences  of  future  growth  on  every  hand.  The  post  office  was 
established  in  1832.  Schools  were  in  successful  operation,  the  first  one 
in  this  locality  having  been  opened  at  the  Boght  in  181 3;  while  the  first 
in  the  city  limits  was  opened  later  on  the  corner  of  Oneida  and  Mohawk- 
streets  and  taught  by  one  O'Neil.  A  second  was  soon  built  on  the  site 
of  the  school  afterwards  known  as  the  slate-yard  school  house.  In  1828 
a  new  school  was  located  in  a  building  in  which  a  boarding  house  had 
been'kept,  on  Oneida  street,  near  the  site  of  the  old  freight  house.  The 
next  one  was  a  brick  building  built  in  1847  on  tne  corner  of  Canvass 
and  Oneida  streets. 

A  fire  department  had  been  established  through  the  purchase  of  a 
hand  engine  by  subscription  in  1835,  which  was  named  Excelsior  No.  1. 
A  larger  hand  engine  was  bought  of  the  Albany  department  in  1847, 
and  in  1 848,  the  year  of  incorporation,  the  village  purchased  a  good 
hand  engine,  hose  cart  and  hose  at  a  cost  of  $675.  Two  fire  companies 
were  formed  named  respectively  Parmelee  Engine  Company  and  Cat- 
aract Engine  Company,  and  Luke  Bemis  was  made  chief  engineer.  The 
first  engine  house  was  also  built  in  1848,  and  has  been  occupied  in 
recent  years  by  the  Campbell  Hose  Company.      Mohawk  Engine  Com- 

1  William  Burton  was  born  in  Schenectady  March  29,  1809,  learned  tin;  carpenter's  trade,  and 
a  it  i  r  various  occupations,  se1  tied  in  Cohoes  in  is  In,  when  its  population  was  only  about  1,800.  He 
le  conspicuous  in  public  affairs  as  well  as  in  business  circles  and  <  1  i « 1  much  for  tin-  develop- 
ment of  Uu-  village  and  city.  He  joined  John  M.  Tremain  in  tin-  manufactun 
afterwards  carried  on  the  business  alone.  He  held  various  local  offices  and  was  prominently  con- 
nected with  the  banks  and  other  institutions. 


438 

pany  was  formed  in  185  1,  and  occupied  an  engine  house  just   south   of 
the  Miller  house. 

Other  public  improvements  followed  rapidly,  while  business  enter- 
prise especially  in  the  direction  of  manufactures,  here  found  a  remark- 
ably profitable  field.  By  i860  the  population  had  reached  a  little  more 
than  6,000,  and  city  incorporation  began  to  be  discussed.  Finally  on 
the  15th  of  April,  1869,  an  act  of  incorporation  passed  the  Assembly 
and  on  May  19  became  a  law.  The  first  election  under  the  city 
charter  was  held  April  12,  1870,  resulting  in  the  election  of  Charles  H. 
Adams,  mayor,  and  the  following  aldermen  :  David  J.  Johnston,  Egbert 
Lansing,  George  Campbell,  Moses  S.  Younglove,  Bartholomew  Mulcahy, 
Walter  Witbeck,  Charles  F.  North,  and  Charles  Hay.  School  commis- 
sioners chosen  were   Frank    Reavey,  Daniel  Simpson,  William    Burton, 

E.  N.  Page,  A.  M.  Harmon,  Jonathan  Hiller,  William    Travis,   William 
S.  Crane.     The  new  administration  appointed  the  following  officials: 

Superintendent  of  streets,  Norris  North;  Chamberlain,  Leonard  Cary;  excise 
commissioners,  Henry  D.  Fuller,  Edwin  Hitchcock,  George  H.  Wager;  water  com- 
missioners, Henry  Brockway,  John  Clute,  Abial  M.  Harmon;  city  physician,  C.  E. 
Witbeck,  M.  D. ;  superintendent  of  cemetery,  D.  F.  Manning;  pound  master,  Alex- 
ander Brown;  sealer  of  weights  and  measures,  Charles  Egan ;  fire  wardens,  William 
Clough,  William  Doty,  E.  S.  Gregory,  Richard  Shannon. 

The  following  have  held  the  office  of  mayor:  Charles  H.  Adams,  1870;  David  J. 
Johnston,  L872;  Henry  S.  Bogue,  1874;  David  J.  Johnston,  1876;  William  E.  Thorn, 
1878,  1880;  Alfred  Le  Roy,  1882,  1884;  Mr.  Le  Roy  died  while  in  office  and  Charles 

F.  Doyle   filled  the   unexpired   term;  John    Garside,  1836-92;  Henry  A.  Strong,  to 
1896,  and  James  H.  Mitchell,  elected  and  present  incumbent. 

With  the  inauguration  of  the  city  government  and  the  founding  of 
many  great  industries,  progress  was  rapid.  Educational  advantages 
were  increased  through  the  election  under  the  act  of  1850  of  the  follow- 
ing school  trustees:  S.  H.  Foster,  Jacob  Travis,  William  Burton, 
George  W.  Miller,  Abram  Lansing,  and  William  Binns  Besides  the 
early  schools  already  mentioned,  there  was  one  kept  for  a  time  in  the 
basement  of  the  Reformed  church,  and  in  1855  there  was  a  school  on 
the  East  Harmony,  one  on  the  West  Harmony,  and  one  on  Columbia 
street ;  large  school  buildings  have  since  been  erected  in  these  locali- 
ties. The  White  school  house  was  built  in  1870,  and  in  1873  the  Pleas- 
ure Ground  school  house,  corner  of  Bowery  and  Elm  streets  was 
erected.     The   Lincoln  avenue  school  house  was  built  in  1875  and  the 


439 

one  on  Van  Schaick's  Island  was  bnilt  in  18S2;  this  building  was 
enlarged  in  1893-94,  and  in  1895  a  new  building  was  erected  on  the 
island.  In  this  year  also  a  new  school  house  was  erected  on  Gainer 
street. 

The  Egberts  High  School  was  founded  through  the  munificence  of 
Egbert  Egberts,  by  a  trust  placed  in  control  of  the  Protestant  pastors 
of  the  city.  He  presented  them  a  large  building  on  White  street  which 
had  been  used  for  a  boarding  house  and  also  gave  them  the  first  and 
second  tenement  houses  on  Remsen  street  north  of  Egberts  Hall,  the 
rent  from  which  was  to  be  devoted  to  supporting  the  school.  The  in- 
stitution was  named  the  Egberts  Institute.  The  income  proving  in- 
sufficient, the  trustees  rented  the  Institute  to  the  Board  of  Education  in 
August,  1868,  the  board  agreeing  to  maintain  a  school  of  the  same 
grade  as  the  Institute,  and  being  given  the  privilege  of  using  the 
lower  stories  of  the  building  for  young  scholars.  Thus  was  established 
what  became  the  Egberts  High  School  and  which  has  ever  since  been 
conducted  upon  a  high  plane.  In  1893-4  the  school  was  remodeled 
and  enlarged,  physical  and  chemical  laboratories  were  added  and  the 
courses  of  study  improved.  The  teachers  of  the  former  Institute  were 
Rev.  Alexander  B.  Bullions,  1864-5;  Charles  P.  Evans,  1865-6;  Rev. 
A.  J.  Bingham,  1 866-8.  The  principals  of  the  High  School  have  been 
W.  H  Nellis,  Robert  Hardie,  E  H.  Torrey,  Oliver  R.Steves,  A.  J.  Robb, 
George  E.  Dixon,  and  George  M.  Strout.  The  chairmen  of  the  Board 
of  Education  have  been  Truman  G.  Younglove,  elected  in  1856  and 
re-elected  in  1858;  George  H.  Wager,  James  H.  Masten,  Samuel  H. 
Foster,  Murray  Hubbard,  Isaac  Hiller,  Murray  Hubbard  again,  William 
Stanton,  Henry  Aird,  and  Harry  G    Calkins. 

Night  schools  are  maintained  by  the  Board  of  Education  and  are 
largely  attended  by  those  scholars  who  must  labor  through  the  day. 
A  kindergarten  was  established  a  few  years  since  and  the  attendance 
has  been  most  encouraging. 

In  extending  the  fire  department  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  growing 
city,  the  first  steam  fire  engine  was  purchased  in  1867  and  presented  to 
the  authorities  by  Charles  H.  Adams.  A  company  was  formed  to  take 
charge  of  it  and  an  engine  house  was  built  on  Oneida  street  east  of 
Canvass.      In    the    same    year    the   Harmony    Company    purchased    a 


440 


steamer  which  is  now  known  as  Johnston  Steamer  Co.  No.  2.  John 
McCreary  Steamer  No.  3  was  the  latest  organized.  Since  the  final 
completion  of  the  water  works  and  the  placing  of  numerous  hydrants 
throughout  the  city,  the  necessity  for  fire  engines  has  greatly  diminished. 
What  was  formerly  the  George  H.  Wager  Hook  and  Ladder  Company 
is  now  the  J.  H.  Mitchell  Company;  it  was  originally  formed  in  1865. 
The  Edwin  Hitchcock  Hose  Company,  formed  in  1869,  is  now  the 
J.  D.  Leversee  Company  No.  1  ;  the  former  Eagle  Hose  Company  No. 
3  is  still  in  existence  as  No.  2,  while  the  Cascade  Hose  Company  No.  3, 
is  located  on  the  island.  There  have  been  many  minor  changes  in 
the  different  companies,  which  cannot  be  followed  here.  Since  1879 
the  fire  department  has  been  controlled  by  a  board  of  fire  commis- 
sioners. 

The  Cohoes  Water  Works  Company  was  incorporated  in  1855,  with 
the  following  commissioners:  Charles  M.  Jenkins,  Hugh  White, 
Alfred  Wild,  Egbert  Egberts,  James  Brown,  Joshua  Bailey,  William  N. 
Chadwick,  William  Burton,  Henry  D.  Fuller,  Andrew  D.  Lansing,  Jenks 
Brown,  and  Truman  G.  Younglove.  The  capital  stock  was  $50,000. 
Nothing  was  accomplished  under  this  incorporation,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing year  an  act  was  passed,  "  to  provide  for  a  supply  of  water  in  the 
village  of  Cohoes."  The  commissioners  named  were  Alfred  Wild, 
Charles  H.  Adams,  Henry  D.  Fuller,  William  F.  Carter,  Joshua  Bailey, 
and  Truman  G.  Younglove.  The  village  was  empowered  to  issue  bonds 
to  the  amount  of  $60,000.  A  reservoir  was  constructed  on  Prospect 
Hill  with  capacity  of  3,000,000  gallons,  into  which  water  was  pumped 
from  the  Cohoes  Company's  Canal  No.  1.  Five  miles  of  sheet  iron  and 
cement  pipe  were  laid  in  the  streets.  This  supply  sufficed  until  1869, 
when  an  enlargement  of  the  system  was  made  by  building  a  new  reser- 
voir with  a  capacity  of  8,000,000  gallons.  This  reservoir  is  190  feet 
above  the  central  part  of  the  city,  giving  ample  pressure.  New  pumps 
were  provided  and  the  pipe  system  extended.  In  1883,  8,000  feet  of 
iron  pipe  was  laid  in  Mohawk,  Remsen,  and  Main  streets,  and  new  and 
more  powerful  pumps  were  placed  in  the  pump  house,  the  cost  of  these 
and  the  other  improvements  then  made  being  $-60,000.  The  works  are 
under  control  of  a  board  of  water  commissioners 

In  July,  1865.  the   Capital   Police   Law,  before  referred  to,  went  into 


FRANK  BROWN, 


441 

effect,  creating  two  police  districts  called  the  Albany  and  the  Troy  dis- 
tricts. Cohoes  was  included  in  the  latter  district.  Previous  to  that 
time  the  peace  of  the  village  had  been  maintained  by  constables.  Under 
the  new  arrangement  a  station  house  was  established  in  Hayward's 
building  and  William  Buchanan  and  John  McDermott  were  chosen  the 
first  sergeants.  On  the  6th  of  May,  1870,  a  law  was  passed  providing 
1  for  a  separate  police  force  for  the  city.  A  larger  force  was  appointed 
and  has  since  been  controlled  bv  a  chief  and  a  board  of  police  commis- 
sioners. 

On  February  21,  1894,  an  act  passed  the  Legislature  providing  for 
the  erection  of  a  new  city  hall  in  Cohoes.  Under  this  act  the  mayor 
was  authorized  to  appoint  six  persons  as  a  board  of  commissioners,  with 
power  to  purchase  a  site  and  build  and  furnish  a  city  hall,  in  which 
should  be  located  all  the  public  offices,  a  station  house  and  jail.  The 
bonds  of  the  city  were  to  be  issued  to  the  amount  of  $: 00,000, 
payable  within  forty  years,  beginning  fifteen  years  from  date  of  issue  ; 
not  less  than  $4,000  to  be  paid  annually  on  the  principal  after  1909. 
The  commissioners  appointed  were  B.  F.  Clarke,  George  Campbell, 
James  H.  Mitchell,  H.  C.  Fruchting,  Murray  Hubbard,  and  Hugh 
Graham.  The  board  organized  May  1,  1894,  H.  C.  Fruchting  being 
elected  chairman.  A  site  was  purchased  in  September  of  the  Suarez 
estate,  for  which  $24,700  was  paid.  Contracts  were  let  to  different 
persons  for  parts  of  the  structure,  aggregating  $63,744.54,  and  the  work- 
was  promptly  begun.  The  building  was  finished  in  1896,  and  is  an 
honor  to  the  city. 

The  extensive  manufacturing  establishments  of  Cohoes  are  due 
largely  to  the  splendid  water  power  and  to  the  Cohoes  Company  for 
their  great  work  in  making  the  power  available.  This  association 
was  incorporated  as  a  hydraulic  manufacturing  company  March  28, 
1826.  The  original  capital  was  $250,000,  and  the  trustees  were  Peter 
Remsen,  Charles  E.  Dudley,  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  jr.,  Francis  Olm- 
stead,  Canvass  White,  Henry  J.  Wyckoff,  and  David  Wilkinson.  It  is 
probable  that  Mr.  White  was  the  originator  of  the  idea  of  forming  this 
company;  he  had  served  as  engineer  in  the  construction  of  the  Erie 
Canal  and  must  have  appreciated  the  value  of  the  falls  for  manufactur- 
ing purposes.      He  was  chosen  the  first  president  of  the  company  ;   Mr. 

56 


442 

Van  Rensselaer,  vice-president,  and  Mr.  Wyckoff,  secretary.     The  com- 
pany  purchased   a  tract  of  land   of    I.    D.    F.    Lansing,    for   $12,495, 
Mr.  Lansing  reserving  sufficient  water  from  the  mill  privilege  for  four 
run  of  stone.      Other   lands  also   were  purchased  below    the    falls    on 
the  south  side  of  the  river,  and  both  above  and  below  on   the  Water- 
ford  side.     The  company  now  owns  the  entire  water  power  of  the  river 
from  half  a  mile  above   the   falls  to  a  mile  below,  with    a   total  fall  of 
120  feet.     The  first  dam  built  by  the   company  was  of  wood  and  sit- 
uated above  the  falls;   it  was  erected  in  1831,  but  was  carried  away  by 
ice   on  January  10,   1832.      Another  was  immediately   built  below  the 
site  of  the  first,  but  was  also  partially  destroyed  by  ice  in  1839  and  re- 
built in  the  same  year.     The  existing  stone  dam  was  built  in  1865   and 
is  one  of  the  most   costly  and   most  substantial   structures   of  its  kind. 
The   gate  house  was   finished    in    the   following  year ;     it  is  of   brick, 
218   feet    long,    with    front   tower    thirty-one    feet    high    and    a    main 
tower  forty-three  feet  high.     The  dam  is    1,443   feet  in  length   and  was 
build  directly  below  and  connected   with   the  old  dam,  thus  giving  it 
additional   strength.       The  cost    of   the   dam    and    appurtenances   was 
$180,000.     The  engineer  of  this  great  work  was  William  E.  Worthen, 
of  New  York  city,  assisted  by  D.  H.  Van  Auken.  engineer  for  the  com- 
pany.    John    Bridgford,   of  Albany,  had  the    contract  for  its  construc- 
tion.     By  means   of  this  dam  the   entire   flow  of  the    Mohawk   can  be 
diverted  from  its  channel  to  do  the  bidding  of  the  manufacturers.     The 
water  passes  through,  and  is  used  from,  five  different  canals,  the  first  of 
which  was  constructed  in    1834,  is  three-quarters  of  a  mile  long  and 
has  a  fall  of  eighteen  feet.     The  second  canal,  finished  in  1843,   is  one- 
third  of  a  mile  long,  with  a  fall   of  twenty-five   feet.      The  third  is  half 
a  mile  long,  with  a  fall  of  twenty-three  feet  and  was  partly  constructed 
in  1843,  the  remainder  being  taken  from  the  old  Erie  Canal  and  brought 
into  use  in  the  same  year.     The  fourth  and  fifth  canals  are  each  half  a 
mile  long,  with  twenty  feet  fall,  and  were  finished  in  1880.    It  will  be  seen 
that  these  canals,  each  having  a  different  level  and  all  being  connected, 
make  it  practicable  to  use  the  water  six  different  times.     The  available 
power  thus  created  is  estimated  at  10,000  horse  power,  and  it  is  sold  to 
manufacturers  at  $20  per  horse  power  per  annum,  including  a  quantity 
of  land  proportioned  to  the  amount  of  power  taken.      The    officers  of 


443 

the  Cohoes  Company  are  Charles  C.  Birdseye,   president ;    William  E. 
Thorn,  treasurer  ;   David  H.  Van  Auken,  secretary. 

The  Harmony  Mills  Company  is  only  second  in  importance  to  the 
Cohoes  Company  itself.  This  company  was  incorporated  in  1836  under 
the  name  of  the  Harmony  Manufacturing  Company,  the  name  being 
given  in  honor  of  Peter  Harmony,  the  first  president  and  the  founder 
of  the  company.  Associated  with  him  were  Henry  Plunkett,  Peter 
Remsen,  Francis  Olmstead,  H.  J.Wyckoff,  P.  H.  Schenck  &  Co.,  James 
Stevenson,  Joseph  D.  Constant,  William  Sinclair,  Van  Wyck  Wickes, 
Eliphalet  Wickes,  Le  Bron  &  Ives,  Teunis  Van  Vechten,  John  Hough- 
ton, Charles  O.  Handy,  Francis  Griffin,  Jacob  H.  Ten  Eyck,  Ellis 
Winne,  jr.,  Hugh  White,  Henry  Dudley,  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  jr., 
and  Benjamin  Knower.  Many  of  these  were  among  the  leading  busi- 
ness men  of  that  time.  The  company  purchased  a  tract  of  land  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  south  of  the  falls  and  in  1837  erected  a  brick  build- 
ing 165  by  50  feet,  four  stories  high,  equipped  with  water  wheels,  etc., 
at  a  cost  of  $72,000  ;  three  brick  blocks  of  tenements  were  built  at  the 
same  time.  The  mill  was  supplied  with  cotton  machinery  and  the 
manufacture  of  cotton  cloth  began.  For  causes  that  cannot  be  ex- 
plained here  the  business  was  not  profitable  for  a  number  of  years 
after  its  establishment.  Changes  took  place  in  the  ownership  and  at  in- 
tervals determined  efforts  were  made  to  change  the  condition  of  affairs. 
Finally  in  1850  a  compulsory  sale  of  the  mills  was  made  and  the  prop- 
erty was  purchased  by  Garner  &  Co.,  of  New  York,  and  Alfred  Wild, 
of  Kinderhook.  At  that  time  the  annual  product  of  the  mill  was 
1,500,000  yards  of  print  cloth  and  2t;o  hands  were  employed.  The 
new  proprietors  placed  the  entire  management  of  the  mill  in  the  hands 
of  Robert  Johnston,  a  man  of  thorough  practical  knowledge  of  the 
business,  executive  ability  of  a  high  order,  great  industry,  and  entire 
devotion  to  the  interests  of  his  employers.1  He  very  soon  inaugurated 
an  era  of  prosperity  and  eventually  made  the  Harmony  Mills  the 
largest  and  most  complete  cotton  factory  in   America.      He  early  as- 

1  Robert  Johnston  was  born  in  Dalston,  England,  February  1,  1m>;.  He  began  working  in  cot- 
ton mills  when  a  mere  child  and  became  an  expert  spinner.  lie  crime  to  this  country  in  1830  and 
worked  in  Providence  mills  until  1834,  when  he  wenl  to  Valatie,  Columbia  county,  N.  V.,  and  for 
sixteen  years  had  charge  ol  a  mill.  Hi/  theremade  the  firsl  muslin-de-laine  produced  in  this 
country.    In  1858  lie  removed  to  Coho<  s. 


444 

sociated  with  himself  his  son,  D.  J.  Johnston,  who  entered  the  com- 
pany's office  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  and  became  one  of  the  pro- 
prietors in  1866. 

In  1853  an  addition  was  built  on  the  old  mill  340  feet  long,  70  wide 
and  four  stories  high,  with  a  capacity  of  30,000  spindles.  This,  with  the 
old  mill  is  designated  as  Mill  No.  1.  In  1857  Mill  No.  2  was  erected  about 
half  the  size  of  the  original  plan  ;  it  ran  for  five  years  with  20,000  spindles, 
and  was  then  extended  to  48,000  and  employed  800  hands  In  1844 
the  Cohoes  Company  built  a  cotton  mill  near  the  south  end  of  their 
canal  200  feet  long,  four  stories  high,  and  in  1846  they  erected  another 
similar  structure  sixty  feet  north  and  parallel  with  the  first;  these 
two  mills  were  afterwards  connected  by  a  central  tower  60  by  70  feet, 
six  stories  in  height,  making  a  building  500  feet  long  with  capacity  of 
32,000  spindles.  This  mill,  now  known  as  the  Ogden,  or  No.  4,  passed 
through  various  hands  and  in  i860  was  purchased  by  the  Harmony 
Company,  who  overhauled  it  and  increased  its  capacity.  The  Strong  Mill, 
or  No.  5,  was  built  at  the  intersection  of  Mohawk  street  and  Canal  No.  3  ; 
the  original  structure  was  erected  in  1849  by  William  N.  Chadwick,  who 
operated  it  for  about  ten  years.  The  Harmony  Company  purchased  it  in 
1865,  remodeled  and  enlarged  it  until  eventually  it  had  a  capacity  of 
13,000  spindles  The  north  wing  of  the  Mastodon,  or  No.  3,  mill  was 
built  in  1&66-67.  The  name  "Mastodon  "  was  given  it  from  the  find- 
ing of  an  almost  perfect  skeleton  of  a  mastodon  in  a  deep  pot  hole 
opened  while  excavating  for  the  foundations  of  the  mill,  sixty  feet  be- 
low the  surface.  The  bones  were  presented  to  the  State.  The  south 
wing  of  this  mill  was  built  in  1872,  and  the  whole  comprises  a  continu- 
ous building  1,185  ^eet  'onS>  7^  wide,  with  five  stories  and  a  mansard 
roof.  The  central  tower  is  eight  stories  high  and  terminates  in  four 
smaller  towers  128  feet  high  ;  four  smaller  towers  also  stand  equidistant 
on  the  wings.  The  machinery  is  driven  by  five  turbine  wheels  aggre- 
gating 2,100  horse  power.  The  mill  is  supplied  with  the  latest  and  best 
cotton  machinery  in  the  world,  comprising  2,700  looms,  351  warp  spin- 
ning frames,  and  other  requisite  machinery.  It  has  130,000  spindles, 
produces  100,000  yards  of  cloth  every  sixty  hours  and  is  in  every  way 
the  most  complete  cotton  mill  in  the  world. 

In  1872  the  company  purchased  the  paper  mill  just  south  of  No.  2 


445 

which  had  been  operated  by  the  Van  Benthuysens  for  many  years.  It 
was  enlarged,  a  mansard  roof  put  on,  and  a  tower  built  at  the  south  end, 
making  a  building  250  feet  long,  60  feet  wide,  and  four  stories  high. 
This  mill  was  supplied  with  machinery  and  used  in  the  manufacture  of 
seamless  cotton  bags.  The  company  also  operated  for  a  number  of  years 
and  up  to  1872  a  small  mill  at  the  head  of  Remsen  street,  on  Canal  No.  4, 
which  was  called  the  Egberts  mill.  In  1872  the  machinery  was  removed 
to  the  Strong  mill.  The  mills  of  this  company  are  supplied  with  auto- 
matic fire  extinguishers  at  a  cost  of  over  $30,000.  Repair  shops  for 
machinery,  carpenter  shops,  etc.,  give  employment  to  a  large  number 
of  hands.  Two  large  storehouses  with  a  capacity  of  6,000  bales  of  cot- 
ton stand  near  the  railroads,  and  the  cotton  used  annually  by  the  six 
mills  aggregates  25,000  bales,  from  which  are  made  8,000,000  yards  of 
cloth. 

Thomas  Garner,  the  real  founder  of  these  mills,  died  in  October, 
1867.  He  was  born  in  England  in  1805;  his  son,  William  T.  Garner, 
succeeded  him  in  the  presidency  of  the  company.  William  T.  Garner's 
career  was  brought  to  an  untimely  end  on  June  20,  1876,  by  the  cap- 
sizing of  his  yacht.  In  1867  Alfred  Wild  retired  from  the  company  and 
was  succeeded  as  agent  by  William  E.  Thorn,  of  New  York,  who  be- 
came also  one  of  the  proprietors  and  removed  to  Cohoes.  After  the 
death  of  William  T.  Garner,  his  brother  in-law,  Samuel  W.  Johnson, 
then  one  of  the  firm,  was  elected  to  the  presidency.  While  he  was 
hunting  on  December  9,  1 88 1 ,  on  Long  Island,  his  gun  was  prema- 
turely discharged,  wounding  him  so  severely  that  he  died  four  days 
later.  In  May,  1882,  John  Lawrence,  of  New  York,  was  elected  presi- 
dent. Upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Lawrence  William  E.  Thorn  was  elected 
president  and  treasurer  of  the  company.  John  E.  Priest  is  superin- 
tendent. 

This  great  company  has  ever  shown  an  appreciative  wisdom  in  the 
treatment  accorded  their  employees.  During  1866-68  nearly  $300,000 
were  expended  in  building  tenement  houses,  grading  streets,  planting 
trees,  making  sidewalks,  etc.,  which  transformed  the  locality  from  open 
fields  to  thickly  settled  streets.  There  are  more  than  700  tenements 
with  from  four  to  ten  rooms  each,  which  are  rented  at  a  much  lower 
rate  than  they  would  command  in  other  hands  ;   the)-  are  rented  to  none 


446 

but  employees  of  the  company.  Over  the  company's  office  is  a  com- 
modious hall,  40  by  100  feet,  where  the  Harmony  Union  Sunday  school 
meets  every  Sabbath  ;  this  school  was  established  nearly  forty  years 
ago  and  has  always  been  numerously  attended.  As  a  consequence  of 
its  beneficent  policy  with  its  employees  the  company  has  had  little  of 
the  often  prevalent  labor  trouble.  In  April,  1882,  in  consequence  of 
trade  conditions  then  existing,  two  weeks  notice  was  given  of  a  ten  per 
cent,  reduction  in  wages.  On  April  26,  when  the  bells  were  rung  no 
one  appeared  to  go  to  work.  For  the  next  eighteen  weeks  the  great 
mills  were  idle,  with  little  exception,  at  the  end  of  which  time  hands  re- 
sumed work  on  the  company's  terms.  Six  months  later  every  loom 
and  spindle  was  in  operation,  many  of  the  old  hands  who  had  sought  to 
better  themselves  elsewhere  having  returned  ready  to  work.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1891,  in  consequence  of  the  refusal  of  the  company  to  grant  ten 
per  cent,  advance  in  pay  and  one  hour  for  dinner,  a  strike  was  inaug- 
urated ;  it  ended  ten  days  later,  the  company  granting  fifty  minutes  for 
dinner  and  the  advance  asked. 

The  manufacture  of  knit  goods  is  one  of  the  most  important  industries 
of  Cohoes  though  conducted  under  depressing  trade  conditions  at  the 
present  time.  Egbert  Egberts  is  given  credit  for  the  founding  of  this 
line  of  manufactures  in  this  country.  He  began  experimenting  on  a 
power  machine  for  making  knit  goods  at  Albany  in  1831,  and  called  to 
his  aid  Timothy  Bailey,  a  young  mechanic.  The  knitting  machine  had 
already  been  invented,  and  one  was  purchased  in  Philadelphia  by  Mr. 
Bailey  and  brought  to  Albany  ;  his  contrivance  was  applied  to  it  and  a 
fabric  made  by  turning  a  crank.  Removing  now  to  Cohoes,  Joshua 
Bailey  became  interested  in  the  invention  and  water  power  was  applied 
to  the  machine,  eight  of  which  were  built  by  Timothy  Bailey  and  put 
in  operation.  Carding  and  spinning  yarn  soon  followed  and  thus  the 
foundation  of  the  great  industry  was  laid.  Secresy  was  maintained  for 
some  time,  the  doors  being  fastened  with  spring  locks.  Even  Gen. 
George  S.  Bradford,  who  operated  the  factory  on  contract,  was  com- 
pelled to  bind  himself  not  to  enter  the  knitting  room.  This  first  mill 
stood  on  the  ditch  just  north  of  the  site  of  the  later  Erie  mill  ;  it  was 
afterwards  removed  to  a  building  near  the  site  of  the  Troy  Manufactur- 
ing Company.     The  second  mill  was  built  by  Mr.  Egberts  in    1850,  on 


Iv-i  & 


*■    409- 


JOSIAH  G.  ROOT. 


447 

the  corner  of  Remsen  and  Factory  streets.  In  1852  Thomas  Fowler 
placed  knitting  machinery  in  a  building  previously  occupied  by  Timothy 
Bailey,  and  in  the  same  year  Mr.  Egberts  transferred  his  mill  to  Charles 
H.  Adams.  About  this  time  Mr.  Bailey  organized  a  knitting  company, 
making  three  separate  establishments  in  1853,  which  were  employing 
750  hands  and  producing  45,000  dozen  goods  annually.  Mr.  Adams 
occupied  the  Watervliet  Mill  until  1862,  when  he  leased  the  building  to 
Alden,  Frink  &  Weston  and  built  on  Ontario  street.  This  industry  in- 
creased in  magnitude  and  importance  at  a  rapid  rate,  and  while  some 
few  did  not  not  meet  with  anticipated  success,  the  majority  prospered. 
An  account  of  the  mills  in  operation  at  the  present  time  will  necessarily 
embrace  a  history  of  the  business  of  the  past  to  a  great  extent.  The 
Egberts  mill  was  operated  by  Charles  H.  Adams  until  1870,  from  which 
time  it  was  conducted  by  John  Wakeman  until  1881,  Mr.  Adams  still 
owning  the  property.  Wakeman  was  succeeded  by  Neil  &  McDowell 
for  a  short  time.  It  is  now  operated  by  a  company  of  whom  J.  D. 
Lawrence  is  president,  and  John  Donahue,  secretary.  The  company 
was  organized  in  1893,  with  $50,000  capital,  and  now  employs  150 
hands. 

What  is  now  the  Victor  Knitting  Mill  Company  operates  a  mill  which 
was  conducted  from  i860  to  1880  by  Henry  Brockway.  The  present 
company  succeeded,  with  J.  A.  Brooks,  president  and  treasurer  ;  George 
P.  Gray,  secretary  ;   P.  H.  Kane,  superintendent. 

The  Tivoli  Hosiery  Mills  were  established  in  1855  by  Josiah  G.  Root. 
In  1863  the  firm  became  J.  G.  Root  &  Sons,  and  from  1869  to  1874  the 
style  was  J.  G.  Root's  Sons,  when  the  present  organization,  the  Root 
Manufacturing  Company,  began  its  existence.  Andrew  J.  Root  is  pres- 
ident and  trustee  ;  Charles  Douglas,  secretary  ;  Thomas  Kennedy,  sup- 
erintendent.     About  500  hands  are  employed. 

The  Globe  Mill  began  operations,  with  Le  Roy  &  Lamb,  proprietors, 
in  1872,  and  has  continued  to  the  present  time.  Mr.  Lamb  died  in 
January,  1885,  and  in  1890  a  partnership  was  formed  by  Amelia  White, 
W.  B.  Le  Roy,  M.  A.  Becker,  and  R.  N.  Vandervoort.  A  second  mill 
was  built  soon  afterwards;   325  employees. 

The  Star  Knitting  Company  has  been  in  existence  many  years.  On 
January  14,  1895,  the  capital  was  increased  from  $50,000  to  $2C 0,000. 


448 

Andrew  M.  Church,  president;  A.  I.  Whitehouse,  secretary;  George 
H.  Morrison,  treasurer;  David  M.  Ranken,  superintendent;  175  em- 
ployees. 

The  Ontario  Mill,  before  mentioned  as  having  been  established  by 
Chadwick  &  Co.,  was  operated  until  1888,  when  the  Cohoes  Knitting 
Company  was  organized,  with  a  capital  of  $25,000.  M.  T.  O'Brien, 
president  and  treasurer;  Thomas  Kilduff,  secretary.  About  125 
employees. 

The  Kensington  Mills,  formerly  operated  by  Root  &  Waterman,  were 
taken  by  the  Hope  Knitting  Company,  which  was  organized  in  Janu- 
ary, 1 89 1,  with  a  capital  of  $100,000.  James  O'Neil,  president;  J.  H. 
Shine,  treasurer;   Peter  McCarty,  treasurer;    175  hands. 

The  Ranken  Knitting  Company,  established  by  Henry  S.  Ranken, 
was  one  of  those  that  were  not  successful.  After  its  failure  the  plant 
was  purchased  by  the  Halcyon  Knitting  Mill  Company,  which  was 
organized  in  1895  D)'  William  Nuttall.  About  150  hands  are  em- 
ployed. 

J.  H.  Parsons  &  Co.,  were  among  the  large  manufacturers  of  many 
years  ago.  In  December,  1884,  the  Parsons  Manufacturing  Company 
was  organized,  with  J.  H.  Parsons,  president,  who  still  holds  the  office. 
In  January,  1895,  William  A.  Nuttall,  then  vice-president,  retired  from 
the  company,  as  also  did  Charles  H.  Disbrovv,  then  secretary.  Samuel 
Parsons,  son  of  J.  H.  Parsons,  succeeded  to  the  office  of  secretary. 
About  200  hands  are  employed. 

The  Erie  Mill  was  operated  for  many  years  under  M.  E.  Moore  & 
Co.,  the  original  proprietors.  They  were  succeeded  by  William  Moore, 
and  he  by  Moore  &  Tierney  on  September  I,  1895  ;     140  employees. 

What  is  known  as  the  Granite  Mill  is  now  operated  by  the  William 
Moore  Knitting  Company,  and  employs  about  150  hands 

What  is  now  the  Mohawk  River  Mill  was  formerly  operated  by  W. 
H.  &  D.  Aiken  and  by  W.  H.  Aiken  &  Co.  The  firm  of  Aiken 
&  Davitt  was  organized  in  January,  1896,  and  employs  about  125 
hands. 

The  Riverside  Mill,  operated  some  years  after  1867  by  H.  S.  Bogue, 
is  now  in  possession  of  H.  Bochlowitz,  who  took  it  in  1886,  and  employs 
more  than  200  hands. 


449 

The  Paris  Mill  was  formerly  the  Clifton,  operated  by  George  E. 
Brockvvay.  It  was  taken  by  John  H.  Murphy  in  the  fall  of  1891,  and  on 
January  I,  1896,  the  firm  of  John  H.  Murphy  &  Co.  was  formed.  They 
employ  135  hands. 

The  Pearl  Knitting  Mill  has  been  operated  for  about  ten  years  by 
John  ¥.  Quinn,  but  did  not  take  its  present  name  until  five  years  ago. 
About  175  hands  are  employed. 

The  Pacific  Hosiery  Mills  are  operated  by  Clark  &  Holsapple,  in  the 
manufacture  of  merino  shirts  and  drawers. 

J.  A.  Nuttall  conducts  the  Empire  Mill,  employing  125  hands,  and 
1  Iorrocks  &  Van  Benthuysen  are  proprietors  of  the  Atlantic  Mill,  which 
employs  120  hands. 

Among  the  large  number  of  mills  that  have  from  one  or  another  cause 
been  closed  are  the  Standard  Hosiery  Mill,  by  Newman  &  Adams  ;  the 
Elk  Mill,  by  A.  Paul  ;  the  American  Hosiery  Mill,  by  Gregory  & 
Hiller  ;  the  Crown  Knitting  Mill,  by  Thompson  &  Lefiferts;  the  Anchor 
Hosiery  Mill,  by  C  F.  North  &  Doyle;  the  Eclipse  Mill,  by  Wood, 
Pierce  &  Co  ;  the  Enterprise  Mill,  by  John  Scott  &  Son,  which  is  now- 
being  closed  up. 

Besides  the  two  leading  industries  which  have  just  been  described, 
Cohoes  has  not  been  deficient  in  other  lines  of  manufacture.  It  is  only 
a  comparatively  few  years  since  the  manufacture  of  axes  and  other  edged 
tools  was  an  important  industry.  Daniel  Simmons  was  the  pioneer  in 
this  business,  beginning  it  about  sixty  years  ago;  he  had  been  a  black- 
smith in  Albany,  where  he  made  a  few  axes  by  crude  methods.  When 
the  discovery  was  made  in  1825  that  cast  steel  could  be  used  for  such 
purposes  with  refined  borax  as  a  flux  he  promptly  adopted  the  dis- 
covery in  making  axes  and  soon  acquired  an  extended  reputation.  In 
1826  he  removed  to  Berne,  Albany  county,  obtained  water  power  and 
erected  a  small  plant,  with  trip  hammers  and  other  machinery.  When 
these  facilities  became  inadequate  he  removed  to  Cohoes,  where  he 
founded  the  early  establishment  that  became  known  throughout  the 
world  for  the  excellence  of  its  product.  In  1843  White,  Olmsted  &  Co. 
started  a  second  edged  tool  factory,  which  continued  to  1857.  A  third 
factory  was  established  in  1863  by  Alden,  Frink  &  Weston,  under  the 

firm  name  of  W.  J.  Ten  Eyck  &  Co.;   this  was  on  the  site  of  the  rolling 
57 


450 

mill.  The  business  failed  in  1866  and  a  new  company,  the  Ten  Eyck 
Manufacturing  Company  was  organized,  with  David  Cowee,  president ; 
George  R.  Seymour,  treasurer  ;  R.  H.  Thompson,  secretary,  and  W.  J. 
Ten  Eyck,  superintendent.  This  firm  closed  up  their  business  in  1872, 
and  the  factory,  after  being  taken  and  operated  for  a  short  time  by  Will- 
iams, Ryan  &  Jones,  and  then  by  Sheehan,  Jones  &  Ryan,  was  burned 
in  January,  1873.  Sheehan,  Jones  &  Ryan  moved  into  the  pipe  factory 
building  on  Saratoga  street,  and  continued  several  years  longer,  with 
various  changes  in  the  constitution  of  the  firm.  The  business  was  finally 
closed  up.  A  new  Ten  Eyck  Manufacturing  Company  was  formed  in 
February,  1876,  by  Abram,  Albert,  and  Jonas  Ten  Eyck,  D.  H.  Clute, 
and  George  Carrigan.  Their  works  were  near  the  south  bounds  of  the 
city  and  continued  in  operation  until  October,  1877.  In  March,  1880, 
the  Cohoes  Axe  Manufacturing  Company  was  formed  by  George  Camp- 
bell, John  Clute,  J.  H.  Parsons,  William  S.  Gilbert,  and  Ethan  Rogers. 
This  was  a  successful  establishment  for  a  number  of  years,  when  the 
business  was  closed  up.      No  edged  tools  are  now  made  in  Cohoes. 

In  1856  the  Cohoes  rolling  mill  was  built,  originally  to  produce  steel 
and  iron  for  the  Simmons  axe  factory.  In  1863  Jonas  Simmons  and 
E.  N.  Page  in  partnership  built  a  puddling  furnace  and  a  heating 
furnace.  The  capacity  was  soon  doubled  to  twelve  tons  of  iron  in 
twenty-four  hours.  On  March  1 1  James  Morrison  purchased  the  Sim- 
mons interest  and  the  firm  of  Morrison,  Colwell  &  Page  was  formed. 
Under  this  management  the  business  rapidly  increased,  and  at  the  time 
of  the  fire  of  January  5,  1883,  they  had  ten  double  puddling  furnaces, 
one  scrap  furnace  and  four  heating  furnaces  in  operation  ;  also  six  axe 
poll  machines  the  cost  of  which  with  the  royalty  was  $65,000.  The 
entire  works  were  rebuilt  in  substantially  their  present  form  immediately 
after  the  fire,  and  with  a  capacity  of  25,000  to  30,000  tons  of  finished 
iron  annually,  of  a  very  superior  quality.  Mr.  Page,  the  superintendent, 
is  eminently  qualified  for  his  position  and  much  of  the  success  of  the 
mill  must  be  attributed  to  him.  The  present  firm  consists  of  the  Mor- 
rison estate,  Thomas  Colwell,  and  E.  Page. 

The  copartnership  existing  under  the  name  of  the  Empire  Tube 
Works  was  formed  in  January,  1872,  by  B.  T.  Benton  and  James  More- 
head,  of  Brooklyn,  A.  B.  Wood,  of  New  York,  and  James  Morrison  and 


451 

Thomas  Colwell,  of  Troy.  In  that  year  they  built  the  mill  on  North 
Saratoga  street  and  began  the  manufacture  of  wrought  iron  pipe  in  the 
winter  of  1873.  Mr.  Benton  died  soon  afterward  and  the  mill  was 
rented  to  Albert  Smith  and  James  Morehead,  who  formed  a  partner- 
ship as  Albert  Smith  &  Co.;  this  partnership  was  dissolved  May  1, 
1874,  Mr.  Morehead  retiring.  A.  G.  Curtis,  of  Troy,  purchased  an  in- 
terest and  took  charge  of  the  manufacturing.  The  business  was  success- 
ful until  1876,  at  which  time  a  pipe  combination  was  formed  which 
leased  the  mill  from  the  firm  for  the  purpose  of  closing  it.  Thereupon 
Albert  Smith  &  Co.  sought  a  new  location  and  in  July  of  that  year  Mr. 
Curtis  bought  the  ground  formerly  occupied  by  the  old  Ten  Eyck  axe 
factory  and  the  firm  began  the  erection  of  a  new  rolling  mill.  Three 
months  later  the  new  plant  was  in  operation  with  greater  capacity  than 
the  old  one.  From  that  time  until  1880  the  business  continued  with 
moderate  success,  all  branches  of  the  iron  business  being  in  a  depressed 
condition.  At  this  time  James  Morrison  bought  Albert  Smith's  inter- 
est and  the  firm  name  was  changed  to  A.  G.  Curtis  &  Co.  New  life 
was  infused  into  the  concern,  prosperity  returned  to  the  iron  trade,  the 
plant  was  enlarged,  new  machinery  was  added  and  an  era  of  pronounced 
success  began.  On  January  25,  1883,  Mr.  Curtis  died  in  Florida,  and 
the  firm  was  organized  as  Curtis  &  Co.,  consisting  of  Henry  Aird,  Mary 
M.  Curtis  and  John  Donn.  Mr.  Aird  became  associated  with  the  firm 
January  1,  1878,  as  foreman,  and  soon  mastered  every  detail  of  the 
business;  in  recent  years  the  establishment  has  been  practically  under 
under  his  direction.  The  value  of  the  annual  product  is  more  than 
$500,000. 

The  works  of  the  Cohoes  Iron  Foundry  and  Machine  Company  were 
commenced  by  William  T.  Horrobin  in  1868  where  they  are  still  situ- 
ated. In  1877  the  business  passed  to  Robert  Johnston,  and  from  him 
to  his  son,  David  J.  Johnston.  He  died  in  October,  1894,  and  the  busi- 
ness is  now  in  his  estate.  Jerome  Garland  is  general  manager.  From 
sixty  to  ninety  hands  are  employed  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton  ma- 
chinery and  several  kinds  of  special  machines. 

Campbell  &  Clute  Machine  Shop. — The  firm  of  Campbell  &  Clute 
was  formed  January  1,  1863,  by  George  Campbell  and  John  Clute, 
both  practical   mechanics.      They  are  still  in   business  on  the  same  spot 


452 

whereon  they  began,  making  a  specialty  of  knitting  machinery.  Mr. 
Clute  has  perfected  a  machine  for  knitting  silk,  and  another  for  knitting 
a  peculiar  worsted  fabric.      From  thirty  to  sixty  hands  are  employed. 

Tubbs  &  Severson  started  a  machine  shop  in  1873.  Mr.  Severson 
retired  in  1878  and  Mr.  Tubbs  continued  the  business.  After  several 
other  changes  the  firm  of  Harrobin  &  Vincent  was  formed  and  took 
the  shop,  but  recently  failed.  The  firm  is  now  Tubbs  &  Hall.  The 
building  occupied  by  them  was  built  by  Harris  Brothers  in  1868.  Gen- 
eral machine  work  is  carried  on. 

What  is  known  as  the  old  Lansing  mill  is  now  occupied  by  the  Troy 
and  Cohoes  Shirt  Company,  of  which  George  E.  Gardner  is  president; 
Joseph  A.  Leggett,  vice-president;  James  A.  McPherson,  jr,  secretary; 
George  H.  Morrison,  treasurer.  The  company  has  been  only  recently 
formed  and  manufactures  the  Cycle  and  T.  &  C.  brands  of  shirts,  col- 
lars and  cuffs. 

The  Cohoes  Furniture  Company,  C.  R.  Trost,  proprietor,  was  estab- 
lished in  1879,  and  soon  became  an  important  industry.  A  large  busi- 
ness has  been  done  in  the  manufacture  of  desks,  as  well  as  in  furniture 
for  household  use. 

Besides  these  various  important  industries  a  considerable  business  is 
done  in  the  manufacture  of  paper  boxes,  sash,  doors  and  blinds,  knit- 
ting needles,  cotton  batts,  etc.  On  the  island  are  located  the  Rensse- 
laer Scale  Works,  the  Cascade  Knitting  Mills  (operated  by  G.  H.  Mc- 
Dowell &  Co.),  the  Continental  Knitting  Company,  the  Wilson  Box 
Company,  and  some  other  minor  establishments,  all  of  which  contribute 
to  the  wealth  of  the  city.  The  island  was  formerly  in  the  Fourth  ward 
of  the  city,  but  in  1895  was  made  the  Sixth  ward  by  itself. 

Cohoes  was  without  banking  facilities  until  1859,  when  what  is  now 
the  National  Bank  of  Cohoes  was  organized  with  capital  stock  of  $100,- 
000.  The  first  officers  were  Egbert  Egberts,  president ;  James  M.  Sill, 
cashier;  Egbert  Egberts,  Daniel  Simmons,  T.  G.  Younglove,  William 
Orelup,  jr.,  William  G.  Caw,  W.  F.  Carter,  J.  G.  Root,  John  Sill  and 
C.  H.  Adams,  directors.  The  institution  was  made  a  national  bank 
May  31,  1865.  Its  capital  was  increased  from  $100,000  to  $250,000  in 
August,  1872.      In   March,  1862,  Murray  Hubbard  was  chosen  cashier 


;'jf**$£m* 


JOHN  C.  SANFORD. 


453 

in  place  of  Mr.  Sill.  In  March,  1869,  Mr.  Adams  was  made  president, 
Mr.  Egberts  having  died.  In  1893  Mr.  Adams  was  succeeded  by  D.  J. 
Johnston,  and  the  latter  was  followed  January  12,  1895,  by  John  L. 
Newman.  Murray  Hubbard  was  succeeded  as  cashier  December,  1895, 
by  George  R.  Wilsdon.  This  bank  now  has  a  surplus  of  about  $100,000 
and  profits  of  over  $60,000. 

The  Cohoes  Savings  Institution  was  incorporated  in  April,  1851,  by 
Charles  A.  Olmstead,  Truman  G.  Younglove,  Egbert  Egberts,  Hugh 
White,  Daniel  Simmons,  I.  D.  F.  Lansing,  H.  D.  Fuller,  W.  F.  Carter, 
Abram  Lansing,  Joshua  Bailey,  William  N.  Chadwick,  Teunis  Van 
Vechteh,  Andrew  D.  Lansing,  Harmon  Pumpelly,  Edward  E.  Kendrick, 
William  Burton,  Joshua  R.  Clark,  Jeremiah  Clute,  and  Miles  White. 
The  institution  began  business  August  15,  1853.  Egbert  Egberts  was 
chosen  president;  T.  G.  Younglove,  treasurer,  and  Edward  W.  Fuller, 
assistant  treasurer.  The  bank  has  now  on  deposit  about  $1,740,000. 
The  president  is  William  T.  Dodge,  who  succeeded  William  Burton  ; 
and  Charles  R.  Ford,  treasurer. 

The  Manufacturers'  Bank  of  Cohoes  was  organized  March  21,  1872, 
with  a  capital  of  $100,000,  and  the  following  officers:  President,  Will- 
iam E.  Thorn;  vice-president,  J.  V.  S.  Lansing;  cashier,  N.  W.  Frost; 
directors,  William  E.  Thorn,  J.  V.  S.  Lansing,  D.  H  Van  Auken,  George 
Campbell,  J.  W.  Himes,  Jacob  Travis,  D.  J.  Johnston,  N.  J.  Clute,  Will- 
iam Moore,  Alfred  Le  Roy,  P.  R.  Chadwick.  Business  began  July  8, 
1872  Mr.  Thorn  was  succeeded  in  the  office  of  president  by  J.  V.  S. 
Lansing,  and  the  latter  was  followed  by  George  Campbell,  the  present 
incumbent.  William  Moore  is  vice-president,  and  Le  Roy  Vermilyea, 
cashier.     This  bank  has  undivided  profits  of  nearly  $100,000. 

The  Mechanics'  Savings  Bank  was  incorporated  in  March,  1873,  and 
opened  for  business  soon  after  in  the  rooms  of  the  Manufacturers'  Bank. 
The  first  officers  were  as  follows:  President,  Robert  Johnston  ;  first  vice- 
president,  John  Clute  ;  second  vice-president,  William  Stanton  ;  secre- 
tary, William  S.  Smith  ;  treasurer,  Abner  J.  Griffin  ;  assistant  treasu- 
rer, Leonard  J.  Groesbcck.  The  institution  has  had  a  career  of  pros- 
perity. John  Clute  succeeded  Mr.  Johnston  as  president,  and  William 
Stanton  succeeded  Mr.  Clute  as  first  vice  president;  Rodney  Miller 
succeeded    Mr.  Stanton   as  second   vice-president.      Le   Roy  Vermilyea 


454 

succeeded  William  S.  Smith  as  secretary,  and  James  S.  Clute  succeeded 
Mr.  Goesbeck  as  assistant  treasurer.  Mr.  Griffin  still  holds  the  office  of 
treasurer. 

The  first  newspaper  in  Cohoes  was  the  Cohoes  Advertiser,  a  Whig 
organ,  which  was  started  February  9,  1847,  by  Alexis  Ayres  and  Will- 
iam H.  S.  Winans ;  Mr.  Ayres  was  the  editor.  One  year  later  the  lat- 
ter retired  and  Isaac  D.  Ayres  took  his  place.  The  Cohoes  Journal  and 
Advertiser  succeeded  the  Advertiser  in  February,  1848,  with  Ayres  & 
Winans,  publishers,  Mr.  Winans,  editor.  On  January  1,  1849,  this 
paper  was  succeeded  by  The  Cohoes  Cataract,  a  Republican  paper,  pub- 
lished by  Stow,  Silliman  &  Miller  (Chauncey  Stow,  Horace  B.  Silliman, 
Stephen  C.  Miller);  the  two  latter  acting  as  editors.  In  March,  1849, 
Mr.  Stow  retired  and  Silliman  &  Miller  continued  until  September, 
185  1,  when  they  sold  out  to  J.  H.  Masten,  who  continued  the  publication 
until  July  15,  1871,  with  the  exception  of  two  years  and  five  months 
when  it  was  under  control  of  A.  F.  Onderdonk  and  A.  S.  Baker.  On 
the  date  last  named  Mr.  Masten  sold  out  to  William  Bean,  who  with 
A.  E.  Stone,  were  the  proprietors  until  the  paper  suspended  publica- 
tion   December  31,    1881.      Its   publication   was  resumed    October   20, 

1883,  by  William  Seaport,  who  continued  until  August,  1884,  when  it 
finally  suspended.     The  Daily  Dispatch  was  started  by  Mr.  Seaport  in 

1884,  as  an  independent  paper,  and  continued  it  until  September,  1885, 
when  J.  &  M.  Wallace,  the  present  proprietors,  purchased  the  estab- 
lishment. 

The  Cohoes  Daily  News  was  started  September  22,  1873,  by  Edward 
Monk.  On  June  1,  1874,  he  took  as  partner  Samuel  Sault,  but  July 
22,  1879,  J.  H.  Masten  purchased  Mr.  Sault's  interest.  Mr.  Monk  retired 
April  2,  1 88 1,  and  Mr.  Masten  continued  the  publication  until  October, 
1884,  when  he  sold  out  to  W.  K.  Mansfield.  On  June  1,  1896.  a  stock 
company  was  formed  with  a  capital  of  $5,000,  and  J.  D.  Leversee, 
president  ;  W.  K.  Mansfield,  secretary  ;  W.  S.  Clark,  treasurer.  The 
News  supports  the  Republican  party,  is  ably  conducted  and  has  a  large 
circulation. 

The  Cohoes  Republican  was  started  July  15,  1892,  by  the  Republican 
Publishing  Company.  This  is  a  daily  Republican  organ  and  is  ably 
edited  by  John  Spence. 


455 

The  Sunday  Regulator  was  established  March  2,  1879,  with  Williams 
&  Webb,  proprietors,  and  John  Spence,  editor.  On  August  14,  follow- 
ing, Samuel  Sault  purchased  Mr.  Williams's  interest  and  Mr.  Spence 
gave  up  the  editorship.  Samuel  Sault  left  the  office  in  November, 
18S0,  and  William  Webb  continued  the  publication  until  his  death  in 
the  fall  of  1 88 1.  Alexis  Wager  then  took  his  place  as  publisher  and 
on  January  1,  1882,  purchased  the  establishment.  He  continued  until 
December,  1894,  when  he  sold  out  to  the  present  publisher,  Mitchell 
Rosenthall.     The  Regulator  is  Republican  in  its  politics. 

There  is  a  large  French  element  in  the  population  of  Cohoes  and 
there  have  been  several  newspapers  printed  in  their  native  tongue. 
Among  these  have  been  the  Journaldes  Dames,  a  literary  paper  edited 
by  Virginie  Authier,  which  existed  for  about  six  months  in  1875-6  ;  the 
L'Avenir  National,  a  Democratic  organ,  started  in  Troy  and  removed 
to  Cohoes  October  15,  1875,  under  management  of  Louis  G.  Le  Boeuf, 
and  discontinued  August  11,  1876;  the  La  Patrie  Nouvelle,  a  Repub- 
lican paper,  started  February  16  1876,  by  the  Authier  Brothers,  and 
and  the  Journal  de  Cohoes,  started  January  3,  1877,  by  Pierre  Lucas 
with  Arthur  E.  Valois,  editor,  which  was  suspended  a  few  months 
later.  The  existing  French  paper  is  the  LTndependent,  which  was 
started  December  22,  1894,  by  L  H.  Bourgengnon.  It  is  a  Republican 
organ  and  is  successful. 

Cohoes  has  had  the  usual  number  of  more  or  less  ephemeral  publica- 
tions to  which  only  a  brief  reference  is  necessary.  The  Cohoes  Weekly 
Democrat  was  published  for  four  months  from  January  27,  1866,  by 
Michael  Monahan.  A  second  paper  with  this  name  was  started  Sep- 
tember 17,  1870,  by  D.  Cady  and  John  H.  Atkinson;  James  F.  Kelly 
bought  Cady's  interest  in  the  following  November,  and  in  August, 
1873,  Mr.  Atkinson  retired,  Mr.  Kelly  continuing  until  February  21, 
1879,  when  the  establishment  was  burned  and  the  paper  suspended. 
The  Cohoes  Independent  was  published  for  sra  months  from  July  4, 
1872,  by  Robeit  Johnston  and  Charles  S.  Pease.  The  Cohoes  Daily 
Bulletin,  the  second  daily  in  the  city,  began  June  I,  1875  <  >t  was 
Democratic  and  was  conducted  by  J.  H.  Atkinson  and  J.  Barlow 
Luddy  ;  the  paper  suspended  December  13,  1875.  The  Cohoes  Daily 
Eagle  succeeded  the   Daily  Bulletin  on  January  22,    1876,  with    David 


456 

Williams,  proprietor,  and  J.  Barlow  Luddy,  editor;  it  was  discontinued 
May  26,  1876.  The  Northern  Herald,  a  Sunday  paper,  was  first  issued 
by  Williams  &  Egan,  September  3,  1876,  and  suspended  April  30. 
1877.  The  first  number  of  the  Cohoes  Daily  Courier,  a  Democratic 
organ,  appeared  July  10,  1877,  under  the  management  of  William 
Keeden,  who  was  succeeded  by  James  F.  Kelly  in  the  following  Oc- 
tober, who  published  it  in  connection  with  the  Weekly  Democrat,  be- 
fore mentioned.  He  sold  the  paper  to  William  Webb  and  John  Spence 
April  1,  1878,  but  it  passed  back  again  into  his  hands  February  15, 
1879  On  the  2 1st  of  that  month  the  plant  was  partially  burned  and 
a  removal  was  made  to  what  became  the  Tubbs  machine  shop  and  there 
the  paper  was  published  until  May  17,  1879.  The  Cohoes  Daily 
Times,  Democratic,  was  first  issued  from  the  Democrat  office,  August 
4,  1879,  with  James  F.  Kelly,  Dr.  O.  H.  Clark,  and  John  Scott,  pro- 
prietors. Dr.  Clark  and  Lucius  Maynard  were  editors;  the  paper  sus- 
pended the  following  November.  The  Daily  Eagle,  independent,  was 
started  by  Lucius  Maynard  September  12,  1879,  and  sold  at  a  penny; 
it  lived  only  a  few  months.  The  Cohoes  Leader  (Sunday)  commenced 
publication  September  14,  1879,  with  Spence  &  Aitkin,  proprietors, 
John  Spence,  editor;  it  suspended  in  June,  1880.  The  first  issue  of 
the  Weekly  Register,  Democratic,  was  published  November  29,  1879, 
by  Clark  &  McNiven,  Dr.  Clark,  editor.  It  suspended  in  March,  1880. 
The  Weekly  News  made  its  first  appearance  April  io.  1880,  and  was 
published  for  one  year  by  Monk  &  Masten.  The  Daily  Regulator  was 
published  for  six  months  in  connection  with  the  Sunday  Regulator,  be- 
ginning April  19,  1880,  by  Webb  &  Sault.  The  Cohoes  Sunday  Re- 
publican, A.  Craig  and  A.  K.  Miller,  proprietors,  Mr.  Miller  being 
editor,  was  published  from  June  27,  1880,  to  November  of  the  same 
year.  The  Cohoes  Sunday  Globe,  independent,  Patrick  White,  pub- 
lisher, was  issued  for  six  weeks  from  August  21,  1881.  The  Cohoes 
Daily  Herald,  independent,  appeared  May  20,  1882,  with  Monk  & 
Duffy,  proprietors  and  editors,  but  suspended  January  27,  1883. 

St.  John's  Episcopal  Church. — This  parish  was  organized  May  2,  1 83 1 
David  Wilkinson  and  Hugh  White  were  chosen  wardens,  and  Hezekiah 
Howe,  Otis  Sprague,  Albert  S.  Wilkinson,  fames  Faulkner,  John  Van- 


457 

dervverken,  Matthias  Williams,  Samuel  H.  Baldwin,  and  Luther  M. 
Tracy,  vestrymen.  The  first  church  edifice  (it  was  also  the  first  one  in 
Cohoes),  was  consecrated  on  May  12,  of  the  same  year.  It  stood  on 
the  south  side  of  Oneida  street,  between  Mohawk  and  Remsen  streets, 
the  land  being  donated  by  the  Cohoes  Company.  During  the  first  ten 
years  the  pulpit  was  filled  by  clergymen  from  Waterford,  after  which 
time  Rev.  David  I.  Burger  became  its  first  rector.  In  April,  1863, 
steps  were  taken  toward  the  erection  of  a  new  church,  the  corner  stone 
of  which  was  laid  June  9,  1870,  on  a  site  at  the  intersection  of  Can- 
vass and  Mohawk  streets.  The  building  was  of  gray  stone,  the  entire 
cost  being  $60,000.  This  beautiful  structure  was  burned  September 
6,  1894,  and  on  June  3,  1895,  the  corner  stone  was  laid  for  a  new 
stone  edifice  on  the  same  site,  which  building  is  now  in  process  of 
erection. 

Reformed  Church. — The  Reformed  Dutch  church  of  Cohoes  was  or- 
ganized on  the  first  Wednesday  of  November,  1837,  w'tn  twelve  mem- 
bers. On  the  19th  of  that  month  the  Consistory  was  constituted  by 
the  ordination  of  John  Vanderwerken,  Abram  Weidman,  and  Daniel 
Simmons,  elders,  and  William  Renwick  and  James  Safely,  deacons.  In 
May,  1838,  Rev.  William  Lockhead  was  called  as  pastor  of  this  church 
and  the  Waterford  church.  The  first  church  edifice  was  completed  in 
1839,  and  in  January,  1840,  Rev.  John  Van  Buren  was  called  to  the 
pulpit.  In  April,  1859,  the  first  house  of  worship  was  demolished  and 
a  new  structure  was  erected  on  the  site  and  dedicated  April  1 1,  i860, 
the  cost  of  which  was  $30,000.  Rev.  Charles  N.  Waldron,  who  began 
his  pastorate  in  1849,  served  the  church  for  thirty  years.  This  society 
is  now  strong  and  has  a  large  membership. 

First  M.  E.  Church. — This  society  was  organized  in  May,  1839,  un_ 
der  Rev.  Elias  Crawford,  pastor,  and  Rev.  Charles  Sherman,  presiding 
elder  of  the  district.  Meetings  were  held  for  a  year  in  a  school  house 
and  in  dwelling  houses,  and  in  1840  the  first  house  of  worship  was  built 
where  the  Clifton  mill  was  afterwards  located.  This  was  a  small  wooden 
building  and  sufficed  for  the  congregation  until  1848,  when  a  new  brick- 
church  on  Remsen  street  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $12,000,  the  site 
having  been  donated  by  the  Cohoes  Company.  This  church  was  used  for 
about  ten  years,  when  the  growth  of  the  society  demanded  a  more  com- 


458 

moclious  building.  In  May,  1859,  it  was  voted  to  tear  down  the  church 
and  erect  a  new  one  on  the  site.  This  was  completed  and  dedicated 
February  22,  i860. 

First  Baptist  Church — Baptist  meetings  were  held  in  Cohoes  as  early 
as  1838,  and  in  January,  1839,  Jonn  Duncan,  a  licentiate  of  the  Still- 
water church,  was  secured  as  regular  preacher.  His  labors  were  suc- 
cessful and  on  April  29th  of  that  year  a  call  for  a  church  organization 
was  issued.  At  a  council  held  May  25,  1839,  such  an  organization  was 
approved,  including  the  ordination  of  John  Duncan  as  pastor.  For 
the  greater  part  of  the  year  services  were  held  in  the  dining  room  of  the 
Harmony  boarding  house,  after  which  a  meeting  place  was  found  in  a 
building  on  Mohawk  street.  In  January,  1840,  land  was  obtained  of  the 
Company  and  a  small  church  erected.  This  was  used  for  ten  years, 
when  a  second  church  was  built  on  land  of  the  Company  on  Mohawk 
street  facing  White  street,  for  which  a  perpetual  lease  was  granted  ; 
this  church  was  of  brick,  and  determined  effort  was  necessary  to  pay  for 
it.  It  was  finally  completed  and  dedicated  April  28,  1852.  In  1846  a 
brick  parsonage  was  erected.  The  society  now  began  to  grow  rapidly 
and  by  1872  a  larger  church  became  a  necessity.  About  $10,000  was 
accordingly  expended  in  rebuilding  to  meet  the  requirements.  The 
church  is  now  in  a  prosperous  condition. 

The  Presbyterian  Church. — The  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Cohoes 
was  organized  August  10,  1839,  by  a  committee  from  the  Presbytery 
of  Troy.  Fourteen  persons  assented  to  the  faith,  and  Levi  Silliman 
and  Timothy  Bailey  were  chosen  elders,  and  Maltby  Howell,  deacon. 
Services  were  held  in  Mr.  Silliman's  dwelling  and  afterwards  in  their 
church  edifice  on  the  corner  of  Remsen  and  Factory  streets.  The  ed- 
ifice which  formerly  stood  on  the  site  of  the  new  church  was  built  in 
1849,  an<^  enlarged  in  1869.  A  lecture  room  was  erected  in  1865  and 
enlarged  by  a  two  story  addition  in  front  in  1877;  this  was  a  gift  by 
H.  B.  Silliman.  The  parsonage  adjoining  the  church  was  erected  in 
1865.  A  splendid  new  stone  edifice  is  now  in  course  of  erection,  to 
which  Mr.  Silliman  has  contributed  about  $60,000,  and  the  society  has 
raised  $25,000  for  a  chapel  and  church  house  for  social  purposes.  The 
corner  stone  was  laid  in  June,  1896,  and  the  edifice  will  be  completed 
in  1897.     The  congregation  is  large  and  the  society  active. 


459 

St.  James  M.  E.  Church. — What  was  known  as  the  Park  Avenue 
M.  E.  church  was  organized  in  1876  with  twenty-nine  members.  Dur- 
ing the  pastorate  of  Rev.  A.  C.  Rose,  on  March  29,  188 1,  the  society 
disbanded  and  on  April  6  of  that  year  a  new  church  was  organized 
with  the  name  of  St.  James.  A  new  edifice  was  built  on  the  corner  of 
McElwaine  avenue  and  Walnut  street. 

St.  Bernard's  Roman  Catholic  Church. — The  first  pastor  of  this 
church  came  to  Cohoes  in  1847,  anc*  under  him  the  Catholics  began 
public  worship  in  a  dilapidated  dwelling.  On  November  18,  1847,  tne 
corner  stone  of  a  church  was  laid  on  land  given  by  the  Harmony  Com- 
pany. The  church  was  completed  under  the  ministration  of  Rev.  Ber- 
nard Van  Reath,  who  remained  here  six  years.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  Thomas  Daily,  and  he  in  1855  by  Rev.  Thomas  Keveny,  who 
continued  until  the  time  of  his  death  in  1882.  Soon  after  his  arrival  the 
lots  west  of  the  church  were  purchased  for  $1,200  and  a  pastoral  residence 
erected.  Three  other  lots  were  soon  afterward  added  to  the  property. 
The  land  for  the  Catholic  Cemetery  was  purchased  in  1857  and  improve- 
ments begun.  In  1859  Sisters  from  the  Mother  House  of  St.  Joseph, 
in  Carondelet,  Mo.,  came  here  and  established  schools  in  connection 
with  the  parish.  A  residence_was  purchased  for  them  on  Mohawk 
street.  When  the  time  came  that  a  larger  church  was  needed,  land 
was  purchased  opposite  the  old  edifice  and  there  on  August  15,  1863, 
the  corner  stone  of  the  present  church  was  laid.  The  old  church  was 
remodeled  into  a  school  building,  with  a  hall  above  for  the  Young 
Men's  Literary  Association.  To  better  accommodate  the  schools  and 
the  Sisters,  the  house  occupied  by  the  pastor  was  improved  and  the 
Sisters  transferred  thither,  while  in  the  rear  of  the  Sisters'  house  an 
academy  was  built  for  young  ladies  of  the  congregation,  and  in  rear 
of  the  new  church  a  fine  house  was  erected  for  the  clergy.  On  Febru- 
ary 2,  1876,  a  fierce  gale  of  wind  struck  the  city  and  among  other  dam- 
age done  by  it  was  the  destruction  of  the  steeple  of  this  church  and 
eight  of  the  nine  bells  in  the  chime.  By  vigorous  effort  a  new- 
steeple  higher  and  more  beautiful  than  the  first  was  completed  in  the 
following  year.      This  church  cost  about  $100,000. 

St.  Joseph's  French  Church. — On  August  23,  1868,  Rev.  L.  II.  San- 
gon  was  sent  to  Cohoes  by  Bishop  Conroy  to  establish  a  French  church. 


460 

He  was  successful  and  on  October  9  the  corner  stone  of  a  house  of 
worship  was  laid.  The  building  was  dedicated  December  12,  1869, 
with  the  above  name.  A  pastoral  dwelling  was  built  in  1871.  The 
church  was  not  substantially  built  and  in  June,  1874,  it  was  demolished 
and  on  August  23  of  the  same  year  the  corner  stone  of  a  new  edifice 
was  laid.  The  building  is  of  stone  and  brick.  When  Rev.  L.  M.  Dugast 
assumed  the  pastorate  in  1879  he  found  about  sixty  children  of  French 
parentage  attending  a  school  with  a  single  lay  teacher.  At  his  request 
the  Sisters  of  St.  Ann's,  of  Lachine,  near  Montreal,  established  them- 
selves in  this  parish,  and  in  November  a  fine  brick  convent  was  opened 
for  them,  which  cost  $17,000.  The  attendance  is  very  large.  Soon 
afterward  a  school  for  boys  was  opened  in  a  brick  edifice  erected  for 
the  purpose.  Several  other  societies  have  been  established  in  connec- 
tion with  the  church,  all  of  which  contribute  to  the  general  welfare  of 
the  French  population. 

Church  of  St.  Agnes,  Roman  Catholic. — A  temporary  house  of  wor- 
ship was  erected  for  this  church  and  opened  in  November,  1878,  and 
Rev.  John  F.  Lowrey  was  sent  to  take  charge  of  the  congregation  in 
September  of  that  year.  A  parochial  residence  was  built  soon  after- 
ward, and  the  lots  opposite  were  purchased  as  a  site  for  the  permanent 
church.  The  old  church  was  subsequently  burned  and  the  present 
edifice  erected.  A  farm  was  purchased  for  a  cemetery  and  dedicated 
September  26,  1883. 


461 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE  TOWN  OF  RENSSELAERVILLE.1 

This  town  derived  its  name  from  the  first  Patroon,  Stephen  Van 
Rensselaer,  to  whom  a  charter  or  grant  of  land,  known  as  Rensselaer- 
wyck,  embracing,  with  other  lands,  the  county  of  Albany,  was  made 
in  the  year  1630. 

The  first  settler  in  Rensselaerville  was  Apollos  Moore,  a  veteran  of 
the  Revolutionary  war,  who  immigrated  from  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  and 
settled  upon  a  piece  of  land  about  two  miles  east  of  the  site  of  the 
present  village  of  Rensselaerville.  He  came  on  foot,  while  his  wife  rode 
a  horse  (which  cost  five  dollars)  and  carried  all  their  goods.  Mr.  Moore 
became  a  leading  citizen,  was  a  justice  of  the  peace,  supervisor,  and 
finally  a  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Albany  county,  which 
last  office  he  held  until  he  was  seventy  years  old.  He  was  a  man  of 
marked  character,  of  much  learning,  and  made  an  able  judge. 

In  1787  Joseph  Lincoln,  John  Rensier  and  several  brothers  named 
Hatch  settled  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town,  and  soon  afterwards 
one  of  the  Hatch  brothers  built  there  the  house  which  was  known  for 
many  years  thereafter  as  the  "  Hatch  house,"  while  a  little  way  south 
of  where  the  village  of  Rensselaerville  now  stands  was  erected  the 
store-dwelling  house  and  small  tannery  of  Peckham  and  Griggs.  This 
was  at  that  time  known  as  "  Peckham's  Hollow,"  and  was  on  the  farm 
afterwards  owned  by  a  Mr.  Lester  (now  Joseph  Pullman's).  It  was 
here  the  Hon.  Rufus  W.  Peckham,  the  elder,  the  noted  lawyer  and 
judge,  was  reared  and  spent  his  boyhood  days  while  teaching  school. 

The  first  settler  in  what  grew  to  be  the  village  of  Rensselaerville 
was  Samuel  Jenkins,  who  came  there  February  22,  1788,  and  in  the 
following  April  erected  the  first  dwelling  house  and  a  little  later  the 
first  grist  mill. 

1  By  Norman  W.  Faulk,  esq. 


462 

Another  pioneer,  who  came  to  the  southwestern  portion  of  the  town  in 
1790,  settling  near  the  village  of  Preston  Hollow,  was  Capt.  Daniel  Shay, 
at  that  time  a  well  known  personage,  being  no  other  than  the  leader  of 
the  famous  "Shay's  Rebellion"  in  Massachusetts.  His  son,  Daniel 
Shay,  was  later  a  merchant  and  justice  of  the  peace  at  that  village. 

Major  John  Edwards,  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  at  the  close  of  the 
war  settled  at  Preston  Hollow,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
days. 

In  the  southwestern  part  of  the  town,  near  Potter  Hollow,  Gerardus 
Drake,  a  prominent  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  settled  in  1803. 
This  society  increased  in  number  and  soon  a  church  was  founded  at 
Potter  Hollow.  John  Drake,  himself  an  influential  Quaker,  came  to 
the  same  place  in  1808,  and  lived  near  Gerardus,  while  Abram  and 
Jeremiah  Young  and  Aaron  Winne  settled  in  the  same  vicinity  in 
1790. 

Michael  Brand,  a  German,  came  during  the  Revolution  from  Scho- 
harie county  and  settled  in  this  town  on  land  in  lot  No  225,  which  is 
now  the  farm  of  William  Chapman.  About  1783,  at  which  time  there 
was  but  one  dwelling  in  the  village  of  Rensselaerville,  John  Coons,  from 
Columbia  county,  squatted  on  lot  No.  1  18,  and  Silas  Sweet  came  from 
West  Stockbridge,  Mass.,  and  settled  about  one  mile  from  Rensselaer- 
ville village. 

In  1770  Derrick  Vandyke  settled  upon  a  piece  of  land  upon  the  flats 
just  above  the  village  of  Preston  Hollow,  now  occupied  by  John  Hess, 
and  was  the  first  settler  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  town.  Tradi- 
tion has  it  that  during  the  Revolution  he  was  a  Tory.  At  this  time 
there  were  five  footpaths  or  trails  used  by  the  Schoharie  Indians,  the 
main  path  beginning  at  Catskill  and  following  the  creek  of  that  name 
up  to  its  source  at  the  vlaie,  and  running  thence  to  Middleburg,  pass- 
ing through  the  site  of  Preston  Hollow.  Over  this  route  now  runs  the 
Schoharie  turnpike.  This  path  was  traversed  by  the  Indians  of  the 
Stockbridge  and  Schoharie  tribes,  the  former  tribe  being  in  the  habit 
of  camping  for  weeks  on  what  is  now  Coon's  meadow  in  Preston  Hol- 
low, during  their  fishing  season  in  the  Catskill  Creek. 

The  most  prominent  stream  of  Rensselaerville  is  Catskill  Creek,  which 
rises  in  Schoharie  county  and  runs  southerly  through  the  southwestern 


463 

portion  of  the  town,  emptying  into  the  Hudson  at  Catskill.  The  re- 
maining streams  are  Eight  and  Ten  Mile  Creeks,  both  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  town  and  which  join  just  south  of  Medusa. 

There  are  four  villages  in  the  town,  and  two  hamlets. 

Preston  Hollow,  the  largest  village,  is  situated  in  the  Catskill  valley 
near  the  mountains  of  that  name,  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  town, 
on  Catskill  Creek,  its  population  being  about  600.  The  first  settlers 
here  were  Andries  Huyck,  on  lot  No  84,  and  Sebastian  Smith,  on  lot 
No.  66.  The  founder  of  the  village  was  Dr.  Samuel  Preston,  who 
in  1798  erected  the  first  frame  dwelling  in  the  village.  Of  the  many 
prominent  early  citizens  and  business  men  in  the  village  were  Micah 
Humphrey,  the  Shays — Daniel  and  Daniel,  jr.,  Alvin  Devereux,  father 
of  Hon.  Horace  T.  Devereux,  James  G.  Clock,  David  Davenport,  Eben 
and  Benjamin  White,  Phineas  Holmes,  Robert  W.  Murphy,  the  Ricker- 
sons,  Dr.  Bela  Brewster,  Lawrence  Faulk,  Nathaniel  Rider,  Melancthon 
Smith,  David  Faulk  and  Samuel  Coon,  who  are  long  since  deceased. 
Lawrence  Faulk  was  a  learned  and  successful  attorney  and  counselor  at 
the  Albany  bar.  His  successor  was  his  son,  Norman  W.  Faulk,  who  is 
still  engaged  in  practice  in  this  village.  Preston  Hollow  contains  two 
fine  churches — a  Baptist  and  a  Methodist  Episcopal — and  a  large  hotel, 
the  Park  Hotel,  of  which  Mr.  Murphy  is  proprietor,  a  flourishing  school 
and  a  classical  institute. 

Medusa  is  a  village  in  the  southeastern  corner  of  the  town  on 
Ten  Mile  Creek,  and  was  settled  by  Uriah  Hall  and  his  son  Joshua 
about  1783,  whence  the  name  it  bore  for  many  years  of  Hall's  Mills. 
Uriah  Hall  and  his  son  took  a  lease  from  the  Patroon  of  many  lots  cov- 
ering the  site  of  the  village  and  vicinity,  and  erected  the  first  grist  mill 
and  dwelling  here.  Joshua  Hall  continued  in  business  here  until  1806, 
when  he  was  accidentally  killed  by  a  tree  falling  upon  him,  while  he 
was  chopping  wood  on  one  of  his  farms. 

In  1785  Joseph  Hall  settled  upon  the  farm  afterwards  owned  by 
Willett  Mackey  and  now  occupied  by  his  son,  Alex.  W.  Mackey,  at  the 
east  end  of  the  village.  Job  Tanner  was  an  early  settler,  as  were  Will- 
iam R.  Tanner,  who  was  far  many  years  a  leading  citizen,  a  justice  of 
the  peace  and  supervisor,  and  Daniel  Doolittle. 

The  village  numbers  about  150  inhabitants,  has  two  churches — 
Methodist  and  Christian,  a  hotel  and  store. 


464 

Rensselaerville  is  a  village  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  town,  and 
was  founded  February  22,  1 788,  by  Samuel  Jenkins,  who  erected  at 
that  time  the  first  grist  mill  and  soon  thereafter  the  first  frame  dwelling 
house.  He  was  the  father  of  Jonathan  Jenkins,  who  became  a  practic- 
ing lawyer  there,  and  grandfather  of  Hon.  Charles  M.  Jenkins,  a 
wealthy  and  retired  lawyer  of  Albany.  Daniel  and  Josiah  Conkling 
were  early  settlers,  Daniel  carrying  on  tanning  and  a  boot  and  shoe 
manufactory.  Asa  and  Philo  Culver,  Wheeler  Watson,  whose  son, 
Malbone  Watson,  became  an  eminent  lawyer  at  Catskill  and  rose  to  be 
county  judge  and  Supreme  Court  justice,  and  Rufus  Watson  also  settled 
here  at  an  early  period.  Other  residents  of  the  village  who  were  prom- 
inent in  this  locality  were  Arnold  B.  Watson,  a  son  of  Josiah  Watson, 
was  president  and  main  stockholder  of  the  Unadilla  Bank,  Rev.  Samuel 
Fuller,  the  first  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  here,  who  lived  on 
the  farm  where  the  late  Hon.  William  Aley  lived  and  died  and  Henry 
Stone,  an  able  lawyer  and  poet,  was  the  successor  to  Jenkins.  Still 
others  were  Dr.  Piatt  Wickes  who  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Hyde  and 
became  his  successor  dying  a  few  years  ago  at  a  ripe  old  age,  a  man  of 
sterling  character  ;  Charles  L.  Mulford,  successor  to  the  Daytons,  and 
John  S.  Huyck,  men  who  became  wealthy  and  were  honored  by  their 
fellow  citizens  ;  Eli  Hutchinson,  the  merchant,  and  Franklin  Frisbie,  who 
died  a  number  of  years  ago.  Judge  John  Niles,  who  moved  from  Coey- 
mans,  and  O.  H.  Chittenden  both  lawyers  here,  the  former  becoming 
a  county  judge  and  the  latter  surrogate  of  Albany  county,  and  later 
Dr.  Gilbert  Titus,  who  for  many  years  was  justice  of  the  peace.  The 
Episcopal  church  here  was  organized  February  20,  181 1,  by  Rev.  Sam- 
uel Fuller;   the  Baptist  in  1797  and  the  Presbyterian  in  1793. 

In  the  cemetery  of  the  village  stands  a  monument  to  the  memory  of 
the  many  brave  soldiers  from  this  town  who  lost  their  lives  in  fighting 
for  their  country,  at  the  dedication  ceremonies  of  which  Hon.  Lyman 
Tremain,  of  Albany,  delivered  a  masterly  oration. 

Potter  Hollow,  which  was  settled  in  1806,  is  a  small  village  of  about 
one  hundred  residents,  lying  in  the  extreme  southwestern  part  of  the 
town.  It  has  a  post-office,  store,  union  church,  and  a  hotel.  The 
founders  and  earliest  business  men  were  the  Potters — Timothy  R.  and 
Samuel.      Potter   Palmer,    the    well-known    Chicagoan,   was    born    and 


465 

grew  to  manhood  here,  his  father,  Benjamin  Palmer,  being  a  farmer 
and  a  highly  respected  citizen,  who  served  many  years  as  justice  of  the 
peace. 

Cooksburg  is  a  hamlet  having  a  grist  mill,  hotel  and  two  drug  stores, 
and  lies  south  of  Preston  Hollow  and  north  of  Potter  Hollow,  being 
one  mile  from  each. 

The  town  organization  of  Reusselaerville  dates  back  to  1 791 .  Berne 
was  taken  from  it  in  1795,  and  a  part  of  Westerlo  in  18 15,  leaving 
Rensselaerville  to  occupy  the  southwest  corner  of  what  was  known  as 
the  Manor  of  Rensselaerwyck.  The  town  was  surveyed  in  1786  and 
divided  into  square  lots  of  160  acres  each.  It  is  eight  and  a  half  miles 
on  the  south  and  east  lines,  and  six  on  the  north.  The  west  line  is 
irregular  and  about  nine  miles  in  length.  The  general  slope  of  the 
land,  though  broken  by  high  rid  es,  is  south  and  east,  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  town  being  about  the  highest  land  between  the  Hudson 
on  the  east,  the   Mohawk  on   the  north  and  the  Schoharie  on  the  west. 

A  military  road  from  Athens  (then  Lunenburg),  Greene  county, 
passed  through  the  southern  part  of  the  town,  and  was  crossed  by  a 
road  from  Beaverdam,  now  Berne,  a  little  east  of  Andrew  Asher's 
house  on  lot  225.  Another  road,  originally  an  Indian  trail  but  used 
for  transporting  military  stores,  crossed  the  town  farther  north,  being 
now  known  as  the  "  Basic  Path."  These  roads  were,  in  the  early  days, 
so  covered  by  underbrush  as  to  be  passable  only  for  ox  teams. 

The  first  settlers  found  on  Ten  Mile  Creek  what  had  been  a  Tory 
camp,  built  of  logs  in  wigwam  style,  and  another  on  the  ground  now 
covered  by  the  Rensselaerville  Pond.  These  settlers  appear  to  have 
built  their  houses  on  the  highest  point  of  their  land,  and  to  have  traced 
their  paths  from  cabin  to  cabin  by  means  of  blazed  trees,  which  tree- 
marked  paths  were  the  beginning  of  our  present  roads  from  hilltop  to 
hilltop  With  the  country  now  cleared  of  its  forests  these  roads,  with 
an  elevation  of  1,400  or  1,500  feet  above  the  Hudson  River,  give  fine 
views  of  the  surrounding  country. 

A  map  of  the  manor  of  Rensselaerwyck,  made  for  the  proprietor  by 
J.  R.  Bleecker  in  1767,  shows  no  inhabitants,  dwellings  nor  roads  with- 
in the  limits  of  the  present  town.  Bleecker  says  that  the  south  line  of 
the  manor  was  located  by  a  line  of  marked  trees,  according  to  a  survey 
59 


466 


made  by  Edward  Collins  in  1735.  From  the  map  and  field  notes  of 
William  Cockburn,  who  divided  the  southwestern  part  of  the  manor 
into  lots  in  1786-7,  it  appears  that  at  that  time  about  sixty- seven  emi- 
grants had  commenced  improvements,  and  about  fifty  nine  dwellings 
had  been  erected,  all  probably  in  the  prevailing  styles  of  log  architec- 
ture, within  the  limits  of  the  present  town.  These  were  located  chiefly 
alono-  and  near  the  roads  designated  as  the  Old  and  New  roads  from 
Freehold  to  Schoharie.  The  Old  road  entered  the  town  on  lot  17,  the 
southeast  corner  of  the  town,  and  passed  northwesterly  through  the 
town.  The  New  road  entered  on  lot  1 1  and  by  a  northerly  course 
joined  the  Old  road  on  lot  224,  then  partly  improved  by  Andrew  Asher. 
Over  these  roads  the  settlers  seem  to  have  come  in  from  the  south  and 
progressed  mainly  to  the  north  and  west. 

We  give  below  the  number  of  lots  upon  which  some  improvements 
had  been  made,  from  the  map  made  by  Cockburn  in  1786,  with  the 
names  of  the  men,  then  called  squatters,  who  led  the  attack  upon  the 
dense  forests  of  this  wild  region  : 

Lots5  and  6,  Jeremiah  Young;  7,  Peter  Plank;  8,  Peter  West;  9,  Charles  Edwards 
11,  Gershom  Stevens;  24,  Hendrick  Young;  25,  Peter  Shoemaker;  26,  Peter  Becker 
37,  William  Showerman  ;  43,  Peter  Emerick  ;  45,  Peter  Basson  ;  47  and  67,  John  Ellis 
56,  Peter  Miller;  66,  Bastian  Smith;  70,  Samuel  Howe;  84  and  85,    Andrus  Houck 
88  and  89,  Curtis  Cleveland  andjesse  Pierce; 90,  Abel  Mudge;  92  and  102,  Smith  and 
Johannes  Hagadorn  and   Peter  Houck;  103  and   104,  Derrick  Vandyke;  108,  John 
Pierce;  109,  Sylvester  Pierce ;  125,  Abner  Tremaine;  127,  Caleb  Prince;  128  and  148, 
Daniel  Mudge;  131,  Daniel  Cooper ;  145,   Thomas  Farrington ;  147,   Samuel  Martin 
and  Josiah  Skinner;  149,  George  Van  Beuren ;  167,  Levi  Green;  168  and  187,   John 
Coon;    169  and  170,  Jonathan  Skinner;    185  and  186,  Neal   McFalls;    186,  Thomas 
Brown;    186,  Adam  Coon;  188  and  189,  208  and  209,  Reuben  Bumpis,  Philemon  Lee 
and  Hezekiah  Dibble;    204,   Kendrick  Rhoda  and  Samuel  Nichols;    206,  Gamaliel 
Palmer;    207,  John  Nichols;  209,  Cook;   210,  Bela  Cook;   223,  Jonathan   Edmonds: 

224,  Alanson  Saxton  and  log  meeting  house;  225,  Andrus  Asher  and  Michael  Bryant; 

225,  245  and  246,  Ashbel  Culver;  226,  245  and  246,  John  Resegue;  227,  Nathan  Hatch; 
227,  Jonathan  Crocker;  243  and  244,  Widow  Becker;  247,  Daniel  Cooper;  263,  James 
Borthwick;  267,  Joseph  Lincoln;  267,  John  Rancear;  261  and  281,  James  Broyce; 
282,  John  Herren;  283,  303  and  304,  John  Hunter;  302  and  303,  Samuel  Ramsey; 
350,  George  Ramsey;  351,  John  Connell. 

The  improvemants  indicated  on  this  map  are  small  clearings,  trees 
enough  being  cut  down  to  put  up  a  log  house. 

There  was  some  dread  of  Indians  among  the  early  settlers  and  events 
showed  that  the  fear  was  not  unfounded.     Two  lads,  sons  of  Mr.  Prie, 


467 

who  lived  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town,  were  taken  prisoners  by 
the  Indians  about  the  time  of  the  massacre  of  the  Deitz  family  in  Berne. 
They  had  set  out  to  go  to  Berne,  when  they  were  seized,  marched  back 
by  the  Basic  path  in  sight  of  their  father's  house,  and  carried  away  and 
kept  prisoners  by  the  Indians  for  many  years.  These  Indians,  under 
Brant  at  this  time,  came  down  past  the  site  of  Preston  Hollow  and 
camped  on  the  site  of  Cooksburg,  and  thence  passed  on  over  the  hills 
to  Blenheim  and  thence  to  Schoharie.  They  were  followed  by  armed 
men,  who,  however,  were  unable  to  overtake  them. 

The  first  town  meeting  of  which  we  have  any  record  was  held  in  1795  ; 
Peter  West  was  chosen  supervisor,  David  Crocker  town  clerk,  Benja- 
min Frisbie  and  Peter  West  overseers  of  the  poor,  Ariel  Murdock,  Mel- 
etiah  Hatch  and  Ansel  Ford  commissioners  of  highways,  L.  Nathan 
Spaulding,  Elijah  Murdock,  Josiah  Skinner  and  Apollos  Moore  asses- 
sors, David  Brown,  Alexander  Mackey,  Noah  Ellis  and  Joshua  Doane, 
constables,  Alexander  Mackey,  David  Brown,  Noah  Ellis  and  Joshua 
Doane,  collectors,  Asa  Hudson  and  Meletiah  Hatch  fence  viewers,  Da- 
vid Crocker  pound-master.  In  the  following  year  there  were  nineteen 
licenses  recognized  in  town. 

The  first  religious  organization  in  Rensselaerville  was  that  of  the 
Baptists  in  Preston  Hollow,  whose  organization  dated  1790.  Elder 
Winans  was  the  first  pastor. 

The  first  Presbyterian  organization  in  the  town  was  in  1793,  formed 
by  Benjamin  Frisbie,  Alanson  Saxton  and  Nehemiah  Lord,  their  place 
of  worship  being  a  log  house  on  what  is  known  as  Mount  Pisgah,  near 
the  village  of  Rensselaerville.  The  Rev.  Samuel  Fuller  was  their  first 
pastor,  a  Connecticut  man  of  high  education  and  a  graduate  of  Dart- 
mouth College.  A  meeting  house  was  built  about  1795  by  a  Dutch  Re- 
formed society  in  the  southern  part  of  the  town  on  a  ridge  of  land  known 
as  Oak  Hill ;  among  the  early  pastors  of  which  were  the  Rev.  Mr.  Van 
Zandt  and  Rev.  Mr.  Ostrander.  This  church  stood  near  the  present 
residence  of  Mrs.  Julia  Hall,  being  on  lot  9.  The  Baptist  society  com- 
posed of  those  liviii"  about  Rensselaerville  village  built  their  meeting 
house  in  that  part  of  the  original  town  which  was  set  off  to  Berne,  so 
that,  although  most  of  the  early  settlers  around  this  village  were  Bap- 
tists, they  had  no  meeting  house  in  the  village  until  1830.  The  Revs. 
Beman  and  Crocker  were  among  their  first  pastors. 


468 

The  present  meeting  house  of  the  Methodists  was  built  in  Rensselaer- 
ville  in  1839  They  also  have  a  church  in  Preston  Hollow  and  one  in 
Medusa.  The  Quakers,  who  were  very  numerous  in  early  times,  have 
nearly  disappeared  from  the  town;  they  formerly  had  three  meeting 
houses  in  or  near  the  town,  of  which  the  one  located  at  Potter  Hollow 
has  been  reconstructed  as  a  union  church. 

In  1802  the  Schoharie  Turnpike  Company  was  incorporated,  whose 
road  passed  through  the  village  of  Preston  Hollow  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  town,  while  in  1805  the  Albany  and  Delaware  Turnpike  Com- 
pany was  incorporated  to  build  a  road  from  Albany  to  Brink's  Mills 
which  runs  through  Rensselaerville  village. 

Supervisors  of  the  town  of  Rensselaerville  have  been:  1795,  Peter  West;  1818, 
Asa  Calvard;  1819-21,  Eli  Hutchinson;  1823-23,  1832-33,  Nathaniel  Rider;  1824, 
Isaac  Gardner;  1825,  Joshua  Gardner;  1826-27,  Wheeler  Watson;  1828-29,  1840,  Joseph 
Connor;  1830-31,  John  Niles;  1833  35,  Charles  L.  Mulford;  1836,  James  Reid;  1837, 
Samuel  Niles;  1838-39,  Lewis  M.  Dayton;  1841-42,  Benjamin  E.  Mackey;  1843, 
James  G.  Clark;  1844,  Shadrach  R.  Potter;  1845-46,  Valentine  Treadwell;  1847-48, 
Stephen  M.  Hallenbeck;  1849-50,  1852,  1854,  William  Aley;  1851,  Daniel  A.  Mackey; 
1853,  Benjamin  F.  Sayre;  1855-57,  Norman  A.  Ford;  1858-59,  Andrew  Felter; 
1860-61,  James  E.  Mackey;  1862-67,  George  H.  Laraway;  1868-70,  William  Mc- 
Givney;  1871-72,  William  R.  Tanner ;  1873-75,  Horace  T.  Devereux;  1876-80,  Albert 
T.  Moore;  1881-83,  H.  Sayre;  1884-87,  1893,  Jacob  B.  Norwood;  1888-92,  Lewis 
Kenyon;  1894-95,  G.  M.  Hallenbeck;  1896,  Abram  S.  Coon,  term  two  years. 

Of  the  many  who  have  or  are  now  worthily  representing  their  native 
town,  we  may  record  the  names  of  Mortimer  M.  Jackson,  judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Wisconsin  ;  Addison  C.  Niles,  judge  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  of  California  ;  Rufus  W.  Peckham,  judge  of  the  Court  of 
Appeals,  New  York  ;  Malbone  Watson,  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court ; 
James  Lamoreux,  Robert  VV.  Murphy,  judges  of  Albany  county  ;  Mar- 
cellus  Weston,  judge  of  Montgomery  county  ;  Hiram  Gardner,  judge  of 
Niagara  county  ;  Horace  T  Devereux,  Valentine  Treadwell,  Stephen 
M.  Hallenbeck,  Almeron  S.  Cornell,  William  Aley,  Robert  B.  Watson, 
Henry  Jenkins,  J.  W.  and  L.  H.  Babcock,  members  of  the  New  York 
Assembly.  In  addition  to  the  above  we  should  add  Judge  Joseph  J. 
Bradley  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  who  was  born  in 
that  part  of  the  original  town  which  was  set  off  as  Berne  ;  Judge  A. 
Melvin  Osborne  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  York  ;  and  Judge 
Lyman  Tremain,  attorney-general  of  New  York,  who  was  born  just  over 


469 

the  town  line  in  Durham.  Mr.  Potter  Palmer,  of  Chicago,  and  Arnold 
B.  Watson,  of  Unadilla,  now  deceased,  were  natives  of  this  town. 
Norman  W.  Faulk,  of  Preston  Hollow,  a  lawyer,  who  read  law  in  the 
office  of  Daniel  S  Dickinson  and  with  Peckham  &  Co.  at  Albany,  was 
admitted  to  practice  in  1852,  and  went  to  Hastings,  Mich.,  where  he 
practiced  his  profession  and  became  a  leader  at  the  bar,  and  being  for 
a  number  of  years  judge  of  the  Recorder's  Court.  He  was  born  at 
Preston  Hollow,  where  he  now  resides,  enjoying  a  practice  in  this  and 
adjoining  counties. 

The  following  list  of  occupants  and  actual  first  tenants  in  the  town 
under  Van  Rensselaer,  the  Patroon,  with  lots  and  leases,  are  of  interest. 
The  names  in  italics  indicates  those  who  were  occupants  before  the 
manorial  survey  and  allotments  were  made.  It  will  be  noticed  that 
the  oldest  leases  were  of  lots  54,  94  and  134,  made  September  10,  1787, 
but  the  date  of  the  lease  does  not  in  every  case  indicate  when  the  oc- 
cupancy commenced,  as  this,  in  most  cases,  was  many  years  before  the 
lease  was  taken. 

Lot  No.  1,  which  is  the  southwest  corner  of  Albany  county,  was  occupied  by  Elisha 
Bates;  no  lease  found ;  3,  Josiah  Morris,  July  12,  1796;  3,  Nathan  Smith,  June,  1788; 
4,  Stephen  Bolles,  July  0,  1791;  5,  Jeremiah  Young  and  John  Wafen,  July  18,  1803; 
0,  feremiah  Young  and  Peter  Plank,  July  14,  1788;  7,  Peter  Plank  (grist  mill), 
March,  1793;  8,  Peter  West,  August  29,  1794;  9,  Charles  Edwards  (meeting  house), 
June  28,  1795;  10,  Charles  Edwards,  July  18,  1803;  11,  Gershom  Stevens  (saw  mill), 
October  2,  1787;  12,  Joseph  Dickson,  October  2,  1787;  13,  Jonathan  Pratt,  October  2, 
17S7;  14,  Peabody  Pratt,  May  29,  1789;  15,  Samuel  Rider  and  Elihu  Gifford,  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1799;  16,  John  Lautman,  March  10,  1788;  17,  Henry  Spickerman,  Decem- 
ber 26,  1794;  21,  Benjamin  Brand,  July  12,  1796;  23,  Henry  Young  and  Aaron 
Winne,  June  6,  1796;  24,  Henry  Young  and  John  Walker,  July  2,  1796 ;  25,  Peter 
Schoonmaker,  March  13,  1788;  26,  Peter  Baker,  January  26,  1796;  27,  Joseph 
Andrews  and  Hendrick  I 'lank,  jr.,  November  4,  1797;  28,  Johannis  Row,  July  9, 
17SS;  29,  Martiuias  Hommel,  October  30,  1801;  80,  Edward  Taylor  and  Joshua 
'1  bomas,  June  21, 1791  ;  8.1,  Levi  Tracey and  Thomas  Shadbolt,  May  19, 1806;  32.  Elonzo 
Jennings  and  Reuben  Treadwell,  July  13,  1796;  33,  William  A.  Tanner,  February 
■!C>,  1805;  34,  Joseph  Hall,  July  4,  1807;  35,  Jonathan  Bedford,  January  30,  L808; 
86,  George  Ben,  March  10,  1788;  37,  John  Gardner,  April  17,  1795;  41,  Abraham 
Young  (east  part),  July  12,  1796,  (west  part),  Reuben  Hill,  September  29  1795;  42, 
Wilhelmus  Wolf  and  Peter  Emerick,  December  8,  1795,  43,  Peter  Emerick,  January 
27,  1796;  44,  Michael  Schoonmaker,  January  17,  1789;  45,  Peter  B  as  son  isaw  mill), 
April  20,  1798;  46,  Philip  Scholder,  February  14.  1792;  47,  John  Ellis,  July  22,  1788 
(new  lease  to  Daniel  Tuttle  December  5,  L835);  Is,  Barent  Burhans,  November  9, 
L801;    49,   Ezekiel   Hull     March  2,1789;    50,    Amos   Mosher  and    Benjamin    Worth, 


470 

August  23.  1805;  51,  Sanford  Tracey,  August  24,  1805;  52,  James  Mackey,  February 
21,  1805;  53,  (grist  mill  and  saw  mill),  Fitch  Lamphere,  September  30,  1797;  54,  John 
H.  Garrison,  September  10,  1787;  55,  Jacob  and  Wessels  Strope,  June  7,  1803;  56, 
Alexander  Campbell,  August  13,  1806;  61.  Hendrick  Moore,  July  12,  1796;  62,  Hen- 
drick  Bewe,  January  30,  1796;  63,  Joseph  Row,  June  16,  1788;  64,  John  Wolf,  jr., 
June  17,  1795;  65,  Sebastian  Schmit,  November  7,  1792;  66,  Martinus  Shuldis,  June 
30,  1792;  67,  Charles  Morat,  October  24,  1789;  68,  Charles  Morat,  December  13, 
1789;  69,  Henry  Person,  October  2,  1787  ;  70,  Samuel  Hoiv  and  Samuel  Cleveland, 
October  2,  1787;  71,  William  and  Solomon  Mackey,  Augusts,  1791;  72,  Jeremiah 
Parce,  July  13,  1796;  73,  John  Cox,  April  25,  1788;  74,  Samuel  Combe,  jr.,  February 
23,  1797;  75,  Andrew  Spickerman,  February  10,  1803;  76,  William  Campbell,  March 
3,  1813;  81,  Abram  Hallenbeck,  jr.  (west  part),  November  21,  1788:  81,  (east  part), 
Michael  I.  Hallenbeck,  February  24,  1789;  82,  Samuel  Potter,  July  9,  1792;  83, 
Wilhemus  Wolf,  August  13,  1791;  84,  Samuel  Preston  and  Micah  Humphrey  (.saw- 
mill), May  8,  1804;  85,  Samuel  Burgess  and  Samuel  Preston,  April  10,  1794;  86, 
Timothy  and  John  Boardman,  jr.,  January  20,  1801;  87,  Jonas  Kelsey,  July  13,  1796; 
88,  Alexander  Mackey  and  Jonas  Kelsey,  February  9,  1796;  89,  Johannes,  Conradt 
and  Benjamin  Briggs,  April  25,  1795;  90,  Enoch  and  Silas  Sayre,  April  5,  1793;  91, 
Barent  and  Abraham  Dubois,  September  1,  1792;  92,  Johannes  Hagadorn,  July 
14,  1788;  93,  Samuel  Combe,  jr.,  February  23,  1797;  94,  Conradt  Showerman,  Sep- 
tember 10,  17s7;  95,  John  Dunham,  July  13,  1796;  101,  John  Hallenbake,  February 
3,4796;  102,  Noah  Russell  and  Samuel  Potter,  January  7,  1804;  103,  Henry  Win 
Dyke  and  Thiel  Rockefeller,  January  25,  1797;  104,  Henry  and  John  Van  Dykex 
January  25,  1797;  106,  John  G.  Spencer  and  Thomas  Farrington,  January  11,  1793; 
106,  Jesse  Nichols,  July  23  1800;  107,  John  YVinans  and  Muritie  Eamon,  January 
2:;,  1795;  108,  Lawrence  Faulk  (west  part),  September  6,  1793;  108,  Jonas  Kelsey,  s. 
one-half,  March  3,  1789;  109,  Josiah  F.  Dean,  April  25,  1795;  110,  Titus  Palmer  and 
Lawrence  Dubois,  June  18,  1804;  111,  William  Connolly  and  George  Wright,  Decem- 
ber 18,  1795;  112,  Nathan  and  Sylvanus  Lounsbury,  July  13,  1796;  113,  Peter 
Rivenberg,  May  12,  1804;  114  and  115,  Jeremiah  Snyder,  May  12,  1817;  121, 
Russell  Humphrey  (west  part),  August  26,  1794;  121,  Henry  Kontshman  (east 
part),  December  16,  1793;  122,  Christian  Brand  and  John  Badgers,  January  9, 
1794;  12:'.,  Peter  Bradt  and  James  Gleason,  July  9,  1793;  124,  Page  Harri- 
man,  December  23,  1788;  125,  Robert  Goff  and  Saunders  Haynes,  January  3, 
1805;  126,  Joshua  Gardner  and  John  Hand,  February  21,  1805;  127,  Elijah  Hicks, 
March  4,  1795;  128,  Jacob  Copland,  June  15,  1799;  129,  Aaron  and  Jared  Mudge, 
October  2,  1 7s?  ;  130,  John  P.  Knickerbocker,  June  16,  1795;  131,  Allen  Durant,  Feb- 
ruary 26,  1799;  139,  George  Dipple  (saw  mill),  September  18,  1787;  133,  Benjamin 
B.  Durkie,  December  18,  1794;  134,  Hendrick  H.  Garrison,  September  10,  17^7; 
141,  Joseph  Birchard,  February  28,  1800;  142,  David  Alger,  February  19,  1793;  143, 
David  Alger  and  Josiah  Marshall,  October  20,  1796;  144.  Lora  Lomis  and  John  F. 
Emta,  April  13,  1793;  145,  Thomas  Farrington,  April  28,  1789;  146,  John  Lennon 
and  Obadiah  Wilde,  February  20,  1796;  147,  Elisha  and  William  Sheldon,  January 
26,  1795;  53,  lease  for  grist  mill  and  saw  mill  to  Fitch  Lamphere  in  1797,  who  sold 
January  2,  1798,  to  Uriah  Hall;  148,  Jesse  Sammus,  September  2,  1795;  149,  Hezekiah 
Jopping,  May  15,  1795;  150,  David  Crocker,  jr.   (west  half),    December  17,  1789;  150 


471 

(east  half),  Uriah  St.  John,  September  24,  1793;  151,  Joseph  Lee,  November  13, 
1787;  152,  Peleg  Peckham,  February  IT,  1709;  153,  Henry  Campbell,  part,  Decem- 
ber 31,  1811;  154,  Timothy  and  John  Boardman,  jr.,  February  13,  1807;  161,  Apollos 
Moore,  west  part,  May  29,  1798;  161,  east  part,  Warner  Barnes;  102,  Hezekiah 
Beach  and  Amos  Alger,  January  27,  1801;  163,  Henry  Hopping,  July  7,  1788;  164, 
David  Reddington  and  Jeremiah  Hand,  October  14,  1794;  165,  Johannis  Felter,  Jan- 
uary 21,  1799;  166,  William  Murdock,  April  24,  1795;  167.  Daniel  Tanner,  April  19, 
1797;  168,  169,  170,  Johannes  Coons,  July  15,  1788;  171,  Apollos  Moore,  March  5, 
1805;  172,  Uriah  Chapman  and  Dyck  Marcraback  (a  colored  fiddler),  July  15,  1796; 
17:;,  Sunderland  Pattison  and  Jonathan  Pearce,  April  17,  1795;  181,  Beta  Phelps, 
and  Thomas  Pears,  east  part,  November  19,  1787;  121,  Peter  H.  Smith  and  Michael 
Harder,  west  part,  November  10,  1794;  182,  Asa  Phelps,  October  2,  1787;  183,  David 
Allworth  and  Cornelius  Van  Aken,  January  9,  1831;  184,  Samuel  Greenleaf,  and 
Abraham  Bernett,  May  23,  1803;  185,  S.  Callender  and  B.  Hall,  February  11,  1795; 
186,  Adam  Coons,  Elisha  Murdock  and  Thomas  Brown,  February  11,  1795;  187, 
Adam  Coons,  July  15,  1788;  188,  Philemon  Lee,  November  10,  1787;  189,  Reuben 
Bumpus,  October  2,  1788;  190,  Aaron  Hunt,  September  28,  1803;  191,  Henry  Spann, 
February  9,  1797;  191,  Charles  Mead  and  Wheeler  Watson,  December  26,  1795;  201, 
George  Rivenbergh  and  J.  Hallenbeck,  February  22,  1803;  202,  Abel  Ford,  Septem- 
ber 30,  1793;  203,  Jacob  Charlier,  September  8,  1797;  204,  Elias  Ames  and  Gad  Hall, 
March  20,  1794;  205,  John  Owen  and  Philo  Camp,  August  18,  1788;  200,  Thomas 
Brown  and  Alanson  Saxton,  July  15,  1788;  207,  Gamaliel  Palmer  and  Henry  Lewis, 
October  10,  1800;  208,  Joseph  Woodford  and  William  Hatch,  January  28, 
1795;  209,  James  White  and  Daniel  Lindley,  January  13,  1799;  210,  David  Bailey, 
211,  William  Wightman  and  Thomas  Lee,  December  3,  1788;  212,  Jonathan  Fish, 
March  5,  1801;  221,  David  Hess,  June  28,  1806;  Joseph  Woodworth.  January  3o! 
1806.  and  David  Newcomb,  September  16,  1796;  222,  Ariel  Murdock,  Novem- 
ber 15.  1787;  223,  Amos  Beecher,  July  20,  1803;  224,  Congregational  church;  225, 
east  part,  John  Frisbie,  July  22,  1801,  and  west  part,  Michael  Brant,  May  2.  1797; 
226,  Ashbel  Culver,  February  1,  179s;  227,  Samuel  Fuller,  Melatiah  Hatch  and  Josiali 
Watson,  May  11,  1797;  228,  Asa  Woodford  and  Melatiah  Hatch,  March  4,  1795;  229 
Samuel  Jenkins,  William  King  and  Wheeler  and  Thomas  Watson,  February  20,  1799; 
230,  Elijah  and  Eber  Sweet,  June  6,  17ss;  231,  Apollos  Moore,  January  1798-  241 
Enoch  and  Sylvanus  Cooper,  May  6,  1794;  242,  Samuel  Nichols  and  John  Owens. 
February  7,  1798;  243,  Christian  Becker,  January  21,  1794;  244,  Joseph  Lincoln; 
215,  Daniel  Conklin,  jr.,  west  half,  March  29,  1812,  Amaziah  Palmer  and  Samuel 
Nichols,  March  4,  1790;  247,  John  Couse,  February  23,  1797;  218,  sold  to  Jonathan 
Jenkins,  west  part,  and  to  Charles  Pierson  east  part,  and  others,  pond,  etc.;  249 
Hans  Winegar,  April  25,  1788,  and  second  lease  March  12,  1803;  250,  Henry  and 
Josiah  Conkling,  May  2s.  1798;  251.  Josiah  Haverman,  January  24,  1790;  261,  i 
kiah  Watson  and  JobSisson,  west  part,  January  15,  1800,  east  part,  to  Jabez  Sisson 
and  Christopher  Shreve,  May  7,  1795;  202,  Lating  Day  and  William  Borthwick 
December  22,  1806;  263,  fames  Borthwick,  January  28,  1796;  201.  Daniel  Lamoree, 
January  9.  1795;  265,  Reuben  King,  May  19,  1795;  266,  Nicholas  Cornell,  [une  9. 
1785;  207,  Rufus  Watson,  August  28,  1822;  268,  Jonathan  Crocker,  jr.,  March  111, 
1795;  269,  Daniel  Conkling,  jr.,  May  28,  1798;  270,  Daniel  Conklin-.   May  28,    1798; 


472 

281,  George  Bell  and  George  Cogshall,  January  22,  1800;  282,  Isaac  Cowles,  May  9, 
1788;  283,  William  and  Charles  West,  March  22,  1792;  284,  Benjamin  Frisbie  and 
Elisha  West,  October  31,  1794;  285,  Thomas  and  Benjamin  Frisbie,  jr.,  February  35, 
1796;  286,  Thomas  Watson,  February  22,  1792;  287.  Joseph  Sisson,  February  13, 
1795;  288,  Salmon  Sandford  and  Weston,  April  25,  1795;  289,  Asa  and  Barnabas 
Rice,  March  8,  1796;  290,  Michael  Boomhover  and  Valentine  Casman,  December  23, 
1799;  301;  Joseph  Rollo,  April  11,  1791;  302,  John  H.  Bushnell,  March  29,  1798;  303, 
Daniel  Sears,  January  20,  1806;  304,  John  Sisson,  June  6,  1796;  305,  Alfred  Hislop, 
April  18,  1788;  306,  John  Raymond  and  George  Sisson,  December  14,  1796;  30T, 
Shubel  Bouton  and  Shubel  Bouton,  jr.,  July  25,  1803;  308,  Martin  Campbell,  June  6, 
1788;  309,  John  Abel  and  Caleb  Sanford,  February  24,  1796;  310,  Samuel  Frink  and 
ane  Solomon  Sanford,  December  4,  1804;  311,  Steadman  Fox,  February  5,  1810;  349, 
Edmund  Watkins  and  Solomon  Seaman,  May  29,  1793;  350,  Peter  Frisbie,  November 
11,  1824;  351,  George  Sanford,  September  27,  1797;  352,  Christopher  Almy,  January 
30,  1809;  353,  Joseph  Hopkins,  May  7,  1802;  354,  Reuben  Crosby,  May  13,  1789;  355, 
Salter  Pullman,  February  19,  1788;  356,  Nathan  and  Seth  Young,  March  14,  1805; 
357,  Pardon  Kelsey,  June  4,  1790;  358,  Elisha  and  Philander  Goodrich  and  Caleb 
Sanford,  September  7,  1796;  359,  Jonathan  Crocker,  January  14,  1796;  360,  Ephraim 
and  Samuel  Lindsley,  February  25,  1795,  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  present  limits 
of  the  town. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


THE  TOWN  OF  COEYMANS.  ' 


The  town  of  Coeymans  is  situated  in  the  southeast  corner  of  Albany 
county,  and  includes  within  its  boundaries  Baeren  (Barren)  Island  and 
about  one-half  of  Shad  Island  It  was  erected  from  the  mother  town 
of  Watervliet  March  18,  1 79 1 ,  and  was  the  second  town  formed  in  the 
county.  When  the  town  of  Westerlo  was  erected  in  18 15,  a  small  sec- 
tion of  Coeymans  was  set  off  to  it.  Coeymans  has  an  area  of  32,570 
acres,  and  received  its  name  from  Barent  Pieterse  Coeymans,  the  pat- 
entee. The  surface  of  the  town  consists  of  an  upland  rising  200  to  400 
feet  above  the  river,  which  is  broken  by  hills  and  ridges  rising  100  to 
400  feet  higher.  The  soil  on  the  levels  is  alluvial  in  character,  mixed 
with  sand  and  clay  and  very  productive.  In  the  western  part  of  the 
town  its   consists  of  gravel    and  clay.      As  a  whole  the  town   is  well 


'  This  name  is  found  spelled  in  various  ways — Koeymans,  Koymans,  Koeyeraans,  and  the  cus- 
tomary way;  in  Holland  it  was  probably  Kojiemans. 


473 

adapted  to  the  growing  of  the  usual  farm  products  and  the  common 
fruits.  Geologically  there  is  little  of  importance  in  this  town.  A  stra- 
tum of  marble  or  limestone  extends  across  it  from  north  to  south  three 
to  four  miles  from  the  river,  and  this  has  been  quarried  for  building 
purposes.  Some  blue  stone  is  found  and  a  quarry  was  formerly  worked 
at  Mossy  Hill.  The  principal  streams  are  Coeymans  Creek,  which  en- 
ters the  town  from  Bethlehem  in  the  eastern  part  and  empties  into  the 
Hudson  at  Coeymans  Landing.  The  Hannakrois  flows  in  from  West- 
erlo  and  crosses  this  town  in  a  southeasterly  direction,  passing  through 
Indian  Fields,  Stephensville,  and  Coeymans  Hollow,  and  supplying 
excellent  water  power.  It  enters  Greene  county  near  Achquetuck; 
and  then  making  a  long  bend  again  enters  Coeymans  near  the  south- 
east corner  of  the  town  and  empties  into  the  Hudson  a  little  below  Coey- 
mans Landing.  These  streams  flow  through  narrow  valleys  which  are 
bordered  by  steep  hills  through  which  they  have  cut  gorges  in  some 
places.  These  two  streams  have  numerous  small  tributaries,  and  Coey- 
mans Creek  makes  two  falls  at  Coeymans  village  aggregating  seventy- 
five  feet  in  height,  which  supply  a  water  power  that  has  been  utilized 
for  years  past.  Some  of  the  small  streams  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
town  disappear  into  sink  holes  and  again  come  to  the  surface  after  flow- 
ing some  distance  through  subterranean  channels.  Moulding  sand  has 
been  found  in  some  parts  of  Coeymans  and  was  formerly  shipped  in 
large  quantities. 

The  first  permanent  occupation  of  land  in  this  town  by  white  men 
took  place  more  than  125  years  before  its  civil  organization  in  1 79 r . 
Among  the  Dutch  immigrants  who  came  over  to  secure  the  advantages 
offered  by  the  Patroon,  was  Barent  Pieterse  Coeymans,  who  arrived  in 
1636  and  immediately  entered  the  service  of  Mr  Van  Rensselaer  at 
a  yearly  salary  of  thirty  guilders.  Coeymans  was  accompanied  by  his 
three  brothers,  David,  Jacob,  and  A  rent.  Barent  Coeymans  worked  in 
the  Patroon's  grist  mill  until  1645,  when  he  took  charge  of  the  saw  mills 
belonging  to  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer,  which  were  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  present  city  on  Patroon's  Creek.  In  this  work  he  was  assisted  by 
Jan  Gerritsen,  and  each  received  a  yearly  salary  of  150  guilders  and  in 
addition  three  stivers  for  every  plank  sawed  by  them.  Coeymans  re- 
mained  thus  employed   until  1647.      Previous  to  1650  ('<>(.  vmuns   lived 

GO 


474 


south  of  Patroon's  Creek,  but  in  1655  he  took  a  ninteen  year  lease  of  a 
farm  of  "maize  land"  at  twenty  four  guilders  a  year.  In  1657  he 
secured  a  lease  of  the  Patroon's  mills  for  nineteen  years,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  which  he  leased  the  mills  on  the  Norman's  Kill  for  thirteen 
years. 

With  the  expiration  of  this  lease  in  1673  Mr.  Coeymans  purchased 
from  the  Indians  a  large  tract  of  land,  extending  eight  to  ten  miles  on 
the  river  and  twelve  miles  back  into  the  country.  For  this  tract,  which 
embraced  what  became  the  town  of  Coeymans,  he  obtained  a  patent 
from  Governor  Lovelace.  It  was  a  valuable  purchase  at  that  time, 
especially  as  it  carried  with  it  excellent  water  power,  and  on  the  creek 
north  of  Coeyman's  Cryn  Cornelissen  and  Hans  Jansen  had  already,  as 
early  as  165 1  built  a  saw  mill.  Of  course  this  tract  fell  within  the 
boundaries  of  the  Van  Rensselaer  Manor  and  the  Patroon  sought  to 
establish  his  title  at  law.  After  protracted  litigation  the  matter  was 
finally  arranged  in  1706,  by  an  agreement  on  the  part  of  Coeymans  to 
receive  title  from  the  Patroon  and  pay  a  small  annual  quit  rent.  This 
title  was  confirmed  by  patent  from  Queen  Anne  August  6,  17 14. 

The  following  extracts  from  the  Patent  and  from  a  conveyance  of 
one  of  the  islands  in  the  river,  possess  peculiar  interest  in  this  con- 
nection, the  cession  of  the  patent  being  defined  in  part  as  follows: 

From  "a  certain  creek  or  kill  lying  and  being  on  the  west  side  of  Hudson's  river 
to  the  north  of  a  place  of  the  Indians  called  Kax-hax-ki,  stretching  in  length  to  the 
highest  place  where  Jacob  Flodden  did  used  to  roll  down  timber,  named  by  the  na- 
tives Scen-tha  tin,  to  the  island  belonging  to  John  Byers,  and  into  the  woods  as  far 
as  the  Indian  Sachem's  right  goes." 

Yielding  and  paying  therefor,  yearly  and  every  year,  unto  the  same  Kilian  Van 
Rensselaer,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  the  yearly  rent  or  sum  of  nine  shillings,  current 
money  of  New  York,  at  upon  the  Feast  of  St.  Michael  the  Archangel,  in  lieu  of  all 
other  rents,  dues,  duties  and  services,  for  or  in  respect  of  all  premises  or  any  part 
or  parcel  therefore,  as  by  the  said  indenture  relation  to  them  being  had  more  fully 
and  at  large  appear. 

Following  is  the  conveyance  alluded  to: 

On  the  10th  of  April,  1(572,  Yolkert  Janes  conveys  all  his  rights  and  ownership  to 
Barent  Pieterse  (Coeymans)  in  the  island  named  Schutters,  lying  below  Beeren 
Island,  and  included  in  Coeymans'  patent,  dated  August  14,  1671. 

Barent  Pieterse  Coeymans  married  a  daughter  of  Andries  De  Vos 
and  was  the  father  of  five  children — Andries,  Samuel,   Peter,  Arriantje 


475 

and  Jannetje.  The  first  named  was  born  in  Albany  and  married  a 
daughter  of  Dr.  Samuel  Staats,  and  later  became  a  resident  of  New 
Jersey,  where  descendants  of  the  family  are  still  found  Samuel,  also 
born  in  Albany,  August  3,  1670,  married  Katrina  Van  Schaack,  and 
resided  many  years  in  the  great  Coeymans  stone  house  which  still 
stands  at  the  Landing;  he  had  no  children.  Arriantje  was  born  in 
Albany  October  19,  1672,  and  remained  single  until  she  was  fifty- one 
years  old,  living  with  her  brother  Samuel.  She  finally  married  David 
Verplank,  who  was  then  only  twenty-eight  years  old  ;  they  had  no 
children,  and  the  mother  died  April  4,  1743.  Verplank  inherited  a 
portion  of  her  estate,  and  was  twice  married  after  her  death  and  became 
the  father  of  David,  Johannes,  Arriantje,  and  Isaac  D.  Peter  Coey- 
mans was  born  in  Albany  and  married  Elizabeth  Graveret  (or  Greve- 
raad),  by  whom  he  had  two  children — Menjae,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Andreas  Whitbeck,  and  Elizabeth,  who  married  Jacobus  Van  Allen. 
Peter's  first  wife  died  and  he  married,  second,  Charlotta  Amelia  Daw- 
yer,  who  was  mother  of  three  children — Garritje  (married  John  Bar- 
clay) ;  Ann  Margaret  (married  Andries  Ten  Eyck),  and  Charlotte 
Amelia  (married  John  Jonas  Bronk).  Peter  Coeymans  resided  in  the 
old  stone  house  until  his  death  on  April  30,  1736,  when  he  was  buried 
on  Baeren  Island.  Many  descendants  of  Peter  through  his  five  daugh- 
ters, lived  in  this  vicinity,  but  none  of  the  name  of  Coeymans  are  left. 
Barent,  the  patentee,  is  believed  to  have  been  buried  on  land  now 
owned  by  Peter  Whitbeck,  the  belief  being  chiefly  founded  on  the 
fact  that  in  a  partition  deed  a  part  of  this  land  is  reserved  for  burial 
purposes.  The  old  Coeymans  stone  house  is  now  owned  by  Dr. 
Johnson. 

The  Coeymans  Creek,  before  mentioned,  is  the  same  stream  that 
bears  the  Indian  name,  Onisquethau,  described  in  the  history  of  New 
Scotland,  both  names  attaching  to  it  in  these  later  years.  The  creek 
has  the  two  falls  mentioned,  before  it  empties  into  a  small  bay  leading 
to  the  Hudson  At  the  bottom  of  the  lower  fall  is  an  old  mill,  long 
idle,  and  a  building  known  as  the  old  stone  house,  which  is  constructed 
of  field  stones,  with  brick  gables.  Two  other  buildings  similarly  con- 
structed still  stand  at  the  Landing,  all  three  being  probably  more  than 
a  hundred  years  old. 


476 

The  level  lands  west  of  the  village  were  in  early  years  called 
Achquetuck,  and  here  the  early  settlers  were  Andreas  and  Lendert 
Witbeck,  whose  families  have  been  prominent  in  the  town  and  county 
for  many  years.  Daniel  Traver  and  Balthus  Keefer  settled  to  the  north 
of  Indian  Fields  near  what  became  known  as  Keefer's  Corners,  and 
nearby  A.  Searls  and  John  and  T.  Witbeck  built  homesteads  at  an 
early  date.  The  names  of  many  other  pioneers  will  appear  as  we  pro- 
ceed, and  the  list  of  prominent  families  and  their  biographies  is  greatly 
extended  in  Part  III  of  this  volume.  The  town  records  go  back  only 
to  1 8 1 1 ,  which  leaves  the  proceedings  for  twenty  years  unaccounted 
for.  John  T.  Van  Dalston  was  the  first  supervisor  of  whom  there  is 
record  and  Archibald  Stevens  the  next,  being  chosen  in  1 8 1 8.  His 
successors  to  the  present  time  have  been  as  follows: 

1819-21,  John  N.  Huyck;  1822-25,  Israel  Shear;  1826-28,  Abraham  Verplanck ; 
1829-31,  Andrew  Witbeck;  1832-34,  Henry  Niles;  1835-37,  Cornelius  Vanderzee ; 
1838^0,  Jonas  Shear;  1841-43,  Garret  Whitbeck ;  1844-45,  John  Mead;  1840-47. 
El  well  Blodget ;  1848-49,  John  Vanderzee ;  1850-51,  Nathaniel  Niles;  1852-53,  Willet 
Serls;  1854-57,  Garrit  Whitbeck;  1858-59,  John  B.  Shear;  1860-61,  David  A.  Whit- 
beck; 1862-63,  Jonas  Shear;  1864-65,  Peter  Keefer;  1866-71,  John  B.  Shear;  1872- 
73,  Cornelius  Vanderzee ;  1874-75,  Nelson  Schermerhorn  ;  1S76-77,  John  H.  Powell; 
1878-80,  John  A.  Hunt;  1881-82,  Estes  H.  Strevell;  1883,  Lansing  Shear;  1884, 
Horace  Blodgett;  1885-86,  Richard  S.  Blodgett;  1887-88,  Alton  Van  Derzee;  1889- 
90,  Estes  H.  Strevell;  1891,  Richard  S.  Blodgett;  1892-93,  Alton  Van  Derzee;  1894- 
95,  Noble  H.  Bronk. 

The  first  Coeymans  dwelling,  the  so-called  Castle,  was  torn  down 
about  1833.  It  stood  on  the  corner  of  Westerlo  and  First  streets,  hav- 
ing walls  of  great  thickness  which  were  pierced  with  loop  holes.  The 
building  faced  the  Hudson  River  and  was  erected  very  soon  after  Coey- 
mans made  his  purchase  from  the  Indians.  Down  to  the  time  of  its 
removal  it  contained  many  relics  and  keepsakes  of  the  old  family,  among 
them  being  an  old  picture  of  the  property,  made  probably  150  years 
ago  or  more.  It  shows  the  present  stone  house,  a  small  mill  back  of 
the  site  of  the  late  grist  mill,  a  plaster  mill  to  the  northward  over  an 
artificial  rock- cut  which  served  as  a  water-way,  another  saw  mill  on  the 
crown  of  the  rocks,  and  another  grist  mill  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
creek.  The  last  named  mill  stood  until  1830.  The  old  stone  house 
and  the  other  property  passed  to  the  Ten  Eyck  family  through  Peter 
Coevmans. 


477 

The  history  of  this  town  is  a  simple  record  of  gradual  progress  and 
improvement  in  agriculture,  the  advancement  of  educational  interests, 
the  promotion  of  religious  institutions,  and  the  establishment  of  such 
mercantile  stores  as  were  needed  for  the  community.  In  common  with 
all  communities  dwelling  on  or  near  a  great  river,  the  inhabitants  were 
intensely  interested  in  the  progress  and  final  determination  of  the  war 
of  1812,  but  there  is  no  record  of  how  many  of  them  fought  in  its  bat- 
tles. Many  of  the  roads  through  this  town  were  opened  and  consider- 
ably improved  previous  to  the  beginning  of  the  present  century.  As 
population  increased  the  number  of  road  districts  was  augmented,  turn- 
pike companies  were  organized,  and  stage  and  post  routes  were  estab- 
lished. The  Hudson  River  has,  of  course,  always  been  a  much-traveled 
highway  northward  and  southward,  supplying  an  easy  and  economical 
means  of  reaching  the  principal  local  market  at  Albany.  It  was  about 
1820  when  the  stage  routes  were  established  the  stage  companies  having 
contracts  for  carrying  the  mails.  Previous  to  that  time  the  mails  had 
been  commonly  carried  by  post  riders.  A  turnpike  company  was  early 
incorporated  in  this  town  for  the  construction  and  maintenance  of  a 
highway  from  Coeymans  through  Coeymans  Hollow,  Indian  Fields,  and 
thence  through  Dormansville  and  Chesterville  in  the  town  of  VVesterlo, 
and  on  to  the  old  Delaware  turnpike,  a  distance  of  about  eighteen  miles. 
The  first  division,  about  eight  miles,  was  incorporated  in  1850  as  the 
Coeymans  and  Westerlo  Plank  Road  Company,  the  charter  extending 
thirty  years.  In  i860  the  roadway  of  plank  was  taken  up  and  broken 
stone  substituted,  since  which  time  the  stone  road  bed  lias  been  farther 
extended  and  it  is  now  one  of  the  best  highways  in  the  county.  The 
charter  of  the  company  was  renewed  in  1880  for  thirty  years. 

The  school  districts  of  Coeymans  at  the  present  time  are  fourteen  in 
number  with  a  school  house  in  each,  the  whole  together  with  Bethle- 
hem and  New  Scotland  constituting  the  first  school  commissioner's  dis- 
trict of  Albany  county.  There  is  no  graded  school,  high  school  or 
academy  in  existence  at  the  present  time.  The  Coeymans  Academy, 
established  in  1858  by  Fletcher  Blaisdell,  Theophilus  Civil  and  Peter 
Seabridge,  and  having  for  its  first  teachers  Misses  C.  B.  and  Emma 
Brace,  was  not  successful  and  like  many  other  similar  institutions  was 
abandoned  with  the  great   improvement  of  recent  years  in  the  district 


478 

schools.  Previous  to  1880  Acton  Civill  made  an  effort  to  found  an 
academy  at  Coeymans  village.  In  the  western  part  of  the  place,  on  the 
high  ground  he  erected  a  massive  brick  and  stone  structure  in  ample 
grounds,  and  in  1882  added  a  building  which  was  to  be  used  as  a  board- 
ing house.  His  own  ill  health  and  other  causes  led  to  the  abandon- 
ment of  all  his  plans  before  a  school  was  opened.  The  buildings  are 
still  standing  and  unoccupied. 

In  the  war  of  the  rebellion  Coeymans  furnished  her  various  quotas 
of  volunteers  for  the  armies  of  the  Union,  but  the  law  providing  for 
the  preservation  of  a  complete  list  of  those  who  went  out  from  the 
town  has  been  unheeded. 

The  town  of  Coeymans  was  without  a  railroad  until  1883,  when  the 
New  York,  West  Shore  and  Buffalo  line  was  completed,  and  though 
the  mercantile  interests  of  small  villages  and  hamlets  are  generally 
much  affected  by  the  building  of  railroads,  and  pre  frequently  totally 
or  in  part  destroyed  ;  it  cannot  be  said  that  those  of  this  town  have 
suffered  very  much  in  this  respect.  The  trade  of  Coeymans  Landing  is 
retained  partly  on  account  of  its  water  front  and  its  connection  with 
Albany  by  the  river,  while  at  Ravena  Junction,  which  is  one  mile  from 
the  Landing,  an  enterprising  village  has  sprung  into  existence  almost 
wholly  on  account  of  the  railroad  and  furnishes  an  excellent  point  for 
marketing  the  surplus  products  of  the  country.  The  necessity  for  a  rail 
connection  with  Albany  by  the  West  Shore  road  led  to  the  building  of 
the  line  from  this  point,  direct  to  the  city,  while  the  main  line  passes  a 
little  to  the  northwest  of  the  city  through  Bethlehem,  New  Scotland, 
and  Guilderland. 

The  Coeymans  Mutual  Insurance  Company  was  incorporated  August 
16,  1859,  and  has  done  a  large  local  business,  to  the  great  advantage  of 
its  members  and  policy  holders. 

The  Grove  Cemetery  Association  at  Coeymans  was  incorporated  in 
1848,  through  the  efforts  of  Acton  Civill. 

The  Indian  Fields  Cemetery  was  incorporated  in  January,  1872.  The 
following  were  the  first  officers  :  President,  William  S  Cole;  vice-presi- 
dent, Andrew  H.  Witbeck;  treasurer,  Joslin  Nodine ;  secretary,  John 
N.  Verplank ;  Judson  Lamoreaux,  Abram  Witbeck,  William  J.  Lamo- 
reaux,  and  George  C.  Lamoreaux.  The  cemetery  contains  about  five 
acres. 


479 

Among  the  physicians  who  have  practiced  in  this  town  are  Drs.  Ely, 
Smith,  Spaulding,  Hand,  Van  Alstyne,  Van  Allen,  Herrick,  Holmes, 
Blodgett,  and  Clement ;  Dr.  Benjamin  B.  Fredenburg  settled  here  in 
1826  and  passed  a  long  and  active  life  in  the  town  ;  Dr.  Andrew  Huyck, 
settled  at  the  Hollow  in  1838  ;  Wesley  Blaisdell,  and  Andrew  Van  Ant- 
werp also  practiced  medicine  here;  Dr.  F.  C.  Mosher,  located  at  the 
Landing  about  1848,  and  Dr.  H.  N.  Johnson,  settled  at  the  same  place 
about  1 8S 1 ,  practiced  his  profession  and  also  conducted  a  drug  busi- 
ness ;  Dr.  C.  C.  Willis,  is  well  known  locally  as  a  dentist;  Dr.  G.  E.  El- 
mendorf  settled  at  Stephensville  in  1876,  while  Dr.  F.  A.  Rivets,  located 
at  Indian  Fields  in  1880. 

The  village  of  Coeymans  Landing  (Coeymans  post-office)  retains 
perhaps  more  of  its  ancient  appearance  and  spirit  than  any  other  vil- 
lage in  Albany  county.  There  is  an  air  of  antiquity  and  quaintness 
about  some  of  its  streets  and  buildings  that  lends  a  charm  to  the  place 
and  makes  it  a  much  sought  resort.  These  are  in  strong  contrast  with 
the  modern  business  establishments  of  J.  N.  Briggs  and  other  enter- 
prising men.  Many  of  the  streets  are  crooked,  and  along  and  among 
them  are  placed  dwellings  and  shops  with  little  regard  to  the  order  fol- 
lowed in  villages  founded  in  recent  years.  The  western  part  of  the 
place,  situated  upon  the  higher  ground,  is  more  modern  in  its  charac- 
teristics and  here  are  many  beautiful  residences,  surrounded  by  at- 
tractive grounds.  Among  the  first  settlers  at  the  Landing  were  Andreas 
and  Lendert  Witbeck,  and  the  Ten  Eyck,  Van  Allen,  Verplank,  Bronk, 
Barclay,  Hotaling.  and  Van  Daalston  families.  A  little  later  came  the 
Waldron  and  the  Huyck  families;  one  McMichael,  a  very  early -mer- 
chant ;  James  Teft,  who  kept  a  public  house  ;  Oliver  Lawton,  John 
Fanning,  Palmer  Utter,  Joseph  Hazelton,  Levi  Blaisdell,  and  others, 
whose  descendants  have  been  foremost  in  promoting  the  best  interests 
of  the  village.  Some  of  the  early  mills  built  at  this  point  to  utilize 
the  valuable  water  power  have  been  mentioned.  They  have  all  passed 
away  and  given  place  to  other  and  later  industries.  What  were  known 
as  the  Cedar  Point  Mills  were  built  by  Conrad  Ten  Eyck  many  years 
ago,  and  connected  with  them  was  a  plaster  mill  and  carding  factory 
which  long  ago  disappeared.  A  flouring  mill  owned  or  operated  at 
different  periods  by  Isiael  Lawton,  Briggs  &  Colvin,  A.  Willis,  is  now 


480 

the  property  of  Henry  Johnson.  It  has  been  idle  a  number  of  years. 
A  large  mill  is  operated  at  the  present  time  by  John  N.  Briggs,  as  part 
of  the  large  business  interests  controlled  by  him  on  the  river.  No  man 
has  done  more  in  recent  years  for  the  up-building  of  this  place  than  he. 
He  is  a  heavy  dealer  in  coal  and  ice  and  is  the  lessee  of  Barren  Island, 
to  which  he  has  given  the  name  Baerman  Park.  Here  he  has  made  an 
ideal  pleasure  ground  which  is  visited  by  hundreds  of  excursion  parties 
every  season  from  Albany  and  elsewhere. 

Among  past  and  present  business  men  of  the  village  are  William  B. 
Hull  &  Co.,  general  merchants,  a  business  now  conducted  by  Andrew 
Van  Derzee  &  Son  ;  Baumes  &  Brother,  former  dealers  in  groceries, 
crockery,  etc.;  W.  VV.  Snyder,  former  boot  and  shoe  dealer  ;  W.  H. 
Keller,  former  grocer  ;  Powell  &  Johnson,  present  dealers  in  drugs  and 
medicines;  Alfred  A.  Sherman,  fancy  goods  and  stationery;  J.  B. 
Holmes,  tin  shop  and  hardware;  A.  Vandyck,  harnessmaker  ;  L.  E. 
Gould  and  Charles  Zeigler,  meat  dealers  ;  Henry  Slingerland,  forward- 
ing and  commission  business;  H.  Long  &  Son,  grocers;  C.  B.  Clow, 
furnishing  goods.  Among  the  attorneys  who  have  practiced  here  in 
the  past  were  S.  Springsted  and  J.  M.  Harris,  and  Charles  Thompson. 
C.  M.  Tompkins  is  in  practice  at  the  present  time. 

The  Hotaling  Hotel  has  long  been  owned  and  conducted  by  Richard 
S.  Hotaling.  The  Gedney  House,  formerly  the  Union,  has  been  kept 
for  many  years  by  Samuel  Gedney.  The  Tobin  House,  formerly  the 
Whitbeck  House,  kept  by  Verplank  Whitbeck,  is  now  run  by  George 
Tobin.     The  American  House  is  kept  by  Gilbert  Cronk. 

The  first  newspaper  in  Coeymans  was  established  in  1863  by  Gilbert 
C.  Vincent  under  the  name  of  the  Coeymans  Gazette,  who  sold  out  in 
the  fall  of  1864  to  Willard  Pond.  It  soon  after  passed  into  the  hands 
of  Henry  Bronk,  and  subsequently  to  McKee  &  Springsted.  In  De- 
cember, 1869,  Mr.  Springsted  sold  his  interest  to  his  partner,  Thomas 
McKee,  who  continued  the  publication  until  1871.  In  that  year  Mil- 
ler &  Sherman  established  the  Coeymans  Herald.  Mr.  Miller  soon  sold 
his  interest  to  his  partner,  who  a  little  later  sold  out  entirely  to  S.  H. 
&  E.  J.  Sherman,  who  have  continued  the  publication  ever  since. 

Ravena,  (formerly  Coeymans  Junction). — The  junction  of  the  two 
branches   of  the  West  Shore  railroad  was  made  about  a  mile  west  of 


JOHN   N.   BRIGGS. 


481 

Coeymans  Landing,  on  the  stone  road  before  described.  The  place  of- 
fered a  beautiful  site  for  a  village  and  prompted  energetic  men  who 
foresaw  the  importance  of  the  point,  to  invest  money  liberally  in  im- 
provements. Of  these  men  one  of  the  first  and  most  active  was 
Peter  Pulver.  As  soon  as  the  railroad  station  and  necessary  build- 
ings were  erected  in  1883,  he  built  a  hotel  and  restaurant  and  three 
•dwellings.  This  was  the  nucleus  of  the  village.  Other  dwellings  soon 
followed  and  in  1884  he  erected  the  large  three  story  brick  block  for 
stores  and  hotel,  which  is  now  called  the  Pulver  House,  the  present  pro- 
prietor of  which  is  C.  E.  Gage,  who  took  it  in  December,  1895.  Mr 
Pulver  also  built  another  brick  block  near  the  hotel,  for  a  store  with  a 
public  hall  above.  The  village  grew  very  rapidly  within  the  succeed- 
ing five  years.  Stephen  Vincent  built  what  was  the  Temperance  Hotel 
but  which  is  now  called  the  Vincent  House,  kept  by  E.  Slater  since 
May,  1895.  General  stores  have  been  established  by  Willis  Bentley 
Elias  Sweet,  and  Almeron  Roberts.  Truman  Carhart  deals  in  boots 
and  shoes;  A.  M.  Strevell,  also  Mr.  Allen,  in  hardware,  and  William 
Melton  in  fancy  goods.  A  large  amount  of  cider  and  vinegar  are  made 
here  by  the  Albany  County  Produce  Company.  An  excellent  school 
is  conducted  in  the  village,  which  is  included  in  district  No.  3,  and  three 
teachers  are  employed.     The  postmaster  of  the  village  is  Elias  Sweet 

The  name  of  Coeymans  Junction  was  never  satisfactory  to  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  village,  and  in  1893,  through  the  efforts  of  C.  M.  Barlow 
and  the  Rev.  R.  G.  Fenton,  the  name  was  changed  by  the  post-office 
department  to  Ravena.  The  village  now  contains  about  one  thousand 
inhabitants  and  is  fast  growing  in  population  and  improvements  A 
franchise  is  about  to  be  granted  for  a  better  supply  of  water  for  fire  and 
sanitary  purposes. 

Ache-que-tuck  is  a  hamlet  locally  known  as  Peacock's  Corners,  hav- 
ing a  post  office,  situated  about  two  miles  west  of  the  railroad  station  of 
Ravena.  Here  is  located  the  old  stone  house  of  the  Ten  Eyck  family, 
built  long  before  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  the  old  brick  residences  of 
the  Verplancks  and  the  Witbecks,  all  of  which  families  settled  at  an 
early  date  in  this  immediate  vicinity.  Other  pioneers  here  were  the 
Van  Derzee,  Shear,  Wiltsie  and  Schoonmaker  families.      In   past  years 

there  were  grist  and  saw  mills,  a  tannery  and  a  flax  mil),  on  the  Haana- 
ci 


482 

krois  Creek,  which  were  the  property  of  Isaac  D.  Verplanck.  An  ex- 
cellent farming  district  extends  from  this  point  to  the  eastern  extremity 
of  Coeymans  Hollow  described  in  old  deeds  as  Hagh-a-tuck,  which  is 
the  Indian  name,  and  far  to  the  northward.  A  general  store  is  now 
kept  here  by  Charles  Corts,  and  a  hotel  by  David  Baumes. 

Coeymans  Hollow  is  a  hamlet  about  in  the  center  of  the  town,  with 
a  post-office  of  the  same  name  opened  in  1840  with  John  B.  Shear  as- 
postmaster.  The  Hollow  extends  a  distance  of  about  two  miles  along 
the  Haanakrois  Creek,  and  was  settled  almost  contemporaneously  with 
Coeymans  settlement  farther  east.  The  Verplanck  and  Witbeck  fam- 
ilies, John  Blodgett,  Josiah  Hinckley,  Gerrit  Witbeck,  Jonas  Shear, 
Jedediah  Davis,  and  John  Colvin  were  among  the  pioneers  in  the  Hollow. 
There  was  in  early  years  considerable  manufacturing  done  here,  the 
power  supplied  by  the  creek  being  utilized.  Francis  DeLong,  Gerrit 
Witbeck  and  a  Mr.  Oberman  manufactured  hats  here  many  years  ago. 
A  crrist  mill  and  saw  mill,  and  a  cloth  works  were  owned  and  operated 
by  John  Blodgett  and  a  Mr.  Leslie.  At  the  upper  end  of  the  village 
Verplanck  had  a  grist  mill  and  saw  mill,  which  were  destroyed  by  a 
freshet,  after  which  the  dam  and  raceway  were  utilized  in  recent  years 
by  Andrew  Carey  to  drive  machinery  for  turning  hubs  and  spokes,  but 
this  industry  has  also  dissapeared.  About  1860-62  several  flax  mills 
were  established  on  the  creek,  but  were  soon  abandoned.  All  manu- 
facturing operations  have  disappeared,  and  little  business  of  any  kind  is 
carried  on. 

Alcove  (formerly  called  Stephensville)  is  a  hamlet  next  to  the  west- 
ward of  Coeymans  Hollow  and  practically  a  continuation  of  it  though 
having  a  post-office  with  the  name  of  Alcove,  and  takes  its  name  from 
Archibald  Stephens,  a  former  owner  of  mills  here.  One  of  the 
pioneers  at  this  place  was  Casparus  Ackerman  who  came  in  1790  and 
soon  afterward  erected  the  first  mills,  which  in  course  of  time  passed 
into  possession  of  Mr.  Stephens.  The  present  mill  is  a  large  stone 
structure  and  is  owned  by  Bennett  T.  Briggs.  The  Valley  Paper 
Mills  and  the  saw  mill  of  Amos  D.  Briggs  are  situated  here  near  the 
stone  road.  These  were  burned  about  1890  and  not  rebuilt.  About 
1844  Ephraim  Andrews  erected  a  carding  and  cloth  mill  here  which 
was  enlarged  a  few  years  later   by   John   E.    Andrews    and    converted 


483 

into  a  wrapping  paper  mill.  In  1854  Mr.  Andrews  and  W.  S.  Briggs 
introduced  steam  and  other  modern  improvements  and  machinery.  In 
1 87 1  the  firm  of  W.  S.  Briggs  &  Sons  (Newton  S.,  Ralph  B.,  and  Amos 
D.)  was  formed  and  existed  three  years,  when  the  property  was  trans- 
ferred to  Amos  D.  Briggs,  who  in  1883  made  extensive  improvements 
and  enlargements.  Three-fourths  of  a  mile  south  of  these  mills  is  the 
post-office  and  the  residence  of  W.  S.  Briggs,  owner  of  the  stone  mill 
before  mentioned.  Just  above  the  Valley  Mills,  over  eighty  years  ago, 
was  a  saw  mill  and  near  by  was  the  tannery  of  Daniel  Tompkins.  The 
only  mercantile  business  is  a  general  store  conducted  by  Green  Brothers. 

Indian  Fields  is  a  hamlet  with  a  post-office  of  the  same  name  in  the 
western  part  of  the  town.  Among  the  early  settlers  here  were  John 
and  Thomas  Witbeck,  W.  Searles,  George  Lamoreaux,  Jedediah  Davis, 
Daniel  Green,  Daniel  Wickham,  Gideon  Schofiel,  Josiah  Hinckley,  and 
the  Huyck,  Tompkins,  and  Robins  families.  In  early  years  Isaac  Ver- 
planck  built  a  saw  mill  and  afterward  carding  mills  were  started.  At  a 
later  date  Houck  &  Trenchard  operated  a  cloth  works  and  a  saw  mill. 
These  were  converted  into  a  foundry  by  Huyck  &  Norris,  who  sold  out 
to  Caleb  Snyder.  A  foundry  and  wood  working  shop  is  now  con- 
ducted by  Norris  Brothers.  Stores  are  kept  by  Odelon  Adriance  and 
Vincent  Snyder,  and  a  hotel  by  Frank  Ingalls. 

Keefer's  Corners  is  a  small  cluster  of  dwellings  in  the  northwest  cor- 
ner of  the  town,  which  received  its  name  from  Balthus  Keefer,  who  set- 
tled here  in  1 79 1 ,  but  two  other  families  having  preceded  him  to  this 
point.  Other  early  settlers  were  Daniel  Traver,  Jacob  Schermerhorn, 
Dampa  Mead,  Stephen  Hanes,  George  Lamoreaux,  and  the  Lanson  and 
Hogan  families.  The  post-office  was  established  in  1842,  with  Peter 
Keefer  postmaster.  The  office  was  abandoned  some  years  ago.  There 
is  no  business  of  any  account  here  at  the  present  time. 

The  early  Dutch  and  Huguenot  immigrants  who  constituted  so  large 
a  portion  of  the  early  settlers,  not  alone  of  this  town,  but  of  the  whole 
of  Albany  county,  were  eminently  religious  in  their  character  and 
habits.  Indeed,  this  fact  was  one  of  the  incentives  that  prompted  them 
to  seek  new  homes  in  a  far-off  country  ;  they  longed  for  a  land  where 
religious  intolerance  and  opposition  could  not  reach  them.  It  is  clear 
that  these  people  worshipped  their  creator  both  in  private  and  in  public 


484 

when  they  had  established  their  homes,  and  long  before  any  church 
organization  could  be  perfected,  at  least  nearer  than  Albany.  This 
condition  continued  probably  until  after  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary 
war.  With  the  advent  of  peace  and  its  blessings,  new  elements  were 
added  to  the  population  from  New  England,  whose  religious  beliefs  and 
habits,  while  perhaps  not  less  ardent  and  active  than  those  of  their  Dutch 
predecessors,  were  widely  different  in  other  respects.  Methodists,  with 
their  intense  religious  zeal  came  in  and  stirred  to  their  depths  the  more 
lethargic  temperaments  of  the  Dutch  and  organized  some  of  the  earliest 
churches  of  which  records  remain  in  this  town. 

The  first  Methodist  Society,  organized  by  Rev.  John  Crawford,  be- 
gan its  existence  in  1788  or  1789,  there  being  twelve  members  in  the 
class  with  Freeborn  Garretson  as  presiding  elder.  The  first  house  of 
worship,  a  stone  structure,  was  built  in  1791-92,  two  and  a  half  miles 
west  of  Coeymans  village,  and  is  believed  by  many  to  have  been  the 
first  Methodist  church  on  the  west  side  of  the  Hudson  River.  The 
congregation  during  many  years  included  members  from  Bethlehem, 
Coeymans,  New  Baltimore,  and  adjoining  towns.  The  first  trustees 
were  James  Waldron,  Lewis  Civil,  Wilhollamas  Row,  Jacob  Spring- 
sted,  Isaac  C.  Huyck,  Ephraim  Holbrook,  Peter  Hogan,  Nathan  Will- 
iams and  James  Selkirk.  Levi  Blaisdell  was  the  first  clerk  and  Lewis 
Civil  the  first  sexton.  Among  the  earliest  members  were  Hugh  Jolly, 
Samuel  Jolly,  John  Ten  Eyck  and  his  wife,  Levi  Blaisdell  and  his  wife, 
Hugh  Crumb,  James  Selkirk,  Dr.  Clement,  and  Jacob  Springsted. 
These  were  among  the  pioneers  of  Revolutionary  times  and  the  men 
and  women  who  labored  to  lay  the  foundation  of  the  community  in 
morality  and  good  citizenship.  From  this  early  church  others  branched 
off  as   more   central  situations  were  needed. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Coeymans  Landing  was  founded 
by  the  same  society  that  worshipped  in  the  old  stone  church.  The  edifice 
in  use  at  the  present  time  was  built  in  1835-36,  but  has  been  improved 
since  its  erection.     The  property  is  valued  at  more  than  $15,000 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Coeymans  Hollow  was  founded 
as  early  as  1794,  when  Bishop  Asbury  preached  in  a  barn  and  formed 
a  society  with  John  Blodgett  and  his  wife,  William  Green  and  his  wife, 
Elizabeth  Wickham,  Charlotte   Garritt,  and  a  Mr.  Gedney  as  members. 


485 

These  devoted  people  met  in  dwellings  or  barns,  and  later  in  the  school 
houses  until  1832,  when  they  erected  the  present  church.  The  society 
has  always  been  active  and  progressive. 

A  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  early  organized  at  Keefer's  Cor- 
ners, an  offshoot  of  the  Manhattan  Hook  Society  at  Copeland  Hill. 
James  Laird  and  Ebenezer  Osborn  were  early  preachers  on  this  circuit. 
A  house  of  worship  was  erected  which  continued  in  use  until  1845, 
when  it  was  taken  down  and  the  material  used  in  erecting  the  present 
edifice  for  which  land  was  donated  by  Francis  Osterhout. 

The  Reformed  Protestant  Dutch  church  of  Coeymans  was  organized 
March  5,  1 793,  giving  the  believers  in  that  faith  in  this  town  a  religious 
home  of  their  own.  The  first  church  was  erected  in  1797,  about  a  mile 
west  of  Coeymans  Landing  proper,  of  which  Rev.  Jacob  Sickles  was 
the  first  pastor,  serving  from  1797  to  1801,  when  he  was  succeeded  by 
Peter  Qverbagh.  Other  pastors  have  been  Revs.  Ralph  Westervelt, 
Samuel  Kissam,  Staats  Van  Santvoord,  Abram  Fort,  Thomas  A.  Amer- 
man,  Thomas  Edwards,  James  Murphy,  James  A.  H.  Cornell,  Philip 
Peltz,  William  P.  Davies,  Hugh  B.  Gardiner,  Isaac  Collier,  Louis  H. 
Bahler,  Elias  Mead  and  others  of  recent  years.  The  first  church  was 
demolished  some  twenty  years  ago  and  the  present  one  erected  on 
Church  street  in  Coeymans  village. 

The  FMrst  Baptist  Church  of  Indian  Fields  was  organized  in  1872 
with  the  following  trustees:  Marcus  R.  Griffin,  Albert  Powell,  Joslin 
Nodine,  Franklin  Tompkins,  Jared  Griffin,  Judson  Lamoreaux,  and  Jas- 
per Witbeck,  jr.,  who  were  prominent  citizens  of  that  vicinity.  The 
church  has  languished  in  recent  years  and  has  had  no  regular  pastor. 

St.  Patrick's  Roman  Catholic  church  is  situated  on  Church  street, 
Coeymans  Landing,  the  congregation  having  been  organized  in  1852 
by  Francis  Hurley.  The  church  property  consists  of  the  substantial 
church,  a  parsonage,  and  cemetery  of  about  five  acres.  The  congrega- 
tion has  been  connected  with  the  churches  at  Coxsackie  and  Athens. 

The  Christian  church  of  Ravena  was  organized  and  held  services  for 
about  a  year  previous  to  1890-91,  when  they  erected  their  present  neat 
church  edifice.  The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Ravena  was  or- 
ganized in  1894,  and  erected  its  frame  church  building  in  the  same 
year.      The  German  Lutheran  church  of  Ravena  was  organized  in  1895 


486 

and  erected  a  house  of  worship  at  the  same  time.  These  three  recently 
formed  societies  are  actively  engaged  in  good  and  effective  work  in  this 
enterprising  village. 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

THE  TOWN  OF  BETHLEHEM. 

The  reader  has  been  made  familiar  with  the  history  of  the  voyage  of 
Henry  Hudson  up  the  river  that  forms  the  eastern  boundary  of  Albany 
county  in  1609.  The  history  of  this  town  begins  with  that  event,  for 
the  English  navigator  halted  on  the  bank  of  the  river  within  the  borders 
of  the  present  Bethlehem.  On  an  island  off  the  bluffs  of  the  stream  now 
called  Normanskill  (by  the  IndiansTawasentha)  some  of  Hudson's  crew 
camped  through  a  night,  and  were  there  visited  by  a  number  of  the 
natives  on  the  following  morning,  whose  friendly  demeanor  both  sur- 
prised and  pleased  the  Europeans.  After  interchanging  some  articles 
of  trade,  and  a  little  friendly  intercourse,  Hudson  and  his  crew  sailed 
away  homeward.  The  account  of  the  early  operations  of  the  United 
Netherlands  Company,  the  building  of  Fort  Nassau  on  Castle  (now  Van 
Rensselaer)  island  \r  1614,  its  partial  destruction  by  high  water  and  the 
erection  of  another  on  the  mainland  near  the  Normanskill,  need  not  be 
repeated  here.  Nearly  or  quite  all  of  the  temporary  settlements  made 
by  the  Dutch  traders  prior  to  1623,  in  which  year  Fort  Orange  was 
built  on  the  site  of  Albany,  were  made  on  Bethlehem  territory.  Per- 
manent settlement  began  here  in  1630,  the  year  following  the  issue  of 
the  charter  to  the  Patroon,  Kilian  Van  Rensselaer,  when  Albert  Andri- 
essen  Bradt  located  at  the  mouth  of  Tawasentha.  He  was  father  of 
eight  children.  Soon  after  his  arrival  he  leased  the  mill  privileges  on 
the  Normanskill  and  built  mills.  His  son,  Albertsen,  succeeded  him 
in  possession  of  this  lease,  for  which  he  paid  an  equivalent  of  about  $  1 50 
a  year.  Later,  in  1673,  he  was  succeeded  as  lessee  of  the  farm  which 
the  father  had  occupied  by  his  brother,  Slingerlandt.  To  this  family 
must  be  accorded  the  honor  of  being  the  first  settlers   west   of  Albany. 


487 

Members  of  the  family  and  their  descendants  soon  penetrated  the  neigh- 
boring wilderness,  took  up  and  improved  farms,  built  houses,  and  have 
ever  since  been  well  known  among  the  residents  of  Albany  county. 

A  few  other  permanent  settlers  located  in  what  is  now  Bethlehem 
prior  to  1700.  Among  them  were  the  families  of  Garret  and  Jan  Van 
Wie,  William  Van  Allen,  Adam  Winne,  the  Ten  Eycks,  Slingerlands, 
Francis  Winne,  Philip  Schuyler,  the  Vroomans,  and  Van  Derzees.  These 
and  a  few  others  settled  along  the  Hudson  River  and    the   Normanskill. 

On  the  map  made  for  the  Patroon  appear  the  following  names,  most 
or  all  of  whom  probably  became  settlers  between  1 700  and  1 750; 
Rensselaer  Nicoll,  Bett)r  Van  Ostrand,  Janes  Taylor,  Gerret  Van  Der 
Berg,  Cooper,  William  Van  Bergen,  Abram  Slingerland,  Philip  Schuy- 
ler, Wouter  Slingerland,  Koenrad  Louck,  John  Van  Dusen,  Adrian 
Bradt,  Staats  Seger,  Jacob  Louck,  John  Rosebooms,  Gerret  Van  Allen, 
Hans  Slingerland,  Tunis  Slingerland,  Lawrence  Wormer,  Gerret  Seger, 
jr.,  Jacob  Coper,  Jan,  Storm,  and  David  Bradt,  Dirk  Vanderwilliger, 
Konradt  Koen,  Isaac,  Omie,  and  Christian  La  Grange,  Tunis  Hough- 
taling.' 

From  1750  to  1800  conditions  of  trade,  agriculture  and  social  sur- 
roundings underwent  great  changes,  gave  a  great  impetus  to  settlement, 
and  brought  in  a  more  mixed  class  of  immigrants.  The  accession  to 
power  of  the  English,  and  later  the  tremendous  changes  wrought  by 
the  Revolution  all  tended  to  bring  into  Albany  county  people  of  other  and 
very  different  nationalities.  The  names  of  settlers  alone  are  sufficient 
indication  of  this  fact.  Irish,  Scotch  and  English  elements  became  con- 
spicuous in  the  populating  of  the  region.  Thus  during  the  period  just 
mentioned  came  Hugh  Waters,  Archibald  and  William  McCormick, 
Andrew  Cunning,  Nicholas  See,  Christian  Bender,  I.  Bussing,  Jacob 
Kimmey,  Peter  McHarg,  John  Soop,  Patrick  Callanan  aud  Solomon 
Luke,  with  the  families  named  Patterson,  Ramsay,  Becker,  Haswell, 
Babcock,  Wiltsie,  Mosher  and  Aarnout.  It  is  possible  a  few  of  these 
settled  outside  of  the  present  boundaries  of  this  town,  and  in  what  is 
now  New  Scotland,  but  nearly  all  of  them  were  resident  in  Bethlehem 
after  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war. 

Meanwhile,  on  March  12,  1763,  the   town  of  Bethlehem   was   erected 

1  The  spoiling  of  these  names  is  according-  to  t  he 


488 


from  the  original  town  of  Watervliet,  and  included  all  of  what  is  now 
New  Scotland,  and  a  part  of  Albany,  the  latter  having  been  set  off  in 
1870,  leaving  this  town  with  an  area  of  31,583  acres.  The  surface  of 
the  town  comprises  a  narrow  flat  along  the  Hudson  River,  backed  in 
the  main  with  steep  bluffs  rising  from  fifty  to  150  feet,  with  here  and 
there  an  elevation  rising  from  200  to  400  feet.  The  declivities  are 
broken  by  deep  and  rugged  channels,  the  most  conspicuous  of  which 
is  that  of  the  Normanskill,  along  which  in  places  the  series  of  under- 
lying rocks  are  laid  bare  and  nearly  upright.  In  these  rocks  are  seen 
the  sandstones,  limestones  and  graywackes  that  are  familiar  in  that  lo- 
cality. Back  of  the  bluffs  stretches  a  rolling  upland,  with  sandy  ridges 
and  rounded  knolls.  Near  the  mouth  of  the  Normanskill  was  the  Indian 
burial  place  of  Tawasentha.  This  curious  natural  mound  is  connected 
with  the  diluvial  formation  by  a  narrow  rock  or  peninsula,  and,  accord- 
ing to  excellent  authority,  was  a  spot  sacred  to  sepulture  from  the 
earliest  time,  and  gave  the  natives  their  name  of  the  stream. 

Other  principal  streams  besides  the  Normanskill  are  Coeyman's  creek, 
and  the  Vlamanskill,  both  of  which  have  afforded  considerable  water 
power,  which  in  early  years  was  utilized  for  mills  and  a  few  other  in- 
dustries. 

The  soil  of  Bethlehem  is  a  sandy  and  clayey  loam,  mixed  with  gravel. 
Along  the  river  lowlands  and  on  the  islands  it  is  a  rich  alluvium.  The 
mixed  farming  of  earlier  times  has  been  superseded  to  a  large  extent  in 
parts  of  the  town  by  gardening  to  supply  the  wants  of  residents  of  the 
city.  Fruit  culture  has  also  received  attention,  small  fruits  having  been 
made  quite  profitable  on  account  of  the  nearness  to  a  good  market.  A 
large  number  of  farmers  have  also  become  milk  producers  for  the  city 
market.  A  few  have  given  particular  attention  to  improvement  of  stock 
in  recent  years,  some  of  whom  have  had  fine  herds.  Erastus  Corning  was 
a  large  breeder  of  Hereford  and  Jersey  cattle,  in  which  he  is  succeeded 
by  his  son  ;  the  late  John  S.  Perry  bred  Guernseys;  Abraham  Fitch, 
C.  C.  La  Grange,  George  H.  Treadwell  and  others  engaged  successfully 
in  this  business. 

Castle  Island  took  its  name  from  the  fact  that  the  stockade  fort  was 
built  upon  it  in  16 14,  as  a  protection  to  the  Dutch  traders.  The  island 
was  leased  to  Martin   Gerritsen  in  1668.      In  more  recent  years  it  was 


489 

given  the  appropriate  name  of  Van  Rensselaer,  and  upon  it  were  located 
the  extensive  plants  of  the  Albany  City  Iron  Works  and  the  Jagger 
Iron  Works,  both  of  which  are  now  idle.  Other  parts  of  the  island 
have  been  cultivated  in  gardens. 

Some  of  the  roads  that  pass  into  or  through  the  town  of  Bethlehem 
bear  a  close  relation  to  the  early  history  of  the  region  surrounding  Al- 
bany city.  What  has  always  been  known  as  the  Albany  and  Bethle- 
hem Turnpike  Road,  was  incorporated  April  9,  1804,  under  that  title, 
with  a  capital  of  $34,800,  which  was  a  large  sum  for  such  an  under- 
taking at  that  time.  The  road  is  a  continuation  of  Pearl  street,  Albany, 
passes  through  Kenwood  and  across  the  Normanskill ;  thence  south  to 
just  below  the  Abbey  hotel,  and  by  a  fork  to  Bethlehem  Center,  a  dis- 
tance in  all  of  about  five  miles.  It  has  one  toll  gate,  and  the  modern 
road  bed  is  of  broken  stone.  It  constitutes  a  pleasant  and  picturesque 
drive. 

This  old  turnpike  connects  at  Bethlehem  Center  with  the  South  Beth- 
lehem Plank  Road,  which  extends  through  Becker's  Corners  and  thence 
southwest  to  South  Bethlehem,  six  miles.  The  road  was  incorporated  in 
July,  185  1,  with  a  capital  of  $12,000,  with  John  B.  Vanderzee,  Barent  S. 
Winne,  Phillip  Kimmey,  James  Schoonmaker,  and  John  A.  Sickles, 
directors:  John  Soop,  secretary  and  treasurer.  On  February  28,  1881, 
the  board  of  supervisors  renewed  the  charter  of  the  company  for  thirty 
years.  The  plank  of  which  this  road  was  constructed  during  the  plank 
road  era  that  prevailed  throughout  the  State  have  been  superseded  by 
broken  stone. 

The  Albany  and  Delaware  Turnpike  Company  was  chartered  March 
2,  1805,  to  construct  a  road  from  Albany  to  Otego,  in  Otsego  county. 
The  road  crossed  the  town  of  Bethlehem,  passing  through  the  Upper 
Hollow,  and  thence  to  Adamsville  (now  Delmar),  and  on  across  the 
town  of  New  Scotland,  the  southeast  corner  of  Berne  and  the  northwest 
corner  of  Westerlo.  The  first  directors  were  Samuel  Lansing,  Abraham 
Hun,  Isaac  Needer,  Hollis  More,  Asa  Starkweather,  Hugh  Orr,  and 
Stephen  Judd.  This  road  was  extensively  traveled  many  years,  but 
was  abandoned  as  a  turnpike  in  1863. 

The  Albany,  Rensselaerville  and  Schoharie  Plank  Road  Company 
was  granted  a  charter  March  25,  1859,  with  a  capital  of  $100,000.  The 
62 


490 

original  directors  were  Franklin  Frisbee,  Lansing  Pruyn,  David  H. 
Casey,  Bradford  R.  Wood,  Jacob  Settle,  John  I.  Slingerland,  Joseph 
Hilton,  Reuben  Wyngar,  Charles  B.  Gordon.  The  use  of  plank  on  a 
large  part  of  this  road  was  abandoned  some  years  ago.  The  road 
passed  from  Albany  northwest  to  Hurstville,  thence  southwest  to  Sling- 
erlands,  and  on  across  this  town  and  New  Scotland. 

The  Albany  and  Susquehanna  railroad  extends  across  the  northern 
part  of  this  town,  commencing  at  the  Kenwood  bridge,  with  stations  at 
Adams  Station  (now  Delmar),  and  Slingerlands,  and  thence  into  the 
town  of  New  Scotland.  It  was  opened  for  travel  in  1863.  The  West 
Shore  railroad  passes  across  the  western  part  of  Bethlehem  by  two 
tracks.  The  Athens  and  Saratoga  road,  which  passed  across  the  south- 
west corner  and  was  opened  in  1865,  now  constitutes  in  part  the  main 
line  of  the  West  shore  road,  a  branch  track  of  which  extends  from 
Coeymans  Junction  (Ravena)  along  the  river  to  Albany. 

The  proximity  of  the  territory  of  this  town  to  Albany  and  its  lack  of 
water  power,  prevented  the  development  of  extensive  manufacturing 
interests ;  but  a  few  industries  of  importance  were  established  some 
years  ago  on  Van  Rensselaer  Island.  Of  these  the  Corning  Iron  Com- 
pany was  incorporated  May  12,  1870,  with  the  following  officers:  Ira 
Jagger,  president;  Albion  Ransom,  vice-president  and  treasurer; 
Charles  E.  Sackett,  superintendent  ;  Erastus  Corning,  jr.,  A.  P.  Palmer, 
Charles  B.  Lansing,  Charles  Van  Benthuysen.  A  very  extensive  and 
costly  plant  was  erected  and  the  first  iron  produced  in  187 1.  In  July, 
1873,  the  name  of  the  organization  was  changed  to  the  Jagger  Iron 
Company.  Ore  was  brought  mostly  from  Essex  and  Oneida  counties, 
and  Connecticut,  and  about  40,000  tons  were  used  annually. 

Near  the  above  described  works  and  on  the  northern  end  of  the 
island  were  established  the  works  of  the  Albany  City  Iron  Company, 
which  was  organized  in  1878.  Two  blast  furnaces  were  erected  with 
a  capacity  of  30,000  tons  of  pig  iron  annually.  This  plant  was  operated 
only  a  few  years. 

Some  minor  manufactures  have  existed  in  the  past  at  Kenwood, 
which  are  noticed  further  on. 

At  about  the  time  of  the  closing  of  the  late  war,  and  on  November 
3,  1865.  the   Bethlehem  Cemetery  Association  was  organized  with  the 


491 

following  officers:  John  Van  Allen.  M.  D.,  president;  Jacob  Hotaling, 
vice-president;  Rev.  J.  Lansing  Pearse,  secretary;  John  H.  Booth, 
treasurer;  George  C  Adams,  superintendent;  Robert  Frasier,  A. 
Crocker,  George  M.  Bender,  John  M.  Hotaling,  directors.  The  grounds 
of  this  cemetery  comprise  about  thirty  acres  situated  four  miles  west 
from  Albany,  and  have  been  tastefully  laid  out  and  improved  for  its 
purpose. 

Elmwood  Cemetery  is  controlled  by  an  association  which  was  organ- 
ized in  September,  1861  ;  the  grounds  contain  ten  acres  and  are  situat- 
ed on  the  Bethlehem  plank  road  near  the  First  Reformed  church. 
Mount  Pleasant  Cemetery  is  situated  at  South  Bethlehem,  and  was  es- 
tablished in  connection  with  the  Methodist  church  in  1863.  The  land 
was  a  gift  from  John  Callanan  and  comprises  nine  acres.  The  first  offi- 
cers were  Jehoichim  Spaun,  president;  L.  C.  Tuttle,  treasurer;  Fred- 
erick Schaupp,  secretary.  Besides  these  cemeteries,  the  cemetery  of 
the  congregation  Bethel  is  situated  a  mile  south  of  the  city  on  the  river 
and  has  been  in  existence  since  1838  ;  Calvary  Cemetery  of  St.  John's 
Catholic  church  of  Albany  is  situated  at  Bethlehem  Center,  containing 
seventeen  acres  ;  the  German  Catholic  Cemetery  of  the  Church  of  the 
Holy  Cross  of  Albany  is  near  Bethlehem  Center,  and  the  Evangelical 
Protestant  Cemetery  of  the  church  of  that  name  at  Albany,  is  at 
Hurstville,  and  was  incorporated  in  1853. 

There  are  no  large  villages  in  this  town,  although  there  are  ten  post- 
offices,  as  follows  :  Bethlehem  Center,  South  Bethlehem,  Slingerland's, 
Selkirk,  Cedar  Hill,  Decker's  Corners,  Delmar  (formerly  Adam's  Sta- 
tion), Normansville,  Glenmont,  and  Hurstville.  Most  of  these  are 
mere  hamlets  which  have  gathered  about  the  post-office,  or  an  early 
mill,  or  a  store  and  a  few  shops.  Besides  these  post-offices  there  is  a 
small  village  of  Kenwood  (formerly  known  as  Lower  Hollow),  which  is 
practically  a  suburb  of  Albany  and  is  connected  with  it  by  trolley  cars. 
So  thickly  placed  throughout  the  town  are  these  numerous  hamlets 
that  their  description  substantially  constitutes  the  modern  history  of  the 
locality. 

Bethlehem  Center  is  situated  four  miles  south  of  Albany  on  the  old 
Albany  and  Bethlehem  Turnpike.  Some  of  the  first  settlers  here  were 
Joshua  Babcock,  from  whom  the  locality  was  early  known  as  Babcock's 


492 

Corners,  James  Gibbons,  Job  Gardner,  and  the  Davis  family.  Minor 
business  interests  and  institutions  have  existed  here  many  years  and  at 
the  present  time  consist  of  a  hotel  kept  by  Charles  Seeley  ;  the  post- 
office,  school  house,  blacksmith  shop,  and  a  Bellingerite  church  now 
seldom  used. 

South  Bethlehem  (formerly  Janes's  Corners)  is  ten  miles  from  Albany 
on  the  Bethlehem  turnpike  before  mentioned,  and  now  a  station  on  the 
West  Shore  Railroad.  Early  settlers  here  were  William  Janes,  John 
and  Henry  Callanan,  Ambrose  Wiltsie,  and  the  Kimmey,  Mosher  and 
Coffin  families.  A  tavern  was  opened  here  in  early  years  by  Elishama 
Janes.  The  well  known  Callanan,  saw,  grist  and  cider  mills  were  sit- 
uated here,  but  just  over  the  town  line  in  Coeymans ;  they  originally 
belonged  to  Philip  Kimmey  and  were  an  important  industry,  but  are 
no  longer  operated.  In  early  times  a  tannery  was  in  operation  here 
which  was  built  about  1825  on  the  farm  of  John  and  Isaac  Coffin  ;  it 
was  operated  many  years  by  Robert  Carhart,  afterwards  by  Cornelius 
Waggoner,  and  still  later  by  Frederick  Schaupp ;  it  was  burned  in 
1883.  The  post-office  was  opened  in  1874,  and  William  McGee  is  the 
present  postmaster.  The  late  Henry  and  Peter  Callanan  owned  here, 
just  over  the  Coeymans  line,  a  large  quarry  and  stone-crushing  plant, 
from  which  a  large  product  is  now  taken  out  by  the  Callanan  Road  Im- 
provement Company.  Two  stores  here  are  kept  by  E.  C.  Palmerand  Peter 
Ginder  respectively.  A  few  shops  complete  the  industries  of  the  place. 
The  old  Methodist  church,  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  county,  was  recently 
remodeled  into  a  more  modern  structure. 

Slingerlands  is  a  pretty  village,  which  in  recent  years  has  been  chosen 
as  a  place  of  residence  in  the  summer  seasons  by  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  families  from  the  city,  from  which  it  is  distant  seven  miles  on  the 
Albany  and  Susquehanna  Railroad.  The  Albany  and  New  Scotland 
road  passes  through  the  village.  The  name  of  the  post-office  here  was 
formerly  Normanskill,  was  established  in  1852  by  W.  H.  Slingerland, 
who  was  postmaster  many  years,  and  the  name  changed  in  1870  in 
honor  of  the  Slingerland  family,  which  was  the  most  prominent  in  this 
section  of  the  town.  John  I.  Slingerland  was  long  a  leading  citizen  ; 
he  was  actively  engaged  in  business  and  held  several  local  offices.  He 
had  a  son  John,  who  was  also  prominently  identified  with   the  interests 


JOHN    I.   SLINGERLAiNh. 


493 

of  this  section,  and  was  father  of  C.  II.  Slingerland,  who  now  carries 
on  a  large  printing  business  in  the  place.  W.  H.  Slingerland,  ex-mem- 
ber of  assembly  and  a  prominent  civil  engineer,  is  also  a  resident. 
The  name  applied  to  the  railroad  station  was  in  recognition  of  his 
valuable  services  for  the  company.  Albert  I.  Slingerland,  another 
member  of  the  family,  who  died  in  the  summer  of  1896,  owned  a  large 
amount  of  real  estate,  built  the  Methodist  church  and  a  large  part 
of  the  dwellings  in  the  village.  There  is  a  pleasant  hotel  in  the 
village,  with  the  name  Home  Lawn  Hotel,  which  was  formerly  the  resi- 
dence of  J.  W.  Mattice  ;  it  is  now  kept  by  Rufus  Zeeley  A  store  is 
kept  by  S.  Dickson,  who  began  business  here  in  1885.  B.  F.  Allen  & 
Co.  were  merchants  and  succeeded  in  1895  by  Archer  La  Grange,  who 
has  been  postmaster  twelve*years.  Jacob  Brate  formerly  kept  a  store 
in  the  village.  Charles  F.  Dietz  operates  a  saw  mill  and  cider  mill 
three-fourths  of  a  mile  from  the  village,  towards  Delmar.  There  are 
the  usual  small  shops  here,  and  a  Methodist  church. 

Four  miles  from  Albany,  on  the  Albany  and  Susquehanna  Railroad, 
is  Delmar,  formerly  Adamsville,  or  Adams  Station.  The  nucleus  of 
the  village  was  a  large  hotel  built  in  1836  by  Nathaniel  Adams,  from 
whom  the  place  received  its  early  name.  He  also  made  other  perma- 
nent improvements.  The  Flagler,  Waters,  Erwin  and  Bussing  families 
were  early  settlers  here.  A  post-office  was  opened  in  1840,  and  Mr. 
Adams  was  appointed  the  first  postmaster.  A  small  mercantile  inter- 
est has  existed  since  that  time  and  is  now  represented  by  two  stores, 
one  kept  by  M.  J.  Blanchard,  and  the  other  by  Paddock  &  Patterson. 
There  are  two  churches  in  the  place.  Within  a  few  recent  years  this 
pretty  suburban  village  has  become  the  place  of  residence  of  numerous 
families  from  Albany  and  elsewhere.  This  feature  of  its  growth  prom- 
ises further  advancement.  Through  the  influence  of  these  new-comers 
the  name  of  the  place  was  changed  a  few  years  ago  to  Delmar. 

Normansville  is  a  hamlet  where  a  post-office  of  that  name  has  been 
established  in  recent  years,  which  was  formerly  called  Upper  Hollow, 
in  distinction  from  Lower  Hollow,  or  Kenwood.  The  hamlet  is  situ- 
ated on  both  sides  of  the  Normanskill,  and  through  the  water  power 
supplied  by  that  stream  considerable  manufacturing  came  into  existence 
here  in  early  years,  some  of  which  survived  to   later  times.      The   Nor- 


494 

manskill  at  this  point  has  cut  a  deep  ravine  through  the  soil  and  down 
to  the  rock,  over  which  it  flows  with  a  gradual  descent.  At  the  time 
of  the  construction  of  the  Albany  and  Delaware  turnpike  it  passed 
across  this  ravine  on  a  wooden  bridge  ;  this  was  carried  away  by  a 
freshet  in  1868,  and  the  town  erected  an  iron  one  in  the  next  year,  the 
turnpike  company  having  given  up  the  toll  road.  The  construction  of 
that  road  and  the  opening  of  a  toll  house  at  the  west  end  of  the  bridge 
led  Isaac  Stiles  to  open  a  tavern  for  the  accommodation  of  travelers  on 
the  turnpike.  Soon  afterward  and  about  1820  he  erected  a  saw  mill, 
into  a  portion  of  which  was  placed  machinery  for  carding  wool  and 
dressing  cloth,  and  for  cutting  dye-woods.  S.  Congdon  and  A.  B. 
Sweet  were  later  owners  of  these  mills,  which  were  nearly  destroyed  by 
a  freshet  while  in  possession  of  the  latter.  He  rebuilt  and  engaged  in 
manufacturing  straw  paper.  At  a  later  date  the  property  passed  to  F. 
Hinckle,  who  began  manufacturing  potato  starch.  This  business  was 
finally  abandoned. 

On  the  west  side  of  the  creek,  below  the  bridge,  James  McCormick 
built  a  grist  mill  about  1820.  Nathaniel  Sawyer  was  a  later  owner, 
and  put  in  carding  and  dye-wood  machinery.  The  property  subse- 
quently passed  to  Henry  Arnold,  and  was  ultimately  burned.  Mr. 
Arnold  rebuilt  and  sold  to  other  persons,  the  mill  finally  becoming  the 
property  of  Heman  Hardy,  who  put  in  wrapping  paper  machinery  and 
has  since  carried  on  that  business,  excepting  at  intervals.  A  hotel  is 
conducted  at  Ncrmansville  by  Charles  Smith. 

Kenwood,  or  Lower  Hollow,  is  a  suburban  village  built  up  below  the 
falls  of  the  Normanskill  and  near  where  it  enters  the  Hudson.  Settle- 
ment at  this  point  was  coincident  with  that  of  Albany,  beginning  writh 
that  of  Andriesen  Bradt,  who  built  a  mill  here  in  1 630  which  remained 
in  possession  of  members  of  the  family  until  1678.  After  the  close  of 
the  Revolution  the  Van  Rensselaers  built  mills  here  for  grinding,  saw- 
ing lumber,  wool  carding,  cloth  dressing,  etc.  These  mills  passed  under 
ownership  of  many  persons  and  eventually  were  abandoned  or  burned. 
A  large  knitting  mill  was  operated  for  a  time  in  more  recent  years,  which 
was  burned  and  a  factory  for  the  manufacture  of  felt  cloth  and  blankets 
established,  which  was  also  destroyed  by  fire  a  few  years  ago.  The  fac- 
tory has  not  been  rebuilt.      A  large  flouring  mill  was  erected  about  1884 


495 

south  of  the  bridge,  which  is  now  a  part  of  the  estate  of  Mrs.  Sarah  R. 
Townsend  and  is  operated  by  Frank  Chamberlain  who  took  possession 
in  1892.  A  store  is  kept  here  by  Thomas  and  John  Cook,  and  a  hotel 
by  P.  J.  McManus. 

What  is  known  as  the  old  Cherry  Hill  mansion  was  formerly  the  res- 
idence of  Gen.  Solomon  Van  Rensselaer.  That  family  owned  most  of 
the  lands  in  this  immediate  vicinity  in  early  years.  Mount  Hope,  a 
commanding  elevation  rising  to  the  west  of  the  Hudson,  was  long  the 
property  of  Ezra  P.  Prentiss,  who  made  many  improvements  on  his 
farm  and  its  appurtenances.  Joel  Rathbone  was  long  a  resident  of  Ken- 
wood, and  gave  it  its  romantic  name.  The  village  is  connected  with 
Albany  by  electric  cars. 

Hurstville,  formerly  called  Log  Tavern,  is  a  mere  hamlet  two  miles 
northwest  of  Albany  on  the  Albany  and  New  Scotland  road.  It  was 
given  its  former  name  from  the  fact  that  a  log  tavern  was  kept  by  one 
of  the  first  settlers,  named  Hagadorn.  Later  it  took  the  name  of  Hurst- 
ville from  William  Hurst,  who  settled  here  in  1861.  Urban  Van  Hart 
and  William  Gilbert  were  early  settlers  here.  A  hotel  is  kept  by  Will- 
iam Hurst;   there  is  no  other  business. 

Selkirk  is  a  post-office  and  hamlet,  and  a  station  on  the  West  Shore 
Railroad  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  town,  and  takes  its  name  from 
two  or  three  Selkirk  families  who  settled  there  The  post-office  was 
opened  in  1883.  and  a  store  is  kept  by  M.  E.  Skinner.  Many  Albanians 
have  summer  residences  here. 

Becker's  Corners  is  a  post-office  seven  and  a  half  miles  from  Albany 
on  the  Albany  and  South  Bethlehem  road,  and  takes  its  name  from  the 
Becker  family,  of  which  Albertus  W.  Becker,  long  the  postmaster,  is  a 
member.  A  hotel,  blacksmith  shop,  and  toll  gate  with  a  dozen  resi- 
dences make  up  the  hamlet. 

Cedar  Hill  is  a  post  office  and  hamlet  eight  miles  below  Albany  on 
the  river  road  and  three  fourths  of  a  mile  from  the  landing.  The  Nicoll, 
Winne,  Van  Wie,  Sill  and  Cooper  families  settled  here  early.  The  place 
takes  its  name  from  the  cedar  trees  that  once  grew  in  the  vicinity. 
Quite  extensive  docks  have  been  constructed  at  the  river,  where  ice  is 
shipped  in  large  quantities,  and  produce  is  bought  and  shipped.  Barent 
Winne  is  engaged  in  this  business  Winne  &  Riker  and  the  Kimmeys 
followed  the  same  business  earlier. 


496 


Glenmont  is  a  station  and  post-office  on  the  West  Shore  Railroad 
about  a  mile  below  Albany.  Considerable  moulding  sand  is  shipped 
from  here.     There  are  no  stores  or  other  business  interests  in  the  place. 

The  early  school  houses  in  this  town,  like  those  in  neighboring  com- 
munities, were  built  in  almost  every  instance  of  logs,  and  the  teaching, 
as  well  as  the  accommodations,  was  primitive  and  unsatisfactory.  One 
of  the  first  of  the  log  school  houses  in  Bethlehem  was  situated  on  the 
Nicolls  farm,  at  Cedar  Hill.  It  was  in  existence  almost  or  quite  at  the 
beginning  of  the  century,  and  it  is  a  tradition  that  the  scholars  were 
permitted  to  go  out  of  doors  to  witness  the  first  passing  of  Fulton's 
steamboat  up  the  Hudson  in  1807.  That  was  then  the  only  school 
house  between  the  Coeymans  line  and  Albany,  and  the  district  was  so 
large  that  five  have  since  been  organized  from  it.  Among  the  names 
of  early  teachers  of  Bethlehem  are  found  those  of  Wallace,  McCracken, 
Van  Huysen,  Goodhue,  Talmage,  Davis,  Bennett,  Smith,  Nelson,  Jacob 
K.  Marshall,  Hezekiah  Burhans,  Daniel  Haynes,  and  others.  Bethle- 
hem, with  Coeymans  and  New  Scotland,  now  constitute  the  first  school 
commissioner  district  of  the  county  and  contains,  as  it  has  for  many 
years  past,  fourteen  districts,  with  a  school  house  in  each.  In  recent 
years  the  school  buildings  have  been  greatly  improved,  some  being 
built  of  brick,  and  all  are  comfortable  and  convenient. 

The  church  organizations  of  Bethlehem  date  from  the  last  century, 
the  earliest  one  being  the  First  Reformed  Protestant  Dutch  Church, 
which  later  became  the  First  Reformed  Church,  which  was  organized  in 
1793.  In  the  next  year  Solomon  Van  Rensselaer  gave  this  society  100 
acres  of  land,  which  has  been  known  as  the  parsonage  farm.  Christian 
Bork  was  the  first  pastor  of  whom  there  is  record.  It  is  not  known  just 
when  the  first  church  building  was  erected,  and  the  present  one  has 
been  in  use  many  years.  In  1841  a  Reformed  church  was  erected  at 
Adamsville  (or  Adams  Station)  At  that  time  many  members  of  the 
Union  Reformed  Church,  at  Unionville,  who  lived  at  considerable  dis- 
tance from  their  church,  proposed  the  erection  of  a  chapel  at  Adams- 
ville. Nathaniel  Adams  generously  donated  an  acre  of  land  for  a 
church  site  and  the  chapel  was  erected.  Preaching  was  maintained  as 
a  branch  of  the  Unionville  society.  .  In  1847,  forty  four  members  of 
the  Unionville  society  petitioned   for  the  organization   of  a  church  at 


497 

Adams  Station.  On  January  io,  1848,  the  Consistory  of  the  Union- 
ville  society  resolved  to  grant  the  request  of  the  petitioners,  to  deed  to 
the  Adamsville  people  the  church  property  there,  and  also  to  appoint 
two  commissioners  to  report  their  proceedings  to  the  Classis.  The  or- 
ganization of  the  new  society  was  then  perfected.  Elders  Leonard  G. 
Ten  Eyck,  and  Peter  Hilton,  and  Deacons  William  H.  Slingerland  and 
Joel  Van  Allen,  of  Union  church,  were  constituted  a  distinct  consistory 
for  the  new  church,  and  on  February  3,  1848,  they  certified  to  the  title 
of  the  organization  as  The  Second  Reformed  Dutch  Church  in  the  town 
of  Bethlehem.  In  March,  1848,  a  call  was  extended  to  Rev,  John  A. 
Lansing,  who  came  and  served  the  society  twelve  years.  During  his 
pastorate  and  in  185 1  the  parsonage  was  built  on  land  adjoining  the 
church  edifice.  The  church  itself  was  enlarged  and  improved  in  1859, 
and  again  in  1879.  In  1884  an  addition  was  built  for  the  use  of  the 
Sabbath  school  and  social  purposes. 

In  the  year  1822  a  number  of  churches  seceeded  from  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church  through  differences  in  doctrine,  and  organized  them- 
selves into  the  Classis  of  Union,  with  the  title  of  True  Reformed  Dutch 
Church.  About  1827  a  society  of  this  organization  was  formed  in 
Bethlehem.  The  church  edifice  was  erected  near  Bethlehem  Center  in 
1854.  The  first  pastor  was  Henry  Bellinger  and  he  remained  with  the 
church  fifty  years.  The  first  church  officers  were  Peter  Kimmey,  Storm 
Vanderzee,  and  David  Kimmey.  The  Classis  of  Union  is  composed  of 
six  churches,  one  in  each  of  the  counties  of  Albany,  Fulton,  Mont- 
gomery, Rensselaer,  Rockland,  and  Schoharie. 

The  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Bethlehem  was  organized  Novem- 
ber 3,1835,  by  Rev.  John  H.Campbell,  D  D.,  and  Rev.  William  P.  Davis, 
with  fifty- three  members.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  William  P.  Davis, 
who  was  ordained  in  December,  1835.  The  first  house  of  worship  was 
erected  in  the  same  year;  it  was  enlarged  and  refitted  in  1869  at  a  cost 
of  $4,000.  A  parsonage  belongs  to  the  church.  The  property  is  situ- 
ated about  one  and  a  half  miles  west  of  Hurstville.  The  first  elders  of 
the  society  were  Jonathan  E.  Walley,  John  R.  Bullock,  Volkert  V. 
Bullock. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Adams  Station  was  organized 
about  1830,  and  a  house  of  worship  was  erected  in  1833.     Rev.  Henry 

G3 


498 

Williams  was  the  first  pastor.  Among  the  early  members  were  Helmes 
Hotaling,  Daniel  Clark,  John  Oliver  and  his  wife,  Benjamin  Holmes 
and  his  wife,  William  Coughtry  and  his  wife,  James  Sigsbee  and  a  Miss 
Patterson.  In  1850  a  second  church  was  built  east  of  the  school  house  ; 
it  was  taken  down  in  1871  by  a  portion  of  the  congregation  causing  a 
division  in  the  church.  This  resulted  in  the  building  of  another  Metho- 
dist church  at  Adamsville  in  1873.  The  first  pastor  of  the  new  organ- 
ization was  Rev.  Peter  B.  Harrower.  When  the  division  just  referred 
to  was  made,  or  soon  afterward,  the  part  of  the  congregation  that  did 
not  leave  the  old  society  erected  a  church  at  Slingerlands.  The  edifice 
is  of  brick,  with  Sabbath  school  and  lecture  room,  and  cost  $9,000 
The  first  officers  of  this  society  were  David  Couse,  John  Wademan, 
Robert  Frasier,  Hezekiah  Van  Buren,  David  Winne,  John  Ostrander, 
and  William  Simmons.      Rev.  D.  B.  McKenzie  was  the  first  pastor. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  South  Bethlehem,  is  the  out- 
growth of  the  first  society  of  this  faith  organized  in  the  town.  In  No- 
vember, 1823,  was  dedicated  the  first  church  edifice,  which  stood  a 
short  distance  east  of  Becker's  Corners.  In  1824  the  following  trustees 
were  chosen  :  Robert  D.  Carhart,  president  ;  Isaac  S.  Wright,  treas- 
urer;  Joel  Squires,  secretary;  John  Ten  Eyck,  Hugh  Jolly,  William 
Cooper,  Joshua  Poor.  Bradley  H.  Glick  was  the  first  preacher.  In 
1845  this  building  was  taken  down  and  the  materials  in  part  used  in 
the  erection  of  another  church  at  South  Bethlehem,  which  was  dedi- 
cated in  1846.  The  first  trustees  of  this  society  were  Hugh  Jolly,  Jehoi- 
chim  Spawn,  Hercules  Baddo,  Charles  Chapman.  Cornelius  Waggo- 
ner was  secretary  and  treasurer,  and  the  first  pastor  was  Reuben  H. 
Bloomer. 

A  Free  chapel  was  erected  in  1877  near  Cedar  Hill,  which  was  used 
by  Christians  of  any  denomination. 


499 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

THE  TOWN  OF   BERNE. 

The  town  of  Berne  lies  upon  the  Helderberg  Mountains  on  the  west- 
ern border  of  the  county,  and  is  the  central  one  of  the  three  western 
towns.  Along  the  northern  part  is  a  ridge  that  rises  abruptly  from  the 
Foxenkill  in  three  spurs  which  bear  the  local  names  of  Grippy,  Irish 
Hill,  and  Uhai ;  the  first  of  these  names  has  an  unknown  origin  ;  the 
second  is  from  the  number  of  Scotch- Irish  settlers  in  that  vicinity,  and 
the  third  signifies  high  garden,  from  the  Indian  language.  The  south- 
ern and  western  parts  of  the  town  are  hilly,  with  rocky  ravines  among 
the  highlands,  in  the  beds  of  which  flow  small  streams.  The  principal 
streams  are  the  Foxenkill  and  the  Switzkill;  the  first  rises  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  town  and  flows  westerly,  partly  underground,  to- 
wards Warner's  Lake,  and  thence  into  Schoharie  Creek.  The  Switzkill 
rises  in  Westerlo,  flows  northward  and  empties  into  the  Foxenkill.  On 
these  streams  have  been  built  extensive  saw  mills  and  grist  mills  neces- 
sary for  the  community.  Along  the  banks  of  the  creeks  the  soil  is  very 
fertile;  on  the  hillsides  is  found  excellent  grain  land,  while  among  the 
mountains  it  is  in  many  places  light  and  suitable  only  for  meagre 
pasturage. 

The  Beaverdam,  so  called,  divided  into  the  upper  and  lower,  extends 
from  the  East  Berne  to  the  West  Berne  hamlet.  The  dam  itself  was 
on  the  Foxenkill,  at  a  point  near  the  residence  of  George  Schell,  and 
early  gave  its  name  to  the  Dutch  church  in  that  vicinity  and  to  the 
villages  along  the  valley. 

Warner's  Lake  covers  about  one  hundred  acres  and  is  situated  a  mile 
north  of  the  hamlet  of  East  Berne;  it  took  its  name  from  Johannes  and 
Christopher  Warner,  who  early  settled  on  its  banks  and  the  descendants 
of  whom  still  live  in  the  vicinity.  Thompson's  Lake,  which  received  its 
name  from  John  and  William  Thompson,  is  about  one   hundred  acres 


500 


in  extent  and  lies  in  the  extreme  northeast  part  of  the  town,  extending 
over  into  the  town  of  Knox.  This  lake  has  in  recent  years  become 
quite  a  popular  resort. 

Mineral  springs  of  considerable  importance  exist  in  Berne,  two  of 
which  are  mentioned  in  an  early  geological  report.  These  are  on  land 
owned  in  recent  years  by  Jacob  Hochstrasser.  The  water  is  strongly 
sulphurous.  Other  springs  of  similar  character  are  in  the  valley  of  the 
Switzkill  and  there  is  also  one  on  the  farm  of  Thomas  J.  Wood.  At 
Riedsville  is  a  spring.impregnated  with  carbonate  of  iron  and  sulphureted 
hydrogen. 

The  town  of  Berne  was  apportioned  from  Rensselaerville  March  17, 
1795,  and  included  the  territory  of  the  town  of  Knox,  which  was  set  off 
from  Berne  February  28,  1822.  The  territory  of  Berne  was  a  part  of 
the  Van  Rensselaer  Manor  and  now  contains  38,942  acres  of  land. 

In  the  strife  between  the  Tories  and  Indians  and  the  patriotic  colo- 
nists, at  least  two  stockades  were  built  within  the  limits  of  what  is  now 
Berne;  one  of  these  was  near  the  Petrus  Weidman  house  in  Berne  vil- 
lage, and  another  on  the  Adam  I.  Deitz  farm  in  the  Switzkill  valley. 
This  town  was  the  scene  of  a  bloody  deed  during  the  Revolutionary 
war  that  distinguishes  it  in  that  respect  from  all  the  other  towns  of 
Albany  county.  Johannes  Deitz,  the  pioneer,  was  an  ardent  patriot 
in  the  cause  of  independence  ;  his  family  were  his  wife,  his  son  and  his 
son's  wife,  with  four  young  children,  and  with  them  was  a  man  servant 
and  a  boy  named  John  Brice.  This  family  were  massacred  by  Indians 
and  tories  in  1780.  The  grist  mill  of  Jacob  Weidman  was  then  the  only 
one  at  all  near  and  was  about  five  miles  from  the  scene  of  the  massacre. 
The  Brice  family,  then  living  at  Rensselaerville,  sent  their  young  son  Robert 
to  this  mill  with  a  grist;  with  him  were  several  other  lads  on  a  similar 
errand.  Evening  approached  before  the  grinding  was  finished  and  all 
the  boys  excepting  young  Brice  decided  to  remain  with  the  miller  all 
night.  The  farm  of  Johannes  Deitz  was  situated  midway  between  the 
mill  and  the  Brice  home,  and  when  the  lad  reached  that  point  he  con- 
cluded to  remain  all  night  and  enjoy  the  company  of  his  brother  John. 
As  the  boy  reached  the  gate  of  the  lane  leading  to  the  Deitz  house  an 
Indian  sprang  out  of  his  concealment,  seized  the  horse's  bridle  and  led 
the  animal  directly  towards  the  house.      As  they  passed  the  barn  the 


501 

lad  began  to  realize  what  had  taken  place,  for  he  saw  the  dead  body  of 
Mr.  Deitz  prostrate  and  covered  with  blood,  while  between  the  barn 
and  the  house  lay  the  bodies  of  Mrs  Deitz.  the  son's  wife,  four  children 
and  a  servant  girl.  About  fifteen  Indians  were  busy  in  their  work  of 
plundering  the  house.  Capt.  William  Deitz,  son  of  Johannes,  and  the 
boy  John  Brice,  were  tied  to  a  near-by  apple  tree. 

Finishing  their  terrible  work,  the  Indians  set  fire  to  the  building  and 
then  started  with  their  prisoners  and  horses  along  the  path  towards 
Rensselaerville.  The  first  night  they  camped  within  a  mile  of  the  Brice 
residence,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  second  day  continued  on  to 
Potter's  Hollow,  Oak  Hill,  Middleburgh,  Breakabeen,  Harpersfield, 
through  the  Susquehanna  valley,  and  eventually  reached  Canada. 
When  news  of  the  massacre  reached  the  Schoharie  garrison,  scouting 
parties  were  at  once  sent  out  and  in  the  pursuit,  when  near  Middle- 
burgh, the  Indians  were  so  closely  pressed  that  several  were  wounded 
by  the  scouts  and  their  horses  and  plunder  were  abandoned.  The 
sufferings  of  the  prisoners  on  their  long  journey  were  almost  indescriba- 
ble. To  his  physical  torture  was  added  the  mental  horror  to  Captain 
Deitz  of  seeing  the  scalps  of  his  family  dangling  before  his  eyes.  The 
trials  of  this  journey  and  his  losses  and  sorrow  so  broke  him  down  that 
he  died  at  Niagara  while  in  confinement.  The  two  Brice  boys  returned 
home  after  an  absence  of  three  years.  The  bodies  of  the  massacred 
family  were  buried  in  one  grave  by  Lieut.  Johan  Jost  Deitz,  a  relative, 
sent  from  the  lower  fort  for  the  purpose,  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  line 
wall  of  the  Pine  Grove  cemetery. 

Settlement  was  begun  in  this  town  by  eight  families  named  Weidman, 
Zeh,  Ball,  Deitz,  Knieskern,  Shultes,  Bassler,  and  Hochstrasser.  Jacob 
Weidman  is  believed  to  have  been  the  pioneer  of  party  ;  he  came  from 
Berne,  Switzerland  (from  which  fact  the  town  received  its  name),  with 
his  wife  and  four  sons  and  settled  here  as  early  as  1750.  The  party 
were  guided  to  their  destination  along  the  trail  leading  towards  Scho- 
harie by  an  Indian.  They  finally  reached  the  site  of  Knox  village, 
where  a  difference  of  opinion  arose  as  to  who  should  be  recognized  as 
the  leader;  from  this  incident  came  the  name  "  Fechtberg,"  or  fighting 
hill,  applied  to  that  locality.  There  is  good  authority  for  believing  that 
this  dispute  led  to  a  division  of  the  party,  some  yoing  on  to  Schoharie  and 


502 


the  remainder  settling  in  Berne.  This  presumption  does  not  conflict 
with  the  common  belief  that  this  town  was  settled  from  Schoharie,  as 
it  is  known  that  some  of  the  families  who  located  in  that  county  returned 
to  Berne. 

Jacob  Weidman  took  up  lands  on  the  banks  of  the  Foxenkill,  on  the 
site  of  Berne  village,  a  tract  of  several  hundred  acres.  He  was  a  practical 
miller  and  selected  his  location  with  a  view  to  establishing  saw  and 
grist  mills,  which  he  did  as  soon  as  practicable.  Weidman's  Mills 
were  known  as  early  as  1787,  and  were  a  great  convenience  to  the 
pioneers.  The  mill  property  consisted  of  thirty  acres  of  land  and  was 
leased  to  Mr.  Weidman,  in  1790,  for  sixteen  years  at  a  rental  of  £j  ;  at 
the  end  of  that  term  it  was  again  leased  for  ten  years  at  a  rental  of  £30. 
Mr.  Weidman  was  a  prominent  citizen  and  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Reformed  church. 

Frederick  Bassler,  the  pioneer,  was  from  Basle,  Switzerland,  and  was 
one  of  the  Palatinates  who  left  his  country  to  escape  religious  intoler- 
ance. The  family  in  this  country  continued  to  represent  the  high  char- 
acter and  influence  that  distinguished  them  across  the  ocean. 

Of  the  other  pioneers,  the  Deitz  family  settled  for  the  most  part  in 
the  valley  of  the  Switzkill  and  they  and  their  descendants  were  reputa- 
ble in  the  community.  Hendrick  Ball,  the  head  of  the  family  of  that 
name,  settled  on  the  farm  occupied  in  recent  years  by  Stephen  Ball. 
Hendrick  Knieskern  settled  where  Jacob  Knieskern  lived.  The  Zeh 
family  located  mostly  along  the  Foxenkill  from  what  is  known  as  the 
Boarding  House  to  the  village  of  East  Berne. 

Matthias  Shultes,  the  head  of  that  line  in  this  region,  took  up  over 
400  acres  of  land  along  the  northeast  side  of  the  West  Mountain  on  the 
road  passing  the  John  and  Allen  Shultes  farm. 

Jacob  Hochstrasser  was  a  man  of  superior  intellect  and  energy  and 
exercised  a  strong  influence  on  the  community  in  early  days.  He  was 
the  first  supervisor  and  the  first  justice  of  the  peace  of  his  town,  and 
owned  a  large  tract  of  land  where  the  White  Sulphur  Springs  House 
stands. 

Following  these  pioneers,  whose  coming  heralded  civilization  and 
the  peace  and  prosperity  of  later  days,  came  other  elements  of  citizen- 
ship.     In  1 790  three  Scoth- Irish  families  named  Hay,  Young  and  Curran 


503 

settled  a  large  tract  of  land  on  Irish  Hill,  the  beginning  of  a  useful  part 
of  the  community.  The  Filkins  and  Conger  families  came  a  little  later, 
the  latter  occupying  land  in  and  near  Reidsville. 

After  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war  the  New  England  element 
came  into  the  town  with  the  advent  of  the  Gallup,  Whipple,  Crary, 
Brown,  and  Williams  families.  Samuel  Gallup  came  from  Groton, 
Conn.,  in  1786  and  purchased  a  large  farm  near  the  Whipple  Cemetery 
in  what  is  now  the  town  of  Knox.  His  son  Nathaniel  became  one  of 
the  most  conspicuous  citizens  of  the  town  ;  was  town  clerk  fourteen 
years,  a  justice  nineteen  years,  and  the  ancestor  of  numerous  descend- 
ants who  have  been  prominent  in  the  community. 

Malachi  Whipple  came  from  Stonington,  Conn.,  about  1793,  and 
passed  a  useful  life  on  what  was  long  known  as  the  Whipple  farm. 
This  was  long  considered  the  model  farm  of  Albany  county  and  took 
several  premiums  at  fairs.  In  1825  Mr.  Whipple  removed  to  Berne 
village,  where  he  purchased  the  grist  mill  property  and  other  real 
estate,  and  together  with  William  H.  Ball  and  Lyman  Dwight  built  a 
carding  and  fulling  mill.      Mr.  Whipple  held  many  positions  of  trust. 

Miner  Walden  came  from  Vermont  in  1797  and  became  a  useful  citi- 
zen of  Berne.  He  established  what  was  probably  the  first  carding 
machine,  and  also  carried  on  a  mercantile  business.  He  was  many 
years  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  was  universally  respected. 

Moses  Patten  was  from  Londonderry,  N.  Ii.,  and  came  to  this  town 
in  1820.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Union  College  and  had  studied  law. 
He  served  as  town  clerk,  justice  of  the  peace,  supervisor,  school  com- 
missioner, and  was  for  many  years  a  merchant  at  Berne  village.  Being 
elected  surrogate  of  the  county  Mr.  Patten  moved  to  Albany,  where  he 
died  in  1867,  after  a  busy  life.  James  Patten,  brother  of  Moses,  was  a 
graduate  of  Bowdoin  College,  studied  law,  and  settled  in  Berne  in 
1829.  He  held  various  town  offices,  and  with  his  brother  formed  the 
mercantile  firm  that  was  so  long  successful.  Later  in  life  he  gave  his 
attention  to  the  management  of  a  fine  farm.  He  died  at  his  home  in 
Berne  in  1886. 

Col.  Jesse  Wood  was  the  first  of  this  family  to  settle  near  Berne  vil- 
lage. He  was  from  Long  Island  and  very  early  in  the  century  settled 
In  the  eastern  part  of  this  town,  where  he  afterwards  became  a  prom- 


504 

inent  citizen.  He  rose  to  the  rank  of  colonel  in  the  war  of  1812,  and 
held  the  offices  of  supervisor  and  member  of  assembly.  In  1837  he 
sold  his  homestead  and  moved  to  a  farm  near  the  village  of  Berne. 
John  M.  Wood  was  his  nephew  and  was  adopted  by  him.  The  latter  was 
father  of  Thomas  J.  Wood,  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  the  town. 

Jacob  Settle  was  engaged  in  mercantile  business  in  Berne  from  1812 
to  1864,  in  which  he  was  uncommonly  successful.  He  was  prominent 
in  public  affairs,  held  the  offices  of  justice,  supervisor,  member  of  as- 
sembly, and  was  for  thirty  five  years  postmaster.  It  was  largely  through 
his  influence  that  the  plank  road  was  constructed  through  this  town 
from  Schoharie,  and  connected  with  the  Albany  road.  He  was  in 
every  way  a  public  spirited  and  valuable  citizen. 

These  pioneers  and  their  associates  laid  well  the  foundations  of  the 
later  prosperity  of  the  town,  established  its  industries  and  founded  its 
simple  government.  Of  the  dwellings  built  in  the  early  years,  succeed- 
ing the  first  log  houses,  there  are  some  still  remaining  that  are  worthy 
of  mention.  The  house  in  which  Thomas  J.  Wood  now  resides  bears 
the  date  of  1795,  with  initials,  P.  F.  The  dwelling  once  occupied  by 
Frederick  Zeh  was  erected  about  the  same  time,  and  so  was  that  of 
Nathaniel  Gallup.  The  house  formerly  owned  by  the  Widow  Fairlee 
and  now  owned  by  the  Mattice  brothers,  in  the  village  of  Berne,  was 
built  as  a  tavern  in  1809,  and  was  used  as  a  recruiting  station  in  the 
war  of  18 1 2.  The  largest  and  finest  of  the  early  residences  stood  on 
the  site  of  the  Jacob  P.  Warner  dwelling,  and  was  built  about  1800  by 
Petrus  Weidman  ;  it  contained  ten  fire  places,  five  rooms  in  the  cellar 
and  large  halls. 

Of  the  business  industries  of  the  town  the  store  of  Johannes  Fischer 
was  probably  the  first,  and  was  conducted  in  the  building  occupied  in 
recent  years  by  Thomas  J.  Wood.  Stephen  Willes,  one  of  the  Connec- 
ticut pioneers,  established  a  store  in  town  as  early  as  1800;  he  is  re- 
membered as  a  shrewd  and  successful  merchant,  and  his  place  of  busi- 
ness was  on  the  site  of  the  Hiram  Warner  residence,  a  mile  from  the 
village  of  East  Berne,  where  he  built  a  large  dwelling  in  the  New  Eng- 
land style;  his  business  increased  rapidly  and  he  soon  erected  a  store 
across  the  road.  Near  by  was  an  ashery  and  a  tannery.  On  the  north 
side  of  the   creek   he  established   a  whisky  distillery,  a  very  necessary 


505 

institution  in  those  times,  and  saddle,  harness  and  shoe  shops.  In  1825 
he  opened  a  second  store  in  the  village  of  East  Berne,  to  compete 
with  Albert  and  Benjamin  Gallup.  Major  Willes  held  several  town 
offices  and  was  member  of  the  assembly. 

In  1803  Dr.  Almeric  Hubbell,  who  was  son  in-law  of  Petrus  Weid- 
man,  began  conducting  a  store  on  the  site  of  the  Edward  Settle  resi- 
dence. Miner  Walden,  who  has  been  mentioned,  began  his  mercantile 
life  in  the  basement  of  a  house  that  is  now  a  part  of  the  E.  V.  Filkins 
estate.  Johan  Deitz  kept  a  store  on  the  site  of  the  Peter  Bassler  resi- 
dence in  1 8 1 2,  and  in  1 8 1 6  took  Jacob  Settle  into  partnership  ;  they  did 
a  large  business,  and  it  is  said  that  fourteen  barrels  of  potash  sold  by 
them  that  year  in  New  York  netted  over  $600. 

The  first  mill  in  town,  that  of  Jacob  Weidman,  was  situated  near  the 
site  of  the  later  grist  mill  of  Francis  Becker.  Mr.  Weidman  also  had 
a  saw  mill  near  by.  Another  mill  was  built  soon  after  the  first  by  Johannes 
and  Christopher  Warner,  near  the  site  of  the  East  Berne  school  house, 
being  built  probably  as  early  as  1765.  About  1790  Jacob  Post,  one  of 
the  pioneers,  erected  a  mill  near  the  site  of  West  Berne  village,  and  Asa 
Culver  (or  Culvard)  had  a  cloth  mill  at  about  the  same  time  at  what  is 
now  South  Berne.  Other  factories  for  the  carding  of  wool  and  manu- 
facture of  cloth  in  early  days  were  those  of  Miner  Walden  and  William 
H.  Ball.  Around  these  various  early  industries  sprang  up  the  hamlets 
and  villages  which  became  the  centers  of  such  trade  as  was  required  by 
the  people. 

Francis  Becker's  mill,  before  mentioned,  is  still  in  operation  in  Berne 
village,  having  been  built  by  Malachi  Whipple  in  1832,  and  does  a  large 
grinding  business.  The  mill  of  Moses  A.  Gallup,  at  East  Berne,  is  the 
largest  in  the  county  outside  of  Albany.  It  was  planned  and  built  by 
Clark,  Decker  &  Gardner  in  1858,  for  Truman  Eobdell  ;  it  is  five  stories 
high,  has  four  run  of  stones,  an  immense  overshot  wheel  and  all  the 
appurtenances  of  a  modern  grist  mill.  Mr.  Gallup  has  also  a  saw  mill 
and  a  shingle  mill. 

The  mill  of  Jacob  Miner  Hochstrasser  is  on  the  site  originally  occu- 
pied by  a  building  erected  previous  to  the  beginning  of  the  century,  in 
which  was  first  a  carding  machine,  then  a  shoe  peg  factory,  and  later  a 
plant   for   grinding  and   finishing    axts;    still   later   it    was   a    furniture 

64 


506 

factory  and  at  last  about  fifteen  years  ago  was  transformed  into  a  grist 
mill,  which  was  operated  by  both  steam  and  horse  power.  It  was 
burned  down  but  soon  rebuilt  and  passed  from  the  ownership  of  Truman 
Lawton  to  Leslie  Allen,  and  from  him  to  Mr.  Hochstrasser. 

A  mill  was  built  at  South  Berne  in  1855  and  rebuilt  by  Elias  Zeh  in 
1884;  it  was  burned  in  1895.  The  foundry  conducted  in  former  years 
by  Henry  Engle  was  afterwards  used  for  a  tannery  in  which  John 
Rossiter,  Jacob  D.  Settle  and  Oscar  Tyler  carried  on  business.  It  was 
next  used  as  a  furniture  factory  and  finally  as  a  saw  mill,  and  is  now 
owned  by  Watson  Chesebro.      It  is  located  at  Berne  village. 

In  the  history  of  the  town  of  Watervliet  and  Cohoes  is  found  an  ac- 
count of  the  axe  factory  of  Daniel  Simmons  after  it  was  removed  from 
Berne.      Mr.   Simmons  settled  in   Berne  as  a  blacksmith  in  1831,  com- 
in<r  from  Bethlehem.      He  began  business  in  the  shop  of  Henry  Engle, 
but  soon  turned  his  attention  to  the  making  of  axes  on  his  anvil,  ham- 
mering them  out  by  hand.      He  made  them  so  superior  to  others  then 
obtainable  that  he  soon  acquired  an  extended  reputation.      He  gained 
the   confidence   of   responsible  men,  among   whom  were  Jacob  Settle, 
Malachi  Whipple,  Jacob  Weidman,  Moses  Patten,  Johan  Jost  Deitz  and 
William  Schnell,  who  supplied  him  with  capital  to  establish  a  large  concern. 
A  large  building  was  erected  in  1825  on  the  north  side  of  the  creek,  a 
trip  hammer  put  in  and  a  prosperous  business  started.      A  second  build- 
ing for  a  tempering  shop  extended  across  the  stream,  and  a  third,  which 
ultimately  became  the  lower  grist  mill,  was  the  place  where  the  grinding 
and  polishing  was  done.      A  fourth  structure,  one  hundred  feet  long  was 
erected  in  1830,    which  contained  a  triphammer,  forges,  etc.      Twenty- 
one  forges  were  at  one  time  in  operation,  and  two  hundred  men  were 
employed.      Large  quantities  of  charcoal  were  used,  giving  employment 
and  a  source  of  income  to  many  of  the  inhabitants.      In  the  height  of 
his  business  here  Mr.  Simmons  purchased  the    Fischer  farm    and  occu- 
pied it,  with  his  brothers,  Baltus  and  Jonas.      He  also  erected  the  build- 
ing once  used  by  E.  M.  Shultes  as  a  tavern.     The  Simmons  axes  found 
ready  sale  over  a  wide  extent  of  territory,  some  of  them  being  shipped 
as  far  away  as  Africa  and  Asia.      But   the   transportation    problem   was 
a  serious  one,  and  the  larger  the  business  grew,  the  more  onerous  was 
the  burden;   the   firm   became   heavily  involved  and  in    1833  made  an 


507 

assignment  to  Moses  Patten,  and  Simmons  soon  moved  to  Cohoes,  where 
he  died  in  1881.  Many  of  the  best  men  of  the  village  were  left  almost 
penniless  by  the  failure.  The  firm  of  Coates  &  Smith,  merchants, 
abandoned  their  store  after  the  failure. 

The  character  of  agriculture  in  this  town  has  not  materially  changed 
from  early  times.  Mixed  farming  is  the  rule.  About  twenty  years  ago 
there  was  some  effort  made  to  establish  dairying  and  especially  cheese- 
making,  on  a  more  extensive  basis.  A  cheese  factory  was  built  in 
1878  on  the  farm  of  Thomas  J.  Wood,  near  Berne  village.  The  busi- 
ness was  promoted  by  James  VV.  Hart,  who  had  followed  it  in  Madison 
county.  This  factory  was  successful  and  is  still  in  operation.  A 
second  factory  was  built  at  East  Berne  in  1884,  f°r  the  manufacture  of 
both  cheese  and  butter  and  was  for  some  time  in  charge  of  Mr.  Hart  ; 
but  it  was  abandoned. 

The  village  of  Berne  is  situated  on  the  old  Weidman  mill  property, 
which  consisted  of  thirty  acres  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town,  and 
was  known  as  Beaverdam  for  some  years  after  the  first  settlement.  In 
18 1 7  Henry  Engle  opened  a  tavern  here  west  of  the  site  of  the  Walter 
Whipple  residence.  This  house  was  called  Corporation  Inn  and  was 
long  a  popular  resort.  The  village  was  also  known  for  a  time  as  Cor- 
poration. The  name  Berne  was  given  when  the  post-office  was  estab- 
lished in  1825  Jacob  Settle  established  a  store  here  in  18 17,  and  the 
business  descended  to  Theodore  Settle,  who  still  conducts  it  Charles 
E.  Deitz's  store  was  started  by  Moses  Patten  in  1828,  and  for  many 
years  was  conducted  by  Moses  and  James  Patten  and  came  into  the 
hands  of  the  present  owner  in  1859.  The  store  of  Shultes  &  Adams 
was  built  for  a  hotel  by  Daniel  Simmons  in  1824,  and  was  kept  in 
recent  years  by  E.  M.  Shultes,  who  took  it  in  1859;  the  property  is 
owned  by  Mrs.  Ira  Fairlee.  The  store  now  occupied  by  J.  W.  Hart  & 
Son  was  built  for  a  grocery  by  Oscar  Tyler  in  1840.  He  was  succeed 
ed  by  Samuel  H.  Davis,  who  continued  in  trade  until  his  death  in  1874. 
The  property  was  soon  leased  to  Rhinehart  &  Hochstrasser,  who  were 
followed  by  the  present  proprietors  On  the  site  occupied  by  a  fur 
hat  factory  in  early  years,  conducted  by  Conrad  Truax,  a  tailor  shop 
was  later  established  with  which  a  mercantile  business  was  afterwards 
connected.      William  Ball  carried  on  the  business  in  recent  years,  but  it 


508 

was  finally  closed  up.  Rhinehart  &  Shultes's  store  was  erected  in 
1872  by  Joseph  Wilsey,  who  had  a  saloon  there  and  was  succeeded  by 
N.  H.  Dayton  and  Edwin  Wilsey  in  the  grocery  trade.  The  present 
proprietors  bought  the  property  and  in  1878  began  trade  in  boots  and 
shoes,  clothing,  and  watches  and  jewelry.  The  store  of  George  Hallen- 
beck  was  built  by  Daniel  Wright  in  1838,  who  had  a  furniture  store  and 
did  undertaking.  Isaac  Hallenbeck  continued  the  business  from  1852  to 
1872  ;  the  building  was  burned  down  but  rebuilt  by  the  present  pro- 
prietor. Ira  Witter  is  the  sole  hotel  keeper  of  Berne.  There  is  another 
hotel,  which  is  now  empty,  that  was  built  by  Z.  A.  Dyer,  whose  son, 
James  B  ,  was  its  last  proprietor,  running  it  down  to  1895. 

Other  business  men  of  this  village  were  :  blacksmiths,  Uriah  G.  Davis, 
1865-85;  Sylvanus  Weidman,  1882-85;  and  Anthony  Carey  from 
1885.  John  Hochstrasser,  stoves  and  tin  ware,  1865-85  ;  saddlery  and 
harness,  Esli  Whipple  and  his  son,  Walter,  from  1840;  E.  V.  Filkins 
attorney,  1851-55;  John  D.  White,  from  1881  ;  physicians,  Isaac  S. 
Becker,  1857;   Wallace  E.  Deitz,  from  1883. 

The  hamlet  of  West  Berne  is  situated  on  the  Lower  Beaverdam  in 
the  northwestern  part  of  the  town  and  near  the  site  of  Post's  mill  It  was 
formerly  called  Mechanicsville,  about  1830-35,  from  the  numerous  me- 
chanics residing  there.  It  then  took  the  name  of  Peoria,  given  it  by 
Paul  Settle,  the  miller,  who  owned  property  in  Peoria,  111.  When  the 
post  office  was  established  it  was  given  the  name  of  West  Berne.  The 
oldest  residence  in  the  place  is  that  of  John  D.  Haverly,  which  was  built 
by  William  Shultes  about  1800.  Levi  Ewings  manufactured  hats  here  in 
1850,  on  the  site  of  the  present  harness  shop.  The  grocery  of  William 
Posson  was  established  in  1824  by  Peter  Settle,  and  that  of  the  Wool- 
ford  Brothers  by  Paul  I.  Cannaday  in  1854.  Charles  Blade  kept  a 
store  here  for  some  years.  Taverns  are  kept  by  Joseph  Lee  and  G.  W. 
Steiner.      Albert  Becker  keeps  a  grocery  and  is  postmaster. 

The  village  of  East  Berne  is  situated  on  the  Foxenkill,  a  little 
northeast  of  the  center  of  the  town.  It  first  bore  the  name  of  Warner's 
Mills  and  took  its  present  name  when  the  post-office  was  opened 
in  1825.  Locally  it  has  been  called  Philley,  a  name  given  it  by 
Elnathan  Stafford  who  kept  a  tavern  in  1820  and  sent  to  Philadel- 
phia for  his  liquors.      Nathaniel,  Albert  and   Benjamin   Gallup  began  a 


509 

mercantile  business  here  in  1825,  and  in  opposition  Stephen  Willes  be- 
gan trading  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street.  Albert  Gallup  bought 
out  Willes  soon  afterward  and  formed  the  firm  of  Seabury  &  Gallup, 
who  continued  trade  until  1842,  when  they  were  succeeded  by  Adam  J. 
Warner,  who  kept  a  store  and  hotel  together.  This  business  is  still  fol- 
lowed ,and  has  been  for  many  years  in  the  Willsey  hotel,  kept  by  E.  B. 
Willsey.  The  business  of  Nathaniel  and  Benjamin  Gallup  passed 
through  several  changes  in  ownership  and  finally  to  Z.  A.  Dyer  in  1857; 
from  him  it  passed  to  his  son-in-law,  Frank  Strevell,  in  1 87  r .  The  lat- 
ter still  keeps  a  store,  as  also  does  Justin  Dyer,  who  is  postmaster.  Z.  A. 
Dyer  was  in  the  practice  of  law  here  many  years  from  1854. 

South  Berne  is  a  small  hamlet  in  the  southern  part  of  the  town  on  the 
site  of  the  old  mill  property  of  Asa  Culver.  These  mill  buildings  were 
burned  a  few  years  ago.  This  place  was  called  Centreville  previous  to 
1825,  and  also  has  the  local  name  of  Mud  Hollow,  from  the  swampy 
nature  of  the  soil  in  that  vicinity.  John  P.  Snyder  began  a  grocery 
business  here  in  i8i7,and  Daniel  Lounsberry  carried  on  a  tannery.  In 
1882  Alexander  McKinley,  previously  a  wagon  maker,  opened  a  tavern. 
A  little  'ater  Zebulon  Holdridge  opened  a  blacksmith  shop  and  Ebene- 
zer  Denison  had  a  grocery  and  an  ashery.  Henry  H.  Lawson  began 
trade  here  in  1828  and  James  Babcock  in  the  next  year.  Moses  Barber 
built  a  carding  mill  in  company  with  James  Parish,  in  1830,  and  manu- 
factured satinet  cloth.  The  store  conducted  in  recent  years  by  North- 
rop &  Ball  was  built  in  1866  by  Joseph  Deitz  for  a  wheelwright  shop. 
The  store  conducted  by  J.  Swarthout  was  built  in  1835.  There  is  very 
little  present  business  here  ;  George  Sellick  and  Elias  Zeh  have  small 
stores. 

The  hamlet  of  Reidsville  is  situated  in  the  extreme  southeastern  part 
of  the  town,  and  took  its  name  from  Alexander  Reid,  who  settled  there 
in  1828,  and  opened  the  first  tavern.  About  the  same  time  Frederick 
Ward  and  James  Anderson  established  a  store,  the  firm  afterwards  be- 
coming Ward  &  Conger.  Alfred  Hungerford  kept  a  store  in  later 
years. 

In  common  with  other  towns  in  this  county  the  records  of  early 
schools  are  of  the  most  meagre  description.  It  is  known,  of  course,  that 
there  were  early  schools  of  primitive  character  taught   in    various   parts 


510 

of  the  town,  generally  in  log  buildings  for  a  number  of  years,  when  the 
first  frame  school  buildings  took  their  place.  One  of  the  old  log  school 
houses  stood  near  the  site  of  the  old  Lutheran  church.  Another  was 
remembered  by  old  residents  as  being  built  of  unpeeled  hemlock  logs 
with  a  roof  slanting  only  one  way  and  made  of  bark.  The  changes 
in  the  character  of  school  officers  in  early  years  has  been  described  in  an 
earlier  chapter.  In  1812  a  resolution  was  adopted  in  this  town  that 
"  there  shall  be  five  hundred  dollars  raised  in  the  town  of  Berne  for  the 
use  of  common  schools  in  said  town,  to  be  appropriated  to  regular  men's 
schools  that  will  bear  the  inspection  of  a  school  committee."  This  was 
very  liberal  and  progressive  action  for  that  early  period.  Changes 
were  made  as  needed  in  the  number  of  school  districts;  but  for  many 
years  it  has  remained  practically  stationary.  There  were  twenty  one 
districts  in  181 3  and  the  number  was  the  same  in  i860;  at  the  pres- 
ent time  there  are  twenty  with  school  houses.  In  18 13  only  $300  were 
appropriated  for  the  town  schools,  and  in  18 16,  when  there  were  thirty 
districts,  only  $494  were  appropriated.  This  amount  has  gradually 
increased  to  about  $2,000.  The  record  embraces,  of  course,  Berne 
and  Knox  until  the  latter  was  erected  as  a  town. 

The  establishment  of  the  great  Simmons  axe  factory  led  the  inhabit- 
ants to  look  for  a  bright  future  for  their  town,  one  of  the  results  of  which 
was  the  founding  of  an  academy  in  1833  ;  but  the  failure  of  the  factory 
led  to  the  abandonment  of  the  plans  after  the  timber  for  the  building 
was  on  the  ground.  A  select  school  was  organized  in  1882  which  was 
placed  under  control  of  the  following  trustees:  E.  V.  Filkins,  president ; 
Thomas  J.  Wood,  George  H.  Reinhart,  Charles  E.  Deitz,  Peter  S.  Ball, 
and  Edwin  M.  Shultes.  A  room  for  the  school  was  fitted  up  over  the 
store  of  Theodore  Settle  and  it  was  placed  in  successful  operation  under 
Elmer  G.  Story,  principal. 

The  first  religious  organization  in  this  town  was  the  Reformed  church 
of  Beaverdam,  which  was  formed  in  1763,  under  the  ministry  of  Rev. 
Johannes  Schuyler,  who  was  then  in  charge  of  the  Schoharie  church. 
The  first  consistory  were  :  Adam  Deitz,  Jacob  Ball,  Jacob  Weidman, 
and  Caspar  Stiner,  elders;  Johannes  Deitz,  Caspar  Stiner,  Hendrick 
Ball,  and  Roedolph  Casman,  deacons.  A  small  log  church  was  built 
in    1765,    on    the   site  of  Pine  Grove  cemetery,  which  stood  until  1786, 


511 

when  it  was  superseded  by  a  frame  structure.  This  was  used  until  1830, 
when  it  was  taken  down  and  the  material  divided  between  the  two  con- 
gregationsat Berne  and  Beaverdam.  This  was  wholly  missionary  ground 
until  1 82 1.  Rev.  Mr.  Schuyler  occupied  it  for  thirteen  years  until  1779, 
after  whom  came  Rev.  George  W.  Schneyder,  who  continued  until  1790. 
Other  missionaries  followed  until  1821,  when  Rev.  Cornelius  Bogardus, 
the  first  regular  pastor,  was  called.  During  his  ministry  the  church 
farm  was  greatly  improved.  During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  H.  Van 
Wagenen,  1 826-1 831,  two  churches  were  erected,  and  not  long  after- 
ward the  two  congregations,  Beaverdam  and  Berne  village,  were  sep- 
arated and  with  two  consistories  held  the  farm  in  common.  Pastors  fol- 
lowing Rev.  Mr.  Van  Wagenen  were  Abram  H.  Myers,  R.  D.  Van 
Kleek,  William  Demarest,  Edwin  Vedder,  John  C.  Van  Liew,  Edward 
Miller,  during  the  pastorate  of  the  latter  of  whom  the  Beaverdam  church 
was  repaired  at  a  cost  of  over  $1,000.  On  January  1,  1857,  the  parson- 
age in  Berne  was  purchased,  the  church  there  paying  $1,200,  and  that 
at  Beaverdam,  $300.    The  membership  of  the  united  churches  is  250. 

The  Lutheran  church  was  organized  about  1790,  and  a  house  of 
worship  was  soon  afterward  built  on  a  farm  midway  between  East 
Berne  and  Berne  villages  ;  this  farm  was  deeded  to  the  congregation  by 
the  Patroon  in  1797.  The  original  trustees  of  the  church  property 
were  Christian  Zeh,  Frederick  Wormer,  and  Christian  Zandt.  The 
services  and  the  records  were  in  German  until  1802,  when  English  was 
adopted.  The  first  missionary  pastor  was  Rev.  August  Frederick- 
Meier.  Other  missionaries  succeeded  until  1828,  when  this  church  and 
one  in  Guilderland  were  united  and  a  call  was  given  to  Rev.  Adam 
Crounse ;  he  accepted  and  served  the  congregation  for  nineteen  years. 
Under  his  ministry  the  present  brick  church  was  built.  During  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  S.  Curtis,  1 836-1 850,  the  parsonage  was  purchased. 
During  the  ministry  of  Rev.  James  Lefler,  1 868-1  876,  a  separate  house 
of  worship  was  erected  in  East  Berne  and  dedicated  in  1872.  Two 
other  churches  have  grown  from  this  one — St.  John's  at  East  Berne, 
arid  the  Lutheran  church  at  Gallupville  in  Schoharie  county. 

The  Second  Reformed  church  at  Berne  was  organized  March  15, 
1826,  by  a  committee  appointed  by  the  Albany  Classis.  Twenty-three 
members   were    then    received    by  certificate  from   the  church   at   New 


512 

Salem,  and  the  following  officers  were  ordained:  Elders,  Jacobus  Van 
Deusen  and  John  Shafer  ;  deacons,  Cornelius  Secor  and  Peter  B.  Winne. 
Until  1838  the  church  was  served  wholly  by  missionaries;  in  that  year 
Rev.  Hart  E.  Waring  was  called,  and  under  him  forty- one  were  re- 
ceived into  fellowship.  At  a  meeting  held  about  this  time  a  resolution 
was  adopted  uniting  the  two  churches,  the  Second  Berne  and  the  Onis- 
quethau,  and  the  combined  congregations  called  Rev.  Staats  Van  Sant- 
voord.  The  connection  between  the  two  societies  was  broken  in  1841, 
and  a  union  formed  between  the  Berne  church  and  the  Presbyterian  so- 
ciety at  Knox.  A  joint  call  was  then  made  upon  Rev.  Joseph  Knies- 
kern,  who  served  four  years.  This  society  is  locally  called  the  Secor 
church  from  its  having  been  organized  in  the  dwelling  of  Daniel  Secor, 
and  from  the  number  of  families  of  that  name  in  the  vicinity. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  South  Berne  was  organized  about 
1 81 2,  as  the  result  of  camp  meeting  revivals.  Rev.  Mr.  Stead  was  the 
first  pastor  and  supplied  this  church  and  one  at  Rensselaerville.  The 
first  house  of  worship  was  built  a  little  south  of  Zeh's  grist  mill 
and  was  in  use  until  1870,  when  a  new  building  was  erected,  which  is 
the  one  used  at  the  present  time. 

There  was  a  Methodist  church  at  Reidsville  which  was  organized  in 
1830  and  had  a  feeble  existence.  The  Methodist  church  at  Berne 
village  was  organized  July  11,  1845,  and  tne  house  of  worship  erected 
soon  afterward.  The  first  trustees  were  Thomas  Miller,  Datus  E. 
Tyler,  Oscar  Tyler,  George  Possing,  Franklin  Smith  and  Abram  Ball. 
The  society  was  actively  promoted  in  its  early  years  by  Dr.  H.  K.Willard 
and  Abram  Ball,  who  acted  alternately  as  president  and  secretary  of 
the  society  until  1862.  After  that  the  church  was  maintained  largely 
through  the  work  of  George  E  Shultes.  The  society  has  not  been  in 
active  existence  for  some  years. 

The  First  Christian  church  of  this  town  is  situated  in  Reidsville  and 
was  organized  December  26,  1821,  with  fifteen  members.  In  1823 
through  a  revival  there  were  forty- nine  members  added.  After  a  period 
of  decline  the  congregation  was  again  enlarged  with  thirty  seven  mem- 
bers through  a  revival  in  1 832.  In  the  following  year  the  present  church 
was  built.  About  1840,  under  the  pastorate  of  Elder  James  Conkling, 
jr.,   another   revival  added   sixty-four  to   the   membership.      In    1841    a 


513 

new  confession  of  faith  was  signed  by  156  members,  taking  the  title, 
"Christian"  as  their  only  name  and  the  Holy  Scriptures  as  their  only 
written  rule  of  faith  and  practice.  The  society  has  ever  since  main- 
tained an  active  existence  and  now  numbers  nearly  one  hundred 
members. 

The  Second  Christian  church  was  organized  September  13,  1836, 
through  the  efforts  of  Elder  A.  L.  Taylor.  Meetings  were  held  in  school 
houses  until  the  present  church  edifice  was  built ;  it  was  dedicated  Oc- 
tober 15,  1836,  and  has  since  been  extensively  remodeled  and  im- 
proved. The  church  is  situated  in  the  extreme  southwest  part  of  the 
town,  owns  a  parsonage  and  has  more  than  one  hundred  members. 

The  Christian  church  of  South  Berne  was  organized  in  the  Friends 
meeting  house,  east  of  the  village,  February  16,  1854,  with  twenty-four 
members,  under  the  ministry  of  Elder  Calvin  Southwick.  In  the 
following  year  the  old  store  north  of  the  James  Cornell  building  was 
purchased  by  four  of  the  church  members  and  services  were  there  held 
until  the  completion  of  the  present  church  edifice  in  1864.  Under  the 
ministry  of  Elder  D.  P.  Warner,  1 856-1 869,  the  society  prospered,  but 
in  the  past  ten  years  it  has  declined. 

The  supervisors  of  this  town  from  its  organization  to  the  present  time 
have  been  as  follows  : 

Jacob  Hochstrasser,  1795,  1799;  Amos  Jones,  1796;  Johan  Jost  Deitz,  1797,  1798, 
1801-1807,  1812,  1813,  1818;  Benjamin  Fowler,  1800;  Abel  Hinckley,  1808,  1809; 
Joshua  Gallup,  1810,  1811;  Malichi  Whipple,  1814-1817,  1821,  1831,  L832;  Gideon 
Taber,  1819,  1820;  Jesse  Wood,  1822,  1823;  Stephen  Willes,  1824  ;  James  D.  Gard- 
ner, 1825,  1826,  1835;  Chester  Willes,  1827;  Henry  H.  Lawson,  1828,  L830;  Albert 
Gallup,  1829;  Daniel  Simmons,  1833;  Lawrence  Van  Deusen,  1834;  Moses  Patten, 
1836-1838;  John  Warner,  1839;  Jacob  Settle,  1840,  1841;  Henry  I.  Devoe,  L842,  1843, 
I860,  1861;  Oscar  Tyler,  1844,  1845;  Samuel  H.  Davis,  L846,  L847,  1856,  1857;  John 
I.  Bogardus  1S48;  Daniel  G.  Fisher,  1849;  Henry  A.  Van  Wie,  1850,  1851;  Jackson 
Kin-,  1852,  1S53;  Silas  Wright.  1854,  1855;  Z.  A.  Dyer,  1858,  1859;  David  Conger, 
1864,  1866;  William  D.  Strevell,  1868;  David  S.  Dyer,  1865;  Adam  J.  Warner, 
1867;  James  A.   Reamer,   1868;  Alfred  Hungeford,   18<>9,   187(1;   William  Zeh,   1871 

George  H.  Reiuhart,  1874,  1875;  Frederick  W.  Conger,  1871    1881;  Thomas  J. 
Wood,  Istg,  1882-1887;  Isaac  White,  1888,  1889;  Thomas  J.  Wood,  1890,  1891,  1892; 
Calvin  S.  Dyer,  1893-95;  Wallace  A.  Peasley,  1896-present  time. 
65 


514 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

THE  TOWN  OF  GUILDERLAND. 

Guilderland  is  the  central  of  the  three  northern  border  towns  of  Albany 
county,  and  was  formed  from  the  town  of  Watervliet  on  February  26, 
1803,  and  contains  about  33,000  acres,  nearly  30,000  of  which  are  im- 
proved. The  surface  of  this  town  is  greatly  diversified.  In  the  west- 
ern part  the  Helderbergs  rise  to  a  height  of  eight  hundred  feet  above 
the  valley  levels,  their  walls  in  places  being  very  precipitous.  In  the 
central  part  the  surface  is  undulating,  while  in  the  eastern  part  there 
are  the  sand  ridges  that  characterize  all  that  region.  The  principal 
streams  are  the  Norman's  Kill  and  its  branches,  the  Bozen  Kill  (a  name 
derived  from  "  Boos,"  angry,  because  of  its  rapids  and  falls),  Black- 
Creek,  Wildehause  Kill,  and  Hunger  Kill.  The  lower  course  of  the 
Norman's  Kill  in  this  town  is  through  a  narrow  ravine,  with  steep  clay 
banks.  The  soil  of  the  town  is  light  and  sandy  in  the  eastern  part,  and 
gravelly  loam  mixed  with  clay  in  the  western  part. 

In  accordance  with  the  law  erecting  the  town  the  first  town  meeting 
was  held  on  April   5,  1803,  at  the  house  of  Henry  Apple,  and  the  fol 
lowing  officers  were  elected  : 

Supervisor,  Nicholas  V.  Mynderse;  town  clerk,  Peter  C.  Veeder;  assessors,  Isaac 
Van  Aernam,  Abraham  Veeder,  Peter  Relyea;  commissioners  of  highways,  David 
Ogsbury,  Frederick  Crounce,  Charles  Shaver;  overseers  of  the  poor,  Jacob  Van 
Aernam,  Simeon  Relyea;  collector,  Henry  Ostrander;  constables.  Frederick  Seger, 
Asa  Hutchinson,  Peter  Tarpennmg,  Jasper  Hilton;  poundmaster,  Volkert  Jacobson ; 
fence  viewers,  Nicholas  Van  Patten,  Asa  "Hutchinson,  Peter  Traber,  Robert  Grey; 
overseers  of  highways,  Jacob  La  Grange,  Peter  La  Grange,  Thomas  Mesick,  Nicho- 
las Van  Patten,  John  Groat,  Peter  Traber,  Amos  Goodfellow,  James  M.  La  Grange, 
Isaac  Van  Aernam,  Benjamin  Wilbore,  James  Piatt,  John  Murray,  Walter  Vrooman, 
Adam  Hilton,  Matthias  Hallenbeck,  Peter  Bowman,  George  Brown,  Abraham  Veeder, 
Ezra  Spalding. 

The  usual  regulations  were  adopted  at  that  meeting  for  the  simple 
town  government.      Fence  viewers  were  voted  $1.25  per  day,  and  $30 


515 

bounty  was  voted  for  killing  wolves.  The  election  of  senators  and 
assemblymen  in  the  town  took  place  on  April  26—28  of  that  year;  the 
records  show  that  for  senator  72  votes  were  given  for  John  Tayler;  67 
for  John  Woodworth  ;  67  for  Simon  Veeder ;  67  for  Edward  Savage; 
67  for  Thomas  Treadwell ;  46  for  Stephen  Lusk  ;  47  for  Moses  Vail ; 
47  for  Daniel  Paris;  47  for  Ebenezer  Clark;  44  for  William  Bailey. 

In  the  vote  for  assemblymen  66  were  given  for  James  Emmott;  66 
for  M.  Schermerhorn  ;  66  for  John  Beekman,  jr.;  66  for  John  Jost 
Deitz  ;  66  for  Peter  S.  Schuyler;  66  for  Moses  Smith;  1  for  Nathan 
Stanton  ;  3  for  John  Jackson  ;  96  for  Peter  Gansevoort,  jr.;  97  for  Henry 
Quackenbush  ;  96  for  Nathan  Dayton;  94  for  John  Jackson,  jr.;  96  for 
Nathaniel  Gallup  ;  97  for  Isaac  D.  Ver  Plank  ;  1  for  Nathan  Gallup,  and 
1  for  Peter  Gansevoort. 

Settlement  in  this  town  was  considerably  advanced  previous  to  the 
Revolutionary  war,  at  which  time  there  had  come  in  families  named 
Crounce,  Van  Wormer,  Severson,  Van  Aernam,  Fredericks,  Van  Pat- 
ten, Groat,  Livingston,  Winne,  Becker,  Ogsbury,  Truax,  Van  Alstine, 
Van  Valkenburg,  Henderson,  Hart,  Barckley,  Hilton,  Fryer,  and 
others.  Many  of  these  names  are  familiar  ones  in  the  town  at  the 
present  time.  By  the  beginning  of  the  present  century  the  territory 
in  this  section  was  well  populated  and  mills  and  stores,  schools  and 
churches,  and  the  clustering  hamlets  that  later  became  villages  had 
been  established.  As  will  be  seen  by  the  character  of  the  names  of 
early  residents,  most  of  the  settlers  were  Dutch,  from  whom  came  the 
great  rmijority  of  the  pioneers  of  the  county.  The  following  list  gives 
the  names  of  all  residents  of  this  town  in  1803  who  were  qualified  to 
serve  as  jurors,  and  of  course  includes  almost  or  quite  all  of  the  male 
mature  residents,  of  whom  all  those  not  otherwise  designated  were 
farmers : 

Job  Earls,  Abraham  Bartlett,  Abraham  Van  Wie,  Simon  Relyea,  Leva  Relyca, 
Isaac  W.  Fryer,  David  Relyea,  jr.,  George  Brown,  Peter  Veeder,  Christian  Truax. 
jr.  (innkeeper),  Lawrence  Van  Kleeck,  Abraham  Turk,  John  Banker,  John  Joice, 
James  La  Grange,  John  Van  Schaick,  Jonas  Smith,  Petrus  Van  Patten,  Abraham 
Kelder,  Jclles  Truax,  Albeit  Van  Heusen,  Abraham  Spoor,  Andrew  Murray,  Ezra 
Spalding,  Frederick  Myuderse,  Robert  Dollar,  James  Irwin,  Reuben  Earls,  Peter  La 
Grange,  John  Devoe,  David  Bogardus  (carpenter),  Jacob  C.  Truax,  John  Beebe, 
William  Davis,  Peter  Wurmer,  John  Fryer,  Aaron  Wurmer,  Isaac  A.  Wurmer, 
Amos  Goodfellow,  Michael  Van  Schaick,   Peter  McDougall,   Christopher  Batterman 


516 

(innkeeper),  Peter  Becker,  Henry  Shaver,  Nicholson  Severson,  John  Shoudy  (black- 
smith), George  Van  Arnum,  Henry  Van  Arnum,  Frederick  Crounce,  Conrad 
Crounce,  John  Crounce,  Martin  Blessing,  Matthias  Hallenbeck,  Nicholas  Winne, 
John  Mann,  Garret  Long  (carpenter),  Nicholas  V.  Mynderse  (merchant),  Henry 
Jacobson,  Peter  I.  Livingston,  Michael  S.  Frederick,  Matthias  Frederick,  Jacob  Rel- 
yea,  John  Bloemendall,  Jacob  La  Grange,  Samuel  Covenhoven,  Peter  Van  Aucken, 
Cornelius  Van  Valkenburgh,  Barent  Van  Waggoner,  David  Ogsbury,  Henry  Apple, 
Peter  Traber,  Charles  Traber,  Henry  Shoudy,  Volkert  Jacobson,  Adam  A.  Vrooman, 
Nicholas  A.  Sixby,  Thomas  Beebe,  John  Weaver,  jr.,  Philip  Schell,  Henry  Van 
Schoonhoven,  John  X.  Clute  James  Platto,  Jacob  N.  Clute,  Evert  Van  Arnum, 
George  Scrapper,  Andrew  Spaarbeck,  William  Snyder,  James  Ray  Charles  Shaver, 
Martin  Spearbeck,  Isaac  J.  Van  Arnum,  Jacob  Sitterly,  Benjamin  Wilbore,  David 
Wilbore,  James  Shaw,  Robert  Grey,  John  Douglas.  Simeon  Lanehart,  Henry  Lane- 
hart,  Thomas  Van  Arnum,  John  Jacob  Van  Arnum,  John  Lanehart,  Obediah  Cooper, 
Jacob  M.  De  Forest,  Garret  O.  Lansing,  John  M.  Van  Der  Pool,  Henry  Van  Auken, 
Levy  Van  Auken,  John  Howard,  Adam  Hilton,  George  Severson,  John  Hilton,  Daniel 
Wolford,  Henry  I.  Schoonmaker,  Henry  Van  Beuren,  Charles  H.  Huner,  Peter  X. 
Van  Patten  (merchant),  Michael  Barclay,  James  McKee,  Nicholas  Beyer  (innkeeper), 
William  Hilton  (carpenter),  Philip  Fetterly,  John  Whetsell,  Benjamin  Walker, 
Thomas  Beaver,  Vincent  Springer,  Benjamin  Howe,  Benjamin  Howe,  jr.,  John  F. 
Quackenbush,  Abraham  P.  Truax,  John  Ramsay,  Frederick  Ramsay,  Philip  Ram- 
say. Richard  Ward,  Christian  Caley,  jr.,  Bartholomew  Sharp,  John  Sharp,  John 
Waggoner,  John  Vine,  Nathan  Fitch,  Thomas  Mezeck,  John  Schell,  William  Von 
Arnum,  Isaac  Hallenbeck,  Jacob  Totten,  John  Ward,  Silas  Hotan,  Peter  Relyea, 
George  Van  Nest  and  Stephen  Pankburn. 

A  similar  list,  compiled  in  1824,  included  the  following  names: 

George  Batierman,  Jonathan  Brown,  Simon  Brodt,  Thomas  T.  Beebe,  Abijah 
Beebe,  William  S.  Beebe,  Martin  Blessing,  Adam  Blessing,  Peter  Bloomindall,  Adam 
Bloomindall,  Abram  Bartlett,  jr.,  John  Beebe,  Jacob  Bensen,  Jonathan  Becker, 
Thomas  W.  Beebe,  James  Cassidy,  Henry  Cram,  Philip  Crounce,  jr.,  Nicholas  Crounce, 
Conrad  Crounce,  John  Crounce,  Jacob  X.  Clute,  John  X.  Clute,  William  Clute,  Chris- 
tian Caly,  Adraham  Cass,  John  Chase,  Wilhelmus  Devoe,  Henry  Frederick,  Matthias 
M.  Frederick,  John  I.  Fryer,  Jacob  Fryer,  William  Fisher,  Henry  R.  Furbeck,  Abra- 
ham Fryer,  Cornelius  Goodfellow,  Simon  Grote,  Jellis  Gray,  Peter  Hilton,  Jr., 
Gershom  Hungerford,  Isaac  Hallenbeck,  Jacob  Hallenbeck,  David  Hart,  James 
Hilton,  Robert  H.  Howard,  William  Humphrey,  James  Houghton,  Henry  Jacobson, 
Jonathan  Johnson,  Frederick  Kunholtz,  Christopher  Kunholtz,  Jacob  I.  La  Grange, 
Aaron  Livingston,  James  M.  La  Grange,  Peter  I.  Livingston,  Peter  Livingston, 
John  I.  Livingston,  Andrew  La  Grange,  Peter  D.  La  Grange,  Simeon  Lanehart, 
Michael  Lanehart,  John  F.  Mynderse,  John  McKown,  Jonathan  Mynderse,  Myndert 
Mynderse,  John  Mann,  Cornelius  Mann,  John  Merrick,  Thomas  Ostrander,  John  D. 
Ogsbury,  David  Ogsbury,  jr.,  Peter  Ogsbury,  Andrew  Ostrander,  Barent  Ostrander, 
Samuel  Ostrander,  Christian  Ostrander,  Stephen  Pangburn,  William  Pangburn,  jr., 
David  Pratt,  Isaac  Quackenbush,  John  F.  Quackenbush,  Jacob  Quackenbush,  Myn- 
dert Relyea,  Jacob  D.  Relyea,  David  Relyea,  David  L.  Relyea,   Levi  Relyea,   Giles 


517 

Riggles,  David  P.  Relyea,  Adam  Relyea,  Peter  D.  Relyea,  John  Shoudy,  Martin  I. 
Siver,  Jonas  Smith,  Jacob  Spoor,  Joseph  Spoor,  William  Spoor,  John  Shoudy,  Jr., 
Nicholas  Severson,  Frederick  Severson,  George  Severson,  Adam  Scrafford,  Henry 
C.  Shover,  Christian  Scrafford,  Jacob  Sitterly,  Peter  Shaver,  John  Sharp,  Tunis 
Slingerland,  Andrew  Sharp,  John  H.  Shaver,  Jacob  Schell,  Abram  Sitterly,  Nicholas 
Snyder,  Charles  Scrafford,  Charles  Traber,  F.  Van  Valkenburgh,  Albert  Van  Heusen, 
John  Van  Husen,  John  Van  Valkenburgh,  Volkert  Veeder,  Simeon  Veeder,  Myndert 
Veeder,  Nicholas  P.  Van  Patten,  Thomas  Van  Aernam,  George  Van  Aernam,  Henry 
Van  Valkenburgh,  Nicholas  Van  Valkenburgh,  Nicholas  A.  Van  Patten,  Henry  Van 
Aernam,  John  I.  Van  Patten,  Simon  Van  Auken,  John  Van  Waggoner,  Richard 
Van  Cleeck,  Gershom  Van  Valkenburgh,  Henry  I.  Vine,  Aaron  A.  Van  Wormer, 
Jeremiah  Van  Auken,  Jacob  Van  Auken,  Abraham  Vanderpool,  Cornelius  Wormer, 
Peter  Wormer,  Noah  S.  Wood,  JohnWeitzel,  Cornelius  H.  Waldron,  Peter  Walker, 
Jesse  White,  Peter  Waggoner,  John  Westfall,  John  Ward,  John  W.  Ward,  Andrew 
I.  Ward,  Richard  Walker,  Jacob  Weaver,  John  I.  Weaver,  Andrew  Wilkins,  James 
Wormer,  Frederick  Waggoner. 

One  of  the  prominent  early  industries  of  Albany  county  was  estab- 
lished in  this  town  in  1792.  A  company  was  formed  and  a  factory 
built  at  the  site  of  Guilderland  hamlet  for  the  manufacture  of  window 
glass.  It  appears  that  the  proprietors  soon  found  themselves  without 
sufficient  capital,  and  application  was  made  to  the  State  for  a  loan.  In 
1793  this  was  granted  to  the  amount  of  ,£3,000  for  eight  years,  during 
three  of  which  no  interest  was  to  be  paid,  and  after  that  five  per  cent. 
The  company  prospered  and  made  plans  for  the  founding  of  a  large 
manufacturing  center.  In  1796  the  land  around  and  near  the  factory 
was  laid  out  in  streets  and  lots  and  the  name  of  Hamilton  given  to  the 
place,  from  the  great  statesman,  Alexander  Hamilton.  Spafford's  Gaz- 
etteer of  18  13,  says  : 

Guilderland  contains    a    factory   where  are  made  500,000  feet  of  window  glass 

annually. 

But  it  requires  fuel  to  make  glass,  and  as  the  wood  was  cleared  away 
from  that  vicinity,  heavy  expense  was  incurred  in  drawing  it  from  a 
distance,  so  that  the  business  became  unprofitable  and  the  factor}'  closed 
in  1 8 1  5 

As  roads  were  gradually  laid  out  and  improved,  post  routes  and 
stage  lines  were  established,  and  the  old  taverns  were  opened  on  the 
roadsides  at  frequent  intervals.  Jacob  Aker,  kept  one  of  the  early  inns 
at  the  site  of  French's  Mills  in  1 800.  At  that  point,  also,  Peter  French 
built  a  factory  at  the  beginning  of  the  century  and  cloth  works  were 
established  in  1795  by  Peter  K.  Broeck. 


518 

The  excise  record  for  the  first  year  of  the  existence  of  the  town  as  a 
civil  organization,  possesses  interest  of  its  own.  The  licenses  were  then 
granted  under  authority  of  a  resolution  "That  licenses  and  permits  for 
retailing  strong  and  spirituous  liquors  be  granted  to  the  following  per- 
sons at  the  following  rates  of  excise  :  " 

Christopher  Batterman,  on  the  Schoharie  road,  $6.50. 

John  Weaver  on  the  State  road,  §7.50. 

Philip  Sehell,  on  the  State  road,  $7. 

George  Severson,  on  the  Schoharie  road,  §7.50. 

Nicholas  Beyer,  on  the  Schoharie  road,  §5.50. 

John  Danker,  on  the  Schoharie  road,  $6. 

Peter  Bowman,  on  the  State  road,  §5.50. 

Frederick  Seger,  on  the  Schoharie  road,  $5. 

Peter  Traber,  on  the  road  to  Schenectady,  §5. 

Jeremiah  Van  Rensselaer,  (permit.) 

Nicholas  V.  Mynderse,  (permit.) 

Isaac  Vrooman,  on  the  Schoharie  road,  §5. 

Simeon  Relyea,  (permit.) 

John  F.  Quackenbush,  on  the  State  road,  $5. 

Jacob  Totten,  on  the  State  road,  §5. 

Henry  Apple,  on  the  Schoharie  road,  §9. 

Frederick  Friedendall,  on  the  Schoharie  road,  $6. 

James  D.  La  Grange,  on  the  Schoharie  road,  §6.50. 

Abraham  P.  Truax,  on  the  State  road,  $6, 

At  the  meeting  at  which  these  licenses  were  granted,  Nicholas  V. 
Mynderse  was  present  as  supervisor  of  the  town,  and  Volkert  Veeder, 
Peter  C.  Veeder,  James  Henderson,  and  Lawrence  Schoolcraft,  justices 
of  the  peace.  Other  persons  to  whom  licenses  were  granted  only  a 
little  later  were  Peter  Van  Patten,  Wait  Barrett,  Benjamin  Home,  Fred- 
erick Ramsay,  Ezra  Spaulding,  Christian  Truax.  and  Gerrit  G.  Van 
Zandt.  This  may  appear  like  a  large  number  of  licenses  for  one  new 
town,  but  it  is  accounted  for  by  the  numerous  early  taverns  on  the  prin- 
cipal roads,  the  general  habit  of  drinking  liquor  in  families  at  that  period, 
and  the  fact  that  most  groceries,  as  well  as  taverns,  sold  liquor  in  those 
days. 

Besides  the  glass  and  cloth  factories  that  have  been  mentioned,  the 
principal  industries  of  the  town  in  early  years,  and  almost  the  only  ones 
aside  from  farming,  were  the  operation  of  saw  mills  and  grist  mills. 
Lumber  was  needed  just  as  soon  as  it  was  possible  to  supplant  the  first 
log  houses  with  frame  structures,  and  that  was  long  before  the  begin- 


519 

ning  of  the  present  century.  The  Spafford  Gazeetteer  of  1813  states 
that  at  that  time  there  were  one  hundred  looms  working  in  this 
town,  making  25,000  yards  of  cloth  annually.  All  of  these  long  ago 
disappeared  with  the  centralization  of  manufactures  in  large  cities.  The 
Batterman  family  had  a  woolen  factory  at  Sloan's  in  early  years,  which 
subsequently  became  a  hat  factory,  then  a  cotton  batting  factory,  and 
lastly  a  foundry.  The  grist  mills  known  as  Becker's  and  Veeder's  were 
patronized  by  many  even  from  a  considerable  distance  in  early  times. 
The  number  of  saw  mills  in  this  town  was  limited  in  comparison  with 
the  other  towns,  for  the  reason  that  timber  was  scarcer  and  not  of  much 
value  for  lumber;  but  there  were  several  built  in  very  early  years, 
which  long  ago  fell  into  decay. 

The  records  of  the  schools  of  Guilderland  previous  to  about  18 13  are 
of  the  most  meagre  description.  All  that  can  be  said  of  them  is  that 
they  were  established  as  early  as  possible  after  the  first  settlements 
were  made,  were  generally  inferior  in  facilities,  and  often  taught  by 
ministers  of  the  gospel,  in  dwellings  or  rude  log  houses. 

The  first  school  officers  chosen  in  the  town  were  the  following,  elect- 
ed at  a  town  meeting  held  in  181 3:  John  Schoolcraft,  Samuel  R. 
Campbell  and  John  Weaver,  jr.,  commissioners  of  schools  ;  Andrew 
Ostrander,  Henry  Heath,  and  Cornelius  M.  Watson,  inspectors  of 
schools.'  Among  the  early  teachers  in  Guilderland  were  Joseph  Bell, 
John  Rawle,  Abijah  Beebe,  William  Gardner,  Hubert  Pratt  and  Henry 
Switcher.  In  18 13  the  town  was  divided  into  eight  school  districts. 
This  number  was  gradually  increased  as  population  became  more 
numerous,  until  in  i860  there  were  twelve  districts,  and  at  the  present 
time  there  are  fourteen  that  have  each  one  school  house.  Guilderland 
with  Knox  and  Watervliet  constitute  the  third  commissioner's  district 
of  Albany  county. 

The  oldest  settled  hamlet  in  this  town  gathered  around  the  "  Glass 
House,"  as  it  was  termed,  from  the  glass  factory  there,  until  the  name 
of  Hamilton  was  substituted  in  1796.  In  later  years  it  took  the  name 
of  Sloan's  from  the  family  of  that  name,  who  lived  there  and  did  much 

1  The  changes  made  in  the  titles  of  school  officials  in  the  county  at  large  and  other  important 

details  are  given  in  Chapter  XV  of  this  work. 


520 

for  the  advancement  of  the  place,  but  the  village  is  now  called  Guilder- 
land,  and  the  post-office  bears  that  name.  It  is  situated  east  of  the 
center  of  the  town,  on  the  "  Great  Western  Turnpike,"  eight  miles 
from  Albany.  A  conspicuous  element  in  this  community  was  the  Bat- 
terman  family.  Of  this  family  John,  a  man  of  good  ability,  energy 
and  industry,  long  manufactured  and  repaired  wagons  and  farming  im- 
plements. Christopher  Batterman,  also  a  man  of  high  character  and 
good  business  ability,  engaged  in  mercantile  business  in  which  he  was 
markedly  successful.  He  was  a  general  in  the  State  militia,  and  held 
the  office  of  sheriff  of  this  county.  George  Batterman  was  a  man  of 
uncommon  physique  and  strong  mental  capacity  He  managed  two 
farms  successfully,  kept  the  hotel  afterwards  so  well  known  as  Sloan's, 
operated  a  flouring  mill  and  satinet  factory,  in  all  of  which  operations 
he  was  successful.  His  hotel  frequently  had  as  many  as  fifty  transient 
guests  for  many  successive  days.  His  arduous  tasks  at  last  overtaxed 
his  strength  and  he  died  from  paralysis,  after  having  accumulated  a 
fortune.  Henry  Sloan  married  Mr.  Batterman's  daughter  and  came 
into  possession  of  the  hotel  property,  which  was,  however,  soon  after- 
ward burned,  but  was  promptly  rebuilt  by  Mr.  Sloan,  substantially  as 
it  now  exists,  and  under  his  management  it  became  even  more  popular 
and  widely  known  than  while  owned  by  its  former  landlord.  It  sub- 
sequently passed  under  the  management  of  George  B  Sloan,  son  of 
Henry,  and  is  now  kept  by  Mr.  Van  Tyle.  The  foundry  at  this  place, 
which  has  been  alluded  to,  was  first  owned  by  William  Fonda,  passed 
into  the  hands  of  Newbury  &  Chapman,  and  is  now  operated  by  Jay 
Newbury.  The  grist  mill  that  was  for  so  long  a  time  in  operation  is 
now  out  of  use.  Frank  J.  Spur  formerly  kept  a  store,  which  is  now 
conducted  by  De  Graff  &  Voorhees.  Dr.  Abram  De  Graff  is  post- 
master and  also  a  successful  physician. 

The  village  and  post-office  of  Guilderland  Center  is  situated  on  Black 
Creek  near  the  center  of  the  town.  It  was  formerly  locally  known  as 
Bangall,  a  name  said  to  have  been  given  it  from  the  somewhat  rude 
character  of  a  part  of  the  inhabitants,  but  if  this  is  true  the  appellation 
has  long  been  undeserved.  A  branch  of  what  is  now  the  West  Shore 
Railroad,  passes  through  the  place,  and  its  opening  gave  an  impetus  to 
the  business  interests  of  the   village.     The   village   practically   includes 


521 

the  site  of  the  old  French's  Mills,  which  are  still  a  part  of  the  French 
estate  but  are  not  now  running.  The  old  woolen  factory  is  also  aban- 
doned, having  last  been  operated  by  E.  Spawn  &  Co.,  of  which  firm 
Mr.  Spawn  is  still  living  at  an  advanced  age.  The  manufacture  of 
cider  and  vinegar  formerly  conducted  by  A.  V.  Mynderse,  is  still  con- 
tinued by  his  son,  William  B,  William  D.  Frederick  also  has  a  vinegar 
factory  which  was  formerly  operated  by  his  father,  Michael  H.  Fred- 
erick. Peter  Tygert  carries  on  the  manufacture  of  sash  and  doors  and 
has  a  planing  mill,  which  were  previously  owned  by  his  father,  A.  J. 
Tygert.  F.  Tygert,  a  former  merchant,  was  succeeded  by  Ogsbury  & 
Martin,  and  the  same  business  is  now  carried  on  by  Elva  Young  in  a  new 
location,  the  former  store  having  been  burned.  P.  Petinger  conducts  a 
general  store,  and  William  A.  Petinger  is  a  maker  of  and  dealer  in  boots 
and  shoes.  George  W.  Livingstone  has  a  harness  shop,  Charles  Brust, 
son  of  William,  is  a  carriage  manufacturer,  Hugh  Livingston,  tailor, 
William  Young,  shoemaker  and  postmaster.  G.  A.  Hallenbeck  &  Co. 
have  a  large  cigar  factory  here.  John  P.  Bloomingdale,  who  is  still  living 
at  an  advanced  age,  should  not  be  forgotten  as  one  who  has  accom- 
plished much  in  past  years  for  the  building  up  of  this  village. 

There  are  two  hotels  here,  one  of  which  has  been  kept  by  Samuel  S. 
Fowler  for  eleven  years  past,  and  which  was  owned  by  him  long  pre- 
vious to  that.  The  other,  the  Center  House,  was  formerly  owned  by 
Michael  Frederick  and  is  now  conducted  by  his  son,   William   D. 

The  largest  and  most  prosperous  village  in    Guilderland    and   one   of 

the  most  active  in  Albany  county  is  Altamont  (formerly  Knowersville), 

which  is  situated  to  the  westward  of  the  center  of  the  town  and  on    the 

Albany  and   Susquehanna   Railroad.       It  is  beautifully  located  at  the 

foot  of  the   Helderbergs,  amid   picturesque  scenery,   and  has  in  recent 

years  attracted  to  the  near  by  mountain  sides  numerous  wealthy  citizens 

of  Albany  who  have  built  beautiful  summer  homes.      The    name    of 

Knowersville  came  from   the   Knower  family   who   were  early  settlers 

here  and  identified  with  the  early  business  interests  of  the  place.     Their 

homestead  was  somewhat  remote  from  the  present  business  center  and 

that  portion   of  the  town   is  distinguished  from  the  newer  part  by  the 

name  of  Old   Knowersville.      It    was   there    that    Jacob    Aker    kept    a 

tavern  in  Revolutionary  times,  and  a  woolen  factory  was  in  operation  in 
G6 


522 

i8oo.  The  place  had  little  importance  until  the  building  of  the  railroad, 
the  first  passenger  train  of  which  from  Albany  to  Central  Bridge  in 
Schoharie  county  passed  through  this  place  on  September  1 6,.  1863. 
At  that  time  there  were  only  two  farm  dwellings  on  the  lands  that  now 
constitute  by  far  the  larger  part  of  the  site  of  Altamont  In  the  spring 
of  1864  a  store  was  erected  by  Becker  &  Hilton.  This  has  since  been 
conducted  by  Albert  Ward,  Crounse  &  Hilton,  Mynderse  &  Pangburn, 
who  occupied  it  in  April,  1883,  and  is  now  conducted  by  F.  &  W.  S. 
Pitts.  Several  residences  and  the  railroad  station  were  built  before  the 
close  of  1864.  In  1868  another  store  was  erected  and  opened  by  Ira 
Witter,  who  soon  sold  out  to  Joseph  W.  Wright,  who  in  turn  leased 
it  to  Abram  A.  Tygert,  and  this  is  now  kept  by  J.  Snyder.  A  little 
later  a  third  store  was  built,  which  was  managed  for  a  time  by  Crowe, 
Davenport  &  Crowe,  Davenport  &  Fredericks,  and  is  now  conducted  by 
A.  A.  Tygert.  Rev.  N.  Klock  built  a  store  some  years  ago  and  ran  it 
for  a  time.  A  tin  and  stove  store  was  opened  by  W.  H.  Lay,  who  was 
succeeded  by  Osborn  &  Taber,  who  in  turn  were  followed  by  the  pres- 
ent proprietor,  Ira  Secor.  A  furniture  store  and  undertaking  business 
was  started  in  1877  by  John  Thierolf,  which  was  transferred  in  1885  to 
Ogsbury  &  Vanderpool,  who  were  succeeded  by  M.  F.  Hallenbeck,  the 
present  proprietor. 

In  1867  the  Union  Hotel  was  built  and  for  a  time  was  under  manage- 
ment of  George  Severson.  Andrew  Warner  next  had  it  for  about  a 
year  and  was  succeeded  in  1869  by  John  Stafford,  who  kept  it  many 
years.  It  is  now  called  the  Commercial,  and  is  managed  by  Mrs.  Eggle- 
ston.  The  former  Knowersville  House  was  built  in  1876  by  James 
Ogsbury,  who  occupied  it  a  short  time,  when  it  was  sold  to  Adam 
Wetherwax.  It  is  now  called  the  Altamont  House  and  is  conducted  by 
lames  O.  Stitt,  the  recent  Democratic  nominee  for  county  treasurer. 

In  1874  Henry  Lockwood  built  a  carriage  factory  which  was  occupied 
by  Van  Benschoten  Brothers  up  to  1880,  and  then  by  Van  Benschoten 
&  Warner.  It  was  burned  down  but  was  rebuilt  by  Mrs.  Van  Ben- 
schoten and  is  now  occupied  by  Warner  &  Van  Benschoten.  William 
H.  Van  Benschoten  established  a  harness  shop  in  1870,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Frank  Decker;  the  present  harness  shop  is  kept  by  Charles 
Beebe.  Nathaniel  Sturges  is  a  well  established  jeweler,  having  been  in 
the  trade  for  twenty  years  past. 


523 

Adam  Sand  was  formerly  a  prominent  business  man  of  this  village 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  sons,  who  formed  the  firm  of  Sand  Brothers. 
The  saw  and  planing  mill  established  by  Philley,  Elsass  &  Warner,  also 
came  into  the  hands  of  Sand  &  Son,  who  added  a  grist  mill,  but  this  is 
now  operated  by  J.  C.  Ottman. 

Altamont  has  become  an  extensive  hay  market,  and  is  also  a  shipping 
point  for  other  products  from  a  wide  extent  of  territory.  Many  firms 
have  been,  and  several  are  now,  large  buyers  of  hay  in  this  place, 
among  whom  are  Ira  Fairlee,  Isaac  Reamer,  Edwin  Clute.  Sand 
Brothers,  and  Crannell  Brothers  are  extensive  dealers  in  coal,  lumber, 
stone,  building  materials,  etc. 

Among  the  physicians  who  have  practiced  at  different  points  in  Guild- 
erland  have  been  Dr.  James  S.  Low,  who  came  in  1820;  Dr.  Frederick 
Crounse,  1833;  Dr.  Jonathan  Johnson,  an  early  practitioner ;  Dr.  An- 
drew Wilson,  who  was  for  twenty-four  years  in  practice  in  this  town; 
Dr.  Barrows  (at  Sloan's)  and  Dr.  Abram  De  Graff;  Dr.  Thomas  Helme, 
long  in  practice  at  McKownsville ;  Dr.  Jesse  Crounse,  Dr.  R.  F.  Barton, 
Dr.  Andrew  C.  Crounse,  and  Dr.  I.  S.  Becker,  in  Altamont. 

Hiram  Griggs  became  a  resident  of  Knowersville  in  1862,  and  has 
pursued  the  practice  of  law  ever  since.  He  is  a  leading  and  public 
spirited  citizen,  and  has  been  called  to  several  important  positions.  He 
was  supervisor  for  ten  years,  has  been  president  of  Altamont  village 
since  December,  1890,  and  was  member  of  assembly  for  three  years. 
Atchison  Miller  has  also  practiced  law  successfully  in  this  village. 

About  the  year  1877  Rev.  N.  Klock  began  publishing  the  Golden 
Era  in  Knowersville,  which  he  removed  to  Mechanicsville  five  years 
later.  In  July,  1884,  David  H.  Crowe  established  the  Knowersville 
Enterprise.  Soon  afterwards  the  Enterprise  Company,  consisting  of 
John  D.  Ogsbury  and  Junius  D.  Ogsbury,  acquired  the  establishment 
and  have  continued  the  publication  since.  The  name  of  this  village  was 
changed  to  Altamont,  from  the  high  mountain  peak  near  by,  on  October 
1,  1887,  at  which  time  the  name  of  the  Enterprise  newspaper  was 
changed  to  correspond. 

The  visitor  to  this  pretty  village  is  struck  by  the  general  air  of  pros- 
perity everywhere  seen.  Nearly  all  of  the  streets  are  bordered  with 
stone  sidewalks;   a   waterworks  system   was    established   in   the   fall   of 


524 

1892,  at  a  cost  of  nearly  $20,000,  bringing  pure  spring  water  to  all  the 
principal  streets;  new  dwellings  abound,  good  schools  are  maintained, 
and  the  community  as  a  whole  is  intelligent,  progressive,  and  well  gov- 
erned. Mr.  Merrill,  of  Albany,  resides  in  what  was  formerly  the  Ku- 
shaqua  Hotel  on  the  mountain  side  above  the  village.  Others  who 
reside  here  during  the  summer  are  Judge  R.  W.  Peckham,  Mayor 
Thacher,  James  D.  Wasson,  Charles  L.  Pruyn,  Mrs.  Cassidy,  Edward 
R.  Cassidy,  J.  B.  Groot,  and  Col.  Henry  C.  Cushman. 
The  officers  of  Altamont  village  for  1896  are  as  follows: 

Hiram  Griggs,  president ;  trustees,  James  Keenholtz,  Lewis  E.  Fowler,  George  W. 
Davenport ;  clerk,  I.  Knower  Stafford ;  treasurer,  John  Johnson ;  commissioner, 
Robert  Hurst ;  water  commissioners,  Montford  A.  Sand,  Dr.  I.  S.  Becker,  Henry  A. 
Wilber,  Joseph  Snyder,  Nathaniel  Sturges,  Junius  Ogsbury;  health  commissioners, 
Adam  Sitterlee,  Michael  F.  Crowe,  Matthew  Tice;  health  officer,  Dr.  Rufus  S. 
Barton. 

A  hose  company  is  maintained  with  thirty  members,  of  which  J.  L. 
Smith  is  foreman,  and  M.  A.  Sand,  assistant. 

The  Altamont  Driving  Park  and  Fair  Association  was  organized  in 
1893  and  held  their  first  fair  in  that  year,  which  was  a  gratifying  suc- 
cess. The  association  is  incorporated  and  belongs  to  the  Central  New 
York  Fair  Circuit,  comprising  Albany,  Fulton,  Montgomery,  Coble- 
skill  (town),  and  Schoharie  counties.  The  officers  of  the  association  are 
as  follows  : 

I.  H.  Reamer,  president;  C.  M.  Frederick,  vice-president;  J.  O.  Stitt,  treasurer; 
Silas  Hilton,  secretary;  Edwin  Clute.  superintendent.  Directors:  I.  H.  Reamer, 
L.  E.  Fowler,  James  Keenholts,  M.  A.  Sand,  C.  M.  Frederick.  H.  S.  Gilbert,  Edwin 
Clute,  Charles  B.  Warner,  M.  F.  Hellenbeck,  Edward  Becker,  J.  O.  Stitt,  W.  E. 
Deitz,  Henry  Bins. 

The  association  has  a  fine  park  containing  all  necessary  buildings  with 
a  track  just  outside  of  the  village  of  Altamont. 

Dunnsville  is  a  hamlet  and  post  office  in  the  northern  part  of  this 
town,  which  took  its  name  ftom  Christopher  Dunn,  who  was  the  origi- 
nal owner  of  lands  here.  A  small  business  has  always  been  conducted 
in  the  place.  A  hotel  formerly  conducted  by  Samuel  Robinson  is  now 
kept  by  William  Wagner.  Frederick  Joos  is  a  blacksmith,  and  a  store 
is  kept  by  William  Blessing. 

Fuller's  Station  is  situated  to  the  north  of  the  center  of  the  town  on 


525 

the  West  Shore  Railroad,  and  has  attained  such  growth  as  it  has  largely 
on  account  of  the  railroad  and  through  the  efforts  of  Hon.  Aaron  Fuller, 
from  whom  it  takes  its  name.  Of  the  two  hotels  built  here  by  Sanford 
S.  Ford,  one  was  kept  by  him  and  subsequently  burned.  The  other  is 
now  kept  by  John  Friday.  Samuel  Van  Allen  long  kept  the  store 
which  is  now  in  the  hands  of  his  son  Richard  The  firm  of  Tygert  & 
Martin,  hay  dealers  and  commission  merchants,  was  succeeded  by 
Thomas  Tygert. 

McKownsville  is  a  post-office  and  small  settlement  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  town,  and  takes  its  name  from  the  McKown  family  who  set- 
tled there  at  an  early  period  and  became  prominent  in  town  affairs.  A 
hotel  is  kept  by  William  Witbeck. 

Guilderland  Station  is  a  small  hamlet,  without  post-office,  where  Will- 
iam Schoolcraft  has  a  store. 

Meadow  Dale  is  a  post-office  and  small  hamlet  in  the  extreme  south- 
ern part  of  the  town. 

Closely  following  the  opening  of  settlement  in  the  various  localities  went 
the  missionary  preachers,  patiently  doing  their  duty,  and  gathering  the 
believers  together  in  meetings  held  in  dwellings,  barns,  or  in  the  open  air, 
and  establishing  the  enduring  foundations  of  the  later  churches.  Many 
of  these  were  of  the  Lutheran  faith,  and  one  of  the  earliest  ministers  of 
that  denomination  to  labor  in  Guilderland  was  Rev.  Peter  N.  Sommers, 
who  began  his  work  in  1 743.  He  passed  his  whole  life  in  the  field,  preach- 
ing throughout  a  wide  extent  of  territory,  and  being  beloved  wherever  he 
went.  No  regular  organization  was  effected  in  this  town  until  October  13, 
1787,  when  St.  John's  Evangelical  Lutheran  church  came  into  exist- 
ence, with  Rev.  Heinrich  Moeller  as  the  first  pastor.  At  the  first  com- 
munion service,  August  1  1,  1788,  there  were  present  fifty-eight  com- 
municants. After  a  short  term  of  service  by  a  Rev.  Mr.  Mayers  Rev. 
Adam  Crounse  was  called  in  1828.  He  preached  to  this  congregation 
and  to  the  one  in  Berne  for  thirty  five  years,  and  made  this  church  one 
of  the  strongest  in  the  Synod.  As  a  result  of  the  great  revival  of  1832, 
100  new  members  joined  the  church.  Other  revivals  of  little  less  impor- 
tance followed  in  later  years  under  the  energetic  and  effective  labors  of 
Mr.  Crounse.  He  died  while  with  this  church  on  May  13,  1864.  Mr. 
Crounse  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  W.  Lake,  and  he  by  David  Swope  in 


526 

1869.  By  this  time  the  old  church  building  which  stood  about  midway 
between  Guilderland  Center  and  Knowersville,  neither  of  which  villages 
had  a  church  of  its  own,  was  in  great  need  of  repair.  After  much  dis- 
cussion it  was  determined  to  abandon  the  old  site  and  erect  a  house  of 
worship  in  each  village,  with  separate  congregations.  John  Mann 
donated  a  church  lot  in  Guilderland  Center,  and  Conrad  Crounse  gave 
one  in  Knowersville.  The  two  churches  were  built  simultaneously 
at  a  gross  cost  of  $20,000,  the  one  at  the  Center  being  consecrated  in 
February,  1872,  and  the  other  in  the  following  month.  After  the 
division  of  the  congregation  the  Knowersville  church  took  the  name  of 
St.  James,  and  the  church  at  the  Center  the  name  of  St.  Mark's.  Both 
have  maintained  an  active  existence  ever  since.  While  the  question  of 
building  new  churches  was  being  agitated,  the  Methodists  purchased  a 
lot  at  Knowersville  and  arranged  to  erect  a  house  of  worship,  but  the 
successful  outcome  of  the  plans  of  the  Lutherans  caused  them  to  aban- 
don their  plans 

Of  the  Reformed  church  in  this  town  there  is  no  record  earlier  than  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  Thomas  Van  Heusen,  who  was  called  here  in  1795,  and 
remained  for  thirty  years,  but  it  is  known  that  there  were  services  held 
here  in  this  faith  many  years  earlier.  Mr.  Van  Heusen  established 
the  church  upon  a  solid  foundation,  but  left  it  shortly  before  his 
death.  He  is  buried  at  New  Scotland.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
Dr.  Hardenburgh,  who  remained  only  a  few  months,  and  was  followed 
by  Rev.  Robert  Blair,  who  also  left  after  a  short  time,  and  after  two  or 
three  other  short  pastorates,  Rev.  William  P.  Davis  was  called.  He 
was  well  known  here  from  his  assistance  at  several  revivals,  and  from  his 
successful  labors  at  the  Glass  House.  In  1834  the  old  Red  Church,  as  it 
was  termed,  gave  place  to  a  more  modern  and  commodious  house  of 
worship,  which  was  built  by  subscription  in  1867.  Meanwhile,  in  1856, 
the  parsonage  on  the  church  farm  of  fifty  acres  which  had  been  given  by 
the  Patroon,  was  enlarged  at  an  expense  of  $1,600.  Rev.  Mr.  Davis  was 
succeeded  in  1869  by  Rev.  S.  L.  Gamble,  whose  pastorate  was  a  long 
and  successful  one.  The  society  was  subsequently  divided  and  new 
church  edifices  were  erected,  one  at  Altamont  and  one  at  Guilderland 
Center. 

The    Hamilton   Union    church   of  Guilderland    was  organized  in  the 


527 

Presbyterian  faith,  and  so  remains,  but  is  now  in  use  by  that  sect  and 
the  Reformed  sect  in  the  vicinity  of  Sloan's  (or  Guilderland)  in  the  east- 
ern part  of  the  town.  The  organization  was  effected  March  25,  1824, 
by  a  committee  from  the  Albany  Presbytery,  with  seventeen  members. 
The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Judson  Buck,  who  was  installed  October  19, 
1825.     The  church  was  erected   in    1833,   ar>d   dedicated   January  30, 

1834. 

Methodist  preaching  began  almost  at  the  commencement  of  the  cen- 
tury in  Guilderland,  meetings  being  held  in  dwellings,  and  later  for 
a  long  period  in  the  school  house  near  Fuller's  Station.  About  1852 
a  spirited  revival  began  and  the  need  of  a  church  was  felt.  It  was 
finally  decided  that  a  house  of  worship  should  be  built  at  the  Glass  House 
(Guilderland  village)  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town.  Land  was  do- 
nated by  George  C.  Batterman  and  an  edifice  was  erected  thereon  at  a 
cost  of  about  $2,000,  which  was  dedicated  in  the  autumn  of  1852.  On 
the  1 8th  of  April,  1853,  a  church  organization  was  effected,  with  the 
following  trustees:  Henry  Spawn,  John  Arnold,  Giles  Reagles,  Isaac 
Pearl,  Robert  D.  Carhart,  Elijah  Chesebro,  William  Powell,  William 
Chesebro,  and  M.  Y.  Cheesebrough.  In  May  of  the  next  year  the  par- 
sonage was  purchased.  In  1866  the  church  building  was  improved  by 
raising  it  and  making  a  basement  chapel  beneath,  and  a  gallery  was 
built  across  the  end  of  the  audience  room.  Again  in  1874  further 
improvements  were  made  in  the  structure. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  McKownsville  is  situated  about 
a  mile  west  of  the  Albany  city  line,  where  a  church  edifice  was  erected 
in  1866,  an  acre  of  land  having  been  presented  for  the  purpose  by  John 
McKown.  This  society  has  been  under  the  same  pastoral  charge  as  the 
Guilderland  church. 

The  State  Road  Methodist  church  was  organized  in  1864  by  Rev. 
E.  E.  Taylor,  with  a  membership  of  thirty,  and  in  the  following  year  a 
house  of  worship  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $4  000.  Its  first  pastor  was 
Rev.  John  N.  Short  since  whose  day  the  society  has  had  a  prosperous 
existence. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  supervisors  of  Guilderland  from  its  organiza- 
tion to  the  present  time,  with  the  years  of  their  election  : 

1804-1805,  James  Henderson;  1N06-1S08,  Peter  Van  Patten;  1809,  Robert  Gray; 
1810-1811,  David  Bogardus;  1812,  Aaron   Grote;   1813  24,    William   McKown; 


528 

30,  George  Batterman;  1831-32,  Aaron  Livingston;  1833-39,  Christopher  Batterman; 
1840-41,  Henry  Sloan;  1842^5,  Peter  Shaver ;  1846-47,  John  Fuller;  1848-49,  Jacob 
I.  Fryer;  1850-51,  Elijah  Spawn  ;  1852-53,  W.  Vine;  1854-56,  George  Y.  Johnson; 
1857-59,  Henry  Hilton;  1860,  Leonard  Wilkins;  1861-66,  Stephen  V.  Frederick; 
1867-76,  Hiram  Griggs;  1877-80,  John  C.  Grant;  1881-84,  Aaron  Fuller;  1885-87, 
Benjamin  Crounse;  1888-89,  David  Relyea;  1890-92,  Howard  P.  Foster;  1893-97, 
Peter  Walker. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

THE  TOWN  OF  WESTERLO. 

Westerlo  is  situated  upon  the  southern  border  of  the  county,  near  the 
center  of  that  line,  having  the  towns  of  Coeymans  and  Rensselaerville 
respectively  on  its  eastern  and  western  boundaries.  It  was  formed 
from  these  two  towns,  March  i6,  1815,  being  the  seventh  town  erected 
in  the  county.  It  was  named  in  honor  of  Rev.  Eilardus  Westerlo,  who 
came  from  Holland  in  1760  and  was  pastor  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
church  at  Albany. 

The  civil  history  of  Westerlo  dates  from  April  4,  181 5,  when  the  first 
town  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  William  Beardsley,  at  which 
John  Gibbons  was  chosen  moderator  and  other  town  officers  were 
elected. 

The  surface  of  the  town  is  broken  and  hilly  and  generally  inclines 
toward  the  south,  the  banks  of  the  streams  being  steep  and  irregular  and 
the  valleys  mere  narrow  ravines.  The  soil  is  a  sandy  and  gravelly 
loam,  interspersed  with  clay  and  underlaid  with  "  hardpan."  The  town 
contains  no  very  high  land,  the  highest  point,  which  is  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  town,  being  eight  hundred  feet  above  tide. 

The  streams  are  the  Hannakrois  Creek,  flowing  through  the  northeast- 
ern corner  ;  the  Basic1  Creek,  rising  in  the  extreme  northern  part  of  the 
town  and  flowing  south  through  Chesterville  and  South  Westerlo,  with 
Fly  and  Wolf  Creeks,  and  other  small  streams  as  tributaries  ;  and  Eight- 
mile   Creek,   flowing  south  through  the   western  part  of  the  town  into 

1  Low,  flat. 


529 

Rensselaerville  and  emptying  into  Ten-mile  Creek.  There  is  a  small 
lake  near  Van  Leuven's  Corners,  the  outlet  of  which  is  the  source  of  the 
Switzkill. 

In  the  very  early  days  the  asheries  were  a  prominent  industry  and 
served  as  an  incentive  for  clearing  much  of  the  dense  wilderness.  Trees 
were  felled,  burned  and  the  ashes  gathered  and  taken  to  the  ashery  and 
sold  or  exchanged  for  family  supplies. 

Some  manufacturing  is  done  in  and  near  the  village  of  Westerlo,  but 
for  the  most  part  the  inhabitants  are  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  agricul- 
ture. 

The  first  mills  were  those  erected  by  Lobdell  and  Baker  in  1795,  and 
were  situated  a  short  distance  south  of  the  site  of  Chesterville  on  Basic 
Creek,  on  lots  328  and  200  of  Van  Rensselaer's  patent,  across  the  stream 
from  the  spot  where  now  are  the  mills  of  Orville  Lobdell. 

At  South  Westerlo  were  formerly  a  tannery  and  asheries  belonging 
to  the  Smiths,  who  afterward  erected  a  grist  mill.  This  mill  passed 
through  the  hands  of  several  owners,  and  is  now  operated  by  D.  M. 
Wooster.  W  D.  Calder's  mills  for  the  manufacture  of  flannels,  cassi- 
meres,  satinets  and  yarns  are  also  located  here  on  Basic  Creek.  At  this 
place,  also,  are  a  fruit  evaporator  owned  and  run  by  Cunningham  Bros., 
and  the  factory  of  the  South  Westerlo  Elgin  Creamery  Company, 
makers  of  butter.  The  grist  and  saw  mills  of  William  A.  Dickson  & 
Son  are  on  the  Hannakrois  Creek  near  Dormansville.  Saw  mills  are 
numerous  ;  Darius  Lockwood  on  Wolf  Creek  ;  Samuel  Snyder  on  Eight- 
mile  Creek  ;  and  Henry  A.  Ford  on  Basic  Creek,  the  latter  mill  having 
been  built  in  1870. 

About  1812  a  Mr.  Jenks  had  a  carding  mill  on  Basic  Creek  below 
Chesterville,  which  was  destroyed  by  fire.  Another  was  built  in  its 
place  by  George  Wiltsey  and  operated  by  Drum  &  Possom,  who  later 
converted  it  into  a  turning  shop  and  finally  into  a  grist  mill,  remains  of 
which  yet  exist. 

A.  S.  Green  owns  and  operates  a  fruit  evaporator  at  Chesterville. 
Here,  also,  are  quarries  of  graywacke,  which  furnish  an  excellent  flag- 
ging and  building  stone.  Another  important  industry  in  this  village 
is  bee  culture. 

The  principal   crops  are  hay,  rye,    corn,  oats  and   buckwheat,   while 

67 


530 

dairy  farming  and  sheep  raising  are  profitably  followed  by  many,  though 
the  latter  industry  has  greatly  diminished  in  late  years.  A  great  deal 
of  fruit  has  always  been  raised  since  the  early  days,  and  of  late  years  its 
cultivation  has  been  stimulated  by  the  erection  of  evaporators. 

It  is  impossible  to  ascertain  who  were  the  first  settlers  within  the 
present  limits  of  Westerlo,  or  when  they  came,  but  it  was  certainly  some 
time  before  the  Revolution  that  men  pushed  into  the  wilderness  and 
commenced  making  homes  for  themselves  here. 

Jacob  Ford  came  from  the  Hillsdale  district  in  Columbia  county  in 
1795,  and  settled  on  lot  369,  and  later  on  lot  318,  now  in  possession  of 
Henry  A.  Ford. 

Adam  St.  John,  of  Scottish  origin,  came  from  Old  Paltz  to  Westerlo 
in  1790  and  settled  at  Lamb's  Corners,  having  originally  come  with  the 
Huguenots  from  Holland.  He  and  four  of  his  brothers  were  soldiers  in 
the  Revolutionary  war,  and  were  at  Yorktown  at  the  surrender  of  Corn- 
wallis.      Many  of  their  descendants  still  reside  in  the  town. 

Jehial  Lamb  came  from  Massachusetts  and  settled  in  the  southwestern 
part  of  the  town  about  1793,  and  Jacob  Ingalls  moved  herefrom  Rhode 
Island  about  the  same  time.  Descendants  of  these  two  families  live 
near  Lamb's  Corners. 

Isaac  Winston  settled  near  Chesterville,  and  while  serving  in  the  war 
for  independence  was  taken  prisoner  and  held  for  eighteen  months. 

Stephen  and  Solomon  Mabey  came  from  Rhode  Island  soon  after  the 
Revolution  and  settled  at  South  Westerlo.  Samuel  Mabey  was  born 
here  October  20,  1792,  and  died  August  14,  1870,  on  the  same  farm. 
His  son,  S.  E.  Mabey,  lives  near  South  Westerlo. 

Dr.  Jonathan  Prosser  came  from  Dutchess  county  in  1788  and  settled 
on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Henry  Simpkins.  Lodowick  and  Jacob 
Hanes,  Germans,  settled  at  an  early  day  on  Basic  Creek  near  Dormans- 
ville.  Josiah  Hinckley,  another  Revolutionary  soldier,  took  up  in  1783 
the  farm  now  owned  by  his  grandson.  At  this  time  there  were  but 
eight  families  in  the  town. 

John  Gibbons,  born  1766,  lived  at  New  London,  Conn.,  and  during 
the  Revolutionary  war  drove  an  ox  team  and  helped  to  remove  the 
military  stores  during  the  night  from  New  London  to  a  place  of  safety. 
He  removed   to   Rensselaer  county   after  the  war,  and  in    1795   came 


531 

to  Dormansville.  His  son,  Ransom  H.  Gibbons,  was  born  in  1802 
and  located  at  Dormansville  as  physician  in  1826,  after  studying  with 
Dr.  Zina  Lay  and  Dr.  Hyde  and  attending  a  course  of  lectures  at  Fair- 
field and  having  been  licensed  by  the  censors  of  Herkimer  county.  He 
died  in  1890,  leaving  one  son  and  one  daughter  who  is  now  the  wife 
of  Rev.  Luther  Peck,  of  Scranton,  Pa.;  the  son,  Edward,  is  still  living 
at  Dormansville.  Isaac  Rundell  settled  at  South  Westerlo  in  1780  on 
the  farm  now  owned  by  his  grandson,  Darius  Rundell. 

Nathaniel  Gale,  with  his  father,  Thomas,  and  his  grandfather,  John, 
moved  to  Westerlo  from  Tarrytown,  Westchester  county,  in  1800,  and 
took  up  their  abode  in  a  log  house.  Nathaniel's  son,  John  W.,  is  still 
living  on  the  old  place  near  Dormansville. 

The  early  physicians  of  Westerlo  were  Drs.  Zina  W.  and  Josiah  Lay, 
Jonathan  Prosser,  Erastus  Hamilton,  who  became  an  assistant  surgeon 
in  the  war  of  181 2,  Peleg  Peckham,  P.  S.  Brigham,  Willis  A.  Alston, 
Hiram  Barber  and  George  Holmes. 

Among  other  early  settlers  were  William  Haverland,  William  Bird, 
James  Arnold,  Abram  Becker,  Rev.  Reuben  Stanton,  who  was  a  sur- 
veyor and  received  for  his  services  one  hundred  acres  of  land,  Jared 
Reynold,  Daniel  Lockwood  and  William  Wheaton. 

Chesterville  (Westerlo  post  office),  one  of  the  hamlets  of  the  town, 
is  situated  about  one  mile  north  of  the  center  of  the  township,  on  Basic 
Creek,  fifteen  miles  from  Coeymans  Landing  and  twenty  miles  from 
Albany.  It  was  named  after  Rev.  John  Chester,  who  was  formerly  pas- 
tor of  the  Second  Presbyterian  church  of  Albany.  The  post-office,  one 
of  the  first  in  the  town,  was  established  about  1827.  Previous  to  this 
letters  and  papers  were  delivered  by  post- riders  once  a  week,  by  Squire 
Brown  and  a  man  named  Peck,  who  are  still  remembered  by  a  few  of 
the  inhabitants.  Now  the  mails  are  received  daily,  the  present  post- 
master being  George  J.  Graham.  Chesterville  is  the  earliest  settlement 
in  the  town.  It  was  here  that  Philip  Myers  located  before  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  while  Granr  and  Eadie  had  an  ashery  and  kept  a  store  in 
1798.  Moses  Smith  followed  as  a  merchant,  tavern-keeper  and  manu- 
facturer of  potash.  Nicholas  Lapaugh  and  Henry  Puree  were  also 
tavern-keepers,  and  Jeremiah  Green  operated  a  tannery.  The  hamlet 
now  contains  fifty  dwellings  and  two  hundred  and   twenty-five  inhab- 


532 


itants.  There  are  two  churches — Reformed  and  Baptist — a  school  house, 
one  hotel  of  which  Charles  Haverly  is  the  proprietor,  and  four  stores — 
A.  S.  Green  &  Son,  general  merchandise  ;  Perry  Swartout,  sundry  mer- 
chandise ;  Hiram  K.  Jones,  dry  goods  and  groceries ;  Gilbert  Ander- 
son, hardware  and  tin  ;  two  blacksmiths  and  two  wheelwright  shops, 
one  general  undertaker,  two  shoe  shops,  paint  shop,  and  a  millinery  and 
dressmaking  shop.  The  legal  profession  is  represented  by  A.  D.  War- 
ner, attorney  and  counselor  at  law,  while  the  doctors  are  John  N.  Brad- 
ley and  Arthur  A.  Vibbard.  A  Masonic  lodge  was  established  here 
about  1820,  with  the  following  persons  as  members :  James  Sackett, 
Sylvester  Ford,  George  Prindle  and  Nicholas  Lapaugh.  The  Good 
Templars  instituted  a  lodge  here  in  1878,  which  has  been  abandoned. 

South  Westerlo  (post-office)  is  situated  in  the  south  central  part  of 
the  township,  between  Basic  and  Wolf  Creeks.  It  was  first  called 
Smith's  Mills,  after  David  Smith.  The  name  was  changed  in  1827, 
when  the  post- office  was  established  with  Thomas  Saxton  as  post- 
master, who  held  it  thereafter  for  twenty-nine  years.  He  came  here 
when  fourteen  years  old,  served  as  clerk  for  his  uncle,  Thomas  Smith, 
and  continued  in  business  until  1859.  Among  the  early  settlers  and 
business  men  were  Thomas  Smith,  general  merchant,  distiller  and  manu- 
facturer of  potash  ;  and  Messrs.  Bemet,  Wheaton,  Cross,  Storer,  Stan- 
ton, Reynolds,  Lockwood,  Slauson  and  Trowbridge.  South  Westerlo 
now  has  some  twenty-seven  dwellings  and  one  hundred  and  thirty  resi- 
dents, and  contains  a  Christian  church,  school  house,  wheelwright  and 
blacksmith  shop.  D.  J.  Bishop  is  the  postmaster,  while  stores  are  kept 
by  L.  S.  Lockwood  and  Stuart  &  Robbins.  Here  is  also  the  Cottage 
Hotel,  of  which  A.  M.  Kipp  is  the  proprietor. 

Dormansville  (post-office)  is  in  the  east  central  part  of  the  town,  and 
was  named  in  honor  of  Daniel  Dorman,  who  was  the  first  postmaster  in 
1832.  Among  its  first  settlers  were  W.  Tomkins,  William  Ward  and 
Lewis  Husted,  who  kept  a  public  house.  Here  is  still  standing  what  is 
left  of  the  first  square  frame  school  house  built  in  the  town.  Formerly 
Hiram  and  Erastus  Gibbons  were  proprietors  of  the  Dormansville  Hotel 
and  dealers  in  dry  goods,  groceries  and  general  merchandise.  The 
hotel  business  has  been  abandoned,  but  the  other  branches  are  con- 
tinued.     Dell  Powell  is  the  present  postmaster.      Dormansville  contains 


533 

some  fifteen  dwellings,  a  Methodist  church,  school  house,  two  stores, 
a  paint  shop,  and  wheelwright  and  blacksmith  shop  run  by  W.  S.  Ward. 

Van  Leuven's  Corners,  named  after  Isaac  Van  Leuven,  an  early  set- 
tler, is  a  small  hamlet  on  the  Delaware  turnpike  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  town.  It  formerly  had  a  tavern,  mills,  tannery  and  other  enter- 
prises, but  these  are  all  abandoned  now.  William  Beardsley,  John 
Preston  and  James  Sackett  were  tavern-keepers.  Here  John  Preston 
had  a  tannery  and  currying  shop  which  was  continued  by  Luther  Pres- 
ton until  his  death,  but  is  now  abandoned.  Mr.  Preston  was  also  a  school 
teacher,  and  the  author  of  "  Every  Man  His  Own  Teacher."  James 
Sackett,  a  colonel  in  the  war  of  1812,  was  a  prominent  business  man 
and  a  Mason.  Van  Leuven's  Corners  was  first  called  Sackett's  Cor- 
ners, after  him,  and  later  Preston's  Corners.  William  Beardsley  at 
one  time  kept  a  tavern  here,  and  after  moving  to  Albany  was  elected 
sheriff".  Gideon  Wood  made  spinning  wheels  here  many  years  ago  in 
the  house  where  Peter  Van  Leuven  now  lives.  Among  other  early  set- 
tlers were  Josiah  Jones,  who  came  to  this  neighborhood  from  Claverack 
at  the  age   of  fourteen  years,  when  there  was  but  little  cleared  land. 

Lamb's  Corners,  a  small  neighborhood  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
town,  was  settled  by  Jehial  Lamb,  Adam  St.  John,  Jacob  Ingalls,  Hez- 
ekiah  Roardman  and  Thomas  Jencks,  who  came  from  New  England 
about  1790.  Descendants  of  the  first  three  of  these  families  are  quite 
numerous.  Here  are  a  Methodist  church,  school  house  and  blacksmith 
shop. 

Westerlo  Center,  or  Thayer's  Corners,  is  a  small  hamlet  containing  a 
blacksmith  shop  run  by  Charles  Hempstead.  A  store  and  tavern  were 
formerly  kept  by  a  Mr.  Thayer.  The  chief  families  of  the  neighbor- 
hood are  the  Winegards,  Atkins,  Hanes,  Wiltseys,  Lockwoods,  Stan- 
tons  and  Reynolds. 

The  early  settlers  who  came  from  New  England  and  the  adjoining 
counties  on  the  river  were  filled  with  religious  zeal  and  ardor  and  were 
not  long  in  organizing  religious  societies.  The  first  society  was  formed 
as  early  as  1793  in  the  township  of  Rensselaerville,  and  in  1796  the 
first  church  was  built.  In  1826  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at 
Dormansville  was  organized,  and  in  1840-41  the  present  church  edifice 
was  dedicated  by  Rev.  M.  Hedstrom.      The  building  was  remodeled  in 


534 


1895  at  a  cost  of  $1,700.  Among  its  pastors  have  been  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  S.  Wright  and  Turner.  There  is  at  Lamb's  Corners  a  Metho- 
dist church  called  "  Olin  Chapel  "  in  honor  of  Dr.  Stephen  Olin.  A 
class  was  formed  here  eighty  years  ago,  led  by  Thomas  Smith  and  Al- 
exander Lamb,  at  whose  house,  now  occupied  by  his  son,  Asbury 
Lamb,  meetings  were  held.  Meetings  were  held  in  the  school  house 
previous  to  the  erection  of  the  present  frame  church  in  1853,  when 
Alexander  Lamb,  Amos  Fish  and  Ludlow  St.  John  were  elected 
trustees. 

The  society  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Westerlo  was  formed  at 
the  house  of  Isaac  Winston,  May  26,  1800,  in  what  was  then  the  town 
of  Rensselaerville.  The  original  members  were  Roswell  Beckwith, 
Aaron  Baker,  Isaac  Winston,  Isaac  Lobdell,  Thomas  Martin,  Benjamin 
Martin,  James  Slade,  Sarah  Winston,  Miriam  Lobdell,  Cynthia  Baker, 
Lois  Slade,  Judith  Stanton,  Eleanor  Martyn,  Mary  Spaulding  and 
Lydia  Mollison.  Four  candidates  were  received  and  baptized  into  its 
fellowship  on  the  day  after  its  organization. 

The  First  Baptist  society  of  the  township  of  Westerlo  met  at  the 
school  house  nea.  Zina  W.  Lay's  on  January  11,  1820,  for  the  purpose 
of  electing  officers  and  to  incorporate  as  "  The  First  Baptist  Society" 
of  the  town  of  Westerlo.  Deacon  William  Bentley  and  James  Slade 
were  chosen  presiding  officers  and  Sylvester  Ford,  James  Jaycox,  Will- 
iam Bentley,  James  Slade,  Isaac  Lobdell,  jr.,  and  Knight  Bennett  were 
elected  trustees.  The  site  for  their  first  church  was  obtained  from 
George  Pinney,  being  part  of  lot  238  and  covering  thirty-five  one- 
hundredths  of  an  acre,  at  an  annual  rental  of  fifty  dollars  to  him  and  a 
further  payment  to  the  Patroon,  proprietor  of  the  Manor  of  Rensselaer- 
wyck.  The  society  sold  this  piece  of  ground  March  28,  1853,  and  pur- 
chased the  present  site  of  Archibald  S.  Green.  The  church  has  had 
altogether  nineteen  different  pastors. 

The  Reformed  church   located  at  Westerlo  was  organized  in  1793. 

A  Baptist  society  was  organized  at  South  Westerlo  and  a  church 
edifice  erected  between  1808  and  1810,  and  among  the  early  elders 
were  Josiah  Baker  and  William  Stuart.  Rev.  Reed  Burritt  came  to 
this  church  about  1820  and  ministered  for  more  than  ten  years.  In 
the  mean   time  the   Old  and    New    School   societies  had   a  controversy 


535 

over  the  control  of  the  affairs  of  the  church  which  resulted  in  the  suc- 
cess of  the  New  School,  which  had  the  society  incorporated.  Messrs. 
Crocker,  Mudge  and  Stanton  are  among  those  who  have  served  this 
church  as  ministers.  The  membership  gradually  decreased  until  the 
society  finally  disbanded  and  sold  its  church  building  in  1847,  at  which 
time  the   old  church  was  moved  out  of  the  village. 

The  Christian  church  of  South  Westerlo  was  organized  in  1820  by 
the  Christian  churches  of  Rensselaerville,  Coeymans,  Berne,  Baltimore 
and  Freehold.  In  the  year  1824  the  society  erected  a  church  building 
which  was  used  as  a  house  of  worship  until  sold  to  O.  L.  Hannay, 
when  it  was  converted  into  a  public  hall  where  the  society  of  Good 
Templars  used  to  meet.  In  1833  Anthony  Hanes,  Nathaniel  Holmes 
and  Cyrus  Wheaton  were  trustees ;  Joshua  Nelson,  moderator,  and 
Thomas  Saxton,  clerk  ;  Abraham  Hagen,  Robert  P.  Derbool  and 
Anthony  Hanes,  deacons.  In  1872  the  society  purchased  the  old 
tavern  property  of  William  Showers  and  erected  the  present  house  of 
worship  and  parsonage  at  a  cost  of  $13,000. 

There  is  also  an  Episcopal  church  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town 
which  was  organized  in  1875.  This  is  something  of  a  union  church, 
however,  as  all  Protestant  denominations  are  at  liberty  to  hold  services 
there  at  their  pleasure. 

There  are  three  corporate  cemeteries  in  the  town.  The  Westerlo 
Rural  Cemetery  Association  was  organized  in  October,  1871,  with 
William  V.  L  Lapaugh,  president,  George  E.  Disbrow,  vice-president, 
Charles  Lapaugh,  secretary  and  treasurer,  Lewis  C.  Lockwood,  John 
Sherwood  and  Joseph  Babcock,  trustees.  The  cemetery  is  located  one 
mile  north  of  the  village  and  contains  two  and  three-fourths  acres  of 
land.  The  Hannakrois  Rural  Cemetery  was  organized  in  1879  with  the 
following  officers  :  Edward  Gibbons,  president ;  William  Applebee,  vice- 
president ;  Minor  Gibbons,  secretary  and  treasurer;  Henry  Simpkins, 
John  G.  Ward  and  Allen  Kniffen,  trustees.  The  cemetery  contains 
two  acres  of  land  and  is  located  one  mile  east  of  Dormansville.  The 
Westerlo  Central  Cemetery  Association  was  incorporated  January  12, 
1882,  with  these  officers:  Robert  L.  Simpkins,  president:  L.  L.  Lock- 
wood,  secretary;  Darius  Rundell,  treasurer.  There  are  other  burial 
grounds  in  the  town,  notably  the  one  at  Van  Leuven's  Corners,  where 
Col.  James  Sackett  is  buried. 


536 

Westerlo  and  Rensselaerville  of  Albany  county  and  Greenville  and 
Durham  of  Greene  county  constitute  the  "  Farmers'  Fire  Insurance 
Association,"  which  was  incorporated  under  a  special  act  of  the  Legis- 
lature, April,  1857,  and  of  which  Darius  Rundell  is  director  and  agent. 

Schools  were  established  in  the  town  at  an  early  date,  and  one  passing 
through  the  town  cannot  but  notice  the  fine  school  buildings  of  the  pres- 
ent day.  Apollos  Moore  and  Robert  O.  K.  Bemet  were  teachers  before 
the  township  was  organized,  and  John  Mott,  a  Quaker,  taught  a  select 
school  many  years  ago  on  the  farm  of  R.  Cartwright,  for  the  education 
of  the  Quaker  sect,  which  was  then  quite  numerous,  though  he  did  not 
exclude  other  sects.  After  Mott  died  Henry  Lawson  taught  the 
school,  and  after  him  John  Preston  for  a  time.  Gideon  St.  John  taught 
school  for  twenty-seven  years,  and  Truman  Ingalls  for  many  years, 
holding  also  an  evening  grammar  school.  Heman  Crocker,  Solomon 
Trowbridge,  C.  Stewart,  Moses  Scott,  Levi  Holmes,  Miss  Bush  and 
Miss  Ann  Lawson  were  among  the  teachers  of  years  gone  by. 

There  are  two  physicians  in  the  town — John  N.  Bradley,  a  graduate 
of  the  Albany  Medical  College,  1875,  and  Arthur  A.  Vibbard,  who 
was  graduated  from  the  New  York  Homeopathic  Hospital  in  1894. 

Many  men  from  this  section  did  gallant  service  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  but  inasmuch  as  the  township  was  not  formed  until  after 
the  war,  it  is  not  possible  to  obtain  a  record  of  their  names.  Some 
who  fought  in  the  war  of  18 12  were  Joseph  Babcock,  T.  Witbeck,  James 
Sackett,  Col.  Elliot  St.  John,  William  and  Alexander  Mackey,  Walter 
Huyck,  John  W.  Prosser,  Nathan  Clark,  Abram  Hageman,  James  and 
Abram  Hawley,  Benjamin  Stanton,  Caleb  Tompkins,  Carpenter  Bishop, 
and  Martin  Lambert. 

There  is  no  record  of  the  soldiers  of  the  Rebellion. 


537 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

THE  TOWN  OF  KNOX. 

This  town  is  situated  in  the  northwestern  corner  of  Albany  county, 
is  the  smallest  in  area  in  the  county,  containing  a  little  more  than 
26,000  acres,  and  with  one  exception  (New  Scotland)  was  the  latest  one 
formed.  It  was  erected  from  Berne  on  February  28,  1822,  and  re- 
ceived its  name  from  the  celebrated  Colonel  Knox,  of  Revolutionary 
fame.  The  eastern  part  of  the  town  constitutes  a  part  of  the  Helder- 
berg  region,  while  the  town  as  a  whole  consists  of  a  high  plateau, 
broken  by  a  few  hills,  and  with  a  northern  and  western  inclination. 
The  Bozen  Kill  forms  the  northeast  boundary  of  the  town,  and  this, 
together  with  Beaver  Dam  Creek  in  the  southern  part,  with  their  trib- 
utaries, are  the  principal  streams.  A  part  of  Thompson's  Lake  ex- 
tends into  the  town  in  the  southeastern  part.  (See  history  of  Berne.) 
The  soil  is  principally  gravel  and  clay,  over  "hardpan,"  and  in  many 
parts  is  fertile  and  well  adapted  to  mixed  farming.  Hay  is  produced 
in  large  quantities  and  marketed  at  Altamont.  The  surface  of  the 
town  was  originally  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  timber,  principally 
pine,  hemlock,  birch,  maple,  ash,  oak,  and  basswood,  but  this  has,  for 
most  part,  been  cut  off. 

The  town  records  of  Knox  were  burned  in  1850.  rendering  it  im- 
possible to  give  the  proceedings  of  the  first  town  meeting  or  the  names 
of  officers  previous  to  that  year.  The  names  of  the  supervisors  from 
that  time  to  the  present  are  given  on  a  later  page.  The  first  of  these 
was  Malachi  Whipple,  an  early  settler  and  prominent  citizen.  At  the 
annual  town  meeting  of  1850  Michael  Lee,  Daniel  Gallup,  Abraham 
Batcher  and  Stephen  Merselis,  jr.,  were  present  as  justices  of  the  peace, 
and  Fphraim  N.  Bogardus  acted  as  clerk.  For  that  year  the  following 
officers  were  elected : 

Lyman  Witter,  supervisor;  John  G.  Crary,  town  clerk;  Samuel  O.  Schoonmaker, 
68 


538 

justice  of  the  peace;  John  H.  Tand,  superintendent  of  schools:  Anson  Tols,  collec- 
tor; Gurdon  Gallup  and  Conrad  Batcher,  overseers  of  the  poor;  John  Posson,  asses- 
sor; Jacob  P.  Hane,  commissioner  of  highways;  Peter  Schoonmaker,  Alexander 
Crounse  and  John  Allen,  jr.,  inspectors  of  election,  district  No.  1;  John  Finch, 
Bemsby  Williamson  and  Jacob  Auchempaugh,  inspectors  of  election,  district  No.  2; 
Gilbert  Gage,  Joel  Gage,  John  C.  Cannady  and  Elisha  White,  constables. 

At  that   time   the   house   of  Henry   Barclay   was   called    the    Town 

House,  and  the  place  for  holding  the  next  town  meeting.     Knox  was 

then  divided  into  fifty-six  road  districts,  with  the  following  overseers  of 

highways : 

John  Posson,  Jacob  Crounse,  Hiram  Thousand,  Evert  M.  Barckley,  David  W. 
Sturges,  Archibald  Scott,  Peter  Swan,  2d,  James  Finch,  Rodney  Wilder,  Philip 
Gifford,  Jacob  Truax,  Henry  Dutcher,  William  Davenport,  Benjamin  Lee,  Matthias 
Barckley,  Jehiel  White,  John  F.  Sternburgh,  Conrad  Batcher,  John  Bassler,  Fred- 
erick Clyckman,  John  Oliver,  Orange  Beeman,  Henry  W.  Williams,  Thomas  Staf- 
ford, John  V.  Schoonmaker,  Robert  Hurst,  S.  Flansburgh,  Stephen  Hungerford, 
Ebenezer  Gallup,  Alexander  Crounse,  Amos  Crary,  William  Williamson,  Eldridge 
Chesbro,  George  W.  Stephens,  John  G.  Gallup,  Isaac  N.  Crary,  Frederick  Zeh,  John 
T.  Beebe,  James  Armstrong,  Henry  Tarpenny,  David  Van  Auken,  Cornelius  Wool- 
ford,  Adam  Snyder,  Henry  F.  Orelup,  Joseph  A.  Haswell,  Azor  Gallup,  Abraham 
H.  Onderdonk,  Edward  Settle,  Jacob  Bronk,  Jacob  Kipp,  Elias  R.  Williams,  Sylves- 
ter Allen,  Israel  Walker,  John  H.  Sand,  and  Frederick  Orelup. 

Some  of  these  names,  as  well  as  other  lists  which  will  appear,  indi- 
cate the  Dutch  element  in  the  populatian,  through  descendants  of  some 
of  the  earliest  families  of  the  towns.  Details  of  the  Dutch  settlement, 
prior  to  the  Revolution  are  almost  entirely  wanting.  It  is  known  that 
many  of  the  pioneers  espoused  the  royal  cause  during  the  Revolution 
and  removed  to  Canada  after  the  success  of  the  American  colonists,  but 
Capt.  Jacob  Van  Aernden's  name  has  come  down  as  one  of  the  loyal 
Whigs  of  that  time.  The  improvements  made  in  this  section  prior  to 
the  Revolution  consisted  almost  wholly  of  clearing  part  of  the  land  for 
tillage  and  the  establishment  of  a  few  mills,  churches  and  schools.  A 
Lutheran  church  was  organized  about  1750,  and  settlement  had  pro- 
gressed considerably  by  that  time,  but  the  names  of  most  of  the  Dutch 
pioneers  are  lost  in  the  past. 

After  the  Revolutionary  war  settlers  began  to  come  in  from  New 
England,  among  the  very  first  of  these  being  Samuel  Abbott  and  An- 
drew Brown,  from  Connecticut,  who  were  soon  followed  by  from  twenty 
to  thirty  others  from  the  same  State.     The  more  prominent  of  the  fam- 


539 

ilies  that  came  prior  to  the  town  organization  in  1822  were  the  Brown, 
Todd,  Williams,  Denison,  Crary,  Chesebrough,  Gallup,  Frink,  Taber, 
Coates,  Gage,  Weitzel,  Pinckney,  Williamson,  Bassler,  Saddlemire, 
Haverly,  Zimmer,  Engle,  Schoon maker,  Swart,  Sand,  Clickman,  Keen- 
holtz,  and  Batcher  families.  All  through  the  early  history  of  the  town, 
as  far  as  it  is  accessible,  many  of  these  names  appear  and  some  of  them 
have  been  represented  by  descendants  down  to  recent  times.  These 
New  England  settlers  brought  with  them  the  habits  of  industry  and  the 
religious  tenets  of  their  forefathers  and  early  established  a  Presbyterian 
church,  as  described  further  on.  Amos  Crary,  Hiram  Gage,  Egbert 
Schoonmaker  and  Nathaniel  Swan  were  operating  saw  mills  prior  to 
1825,  and  a  little  later  Malachi  Whipple,  Daniel  Crary,  and  a  Mr.  Van- 
decar  had  mills,  but  most  of  these  long  ago  passed  out  of  existence.  A 
small  grist  mill  was  early  in  operation  on  a  little  stream  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  town,  but  that  also  has  disappeared,  and  the  inhabitants  now 
take  their  grain  to  Berne  and  Altamont.  In  quite  recent  years  Swart 
&  Saddlemire,  Frederick  Bassler,  and  Bemsley  Williamson  were  operat- 
ing saw  mills,  the  mill  of  the  latter  being  now  in  possession  of  his  son, 
George  J.  Williamson.  In  1831  Alexander  Crounse  moved  into  Knox 
from  an  adjoining  town  and  erected  a  tannery  on  the  main  road  through 
the  town  west  of  Knoxville,  and  for  many  years  did  a  large  business  in 
manufacturing  harness  and  upper  leather.  The  great  changes  in  the 
leather  trade  and  the  centralization  of  the  industry  elsewhere  finally  re- 
duced the  income  of  this  tannery,  and  Mr.  Crounse  transferred  it  to  his 
son,  Eugene  G.  Crounse,  who  erected  an  addition  for  a  feed  mill  in  1884. 
Still  later  he  abandoned  tanning  and  built  a  steam  saw  mill  which  went 
into  operation  in  1893. 

Gideon  Taber  was  a  pioneer  and  one  of  the  first  shoemakers  in  the 
town.  He  was  a  native  of  New  London,  Conn.,  and  a  son  of  Quaker 
parents.  On  account  of  his  non-combatant  belief  he  went  to  Canada 
during  the  Revolution  and  for  a  time  had  command  of  a  vessel  on  Lake 
Champlain.  Upon  the  return  of  peace  he  came  back  to  Knox  and  went 
about  among  the  families  as  an  itinerant  shoemaker,  according  to  the 
custom  in  early  times.  He  was  thrifty  and  subsequently  established  a 
small  tannery,  where  he  made  leather  for  his  own  trade  and  for  harness 
making.      He  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  and  in  18 18-20  served  his 


540 

constituents  in  the  Assembly.  The  old  Taber  homestead  ultimately 
passed  into  the  possession  of  his  grandson,  Charles  Clute. 

Nathan  Crary  began  the  manufacture  of  wooden  pill  boxes  in  Knox 
early  in  the  century,  supplying  some  of  the  largest  pill  makers  in.  the 
country.  The  business  finally  passed  to  his  son,  John  G.  Crary,  and 
was  also  taken  up  by  others.  At  the  present  time  John  M.  Quay  and 
Sanford  Quay  are  conducting  the  business. 

Among  the  more  prominent  families  who  came  into  the  town  or  were 
already  settled  here  between  about  1825  and  1850,  were  those  of  Mal- 
achi  Whipple,  Dr.  Erastus  Williams,  Egbert  Schoonmaker,  Frederick 
Bassler,  Potter  Gage,  Alexander  Crounse,  Charles  Chesebro,  David  Van 
Auken,  Perez  Frink,  Henry  Denison,  P.  Witter,  Isaac  Barber,  Daniel 
Chesebro,  John  Gallup,  Wright  Skinner,  Dow  Van  Derker,  Henry 
Williams,  Cyrus  Chapman,  Henry  Dane,  Daniel  Gallup,  Joseph  Gallup, 
Samuel  Russell,  Gurdon  Gallup,  and  the  Seaburys.  Descendants  of 
many  of  these  are  still  prominent  in  the  town. 

Among  the  leading  citizens  of  later  days  are  Henry  Barckley,  Elisha 
White,  John  C.  Cannady,  Joel  and  Gilbert  Gage,  Jacob  Auchampaugh, 
Bemsley  Williamson,  John  Finch,  John  Allen,  jr.,  Peter  Schoonmaker, 
Alexander  Crounse,  John  G.  Crary,  Charles  G.  Frink,  Denison  Crary, 
Jacob  P.  Hane,  John  Posson,  Conrad  Batcher,  Gurdon  Gallup, 
Anson  Tols,  John  H.  Hand,  Samuel  O.  Schoonmaker,  Lyman  Witter, 
Frederick  Orelup,  John  H.  Sand,  Israel  Walker,  Sylvester  Allen, 
Elias  K.  Williams,  Jacob  Kip,  Jacob  Bronk,  Edward  Settle,  Abram 
H.  Onderdonk,  Azer  Gallup,  Joseph  A.  Haswell,  Henry  F.  Orelup, 
Adam  Snyder,  Cornelius  Woolford,  James  Armstrong,  Henry  Tar- 
panny,  John  T.  Beebe,  Frederick  Zeh,  Isaac  N.  Crary,  John  G. 
Gallup,  George  W.  Stephens,  William  Williamson,  Eldridge  Chesebro, 
Amos  Crary,  Ebenezer  Gallup,  Stephen  Hungerford,  Robert  Hurst, 
S.  Flansburgh,  Thomas  Stafford,  John  V.  Schoonmaker,  Henry  W. 
Williams,  Orange  Beeman,  John  Bassler,  Frederick  Clyckman,  Matthias 
Brackley,  Jehial  White,  Conrad  Batcher,  John  F.  Sternburgh,  John 
Posson,  Jacob  Crounse,  Evert  M.  Barckley,  Hiram  Thousand,  James 
Finch,  Peter  Swan,  2d,  Archibald  Scott,  David  W.  Sturges,  Rodney 
Wilder,  Philip  Gifford,  Benjamin  Lee,  Henry  Dutcher,  Jacob  Truax 
and  William  Davenport. 


541 

The  comparatively  modern  history  of  Knox  contains  very  little  of 
importance  in  incident  or  progress  aside  from  the  peaceful  advance  in 
agricultural  methods,  improvement  in  schools,  roads,  bridges,  etc.  In 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  from  her  somewhat  remote  situation,  the  town 
responded  patriotically  to  the  calls  of  the  government  for  volunteers. 
As  early  as  September,  1862,  the  electors  authorized  their  supervisor 
to  borrow  $1,800  to  be  paid  in  a  bounty  of  $100  to  each  volunteer  of 
the  quota  of  the  town  under  one  of  the  early  calls  for  troops.  This 
action  was  succeeded  later  by  equally  prompt  and  generous  proceed- 
ings. Seventy  seven  volunteers  went  from  the  town  to  fight  in  the 
battles  of  the  Union,  many  of  them  members  of  the  most  prominent 
families,  and  of  these  many  never  came  back  to  receive  the  honors  that 
awaited  them. 

It  is  a  tradition  that  previous  to  the  beginning  of  the  present  century 
there  were  two  primitive  schools  taught  in  log  school  houses  in  Knox. 
One  of  these  probably  stood  on  the  site  of  Knoxville,  and  the  other 
near  West  Township.  It  is  possible  that  there  were  others  of  which  all 
traces  are  lost.  The  town  was  divided  into  districts  long  before  it  was 
separated  from  Berne,  the  number  of  these  being  twelve  in  i860,  thir- 
teen in  1880  and  at  the  present  time  again  twelve  with  a  school  house 
in  each.  Knox,  Guilderland,  Colonie  and  Green  Island  form  the  third 
school  commissioner  district  of  the  county. 

The  Knoxville  Academy  was  organized  under  the  State  laws  about 
1830,  by  Gurdon,  Gardiner,  and  John  Gallup,  Dr.  Elisha  Williams, 
Jesse  Tyler,  and  perhaps  others.  A  suitable  building  was  erected  and 
in  common  with  many  other  similar  institutions  that  were  founded  in 
early  years  in  small  villages,  enjoyed  for  many  years  a  large  patronage. 
Its  teachers  were  as  good  as  could  be  obtained  and  many  of  its  students 
went  out  to  occupy  distinguished  positions  in  life.  While  this  academy 
has  kept  up  its  corporate  existente  down  to  the  present  time,  it  has  not 
been  in  active  operation  since  soon  after  1880.  The  opinion  has  been 
entertained  that  the  success  of  this  old  institution  for  a  long  period  acted 
to  the  disadvantage  of  the  district  schools,  retarding  their  advance- 
ment. 


542 

Several  professional  men  of  considerable  prominence  have  had  their 
residence  in  Knox.  Dr.  Erastus  Williams,  long  a  leading  citizen,  was 
the  first  resident  physician  and  had  a  large  practice  during  the  first 
third  of  the  century.  Dr.  Moses  Brovvnell  was  his  contemporary  and 
successor,  and  Drs.  John  Van  Allen,  Zeh,  Sigsby,  Johnson,  and  others 
came  in  later  years.  Azor  Tabor,  born  in  1799,  and  who  died  in  1858, 
was  the  only  lawyer  who  ever  practiced  in  this  town. 

Knoxville,  with  post-office  named  Knox,  is  a  hamlet  in  the  central 
part  of  the  town,  where  in  past  years  a  small  mercantile  business  has 
been  conducted,  and  the  few  shops  necessary  for  the  convenience  of  the 
inhabitants  are  kept.  I.  W.  Chesebrough  was  a  former  merchant  here, 
who  sold  out  some  eight  years  ago  to  Elam  Williams,  who  is  still  in 
business  and  is  now  also  postmaster.  Henry  Barckley  was  a  merchant 
from  about  1848,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  E.  L.  Barckley,  now 
county  treasurer.     There  is  no  hotel  in  the  place  or  in  the  town. 

West  Township  is  a  post-office  and  small  hamlet  in  the  eastern  part 
of  the  town,  where  a  grocery  is  kept  by  Willis  W.  Witter.  James 
Finch  is  postmaster,  but  besides  this  there  is  no  other  business  of  any 
account.  There  is  a  station  with  the  name  of  the  town  in  the  extreme 
north  part  on  the  Albany  and  Susquehanna  Railroad. 

The  first  church  organization  in  this  town  was  of  the  Lutheran  faith  and 
was  organized  before  1750,  in  which  year  the  first  church  and  school 
house  was  built.  Rev.  Nicholas  Sommer,  the  enthusiastic  pioneer  in 
this  region,  had  already  preached  to  congregations  for  about  five  years, 
after  having  taken  up  under  the  church  patent  law  a  farm  of  forty-two 
acres.  The  first  building  was  about  twenty  feet  square  and  served  its 
purpose  many  years.  In  August,  18 10,  another  lot  was  purchased, 
and  in  the  succeeding  fall  the  old  building  was  moved  upon  it  and  re- 
modeled. In  the  spring  of  1828  the  old  church  was  demolished  and  a 
new  frame  structure  erected  and  partly  enclosed,  but  the  church  officers, 
some  of  whom  were  Lutheran  and  some  Reformed  in  belief  becoming 
involved  in  a  dispute,  resigned  and  the  society  was  broken  up.  In 
December,  1829,  a  number  of  the  former  members,  with  others,  met 
and  reorganized  and  chartered  the  Zion's  Lutheran  and  Reformed  church 
of  the  Helderberg  and  the  church  building  was  soon  completed.  In 
1839  dissentions  again  arose  and  the  Reformed  members  withdrew  and 


543 

built  the  church  at  Secor's.  On  October  13,  1839,  Rev.  Adam  Crounse, 
more  fully  organized  Zion's  Lutheran  church  at  Knox,  with  fifty-one 
members.  In  1850  the  present  church  was  erected,  while  the  parson- 
age was  built  about  1868.  Rev.  Henry  Moeller  preached  to  the  old 
congregation  from  1790  to  1800,  and  Rev.  Adam  Crounse,  who  per- 
formed so  much  successful  and  unselfish  pastoral  work  in  this  section, 
was  preacher  from  1830  to  1844,  in  connection  with  Berne  and  Guilder- 
land. 

The  Reformed  church  of  Knox  had  its  origin  in  the  Presbyterian 
church  which  was  formed  in  1825.  Services  had  been  irregularly  held 
for  some  years  previous,  under  the  auspices  of  the  settlers  from  New 
England.  In  1825  Rev.  J.  Judson  Buck  was  called  and  was  soon  in- 
stalled over  the  congregation  here  and  also  Hamilton  Union  congrega- 
tion. At  that  time  there  were  fifty-five  members  in  this  congregation. 
The  elders  were  Erastus  Williams,  Isaac  Barber,  P.  Witter,  and  Henry 
Denison.  Mr.  Buck  remained  steadily  with  the  church  about  three 
years  and  for  two  years  after  that  probably  acted  with  the  congregation 
in  church  affairs.  No  regular  pastor  was  employed  as  his  successor, 
but  several  preached  occasionally,  and  the  society  languished.  The 
Dutch  Reformed  settlement  was  increasing  in  the  town  and  the  subject 
of  reorganizing  under  that  faith  was  freely  discussed.  This  was  finally 
done  and  the  church  was  received  into  the  Classis  of  Albany  September 
20,  1842,  with  the  name  of  the  First  Reformed  Dutch  church  of  Knox. 
Thirty-one  members  of  the  former  congregation  were  dismissed  to  form 
the  new  one,  and  the  following  consistory  were  chosen  :  Daniel  Chese- 
bro,  Joseph  Gallup,  Gurdon  Gallup,  Henry  Williams,  jr.,  John  Van 
Allen,  Michael  P.  Cavart,  Charles  Clute  and  John  Possom.  Henry 
Williams  was  chosen  treasurer  and  John  Van  Allen,  clerk.  This  re- 
organization was  affected  under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Joseph  Kneiskern. 
The  original  house  of  worship  was  a  plain  wooden  building,  and  stood 
a  little  below  the  present  church,  which  was  built  forty  years  ago. 

There  are  three  Methodist  Episcopal  churches  in  Knox,  but  their 
records  are  so  incomplete  that  little  of  their  history  is  known.  It  is 
probable  that  Rev.  William  Brown  was  the  first  Methodist  preacher  in 
the  town.  He  is  buried  in  the  little  plot  formerly  used,  and  the  record 
on  the  headstone  says  he  was  born  in  October  24,  1758,  and  died  April 


544 

25,  1 834.  His  wife  was  Mary  Chesebro.  In  early  days  the  church  at 
Knox  village  was  connected  with  those  of  Berne,  Reidsville,  Middle- 
burgh  (Schoharie  county)  and  Schoharie,  to  form  the  Berne  circuit. 
Among  the  first  members  of  this  town  were  Joseph  Hunting,  F.  Dom- 
inic, Levi  Van  Auken,  and  Christopher  Chesebro.  The  first  house  of 
worship  stood  about  a  mile  east  of  Knox  village,  and  was  taken  down 
when  the  present  one  in  the  village  was  erected  in  1851.  Another 
church  was  built  at  about  the  same  time  at  West  Township.  The  third 
one  was  erected  in  1841  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town. 

A  Baptist  church  known  as  the  Church  of  Berne  previous  to  1825 
was  organized  early  in  the  century.  In  181  2,  when  Rev.  N.  H.  Ripley 
was  pastor,  it  had  a  membership  of  105.  Soon  after  this  date  the  con- 
gregation was  without  a  regular  preacher  for  twelve  years,  when  Rev. 
Samuel  Hare  was  called  and  preached  eight  years,  up  to  1832.  During 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  S.  G.  Tower,  which  began  in  1850,  a  frame 
church  was  built  at  West  Township.  The  society  was  fairly  prosperous 
until  about  1878,  when  it  began  to  decline  and  was  soon  reduced  to 
very  few  members.  It  finally  became  extinct  as  far  as  holding  services 
is  concerned. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  supervisors  of  Knox  from  1850  to  the 
present  time,  with  the  years  of  their  election  : 

1851,  Lyman  Witter;  1852-53,  Stephen  Merselis,  jr.;  1854-55,  Henry  Barckley; 
1856-57,  John  Keenholtz;  1858-59,  Samuel  Gallup;  1860-62,  Samuel  Warm;  1863, 
John  Keenholtz;  1864-65,  Ira  Van  Auken;  1866-72,  Peter  Schoonmaker;  1873- 
74,  Hiram  Gage;  1875-77,  J.  M.  Chesebro;  187s,  William  J.  Haverly;  1879-81, 
I.  W.  Chesebro;  1882,  William  J.  Haverly;  1883-85,  Charles  G.  Frink ;  1885-87,  Ed- 
ward L.  Barckley,  1888-90,  Sanford  Quay;  1891-92,  William  J.  Haverly;  1893-95, 
Sanford  Quay. 


545 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

THE  TOWN  OF  NEW  SCOTLAND. 

This  is  the  Central  town  of  Albany  county,  and  the  latest  one  erect- 
ed, having  been  taken  from  the  town  of  Bethlehem  by  act  of  the  Legis- 
lature April  25,  1832,  and  containing  about  27,000  acres  of  land.  The 
act  erecting  the  town  gives  the  following  description  of  its  eastern 
boundary: 

From  and  after  the  passage  of  this  act,  all  that  part  of  the  town  of  Bethlehem,  in 
the  county  of  Albany,  lying  west  of  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  six  miles  west  of  the 
Hudson  river,  in  the  south  bounds  of  the  town  of  Guilderland ;  thence  on  a  southerly 
course,  parallel  with  the  Hudson  river,  to  a  point  in  the  north  bounds  of  the  town  of 
Coeymans,  six  miles  west  from  the  said  Hudson  river,  and  all  lying  west  of  said  line, 
shall  be  a  separate  town,  to  be  known  by  the  name  of  New  Scotland. 

The  surface  of  this  town  is  widely  diversified.  The  Helderberg  moun- 
tains rise  along  the  western  border  in  picturesque  beauty,  while  the 
eastern  parts  are  high,  rolling  and  broken  by  ridges  and  hills.  The 
soil  is  clay  and  gravelly  loam,  and  fertile  and  productive  farms  are 
found  in  many  localities.  The  principal  streams  are  the  Normans  Kill, 
which  crosses  the  northeastern  corner  only  ;  Vly  Creek,  a  tributary  of 
the  Normans  Kill  in  the  northern  part ;  Vlaaman  (or  Flaman's)  Creek, 
in  the  eastern  part;  and  Onisquethau  Creek,  which  flows  across  the 
southern  part  from  west  to  east.  Black  Creek  touches  the  northwestern 
corner.  Lawson's  Lake  is  on  the  Coeyman's  line  in  the  southwest 
part,  a  small  sheet  of  water,  the  outlet  of  which  falls  into  a  deep  cavity 
and  flows  onward  through  a  subterranean  passage  to  a  cavern,  the 
natural  features  of  which  possess  a  great  deal  of  beauty.  Near  Cope- 
land  Hill  in  the  same  locality  are  some  remarkable  sink  holes,  five  to 
eight  feet  in  diameter  and  extending  down  through  the  soil  and  the 
lime  rock  to  a  depth  of  ten  to  twenty  feet,  and  being  connected  by  sub- 
terranean streams.  Near  Clarksville  are  two  caves  which  extend  respec- 
tively an  eighth  and  a  half  mile  underground, with  streams  flowing  through 


546 

them.  In  the  southwestern  part  of  the  town  is  situated  a  sulphur 
spring.  The  highest  point  of  land  in  New  Scotland  is  in  the  western 
part,  in  the  Helderbergs,  where  it  rises  1,823  feet  above  tide.  Here  form  - 
erly  was  located  a  station  of  the  United  States  Coast  Survey.  From  the 
summits  of  these  mountains  and  hills  views  of  great  beauty,  extending 
over  a  wide  area,  are  obtained. 

Hay  is  the  principal  crop  in  New  Scotland  and  has  been  for  some 
years,  while  the  cereals,  potatoes  and  fruits  are  grown  extensively.  In 
recent  years  many  hop  yards  have  been  planted.  The  farmers  of  the 
town  are  fully  abreast  with  modern  methods  and  are  rewarded  with 
adequate  returns  for  their  toil. 

The  territory  now  embraced  within  the  boundaries  of  New  Scotland 
is  a  part  of  the  Van  Rensselaer  Manor,  and  a  portion  of  it  was  included 
in  the  Jan  Hendrickse  Van  Baal  purchase  of  the  Mohawk  Indians,  de- 
scribed in  an  earlier  chapter.  Van  Baal  made  his  purchase  in  1660, 
and  soon  afterwards  sold  half  of  his  tract  of  about  69,000  acres  to  Jan 
Hendrickse  Vroman,  who  in  1686  sold  the  same  to  Omie  de  La  Grange 
for  one  hundred  beaver  skins.  In  1 7 16  Omie  de  La  Grange  and  Johannes 
Simonse  Vedder  purchased  the  remainder  of  the  patent  from  the  heirs 
for  £250.  The  first  settlements  were  made  in  this  section  on  the  Nor- 
mans Kill  about  1700  by  the  La  Granges  and  Koenradt  Koens  Sev- 
eral families  in  the  vicinity  of  New  Scotland  took  their  leases  from  these 
families  as  early  as  17 16.  Against  these  settlers  the  Patroon  began 
legal  proceedings  to  invalidate  their  title  ;  the  litigation  was  tedious  and 
prolonged,  but  was  ultimately,  on  July  6,  1776,  decided  in  favor  of  the 
Patroon  ;  the  families  of  Simon  J.  Vedder,  Arie  (or  Aurie)  La  Grange, 
and  Volkert  Veeder,  with  sixty- three  others,  now  found  themselves  de- 
prived of  their  estates,  after  having  been  in  peaceable  possession  ninety 
years.1 

The  first  settler  on  the  Onisquethau  flats  in  this  town  was  Teunis 
Slingerland,  who  came  from  Holland  and  purchased  nearly  10,000 
acres  of  land.  The  date  of  his  arrival  is  not  definitely  known,  but  was 
about  1660.  The  deed  of  his  land  is  said  to  have  been  signed  by  three 
Indian  chiefs.  Teunis  Slingerland  married  Engeltje,  daughter  of  Albert 
Andriesen  Bradt,  built  a  dwelling  and  soon  afterward  established  mills. 

'  Historical  sermon  by  Rev.  James  G.  R.  McCliire,  pastor  of  New  Scotland  Presbyterian  church. 


547 

His  selection  of  lands  was  wisely  made  and  the  tract  embraced  what 
subsequently  became  excellent  farms,  portions  of  which  remained  in 
possession  of  descendants  of  the  pioneer  until  recent  years. 

In  1685  a  deed  was  given  to  Teunis  Slingerland  and  his  son-in  law, 
Johannes  Apple,  by  three  Mohawk  chiefs,  of  the  Wolf,  Bear  and  Turtle 
clans,  for  certain  lands  ;  this  deed  is  interesting  as  the  following  extract 
shows : 

Sago-a-di  och-qui-sax,  To-ho-daa-vve,  Ro-jen-dre,  Tap-in-dan-e-go,  Ro-jon-jow, 
So-ha-ayn-tow-anne,  being  empowered  by  all  the  sachems  of  the  three  races  of  the 
Maquaes,  and  by  On-i-gho-cen  da,  one  of  the  principal  owners,  for  and  in  considera- 
tion of  the  following  goods,  to  wit,  one  piece  of  shrift,  three  casks  of  rum,  three 
kettles,  three  shirts,  hundred  and  fifty  hands  white  wampum,  and  one  bag  of  pow- 
der, sell,  transport,  convey,  &c. .  &c. ,  to  Teunis  Slingerland  and  William  Apple,  his 
son-in-law,  their  heir 5,  &c. ,  a  certain  tract  of  land  lying  on  the  north  side  of  a  cer- 
tain creek  called  O-nits-quat-haa,  to  the  westward  of  Albany,  lying  behind  Norman's 
Creek,  about  sixteen  miles  into  the  woods,  and  marked  on  the  east  and  west  end  by 
a  Wolf,  Bear  and  Turtle,  &c. 

Barent  Pieterse  Coeymans  set  up  the  claim  that  this  land  lay  within 
his  patent  purchased  of  the  Mohawks  at  Catskill  in  April,  1673  ;  the 
Mohawks  disputed  this  and  Coeymans  subsequently  relinquished  his 
claim.  The  tract  probably  contained  about  10,000  acres.  Slinger- 
land's  deed  was  signed  in  presence  of  Peter  Schuyler,  Garret  Bauchry, 
and  William  Teller,  and  is  on  record  in  the  Albany  county  clerk's 
office. 

Between  1700  and  1750  a  considerable  number  of  settlers  came  into 
what  is  now  New  Scotland,  bringing  with  them  the  customs  of  the  old 
world  and  the  industrious  hardihood  of  the  race  they  represented. 
Storm  and  Jan  Bradt,  and  a  family  of  Segers  were  in  the  town  contem- 
poraneously with  Mr.  Slingerland,  and  their  descendants  have  been 
conspicuous  in  the  history  of  the  community.  Among  others  who 
arrived  during  this  period  were  Francis  Moak,  Jacob  Hellenbeck,  An- 
dries  Houck,  David  Delong,  Jonathan  lloogtaling,  Isaac  Pryce,  Adam 
and  John  Long,  W.  Van  Atten,  John  Mead,  Hallers  Thompsons,  Al- 
bert Bradt,  Conradt  Hoogtaling,  William  Van  Allen,  and  Albert  Sling- 
erland. 

Down  to  1755  most  of  the  settlers  on  the  lands  of  the  Patroon  were 
occupying  their  farms  without  leases  ;  they  were  little  more  than  squat- 
ters, and  had  made  slow  progress  in  improvements,  probably  by  reason 


548 

of  their  somewhat  uncertain  tenure.  About  this  time  the  Slingerlands, 
who  had  made  more  extensive  improvements  than  others  of  their  neigh- 
bors, established  the  mills  at  Clarksville.  During  the  period  from  1750 
to  1775  there  was  a  large  influx  of  settlers  from  Scotland,  Ireland  and 
England,  introducing  new  and  varied  characteristics  and  customs. 
Among  the  pioneers  of  that  period  were  Hendrick  Bouse,  Johannes 
Seger,  Derk  Terwilger,  Nicholas  Sigsbee,  Henrick  Albright,  John  Wade- 
man,  Samuel  Taylor,  George  Reid,  George  Swan,  Ebenezer  and  John 
Wands,    William    and    Charles  McCulloch,    David   and   William  Allen, 

Fuller,  William  Pangburn,  John  Patterson,  Samuel  Ramsey  and 

his  sons,  James  McMullin,  William  Kirkland,  Anthony  Wayne,  Samuel 
Erwin,  Antone  Slingerland,  and  families  of  McBride,  Moak,  Jackson, 
McCoughtry,  Bruce,  Valk,  Lenox,  Conger,  Ingraham,  and  Lamphere. 
Most  of  these  names  in  themselves  indicate  the  change  in  the  nation- 
ality from  their  predecessors. 

Immigration,  which  had  practically  ceased  during  the  Revolutionary 
period,  began  again  after  the  close  of  the  war.  Property  rights  being 
settled,  industry  protected,  a  market  provided  for  crops,  together  with 
the  attendant  blessing  of  peace,  gave  encouragement  to  settlers  already 
located  and  stirred  the  enthusiasm  and  ambition  of  the  adventurous. 
Some  of  those  who  came  into  the  town  between  1775  and  1800  were 
Johannes  Markle,  Frederick  Reinhart  Fuller,  Benjamin  Van  Zandt, 
Conrad  Bowe,  John  Furbeck,  Benjamin  Winne,  Mathias  Young,  Nich- 
olas Van  Schaack,  M.  and  F.  Van  Wormer,  Elias  Mattise,  John  Martin, 
John  Stalker,  Mathias  Winne,  Richard  Radliff,  and  the  Johnson,  De 
Reamer,  and  Smith  families.  These  names  are  mostly  well  known  in 
this  county  and  descendants  of  many  of  them  have  been  prominent  in 
the  public  affairs  of  the  town  and  successful  in  their  various  occupations. 
It  may  properly  be  recorded  here  that  Dr.  Samuel  Dickson  of  this  town 
served  as  member  of  Congress  in  1855  ;  John  McEwen  and  Henry 
Fitch,  both  born  in  New  Scotland,  were  elected  to  the  office  of  sheriff; 
John  R.  Radley  and  William  J.  Reid  served  as  associate  justices  ;  David 
D.  McCulloch  as  commissioner  of  schools,  and  Edmund  Raynsford, 
Aaron  Van  Schaack,  David  G.  Seger,  Frederick  Mathias,  John  Reid, 
Harman  Van  Derzee,  Henry  Creble,  Peter  Slingerland  and  Hiram 
Becker,  Smith  O'Brien  and  Joseph  Hilton  as  members  of  Assembly. 


549 

The  early  schools  in  this  town  were  like  those  in  other  localities  al- 
ready described — taught  in  private  houses,  frequently  in  the  dwelling 
of  the  teacher,  later  in  log  school  houses  widely  scattered,  and  finally 
in  the  neat  frame  buildings  of  later  days.  Some  of  the  teachers  in  the 
territory  of  New  Scotland  in  the  first  years  of  the  century  were  Charles 
McCulloch,  Harmanus  Van  Huysen,  Edmund  Raynsford,  Francis  Seger, 
James  Wands,  2d,  Horace  Emery,  William  Hooster,  James  Patterson, 
James  McElroy,  Peter  De  Long,  Ann  Lawson,  and  a  Miss  Hoyt. 
After  the  distribution  of  the  so-called  school  money  the  character  of 
the  schools  at  once  became  better  and  their  number  increased.  The 
number  of  school  districts  increased  somewhat  after  the  first  division 
was  made  until  in  i860  there  were  fifteen.  At  the  present  time  there 
are  sixteen  with  school  houses.  New  Scotland  with  Coeymans  and 
Bethlehem  constitute  the  first  district  of  Albany  county. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  supervisors  of  this  town  from  its  organization 
to  the  present  time  : 

1833-38,  James  Reid;  1839-40,  Aaron  Van  Schaick ;  1841-44,  William  Murphy; 
L845-46,  CoonradMathias;  1847-49,  Robert  Taylor ;  1850-51,  John  McEwen ;  1852  53, 
John  Mathias;  1854,  William  Van  Allen;  1855-56,  P.  V.  W.  Brooks;  1857-58,  James 
Slingerland;  1859,  Samuel  Rowe;  1800,  James  Sliugerland;  1801,  Henry  Crounse; 
1862,  James  Slingerland;  1863-64,  John  R.  Taylor;  1865,  David  Callanan  ;  1866-67, 
Nicholas  A.  Belong;  1868,  Samuel  Patton;  1869,  Nicholas  B.  Houck;  1870,  Alonzo 
B.  Voorhees;  1871-76,  Robert  Taylor;  1873,  Tuenis  Slingerland;  1874,  Henry  M. 
Meed;  1875,  Teunis  Slingerland;  1876-80,  D.  V.  S,  Raynsford;  1881,  Henry  H. 
Meed;  1882-83,  Hiram  Becker;  1884-85,  Charles  Wood;  1886-88,  William  J.  Reid; 
1889-92,  Joseph  Allen;  1893,  A.  W.  Witbeck;  1894-5    Albert  Vanderpoel. 

The  village  and  post-office  of  New  Salem  is  situated  a  little  north- 
west of  the  center  of  New  Scotland,  at  the  foot  of  the  Helderbergs  on 
the  old  Heaverdam  road,  which  later  became  the  Albany  and  New 
Scotland  plank  road.  The  mountain  just  west  of  the  village  is  1,700 
feet  high,  and  over  it  the  road  passes  into  the  town  of  Berne.  Settle- 
ment was  made  on  this  site  as  early  as  1770,  about  which  date  Seth 
Price,  Christian  Bradt,  a  family  of  Van  Valkenbergs,  and  perhaps  a  few- 
others  came  in  These  were  soon  followed  by  John  Stalker,  John 
Wamp  (or  Wemple),  Obadiah  Cooper,  Benjamin  Van  Zandt,  a  family 
of  Crouslers,  and  others.  Alexander  Stather  built  a  large  house  in 
1807  for  a  tavern,  which  is  still  standing,  though  unoccupied,  and  was 
owned  for  many  years  by  Jacob  Seger.     Johannes  Markle  kept  a  pub- 


550 

lie  house  a  half  mile  south  of  New  Salem  as  early  as  1792.  About 
1806  the  little  village  began  to  grow;  new  dwellings,  a  church,  and  a 
tannery,  operated  by  Beriah  Chesebrough,  were  built.  When  bark 
gave  out  the  tannery  was  converted  into  a  saw  mill,  with  water  power; 
later  a  steam  engine  was  put  in  and  a  feed  mill  added.  The  buildings 
were  finally  burned.  About  the  year  1800  a  saw  mill  was  established 
on  Spring  Creek  near  the  village  on  what  was  the  Winne  farm.  About 
1830  Aaron  Van  Schaack  built  a  large  store  and  tavern.  The  post- 
office  was  opened  soon  after  the  formation  of  the  town  and  the  former 
local  name  of  Punkintown  was  dropped  for  the  better  one  of  New 
Salem.  Aaron  Van  Schaack  was  the  first  postmaster.  The  building 
erected  by  him  is  now  used  as  a  temperance  hotel  by  David  O.  Young. 
In  1839  David  C.  Segar  built  a  store  which  was  rented  to  Thomas  D. 
Bennett,  but  which  is  now  used  as  a  harness  shop.  The  store  building 
of  J.  M.  Erwin  was  erected  in  1875.  There  is  a  steam  saw  mill  and 
grist  mill  at  Cold  Spring  built  in  1887  by  Peter  Albright.  The  first 
grist  mill  of  the  Slingerlands  has  been  mentioned  ;  it  was  on  the 
Onisquethau,  east  of  Clarksville,  and  was  probably  the  first  one  in  this 
town.  It  was  on  the  farm  occupied  in  recent  years  by  Conrad  C. 
Crounse,  where  there  is  a  fall  of  about  forty  feet  in  the  stream.  The 
mill  was  in  operation,  according  to  the  best  authority,  about  1750  and 
probably  stood  many  years  ;  it  was  long  the  only  mill  in  the  neighbor- 
hood and  was  used  by  the  inhabitants  of  a  wide  area  Another  grist 
mill  was  built  in  early  years  on  the  Michael  Slingerland  farm,  which  in 
recent  years  has  been  superseded  by  a  saw  mill  operated  by  Mr.  Sling- 
erland. On  Vly  Creek,  to  the  north  of  New  Salem,  a  grist  mill  was 
built  in  1 83 1  by  the  La  Granges  and  continued  in  operation  down  to 
recent  years.  A  man  named  Grant  had  a  carding  mill  in  early  years 
on  a  little  stream  south  of  the  Andrew  Allen  place  and  north  of  the 
turnpike. 

Clarksville  is  situated  on  the  plateau  in  the  southwest  part  of  the 
town,  and  takes  its  name  from  Adam  A.  Clark,  who  settled  there  about 
1822.  Early  settlers  at  this  point  were  William  Bose  (or  Bouse),  Sam- 
uel Ingraham,  who  kept  a  tavern  in  the  upper  part  of  the  village,  and 
Joseph  Bright,  who  kept  a  tavern  where  George  Fuller  now  resides. 
At  a  later  date  Henry  L.  Mead  settled  there,  became  a  prominent  citi- 


551 

zen,  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  and  was  postmaster  of  the 
village.  The  name  of  the  place  was  originally  Bethlehem,  when  New 
Scotland  was  a  part  of  that  town.  Not  long  after  the  year  1800  Har- 
manus  Bogardus  came  from  Feura  Bush  and  settled  at  this  place,  erect- 
ed buildings  and  kept  a  public  house,  the  dwelling  now  occupied  by  the 
widow  of  Michael  Flansburgh  having  been  built  by  him  for  Mr.  Mead. 
A  man  named  Jenkins  kept  another  early  tavern.  After  the  charter  of 
the  Albany  and  Delaware  Turnpike  Company  in  1805  and  the  improve- 
ment of  the  road,  travel  greatly  increased  from  Rensselaerville,  and  as 
Clarksville  was  about  half  way  between  that  place  and  Albany,  it  be- 
came a  convenient  and  popular  stopping  place.  About  1822  Mr. 
Bogardus  sold  his  property  to  Adam  A.  Clark,  who  continued  the 
business  many  years.  The  tavern  is  now  owned  and  kept  by  John  T. 
Smith.  One  of  the  early  log  school  houses  was  in  this  place,  and 
Francis  Seger  and  a  Mr.  Taylor  were  among  the  early  teachers.  In 
1 84 1  Peter  L.  Houck  built  a  saw  mill  on  the  Onisquethau,  which  he 
operated  many  years,  and  which  has  since  become  the  property  of 
Frederic  R.  Gardner.  In  1845  Rushmore  Bennett  and  John  Murphy 
built  a  saw  mill  and  flouring  mill,  run  at  first  by  water  power,  to  which 
steam  was  afterwards  added.  It  subsequently  passed  into  the  posses- 
sion of  Robert  McLaughlin,  was  burned  and  was  rebuilt  as  a  feed  mill, 
which  is  still  in  his  possession.  There  has  always  been  a  small  mer- 
cantile business  here,  though  much  of  this  has  gone  to  Albany  and  else- 
where since  the  opening  of  the  railroad.  A  general  store  is  kept  bv 
Clinton  Bagley,  and  there  is  also  a  granger's  store  doing  an  active 
business.  Besides  the  John  T.  Smith  Hotel,  others  are  kept  by  Arthur 
Ilouck  and  George  Fuller. 

New  Scotland  is  a  small  hamlet  and  post-office  in  the  northeastern 
part  of  the  town.  Its  name,  like  that  of  the  town  itself,  is  derived  from 
the  many  early  Scotch  settlers  here.  A  post-office  was  opened  here  as 
early  as  1765,  with  Adam  Ilolliday,  postmaster;  he  was  succeeded  by 
Kdmund  Raynsford,  who  was  a  prominent  citizen  for  fifty  years.  Some 
of  the  early  settlers  in  this  immediate  vicinity  were  Jacob  Moak,  An- 
thony Wayne,  Henrick  Bouse  and  William  McCulloch,  who  established  a 
tannery  near  the  plank  roak.  In  common  with  most  other  hamlets  that 
were  settled    at    an    early    period   in    this    region,  when  the  mails  were 


552 

carried  on  horseback  or  by  stages  and  merchandise  and  produce  were 
carried  to  market  in  the  same  slow  manner,  numerous  public  houses 
were  kept  here,  and  men  named  Christie,  Bellamy,  Holliday,  and  Wayne 
were  at  different  times  engaged  in  this  business.  A  hotel,  the  property 
of  Mr.  Raynsford,  was  kept  in  recent  years  by  Mrs.  George  Reid  and 
her  son.  The  present  hotel  of  the  village  is  conducted  by  John  Bensell. 
On  the  premises  now  owned  by  John  Slingerland,  Peter  Rushmore  es- 
tablished at  an  early  date  a  tannery.  The  original  log  school  house  of 
the  place  was  succeeded  by  one  of  better  character  which  in  turn  was 
replaced  in  1866  by  the  present  one.  A  store  has  recently  been  built 
and  is  kept  by  J.  M.  Whitbeck,  on  the  West  Shore  Railroad  which 
passes  near  the  village.  Dr.  John  H.  Fitch  has  long  been  and  still 
continues  the  practice  of  medicine  here. 

Feura  Bush  is  a  small  hamlet  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  town,  near 
the  Bethlehem  line  The  post  office  here  was  formerly  named  Jerusa- 
lem. It  is  a  station  on  the  West  Shore  Railroad,  but  has  never  had 
much  business.  Two  stores  are  kept,  one  of  them  having  recently  been 
opened  by  George  Rantoup.  There  is  a  considerable  market  here  for 
hay  and  straw. 

Unionville  is  a  hamlet  with  a  post-office,  named  Union  Church,  in 
the  eastern  part  of  the  town  near  the  Bethlehem  line.  Here  taverns 
were  opened  in  early  years,  one  by  Christian  Houck,  another  by  David 
Chesebro.  The  Bradt,  Haller,  Long,  Wademan,  Sigsbee,  and  Radley 
families  were  early  settlers  in  the  vicinity.  Peter  Stoner  kept  an  early 
tavern  on  Stony  Hill,  and  Dr.  Dennick  kept  one  between  Unionville 
and  Clarksville.  The  post  office  was  discontinued  some  fifteen  years 
ago,  but  later  again  opened.  The  hotel  of  the  village  is  now  kept  by 
William  Wemple. 

Wolf  Hill  is  a  post-office  about  two  miles  west  of  New  Salem,  and  up 
to  1896  another  post-office  was  in  existence  on  the  Beaverdam  road 
under  the  name  of  Helderberg. 

Onisquethau,  with  the  local  title  of  Tarrytown,  is  a  hamlet  about  one 
and  a  half  miles  south  of  Clarksville,  It  is  said  to  have  received  its 
local  appellation  from  the  fact  that  there  was  once  a  large  building 
known  as  "  the  Castle  "  in  which  was  kept  a  tavern  which  became  a 
resort  of  idle  and  dissolute  persons  who  would  "  tarry  "  there  until   un- 


553 

seemly  hours.  John  Mead,  David  DeLong  and  one  of  the  Lampheres 
were  early  settlers,  of  whom  Mr.  Mead  kept  a  tavern.  Robert  Mayhew 
kept  a  store  and  tavern  in  the  old  castle,  and  it  was  he  who  dug  the 
channel  which  drains  Lawson's  Lake.  Other  public  houses  were  form- 
erly kept  by  John  J.  Hoogabome,  Thomas  Austin,  and  Solomon  Russell. 
At  the  time  of  the  construction  of  the  Erie  Canal,  large  quantities  of 
stone  were  quarried  near  this  point,  which  perhaps  accounts  for  the  un- 
usual number  of  public  houses,  as  many  workmen  were  employed  at 
that  time. 

Callanan's  Corners  post-office  is  in  this  town  in  the  extreme  south- 
eastern part,  a  portion  of  the  hamlet  being  in  Bethlehem  and  a  portion 
in  Coeymans.  It  took  its  name  from  two  brothers  who  were  early 
settlers  at  this  point.  A  store  has  been  kept  here  for  many  years  and 
a  few  shops. 

The  village  of  Voorheesville  is  situated  centrally  east  and  west  near 
the  northern  boundary  of  the  town  at  the  junction  of  what  are  now  the 
Albany  and  Susquehanna  and  the  West  Shore  railroads.  Its  business 
importance  has  been  chiefly  attained  since  the  opening  of  these  roads. 
The  village  takes  its  name  from  Alonzo  B.  Voorhees,  who  built  one  of 
the  first  dwellings  before  the  completion  of  the  Albany  and  Susque- 
hanna Railroad.  It  is  a  pretentious  residence,  was  subsequently  owned 
by  S.  V.  R.  Hoes,  and  is  now  the  property  of  Charlotta  Coughtry. 
Peter  Wormer  built  and  kept  the  first  store,  and  William  Spore  erected 
a  fine  residence  south  of  the  railroad.  The  post  office  was  opened  in 
1868,  with  James  A.  Reid,  postmaster.  After  the  completion  of  the 
second  railroad,  making  the  junction  at  this  point,  Conrad  Fryer  built 
and  opened  a  large  hotel  which  is  still  in  existence,  while  another  pub- 
lic house  is  kept  by  Morris  Harris.  The  mercantile  interests  of  the 
place  are  represented  by  Joslin  Brothers,  hardware,  etc.,  of  whom  E. 
D.  Joslin  is  postmaster,  J.  B.  Wands  &  Son,  Cummings  Brothers,  Levi 
Wood  &  Co.,  L.  S.  Schell,  Thomas  Brewster,  Crannell  Brothers,  and 
Frank  Bloomingdale,  who  is  a  large  dealer  in  hay  and  grain.  A  feed 
mill  is  operated  by  L.  S.  Schell,  and  Hotaling  &  Hicks  formerly  operated 
a  steam  saw  mill  which  has,  however,  since  gone  to  decay.  A  second 
one  was  built  by  W.  S.  Swift,  but  was  burned  in  1896.  Mr.  Swift  also 
had  a   lumber  yard  which   is  now   a  part  of  the   large  business  of  the 


554 

Crannell  Brothers.  The  Empire  Cider  and  Vinegar  Works  is  another 
prosperous  establishment  and  is  under  the  able  management  of  A.  E. 
Corey.  An  excellent  graded  school  which  has  two  departments,  is 
maintained  in  the  village  and  is  now  under  charge  of  E.  H.  Parker,  as 
principal. 

Among  the  earliest  physicians  resident  in  what  is  now  New  Scotland 
were  Drs.  Clark,  Dennick,  Day,  and  De  Lamater.  Dr.  Clark  died  about 
i8i4andwas  buried  with  Masonic  honors.  Subsequently  came  Dr. 
Thomas  Lloyd,  and  a  little  later  Dr.  Samuel  Dickson,  the  latter  being 
long  a  prominent  citizen  and  being  elected  to  Congress  in  1854,  while 
Dr.  John  H.  Becker  practiced  in  this  town  until  his  death.  Dr.  John 
H.  Fitch,  whose  name  has  been  mentioned,  is  a  great-grandson  of  Will- 
iam Allen,  who  was  a  member  of  one  of  the  Scotch  families  that  set- 
tled early  in  this  town.  Dr.  Milton  B.  Lamb  came  about  1855  and 
practiced  until  1866.  Dr.  Valentine  Dennick  resided  between  Clarks- 
ville  and  Unionville,  was  an  early  postmaster,  and  also  kept  a  tavern. 
Drs.  Schermerhorn,  Holmes,  and  Ingraham  were  settled  at  Clarksville. 
Later  physicians  were  Drs.  Conrad  J.  Crounce,  M.  S.  Dayton,  Israel 
Day,  Henry  Sager,  G.  V.  Voorhees,  A.  Oliver,  Hiram  Crounse,  and 
Dr.  Fred  Surbrie. 

The  many  Scotch  and  Irish  settlers  in  this  town  were  bred  in  the 
Presbyterian  faith  and  in  their  new  homes  in  this  strange  land  brought 
with  them  the  religious  beliefs  of  their  ancestors.  The  earliest  religious 
organization  in  New  Scotland  of  which  there  is  authentic  record  was 
that  which  became  later  the  New  Scotland  Presbyterian  church.  About 
the  year  1776  a  Presbyterian  missionary  visited  New  Scotland  village 
and  held  a  service  in  the  open  air.  While  here  he  laid  the  foundations 
for  the  latter  church,  which  was  organized  in  1787  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Suffolk,  afterward  called  the  Presbytery  of  Long  Island.  In  1789  the 
church  was  transferred  to  the  Presbytery  of  New  York.  In  1790  the 
Presbytery  of  Albany  was  established  and  held  its  first  meeting  No- 
vember 9,  1 79 1.  At  that  meeting  New  Scotland  petitioned  for  sup- 
plies, and  three  ministers  were  named  who  should  each  give  one  Sab- 
bath. In  1792  Rev.  Mr.  Lindsley  preached  on  eight  Sundays,  but 
from  this  date  until  March,  1795,  there  was  no  stated  preacher.  A  call 
was  then  extended  to  Rev.  Benjamin  Judd  and  he  was  installed  in  Sep- 


555 

tember,  1795.  The  Lord's  Supper  was  celebrated  for  the  first  time  on 
the  second  Sabbath  in  Ma)',  1796,  with  twenty-two  communicants,  at 
which  time  David  Allen  and  Michael  Bruce  were  elders.  The  first 
board  of  trustees,  chosen  in  February,  1791 ,  were  Thomas  Burn- 
side,  Peter  Cutchen,  James  Henderson,  John  Jackson,  John  McCough- 
try,  and  John  Vorns.  In  1791  a  house  of  worship  was  built  and  in 
1795  the  parsonage  was  occupied  by  Rev.  Mr.  Judd.  He  was  soon 
dismissed  and  Rev.  John  Arnold  was  installed  in  November,  1798.  He 
preached  about  three  years,  after  which  the  church  was  without  a  pas- 
tor until  October,  1807,  when  Rev.  Thomas  Holiday  was  called.  The 
fourth  pastor  was  Rev  James  McDonald,  who  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled in  October,  1832  His  successors  were  Revs.  Robert  Knell,  a 
supply;  Reuben  Sears,  1836-45  ;  Gains  Mills  Blodgett,  supply,  1846- 
56;  John  James  Cameron,  1857-60;  Samuel  L.  Gamble,  1861-67; 
James  William  Edie,  1868-70;  William  G.  Handy,  1871-74;  James 
G.  J.  McClure,  1874-79;  William  H.  Ford,  1880-82;  Dewitt  C  Rocke- 
feller, 1884.  During  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Blodgett  in  1848  the  old 
church  edifice  was  taken  down  and  a  new  one  erected,  which  was  con- 
siderably enlarged  in  1869,  and  in  1877-78  a  basement  was  built  for 
use  as  a  chapel  and  for  Sunday  school.  The  real  estate  of  this  church 
was  a  gift  from  the  Patroon,  and  consisted  of  about  156  acres  of  land. 
The  land  was  part  of  the  farm  owned  in  recent  years  by  Robert  Moak, 
and  being  distant  from  the  church,  was  exchanged  with  Jacob  Moak, 
who  owned  734  acres  adjoining  the  original  church  lot.  In  June,.  1795, 
the  Patroon  gave  his  consent  to  the  transaction,  and  Jacob  Moak  took 
the  church  farm.  On  February  6,  1844,  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer  gave 
the  trustees  a  quit  claim  deed  for  this  farm,  and  on  February  27,  1872, 
the  remaining  part  of  this  property  was  sold  to  D.  V.  S.  Raynsford. 
In  September,  1877,  the  parsonage  was  burned  and  a  more  modern 
one  erected. 

Reformed  churches  in  this  town  are  situated  at  Feura  Bush,  New 
Salem,  Clarksville,  Union  and  Onisquethau.  Although  Dutch  settlers 
were  in  this  town  as  early  as  1650,  there  are  no  existing  records  of  an 
organized  church  among  them  until  1780.  Previous  to  that  year  the 
inhabitants  doubtless  went  to  Albany  to  worship,  and  later  perhaps  to 
Schenectady.      From  1780  to  about  1785,  services  were   probably   held 


556 

at  Jerusalem,  (Feura  Bush),  and  records  show  that  in  1786  Dirck  Ro- 
meyn  of  Schenectady  passed  through  the  town,  preaching  and  baptiz- 
ing, the  people  gathering  together  to  hear  him  at  Helderberg,  Salem 
and  Jerusalem,  and  after  him  came  Rev.  Harmanus  Van  Huysen  in  1794. 
Meanwhile  in  1790  an  organization  was  perfected  and  a  church  built 
between  Union  and  Jerusalem.  With  the  incoming  of  a  more  intelli- 
gent class  of  farmers  and  the  increase  in  the  number  of  inhabitants, 
religious  services  were  held  with  more  regularity  and  were  numerously 
attended.  In  course  of  time  it  was  felt  that  a  more  central  location  was 
desirable,  and  a  new  church  was  erected  in  1825  at  Feura  Bush,  which 
hasbeen  used  up  to  a  recent  date.  Rev.  Mr.  Van  Huysen  died  in  1 833  and 
is  buried  in  Mount  Pleasant  Cemetery.  The  present  house  of  worship 
at  Jerusalem  has  been  repaired  and  improved  at  various  times.  The 
Salem  Reformed  Church  was  intimately  connected  with  the  Feura 
church  in  its  early  life.  There  was  probably  an  organization  here  as 
early  as  1794,  and  the  people  received  the  ministrations  of  both  Rev. 
Dirck  Romeyn  and  Rev.  Harmanus  Van  Huysen.  In  18 13  a  perma- 
nent organization  was  made,  with  the  lollowing  first  officers  :  Benjamin 
Van  Zandt,  John  Terwilliger,  John  Van  Etten,  Jacob  I.  Hallenbeck, 
Frederick  Fuller,  Jeremiah  Cronssler,  John  A.  Severson,  and  David 
Van  Etten,  and  a  church  building  was  erected  on  land  given  by  Stephen 
Van  Rensselaer.  This  building  was  used  until  1844,  when  it  was  taken 
down  and  a  new  one  erected  on  the  site,  by  Wilhelmus  Young,  Fred- 
eric Markle,  Frederick  Fuller,  and  Peter  L.  Houck,  who  were  the 
building  committee.  This  edifice  served  its  purpose  for  about  thirty 
years,  when  the  present  handsome  church  was  built  at  a  cost  of  about 
$10,000  in  1875.  It  stands  on  a  new  site,  and  the  old  church  property 
was  purchased  by  Abram  Mann. 

The  Reformed  church  of  Union  was  organized  in  1825  from  the 
Jerusalem  and  Salem  congregations.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Ira  C. 
Boice,  who  preached  also  at  Salem.  The  present  church  was  built  soon 
afterward,  the  property  being  valued  at  about  $5,000.  The  Reformed 
church  of  Onisquethau  is  the  successor  of  a  Presbyterian  society  which 
was  organized  by  the  Presbytery  of  Albany  in  1824,  a  church  being 
built  in  the  following  year,  when  Rev.  Thomas  Holliday  was  pastor. 
In  1839  the  church  and    property  passed    into   possession  of  the   con- 


557 

sistory  of  the  Reformed  church  and  took  the  new  name  and  government. 
The  building  was  extensively  improved  in  1884. 

The  Reformed  church  of  Clarksville  was  organized  in  1853  by  Rev. 
Staats  Van  Santvoord,  with  seven  members,  Rev.  Jasper  Middleton 
being  the  first  pastor,  and  a  house  of  worship  was  built  in  1853  at  a 
cost  of  $2,400,  and  is  still  in  use. 

The  first  Methodist  preacher  who  labored  in  this  town  was  Rev. 
Freeborn  Garrison,  an  itinerant.  Services  were  held  by  him  and  others 
at  intervals  until  about  the  year  1820,  when  the  first  Methodist  society 
was  organized  under  the  name  of  the  Black  Creek  Methodist  church,  in 
the  northwest  part  of  the  town.  A  house  of  worship  was  erected  at 
about  the  same  time  and  was  used,  with  various  improvements,  until 
about  1890,  when  it  was  taken  down  and  removed  to  Voorheesville  and 
rebuilt  in  modern  style,  in  which  place  a  prosperous  society  had  been 
previously  organized. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  New  Salem  was  organized  in 
1850  and  a  house  of  worship  erected  in  the  same  year  on  land  purchased 
from  Abram  Mann  in  the  north  part  of  the  village.  Among  the  prom- 
inent workers  in  the  early  organization  were  Ebenezer  A.  Fitch,  Alan- 
son  Van  Auken,  and  Andrew  J.  Smith. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Clarksville  was  organized  in  i860 
by  Rev.  S.  S.  Stillman,  who  was  its  first  pastor,  and  the  church  was 
erected  in  the  next  year  at  an  expense  of  $4,000.  The  society  has  had 
a  prosperous  existence  ever  since. 

A  Presbyterian  church  was  organized  in  Voorheesville  and  the  pres- 
ent handsome  church  edifice  erected  in  1886. 


PART  II 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


SK  & 


HAMILTON  HARRIS. 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


HAMILTON    HARRIS. 

No  name  is  more  conspicuously  associated  with  the  bar  of  Eastern  New  York 
than  that  of  Hon.  Hamilton  Harris,  of  Albany,  and  few  lawyers  have  brought  to 
their  profession  a  more  energetic  mind,  a  more  fortunate  combination  of  legal  and 
scholarly  acquirements,  or  stronger  or  more  practical  administrative  abilities.  Mr. 
Harris  is  of  English  and  Scotch  descent,  his  parents  being  natives  of  this  State  and 
pioneers  of  Preble,  Cortland  county,  where  he  was  born  May  1,  1820.  Receiving  a 
good  preliminary  education  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  town  and  at  the 
Homer  and  Albany  Academies,  he  was  graduated  from  Union  College  in  1841,  and 
while  yet  a  student  manifested  a  strong  inclination  for  the  law.  His  collegiate 
career  marked  him  as  a  classical  scholar,  and  he  distinguished  himself  at  the  com- 
mencement exercises  by  a  very  able  and  admirably  delivered  address.  Upon  grad- 
uation he  entered  the  law  offices  of  his  brother,  Hon.  Ira  Harris,  afterward  one  of 
the  ablest  and  most  eminent  of  the  judiciary  of  the  State  and  a  United  States  sen- 
ator, of  Albany.  Mr.  Harris  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1845  and  immediately  be- 
gan active  practice  in  the  capital  city,  where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  He  rapidly 
acquired  a  high  reputation  as  an  able,  accomplished  lawyer,  and  for  many  years  has 
been  a  leader  of  the  Albany  bar.  In  1848  he  formed  a  copartnership  with  Hon. 
Hooper  C.  Van  Vorst,  which  was  dissolved  in  1853  by  the  latter's  removal  to  New 
York  city,  where  he  became  a  judge  of  the  Superior  Court.  Soon  afterward  he  asso- 
ciated himself  with  Hon.  Samuel  G.  Courtney.  In  1857  he  became  a  partner  of  Hon. 
Clark  B.  Cochrane  and  Hon.  John  H.  Reynolds,  both  of  whom  were  elected  to  Con- 
gress during  this  connection.  This  firm,  which  was  one  of  the  strongest  legal  co- 
partnerships that  ever  existed  in  Albany,  ended  with  Mr.  Cochrane's  death  in  1867, 
but  Mr.  Harris  and  Mr.  Reynolds  continued  until  the  latter's  death  in  1S75.  Mr. 
Harris  has  now  associated  with  him  in  practice  his  son  Frederick,  William  P.  Rudd, 
and  Edmund  C.  Knickerbocker. 

In  the  fall  of  1853  Mr.  Harris  was  elected  district  attorney  of  Albany  county,  and 
served  until  January  1,  1857.  During  his  administration  of  that  office  he  con- 
ducted a  number  of  noted  criminal  trials,  prominent  among  them  being  The  People 
vs.  Hendrickson,  10  N.  Y.  Reports,  13;  McCann,  16  N.  Y.  Reports,  58;  and 
those  of  Phelps,  McCrosseu,  Dunningan,  and  Cummings.  As  a  pleader  Mr. 
Harris  has  won  great  distinction  throughout  the  State.  He  masters  every  detail 
of   fact,    pays   close   attention    to   the   conduct   of   a   case,   and    though  in   manner 


gruff,  and,  to  a  certain  extent,  dictatorial,  is  kind,  dignified,  quiet,  and  honest. 
He  is  earnest  and  powerful,  imbued  with  the  highest  principles  of  the  law,  and 
possesses  a  winning  personality.  The  numerous  reported  cases  in  the  Supreme 
Court  and  the  Court  of  Appeals,  argued  by  him,  show  in  some  degree  the  extent 
and  the  magnitude  of  the  legal  business  in  which  he  has  been  engaged  and  the 
important  questions  of  law  which  he  has  argued. 

Early  in  life  Mr.  Harris  became  prominent  in  the  Whig  party  in  Albany  county, 
advocating  its  measures  on  the  platform  and  with  his  pen  with  such  fidelity  and 
ability  that  he  soon  was  recognized  as  a  leader  in  both  county  and  State.  In  1850 
he  was  elected  member  of  assembly,  and  was  largely  instrumental  in  securing  the 
State  Library  and  the  improvement  of  the  State  Capitol.  He  was  also,  during  that 
session,  a  member  of  the  joint  committee  of  six  to  call  State  conventions  and  con- 
struct a  new  party  platform,  which  was  one  of  the  first  steps  in  the  formation  of  the 
Republican  party,  of  which  he  has  always  been  one  of  the  strongest  and  ablest 
champions.  From  1862  to  1870  he  was  a  member  and  from  1864  to  1870  chairman  of 
the  Republican  State  Committee,  and  from  1862  to  1864  he  was  also  chairman  of  its 
Executive  Committee.  A  prominent  writer  has  said  of  him:  "  His  keen  intuitions 
and  his  rare  skill  as  an  organizer,  with  a  singular  union  of  discretion  with  boldness, 
render  him  a  natural  leader  of  men."  As  a  delegate  to  many  State  and  National 
Conventions  he  was  active  and  strongly  influential  in  sustaining  the  measures  of  his 
party.  Hon.  James  G.  Blaine,  in  his  "  Twenty  Years  of  Congress,"  after  recount- 
ing the  action  of  Mr.  Harris  in  the  National  Convention  of  1868,  speaks  of  him  as 
"a  man  of  marked  sagacity  in  political  affairs."  In  1865  Mr.  Harris  was  elected 
president  of  a  new  Board  of  Capitol  Commissioners  and  served  until  1875  with  abil- 
ity and  success  so  marked  that  he  has  been  frequently  termed  "  the  father"  of  that 
great  measure  which  resulted  in  the  erection  of  the  present  Capitol  in  Albany.  A 
contemporary  newspaper,  in  commenting  upon  the  subject,  said:  "Let  the  people 
of  Albany  remember  that  to  Hamilton  Harris  more  than  to  any  other  man  they  are  in- 
debted for  the  New  Capitol  from  its  inception  in  1865  to  its  progress  in  1879,"  while 
the  Troy  Daily  Times  editorially  stated  that  he  was  "  the  father  of  this  structure, 
which  is  to  rank  foremost  among  the  majestic  buildings  of  the  world." 

In  1875  Mr.  Harris  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate,  and  as  chairman  of  the 
Finance  Committee,  of  the  Committee  on  Joint  Library,  and  of  the  Select  Commit- 
tee on  Apportionment  his  labors  were  useful  and  exhaustive.  He  always  took  a 
prominent  part  in  the  discussion  of  leading  public  questions,  and  his  arguments 
never  failed  to  command  respect  and  attention.  In  1877  he  was  re-elected  State 
senator  by  a  large  majority,  and  two  years  later  he  declined  a  re-election.  Among 
his  senatorial  addresses  which  have  passed  into  history  are  those  touching  the  New 
State  Capitol,  on  the  question  of  convict  labor,  on  the  Grand  Army  bill,  on  the 
question  of  historical  societies  holding  real  estate  for  preservation  and  monumental 
purposes,  on  higher  education,  on  sectarian  appropriations,  and  on  taxation.  In 
1884  he  ran  as  one  of  the  Republican  electors  on  the  State  ticket. 

Mr.  Harris  possesses  keen  literary  taste  and  culture  and  great  ability  as  a  writer, 
lecturer,  and  public  speaker.  Several  of  his  addresses  have  been  published,  notably 
"  Politics  and  Literature,"  "The  Tower  of  London,"  and  "  Self -Effort."  He  has 
a  large  and  valuable  library  of  general  literature,  numbering  about  3,500  volumes, 
while  his  law  library  contains  nearly  as  many  more.     On  March  10,  1885,  he  was 


unanimously  elected  a  member  of  the  Regents  of  the  University  of  the  State  of  New 
York. 

A  man  of  handsome  and  commanding  presence,  of  sound  physical  constitution, 
and  of  capacious  intellect,  Mr.  Harris's  popularity  is  well  merited.  As  a  forensic 
and  political  orator  he  occupies  a  high  position  in  the  history  of  the  city,  the  State, 
and  the  country,  and  as  a  citizen  he  enjoys  universal  confidence  and  esteem.  He 
has  great  knowledge  of  human  nature  and  keen  perception  of  character.  His 
loyalty  and  patriotism  are  among  his  chief  characteristics  and  he  has  won  a  lasting 
place  in  the  history  of  his  adopted  city. 


CHARLES  TRACEY. 

Hon.  Charles  Tracey  descends  from  a  long  line  of  influential  Irish  ancestry,  and 
has  achieved  through  his  own  personality  a  more  than  local  prominence  in  business 
and  political  affairs.  His  father,  John  Tracey,  a  man  of  high  character,  came  to 
this  State  from  Canada  in  consequence  of  the  so-called  Patriot  war  in  1837.  Settling 
in  Albany  he  became  officially  connected  with  many  financial  and  charitable  institu- 
tions, was  esteemed  and  respected  as  a  citizen,  and  on  one  occasion  was  candidate 
for  State  senator.  He  died  in  the  capital  city  July  12,  1875.  The  death  of  his  wife, 
Maria,  occurred  in  1880. 

Charles  Tracey  was  born  in  Albany  on  the  27th  of  May,  1847,  and  was  graduated 
from  the  Boys'  Academy  in  1866.  While  there  he  became  deeply  interested  in  ele- 
mentary military  tactics,  and  was  elected  captain  of  the  battalion  of  cadets.  In  1866 
he  started  on  atrip  through  Europe,  Egypt  and  the  Holy  Land,  visiting  the  chief  cen- 
ters of  art,  history  and  science.  There  he  entered  the  Pontifical  Zouaves  and  served 
two  years.  He  returned  to  Albany  in  1869,  but  in  1870  went  to  Rome,  Italy,  where 
he  was  captured  and  retained  some  time  as  a  prisoner  during  the  siege  of  that  city. 
Returning  to  the  United  States  again,  after  his  release,  he  was  for  a  time  engaged 
in  business  in  New  York,  where  he  organized  the  Catholic  Union,  which  soon  had 
over  10,000  members,  and  of  which  he  was  the  first  secretary.  After  his  return  from 
Europe  Pope  Pius  IX  conferred  upon  him,  in  recognition  of  his  military  services,  the 
order  of  St.  Gregory  the  Great,  with  rank  and  title  of  chevalier. 

General  Tracey  finally  returned  to  Albany  where  he  has  since  resided,  and  where 
he  soon  became  an  active  and  influential  member  of  the  Democratic  party,  whose 
principles  he  has  always  upheld.  He  also  held  several  honorary  offices,  and  was 
aide-de-camp  with  rank  of  colonel  on  Governor  Tilden's  staff  and  commissary-gen- 
eral of  subsistence  under  Governor  Robinson.  His  high  personal  qualities,  his  well 
known  executive  ability,  and  his  ardent  devotion  to  true  Democracy  eminently  fitted 
him  for  responsible  positions,  and  with  unusual  rapidity  he  won  distinction  and 
honor  in  his  party's  councils.  In  1887  he  was  nominated  for  representative  in  con- 
gress to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  Congressman  Kane,  and  was  elected 
by  1,659  majority  over  Hon.  John  M.  Bailey,  Republican.  There  was  also  a  labor 
candidate  in  the  field.  In  Congress  he  served  on  various  importaut  committees, 
pushed  forward  succesfully  a  number  of  needed  measures,  and  was  especially  active 
in  the  establishment  of  the  Watervliet  Arsenal,  making  a  speech  in  June,  1888,  in 


6 

support  of  a  liberal  appropriation  for  "  the  continuance  of  the  manufacture  of  large 
cannon  at  Watervliet."  This  act  was  passed  and  became  a  law  in  September  of  that 
year,  and  was  mainly  due  to  the  efforts  of  General  Tracey.  September  22,  1888,  he 
was  renominated  for  Congress  and  in  November  was  again  elected,  this  time  by  a 
majority  of  2,306.  His  second  term  was  marked  by  conspicuous  effort.  He  origin- 
ated the  project  to  deepen  the  Hudson  River  to  permit  sea-going  vessels  to  ascend 
to  Albany  and  Troy,  and  introduced  bills  (which  became  laws)  to  change  the  designs 
on  United  States  coins,  to  make  Albany  a  port  of  immediate  transportation,  for  relief 
of  the  State  of  New  York  to  refund  $42,000  duties  paid  on  arms  in  1868,  for  the  relief 
of  enlisted  men  in  the  ordnance  corps,  allowing  them  to  collect  bounties,  and  to 
enforce  the  eight-hour  law  on  government  premises.  In  1890  he  was  unanimously 
renominated  and  re-elected  to  Congress  by  a  majority  of  5,078,  and  during  his  third 
term  in  that  body  served  with  the  same  fidelity  and  increased  usefulness  to  his  con- 
stituents. 

General  Tracey  is  actively  identified  with  many  business  and  other  institutions  of 
Albany.  Since  its  organization  in  1886  he  has  been  president  of  the  Columbia  Dis- 
tilling Company,  which  he  had  managed  for  ten  years  previously,  and  which  was 
founded  by  his  father  in  1838.  He  is  also  vice-president  of  the  Consolidated  Car 
Heating  Company  of  Albany,  a  life  member  of  the  Burgesses  Corps,  and  a  member 
of  the  Catholic  Union,  the  Fort  Orange  and  Albany  Clubs,  the  Albany  Press  Club, 
the  Dongan  Club,  and  the  Manhattan  and  Reform  Clubs  of  New  York  city.  He  has 
been  manager  of  St.  Peter's  Hospital  since  1882,  is  a  trustee  of  St.  Agnes's  Cem- 
etery and  the  Albany  Savings  Bank,  and  a  director  of  the  National  Commercial 
Bank  of  Albany.  He  was  appointed  a  trustee  of  the  House  of  Refuge  at  Hudson, 
N.  Y.,  by  President  Cleveland,  who  also  tendered  him  a  diplomatic  position  as  min- 
ister abroad,  which  he  declined.  General  Tracey  is  a  public  spirited  citizen,  a  good 
organizer  of  measures,  a  pleasing  and  forcible  public  speaker,  and  a  man  endowed 
with  attributes  of  a  high  order.  During  the  presidential  campaign  of  1896  he  was 
especially  conspicuous,  serving  as  the  New  York  member  of  the  Democratic  National 
Committee  of  the  sonnd  money  wing  of  his  party. 

General  Tracey  was  married  in  1883  to  Miss  Hermine,  daughter  of  Colonel  Duches- 
ney,  of  Montreal,  Canada.  They  have  had  five  children:  Marie  T.,  Charles,  jr., 
Philip  D.,  John,  and  James  (deceased). 


PETER  KINNEAR. 

The  history  of  Albany  embraces  the  careers  of  many  men  who  by  their  own  in- 
domitable pluck  and  perseverance  have  achieved  success  in  one  or  more  of  the 
numerous  industries,  but  probably  none  has  won  higher  distinction  as  a  manufac- 
turer and  promoter  of  manufacturing  and  other  enterprises  than  Peter  Kinnear,  who 
has  been  actively  associated  with  a  number  of  the  city's  leading  establishments  for 
about  forty  years.  Born  in  Dundee,  Scotland,  April  24,  1826,  he  early  imbibed  the 
sturdy  characteristics  of  the  land  of  Wallace,  and  Bruce,  and  Burns,  and  received 
a  good  practical  education  in  his  native  town,  where  he  subsequently  served  a  six 
years'  apprenticeship  at  the  machinist's  trade.     Plis  love  for  Scotland's  banks  and 


PhlhK   KINNHAK. 


braes  was  strong,  but  his  ambition  to  make  a  name  and  place  among  men  was 
stronger  still.  In  1847,  when  scarcely  more  than  a  youth,  he  started  for  America, 
but  at  the  very  outset  met  with  an  accident  which  nearly  cost  him  his  life.  Un- 
daunted, however,  he  continued  the  journey  and  soon  found  himself  a  stranger  in 
the  metropolis  of  this  country.  He  tried  to  obtain  employment  at  his  trade  in  New 
York,  Rochester,  and  Toronto  successively,  but  failed,  and  then  turned  to  such 
work  as  came  in  his  way.  During  one  winter  he  was  employed  in  cutting  timber 
in  a  Canadian  forest.  Returning  to  the  United  States  he  again  unsuccessfully 
sought  employment  at  his  trade  in  Buffalo,  Rochester,  Syracuse,  and  Utica,  but 
upon  arriving  in  Albany  he  entered  the  employ  of  William  Orr,  proprietor  of  a 
foundry  at  No.  64  Beaver  street.  This  establishment  was  started  more  than  sixty 
years  ago  by  Lewis  Aspinwall,  who  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Orr,  who  in  turn  was 
succeeded  by  Orr  &  Blair,  with  himself  at  the  head  of  the  firm.  In  1872  Mr.  Kin- 
near  purchased  Mr.  Orr's  interest  and  finally  became  the  sole  successor  of  the  firm 
of  Blair  &  Kinnear.  In  May,  1884,  Mr.  Kinnear  bought  two  lots  known  as  Nos.  64 
and  66  Beaver  street,  corner  of  Grand,  and  made  extensive  improvements  to  the 
property.  His  business  increased  steadily,  and  the  great  variety  of  goods  which  he 
manufactured  under  the  head  of  brass  castings  consisted  of  innumerable  pieces  of 
brass,  bronze,  composition,  nickel,  white,  and  other  soft  metal  castings,  steam  cocks 
and  valves,  brass  work  for  breweries,  steam  engine  and  plumber  brass  work,  etc. 
His  goods  were  used  for  countless  purposes,  and  his  establishment  soon  became  the 
most  important  and  extensive  of  its  kind  in  Albany  or  Eastern  New  York. 

Perhaps  the  most  noteworthy  industry  with  which  Mr.  Kinnear  has  been  con- 
nected is  the  Albany  Billiard  Ball  Company,  the  most  unique  and  only  one  of  its 
kind  in  the  world.  This  company  was  organized  by  him  in  1875  and  was  the 
legitimate  successor  of  the  Hyatt  Manufacturing  Company,  which  was  formed  in 
1868,  and  which  was  the  pioneer  in  the  attempt  to  make  composition  billiard  balls. 
It  is  not  necessary  to  go  into  the  details  of  the  trials  and  failures  of  the  original 
organization  in  its  experiments  to  produce  billiard  balls  by  pyroxiline,  and  later 
celluloid,  that  would  replace  ivory.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  thousands  of  dollars  and 
much  valuable  time  were  lost  with  little  or  no  practical  results  until  the  present 
company  was  formed.  Since  then,  by  the  t  se  of  perfected  machinery  invented  by 
J.  W.  Hyatt,  the  company  has  successfully  manufactured  billiard  balls  more  perfect 
than  ivory  and  far  less  expensive.  Mr.  Kinnear's  connection  with  the  enterprise 
dates  from  a  time  when  failure  and  disaster  seemed  imminent.  He  had  faith  in 
the  industry,  and  mainly  through  his  skillful  business  management  and  practical 
ability  soon  won  the  highest  success.  At  considerable  personal  trouble  and  no  small 
self-sacrifice  he  invested  and  induced  others  to  do  so,  and  the  results  have  more 
than  vindicated  the  wisdom  of  his  advice  and  his  sound  judgment.  He  has  been 
president  and  treasurer  of  the  company  since  its  organization,  and  has  personally 
conducted  its  affairs. 

Mr.  Kinnear  has  also  been  prominently  and  officially  connected  with  many  other 
important  manufacturing  and  commercial  enterprises  of  Albany.  No  man  has  taken 
a  greater  or  a  more  active  interesj,  in  the  city's  industrial  affairs,  and  no  one  has 
worked  more  steadily,  more  earnestly,  and  more  effectively  to  advance  them.  Hi 
has  ever  been  the  first  to  welcome  and  encourage  new  industries,  and  through  his 
efforts  and   advice   many   important    manufacturing    establishments   have  found  a 


8 

permanent  home  in  the  Capital  City  and  are  now  contributing  to  its  welfare  and 
prosperity.  He  is  an  able  business  man,  enterprising,  public  spirited,  and  progres- 
sive. In  all  movements  which  promise  general  benefits  his  counsel  is  sought  and 
valued,  while  support  is  both  substantial  and  effective.  He  was  connected  with  the 
South  End  Bank  and  served  as  its  president  for  three  years, 

Mr.  Kinnear  has  also  been  an  influential  factor  in  politics  and  in  the  affairs  of  local 
government.  Originally  a  Whig,  he  was  one  of  the  earliest  to  enlist  in  the  cause  of 
Republicanism,  of  which  he  has  ever  since  been  a  staunch  supporter.  Imbibing 
from  his  native  land  a  strong  love  of  freedom  he  was  a  firm  believer  in  American  in- 
stitutions before  placing  his  feet  upon  American  soil,  and  this  belief  and  love  early 
led  him  to  take  a  foremost  position  among  the  abolitionists  in  the  great  slavery 
agitation.  Before  and  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  he  loyally  supported  the 
Union.  He  was  for  two  years  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  and  has  sev- 
eral times  been  the  nominee  of  his  party  for  alderman  of  his  ward,  which  is  over- 
whelmingly Democratic.  Personally  he  is  one  of  the  most  popular  and  best  known 
men  in  Albany.  He  is  a  thorough -going  American,  takes  a  deep  interest  in  all 
public  questions,  and  exerts  his  influence  and  freely  uses  his  means  to  promote  those 
industries  which  contribute  to  the  support  of  the  workingman,  among  whom  he 
proudly  numbers  himself  as  a  practical  mechanic. 

While  in  Canada  Mr.  Kinnear  was  married  in  1849  to  Miss  Annie  Gilchrist,  a 
native  of  Scotland. 


WILLIAM  WILBERFORCE  BYINGTON. 

The  Byingtons  in  the  United  States  are  descended  from  two  brothers,  John  and 
Willliam,  who  came  to  this  country  from  England  in  the  early  part  of  the  seven- 
teenth century.  The  family  dates  back  to  the  twelfth  century,  and  its  ancient  coat 
of  arms  can  still  be  found  among  the  descendants.  In  America  its  members  have 
always  been  active,  influential,  and  industrious  citizens,  holding  positions  of  honor 
and  distinction  in  the  civil,  social,  military,  and  business  life  of  their  respective 
communities.  Justus  Byington,  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
in  Great  Barrington,  Mass.,  April  17,  1763,  and  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  His  son,  Rev.  John  Byingion,  was  born  in  Hinesburg,  Vt. ,  October  8, 
1798. 

William  Wilberforce  Byington,  youngest  of  seven  children  of  the  Rev.  John,  was 
born  in  Potsdam,  St.  Lawrence  couuty,  N.  Y. ,  December  26,  1840,  and  attended  the 
district  school  at  Buck's  Bridge,  West  Potsdam,  working  at  intervals  on  his  father's 
farm.  During  the  winter  of  1856,  when  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  taught  school,  and 
then  went  to  Battle  Creek,  Mich.,  where  an  elder  brother  resided,  and  where  he  at- 
tended the  public  schools,  teaching  winters.  In  1861  he  entered  the  Michigan  State 
Normal  School  at  Ypsilanti,  at  that  time  one  of  the  first  and  best  known  Normal 
Schools  in  the  country,  and  was  graduated  therefrom  in  one  year.  After  teaching 
for  a  year  in  Battle  Creek  public  schools  he  secured,  by  competitive  examination, 
the  position  of  junior  principal  of  the  Barstow  Union  School  in  Detroit,  and 
shortly  afterward,  while  but  twenty-five  years  of  age,  was  made  principal  of  one 
of  the  largest  educational  institutions  in  the  same  city. 


While  teaching  in  Detroit  he  was  married,  December  26,  1865,  to  Kate  M.  Preston, 
at  Battle  Creek,  Mich.,  Miss  Preston  having  just  graduated  from  Kalamazoo  Col- 
lege, Mich.  After  teaching  successfully  for  five  years  in  Detroit,  Mr.  Byington  de- 
cided to  engage  in  business,  which  was  unselected  at  the  time  he  resigned  his  posi- 
tion. The  resolutions  passed  by  the  Detroit  School  Board  on  receipt  of  his  resigna- 
tion contained  not  only  a  laudatory  expression  of  their  esteem  and  respect,  but  the 
very  highest  encomiums  on  his  character,  ability,  and  success  as  a  teacher.  He 
selected  the  insurance  business  and  went  vigorously  to  work.  For  three  years  up  to 
186!)  he  labored  in  various  places  in  the  West,  mainly  in  St.  Louis  and  in  Indian- 
apolis, Ind.  In  1869  he  received  a  tempting  offer  to  remove  to  New  York  city, 
which  he  did  and  shortly  afterwards  was  made  the  State  agent  for  New  Jersey  for 
the  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  of  New  York,  and  removed  from  New  York  to 
Newark,  N.  J.,  where  he  resided  for  ten  years.  He  filled  this  position  of  State  agent 
with  great  credit  for  a  period  of  three  years,  when  he  resigned  to  accept  the  position 
of  superintendent  of  agencies  of  the  Mutual  Benefit  Life  Insurance  Company  of 
Newark,  N.  J.  Several  years  were  spent  by  him  in  vigorous  travel,  during  which 
nearly  all  the  agencies  of  the  company  were  revised  and  a  number  of  those  most  im- 
portant at  the  present  day  were  created.  After  a  very  successful  service  in  this 
cepacity  he  determined  to  create  an  agency  for  himself,  and  with  that  end  in  view 
he  removed,  in  the  latter  part  of  1882  to  Albany,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He 
came  to  the  capital  city  as  State  agent  for  New  York  and  Vermont  for  the  Mutual 
Benefit  Life  Insurance  Company  of  Newark,  X.  J.,  and  now  has  one  of  the  largest 
and  most  successful  life  agencies  in  the  country,  having  general  offices  in  Albany. 
Syracuse,  Rochester,  and  Buffalo. 

Soon  after  taking  up  his  residence  in  New  York,  Mr.  Byington  became  an  active 
and  vigorous  factor  in  the  literature  of  life  insurance  and  particularly  in  its  statis- 
tics. For  some  time  he  published  a  life  insurance  chart,  covering  the  business  of  all 
the  companies  for  periods  of  ten  years.  This  chart  was  long  the  standard  of  author- 
ity among  solicitors.  He  was  also  for  about  fifteen  years  the  insurance  editor  of  the 
New  York  Independent,  where  his  weekly  articles  on  various  phases  of  the  business 
attracted  much  attention.  He  still  writes  occasionally  for  this  paper.  After  locat- 
ing in  Albany  he  ceased  regular  work  for  the  press,  but  has  written  much  in  a  gen- 
eral way.  In  1886,  at  the  request  of  General  Taylor,  editor  of  the  Boston  Globe,  he 
wrote  an  article,  historical  and  statistical,  filling  thirty-two  columns  of  that  journal, 
and  when  published  in  pamphlet  form  it  had  a  circulation  of  over  200,000  copies. 
Since  that  time  he  has  written  many  articles  for  the  Globe  by  special  request. 

Mr.  Byington  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  fishing  matters  and  in  protec- 
tive societies,  and  for  some  fifteen  years  his  summers  were  spent  on  the  St.  Law- 
rence. He  organized  the  Anglers  Association  of  the  St.  Lawrence  River  and  was 
its  secretary,  and  afterward  its  president.  This  organization  is  known  as  one  of  the 
most  successful  protective  associations  in  the  country.  He  is  still  one  of  its  most 
prominent  members,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club,  the  Society  of 
the  Sons  of  the  Revolution,  and  the  Albany  Camera  Club,  of  which  he  has  been 
president  for  several  years.  To  him  is  due  in  a  large  measure  the  success  and  pres- 
ent flourishing  condition  of  the  last  named  club,  which  has  long  received  his  able  ser- 
vices and  guidance. 
B 


10 
LOUIS  E.   BLAIR,   M.  D. 

Dr.  Louis  E.  Blair,  son  of  Nathan  and  Elizabeth  Blair,  was  born  in  Lee,  Mass., 
October  9,  1857,  and  in  1864  moved  with  the  family  to  Albany,  where  his  parents 
still  reside.  Dr.  Blair  was  educated  in  the  public  and  grammar  schools  of  Albany, 
and  was  graduated  from  the  High  School  in  1875.  He  entered  Dartmouth  College 
in  the  fall  of  that  year,  and  pursued  a  four  years'  classical  course  at  that  famous 
seat  of  learning,  graduating  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  in  the  class  of  '79.  He  was 
one  of  the  honormen  and  commencement  speakers  of  his  class.  While  at  Hanover, 
N.  H.,  he  also  began  his  medical  studies  under  the  preceptorship  of  Prof.  C.  P. 
Frost,  dean  of  the  Dartmouth  Medical  College. 

Returning  to  Albany  in  1879  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  John  Swinburne  and  con- 
tinued his  medical  course  at  the  Albany  Medical  College,  receiving  his  professional 
degree  in  1881.  About  this  time  Dr.  Swinburne  began  his  famous  surgical  work  at 
the  Swinburne  Surgical  Hospital  and  Dispensary  and  Dr.  Blair  joined  his  staff  and 
afterwards  became  his  first  assistant.  He  was  associated  with  Dr.  Swinburne  for 
nearly  five  years.  The  opportunities  for  study  and  practice  which  the  Swinburne 
Hospital  afforded  have  seldom  been  equalled,  many  thousand  patients  being  treated 
here  annually.  In  1884  Dr.  Blair  went  to  Europe  for  travel  and  study  and  pursued 
a  post-graduate  course  in  the  hospitals  of  Germany  and  Austria,  devoting  especial 
attention  to  the  diseases  of  the  ear.  nose  and  throat.  Returning  to  Albany  in  1886 
he  has  since  successfully  practiced  as  a  specialist  in  the  above  diseases.  Dr.  Blair 
has  already  won  for  himself  a  splendid  reputation,  and  his  consultation  practice 
covers  a  wide  field.  He  is  a  frequent  contributor  to  the  medical  journals,  and  has 
written  many  valuable  medical  essays.  Lippincott's  new  Encyclopedia  of  Ear, 
Nose  and  Throat  refers  to  his  work.  His  original  contributions  on  the  cause  and 
successful  treatment  of  asthma  and  hay  fever  attracted  marked  attention.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  New  York  State  Medical  Society  and  the  Albany  County  Medical 
Society. 

On  the  10th  of  March,  1886,  Dr.  Blair  was  married  to  Miss  Lillie,  daughter  of 
Joseph  Mann,  of  Albany.     They  have  one  child,  Florence  E. 


WILLIAM  BARNES,  Jr. 

William  Barnes,  Jr.,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  November  17,  1866, 
and  is  a  son  of  William  Barnes,  the  first  superintendent  of  insurance  of  the  State  of 
New  York.  His  mother  was  Emily  Weed  Barnes,  a  daughter  of  Thurlow  Weed, 
founder  and  for  many  years  editor  of  the  Albany  Evening  Journal  and  the  most 
conspicuous  figure  in  State  politics  during  his  time.  Mr.  Barnes  obtained  a  good 
preliminary  education  in  the  Albany  Academy,  graduating  therefrom  in  1884.  In 
the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  entered  Harvard  College  and  took  the  degree  of  A.  B. 
from  that  institution  in  1888.  In  December,  1888,  he  purchased  the  Albany  Morning 
Express,  and  in  April,  1889,  a  majority  of  the  capital  stock  of  the  Journal  Company, 
publishers  of  the  Albany  Evening  Journal,  and  as  president  of  the  Journal  Com- 
pany, has  since  conducted  these  newspapers  with  uninterrupted  success. 


t 


11 

Mr.  Barnes  has  taken  for  several  years  an  active  part  in  the  politics  of  the  State, 
and  for  some  time  has  been  a  recognized  leader  of  his  party  in  Eastern  New  York. 
In  1892  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Republican  State  Committee  for  the  Con- 
gressional district  composed  of  the  county  of  Albany,  and  has  been  re-elected  to  that 
office  each  year  since.  In  1896  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  Republican  National  Con- 
vention at  St.  Louis.  He  is  a  public  spirited  citizen,  taking  a  keen  interest  in  every 
movement  affecting  the  general  welfare,  and  as  a  journalist  holds  a  high  place,  both 
in  business  and  literary  circles.  He  is  prominently  connected  with  various  organ- 
izations of  his  native  city. 

On  the  12th  of  June,  1888,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Grace  Davis,  daughter  of 
William  Henry  Davis,  of  Cincinnati,  O. 


CHARLES  H.    PORTER,   M.  D. 

Ciiari.es  Hogeboom  Porter,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Columbia  county,  X.  Y., 
November  11, 1834,  of  English  and  Dutch  ancestry.  On  his  father's  side  he  is  descend- 
ed from  John  Porter,  who  came  from  England  to  Massachusetts  Bay  in  1637.  The 
records  in  England  give  John  Porter's  descent  in  the  sixteenth  generation  fromWill- 
iam  de  la  Grande,  a  Norman  knight,  who  came  to  the  army  of  the  Norman  duke  at  the 
Conquest  A.  D.  1066.  He  acquired  lands  near  Kenilworth,  Warwickshire,  England. 
His  son  Ralph  (or  Roger)  became  "Grand  Porteur"  to  Henry  I,  A.  D.  1120  to  1140,  from 
which  he  derived  the  name  Porter.  John  Porter,  with  his  wife  and  children,  settled  in 
Windsor,  Conn.,  in  the  year  1637  and  was  at  once  treated  as  a  man  known  and  re- 
spected. He  was  put  upon  a  committee  the  same  year  and  was  made  a  constable  in 
1639,  then  a  high  and  responsible  office.  He  was  for  that  period  a  man  of  considerable 
substance,  as  appears  by  his  will,  printed  in  the  public  records  of  Connecticut.  He 
died  in  Windsor  in  1647.  Of  the  sixth  generation  was  Rev.  David  Porter,  D.  D. , 
grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  in  early  life  served  in  the  army  of  the 
Revolution  and  afterwards  was  for  twenty-eight  years  the  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  at  Catskill,  N.  Y.  The  first  of  Dr.  Porter's  maternal  ancestors  living  in 
America  was  Evert  Luycassen,  who  was  from  Amsterdam,  Holland,  and  who  was  in 
Beaverwyck  in  16.57.  As  early  as  1665  he  purchased  land  from  the  Indians  in  Kin- 
derhook.  Dr.  Porter  was  educated  principally  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  New  Haven, 
Conn.  He  received  the  degree  of  A.  M.  from  Yale  College  in  1855  and  the  degree 
of  M.  D.  from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  1861.  In  the  latter  institution  he  was  for 
some  years  professor  of  Chemistry  and  Medical  Jurisprudence  and  also  filled  similar 
positions  in  other  medical  colleges.  In  1862  he  served  as  assistant  surgeon  of  the 
6th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Heavy  Artillery,  remaining  with  the  latter  command  until  it  was 
mustered  out  in  1865.  During  these  years  he  was  always  in  active  service,  par- 
ticipating in  the  various  campaigns  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  the  army  of 
the  James,  etc.  At  times  he  was  detached  from  his  regiment,  serving  as  inspector 
and  medical  director  of  army  hospitals.  From  1867  to  1892  (excepting  18*5  to  1SS8),  ho 
served  as  pension  examining  surgeon.  He  was  commissioned  brevet  colonel,  N.  Y. 
State  Volunteers,  February  13,  1866.  Since  1866  he  has  lived  in  Albany  in  active 
practice  as  a  physician.     For  many  years  his  studies  have  been   largely  directed  to 


12 

state  medicine  and  medical  jurisprudence  and  to  the  practical  solution  of  important 
questions  relating  to  these  sciences.  He  has  frequently  been  summoned  as  an  ex- 
pert witness  in  cases  of  alleged  poisoning  and  injuries  and  has  been  at  times  ap- 
pointed by  courts  to  examine  and  report  upon  the  mental  condition  of  prisoners.  In 
contested  will  cases  his  aid  has  frequently  been  sought  to  determine  the  mental  con- 
dition of  the  testators  and  so  also  in  other  cases  where  the  sanity  of  individuals  has 
been  called  in  question  and  in  which  large  monetary  interests  were  involved. 


WILLIAM    BEATTIE. 

William  Beattie,  of  the  well  known  Beattie  Machine  Works,  located  on  Amity 
street,  Cohoes.  Cohoes,  with  his  rare  genius,  has  contributed  to  mechanics  new 
inventions  which  have  opened  an  era  of  possibilities  heretofore  unknown  in  their 
business.  This  benefactor  of  his  fellow  men  was  born  at  Albany  in  1851.  He  was 
the  son  of  Walter  Beattie,  a  machinist.  He  acquired  his  knowledge  of  machinery 
with  John  Rogers  &  Son,  manufacturers  of  engines  and  other  machinery  at  Albany, 
N.  Y.  After  coming  to  Cohoes  in  1871,  he  was  associated  with  several  of  the  leading 
machine  shops  and  mills  until  1893.  In  1893  he  established  the  present  enterprise, 
the  products  of  which  are  demanded  throughout  the  United  States,  Canada  and  many 
foreign  countries.  Mr.  Beattie  is  sole  manufacturer  of  Beattie's  patent  loopers,  and 
other  valuable  patents  on  machinery  used  in  the  manufacture  of  the  Norris  patent 
turning  machines  for  shirt  bosoms,  collars  and  cuffs,  tabs,  bands,  etc.,  McCreary's 
rib-cutter,  experimental  work  and  and  knitting  machinery.  In  1895  he  erected  a 
new  and  commodious  building  fully  equipped  with  all  requisite  machine  tools,  oper- 
ated by  steam  power.  He  makes  experimental  work  a  specialty,  and  has  taken  out 
five  patents  himself.  Mr.  Beattie  has  been  water  commissioner  for  twelve  years, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Health  prior  to  that  time.  He  is  a  member  of 
Cohoes  Lodge  and  Chapter,  also  a  member  of  Apollo  Commandery  of  Troy.  He  was 
married  Januarv  1,  1872,  to  Ellen  Ayres  of  Cohoes.  They  have  three  children: 
Walter  J.  is  draughtsman  and  bookkeeper  in  his  father's  establishment,  William  II. 
and  Grace  M. 


HERMAN  MYERS. 

Herman  Myers  was  born  May  18,  1824,  in  Cassel  (formerly  of  the  Kingdom  of 
Hesse),  Germany.  His  mother  died  when  he  was  scarcely  six  years  old,  leaving  his 
father,  then  a  poor  struggling  farmer,  with  five  small  sons  and  a  daughter  to  support. 
In  his  youth  young  Myers  was  apprenticed  for  four  years  to  the  trade  of  a  dyer  and 
colorer  which  he  learned  thoroughly.  While  still  a  very  young  man  he  was  drafted 
into  the  German  army  to  serve  in  the  Kingdom  of  the  then  Hessian  Prince,  who 
was  ruler  of  the  city  of  Cassel  and  its  surrounding  country.  Young  as  he  was  he 
rose  rapidly  as  an  officer,  and  by  reason  of  his  fine  soldierly  qualities  within  a  short 
time  was  selected  and  became  Guard  of  Honor  to  the  reigning  prince  at  the  'Palace 


WILLIAM  BLATT1E. 


13 

of  Williamshohe  in  Cassel,  then  quite  an  honor  and  distinction.  (This  was  the 
same  palace  where  in  later  years  Napoleon  III  was  confined.) 

After  five  years  of  army  service  he  emigrated  alone  to  America,  hoping  thereby 
to  better  his  condition  as  well  as  that  of  his  father  and  brothers.  Coming  directly 
to  Albany  after  landing  on  American  soil,  a  poor  lad  with  but  eleven  dollars  left  in 
his  pockets  on  arriving  in  the  capital  city,  but  with  health,  indomitable  will,  and 
energy,  he  at  once  began  business  life  in  a  very  small  way,  making  Albany  his  per- 
manent home.  Not  more  than  six  months  had  elapsed  after  his  arrival  when  he 
visited  Fulton  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  really  laid  the  foundation  of  his  future  stand- 
ing and  success.  Within  a  few  years  thereafter  Mr.  Myers  opened  a  jewelry  store 
at  386  Broadway,  Albany.  He  began  on  a  small  scale,  gradually  increasing  his 
stock  until  before  his  retirement  in  1860,  he  had  one  of  the  largest  wholesale  and 
retail  jewelry  establishments  in  the  city. 

No  man  is  better  known  by  the  older  inhabitants  of  Fulton  county  even  to  this  day 
than  Herman  Myers.  There  he  is  loved,  honored,  and  respected.  And  during  the 
fifteen  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  jewelry  business  not  a  single  month  passed  but 
he  visited  the  people  of  that  county,  and  especially  the  cities  of  Gloversville  and 
Johnstown,  where  his  name  for  honesty  and  integrity  had  become  so  well  known  and 
established  that  it  was  then  a  well-known  saying  "  that  no  jewelry  store  could  then 
exist  there,  for  Herman  Myers  sold  three-fourths  of  all  the  goods  in  his  line  pur- 
chased in  Fulton  county."  No  sooner  had  Mr.  Myers  laid  the  foundation  of  a  com- 
petency here  than  he  at  once  sent  to  Europe  for  his  father,  four  brothers  and  sister. 
He  started  all  his  brothers  in  business  for  themselves,  and  also  several  distant  rela- 
tives, whom  he  brought  from  his  old  German  home,  one  of  whom  now  ranks  among 
the  foremost  of  all  merchants  in  New  York  city. 

Retiring  from  active  business  in  1860  it  was  not  until  1865  that  Mr.  Myers  again 
embarked  in  business,  associating  with  him  a  Mr.  Busley  in  the  wholesale  manufac- 
turing of  ladies  shoes,  under  the  firm  name  of  Busley  &  Myers,  with  a  factory  at 
Nos.  13  to  25  Church  street  Albany.  Mr.  Busley  attended  solely  to  the  manufactur- 
ing and  Mr.  Myers  to  the  buying,  selling  and  financial  part;  and  for  a  period  of  seven 
years  their  factory  was  one  of  the  largest  here,  making  on  an  average  two  thousand 
shoes  per  day.  In  1872  Mr.  Myers  finally  retired  from  all  active  business  and  has 
since  devoted  all  his  time  to  his  real  estate.  He  now  ranks  among  the  large  owners 
of  real  estate  in  the  capital  city. 

In  1854  Mr.  Myers  was  married  to  Sophie  Kohn,  a  native  of  the  well-known  Koha 
family  of  Bamberg,  Bavaria.  They  have  an  only  son,  Max  Myers,  the  well-known 
lawyer  of  Albany. 

Never  accepting  nor  holding  any  office,  though  often  requested  so  to  do  in  financial 
institutions  in  which  he  is  a  stockholder,  Mr.  Myers's  counsel  and  advice  are  con- 
stantly sought.  As  a  judge  of  real  estate  he  has  no  peer.  Herman  Myers  is  the 
very  epitome  of  a  self-made  and  self-educated  man.  Belonging  to  no  societies  or 
clubs  except  the  Masonic  order  and  also  a  life  member  of  the  Littauer  Hospital  of 
Gloversville,  Fulton  county,  he  loves  his  adopted  home  and  its  institutions  and  is 
ever  ready  to  assist  in  doing  what  good  he  can  to  all,  irrespective  of  creed  or  sect, 
in  his  quiet  unobtrusive  way.  One  thing  can  also  truthfully  be  said  of  him:  To 
Herman  Myers  alone  belongs  the  chief  honor  of  the  possession  by  its  congregation 
Of  the  new  beautiful  Jewish  Synagogue  on  Lancaster  street,  erected  at  a  cost  of  over 


14 

$130,000.  As  chairman  of  the  purchasing  and  building  committee  he  selected  and 
bought  the  church  lot,  selected  the  architects,  and  was  instrumental  in  the  erection 
of  the  temple,  than  which  no  finer  one  can  be  found  in  New  York  State. 


MAX  MYERS. 

The  legal  profession  of  Albany  includes  many  a  bright  and  honored  name  in  the  exhi- 
bition of  those  manly,  upright,  and  progressive  qualities  which  command  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  all  good  citizens,  and  prominent  among  this  class  of  studious,  substan- 
tial, earnest  workers  in  the  walks  of  professional  and  business  life  is  the  well  known 
lawyer,  Max  Myers,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Born  in  Albany  on  the  18th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1855,  he  is  of  Hebrew  parentage,  and  is  one  who  is  proud  of  his  race  and  his 
ancestry.  He  is  the  only  son  of  Herman  Myers,  a  native  of  Hesse-Cassell,  Germany, 
who  in  early  life  found  his  way  to  the  free  soil  of  America  and  made  the  capital  city 
of  the  Empire  State  his  residence.  The  mother  of  Max  Myers  is  Sophie  Kohn, 
whose  ancestors  for  three  generations  back  were  natives  and  residents  of  the  quaint 
old  cities  of  Bamberg  and  Nurenberg,  Bavaria,  where  they  were,  each  in  their  time, 
prominent  merchants  and  bankers.  Even  to  this  day  her  brothers  are  still  the  lead- 
ing bankers  of  Nurenberg.  The  career  of  Herman  Myers  affords  another  notable 
example  of  the  success  that  may  be  achieved  under  our  free,  benign  government  by 
a  steady  perseverance  in  the  line  of  industry  and  honorable  dealing.  When  Herman 
Myers  came  to  American  shores  he  found  himself  almost  a  penniless  young  man,  but 
with  willing  hands  and  a  hopeful  heart  he  began  the  race  of  an  industrious  life  in  a 
very  humble  way  and  with  many  obstacles  stretching  along  his  path.  His  pecun- 
iary success  was  marked  at  every  step,  and  before  many  ytars  had  passed  he 
had  gained  a  competency.  Steadily  pursuing  his  progressive  course  in  financial 
walks  he  has  come  at  length  to  be  one  of  the  largest  real  estate  owners  and 
foremost  citizens  of  Albany.  And  deservedly  have  his  efforts  been  crowned  with 
rich  and  abundant  success,  for  Mr.  Myers  is  a  man  of  incessant  labor,  untiring 
energy  and  enterprise,  and  incorrupted  integrity — a  treasury  to  any  individual  or 
nation.  He  is  a  friend  and  advocate  of  the  best  and  most  promising  institutions  of 
his  adopted  city,  and  is  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  know  of  his  gentle,  worthy,  and 
noble  qualities. 

From  his  earliest  youth  Max  Myers  evinced  a  studious  disposition  and  a  great  de- 
sire for  establishing  an  intellectual  and  business  fabric.  He  was  at  first  carefully  in- 
structed by  private  tutors,  and  afterward,  when  scarcely  nine  years  of  age,  became 
a  pupil  in  Professor  Cass's  Classical  Institute  in  Albany.  Young  as  he  was  he  now 
began  to  realize  the  truthfulness  of  old  Lawrence  Sterne's  remark,  that  "  the  desire 
for  knowledge,  like  the  thirst  for  riches,  increases  ever  with  the  acquisition  of  it." 
Inspired  by  such  a  feeling  he  entered  with  great  zest  and  pleasing  anticipations  the 
Albauy  Boys'  Academy.  In  this  excellent  time-honored  institution  he  pursued  his 
various  regular  studies  with  true  devotion  during  a  period  of  five  years  and  was 
graduated  with  honor  in  1871,  at  about  the  age  of  sixteen,  being  the  youngest  in  his 
class. 

After  finishing  his  academical  education  he  went  abroad  and  visited  some  of  the 


15 

most  famous  places  in  the  Old  World,  drawing  stores  of  information  from  every  ob- 
ject he  saw  and  every  occurrence  he  met  with,  thus  enlarging  his  mind,  cultivating 
his  taste,  and  increasing  his  enjoyment  for  the  beautiful  and  sublime  in  nature.  On 
returning  home  Mr.  Myers  had  fully  decided  upon  the  choice  of  a  profession,  and  in 
187.")  he  entered  the  celebrated  old  law  office  of  Smith,  Moak  &  Buchanan,  where  he 
was  rapidly  advanced  in  his  knowledge  of  the  law  under  the  profound  oral  instruc- 
tions of  its  distinguished  members.  He  was  a  faithful  and  diligent  law  student,  and 
read  with  avidity  the  best  legal  text  books,  besides  numerous  other  treatises  on  gen- 
eral subjects  embraced  in  the  magnificent  law  library  of  the  late  Hon.  N.  C.  Moak, 
upon  whose  death  he  delivered  on  September  19,  1892,  a  most  fitting  and  eloquent 
eulogy.  And  to  this  gentleman  of  high  professional  ability  and  vast  literary  acqui- 
sitions Mr.  Myers  doubtless  owes  something  towards  the  cultivation  and  development 
of  his  own  well  known  taste  for  universal  literature.  While  remaining  with  this  firm 
he  also  took  a  thorough  course  of  lectures  at  the  Albany  Law  School,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1880,  taking  the  degree  of  LL.B.  The  five  years  he  spent  with 
Smith,  Moak  &  Buchanan  were  years  of  deep  study,  rare  intellectual  pleasure,  and 
lasting  profit,  upon  which  he  will  always  look  back  with  pride  and  satisfaction. 

After  leaving  the  law  school  Mr.  Myers  began  for  himself  the  general  practice  of 
the  law,  and  succeeded  in  establishing  an  excellent  reputation  as  a  thorough,  pains- 
taking lawyer,  a  safe,  candid,  and  conscientious  legal  adviser.  His  specialty  in  the 
law  department  has  been  in  investigating,  and  expounding  cases  pertaining  to  Surro- 
gate's Court,  and  to  the  law  and  practice  of  voluntary  assignments;  and  in  this  field 
he  has  been  uniformly  and  eminently  successful.  One  of  his  earlier  and  most  mem- 
orable efforts  was  in  connection  with  the  contested  will  case  of  the  late  J.  H.  Hidley, 
of  Albany,  in  which  $90,000  were  involved.  Hundreds  of  other  cases  of  less  note  he 
has  carried  to  a  speedy  and  satisfactory  issue  and  settlement  on  his  part.  He  has 
likewise  gained  wide  distinction  as  counsel  for  the  Accident  Insurance  Company  of 
North  America,  settling  many  hundred  claims.  Mr.  Myers  now  devotes  his  attention 
to  office  practice,  and  to  the  management  and  care  of  large  estates,  for  which  he  is 
admirably  adapted  and  perfectly  responsible.  He  has  been  and  is  now  the  executor 
and  administrator  of  vast  estates  involving  many  hundred  thousand  dollars.  Like 
bis  father,  he  is  himself  a  large  owner  of  real  estate  and  has  inherited  from  the 
old  stock  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  same,  hence  he  is  often  called  upon  and  his 
judgment  requested  in  the  investment  of  moneys  and  of  estates. 

In  1887  Mr.  Myers  made  a  second  tour  abroad,  combining  pleasure  with  study. 
He  remained  six  months  in  Europe,  visiting  most  all  places  of  interest  from  the 
borders  of  Russia  to  the  French  coast  and  from  the  Adriatic  to  the  North  Sea.  He 
possesses  a  vigorous  constitution,  a  most  active  temperament,  and  a  quick,  clastic 
Step,  and  is  ever  attentive  to  business  demands.  He  belongs  to  no  societies,  clubs, 
nor  organizations  except  the  Masonic  order.  He  has  an  utter  aversion  to  politics 
and  political  life,  and  has  declined  various  offers  of  trust  and  responsibility  in  this 
line,  even  refusing  a  directorship  in  one  of  the  city's  leading  banks,  in  which  he  was 
a  heavy  stockholder. 

Mr.  Myers  is  a  close  student  of  human  nature,  a  keen  observer  of  men,  a  born 
financier,  and  though  comparative  young  in  years  his  advice  on  men  and  affairs  has 
been  and  is  constantly  sought  by  many  prominent  merchants  and  bankers.  He  is 
ready  in  conversation,  and  has  a  friendly,  social,  benevolent  nature,  with  a  just  sense 


16 

of  what  is  right,  and  an  integrity  that  is  unimpeachable.  His  word  is  as  good  as 
his  bond.  His  love  of  books  is  a  marked  feature  of  his  busy,  useful  career.  Besides 
possessing  an  excellent  law  library  he  has  gathered  around  him  one  of  the  largest 
and  finest  miscellaneous  collections  of  books  in  the  city,  His  taste  runs  in  the  di- 
rection of  rich,  rare,  standard  volumes  and  choice  editions,  and  in  the  calmer  hours 
of  his  life  he  finds  a  world  of  pleasure  in  poring  over  his  literary  treasures;  for 
reading  and  study  is  his  life  from  which  he  would  not  be  debarred.  He  is  not  only 
a  well  read  lawyer,  but  thoroughly  posted  on  all  general  historical,  biographical, 
literary,  and  scientific  topics. 

In  1888  Mr.  Myers  was  married  to  Miss  Pauline  Fisher,  an  estimable  and  accom- 
plished young  lady  of  Logansport,  Ind. ,  and  their  pleasant  home  at  No.  12  First 
street,  Albany,  is  the  center  of  true  domestic  happiness  and  hospitality.  They  have 
one  son,  Daniel  Herman  Myers,  who  was  born  March  16,  1889. 


JAMES  BLUNN. 

James  Blunn,  who  with  his  brothers,  Thomas  and  William,  was  the  builder  of 
many  of  the  older  brick  buildings  of  West  Troy,  is  a  son  of  Charles  Blunn,  a 
central  figure  in  the  early  development  of  West  Troy.  He  is  a  mason,  having 
acquired  the  trade  in  his  native  country,  England,  where  he  was  born  in  Warwick- 
shire in  1823.  He  came  to  West  Troy  in  1847,  where  his  father  had  been  located  for 
nineteen  years.  He  was  in  partnership  with  his  brothers  until  their  death,  even  in 
their  abstinence  from  tobacco  and  intoxicants.  Mr.  Blunn  built  the  Watervliet  Ar- 
senal, his  brothers  William  and  Thomas  being  his  partners.  In  early  life  he  was  a 
maker  of  gelatine,  working  for  the  proprietors  of  what  is  now  known  as  "  Coxe's  Gela- 
tine," ofwhich  George  Nelson  was  the  original  manufacturer.  Mr.  Blunn  has  been 
married  three  times,  and  has  four  daughters,  one  of  whom  is  Mrs.  J.  C.  Covert,  sr. ,  of 
this  place ;  one  Mrs.  F.  W.  Covert,  of  this  place ;  the  other  is  Mrs.  Eugene  Linn  of 
East  Troy;  the  youngest  daughter,  Caroline  I.,  by  his  present  wife,  who  was  Edith 
Shackelton,  niece  of  the  late  Robert  Inwood  of  Troy. 


FRANK  BROWN. 

Frank  Brown  is  a  resident  of  Cohoes  since  1859,  and  is  now  retired  from  active 
business  life,  an  aged  and  respected  citizen.  He  was  a  self-made  man,  full  of  energy 
and  courage.  He  obtained  an  ordinary  school  education  in  Prussia,  where  he  was 
born  in  1824,  and  there  learned  the  spinner's  trade.  On  coming  to  America  in  1850 
he  followed  his  trade  and  in  1860  came  here,  opening  a  cotton  batting  shop,  continu- 
ing in  the  business  for  ten  years.  In  1869  he  bought  the  Miller  House  block,  the 
hotel  in  which  he  conducted  for  seven  years.  Though  a  Democrat  he  is  very  liberal 
in  his  political  views.  His  wife  was  Alice  Longtree,  of  English  birth,  who  died  in  1864, 
leaving  one  son,  Francis  W.  Brown,  born  in  1863.  He  is  a  noble  young  man  and 
held  in  high  respect  by  all  who  know  him ;  he  lives  with  his  father  and  has  charge  of 


EDWARD  MCCREARY. 


17 

the  real  estate  interests.  November  21,  1865,  Mr.  Brown  married  Miss  Magdalena 
Fierstohs,  of  Canton,  Ohio.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Manufacturers  Bank  of  Cohoes, 
and  a  member  of  the  German  Catholic  church. 


EDWARD  McCREARY. 

Edward  McCreary,  president  of  the  Albany  County  Board  of  Supervisors,  is  a 
Republican,  and  represents  the  Fifth  ward  of  the  city  of  Cohoes  in  that  body.  He 
was  born  in  Malone,  Franklin  county,  N.  Y. ,  September  15,  1847.  Five  years  later 
he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Cohoes.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that 
city.  In  1862  he  entered  the  Cohoes  Iron  Foundry  and  Machine  Shop  as  an  appren- 
tice. A  year  later  he  went  to  Scranton  and  served  his  time  as  a  machinist.  He 
returned  to  Cohoes  in  1866  and  entered  the  machine  shops  of  the  Harmony  Cotton 
Mills.  Soon  after  he  engaged  with  his  brother,  the  late  John  McCreary,  in  the  man- 
ufacture of  Pin  Napping  and  Brushing  Machinery.  Mr.  McCreary  is  the  patentee  of 
several  valuable  pieces  of  knitting  machinery  and  an  automatic  fender  for  electric 
cars.  His  father  was  overseer  of  the  spinning  department  in  the  Ogden  Mills,  was  a 
soldier  of  the  54th  N.  Y.  Regt.,  and  was  killed  during  the  war.  Mr.  McCreary  is 
interested  in  military  matters  and  was  for  many  years  captain  of  the  well  known 
Adams  Zouaves.  He  is  a  member  of  Cohoes  Lodge  No.  116,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  presi- 
dent of  the  John  McCreary  Steamer  Co. 


GEN.    ROBERT   SHAW  OLIVER. 

Gen.  Robert  Shaw  Oliver  was  born  in  Boston,  Mass.,  September  13,  1847.  He 
always  evinced  great  interest  in  military  affairs;  his  education  tending  to  develop 
his  natural  taste.  He  received  a  thorough  training  in  the  Military  School  of  Mal- 
borugh  Churchill  at  Sing  Sing,  N.  Y. ,  and  went  directly  from  it  into  the  volunteer 
service,  receiving  a  commission  as  second-lieutenant  in  the  5th  Massachusetts  Cav- 
alry, September  27,  1864.  Although  but  seventeen  years  of  age  he  was  almost 
immediately  placed  in  command  of  his  troop,  and  was  in  his  first  action  within  two 
weeks  after  receiving  his  commission.  While  serving  before  Petersburg  he  was 
selected  by  General  Cole  to  be  his  aide-de-camp  and  appointed  A.  D.  C.  Cavalry 
Brigade,  3d  Division,  25th  Army  Corps.  On  September  3,  1865,  he  was  appointed 
by  General  Clark  to  be  assistant  adjutant-general  of  the  Third  Division,  25th  Army 
Corps,  then  serving  in  Texas  after  the  close  of  the  war.  On  the  recommendation 
of  his  superior  officers  he  was  commissioned  second-lieutenant,  17th  U.  S.  Infantry, 
February  23,  1866,  and  after  a  short  service  in  New  York  harbor  was  again  ordered 
to  Texas  with  his  regiment  as  acting  adjutant,  and  later  received  his  promotion  as 
first  lieutenant  26th  Infantry.  At  his  own  request  he  was  transferred  to  the  8th  U. 
S.  Cavalry,  and  appointed  first  lieutenant  of  that  regiment  May  7,  1867,  and  ordered 
to  the  Pacific  Coast,  where  he  served  for  three  years  in  California,  Oregon  and 
Arizona  in  the  various  Indian  wars  at  that  time,  and  was  promoted  captain  October 
c 


18 

31,  1869.  After  leaving  the  army  lie  returned  to  the  East  and  moved  from  Boston 
to  Albany.  Becoming  interested  in  the  development  of  the  National  Guard  he  ac- 
cepted the  colonelcy  of  the  10th  Regt.,  August  25,  1873,  assistant  adjutant-general, 
9th  Brigade,  July  11,  1878;  brigadier-general  and  inspecto- -general  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  January  1,  1880;  brigadier-gysneral,  5th  Brigade,  January  10,  1883;  briga- 
dier-general, 3d  Brigade,  December  30,  1890,  a  position  which  he  still  holds,  an 
almost  unbroken  line  of  service  for  thirty-four  years. 

In  social  and  civil  life  General  Oliver  has  long  been  prominent  in  the  city  of  Al- 
bany, where  he  has  resided  many  years.  He  became  a  civil  service  commissioner  of 
the  city  in  1894  and  a  police  commissioner  in  1895,  and  in  promoting  the  welfare  of 
the  municipality  he  is  active  and  persevering.  He  was  president  of  the  Mutual  Boat 
Club,  the  Albany  Tennis  and  Republican  Unconditional  Clubs,  and  the  National 
Lawn  Tennis  Association  ;  and  is  first  vice-president  of  the  Albany  Vigilance  League ; 
and  a  member  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club,  the  Press  Club,  the  Albany  Club,  the  Country 
Club,  the  Loyal  Legion,  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  the  Association  of  the 
Armvof  the  Potomac,  and  the  Cavalry  Association,  and  governor  of  Albany  Chapter 
No.  1,  Order  of  Patriots  and  Founders  of  America.  In  business  he  is  associated 
with  Rathbone,  Sard  &  Co.,  one  of  the  largest  stove  manufacturing  concerns  in  the 
United  States. 


GEN.   SELDEN  E.   MARVIN. 

Gen.  Selden  Erasti  rs  Marvin  is  a  son  of  Hon.  Richard  Pratt  and  Isabella  (New- 
land)  Marvin  and  was  born  in  Jamestown,  Chautauqua  county,  N.  V.,  August  "Jit. 
1835.  He  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  Reinold  Marvin,  a  native  of  England,  who  came 
to  America  with  his  family  and  his  brother  Matthew  in  1635,  and  settled  first  in 
Hartford,  Conn.,  afterward  in  Farmington,  and  finally  in  Saybrook,  where  he  died 
in  1662.  Lieut.  Reinold  Marvin,  son  of  Reinold,  was  born  in  1634,  settled  in  Lyme, 
Conn.,  and  was  one  of  the  committee  to  divide  the  town  of  Saybrook  in   1665.     He 

died  in  1676.     His  first  wife  was  Jemima  Belcher  and  his  second  wife  Sarah . 

Reinold  Marvin,  of  Lyme,  son  of  Lieutenant  Reinold,  was  born  in  1669,  was  a  rep- 
resentative to  the  General  Court  from  1701  to  1728,  and  died  in   1737.     He  married, 

first,  Phebe ,  and  second,  in  1708,  Martha  Waterman.     He  had  a  son,   Deacon 

Reinold  Marvin,  who  was  born  about  1701,  married,  first,  in  1725,  Mrs.  Sarah  Lay, 
and  second,  in  1746,  Mrs.  Mary  Kellogg,  and  died  in  1761.  Dan  Marvin,  son  of  Deacon 
Reinold,  both  of  Lyme,  Conn.,  was  born  in  1731,  married  in  1762  Mehitable  Selden. 
and  died  in  1776.  Selden  Marvin,  the  son  of  Dan,  was  the  first  of  the  family  to 
settle  in  Chautauqua  county,  N.  Y.  He  was  born  in  1773  and  died  in  1832.  In  1798 
he  married  Charlotte  Pratt,  of  Saybrook,  Conn.  ;  his  second  wife  was  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Vandenburg.  Hon.  Richard  Pratt  Marvin,  son  of  Selden  by  his  first  marriage,  was 
born  in  1803,  and  held  several  offices  of  trust  and  honor.  He  was  member  of  as- 
sembly in  1835,  represented  his  district  in  the  Twenty-fifth  and  Twenty-sixth  Con- 
gresses; and  was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1846,  under  which 
he  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  an  office  he  filled  with  great  credit 
and  dignity  for  nearly  twenty-five  years.  He  died  in  January.  1892,  widely  respected 
and  honored.      In  1834  he  married  Isabella  Newland. 


19 

Gen.  Selden  E.  Marvin  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  academy  of  James- 
town, N.  Y.,  and  at  Professor  Russell's  private  school  in  New  Haven,  Conn.  He 
then  became  bookkeeper  and  teller  in  the  Chautauqua  County  Bank,  in  his  native 
town,  and  remained  there  until  1862,  serving  the  last  three  years  as  cashier.  In 
July,  1862,  he  was  appointed  adjutant  of  the  112th  N.  Y.  Vols,  and  on  the  17th  of 
that  month  "was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service.  He  served  in  that  capacity 
and  as  assistant  adjutant-general  of  Foster's  Brigade,  with  the  Army  of  Southern 
Virginia,  through  the  Peninsular  and  Charleston  campaigns,  until  September,  1863, 
when  he  was  appointed  additional  paymaster  U,  S.  Volunteers  and  was  assigned 
to  duty  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  filled  this  position  till  December  27,  1864, 
when  he  resigned  to  accept  the  post  of  paymaster-general  of  the  State  of  New  York  on 
the  staff  of  Gov.  Reuben  E.  Fenton.  Upon  Governor  Fenton's  re-election  General 
Marvin  was  appointed  adjutant-general  of  the  New  York  State  Militia.  As  paymaster- 
general  he  had,  in  the  execution  of  the  laws  for  the  reimbursement  of  bounties  paid 
by  the  localities  in  the  State  to  fill  quotas  established  by  the  general  government,  and 
for  the  equalization  of  the  excess  of  years  on  calls  for  troops  prior  to  the  last  call  of 
December,  1864,  a  difficult  and  arduous  task.  The  sum  required  and  paid  for  this  pur- 
pose was  827,000,000,  and  its  disbursement  necessitated  the  exercise  of  a  careful,  dis- 
criminating judgment  to  protect  the  interests  of  the  State  and  render  full  justice  to  the 
several  localities.  As  adjutant-general  he  inaugurated  and  carried  into  practical  effect 
reforms  in  the  National  Guard  which  were  greatly  needed,  and  which,  with  subsequent 
reforms  instituted  by  his  successors,  have  placed  this  splendid  body  of  citizen  sol- 
diery upon  a  firm  and  efficient  foundation  for  every  service  that  may  be  required  of 
it.  During  his  service  in  these  capacities  he  maintained  his  residence  in  Albany. 
After  his  term  of  adjutant-general  expired  he  engaged  in  banking  in  New  York 
city,  being  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Morgan,  Keen  &  Marvin  until  the  spring  of 
18?:J),  when  they  dissolved.  His  chief  operation  as  a  banker  in  the  metropolis  was 
the  placing  of  Northern  Pacific  securities  on  the  market,  in  which  he  was  eminently 
successful.  On  January  1,  1874,  he  went  to  Troy,  N.  Y.,  as  the  representative  of 
Erastus  Coming's  interest  in  the  iron  and  steel  business  carried  on  by  the  firm  of 
John  A.  Griswold  &  Co.,  and  while  there  organized  the  Albany  and  Rensselaer  Iron 
and  Steel  Company  on  March  1,  1875.  This  corporation  was  a  consolidation  of  the 
establishments  of  John  A.  Griswold  &  Co.  and  the  Albany  Iron  Works,  and  General 
Marvin  was  elected  a  director  and  the  secretary  and  treasurer.  On  September  1, 
1885,  this  concern  was  succeeded  by  the  Troy  Steel  and  Iron  Company,  which  went 
into  the  hands  of  a  receiver  in  1893.  General  Marvin  continued  as  director,  secre- 
tary, and  treasurer  of  the  company  until  its  business  was  closed  up  November  1, 
L895.  On  June  17  of  that  year  he  was  appointed  receiver  of  the  Perry  Stove  Com- 
pany of  Albany,  which  position  he  still  holds. 

As  a  business  man  of  recognized  ability  General  Marvin  has  long  been  actively 
and  prominently  connected  with  a  number  of  important  enterprises.  He  was  for 
several  years  a  trustee  and  vice  president  of  the  Albany  City  Savings  Institution 
and  since  June  1,  1894,  has  been  its  president.  He  has  been  a  director  of  the  Hud- 
son River  Telephone  Company  since  1892  and  president  since  February.  1894,  and 
was  the  chief  organizer  and  principal  promoter  of  the  Albany  District  Telegraph 
Company,  of  which  he  has  been  a  director  and  the  president  since  the  incorporation 
on   July  1,  1*95.      He  is  a  member  of  the  Stair  Board  of  Charities,  having  been  ap- 


20 

pointed  by  Governor  Morton  on  Mai-ch  27,  1895,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  chapter 
and  assistant  treasurer  of  the  cathedral  of  All  Saints,  treasurer  of  the  Diocese  of 
Albany,  treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Missions,  treasurer  of  the  Aged  and  Infirm 
Clergy  Fund,  treasurer  of  the  Fund  for  Widows  and  Orphans  of  Deceased  Clergy, 
treasurer  of  the  Fund  for  Theological  Education,  and  treasurer  of  the  Clergy  Re- 
serve Fund.  He  is  an  influential  member  and  trustee  of  the  Corning  foundation,  on 
which  is  built  St. 'Agnes' s  School,  the  Child's  Hospital,  St.  Margaret's  House,  Grad- 
uate Hall,  and  the  Sister's  House  in  Albany.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Managers  of  the  Domestic  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal church  in  the  United  States,  a  prominent  member  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club, 
and  actively  connected  with  several  other  institutions  of  the  capital  city. 

General  Marvin  was  married  on  the  24th  of  September,  1868,  to  Miss  Katharine 
Langdon  Parker,  daughter  of  the  late  Judge  Amasa  J.  Parker, »  of  Albany.  They 
have  had  six  children:  Selden  E.,  jr.  (military  secretary,  with  the  rank  of  colonel,  on 
the  staff  of  Gov.  Levi  P.  Morton),  Grace  Parker,  Langdon  Parker,  Edmund  Roberts, 
Richard  Pratt  (deceased),  and  Katharine  Langdon. 


THE  NEWMAN  FAMILY. 

Charles  Newman,  when  a  young  man,  came  with  his  widowed  mother  from  near 
Frankfort-on-the-Main,  Germany,  and  settled  in  Albany,  then  a  city  of  1,000  or  2,000 
inhabitants.  As  early  as  1770  he  established  himself  in  the  wool  and  leather  trade  on 
Broadway,  near  State  street,  where  the  business  has  ever  since  been  conducted  by 
the  family. 

Henry  Newman,  his  son,  was  born  in  Albany  September  20,  1780,  and  upon  reach- 
ing a  responsible  age  entered  his  father's  establishment,  of  which  he  subsequently 
became  sole  owner.  This  business  he  personally  conducted  at  No.  457  Broadway, 
the  present  location,  for  about  seventy  years.  He  died  May  24,  1874,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  ninety-four,  probably  being  at  that  time  the  oldest  native  of 
Albany.  His  career  was  one  of  uninterrupted  success,  and  he  exemplified  the  sterl- 
ing qualities  of  industry,  perseverance,  steadfastness  of  purpose,  and  strict  honesty, 
in  his  business  and  in  private  life.  His  word  was  always  good;  his  integrity  was 
never  questioned;  his  character  was  above  reproach.  Modest  and  unassuming 
in  his  manners,  he  enjoyed  unbounded  confidence  and  the  highest  respect,  and 
was  often  urged  to  accept  positions  of  honor  and  public  trust,  but  always  de- 
clined them  in  view  of  the  higher  duties  recognized  as  due  to  his  family  and  his 
business.  ■  One  of  his  chief  characteristics  was  unswerving  fidelity  to  duty  in  every 
department  of  life.  He  was  an  exemplary  Christian,  a  loyal  friend,  and  a  true  citi- 
zen, taking  a  keen  interest  in  the  advancement  of  all  public  affairs  and  the  prosper- 
ity of  his  native  city.  In  politics  he  was  a  staunch  Democrat  and  never  failed  to 
vote.  For  more  than  thirty  years  he  was  a  trustee  and  treasurer  of  the  First  Lutheran 
church,  whose  financial  prosperity  was  largely  due  to  his  sagacity  and  foresight. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  shareholders  and  long  a  director  of  the  Mechanics'  and  Farm- 


'  See  sketch  of  Judge  Parker  in  this  volume. 


JOHN   L.  NEWMAN. 


2L 

ers'  Bank,  and  for  many  years  an  active  member  of  the  Albany  Fire  Department. 
Mr.  Newman  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Humphrey,  sister  of  George  and  William 
Humphrey,  old-time  merchants  of  Albany,  and  after  her  death  he  married  Miss 
Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Aretas  and  Jane  (Humphrey)  Lyman,  of  Sand  Lake,  Rensse- 
laer county,  N.  Y.  Mary  Lyman  was  descended  from  (1)  Richard  Lyman,  born  at 
High  Ongar,  England,  in  1380,  who  came  with  Elliott,  the  missionary  to  the  Indians, 
in  the  ship  Lion  to  New  England  in  1631.  Her  great-grandfather,  Capt.  Joshua 
Lyman,  born  February  27,  1704,  died  September  11,  1777,  was  fourth  officer  at  Fort 
Dummer  under  Captain  Kellogg  between  1728  and  1740,  active  in  the  French  and 
Indian  wars,  captain  in  Col.  Israel  Williams's  regiment  in  the  campaign  of  1759,  and 
held  important  offices  in  Northampton  and  Northfield,  Mass.,  being  selectman  from 
1747  to  1768.  Her  grandfather,  Col.  James  Lyman,  born  June  9,  1748,  died  January 
2o,  1804,  entered  the  Revolutionary  army  as  corporal  in  Capt.  Samuel  Merrimau's 
company  of  Col.  Phineas  Wright's  regiment  September  22,  1777,  was  present  at  the 
battle  of  Saratoga  and  Burgoyne's  surrender,  served  at  Fort  Ticonderoga,  became 
lieutenant  in  Capt.  Seth  Pierce's  company  of  Colonel  Murray's  regiment  at  Claver- 
ack  and  West  Point  in  October,  1780,  being  there  at  the  time  of  the  Arnold  treach- 
ery, ranked  as  colonel  in  1795,  and  was  selectman  of  Northfield  from  1782  to  1804. 
Capt.  Aretas  Lyman,  father  of  Mrs.  Newman,  was  born  in  Northfield  February  4, 
1773,  and  settled  in  Sand  Lake,  N.  Y.,  where  he  conducted  a  lumber  and  milling 
business.     Henry  Newman  was  survived  by  his  wife  and  nine  children. 

Charles  Newman,  his  eldest  surviving  son,  was  born  in  the  capital  city  April  21, 
1828,  received  his  education  in  the  Boys'  Academy,  and  read  law  with  J.  &  I.  Ed- 
wards. He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  about  1849,  but  soon  afterward  associated  him- 
self in  business  with  his  father,  becoming  successively  the  latter's  partner  and  suc- 
cessor. In  1866  his  brother,  John  L.  Newman,  became  a  partner  with  him,  retiring 
in  1880,  when  his  sons,  William  Page  and  Henry  Newman,  were  admitted  under  the 
firm  name  of  Charles  Newman  &  Co,,  making  the  fourth  generation  of  the  family 
that  has  been  connected  with  the  house,  which  has  had  a  continuous  existence  of 
more  than  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  years,  being  the  oldest  wool  house  in  the 
United  States.  Charles  Newman  is  one  of  Albany's  representative  business  men. 
He  is  a  director  in  the  Mechanics'  and  Farmers'  Bank  and  vice-president  and  trustee 
of  the  Mechanics'  and  Farmers'  Savings  Bank,  was  formerly  president  of  the  Albany 
and  Watervliet  Railroad,  was  trustee  for  some  years  of  the  Second  Presbyterian 
church,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution,  a  charter  member  of  the 
Fort  Orange  Club,  and  a  member  of  Masters  Lodge  No.  5,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Temple 
Chapter  No.  5,  R.  A.  M.  In  1850  he  married  Mary  E.  Page,  daughter  of  Rev.  William 
Page  and  Francis  Sheldon  Page,  and  their  children  are  Mrs.  Willis  G.  Tucker, 
William  Page,  and  Henry  Newman. 

Major  John  Ludlow  Newman,  son  of  Henry  and  Mary  A.  (Lyman)  Newman,  was 
horn  in  Albany  on  the  21st  of  February,  1836,  was  educated  at  the  Albany  Academy, 
and  when  eighteen  entered  his  father's  wool  and  leather  store,  with  which  he  was 
identified  for  twenty-six  years.  In  1866  he  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Charles 
&  John  L.  Newman,  under  which  name  the  old  established  wool  business  of  his 
father  was  conducted  until  1880,  when  he  withdrew  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  woolen  goods  at  Cohoes,  N.  Y. ,  in  partnership  with  William  P.  Adams.  The  firm 
of  Newman  &  Adams  consumed  about  half  a  million  pounds  of  wool  annually  and 


22 

employed  a  large  force  of  skilled  workmen.  Major  Newman  retired  from  active 
business  in  1891,  after  a  successful  career  covering  thirty-seven  years.  He  is  presi- 
dent of  the  National  Bank  of  Cohoes,  having  been  a  director  since  1878  and  vice- 
president  since  1893  until  his  election  to  the  presidency  in  January,  1895.  This  is 
the  oldest  and  most  successful  banking  institution  in  Cohoes. 

Being  a  descendant  of  ancestors  who  had  fought  in  the  French  and  Indian  wars 
during  the  Colonial  times,  and  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  Major  Newman  felt  it 
his  patriotic  duty  to  "  fight  in  defense  of  the  flag  "  in  the  Civil  war.  In  1862  he  re- 
cruited a  company  for  the  Forty-third  New  York  Volunteers,  and  with  the  regiment 
joined  the  Third  Brigade,  Second  Division,  Sixth  Army  Corps  (General  Sedgwick's), 
as  captain  of  his  company.  He  served  under  McClellan  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
and  also  under  Burnside  at  Fredericksburg  December  13-15,  1862,  and  under  Hooker 
in  the  Chancellorsville  campaign  May  2-4,  1863,  being  wounded  in  the  charge  on 
Marye's  Heights  on  May  3.  On  this  occasion  Major  Newman  was  recommended  for 
honorable  mention  in  "  General  Orders"  for  gallantry  and  bravery.  On  May  4  he 
was  at  Salem  Church  fight  and  Banks  Ford,  and  on  June  9  in  another  skirmish  at 
Fredericksburg.  Then  commenced  the  memorable  Pennsylvania  campaign,  culmi- 
nating in  the  decisive  and  brilliant  victory  at  Gettysburg.  Major  Newman's  regi- 
ment, the  Forty-third  New  York,  commanded  by  Lieut. -Col.  John  Wilson,  held  in 
this  battle  an  important  position  near  Wolf's  Hill,  at  the  right  of  the  Union  line,  in 
front  of  the  confederate  General  Ewell,  and  participated  in  that  terrible  battle  of 
the  2d  and  3d  of  July,  1863.  November  7  he  was  at  the  battle  of  Rappahannock 
Station  and  November  27  at  Locust  Grove.  He  participated  in  the  Mine  Run 
campaign,  and  in  the  spring  of  1864  made  a  forced  march  with  the  Sixth  Corps  to 
Madison  Court  House.  He  was  promoted  major  of  the  Forty-third  regiment  and  in 
June,  1864,  was  honorably  discharged.  He  received  the  "Gettysburg  Medal"  from 
the  State  of  New  York. 

He  was  one  of  the  first  members  of  the  Albany  Zouave  Cadets  (now  Co.  A,  10th 
Battalion  N.  G.  N.  Y.)  in  1861,  an  organization  which  had  the  proud  record  of  send- 
ing eighty  commissioned  officers  to  the  Union  army.  Some  years  afterward  he  was 
elected  vice-president  and  later  president  of  the  Old  Guard,  an  organization  formed 
of  men  and  officers  of  the  old  Albany  Zouave  Cadets,  and  has  ever  since  been  one  of 
its  leading  members.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Military  Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion 
of  the  United  States,  the  Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  the  Society  of  the 
Sixth  Army  Corps,  of  which  he  was  elected  vice-president  during  the  reunion  at 
Gettysburg.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  George  S.  Dawson  Post,  No.  63,  G.  A.  R., 
and  was  appointed  ordnance  officer  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  T.  Ellery  Lord,  Third  Brig- 
ade, N.  G.  N.  Y.,  but  declined  the  honor.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revo- 
lution through  his  great-grandfather,  Col.  James  Lyman.  He  was  vice-president 
and  curator  of  the  Albany  Young  Men's  Association,  a  trustee  of  the  Albany  City 
Homoeopathic  Hospital,  a  trustee  of  the  First  Reformed  (Old  North  Dutch)  Church, 
and  secretary  of  the  old  Albany  Club.  Many  of  these  positions  he  resigned  when  he 
engaged  in  business  in  Cohoes.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club,  a  trustee 
of  the  Albany  Historical  aud  Art  Association,  and  has  always  taken  an  active  in- 
terest in  the  advancement  and  material  welfare  of  his  native  city,  where  he  has 
always  resided. 

Major  Newman  was  married  on  the  8th  of  October,  1872,  to  Miss  Evelina  Egberts 


23 

Steele,  daughter  of  Oliver  Steele,  of  Albany.  Mrs.  Newman's  mother  was  Anna 
Egberts,  a  daughter  of  Anthony  Egberts,  a  descendant  of  Rip  Van  Dam,  one  of  the 
early  colonial  governors  of  New  York ;  she  was  a  sister  of  Egbert  Egberts,  a  mer- 
chant of  Albany  and  "  the  father  of  the  knitting  industry  of  the  United  States,"  be- 
ing the  inventor  of  the  knitting  machine  and  a  wealthy  manufacturer  of  Coin ics. 
Major  and  Mrs.  Newman  have  two  children:  Clarence  Egberts  Newman  and  Evelyn 
Newman. 

Rev.  Frederick  Mayer  Newman,  youngest  son  of  Henry  Newman,  was  born  iu 
Albany  October  81,  1840,  was  educated  at  the  academy  and  Professor  Anthony's 
Classical  Institute,  and  in  I860  entered  Union  College,  from  which  he  received  the 
degrees  of  A.  B.  and  A.  M.  He  wasgraduated  from  Princeton  Theological  Seminary 
in  1867,  and  for  two  years  was  missionary  pastor  at  Port  Henry,  Essex  county,  having 
been  licensed  and  ordained  by  the  New  York  Presbytery.  He  spent  a  part  of  the 
year  1871  traveling  in  Europe,  and  for  four  years  thereafter  was  pastor  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  church  of  Saratoga  Springs.  He  is  a  member  of  Kappa  Alpha  Society 
of  Union  College  and  the  Albany  Institute,  a  life  member  of  the  Albany  Young 
Men's  Association,  and  a  member  of  other  honorary  societies.  Since  1880  he  has 
resided  in  Albany,  being  engaged  in  literary  pursuits. 


JOHN  I.   SLINGERLAND. 

The  Slingerland  family  of  Albany  county,  of  which  Hon.  John  I.  Slingerland  was 
one  of  the  most  distinguished  members,  is  descended  from  (1)  Teunis  Corneliuse  and 
Engeltie  Albertsie  (Bradt)  Slingerland,  of  pure  Dutch  stock,  who  emigrated  to 
America  from  Amsterdam,  Holland,  in  1650.  He  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Beverwyck  (Albany),  Kenwood,  and  Onisquatha  (Slingerlands),  where  he  purchased 
from  the  three  tribes  of  Indians  represented  by  the  signs  of  the  Wolf,  Bear,  and 
Turtle  about  10,000  acres  of  land  located  in  what  are  now  the  towns  of  Bethlehem 
and  New  Scotland.  Much  of  this  land  is  still  owned  and  occupied  by  his  posterity, 
large  tracts  of  it  having  always  remained  in  the  name.  He  was  born  iu  1617.  His 
second  wife,  whom  he  married  April  9,  1684,  was  Geertie  Fonda,  widow  of  fan 
Bicker.  The  line  of  descent  from  the  original  pioneer  to  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
is  as  follows:  (2)  Albert,  born  1666,  died  1731,  married  Hester  Becker;  (3)  Johannes, 
of  Onisquatha,  born  1696,  married  1724  Anne  Slingerland;  (4)  Albert,  of  Onisquatha, 
born  17:$:},  died  1814,  married  1760  Elizabeth  Moak  ;  (5)  John  Albert,  born  1768,  died 
1850,  married  Leah  Brett;  and  (6)  John  I.,  of  Slingerlands.  These  and  others  of  the 
family  were  mainly  agriculturists — prosperous,  substantial  citizens,  respected  and 
esteemed,  and  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  their  several  localities. 

lion.  John  I.  Slingerland  was  born  March  1,  1804,  in  New  Scotland,  Albany  county; 
when  a  young  man  he  took  up  his  residence  at  Slingerlands  (in  the  town  of  Bethle- 
hem), which  place  was  named  after  the  Slingerland  family,  and  received  a  good  com- 
mon school  education.  As  a  business  man  he  devoted  nearly  his  whole  life  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  residing  on  the  site  of  his  birth — the  old  family  homestead.  I  [e  ac- 
cumulated a  handsome  competency,  and  was  universally  respected  and  esteemed,  Di  it 
honored  only  by  those  who  enjoyed  his  acquaintance  but  by  all  who  knew  of  him      He 


24 

was  honored  for  his  social  qualities  as  well  as  for  his  Christian  faith.  His  was  an  un- 
usually warm  heart,  and  his  purse  was  always  open  to  the  wants  of  suffering  humanity. 
To  the  rich  and  poor,  high  and  low,  he  was  their  friend,  their  leader — ever  faithful  and 
conscientious  in  the  discharge  of  duty,  and  true  to  the  best  interests  of  his  community 
and  its  inhabitants.  No  man  was  ever  more  popular  among  his  constituents,  and 
probably  no  man  in  the  county  stood  so  high  in  public  esteem  and  confidence.  As 
an  illustration  of  his  great  popularity  it  is  cited  that,  on  one  occasion,  when  he  was 
a  candidate  for  Congress,  he  received  every  vote  in  one  of  the  towns  of  his  district. 
He  was  honest;  his  word  was  never  questioned;  and  even  his  political  opponents 
accorded  him  that  confidence  which  unswerving  honesty  always  merits. 

Mr.  Slingerland  was  one  of  the  foremost  politicians  of  his  time — not  in  the  sense 
in  which  the  word  politician  is  now  used,  but  along  the  lines  of  honorable  leadership, 
pure  and  unselfish  in  its  motives,  and  ennobling  because  of  its  lofty  aims  and  public 
benefaction.  In  1843  he  was  a  member  of  the  Assembly,  and  in  I860  he  again  rep- 
resented the  first  assembly  district  of  Albany  county  in  that  body.  In  1847-49  he 
was  a  member  of  the  30th  Congress  from  the  thirteenth  Congressional  district.  He 
served  with  distinction  in  these  bodies,  winning  for  himself  lasting  credit  and  honor, 
and  for  his  constituents  a  number  of  measures  for  their  permanent  good.  In  each 
position  he  was  faithful,  honest,  straightforward,  and  upright.  In  the  trying  times 
of  slavery  agitation  he  never  lost  sight  of  the  fundamental  principle  of  freedom, 
to  which  his  votes  and  influence  were  ever  directed,  and  to  which  he  made  every 
other  political  course  subordinate.  .  Loyalty  to  country  and  home  was  one  of  his  chief 
characteristics.  In  a  ringing  letter  of  August  12,  1856,  he  boldly  and  fearlessly  de- 
nounced "  those  twin  relics  of  barbarism,  polygamy  and  slavery,  '  and  advocated  the 
election  of  John  C.  Fremont  for  President — an  act  which  placed  his  name  among  the 
founders  of  the  Republican  party.  His  public  life  was  unstained,  his  honor  unsullied  ; 
and  he  exemplified  those  convictions  bequeathed  to  him  by  an  ancestry  who  poured 
out  their  blood  in  the  cause  of  liberty  and  conscience. 

Locally  Mr.  Slingerland  was  ever  active  in  advancing  public  interests.  He  was 
one  of  the  principal  founders  of  the  village  of  Slingerlands,  named  after  his  family, 
and  was  chiefly  instrumental  in  securing  the  post-office  and  other  institutions.  But 
his  greatest  effort  in  this  respect,  and  one  that  overreached  all  others  in  its  subse- 
quent benefits,  was  the  Susquehanna  division  of  the  D.  &  H.  railroad,  which  he, 
more  than  any  other  man,  secured  for  the  place.  He  zealously  labored  for  the  con- 
struction of  this  line  along  its  present  route,  locally  and  in  the  State  Legislature, 
by  having  bills  passed,  appropriations,  &c.  ;  and  to  him  is  due  the  chief  honor  of 
successfully  attaining  the  desired  ends.  He  died,  where  he  had  always  lived,  on  the 
26th  of  October,   1861. 

Mr.  Slingerland  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Elizabeth  Van  Derzee,  who 
bore  him  three  children;  John,  deceased;  Harmon  Van  D.,  of  South  Bethlehem ; 
and  Miss  Maria  of  Albany.  By  his  second  wife,  Sally  Hall,  he  had  Elizabeth  (Mrs. 
Adrian  Safford),  of  Albany,  and  William,  of  Slingerlands.  John  Slingerland,  a 
farmer  on  a  part  of  the  old  homestead,  was  a  prominent  Republican,  a  good  public 
speaker,  and  a  highly  respected  citizen.  He  married  Betsey,  daughter  of  Joel  Wicker 
Andrews,  a  manufacturer  who  made  the  steam  apparatus  which  ran  in  Charles  R. 
Van  Benthuysen's  printing-office  in  Albany  the  first  steam  printing  press  in  America. 
She  was  a  descendant  of  Lieut.    Robert   Andrews,   an  officer  in  the   Revolutionary 


A.  B.   VAN  LOON,  M.  D. 


25 

war,  and  of  John  and  Mary  Andrews,  who  came  from  Ipswich,  England,  to  Farm- 
ington,  Conn.,  in  KM! I.  They  had  three  children:  Cora  E.  (Mrs.  Clinton  Cook),  of 
New  Scotland;  Cornelius  H.,  of  Slingerlands;  and  John  I.,  who  died  young. 

Cornelius  H.  Slingerland,  born  in  Slingerlands,  April  23,  1861,  received  a  private 
school  education,  and  when  seventeen  began  learning  the  printer's  trade  with  George 
Wilkinson  in  Albany.  Two  years  later  he  established  his  present  printing-office  in 
Slingerlands,  where  he  has  successfully  built  up,  from  a  modest  beginning,  a  pros- 
perous general  commercial  printing  business.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  a  member 
of  Masters  Lodge,  No.  5,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Albany,  and  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution. 
In  April,  1883,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Nellie  B.  Mattice,  of  Slingerlands,  a 
lineal  descendant  of  one  of  the  members  of  the  Boston  tea  party.  They  have  one 
daughter,  Mary. 


ARTHUR  B.   VAN  LOON,   M.  D. 

I>k.  Akthi  r  B.  Van  Loon,  eldest  son  of  William  H.  and  Caroline  M.  (Stark)  Van 
Loon,  was  born  in  Albany,  December  28,  1868,  and  is  of  Holland  Dutch  descent. 
His  father,  a  native  of  Troy,  N.  Y.,  has  been  for  several  years  an  active  citizen  of 
Albany.  His  mother  was  descended  from  General  Stark  of  Revolutionary  fame.  Dr. 
Van  Loon  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  High  School  in  1888,  read  medicine  with 
Dr.  W.  E.  Milbank,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  1891, 
delivering  the  class  oration.  He  was  graduated  from  the  New  York  Homeopathic 
Medical  College  in  1892  and  for  one  year  was  interne  in  Ward's  Island  Hospital. 
While  in  New  York  he  took  a  special  course  in  the  Carnegie  Laboratory  (connected 
with  Bellevue  College),  and  in  1893  began  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Albany;  since  then  has  made  gynecology  a  speciality.  He  is  a  member  of  the  surg- 
ical staff  of  the  Albany  Homeopathic  Hospital,  a  member  of  the  Albany  County 
Homeopathic  Medical  Society,  the  New  York  State  Homeopathic  Medical  Society 
and  the  American  Institute  of  Homeopathy.  April  11,  1895,  he  married  Caroline  S., 
daughter  of  the  late  John  Phillips,  of  Albany. 


M.   J.   ZEH,   M.  D. 

Mi  ki  in  J.  Zi.ii,  M.  D.,a  physician  of  Watervliet,  N.  Y.,  who,  though  a  young  man, 
has  become  eminently  successful  in  his  profession.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Knox,  Albany  county,  August  2,  1867.  He  is  the  son  of  the  late  Elias  Zeh,  a  prom- 
inent farmer  of  Knox.  His  mother  was  Annie  E.  Osterhout  of  the  well  known 
pioneer  family,  named  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

Dr.  Zeh  received  his  preliminary  education  at  the  Knox  Academy,  after  which  he 
taught  school  for  a  short  time.  He  next  read  homeopathy  with  Dr.  Tuck,  asuccess- 
ful  practioner  of  Berne,  N.  Y.  In  1885  lie  studied  pharmacy  and  eclecticism  with 
Dr.  Archie  Cullen,  late  of  West  Troy,  passing  the  State  Board  of  Pharmacy  Feb- 
ruary, 1887. 
o 


26 

In  1886  he  read  medicine  under  the  supervision  of  Dr.  Shiland  of  West  Troy,  and 
the  late  Dr.  John  Swinburn  of  Albany,  and  entered  the  Albany  Medical  College, 
where  he  pursued  a  full  course,  graduating  March  21,  1889. 

The  following  month  he  began  practice  in  West  Troy,  where  he  is  held  in  high 
esteem. 

In  1890  he  married  Miss  Charlotte  B.  Cullen,  a  sister  of  Dr.  Archie  Cullen.  He 
has  one  son,  Arthur  P.,  and  a  daughter,  Florence  J.  Dr.  Zeh  is  a  member  of  the 
following  societies:  New  York  State  Medical  Association,  the  Medical  Association 
of  Troy  and  Vicinity,  the  Rensselaer  County  Medical  Society,  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  the 
Wyoma  Council  Royal  Arcanum,  the  Troy  Yacht  Club,  Olympian  Senate,  Knights 
of  the  Ancient  Essenic  Order,  associate  member  of  the  Walter  A.  Jones  Post,  G.  A. 
R.,  and  is  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason.  He  has  held  the  office  of  city  physician  for 
the  past  three  years. 


ISAAC  W.   VOSBURGH. 

The  late  Isaac  W.  Vosburgh,  of  Albany,  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  Abram 
Pieterse  Vosburgh,  who  came  from  Holland  and  settled  at  Beverwyck  (now  Albany) 
in  1652.  With  this  original  ancestor  came  three  brothers,  who  located  in  Kinder- 
hook,  Claverack,  and  the  Mohawk  Valley  respectively.  Abram  P.  married  Gertruy 
Pieterse  Koeymans,  or  Coeymans,  and  had  a  son  Isaac,  who  married  Anna  Janse 
Goes  in  1686.  Abraham,  son  of  Isaac,  married  Geertje  Van  Den  Berg  in  1719,  and 
their  son  Isaac,  born  1720,  died  1785,  married,  in  1759,  Catherine  Staats  Dort.  Their 
son,  William  Vosburgh,  born  1772,  died  1839,  was  a  contractor,  and  in  1799  married 
Mary  Mcl'onald.  Mr.  Vosburgh  was  therefore  descended  from  one  of  the  oldest 
Holland  Dutch  families  of  Albany,  and  from  his  ancestors  inherited  a  liberal  meas- 
ure of  their  thrift  and  noted  characteristics. 

Isaac  W.  Vosburgh  was  born  where  his  ancestors  had  lived  for  four  generations, 
in  Albany,  on  the  21st  of  December,  1801,  his  parents  being  William  Vosburgh  and 
Mary  McDonald.  He  received  a  common  and  private  school  education,  and  on 
February  3,  1823,  became  a  clerk  in  the  hardware  store  of  George  Humphrey,  who 
in  1825  was  succeeded  by  the  firm  of  Humphrey  &  Co.  Mr.  Vosburgh  remained 
with  this  concern  for  six  years.  On  January  1,  1829,  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
Lansing  Pruyn  and  Abram  F.  Wilson  and  purchased  the  hardware  business  then 
conducted  by  John  Pruyn  and  located  where  the  post-office  building  now  stands. 
The  firm  of  Pruyn,  Wilson  &  Vosburgh  conducted  a  successful  trade  until  1842,  when 
Mr.  Wilson  retired  and  the  name  was  changed  to  Pruyn,  Vosburgh  &  Co.  This  co- 
partnership continued  business  until  1860,  when  Mr.  Vosburgh  retired  permanently 
from  active  life,  being  at  that  time  one  of  the  oldest  hardware  merchants  in  Albany. 
The  last  store  occupied  by  his  firm  was  the  east  half  of  the  store  now  owned  by  the 
Albany  Hardware  and  Iron  Company  on  State  street. 

Mr.  Vosburgh,  during  a  long  and  active  career,  was  uniformly  successful,  and  re- 
tained the  confidence  and  respect  of  all  who  knew  him.  He  took  a  deep  interest  in 
the  welfare  of  his  native  city,  was  prominently  connected  with  several  charitable 
and  commercial  institutions,  and  gave  liberally  of  both  time  and  means  for  the  ad- 


27 

vancement  of  public  interests.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Dudley  Ob- 
servatory and  served  as  treasurer  from  its  inception  until  about  1882,  when  he  re- 
signed on  account  of  ill-health.  He  was  also  one  of  the  originators  of  the  Albany 
Rural  Cemetery,  was  a  trustee  from  its  organization  until  his  death,  and  was  for 
many  years  chairman  of  its  executive  committee.  He  was  long  a  trustee  of  the 
Mechanics'  and  Farmers'  Savings  Bank  and  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  church.  In 
politics  he  was  first  a  Whig  and  afterward  a  Republican,  but  never  sought  nor  ac- 
cepted public  office.  During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  he  staunchly  supported  the 
Union,  and  although  at  that  time  he  was  beyond  the  age  limit  and  could  not  have 
been  drafted,  he  nevertheless  recruited  and  equipped  and  sent  a  substitute  for  each 
member  of  his  family,  who  served  with  honor  in  the  nation's  cause.  Mr.  Vosburgh 
died  in  Albany,  September  29,  1888. 

He  was  married  in  1841  to  Miss  Sarah  Jane,  daughter  of  Wiley  Fletcher,  of  Al- 
bany, a  descendant  of  William  Fletcher,  who  came  from  Yorkshire,  England,  to 
Concord,  Mass.,  in  1630.  She  was  born  in  1818  and  survives  him.  Their  children 
were  Mrs.  William  Irwin  and  Mrs.  Caldwell  R.  Blakeman,  of  New  York  city;  Mary 
McD.  and  Miles  Woodward  Vosburgh,  of  Albany;  Fletcher  Vosburgh,  who  died 
July  30,  1895,  at  the  age  of  thirty-nine;  and  two  who  died  young.  Miles  W.  is  a 
general  shipping  agent  in  Albany,  conducting  the  business  established  by  the  late 
William  McElroy  in  1840. 


SAMUEL  BALDWIN  WARD,   M.   D. 

S  \mi  el  Baldwin  Ward,  M.  D.,  son  of  Lebbeus  Baldwin  and  Abby  Dwight  (Par- 
tridge) Ward,  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York  on  June  8.  1842,  and  is  of  English 
descent.  His  great  grandfather,  Samuel  Ward,  born  August  27,  1724,  moved  from 
Virginia  to  Morristown,  N.  J.,  where  he  married  Mary  Shipman,  and  where  he  died 
April  15,  1799.  Silas  Ward,  son  of  Samuel,  was  born  in  Morris  county,  N.  J.,  in 
1767,  and  died  in  1862.  He  married  Phoebe  Dod  of  a  New  Jersey  family  distin- 
guished for  its  literary  and  scientific  attainments.  Lebbeus  Baldwin  Ward,  their 
son,  was  born  April  7,  1801,  and  died  in  New  York  city  June  15,  1885.  He  was  a 
man  of  practical  education,  of  studious  habits,  of  trustworthy  judgment  and  of 
great  mechanical  ability.  He  erected  the  Hammersley  Forge  in  New  York  and 
won  a  wide  reputation  as  a  builder  of  engines,  and  later  as  a  manufacturer  of  heavy 
wrought  iron  forgings.  He  was  an  early  commissioner  of  the  metropolitan  board  of 
police,  a  member  of  the  State  assembly  in  1851,  and  a  member  of  various  commis- 
sions appointed  by  the  municipality  of  New  York  to  construct  important  city  works. 
With  his  brothers  John  D.  and  Samuel  S.  he  also  built  the  first  steamboat  and  the 
first  railroad  ever  operated  in  Canada,  the  firm  doing  business  in  Montreal  from 
about  1820  to  1838.  Lebbeus  Baldwin  Ward  married  Abby  Dwight  Partridge,  who  was 
born  in  Hatfield,  Mass.,  the  daughter  of  a  noted  clergyman,  and  whose  ancestors 
were  descended  from  the  best  Puritan  Pilgrim  stock. 

Doctor  Ward  received  his  earlier  education  in  private  schools.  When  fifteen  he 
entered  the  freshman  class  of  Columbia  College,  and  after  a  four  years'  course  was 
graduated  from    that  institution  in  1861  with  third  honors.     He   then   entered    the 


28 

office  of  that  celebrated  physician,  Dr.  Willard  Parker,  a  close  friend  of  the  family, 
and  in  1861  and  1862  attended  a  course  of  lectures  at  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons.  But  his  patriotism  led  him  to  temporarily  abandon  student  life  and  en- 
list in  the  war  for  the  Union,  where  he  united  service  with  professional  interest.  In 
1862  he  became  a  medical  cadet,  U.  S.  A.,  and  the  Medical  Department  of  George- 
town University  in  1864  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  M.  D.  The  two  years 
thus  spent  afforded  him  a  wide  practical  experience  in  army  hospitals  around  Wash- 
ington, and  enabled  him  to  reap  that  reward  which  comes  from  faithfulness  to  duty 
and  skill  in  practice.  In  1863  he  became  Acting  Assistant  Surgeon,  U.  S.  A.,  and 
soon  after  his  graduation  was  commissioned  by  President  Lincoln  an  Assistant  Sur- 
geon of  U.  S.  Volunteers.  In  the  autumn  of  1865  he  returned  to  New  York  and  in 
October  embarked  for  Europe,  where  for  twelve  months  he  studied  medicine  and 
surgery  in  some  of  the  largest  hospitals  of  the  Old  World.  Returning  at  the  end  of 
this  period  to  his  native  city  he  engaged  in  the  active  practice  of  his  profession,  and 
was  soon  chosen  professor  of  surgery  in  the  Woman's  Medical  College  of  the  New 
York  Infirmary.  He  also  became  attending  surgeon  of  the  Northern  Dispensary, 
consulting  surgeon  of  the  Western  Dispensary  for  Women  and  Children,  visiting 
surgeon  to  the  Presbyterian  Hospital,  and  in  1872  Assistant  Surgeon  with  the  rank 
of  captain  of  the  7th  Regiment,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y. 

In  May,  1876,  Doctor  Ward  removed  to  Albany,  where  he  has  since  resided,  and 
where  he  has  won  the  highest  reputation  as  a  physician  and  surgeon  and  universal 
esteem  as  a  citizen.  Soon  after  his  arrival  he  was  chosen  professor  of  surgical 
pathology  and  operative  surgery  in  the  Albany  Medical  College,  and  later  professor 
of  the  theory  and  practice  of  medicine  in  the  same  institution,  which  position  he  still 
holds.  He  also  became  attending  surgeon  to  the  Albany  and  St.  Peter's  Hospitals. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Association  of  American  Physicians ;  a  member  of  the  Albany 
County  Medical  Society;  a  permanent  member  and  ex-president  of  the  New  York 
State  Medical  Society;  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  executive  committee  of  the 
State  Normal  College ;  a  trustee  and  vice-president  of  the  Dudley  Observatory ;  a 
a  trustee  of  the  Albany  Female  Academy ;  ex-president  of  the  State  board  of  survey ; 
one  of  the  civil  service  examiners  for  State  medical  officials ;  president  of  the  Fort 
Orange  Club;  member  and  ex-president  of  the  Albany  Camera  Club,  and  a  member 
of  the  American  Climatolcgical  Association.  He  was  also  for  some  time  a  member 
of  the  Albany  board  of  health,  and  is  connected  with  several  other  scientific  and 
social  organizations,  including  the  Northwest  Medical  and  Surgical  Society,  of  which 
he  was  secretary  in  1874-76.  He  is  now  attending  physician  to  the  Albany  City 
Hospital  and  consulting  physician  to  St.  Peter's  Hospital  and  the  Albany  Orphan 
Asylum.  In  1864  he  received  the  degree  of  A.  M.  in  course  from  Columbia  College 
and  in  1882  that  of  Ph.  D.  ex-konore  from  Union  University. 

Doctor  Ward  has  contributed  a  number  of  articles  on  medicine  and  surgery  to 
the  leading  medical  journals  of  the  country,  and  is  an  authority  on  many  subjects 
akin  to  his  profession.  In  1879  he  first  visited  the  Adirondack  region,  and  ever  since 
then  he  has  been  enthusiastic  in  the  development  of  the  sanitary  advantages  of  that 
vast  wilderness.  His  investments  in  the  Saranac  Lake  country  have  been  consider- 
able, and  as  both  a  citizen  and  an  officer  he  has  addressed  himself  to  the  work  of 
forest  preservation. 


29 


In  1871  Doctor  Ward  was  married  to  Miss  Nina  A.,  the  accomplished  daughter  of 
William   A.    Wheeler  of  New  York  city,   who  died  in  October.  lss:J,,  leaving  three 


children. 


JAMES  C.   COVERT. 

James  C.  Covert,  proprietor  of  the  Covert  Manufacturing  Company  of  West  Troy, 
N.  Y. ,  was  born  in  Seneca  county,  N.  Y. ,  in  1835.  After  receiving  a  substantial  ed- 
ucation in  the  public  schools,  he  devoted  his  attention  to  the  harness  trade  and  be- 
came a  thorough  practical  harnessmaker  and  manufacturer.  For  a  number  of  years 
he  was  in  business  in  his  native  town  after  which  he  went  South,  traveling  through 
the  different  Southern  States,  with  headquarters  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  he  re- 
mained several  years,  until  just  before  the  Rebellion,  when  he  returned  North  and 
established  himself  in  business  in  Seneca  county.  Mr.  Covert  is  possessed  of  great 
inventive  genius,  having  taken  out  over  fifty  patents  on  his  different  inventions  and 
not  only  has  he  patented  valuable  inventions,  but  has,  unlike  most  inventors,  per- 
sonally manufactured,  introduced  and  established  a  large  and  lucrative  business  on 
his  articles.  In  1868  he  patented  his  famous  bolt  harness  snap,  which  revolutionized 
the  snap  trade  throughout  the  United  States  and  to-day  these  snaps  are  standard 
throughout  the  world,  and  they  have  been  largely  imitated.  In  1873  the  Covert 
Manufacturing  Company  was  formed  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1879  the  business  was 
removed  to  West  Troy,  Albany  county,  where  the  company  erected  a  large  estab- 
lishment adapted  particularly  to  the  manufacture  of  their  goods  and  to  which  plant 
there  has  since  been  many  large  and  substantial  additions.  The  business  was  com- 
menced upon  a  comparatively  small  scale,  but  their  goods  are  now  recognized  as 
being  standard  and  are  shipped  to  every  civilized  country  in  the  world.  Their  goods 
consist  of  Covert's  celebrated  harness  snaps,  swivel  snaps,  open-eye  bit,  chain  and 
trace  snaps,  snaps  and  thimbles  for  horse  and  cattle  ties,  abjustable  web  and  rope 
halters,  and  rope  goods,  consisting  of  rope  halters,  horse  and  cattle  ties,  halter  leads, 
weight  and  hitching  cords,  hammock  ropes,  lariat  tethers,  picket  pins,  and  also  ad- 
justable soldering  irons,  rod  post  hitchers  and  chain  goods  consisting  of  breast, 
halter,  rein,  post,  trace  and  heel  chains,  hitching  posts,  balling  irons,  safety  gate 
hooks,  pant  stretchers,  wagon  jacks,  etc. 

Mr.  Covert  is  also  the  owner  and  manufacturer  of  the  famous  Dr.  Bury  Medicines, 
being  the  sole  proprietor  of  the  Dr.  Bury  Medical  Company  of  West  Troy,  N.  Y. 
These  medicines  consist  of  lung  balsam,  catarrh  snuff  and  camphor  ointment. 
These  remedies  were  invented  by  an  eminent  French  physician  who  used  them  ex- 
tensively and  successfully  in  his  practice,  both  in  France  and  the  United  States. 
In  1889  a  company  was  formed  under  the  title  of  the  Dr.  Bury  Medical  Company, 
who  began  the  extensive  manufacture  and  sale  of  the  Dr.  Bury  Remedies. 

Under  the  skillful  management  of  Mr.  Covert  the  business  has  grown  in  propor- 
tions and  the  remedies  are  now  used  in  all  sections  of  the  country.  Mr.  Covert  is  a 
careful,  shrewd  business  man  and  attends  strictly  to  business,  almost  every  detail 
at  which  comes  under  his  direct  personal  supervision.  Although  not  a  politician  he 
has  held  several  offices  of  public  trust  and  takes  a  deep  interest  in  all  public  improve- 


30 

ments.  He  was  one  of  the  commissioners  intrusted  with  the  adoption  and  construc- 
tion of  the  new  and  extensive  sewerage  system  of  the  village  of  West  Troy  and  was 
recently  appointed  one  of  the  water  commissioners  of  the  city  of  Watervliet.  He  is 
a  member  and  elder  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  church  and  takes  a  prominent 
and  active  part  in  all  its  affairs  and  is  also  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association.  He  stands  very  high  in  the  Masonic  fraternity,  having  held 
office  in  the  different  bodies  and  is  Past  High  Priest  of  Hudson  River  Chapter,  R. 
A.  M.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Evening  Star  Lodge  No.  75,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Hudson 
River  Chapter  No.  262,  R.  A.  M.  of  West  Troy,  N.  Y.  ;  Bloss  Council,  No.  14,  R.  & 
S  M.  ;  Apollo  Commandery,  No.  15,  K.  T.,  Troy,  N.  Y.  ;  Albany  Sovereign  Consis- 
tory thirty-two  degrees,  A.  A.  R.,  also  Oriental  Temple  N.  M.  S.,  of  Troy,  N»Y. 


RUFUvS  H.   KING. 

Rufus  H.  King  died  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  July  9,  1867.  Mr.  King  was  a  native  of 
Ridgefield,  Conn.  His  father  was  an  officer  in  the  army  of  the  Revolution,  his 
name  being  associated  in  history  with  that  of  Major  Andre  as  the  officer  to  whom 
the  British  spy  was  delivered  by  his  captors,  and  who  had  charge  of  him  until  he 
was  executed. 

Mr.  King  came  to  Albany  in  1814,  and  in  partnership  with  his  brother-in-law, 
William  McHarg,  as  a  dry  goods  merchant,  established  a  reputation  for  capacity  and 
integrity  which  laid  the  foundation  for  enduring  prosperity  and  ultimate  fortune. 
He  became  a  director  in  the  New  York  State  National  Bank  at  an  early  day  and 
more  than  twenty  years  ago  succeeded  the  late  Mr.  Bloodgood  as  its  president,  soon 
after  which  he  withdrew  from  his  mercantile  business  and  devoted  himself  to  bank- 
ing and  to  the  purchase  and  sale  of  stocks.  He  was  also  president  of  the  Albany 
Savings  Bank  and  the  Albany  Insurance  Company.  The  marked  prosperity  which 
has  attended  all  these  institutions  furnishes  sufficient  evidence  of  his  financial 
ability. 

There  was  not  in  the  State  a  more  thorough  merchant  and  banker  than  Rufus  H. 
King,  or  none  more  extensively  known,  esteemed  and  confided  in.  The  financial 
officers  of  the  State  through  all  changes  were  accustomed  to  avail  themselves  of 
Mr.  King's  knowledge  and  judgment  as  to  the  time  and  character  of  their  loans. 
His  experience  and  advice,  always  cheerfully  given,  saved  hundreds  of  thousands 
of  dollars  to  the  treasury. 

He  was  a  life-long  intimate  friend  and  associate  of  Thurlow  Weed ;  and  though 
not  at  all  the  politician  that  Mr.  Weed  was,  they  were  fast  friends.  No  man  so  much 
as  Mr.  King,  perhaps,  had  to  so  great  an  extent  the  full  confidence  of  Mr.  Weed. 

In  his  temperament  Mr.  King  was  particularly  a  man  of  business.  He  devoted 
himself  sedulously  to  those  occupations  for  which  he  was  especially  fitted;  and 
though  having  many  opportunities  for  public  preferment,  he  avoided  them  with  al- 
most morbid  dislike.  He  was  a  faithful  husband,  a  loving  father,  a  true  friend,  and 
an  upright  and  honest  citizen.  The  most  scrupulous  integrity  marked  every  trans- 
action in  which  he  was  engaged.  He  made  hosts  of  friends  and  no  enemies.  Gen- 
erous to  the  last  degree,   he  always  saw  the  best  qualities  of  those  with  whom  he 


ATTILIO  PASQUIN1. 


31 

came  in  contact;  and   was  probably  incapable  of  nourishing  such  a  sentiment  as 
animosity. 

Mr.   King  early  in  life  married  Amelia  Laverty,   daughter  of  Henry  Laverty  of 
New  York  city. 


ATTILIO  PASyUINI. 

Attillo  Pasquini,  one  of  the  leading  contractors  and  builders  of  Albany,  was 
born  in  the  village  of  Nava,  about  one  mile  from  the  city  of  Lucca,  Italy,  on  the  6th 
day  of  January,  1849.  His  father  was  also  a  native  of  Nava,  while  his  mother's 
birthplace  was  the  village  of  Santa  Maria  Colle,  two  and  one-half  miles  from  Lucca. 
Mr.  Pasquini  received  a  common  school  education,  and  at  an  early  age  learned  the 
trade  of  mason  in  his  native  country.  He  soon  sought  a  wider  field  for  the  exercise 
of  those  progressive  qualities  which  have  characterized  his  life  and  upon  attaining 
his  majority  decided  to  come  to  America.  Leaving  Italy  on  the  3d  of  May,  1871,  be 
arrived  in  New  York  city  on  the  7th  of  the  following  month  (June),  and  immediately 
settled  in  Albany,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Here  he  readily  found  employment 
at  his  trade,  which  he  pursued  for  several  years. 

He  rapidly  acquired  a  high  reputation  among  both  workmen  and  contractors,  and 
in  time  became  a  contractor  himself,  a  business  in  which  he  has  won  uniform  suc- 
cess. He  is  now  an  extensive  mason,  contractor,  and  builder,  doing  work  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  State.  In  the  capital  city  he  has  erected  many  of  the  largest  and 
finest  buildings,  among  which  may  be  mentioned  the  Harmanus  Bleecker  Hall,  the 
New  York  State  Armory,  the  Albany  County  Bank,  the  D.  &  H.  C.  Co.'s  building, 
public  school  No.  7,  John  H.  Day's  and  the  Bensen  buildings,  Our  Lady  of  Angels 
Convent  and  remodelling  its  church,  one  of  St.  Agnes's  School  buildings  on  Elk 
street,  St.  Peter's  Rectory,  two  handsome  residences  for  Messrs.  Walker  and  Gibson 
on  State  street,  the  Hudson  River  Telephone  building,  and  a  large  number  of  other 
structures,  including  many  dwellings  of  almost  equal  prominence.  Among  the 
numerous  buildings  erected  by  him  outside  the  city  of  Albany  are  the  Twenty-third 
Regiment  Armory  in  Brooklyn,  the  largest  in  the  State;  power  houses  for  the  Brook- 
lyn City  and  Newtown  Railroad  Company  of  New  York;  depots  for  the  D.  &  H.  C. 
Co.  at  Plattsburg,  Mechanicsville,  and  Slingerlands;  depots  for  the  F.,  J.  &  G.  Rail- 
road at  Johnstown  and  Gloversville;  and  a  Catholic  church  at  Castleton,  N.  Y.  He 
has  also  built  a  number  of  fine  residences  in  various  parts  of^the  State;  among  them 
being  Mr.  Denton's  at  Middletown,  R.  C.  Pruyn's  at  Altamont,  and  Charles  Ellis's 
at  Schenectady.  He  is  now  (January,  1897)  erecting  three  large  buildings  for  the 
Manhattan  State  Hospital  on  Ward's  Island  and  a  power  house  for  the  North  River 
Electric  Light  and  Power  Company  in  New  York  city.  These  and  others  too  numer- 
ous to  mention  show  the  energy  with  which  Mr.  Pasquini  has  prosecuted  the  busi- 
ness of  contracting,  and  are  monuments  to  his  industry,  enterprise,  and  executive 
ability. 

He  is  an  active  member  and  treasurer  of  the  Albany  Republican  League,  a  promi- 
nent member  of  the  Albany  Burgesses  Corps  and  the  I  »ongan  Club,  and  a  member 
and   for  one  term   president  of  the   Italian   Columbus  Society.     Though  born  and 


32 

reared  under  Italy's  sunny  skies,  in  a  land  of  caste  and  royalty,  he  is  at  heart  a  thor- 
ough American,  a  lover  of  personal  freedom  and  of  free  institutions,  and  a  staunch 
supporter  of  the  Republican  principles  typified  by  this  government.  He  is  not  only 
active  in  promoting  the  welfare  of  his  countrymen  wherever  he  finds  them,  but  is 
loyal  to  the  best  interests  of  mankind  and  influential  in  the  prosperity  of  the  city  of 
his  residence. 

On  the  28th  of  January,  1875,  Mr.  Pasquini  was  married  in  Albany  to  Miss  Magda- 
lena  M.  Hufnagel,  by  whom  he  has  five  children;  Louis  J.,  Attilio  M.,  Elizabeth  C, 
Margaret  F.,  and  Angelina  M. 


COL.   SELDEN  E.   MARVIN,  Jr. 

Col.  Selden  Erastus  Marvin,  jr.,  eldest  son  of  Gen.  Selden  Erastus  and  Katharine 
Langdon  (Parker)  Marvin,  was  born  in  the  homestead  of  his  maternal  grandfather, 
the  late  Judge  Amasa  J.  Parker,  on  Washington  avenue,  in  Albany,  on  the  1st  of 
December,  1869.  He  attended  the  Albany  Academy  and  from  there  entered  St. 
Paul's  School  at  Concord,  N.  H.,  where  he  took  quite  an  active  interest  in  athletic 
sports.  As  a  member  of  one  of  the  football  teams  of  that  institution  he  received  an 
injury  which  resulted  in  his  return  to  Albany,  where  he  re-entered  the  Albany 
Academy  and  graduated  therefrom  in  June,  1888.  He  then  spent  one  year  at  the 
Hopkinson  School  in  Boston,  and  in  the  fall  of  1889  entered  Harvard  University, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  full  course  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  in  1893.  While 
there  he  was  treasurer  and  president  one  year  each  of  the  University  Glee  Club. 
Upon  his  graduation  he  returned  to  Albany  and  was  appointed  instructor  in  English 
at  the  Albany  Academy,  and  gradually  increased  the  scope  of  his  work  there  until 
he  also  taught  Latin,  German,  and  elementary  subjects.  At  the  close  of  the  fall 
term  in  December,  1894,  he  resigned  this  position  to  accept  at  the  hands  of  Gov. 
Levi  P.  Morton  the  appointment  of  military  secretary,  with  the  rank  of  colonel,  on 
the  governor's  staff,  the  duties  of  which  he  assumed  on  January  1,  1895.  He  has 
ably  and  creditably  filled  this  important  office  since  that  date. 

Colonel  Marvin  is  a  member  of  the  Fort  Orange,  Press  and  Country  Clubs,  of 
Albany,  and  for  many  years  has  been  especially  active  and  deeply  interested  in 
musical  affairs,  being  a  prominent  member  of  the  choir  of  All  Saints  Cathedral.  He 
studied  music  for  four  years  in  Boston  under  A.  R.  Reed,  a  pupil  and  an  intimate 
friend  of  William  Shakespeare,  the  celebrated  authority  on  the  Italian  School  of 
Vocal  Culture,  of  London,  England. 


FREDERICK  EAST<  >N. 


Frederick  Easton  is  a  son  of  the  late  Hon.  Charles  P.  Easton  and  was  born  iu 
Albany,  on  the  corner  of  Clinton  avenue  and  Chapel  street,  on  the  5th  of  January, 
1860.  Hon.  Charles  P.  Easton  was  born  here  October  24,  1824,  and  died  March  3, 
1885.     For  many  years  he  was  a  leading  business  in  Albany's  great  lumber  district, 


COL.  SHLDtN   E.  MARVIN,  JR. 


FREDERICK  HASTON. 


33 

being  the  founder  and  head  of  the  firm  of  C.  P.  Easton  &  Co.  He  was  also  a  pub- 
lic spirited  citizen  who  devoted  himself  untiringly  to  the  educational  interests  of  the 
community.  In  religious  and  charitable  undertakings  he  was  equally  zealous,  and 
an  entire  generation  of  the  city's  young  men  will  recall  with  pleasure  his  dignified 
but  genial  presence,  and  especially  his  liberality  and  unceasing  efforts  in  the  ad- 
vancement of  public  school  methods. 

Frederick  Easton  has  spent  his  life  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  his  birth- 
place. He  received  his  early  education  in  public  schools  Nos.  6  and  15,  and  after 
completing  the  grammar  course  attended  the  Delaware  Literary  Institute  at  Frank- 
lin, Delaware  county.  On  returning  to  Albany  he  associated  himself  in  the  whole- 
sale lumber  business  under  the  firm  name  of  C.  P.  Easton  &  Co.,  his  partners  being 
his  brothers  William  and  Edward,  with  whom  he  has  since  continued.  On  the  death 
of  the  father  these  sons  succeeded  to  this  business  and  have  conducted  it  with  marked 
ability  and  success,  maintaining  a  credit  and  an  integrity  unsullied. 

For  nearly  ten  years  Mr.  Easton  was  a  prominent  member  of  Co.  A,  10th  Regt., 
now  the  10th  Battalion,  but  owing  to  pressing  business  obligations  he  resigned  from 
active  service  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  Old  Guard  Albany  Zouave  Cadets.  He 
has  been  an  active  member  of  the  Capital  City  Club  since  1872  and  is  now  its  pres- 
ident. In  the  campaign  work  of  this  organization  he  served  as  lieutenant  under 
Capt.  A.  W.  Pray  in  1884  and  as  chief  of  staff  under  Captains  Albert  Judson  and 
Newcomb  Cleveland  in  1888  and  1892  respectively.  He  is  also  active  in  Masonic 
chcles,  being  a  member  of  Masters  Lodge,  Capital  City  Chapter,  De  Witt  Clinton 
Council,  Temple  Commandery,  and  Cyprus  Shrine.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Fort 
Orange  Club  and  the  Benevolent  Order  of  Elks,  and  was  twice  elected  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Albany  Board  of  Lumber  Dealers.  He  was  manager  of  the  Young 
Men's  Association  for  three  years  under  President  Richard  L.  Annesley  and  served 
as  its  vice-president  one  term.  During  Major  Manning's  term  of  office  Mr.  Easton  was 
a  member  of  the  committee  that  conducted  the  Columbian  celebration  in  Albany, 
leading  the  third  assembly  district  organization.  On  January  22,  1895,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Governor  Morton  superintendent  of  public  buildings  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  which  position  he  now  holds. 

Mr.  Easton  is  a  public  spirited  citizen,  and  takes  a  deep  interest  in  all  that  concerns 
the  welfare  and  ulvancement  of  the  community.  In  politics  he  has  always  been  an 
ardent  Republican,  and  his  advice  and  counsel  in  party  affairs  are  sought  and  valued. 
Enterprising,  progressive,  and  influential,  he  worthily  represents  those  sterling 
principles  of  manhood  and  citizenship  his  honored  father  so  diligently  carried  out. 


WILLIAM   HERRICK  GRIFFITH. 

William  Herrick  Griffith  was  born  at  Castleton-on-Hudson,  Rensselaer  County, 
N.  Y. ,  27  January,  1866.  He  is  descended  from  an  illustrious  and  distinguished 
ancestry.  His  father,  the  late  Edwin  Hairy  Griffith,  a  Banker  and  a  man  of  prom 
inent  position,  born  in  Nassau,  Rensselaer  Co.,  1  December,  1830,  married  early  in 
life  Mat  r  Lou isa  Knowlton,  daughter  of  George  Washington  and  Sybil  Ann  (Rowe) 
KnowJton.  He  was  founder  of  the  National  Bank  of  Castleton,  to  which  place  he 
■ 


34 

removed  in  1865,  and  was  officially  connected  with  that  institution  and  prominently 
identified  with  the  interests  of  the  place  until  a  year  before  his  death,  which  occurred 
at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  in  May,  1875,  upon  his  return  from  a  sojourn  in  Denver,  Colorado, 
whither  he  had  gone  for  the  improvement  of  his  health.  His  father  was  Smith 
Griffith,  of  Nassau,  N.  Y.,  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  that  place,  and 
who  held  nearly  all  the  official  positions  of  prominence  in  the  gift  of  the  Town.  He 
was  born  22  February,  1793;  died  18  January,  1878;  his  father  being  Major  Joshua 
Griffith,  who  served  with  credit  in  the  War*  of  1812;  and  his  grandfather,  William 
Griffith,  a  Revolutionary  Soldier,  who  was  a  direct  lineal  descendant  of  Llewellyn, 
last  King  of  Wales,  who  was  beheaded  by  the  English  in  1282,  and  who  was  the  son 
of  Griffith,  also  King  of  Wales.  Lemira  Herrick,  wife  of  Smith  Griffith,  above,  and 
paternal  grandmother  of  Mr.  Griffith,  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  second  in  lineal 
descent  from  Colonel  Rufus  Herrick,  an  officer  of  the  New  York  State  Continental 
Line  in  the  Revolutionary  War ;  seventh  in  lineal  descent  from  Sir  William  Herrick, 
of  Leicester,  London,  and  Beau  Manor  Park,  England,  and,  eighteenth  in  lineal 
descent  from  Eric,  King  of  Danes.  The  arms  which  she  made  use  of  were  granted 
to  Sir  William  Herrick  in  the  reign  of  Elizabeth  and  are  described  as  follows: 
"Argent;  a  fesse  vaire,  or  and  gules." — Crest — "A  bull's  head  couped  argent,  horned 
and  eared  Sable,  gorged  with  achapletof  roses  ppr."  Motto — "  Virtus  omnia  nobili- 
tat." 

The  Griffith  arms  are  the  same  as  those  of  Griffith  of  the  Royal  House  of  Wales, 
of  whom  the  persons  of  the  name  already  mentioned  in  this  sketch  are  all  lineal 
descendants,  and  therefore  entitled  to  use  the  arms. 

Mr.  Griffith's  lineal  paternal  ancestors  intermarried  with  the  New  England  Colonial 
families  of  Paine,  Smith,  Perrin,  Trask,  Leonard,  Avery,  Denison,  Stanton,  Stark- 
weather, Lord,  Thompson,  Peck,  Marvin  and  Chickering,  and  the  Piatt,  WTood  and  Scud- 
der  families  of  Long  Island.  Of  these  female  lines  the  Paines,  Perrins,  Averys,  Deni- 
sons,  Stantons,  Lords,  Pecks,  and  Platts  possessed  and  used  Coat  armor  which  be- 
longed to  them  by  descent  from  the  original  armiger.  Mr.  Griffith's  mother,  as 
mentioned  early  in  this  sketch,  is  Mary  Louisa  (Knowlton)  Griffith.  She  was  born  at 
Greenbush-on-Hudson,  Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  26  March,  1833,  and  is  now  living  in 
Albany.  She  belongs  to  the  Historic  New  England  family  of  Knowltons,  to  which 
belonged  many  of  the  bravest  soldiers  and  illustrious  statesmen  of  the  New  World. 
General  Nathaniel  Lyon,  of  Missouri,  was  a  prominent  member  of  this  family  who 
fell  in  the  Civil  War,  and  whose  death  the  nation  mourned.  Col.  Thomas  Knowl- 
ton, younger  brother  of  Lieutenant  Daniel  Knowlton,  of  Connecticut,  great-grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Griffith,  and  whom  she  represents  in  the  Daughters  of  the  Revolution, 
was  an  intimate  friend  of  George  Washington,  who  in  lamenting  his  untimely  death 
at  the  Battle  of  Harlem  Heights  in  1776 said:  "  The  brave  Knowlton  has  fallen.  He 
would  have  been  an  honor  to  any  country."  The  State  of  Connecticut  has  appre- 
ciated and  shown  honor  to  his  memory  by  erecting  a  bronze  statue  of  heroic  size 
just  in  front  of  her  State  Capitol  at  Hartford.  To  this  family  also  belongs  Sir  Charles 
Tupper,  the  last  Prime  Minister  to  Canada.  The  first  of  this  name  to  come  to  America 
was  Capt.  William  Knowlton,  who  early  in  the  seventeenth  century  sailed  from  Ches- 
wick,  England,  with  his  three  sons,  in  his  own  ship,  and  landed  at  Nova  Scotia.  One 
son,  John,  removed  to  Ipswich,  Mass.,  and  from  him  are  descended  the  most  illustrious 
descendants  of  the  name.     Mrs.  Griffith's  father  was  the  late  George  Washington 


35 

Knowlton,  ninth  in  descent  from  Captain  William,  above,  and  her  mother,  Sybil 
Ann  (Rowe)  Knowlton,  now  living.  Mrs.  Griffith's  paternal  and  maternal  ancestors 
intermarried  with  the  New  England  Colonial  families  of  Farnham,  Burton,  Ford, 
Russell,  Pinder,  Wilson,  Bennett,  Allen,  Holt,  Jewett,  Sterling  and  Freeman,  and  the 
German  Palatinate  families  of  Rovve  and  Winegar.  Of  these  lines  the  Farnhams, 
Fords,  Pinders,  Aliens,  Holts,  Sterlings  and  Freemans  possessed  and  used  Coats-of- 
arms  which  had  been  used  in  their  families  for  generations.  Mary  Louisa  (Knowlton) 
Griffith's  arms  and  those  in  use  by  her  Knowlton  ancestors  for  generations  are  regis- 
tered as  follows  in  Her  Majesty's  College  of  Heraldry  and  Arms  at  London  under  the 
name  "Knowlton,"  viz.:  "Argent,  a  chevron  gules,  between  three  ducal  coronets 
sable."     Crest — a  demi  lion  rampant  ppr.     Motto — "  Vi  et  Virtute." 

After  the  death  of  his  father  at  Albany  in  1875,  Mr.  Griffith  (subject  of  this  sketch) 
entered  the  Albany  Academy,  which  he  left  (after  also  receiving  private  instruction 
from  a  private  tutor,  Rev.  Charles  H.  W.  Stocking,  D.  D.),  to  enter  Yale  College  in 
the  Fall  of  1886.  He  was  unable  to  complete  the  Classical  Course,  owing  to  ill  health. 
Upon  leaving  College  he  traveled  extensively  throughout  England,  Scotland,  Ger- 
many, Holland,  Belgium,  Austria,  France,  Italy  and  Switzerland,  making  his  sojourn 
in  these  countries  an  occasion  to  study  continental  customs.  While  abroad  he  con- 
tributed many  articles  and  papers  bearing  upon  archaeology  and  the  life  and  customs 
of  the  nations  of  the  Old  World  to  American  journalism.  Many  of  these  articles  were 
published  in  American  papers,  chiefly  the  "New  York  Home  Journal."  Upon  his 
return  to  Albany  Mr.  Griffith  accepted  a  responsible  position  in  the  First  National 
Bank  of  that  city,  which  he  occupied  for  six  years,  finally  tendering  his  resignation  as 
Bank  Bookkeeper  to  embark  for  himself  in  the  Fire  Insurance  business,  in  which 
occupation  he  is  now  actively  engaged,  representing  the  "  United  States  Fire  Insur- 
rance  Company,  of  New  York,'  and  "The  Royal  of  Liverpool."  His  office  is  at  No. 
37  Maiden  Lane. 

Mr.  Griffith  is  an  enthusiast  upon  and  deeply  interested  in  all  matters  of  History 
and  Genealogy,  and  has  done  much  to  farther  their  interests  in  his  native  City.  He 
is  an  active,  working  official  of  Philip  Livingston  Chapter,  Sons  of  the  Revolution, 
and  to  him  is  due  in  a  great  measure  its  success  and  prosperity.  As  its  treasurer  and 
secretary  he  has  been  one  of  the  few  who  have  by  their  efforts  made  it  the  successful, 
prosperous  and  conservative  organization  it  has  lately  become.  He  is  also  identified 
as  Registrar-General  and  Genealogist  with  the  oldest,  most  conservative,  hereditary 
order  in  the  United  States  known  as  "  The  Ancient  Heraldic  and  Chivalric  Order 
of  Knights  of  Albion."  This  order  was  instituted  by  Sir  Edmund  Plowden,  of 
Delaware  and  Virginia,  in  1043.  It  became  dormant  just  before  1700,  but  has  lately 
been  revived,  and  is  about  to  be  legally  incorporated.  It  already  promises  to  be  the 
most  conservative  hereditary  male  order  of  American  origin.  Mr.  Griffith  is  con- 
stantly engaged  in  genealogical  and  historical  work  of  some  sort,  being  employed  at 
present  in  compiling  a  Genealogy  of  the  Knowlton  and  Griffith  Families,  besides 
many  papers  and  articles  which  he  contributes  now  and  then  to  the  various  Historical, 
Hereditary  and  Literary  Societies  and  Orders  in  which  he  enjoys  active  member- 
ship. 

He  is  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  the  Knowlton  Association  in  America,  one  of  the 
largest  and  most  powerful  family  organizations  in  the  country;  secretary  of  Philip 
Livingston  Chapter,  Sons  of  the  Revolution  ;  is  a  resident  and  active  member  of  the 


Albany  Historical  and  Art  Society,  The  Albany  Institute,  and  The  New  England 
Historic  Genealogical  Society  of  Boston ;  and  a  Corresponding  Member  of  the  Con- 
necticut Historical  Society.  He  is  also  an  hereditary  member  of  nearly  all  the 
patriotic  hereditary  orders,  representing  in  each  the  following  ancestors: 

Order  of  the  Cincinnati,  Lieut.  Daniel  Knowlton. 

Sons  of  the  Revolutioon,  and  Sons  of 'the  American  Revolution,  Col.  Rufus 
Herrick,  Captain  Israel  Piatt,  Lieut.  Daniel  Knowlton,  Major  Robert  Freeman, 
Sergt.  John  Freeman,  Private  Wm.  Griffith. 

Society  of  the  War  of  1812,  Major  Joshua  Griffith. 

Society  of  Colonial  Wars,  Capt.  George  Denison,  Capt.  John  Denison,  Capt. 
James  Avery,  Capt.  John  Stanton,  Capt.  Epenetus  Piatt,  Sergeant  Daniel  Knowlton, 
Stephen  Paine,  Thomas  Stanton,  John  Pinder,  Joseph  Ford,  Bozoan  Allen,  Samuel 
Leonard  and  Stephen  Herrick. 

Order  of  the  Old  Guard  of  Chicago,  New  York  Commandery,  Colonel  Herrick, 
Captain  Denison,  and  Major  Griffith. 

Order  of  Founders  and  Patriots,  John  Knowlton,  1839;  Lieut.  Daniel  Knowlton, 
1776. 

Mr.  Griffith  is  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  having  been  raised  to  the 
degree  of  Master  Mason  in  Masters  Lodge  No.  5,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  at 
Albany,  8  October,  1895.  In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Protestant  Episcopalian,  being 
a  communicant  of  All  Saints'  Cathedral,  Albany,  in  charge  of  Rt.  Rev.  William 
Croswell  Doane,  D.D.,  S.T.D.,  Bishop  of  Albany. 

Mr.  Griffith  was  married,  3  February,  1892,  to  Miss  Grace  Elizabeth  Clute,  daugh- 
ter of  Hon.  Matthew  Henry  Robertson,  Deputy  Superintendent  of  Insurance  of 
New  York,  and  Elizabeth  (Clute)  Robertson,  his  wife.  He  has  one  child,  a  daughter, 
Margaret  Frances  Griffith,  born  27  December,  1892. 


JOSEPH  LEWI,   M.  D. 

Joseph  Lewi,  M.  D.,  who  has  been  in  active  practice  in  Albany  since  1848  was 
born  in  Radnitz,  Austria,  August  17,  1820.  His  parents,  Elias  and  Rosa  (Resek), 
were  born  in  the  same  place.  He  was  one  of  a  large  family  of  children  and  while 
he  attended  the  preparatory  schools  at  Pilsen,  helped  to  defray  the  expenses  of  his 
education  by  teaching.  From  the  Gymnasium  or  High  School  in  Pilsen  he  went  to 
the  academy  at  Prague  where  he  took  the  higher  classical  course  and  began  the 
study  of  medicine.  In  order  to  be  near  and  have  the  advantages  of  the  larger 
clinics,  laboratories  and  medical  museums  and  of  the  more  thorough  school,  he  went 
to  the  Vienna  University  where  he  continued  his  studies  under  the  guidance  of  the 
great  men  of  that  time,  among  whom  were:  Rokitanski,  Hebra,  Schuh,  Hyrtl,  Op- 
polzer,  Skoda,  Rosas,  and  other  authorities.  He  was  an  industrious  and  conscien- 
tious student  and  a  hard  worker  in  the  calling  of  his  choice,  but  not  to  the  exclusion 
of  literature,  music  and  the  classics  towards  which  he  always  had  a  leaning,  and  in 
the  company  of  Solomon  Mosenthal,  Leopold  Kompert  and  Moritz  Hartmann,  who 
were  his  intimate  friends  and  who  all  became  famous  in  the  world  of  letters,  he 
found  ample  opportunity  to  cultivate  and  to  develop  his  literary  tastes.     After  being 


:;; 

graduated  he  returned  to  his  native  town  where  he  practiced  his  profession  about 
one  year,  and  then  at  the  outbreak  of  the  March  revolution  with  which  he  was  in 
sympathy,  but  the  success  of  which  he  doubted,  he  came  to  America  hoping  to  find 
in  the  great  republic  of  the  West  a  better  and  more  congenial  field  for  his  knowl- 
edge, and  knowing  that  in  the  republic  he  would  not  be  brought  face  to  face  continu- 
ally with  the  despotism  and  intolerance  which  were  characteristic  of  the  Austria  of 
that  day. 

Dr.  Lewi  came  to  Albany  at  once  on  his  arrival  in  America  and  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  the  city  ever  since.  He  soon  acquired  a  large  practice,  a  high  standing  in 
the  medical  profession  and  the  respect  of  the  community,  and  while  his  knowledge 
as  a  physician  secured  for  him  his  large  practice  and  place  among  his  professional 
brethren,  his  literary  merits  made  him  a  delightful  companion  and  his  patriotism  a 
model  citizen.  Coming  from  a  country  in  which  prejudice  and  intolerance,  reigned 
and  where  a  spirit  of  darkness  precluded  a  better  state  of  affairs,  he,  like  all  the  bet- 
ter class  of  immigrants  of  that  day,  was  naturally  appreciative  of  the  democratic 
institutions  of  the  United  States.  He  looked  upon  slavery  as  the  national  shame 
and  even  before  he  became  a  citizen  he  raised  his  voice  in  opposition  to  the  institu- 
tion. Hejoined  the  forces  which  were  led  by  Greeley,  Beecher  and  Garrison,  helped 
to  rock  the  cradle  of  the  Republican  party  and  cast  his  first  vote  in  a  general  elec- 
tion for  the  Fremont  and  Dayton  electors,  and  he  takes  much  pride  now  in  saying 
that  he  has  voted  for  every  Republican  candidate  from  Fremont  to  McKinley. 

When  the  Civil  war  broke  out  the  surgeon-general  appointed  a  commission  consist- 
ing of  Drs.  Thomas  Hun,  Alden  March  and  Mason  F.  Cogswell  to  examine  physicians 
for  the  volunteer  service,  to  which  commission  Dr.  Lewi  was  made  an  adjunct  mem- 
ber, and  when  in  the  dark  days  of  the  Rebellion  the  armed  enemies  in  the  field  ex- 
pected aid  and  assistance  from  their  sympathizers  in  the  North  he  became  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  United  League. 

Dr.  Lewi  is  an  ex-president  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society  and  the  senior 
member  of  the  Board  of  Censors  of  the  State  Medical  Society.  He  has  devoted  much 
time  to  the  Albany  Hospital  on  the  staff  of  which  he  is  still  consulting  physician. 
He  never  aspired  to  public  office  but  accepted  the  position  of  member  of  the  Board 
of  Public  Instructions  for  a  term  of  three  years.  He  served  in  the  position  with 
characteristic  conscientiousness  and  was  returned  as  his  own  successor  three  times, 
and  after  a  service  of  twelve  years  declined  a  nomination. 

He  was  married  in  New  York  city  in  1849  to  Miss  Bertha  Schwarz  of  Hesse  Cassel, 
the  daughter  of  Josepeh  Emanuel  Schwarz,  a  theologian  and  composer  of  sacred 
music.  Mrs.  Lewi  is  an  ideal  woman,  a  model  wife  and  mother.  Fourteen  children 
blessed  the  union  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Lewi,  of  whom  nine  are  married.  Of  the  six 
sons,  two  have  followed  their  father's  profession.  One,  Dr.  Maurice  J.,  practices  in 
New  York  and  is  the  secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Medical  Examiners,  and  the 
youngest,  Dr.  William  G.,  is  in  practice  in  Albany  where  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Albany  Hospital  staff  and  a  lecturer  in  the  Medical  College.  One  son,  Theodore 
J.,  is  a  pharmacist;  Isidor  is  a  writer  on  the  staff  of  The  New  York  Tribune,  and 
Edward  J,  and' Franklin  L.  are  in  business.  Of  the  eight  daughters  the  oldest,  Wil- 
helmine,  married  Dr.  Herman  Bendell,  who  was  a  student  in  Dr.  Lewi's  office,  and 
Martha  Washington   married   Dr.    Alois    Donhauser,   who   was  a  graduate   of   the 


38 


Albany  Medical  College  and  died  in  Albany  while  in  charge  of  the  United  States 
Signal  Service  in  that  city. 


GEN.   FREDERICK  TOWNSEND. 

Gen.  Frbderick  Townsend,  son  of  Isaiah  and  Hannah  (Tovvnsend)Townsend,  was 
born  in  Albany  on  the  21st  of  September,  1825.  The  original  ancestor  of  this  branch 
of  the  family  in  America  was  Henry  Townsend,  who,  with  his  wife,  Annie  Coles, 
and  two  brothers,  John  and  Richard,  came  from  Norfolk,  England,  to  Massachusetts 
about  1640.  Soon  afterward  they  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Flushing,  Long 
Island,  where  a  patent  was  granted  to  John  Townsend  and  others  by  Governor 
Kieft  in  1645.  Political  and  religious  difficulties  with  the  old  Dutch  governor,  Peter 
Stuyvesant,  soon  forced  the  Townsends  to  remove  to  Warwick,  R.  I.,  where  they  all 
held  municipal  office  and  became  members  of  the  provincial  assembly.  In  1656  they 
obtained,  with  others,  the  patent  of  Rustdorp,  now  Jamaica,  and  once  more  attempted 
a  settlement  on  Long  Island,  but  in  the  following  year  Henry,  a  leading  spirit  in  the 
colony,  was  arrested,  imprisoned  and  fined  "one  hundred  pounds  Flanders"  for 
harboring  Quakers  in  his  house — an  act  which  illustrates  the  persecution  borne  in 
those  days  by  the  denomination  of  Friends.  This  unjust  treatment  caused  Henry 
Townsend  and  his  brothers  to  remove  in  1657  to  Oyster  Bay,  L.  I.,  then  only  par- 
tially in  the  jurisdiction  of  New  Amsterdam.  Here  Henry  died  in  1695.  General 
Townsend's  maternal  great-great-great-grandfather,  James  Townsend,  was  deputy 
surveyor-general  of  the  province.  His  great-grandfather,  Samuel  Townsend,  was 
actively  engaged  in  the  English  and  West  India  trade  until  the  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, and  had  also  served  in  the  Provincial  Congress  in  1775.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  he  resumed  his  seat  and  continued  in  public  life  until  his  death  in  1790.  He  was 
also  a  State  senator  and  a  member  of  the  first  Council  of  Appointment  under  the  con- 
stitution of  1789.  In  1776  he  was  one  of  fourteen  members  of  the  Fourth  Provincial 
Congress  appointed  "  to  prepare  a  form  of  government  for  the  State."  This  com- 
mittee reported  March  12,  1777,  and  on  April  20,  the  first  constitution  of  the  State  of 
New  York  was  adopted.  General  Townsend's  maternal  grandfather,  Solomon  Town- 
send,  conducted  a  large  iron  business  in  New  York  city,  having  extensive  iron  works 
at  Chester,  Orange  county,  and  Peconic  River,  Suffolk  county.  He  served  several 
terms  in  the  State  Legislature,  being  a  member  thereof  at  the  time  of  his  death  in 
1811.  The  general's  paternal  grandfather  was  Henry  Townsend  of  Cornwall,  N. 
Y.,  who  married  Mary  Bennet,  and  died  in  1815.  Isaiah  Townsend,  son  of  Henry, 
was  a  prominent  merchant  of  Albany,  where  he  died  in  1838,  aged  sixty-one.  He 
married  his  cousin,  Hannah  Townsend,  of  New  York  city. 

Gen.  Frederick  Townsend  first  attended  a  private  infant  school  m  Albany  and 
afterward  the  Boys'  Academy.  Later  he  was  sent  to  Bartlett's  Collegiate  School  at 
Poughkeepsie  for  two  years,  and  at  the  early  age  of  fifteen  entered  Union  College, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1844.  He  then  read  law  in  the  office  of  John  V.  L. 
Pruyn  and  Henry  H.  Martin  (Pruyn  &  Martin)  in  Albany,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  at  the  general  term  of  the  Supreme  Court  in  this  city  in  1849.  After  completing 
his  studies  he  spent  several  years  in  travel,  visiting  first  the  gold  fields  of  California 


30 

and  other  places  in  this  country  and  then  going  to  Europe.  In  1854  he  returned 
home  and  in  1856  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Townsend,  Jackson  &  Strong.  He  also  turned  his  attention  toward  another  sphere 
of  usefulness.  He  had  long  manifested  a  strong  attchment  for  military  science,  for 
which  he  had  a  natural  taste.  Mastering  the  general  details  he  became  an  author- 
ity on  military  tactics.  He  was  made  captain  of  Co.  B,  Washington  Continentals. 
He  also  organized  and  became  colonel  of  the  76th  Regiment  of  Militia,  and  later  was 
captain  of  the  Albany  Zouave  Cadets  (Co.  A,  10th  Battalion,  N.  G.).  With  consum- 
mate skill  he  successfully  placed  these  organizations  upon  a  high  plane  of  efficiency 
and  discipline1  and  no  man  was  more  respected  or  esteemed.  In  the  year  1857  he 
was  appointed  by  Gov.  John  A.  King  adjutant-general  of  the  State  of  New  York. 
At  this  time  the  old  militia  system  of  the  State  had,  with  few  exceptions  become 
wholly  disorganized  and  useless.  General  Townsend  immediately  set  about  its  re- 
organization, infused  new  life  and  vigor  in  the  regiments,  and  successfully  raised  the 
system  to  a  degree  of  efficiency  worthy  of  the  Empire  State.  In  his  first  annual 
report,  the  first  one  prepared  in  many  years,  he  made  recommendations  to  the  com- 
mander-in-chief which  were  speedily  put  into  practice.  In  1859  he  was  reappointed 
by  Gov.  Edwin  D.  Morgan,  and  continued  to  give  his  undivided  attention  to  the 
great  work  he  had  so  faithfully  inaugurated.  In  1861  he  promptly  tendered  his  ser- 
vices to  his  country,  and  in  May  was  commissioned  colonel  of  the  3d  N.  Y.  Vols., 
which  he  organized,  and  which  he  gallantly  commanded  on  the  battlefield  of  Big 
Bethel  on  June  10.  On  August  19  he  was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln  a  major  of 
the  8th  U.  S.  Inf.,  one  of  three  new  battalion  regiments  of  the  regular  army,  and 
was  assigned  to  duty  in  the  West,  where  he  joined  the  forces  under  General  Buell 
and  later  those  under  General  Rosencrans.  He  commanded  his  troops  in  the  recon- 
noissance  at  Lick  Creek  (or  Pea  Ridge),  Miss.,  April  26,  1862,  at  the  siege  of  Corinth 
on  April  30,  and  in  the  occupation  thereof  on  May  30.  On  October  6  he  was  in  the 
advance  of  the  Third  Corps,  Army  of  the  Ohio,  driving  the  rebel  rear  guard  from 
Springfield  to  near  Texas,  Ky.  He  also  participated  in  the  battle  of  Perryville  or 
Chaplin  Hill,  Ky.,  October  8.  After  the  first  day  of  the  battle  at  Stone  River,  Tenn., 
from  December  31,  1862,  to  January  2,  1863,  he  was  placed  in  command  of  the  left 
wing  of  the  regular  brigade,  all  his  senior  officers  having  been  shot  except  his  brigade 
commander.  He  was  also  in  the  affair  of  Eagleville,  Tenn.,  March  2,  1863.  In  all 
these  various  engagements  he  displayed  great  bravery  and  heroism,  and  was  suc- 
cessively brevetted  lieutenant  colonel,  colonel,  and  brigadier-general  in  the  regular 
army.  In  May,  1863,  he  was  detailed  as  acting  assistant  provost  marshal-general  at 
Albany,  where  he  remained  until  the  close  of  the  war,  being  promoted  in  1864  lieu- 
tenant-colonel of  the  9th  U.  S.  Inf.  Obtaining  a  leave  of  absence  he  again  visited 
Europe,  and  returning  in  1867  was  ordered  to  California  and  placed  on  the  staff  of 
General  McDowell  as  acting  assistant  inspector-general  of  the  department,  in  which 
capacity  he  inspected  all  the  government  posts  in  Arizona.  In  1868  he  resigned  his 
commission  and  returned  to  Albany,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

General  Townsend  has  been  a  director  of  the  New  York  State  National  Bank  and 
of  the  Albany  and  Bethlehem  Turnpike  Company  since  1864;  a  trustee  of  the  Albany 
Orphan  Asylum  since  1879;  a  trustee  of  the  Dudley  Observatory  since  April  22,  1880; 
and  a  trustee  of  the  Albany  Academy  since  May  11,  1886.  He  was  a  trustee  of  Vas- 
sar  College  from  June  27,  1876,  until  November  28,  1892,  and  of  Union  College  from 


40 

July  17,  1876,  to  July,  1887,  resigning  each  position  on  account  of  a  pressure  of  other 
duties.  In  all  these  capacities  his  services  have  been  of  great  value,  not  only  in  the 
line  of  business  management,  but  in  the  equally  important  sphere  of  progress  and 
moral  elevation. 

In  1878  he  was  elected  brigadier-general  of  the  9th  Brigade  N.  Y.  S.  N.  G.,  which 
post  he  resigned  to  accept  the  appointment  by  Governor  Cornell  of  adjutant-general 
of  the  State  of  New  York,  an  office  he  had  formerly  filled  with  such  remarkable 
ability  and  efficiency.  Again  turning  his  attention  to  the  development  of  the  State 
military  system  he  inaugurated  and  successfully  established  a  number  of  improve- 
ments which  to  this  day  are  in  active  use.  Among  the  important  measures  which 
he  organized  and  perfected  was  the  "  camp  of  instruction  "  at  Peekskill,  N.  Y.  This 
worthy  enterprise  was  originated,  inaugurated,  developed,  established,  and  organized 
in  detail  by  him,  and  to  him  is  due  the  sole  honor  of  its  present  existence.  He  formu- 
lated and  carried  out  the  idea,  personally  directed  and  supervised  the  movement  from 
its  incipiency  to  its  actual  and  final  establishment,  and  was  the  chief  guardian  and  de- 
veloper of  its  earlier  welfare.  He  also  provided  the  present  service  dress  uniform 
for  all  the  troops  in  the  State.  These  and  other  innovations  in  the  militia  were  car- 
ried out  and  perfected  by  him  against  strong  opposition  and  in  the  face  of  many 
difficulties,  but  the  wisdom  of  his  judgment  and  foresight  has  often  been  vindicated 
in  the  efficiency  of  the  National  Guard  on  occasions  of  riot  and  disorder.  The  prin- 
ciples inaugurated  and  laid  down  by  him  are  now  the  mainstay  of  the  various  militia 
organizations  of  the  Empire  State. 

General  Townsend  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  the  Society 
of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  the  military  order  of  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the 
United  States,  and  Society  of  the  Sonsof  the  Revolution.  In  1880  he  was  nominated 
by  the  Republicans  and  elected  presidential  elector,  and  as  a  member  of  the  Electoral 
College  cast  his  vote  for  James  A.  Garfield  and  Chester  A.  Arthur  for  president  and 
vice-president.  He  has  never  taken  an  active  part  in  politics,  though  often  urged  to 
do  so,  but  he  has  been  distinctively  a  military  man,  imbued  with  the  highest  sense 
of  patriotism  and  the  loftiest  principles  of  a  soldier. 

November  19,  1863,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah,  only  daughter  of  the  late  Joel 
Rathbone,  a  prominent  merchant  and  banker  of  Albany.  They  have  two  children: 
Sarah  Rathbone  Townsend,  the  wife  of  Gerrit  Y.  Lansing,  of  Albany,  and  Frederick 
Townsend,  jr.,  who  was  graduated  from  Harvard  College  in  1893  and  is  now  a  stu- 
dent at  the  Cambridge  Law  School,  class  of  1897. 


GEORGE  L.   STEDMAN. 


Geor<;e  Lavatkr  Stedman  descends  on  his  father's  side  from  Thomas  Stedman, 
who  settled  in  New  London,  Conn.,  in  1649.  One  of  his  ancestors,  while  command- 
ing a  company  of  dragoons,  was  killed  in  the  Pequot  war.  His  father,  John  Porter 
Stedman,  who  married  Thais  Hooker,  was  a  prominent  manufacturer  and  banker  of 
Southbridge,  Mass.,  where  he  served  as  assessor,  selectman,  etc.  The  Hookers  de- 
scended from  Thomas  Hooker  of  Hartford,  Conn. ,  and  one  of  the  line,  Amos  Hooker, 
grandfather  of  Mr.  Stedman's  mother,  died  in  the  Revolutionary  army  in  the  siege 


41 

around  Boston.  Mr.  Stedman's  mother  was  a  direct  descendant  of  Kenelm  Winslow 
of  the  Plymouth  Colony.  George  L.  Stedman,  born  in  Southbridge,  Mass.,  Novem- 
ber 3,  1831,  was  graduated  from  Brown  University  in  1856,  came  to  Albany  the  same 
year,  attended  the  Albany  Law  School  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1857.  He 
read  law  with  Shepard  &  Bancroft,  and  after  the  dissolution  of  the  firm  was  asso- 
ciated with  S.  O.  Shepard  many  years.  He  was  later  a  partner  with  Osgood  H. 
Shepard  until  January,  1885,  and  then  with  David  A.  Thompson  and  Arthur  L. 
Andrews  till  January  1,  1890,  his  sou  George  W.  also  becoming  a  member  of  the 
latter  firm  in  December,  1887.  January  1,  1896,  Mr.  Stedman  and  his  son  formed 
the  present  firm  of  Stedman  &  Stedman.  Mr.  Stedman  was  the  nominee  on  the 
Republican  ticket  for  State  senator  and  in  1893  for  delegate  to  the  State  Constitu- 
tional Convention,  but  was  defeated  by  small  majorities.  He  has  taken  a  very  active 
interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  town  of  Colonie,  where  he  has  lived  many  years  and 
drafted  the  law  by  which  the  town  was  separated  from  Watervliet  and  has  since 
been  its  legal  adviser.  Upon  the  separation  the  committee  in  charge  of  the  matter 
suggested  several  names  for  the  new  town,  but  finally  left  it  to  the  pleasure  of  Mr. 
Stedman  to  name  the  new  town,  which  he  did;  giving  it  the  present  name  of  Colonie. 
He  is  president  of  the  New  York  Baptist  Union  for  Ministerial  Education  (the  legal 
body  of  the  Rochester  Theological  Seminary)  and  the  Hudson  River  Baptist  Asso- 
ciation north,  a  trustee  of  Colgate  University  and  Emmanuel  Baptist  church  of  Al- 
bany, and  prominent  in  Baptist  circles.  In  1863  he  married  Adda,  daughter  of  the 
late  George  A.  Woolverton,  of  Albany,  and  they  have  four  sons:  George  Woolver- 
ton,  Frank  White  (see  sketch  elesewhere  in  this  volume),  John  Porter  and  Charles 
Summer.  George  W.  Stedman,  born  in  Albany,  September  9,  1864,  was  graduated 
from  the  Albany  Academy  in  1882  and  from  Rochester  University  in  1885  (is  presi- 
dent of  his  class),  read  law  with  Stedman,  Thompson  &  Andrews,  and  was  graduated 
from  the  Albany  Law  School  with  first  honors  and  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1887. 
Since  December.  1887,  he  has  been  associated  in  practice  with  his  father.  Ou  the 
formation  of  the  town  of  Colonie  (June  7,  1895),  he  became  a  justice  of  the  peace 
and  a  member  of  the  town  board.  He  is  a  trustee  of  Colgate  University  and  was 
the  first  president  of  the  Alumni  of  the  Albany  Academy,  an  office  he  has  held 
since  its  formation  in  1895.  John  Porter  Stedman,  born  in  Watervliet  (now 
Colonie)  April  7,  1872,  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Academy  in  1890,  and  has 
sitae  been  interested  with  his  brother,  Frank  W.,  in  the  coal  business.  Charles  S. 
Stedman  was  born  in  Colonie,  November  6,  1874,  was  graduated  from  the  Albany 
Academy  in  1892  and  from  Brown  University  in  189G,  and  is  now  a  law  student  with 
his  father  and  brother.  While  at  Brown  University  he  was  editor-in-chief  of  the 
Brown  Daily  Herald  and  a  correspondent  of  the  Boston  Globe  and  Albany  Journal. 
These  sons  have  a  peculiar  relation  to  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  for  while  Silvanus 
Wilcox,  the  great  -great-grandfather  of  these  four  brothers,  was  participating  in  the 
battle  of  Saratoga,  his  son,  afterward  known  as  General  Wilqox,  their  great-grand- 
father, was  in  the  battle  of  Oriskany. 
r 


42 
GEORGE  ROGERS  HOWELL. 

George  Rogers  Howell,  State  archivist,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Southampton, 
Long  Island,  N.Y.,  June  15,  1833,  and  is  a  son  of  Charles  and  Mary  (Rogers)  Howell, 
highly  respected  citizens  of  that  place.  The  first  American  ancestor  of  the  family 
was  Edward  Howell,  of  Marsh  Gibbon,  Buckinghamshire,  England,  who  came  to 
Boston  with  his  family  in  1639  and  soon  afterward  became  one  of  the  earliest  settlers 
of  Southampton,  the  first  town  settled  by  the  English  in  the  State  of  New  York. 
The  old  stone  manor  house  of  Edward  Howell  is  still  standing  at  Marsh  Gibbon  and 
inhabited  as  a  residence. 

Professor  Howell  first  attended  the  district  school  and  the  Southampton  Academy, 
and  very  early  manifested  a  great  love  for  books  and  a  strong  desire  to  master  vari- 
ous languages.  In  1851  he  entered  the  sophmore  class  of  Yale  College,  then  under 
the  presidency  of  T*heodore  Woolsey,  D.D..  and  was  graduated  from  that  institution 
with  honor  in  1854.  He  then  spent  several  years  in  teaching  in  academies,  but  con- 
tinued in  private  those  studies  which  proved  most  congenial,  especially  the  sciences 
and  languages.  Deciding  finally  upon  the  ministry  he  matriculated  in  September, 
1861,  at  Princeton  Theological  Seminary,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1864. 
For  about  two  years  he  was  engaged  in  ministerial  work  in  Western  New  York.  An 
incident  now  occurred  which  turned  his  attention  to  more  purely  literary  pursuits. 

The  225th  anniversary  of  the  settlement  of  Southampton  was  to  celebrate  in  1865, 
and  Mr.  Howell,  who  had  already  gained  a  high  scholarly  reputation,  was  invited 
by  his  townsmen  to  deliver  the  address  on  that  occasion,  to  which  he  consented. 
This  effort  was  so  well  received  that  in  1866  it  was  enlarged  and  printed  under  the 
title  of  "  The  Early  History  of  Southampton,  Long  Island,  with  Genealogies."  A 
second  edition,  of  473  pages,  was  published  at  Albany  in  1887.  In  1865,  on  the 
recommendation  of  Dr.  Macauley,  of  Philadelphia,  Mr.  Howell  was  offered  a  profes- 
sorship of  Latin  or  Greek  in  a  college  in  Iowa,  but  his  engagements  compelled  him 
to  decline.  As  a  further  inducement  to  obtain  his  scholarship  in  the  West  the  presi- 
dency of  the  same  college  was  offered  and  declined  for  the  same  reason.  In  1872, 
on  the  suggestion  of  Dr.  S.  B.  Woolworth,  he  was  engaged,  on  account  of  his  lin- 
guistic attainments,  as  assistant  librarian  in  the  New  York  State  Library  at  Albany, 
and  during  the  illness  and  on  the  death  of  Dr.  Homes  in  November,  1887,  he  was 
acting  librarian  of  the  general  library.  His  connection  with  this  immense  collection 
of  books  embraces  a  period  of  nearly  twenty-five  years.  He  possesses  acknowledged 
ability  in  classification,  cataloguing,  and  arrangement,  a  most  intimate  knowledge 
of  books  in  all  departments,  and  a  rare  discrimination  in  selecting  suitable  or  desira- 
ble volumes.  He  has  been  also  for  several  years  secretary  of  the  Albany  Institute, 
before  which  he  has  read  many  able  papers  on  scientific  subjects,  some  of  which  have 
been  published  in  the  "  Transactions." 

Professor  Howell  was  married  on  the  18th  of  August,  1868,  to  Miss  Mary  Catherine 
Seymour,  daughter  of  Norman  and  Frances  Hale  (Metcalf)  Seymour,  ofvMount  Mor- 
ris, N.  Y.  They  had  one  son,  George  Seymour  Howell,  who  died  at  the  close  of  his 
junior  year  in  Harvard  University,  in  March,  1891. 


W.  HOWARD  BROWN, 


4:; 
W.   HOWARD  BROWN. 

W.  Howard  Brown,  son  of  Rev.  Samuel  R.  Brown,  D.  D.,  was  born  in  New  York 
city  April  27,  1852,  and  descends  from  one  of  the  old  and  prominent  families  of  Con- 
necticut. Dr.  Brown,  born  in  East  Windsor,  Conn.,  in  1812,  was  graduated  from 
Vale  College  about  1833  and  subsequently  from  the  New  York  Theological  Seminary, 
and  was  sent  to  Macoa  and  later  to  Hong  Kong,  China,  under  the  British  Morrison 
Educational  Society.  He  remained  there  through  all  the  dangers  of  the  opium  war, 
and  brought  home  with  him  four  Chinese  boys,  all  of  whom  were  graduated  from 
Yale  College  and  became,  respectively,  a  Chinese  minister  at  Washington,  president 
of  a  large  fleet  of  Chinese  merchant  steamers,  Chinese  consul-general  at  San  Fran- 
cisco, and  a  practicing  physician  in  Canton.  The  latter  was  a  graduate  of  a  medical 
college  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  and  was  the  only  native  Chinese  who  ever  practiced 
medicine  among  Europeans  in  the  Orient.  About  1859  Dr.  Brown  went  to  Kana- 
gawa,  Japan,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Reformed  Church  Mission,  and  was  the  first 
chaplain  of  the  American  Legation  in  that  country,  the  ports  of  which  had  just  been 
opened  to  foreigners.  He  held  this  position  for  several  years,  and  was  also  president 
of  the  Asiatic  Society.  He  was  the  first  to  institute  government  schools  in  Japan, 
was  chairman  of  the  committee  which  translated  the  Bible  into  the  Japanese  lan- 
guage, and  remained  until  he  became  the  oldest  European  in  that  country.  Return- 
ing to  Orange,  N.  J.,  in  1878,  he  died  in  June,  1879,  while  on  his  way  to  attend  a 
reunion  of  his  class  at  Yale  College.  He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Goodwin  Bartlett, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Shubael  Bartlett,  for  fifty  years  a  Congregational  minister  at  Scan- 
tic,  Conn.  She  died  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  1890,  leaving  four  children:  Julia  M., 
born  in  Macoa,  China,  now  of  Yokohama,  Japan,  the  wife  of  J.  Frederick  Lowder, 
chief  interpreter  and  stepson  of  Sir  Rutherford  Alcock  ;  Robert  Morrison  Brown,  burn 
in  Hong  Kong,  China,  and  now  of  New  York  city;  W.  Howard  Brown,  of  Albany; 
and  Harriet  W.,  wife  of  Judge  Samuel  E.  Williamson,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

W.  Howard  Brown  received  his  earlier  education  in  Yokohama,  Japan,  where  he 
became  a  fluent  Japanese  scholar  as  well  as  a  thorough  student  of  the  English 
branches.  While  there  he  was  for  six  months  a  guest  of  the  captain  of  the  British 
fleet  engaged  in  making  the  admiralty  charts  of  the  coast  of  Japan.  His  residence 
in  that  enterprising  country,  with  its  Oriental  customs  and  traditions,  made  a  lasting 
impression  upon  his  youthful  mind  and  was  productive  of  much  good.  Returning 
to  America  he  finished  his  studies  in  the  preparatory  school  for  Yale  College  at  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  and  then  became  the  first  interpreter  to  the  officers  of  the  Japanese 
prince,  Satsuma,  who  were  sent  to  the  United  States  for  the  purpose  of  studying  the 
English  language  and  American  customs  and  institutions.  It  was  in  this  capacity 
that  Mi*.  Brown's  early  training  in  Japan  proved  both  useful  and  profitable.  In  Is 76 
he  engaged  in  mercantile  business  in  Albany  and  continued  successfully  for  three 
years.  In  1879,  having  directed  his  attention  to  the  field  of  life  insurance,  be  was 
made  the  manager  of  the  Albany  district  of  the  Travelers  Insurance  Company,  of 
Hartford,  Conn.,  which  position  he  has  since  filled  with  great  credit  and  ability. 

Mr.  Brown  has  also  been  prominent  in  military  affairs,  in  which  he  has  long  taken  a 
deep  interest.  He  joined  the  Tenth  Regiment  N.  Y.  N.  Q.  in  1868  and  served  as 
private,  corporal,  and  sergeant  for  twelve  years.  Later  he  passed  successfully  the 
competitive   examinations  for  promotion  to  tirst  lieutenant  and  quartermaster  of  the 


14 

battalion,  which  office  he  now  holds.  He  is  a  director  in  the  Marshall  &  Wendell 
Piano  Forte  Manufacturing  Company  (limited),  has  been  prominent  in  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association,  and  was  for  several  years  an  officer  and  member  of  the 
First  and  Second  Reformed  churches  and  their  Sunday  schools,  and  is  now  a  mem- 
ber of  the  last  named  church.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  He  is  vice-president 
of  the  Albany  Musical  Society,  and  a  member  of  Masters  Lodge,  No.  5,  F.  &  A.  M., 
Capital  City  Chapter,  No.  242,  R.  A.  M.,  and  Temple  Commandery,  No.  2,  K.  T. 

In  1879  Mr.  Brown  was  married,  first,  to  Miss  Saraphine  de  K.  Townsend,  of  New 
York  city,  who  died  in  1888,  leaving  one  son,  Samuel  R.  He  married,  second,  in 
November,  1895,  Miss  Kate  Westcott  Rider,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 


BENJAMIN  W.  WOOSTER. 

Benjamin  W.  Wooster  was  born  in  Albany  county  on  the  24th  of  March,  1820,  and 
is  a  son  of  David  and  Polly  (Woodbury)Wooster,  who  came  from  New  Hampshire  to 
the  county  of  Albany  in  1816.  He  was  liberally  endowed  with  those  traits  of  perse- 
verance and  thrift  which  characterized  the  sons  of  New  England  parentage,  and 
after  receiving  a  good  common  school  education  became  an  apprentice  at  cabinet 
making,  at  which  he  served  faithfully  for  four  years,  and  for  which  he  had  strong 
natural  tastes.  His  parents'  limited  means  forced  him  in  early  youth  upon  his  own 
resources,  but  with  a  determination  at  once  rare  and  commendable  he  rapidly 
acquired  great  skill  and  won  approval  from  all  who  knew  him.  Finishing  his  ap- 
prenticeship in  1843  he  opened  a  small  store  in  South  Pearl  street,  Albany,  where  his 
close  attention  to  business,  his  pluck,  industry,  and  honorable  dealing,  and  the  ex- 
cellent style  and  finish  of  his  manufactured  goods  brought  him  success  and  substan- 
tial prosperity.  Here  he  prosecuted  a  constantly  increasing  business  for  eight  years, 
or  until  1851,  when  he  erected  a  four-story  building  at  Nos.  57  and  59  South  Pearl 
street  to  accommodate  the  growing  demands  of  his  trade.  He  enlarged  the  capacity 
of  this  structure  from  time  to  time,  conducted  his  cabinet-making  business  with 
marked  success,  established  a  wide  reputation  as  a  manufacturer  of  the  highest  class 
of  work,  and  devoted  his  energies  and  his  mechanical  skill  to  building  up  a  trade 
not  only  in  this  section  but  in  many  of  the  Eastern  States.  He  attained  what  he  set 
out  as  a  youth  to  accomplish,  a  foremost  place  as  a  manufacturer  of  artistic  house- 
hold furniture.  His  work  has  always  been  noted  for  its  beauty,  durability,  and 
ornamental  design,  and  numerous  specimens  of  it  have  for  many  years  graced  the 
finest  homes,  hotels,  banks,  offices,  etc.,  in  this  as  well  as  in  other  localities.  His 
estublishment  has  long  been  the  leading  one  in  the  furniture  trade  of  Albany,  where 
his  active  life  has  been  spent.  As  a  designer  and  decorator  of  private  and  public 
buildings  Mr.  Wooster  has  won  the  highest  reputation,  which  is  due  largely  to  his 
love  of  the, beautiful  in  art,  his  excellent  judgment  in  appropriate  and  harmonious 
ornamentation,  his  long  experience  as  a  manufacturer,  and  his  careful  and  constant 
oversight  of  his  work.  In  July,  1889,  he  occupied  the  present  handsome  store  at 
Nos.  36  and  38  North  Pearl  street,  which  was  built  by  him  for  the  sole  use  of  the 
business. 

While  Mr.  Wooster  has  devoted  his  time  chiefly  to  his  private  business  interests 


B.  W.  WOOSTER. 


45 

he  has  nevertheless  taken  an  active  part  in  furthering  the  material  welfare  of  the 
city  of  Albauy  and  is  prominently  identified  with  its  growth  and  prosperity.  As  a 
citizen  he  has  always  been  progressive,  sustaining  every  movement  which  promised 
general  benefit.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  in  1871  of  the  Albany  County  Bank 
and  became  its  vice-president,  a  position  he  held  for  seven  years,  or  until  1878,  when 
he  was  elected  president.  He  served  in  this  capacity  till  1891,  when  he  resigned, 
leaving  the  institution  as  it  now  stands — one  of  the  best,  soundest,  and  most  useful 
in  the  city.  During  his  administration  as  president  a  savings  bank  became  neces- 
sary to  the  other  financial  developments  and  was  added,  and  the  result  of  this  move 
is  a  flourishing  savings  department  with  deposits  aggregating  over  8400,000.  The 
Albany  County  Bank  was  originally  quartered  in  the  old  Tweddle  Hall,  where  it 
was  burned  out.  The  board  of  directors  then  purchased  the  site  and  erected  the 
present  handsome  bank  building  on  the  corner  of  State  and  South  Pearl  streets, 
where  for  over  200  years  stood  the  historic  Staats  house,  one  of  the  earliest  Dutch 
dwellings  in  Albany  and  the  last  to  disappear.  Many  other  offices  of  honor  and 
trust  have  been  offered  to  Mr.  Wooster,  but  he  has  declined  them,  prefering  to  give 
his  whole  attention  to  his  large  furniture  business,  in  which  he  has  attained  the 
highest  degree  of  success.  In  1878  he  erected  a  handsome  brick  residence  on  the 
corner  of  State  street  and  Western  avenue,  fronting  Washington  Park,  and  most 
beautifully  furnished  its  interior  with  furniture  of  his  own  designing. 

Mr.  Wooster  was  married,  first,  in  1845,  to  Miss  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Levi  Steele. 
Albany,  who  died  in  the  fall  of  1860,  leaving  two  daughters.  In  1852  he  married, 
second,  Miss  Katharine  M.,  daughter  of  the  late  Thomas  Wright,  of  Elmira,  N.  Y., 
and  they  have  had  six  children,  of  whom  four  are  living. 


SAMUEL  L.   MUNSOX. 

Samuel  Lyman  Munson  descends,  paternally  and  maternally,  from  the  purest  and 
earliest  Puritan  stock,  his  father's  family  settling  in  New  Haven  and  his  mother's, 
the  Lymans,  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  where  they  lived  for  several  generations.  His  first 
American  ancestor,  Thomas  Munson,  came,  it  is  supposed,  from  England  in  1621, 
and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  New  Haven  colony.  Mr.  Munson's  father,  Garrv 
Munson,  of  the  eighth  generation  in  this  country  from  the  pioneer  Thomas,  was  a 
man  of  noble  impulses,  of  remarkable  industry,  and  of  very  considerable  ability. 
He  held  several  public  offices,  was  a  farmer,  a  wool  dealer,  and  a  manufacturer,  and 
imparted  to  his  children  those  sterling  traits  of  character  which  have  distinguished 
the  family  name.  He  married  Harriet  Lyman,  a  lineal  descendant  of  Richard 
Lyman,  another  Puritan  who,  as  early  as  1635,  was  one  of  the  little  band  that  left 
Boston  and  founded  the  present  city  of  Hartford,  Conn.  Her  father,  Samuel  Lyman, 
was  a  colonel  stationed  at  Boston  in  the  war  of  1812. 

Samuel  L.  Munson  was  born  in  Norwich  (now  Huntington),  Mass.,  June  1),  1844, 
was  reared  on  the  parental  farm,  and  received  his  rudimentary  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  Huntington.  When  twelve  years  of  age  he  entered  Williston 
Seminary  at  Easthampton,  Mass.,  where  he  pursued  his  studies  for  three  years.  He 
then  became  a  clerk  in  a  large  dry  goods  store  in  Boston,  but  after  an  experience  of 


46 

two  years  in  mercantile  life  he  was  compelled  on  account  of  his  health  to  return  to 
the  farm.  In  1863  he  came  to  Albany  and  obtained  a  situation  as  commercial  trav- 
eler for  Wickes  &  Strong,  manufacturers  of  clothing,  his  territory  lying  principally 
in  the  West.  In  1867  he  resigned  this  position,  in  which  he  had  met  with  unusual 
success,  and  forming  a  copartnership  with  J.  A.  Richardson  and  L.  R.  Dwight, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Munson,  Richardson  &  Co.,  established  a  linen  collar  man- 
ufactory, of  which  he  became  sole  proprietor  in  1869.  Through  Mr.  Munson's  able 
business  management  this  enterprise  proved  successful  from  the  start.  It  was 
founded  upon  a  modest  scale,  but  by  rapid  strides  increased  to  immense  proportions, 
and  within  a  few  years  larger  and  more  convenient  accommodations  became  neces- 
sary. In  1884  he  purchased  the  old  Hudson  Avenue  Methodist  church,  which  he  re- 
modeled and  enlarged  for  the  manufacture  of  shirts,  collars,  cuffs,  lace  neckwear, 
etc.  This  building,  which  was  opened  and  occupied  by  the  business  on  December 
21,  1885,  is  140  by  68  feet  and  five  stories  high,  and  is  equipped  with  the  best  ma- 
chinery and  conveniences.  Between  400  and  500  persons  are  employed,  and  the 
goods  find  a  sale  in  almost  every  State  in  the  Union  as  well  as  abroad.  This  was 
among  the  first  industries  of  the  kind  started  in  Albany,  and  has  grown  until  it  is 
now  one  of  the  largest  and  most  successful  in  the  State,  employing  a  thousand  per- 
sons.    In  1889  he  erected  another  shirt  factory  at  Cobleskill,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Munson  is  a  representative  business  man.  He  is  a  trustee  and  secretary  of 
the  Home  Savings  Bank,  a  trustee  and  chairman  of  the  committee  on  manufactures 
of  the  Albany  Chamber  of  Commerce,  the  original  treasurer  of  The  Pure  Baking 
Powder  Company,  a  trustee  of  the  Madison  Avenue  Reformed  church,  and  formerly 
a  director  of  the  National  Exchange  Bank.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  the 
Revolution,  through  his  great-grandfather,  Stephen  Munson;  a  life  member  of  the 
New  England  Society;  and  a  member  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club  of  Albany  and  the 
Colonial  and  Republican  Clubs  of  New  York.  He  is  also  prominently  identified 
with  several  literary,  Masonic,  athletic,  and  social  organizations  of  Albany,  is  a  great 
lover  of  literature  and  collector  of  books,  and  has  traveled  quite  extensively. 

In  1868  Mr.  Munson  was  married  to  Miss  Susan  B.,  daughter  of  Lemuel  J.  Hop- 
kins, of  Albany,  and  they  have  four  sons  and  two  daughters:  Harriet  Lyman,  Ed- 
ward Garry.  Paul  Babcock,  Samuel  Lyman,  jr..  Amy  Treadwell,  and  Robert.  The 
eldest  son  is  associated  with  his  father  in  business,  the  second  is  a  member  of  the 
class  of  1897  of  Yale  University,  and  the  third,  Samuel  L.,  jr.,  is  a  student  at  Harvard 
University,  class  of  1900. 


BENJAMIN  MARSH. 

Benjamin  Marsh,  son  of  Seymour  and  Mary  (Gage)  Marsh,  of  Oxford,  N.  H.,  was 
born  in  Palatine  Bridge,  N.  Y..  on  the  10th  of  February,  1817.  He  inherited  many 
sterling  characteristics  and  received  in  early  life  a  good  common  school  education, 
and  the  excellent  qualities  with  which  he  was  endowed  were  used  for  noble  and  use- 
ful ends.  In  1832,  when  a  lad  of  fifteen,  he  came  to  Albany  and  entered  the  employ 
of  Chauncey  Johnson,  one  of  the  leading  jewelers  and  watchmakers  of  the  city  on 
what  was  then  South  Market  street,  now  Broadway.     In  1838  he  commenced  business 


"T: 


A 


T.   HOWARD  LEWIS. 


47 

for  himself  at  the  old  location,  which  is  now  the  printing  house  of  J.  Van  Benthuv- 
sen,  and  subsequently  moved  to  Douw's  building,  where  he  finally  sold  out  to  Henry 
Rowlands.  About  1880  he  resumed  business  at  Nos.  79  and  81  North  Pearl  street, 
taking  as  his  partner  Frederick  W.  Hoffman,  under  the  firm  name  of  Marsh  &  Hoff- 
man. Here  Mr.  Marsh  continued  in  the  jewelry,  watch  and  diamond  trade  until  his 
death  on  March  28,  1896,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Hoffman. 

Mr.  Marsh  was  one  of  the  leading  jewelers  and  representative  business  men  of 
Albany,  and  throughout  a  long  and  successful  career  won  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  his  fellow  citizens.  His  character,  his  integrity,  and  his  business  reputation  were 
unsullied  and  above  criticism.  He  was  public  spirited,  kind,  generous,  and  benevo- 
lent, and  was  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him.  In  his  home  and  among  his 
family  he  found  his  greatest  enjoyment,  and  it  was  there  that  his  best  characteristics 
were  displayed.  He  was  first  and  last  an  honest  man,  a  simple  but  noble  citizen, 
and  a  friend  whom  every  one  revered.  He  was  one  of  the  oldest  members  of  the 
Burgesses  Corps,  serving  under  Captain  Bayeaux  in  the  anti  renters'  little  disturb- 
ance in  the  Helderbergs.  He  was  also  an  exempt  fireman,  a  member  of  Temple 
Lodge,  No.  14,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Jagger  Iron  Companv.  of 
Albany.  In  politics  he  was  first  a  Whig  and  then  a  Republican,  but  never  accepted 
public  office,  though  often  urged  to  do  so. 

( )n  October  5,  1848,  Mr.  Marsh  was  married  to  Miss  Ruth  Picket  Camp,  of  Dur- 
ham, Conn.,  who  died  April  20,  1896,  three  weeks  after  the  death  of  her  husband. 
They  are  survived  by  four  children. 


,      T.   HOWARD  LEWIS. 

In  this  brief  summary  of  points  in  the  career  of  T.  Howard  Lewis,  general  agent 
at  Albany  of  the  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  of  New  York,  it  should  be  said, 
as  excuse  for  any  omission,  that  a  biography  of  more  pretension  could  best  convey 
the  lesson  of  his  life  of  industry  and  intelligent  management,  which  is  full  of  instruc- 
tion to  all.  His  career,  though  only  fairly  begun,  shows  that  honesty,  capacity,  and 
power  to  "  hustle"  receive  their  reward  at  last,  and  in  good  measure.  For  the  past 
twelve  years  he  has  been  associated  with  the  Mutual  Life,  and  during  that  time  has 
displayed  much  wisdom  in  the  management  of  his  affairs. 

Mr.  Lewis  was  born  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  November  6,  1869,  and  received  Ins  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  that  city.  Being  desirous  of  entering  commercial  life  he 
secured  an  appointment  from  the  home  office  of  the  company  in  1885,  when  but  fif- 
teen years  of  age.  His  first  duties  consisted  of  running  errands  for  the  various 
departments  of  the  company.  He  was  advanced  from  time  to  time  to  various  posi- 
tions in  the  company's  service,  and  on  January  1,  1898,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three, 
was  appointed  a  general  agent  of  the  company  for  Delaware,  Virginia,  and  Eastern 
Maryland,  with  headquarters  at  Wilmington,  Delaware.  The  Mutual  Life  never 
had  a  general  agent  in  that  territory  before,  and  of  his  work  in  1898  and  1894  the 
statistician  of  the  company  published  in  a  report  the  following  flattering  statement 
relative  to  his  efforts  in  that  field  for  those  two  years: 

'•The  Mutual  Life  record  in  Delaware  under  the  the  agency  of  T    Howard   Lewis 


48 

is  another  illustration  of  what  can  be  accomplished  in  the  life  insurance  field  by  en- 
ergetic, intelligent,  and  faithful  attention  to  the  business  of  getting  applications 
through  competent  solicitors.  In  two  years  the  new  business  done  has  been  increased 
to  more  than  ten  times  as  much  as  it  was  in  1892,  while  the  insurance  in  force  has 
been  more  than  doubled.  In  1894  the  insurance  issued  was  $1,944,500,  and  in  1892  it 
was  §174,500.  Thus  the  gain  of  issue  in  two  years  was  $1,770,000.  December  31, 
1894,  the  insurance  in  force  was  $2,730,000;  in  1892  it  was  $1,266,360.  The  gain  of 
insurance  in  two  years  was  $1,464,540. 

"There  are  several  interesting  lessons  connected  with  the  Mutual  Life's  agency 
work  in  Delaware  during  the  last  two  years  that  ought  to  be  observed  and  utilized 
at  this  time.  In  1892  this  company  did  only  nine  per  cent,  of  the  total  done  by  all 
the  companies  operating  in  the  State ;  and  the  Equitable  and  New  York  Life  both 
did  a  larger  amount  than  the  Mutual  Life.  In  1894  the  Mutual  Life  did  fifty-two  per 
cent,  of  the  total,  twice  as  much  as  the  Equitable,  and  six  times  as  much  as  the  New 
York  Life.  In  1892  the  Mutual  Life  had  only  16.5  per  cent,  of  all  the  insurance  in 
force  in  the  State,  and  stood  number  four  in  the  list  of  twenty  companies,  the  Equi- 
table, the  Penn  Mutual,  and  the  Provident  Life  and  Trust  being  ahead.  But  in  1894 
it  was  raised  to  the  head  of  the  list  and  held  twenty-seven  per  cent,  of  the  total  in 
all  companies,  it  being  ahead  of  the  Equitable  by  $600,000,  of  the  Penn  Mutual  by 
nearly  $1,200,000,  of  the  Provident  Life  and  Trust  by  $1,300,000,  and  of  the  New 
York  Life  by  $1,900,000.  This  business  was  obtained  by  legitimate  soliciting  meth- 
ods and  push,  and  without  controversy  with  other  companies.  The  total  new  busi- 
ness done  in  the  State  was  increased  by  $1,800,00  in  two  years,  of  which  increase 
the  Mutual  Life  secured  ninety-eight  per  cent.  The  total  insurance  in  force  in  all 
companies  was  increased  by  nearly  $2,500,000,  of  which  the  Mutual  Life  secured 
three-fifths,  and  the  balance  was  distributed  among  the  smaller  companies." 

This  remarkably  large  volume  of  business  written  in  such  a  limited  field  resulted 
in  the  transfer  of  Mr.  Lewis  to  a  larger  one  in  New  York  State,  with  headquarters  in 
Albany,  in  January,  1895.  He  succeeded  the  old  agencies  of  D.  L.  Boardman  & 
Son  and  afterward  Henry  F.  Boardman.  This  general  agency  is  one  of  the  oldest 
of  the  company,  and  since  assuming  charge  of  his  new  territory  Mr.  Lewis  wrote 
during  the  year  1895  more  than  four  times  the  amount  of  business  written  in  1894. 
This  ratio  has  been  proportionately  increased  during  1896.  He  has  a  large  staff  of 
special  and  local  agents,  and  maintains  a  branch  office  in  Troy,  besides  offices  in 
smaller  cities  and  towns  throughout  Eastern  and  Northwestern  New  York. 

Mr.  Lewis  was  married  in  April,  1895,  to  Miss  Jennie  B.  Lindsay,  of  Wilmington, 
Delaware,  daughter  of  David  Lindsay,  who  is  prominently  identified  with  the  large 
paper  manufactory  of  the  Jessup  &  Moore  Paper  Company,  of  Wilmington,  New 
York,  and  Pniladelphia.  > 


WILLIAM  M.   NEAD,   M.   D. 

Dr.  William  M.  Nead  is  the  second  son  of  a  family  of  three  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters of  Gabriel  and  Mary  (Eckerman)  Nead,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was 
born  in   the  town  of  Lodi,  Medina  county,   Ohio,  November  30,  1859.      He  is  of 


f 


49 

Dutch  descent.  His  father  followed  at  different  times  the  occupations  of  photogra- 
pher, stone  mason,  and  meat  dealer,  and  died  in  Lodi,  Ohio,  June  30,  1877,  leaving 
a  widow  who  still  survives.  Dr.  Nead  was  graduated  from  the  Lodi  public  and  high 
schools,  and  for  about  a  year  taught  the  district  school  at  Homerville,  Ohio.  Soon 
afterward  he  began  the  stud)'  of  medicine  in  the  office  of  Dr.  A.  E.  Elliott,  of  Lodi, 
with  whom  he  remained  about  two  years,  pursuing  his  studies  nights  and  teaching 
school  during  the  day  to  pay  his  expenses.  In  September,  1882,  he  entered  the 
Cleveland  Homeopathic  Hospital  College  and  was  graduated  therefrom  with  the  de- 
gree of  M.  D.  in  March,  1884.  During  the  next  two  years  he  was  associated  in  prac- 
tice with  Dr.  W.  G.  Pope,  of  Keeseville,  Essex  county,  N.  Y.  In  1886  he  removed 
to  Albany,  where  he  has  since  practiced  his  profession  with  marked  success,  not 
only  discharging  every  obligation  which  he  had  contracted  for  his  education,  but 
acquiring  in  the  brief  space  of  ten  years  a  handsome  competency.  In  the  spring  of 
1895  he  built  his  present  residence  and  office  at  No.  205  State  street. 

Dr.  Nead  is  a  member  of  the  medical  staff  of  the  Albany  City  Homeopathic  Hos- 
pital;  is  a  member  and  in  1895  was  president  of  the  Albany  County  Homeopathic 
Medical  Society;  and  has  been  a  prominent  member  of  the  New  York  State  Homeo- 
pathic Medical  Society  since  1891  and  of  the  American  Institute  of  Homeopathy 
since  1892.  He  is  also  a  member  and  past  chancellor  of  Chancellors  Lodge  No.  58, 
K.  P.  ;  examining  surgeon  and  past  commander  of  Albany  Tent  No.  362,  of  the 
Maccabees;  ex-senator  of  Albany  Senate  No.  641,  Knights  of  the  Ancient  Essenic 
Order;  member  of  Ancient  City  Lodge  No.  452,  F.  &  A.  M.  ;  and  a  member  and 
trustee  of  Trinity  M.  E.  church. 

On  July  24,  1890,  Dr.  Nead  was  married  to  Miss  Linnie  M.,  daughter  of  Ruins 
Prescott,  of  Keeseville,  Essex  county,  one  of  the  largest  furniture  manufacturers  and 
builders  in  Northern  New  York.  They  have  two  children:  Marjone  Amanda  and 
Prescott  Eckerman. 


DAVID  C.  FITZGERALD. 

David  C.  Fitzgerald,  son  of  Maurice  and  Mary  (Cregan)  Fitzgerald,  was  born  in 
Limerick,  Ireland,  June  8,  1868,  and  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  one  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished Irish  families  (the  Geraldines),  having  among  his  ancestors  men  whose 
biographies  are  among  the  brightest  glories  of  Ireland's  history. 

The  family  seat  of  the  branch  of  the  great  Geraldine  family,  of  which  the  object 
of  this  sketch  is  a  descendent,  has  been  established  in  Limerick  since  early  in  the 
fourteenth  century.  Mr.  Fitzgerald  completed  his  preliminary  education  in  the 
Royal  University  of  Ireland,  Dublin,  where,  in  1888,  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts 
was  couferred  on  him.  In  1890  he  received  the  degree  of  Barrister  at  Law  at 
Oxford,  after  which  he  seriously  considered  entering  service  in  the  British  army, 
for  which  he  had  studied,  until  attracted  by  the  world-wide  fame  of  the  Albany  bar, 
with  several  prominent  members  of  which  he  was  already  on  close  acquaintance,  lie 
settled  in  this  city,  and  in  1891  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  New  York  State,  having 
previously  in  1S86  declared  his  intention  of  becoming  a  citizen  of  the  United  States. 

His  career  as  a  student  was  particularly  brilliant  and  distinguished  him  as  a  young 

G 


50 

man  of  extraordinary  intellectual  powers  and  oratorical  ability,  which  his  distin- 
guished achievements  at  the  bar  and  in  public  life,  since  his  advent  into  the  business 
world,  has  more  than  confirmed.  He  has  an  extensive  foreign  legal  practice,  in 
connection  with  which  he  travels  extensively  in  both  hemispheres,  and  has  success- 
fully handled  many  cases  involving  millions  of  dollars,  showing  himself,  on  every 
occasion,  an  able  and  successful  lawyer  and  a  brilliant  orator.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat,  not  of  the  partisan  type  but  on  principle,  and  has  on  several  occasions 
been  honored  by  his  party  to  which  he  has  rendered  invaluable  services. 

He  is  of  athletic  mould  with  an  indomitable  will  and  a  vigorous  constitution,  and 
the  possessor  of  numerous  trophies  of  victories  won  by  him  in  the  athletic  arenas 
of  his  college  days;  he  is  quite  an  equestrian  and  has  been  the  hero  of  several 
life-saving  incidents,  in  a  manner  that  has  made  conspicuous  his  brave  and  generous 
nature  and  gained  him  the  love  and  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

Indeed  Mr.  Fitzgerald's  distinguished  life  career  of  the  past,  with  his  extraordinary 
physical  and  intellectual  powers,  and  temperate  habits  of  life,  marks  him  as  pre- 
eminently a  man  of  the  future  and  a  citizen  of  whom  the  capital  city  might  well  be 
proud. 


EDWARD    J.  MEEGAN. 

Edward  J.  Meegan,  son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  Meegan,  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Albany  on  September  28,  1846.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Ireland,  whence  they 
came  to  this  country  in  1824,  settling  first  in  Boston,  Mass.  About  1826  they  re- 
moved to  Albany,  where  they  died.  Mr.  Meegan  early  evinced  a  strong  love  of 
learning,  and  also  as  a  youth  displayed  those  qualities  which  make  the  successful 
man.  Attending  St.  Joseph's  parish  school  he  became  a  close  student  and  thor- 
oughly mastered  the  elementary  principles  of  a  general  education.  From  the  first 
he  was  determined  to  become  a  lawyer,  but  owing  to  the  limited  pecuniary  means 
of  the  family  he  was  obliged  to  rely  mainly  upon  himself  for  the  prosecution  and 
completion  of  his  literary  and  professional  studies.  When  only  thirteen  years  of 
age  he  registered  as  a  student  at  law  in  the  office  of  Edwards  &  Sturtevant,  then  a 
prominent  firm  at  the  Albany  bar.  He  remained  with  them  nearly  seven  years, 
and  also  pursued  his  legal  studies  under  Isaac  Edwards,  who  was  afterward  presi- 
dent of  the  Albany  Law  School,  The  law  had  for  the  young  student  no  drudgery, 
but  a  mine  of  wealth  which  he  explored  and  mastered  with  remarkable  quickness. 
He  was  indeed  a  born  lawyer,  imbued  with  the  highest  principles  of  the  law  as  a 
science.  Upon  attaining  his  majority  in  1867  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  open- 
ing an  office  in  Albany  he  immediately  entered  upon  the  active  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. 

Mr.  Meegan  had  passed  with  great  credit  through  his  studentship,  which  was  full 
and  unconditional,  and  during  that  period  he  had  with  his  own  hands  conducted 
many  hundred  cases  through  all  the  intricacies  of  the  Code.  When  he  commenced 
practice  for  himself  he  wTas  therefore  a  trained  and  experienced  lawyer,  and  signal 
success  at  once  attended  his  efforts.  He  has  been  a  lifelong  Democrat.  In  May, 
1869,  he  was  elected  corporation  counsel,  and  on  entering  upon  the  duties  of  that 


E.  J.   MEHGAN. 


51 

office  was  confronted  with  a  large  amount  of  unfinished  work.  He  continued  in  the 
position  until  1874,  and  saved  for  the  city  during  his  official  career  more  than  half  a 
million  of  dollars.  In  tlffis  capacity  he  had  gained  a  large  experience  in  the  man- 
agement of  city  cases,  and  when  he  resumed  his  private  practice  he  was  retained  as 
counsel  in  many  of  this  class  of  cases,  in  every  one  of  which  he  was  successful.  He 
has  won  a  wide  reputation  as  an  able  civil  and  criminal  lawyer.  He  is  also  a  distin- 
guished orator,  a  great  lover  of  books,  and  the  owner  of  a  well-selected  private  library. 
His  law  library  is  one  of  the  largest  if  not  the  largest  in  the  State. 

Mr.  Meegan  was-  married,  first,  on  September  5,  1878,  to  Miss  Katie  E.  Welch,  of 
Albany,  who  died  in  January,  1884.  September  24,  1886,  he  married,  second.  Miss 
Mary  Mattimore,  of  Albany,  by  whom  he  has  had  two  daughters  and  two  sons,  of 
whom  one  daughter  is  deceased. 


JOHN  N.   BRIGGS. 

John  N.  Bkiggs  is  a  son  of  Albert  N.  and  a  grandson  of  Newton  Briggs,  who 
came  to  Coeymans,  Albany  county,  from  Sherman,  Conn.,  in  1804.  Mr.  Briggs  was 
born  in  Coeymans,  N.  Y.,  in  1838,  and  received  a  practical  common  school  educa- 
tion. In  1866  he  married  Elizabeth  M.,  daughter  of  James  and  Maria  Trego,  of  New 
Baltimore,  N.  Y.  He  has  always  been  a  resident  of  his  native  town.  In  1865  he 
purchased  his  father's  business,  viz.,  general  store  and  North  River  blue  stone,  which 
he  successfully  continued  for  ten  years.  In  1877  he  sold  out  his  mercantile  business 
at  Coeymans  and  engaged  in  the  coal  trade  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  which  he  has  since 
conducted,  having  yards  in  both  Coeymans  and  Albany.  In  1879  he  purchased 
and  fitted  up  Baerena  Park,  a  beautiful  plat  of  ground  on  Baeren  Island,  near  Coey- 
mans Landing,  which  he  has  made  popular  and  attractive  as  a  summer  resort  for 
picnickers  and  excursionists.  In  1881  he  engaged  in  the  ice  business,  and  has  facili- 
ties for  storing  100,000  tons  of  ice  annually  in  his  houses  in  Coeymans,  which  he  sells 
at  his  own'depots  in  New  York  city.  He  has  invented  and  patented  several  valuable 
facilities  for  the  use  of  ice  men,  which  have  come  into  general  use  throughout  the  ice 
producing  belt.  Mr.  Briggs  is  general  superintendent  of  the  ice  cutting  tools  and 
machinery  of  the  Consolidated  Ice  Company  of  New  York  city,  which  harvests  and 
sells  annually  over  2,000,000  tons  of  ice.  Is  one  of  the  incorporators  and  president 
of  the  Callan  Road  Improvement  Company  of  Albany,  and  is  a  dealer  in  North 
River  blue  stone.  He  is  a  man  of  sound  judgment,  of  quick  and  accurate  percep- 
tion, of  indomitable  energy,  and  devotes  to  each  of  his  various  business  enterprises 
personal  supervision.  He  has  been  uniformly  successful  in  business,  is  highly 
esteemed  and  respected  by  all  who  know  him.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  Onesque- 
thau  Lodge  No.  804,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Coeymans,  and  as  a  citizen  is  public  spirited, 
progressive  and  influential. 


A2 


ELNATHAN  SWEET. 

Elnathan  Sweet,  ex-State  engineer  of  the  State  of  New  York,  represents  the 
sixth  generation  in  each  of  which  the  name  Elnathan  has  figured  prominently.  The 
family  dates  back  to  the  colonial  period  of  Rhode  Island  where  many  of  its  members 
distinguished  themselves  in  civil,  military,  and  commercial  life.  His  great-great- 
grandfather, Elnathan  Sweet,  removed  to  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.,  whence  Elna- 
than, a  son  of  the  latter,  found  his  way  about  1760  to  Stephentovvn,  Rensselaer 
county,  where  he  became  an  extensive  farmer,  and  where  Mr.  Sweet's  grandfather 
and  father,  both  named  Elnathan  and  both  farmers,  were  born.  The  latter  was 
born  November  22,  1796,  married  Chloe  Cole,  and  died  in  June,  1879.  His  wife's 
death  occurred  in  1872,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight.  He  was  a  noted  Baptist  minister, 
preaching  mainly  in  Adams  and  Cheshire,  Mass.,  and  during  the  last  twenty  years 
of  his  life  in  Stephentown,  N.  Y.  He  had  four  children,  of  whom  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  the  youngest. 

Elnathan  Sweet  was  born  in  Cheshire,  Berkshire  county,  Mass.,  November  20, 
1837,  and  received  his  preliminary  education  in  the  public  and  private  schools  of 
Stephentown,  N.  Y.,  and  Hancock,  Mass.  In  1859  he  was  graduated  from  Union 
College,  where  he  pursued  a  course  of  civil  engineering.  For  about  one  year  there- 
after he  was  a  deputy  under  Ward  B.  Burnett,  surveyor-general  of  the  State  of  Ne- 
braska. Returning  home  he  was  married  and  at  once  engaged  in  civil  engineering 
as  assistant  on  various  railroad  projects,  with  headquarters  in  Stephentown.  In 
1864  he  went  to  Franklin,  Pa.,  where  he  engaged  in  general  engineering,  developing 
oil  wells,  coal  mines,  etc.,  and  where  he  remained  until  1868,  when  he  moved  to  Chi- 
cago and  prosecuted  his  profession.  In  1869  he  was  appointed  chief  engineer  of  the 
Rock  Island  and  St.  Louis  Railway  (now  the  Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis  division  of  the 
C.  B  &  Q.),  with  headquarters  in  both  Chicago  and  St.  Louis.  He  built  this  line 
two  hundred  and  thirty  miles  in  length  in  about  twelve  months,  and  in  1871,  after 
its  completion,  was  also  made  superintendent.  He  held  both  positions  until  1872, 
and  during  the  year  1871  was  also  consulting  engineer  of  the  Rockford  Central  and 
the  Cairo  and  St.  Louis  Railroads. 

In  1872  he  formed  a  partnership  with  James  R.  Young,  of  Chicago,  under  the  firm 
name  of  E.  Sweet,  jr.,  &  Co.,  and  engaged  in  railroad  construction,  continuing  until 
1875.  During  that  period  they  built  most  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway  from  the 
Red  River  of  the  North,  across  Dakota,  to  the  Missouri  River :  several  bridges  in 
Chicago,  and  a  part  of  the  tunnel  at  West  Point,  N.  Y.,  for  what  is  now  the  West 
Shore  Railroad.  In  1875  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Tilden  expert  engineer  for 
the  commission  for  investigating  the  abuses  on  the  New  York  State  canals  and  was 
engaged  in  those  complicated  affairs  until  the  spring  of  1876,  when  he  was  appointed 
division  engineer,  which  position  he  held  until  the  spring  of  1880.  The  work  of  the 
Tilden  commission  was  chiefly  directed  to  the  discovery  of  the  abuses  which  had 
become  flagrant  in  the  letting  and  in  the  carrying  out  of  contracts  for  the  various 
engineering  works  involved  in  enlarging  and  improving  the  State  canals.  The  pro- 
fessional experience  and  accomplishments  of  Mr.  Sweet  enabled  him  to  exercise  a 
salutary  influence  in  directing  this  work  in  the  most  effective  manner,  and  his  labors 
m  formulating  many  of  its  important  reports  have  contributed  to  the  extensive  and 


53 

permanent  reforms  which  have  since  characterized  this  department  of  the  State  ad- 
ministration. 

Mr.  Sweet  resigned  as  division  engineer  of  the  canals  in  the  spring  of  1880  and 
resumed  the  business  of  railroad  construction  with  his  former  partner,  James  R. 
Young,  with  offices  in  New  York  city.  This  partnership  continued  until  1883,  their 
business  being  principally  the  building  of  the  New  York,  West  Shore  and  Buffalo 
Railroad  for  a  distance  of  about  fifty  miles  in  Greene,  Albany,  and  Orange  counties, 
finishing  the  West  Point  tunnel,  and  constructing  a  part  of  the  New  York,  Susque- 
hanna and  Western  Railroad  from  the  Delaware  River  west.  In  1883  he  was  nomi- 
nated by  the  Democrats  and  elected  State  engineer,  and  in  1885  was  re-elected  to  the 
same  office,  serving  in  all  four  years.  During  Mr.  Sweet's  connection  with  the  engi- 
neering department  of  the  State  as  division  engineer  and  State  engineer  he  made  on 
a  large  scale  exhaustive  experiments  to  determine  the  laws  governing  the  resistance 
of  vessels  propelled  in  narrow  waterways,  upon  which  the  proper  design  and  proba- 
able  capacity  and  economy  of  canals  depend.  A  discussion  of  these  experiments  and 
the  laws  of  propulsion  derived  from  them  were  published  by  him  in  the  Transactions 
of  the  American  Society  of  Civil  Engineers  for  I8ri9,  and  constitute  the  most  impor- 
tant contribution  existing  in  this  branch  of  engineering  literature.  He  also  during 
that  period  thoroughly  investigated  the  problem  of  connecting  the  great  lakes  with 
the  Hudson  River  by  a  ship  canal.  His  paper  on  this  subject,  read  before  the 
American  Society  of  Civil  Engineers  in  1884,  with  the  discussions  upon  it,  published 
in  the  Transactions  of  that  Society  for  1885,  are  of  the  highest  authority  on  canal 
questions. 

As  State  engineer  Mr.  Sweet's  efforts  were  strenuously  exerted  to  restoring  to  the 
engineering  department  of  the  State  government  the  control  of  all  engineering 
questions  and  matters  in  which  the  State  was  concerned,  many  of  which  had 
formerly  been  entrusted  to  irresponsible  commissions  or  to  other  departments  of  the 
State  administrations;  and  it  is  largely  due  to  his  labors  that  the  office  of  State  en- 
gineer now  exercises  most  of  the  functions  appropriate  to  the  usefulness  and  diguitv 
of  that  constitutional  office. 

Since  the  expiration  of  his  second  term  as  State  engineer  on  December  31,  1887, 
Mr.  Sweet  has  successfully  followed  his  profession  as  a  civil  and  consulting  engi- 
neer and  also  as  president  and  trustee  of  the  Hilton  Bridge  Construction  Company. 
In  the  prosecution  of  structural  engineering  he  has  introduced  many  improvements 
in  the  design  of  movable  bridges  and  bridges  of  long  spans,  the  most  notable  per- 
haps being  the  combination  of  the  arch  and  the  cantilever  in  the  same  structure 
originated  by  him  and  first  used  in  his  design  for  the  great  bridge  connecting  Capi- 
tol hill  with  Arbor  hill  in  Albany,  and  which  has  since  been  extensively  copied  in 
Europe  and  this  country. 

Mr.  Sweet  has  lived  in  Albany  since  1875,  and  is  not  only  well  known  as  an  emi- 
nent civil  engineer,  but  has  long  been  prominently  identified  with  many  of  the  city's 
enterprises  and  efficiently  active  in  promoting  its  welfare  and  advancement.  He 
was  a  trustee  of  the  sinking  fund  and  a  memberof  the  finance  board  of  the  city  from 
1889  to  1892,  and  in  July,  189G,  was  reappointed  to  these  positions.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  water  board  from  1892  to  1SJM,  and  is  a  director  in  the  Albany  City  Rail- 
way. He  is  a  member  of  the  American  Society  of  Civil  Engineers,  the  University 
Club  of  New  York,  and  the  Port  <  (range  Club  of  Albany. 


51 


September  20,  1860,  he  was  married  to  Marion  Rose,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Rose, 
of  Stephentown,  N.  Y.  They  have  had  six  children  Marion  Rose,  Marguerite, 
Helen  M.,  Elizabeth,  Chloe,  and  Elnathan,  jr.,  the  latter  bearing  the  name  Elna- 
than  without  break  into  the  seventh  generation  of  the  Sweet  family  in  America. 


JAMES  B.  McKEE. 

James  B.  McKee,  the  popular  and  genial  postmaster  of  the  city  of  Cohoes,  has  held 
this  important  office  since  1894.  He  was  brought  to  this  place  when  an  infant  by  his 
father,  Hugh  McKee,  and  has  led  an  active  and  political  life  in  local  affairs.  He 
was  one  of  the  last  village  trustee  before  Cohoes  was  made  a  city  in  1869.  He  is  a 
Democrat  and  served  two  years  as  alderman.  In  1874  he  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  School  Board,  serving  four  years,  and  in  1873  was  appointed  to  the  position  of 
foreman  on  the  Erie  Canal,  which  held  until  1880.  He  was  later  appointed  to  the 
same  position  on  the  canal  and  afterwards  was  superintendent  of  the  canal  for  five 
years.  Mr.  McKee  was  born  at  West  Troy  in  1843.  He  was  the  son  of  a  builder 
and  his  business  life  was  begun  with  his  father  as  a  carpenter  after  his  education  at 
the  Catholic  Parochial  School.  He  was  ambitious  to  succeed  in  life  and  by  perse- 
vering efforts  became  contractor  and  builder.  A  notable  event  of  his  life  was  the 
signing  of  the  Father  Matthew  Temperance  Pledge  in  1850,  a  time  of  great  excite- 
ment, which  pledge  has  been  faithfully  kept  nearly  half  a  century. 


EDWARD  B.  CANTINE. 

Edward  B.  Cantine,  agency  director  for  the  Albany  district  of  the  New  York 
Life  Insurance  Company,  is  a  son  of  Col.  George  A.  and  Marion  J.  (Cook)  Cantine, 
and  was  born  in  Rutland,  Vt,  August  4,  1860.  He  descends  from  a  sturdy  line  of 
French  Huguenots  of  illustrious  origin,  his  first  American  ancestor  being  Moses 
Cantine,  who  fled  from  Bordeaux,  France,  to  England,  at  the  time  of  the  revocation 
of  the  Edict  of  Nantes,  and  afterward  came  to  this  country.  He  received,  with 
others,  from  Queen  Anne,  a  large  grant  of  land  in  what  is  now  Ulster  county,  N.  Y., 
where  the  family  became  prominent  in  civil,  social,  and  military  life,  many  of  them 
becoming  associated  with  the  political  history  of  the  State.  Gen.  John  Cantine,  a 
son  of  Moses,  was  conspicuous  as  an  officer  and  legislator  during  the  Revolutionary 
period,  while  Matthew  Cantine  was  a  member  of  the  Provincial  Congress  in  1775, 
1776,  and  1777  and  also  a  member  of  the  first  Council  of  Safety.  The  Civil  List  of 
the  State  of  New  York  contains  the  names  of  several  of  the  Cantine  family  who  for 
long  periods  filled  positions  as  Congressmen,  senators,  assemblymen,  judges,  etc. 
Moses  I.  Cantine,  son  of  Gen.  John  Cantine,  was  for  a  time  public  printer  of  the 
State  of  New  York.  He  and  Martin  Yan  Buren  married  sisters,  and  his  daughter, 
Miss  Christina  Cantine,  a  niece  of  Van  Buren's,  presided  at  the  White  House  dur- 
ing the  latter's  administration  as  president.  Many  of  the  family  enjoyed  high  social 
distinction  in  this  country  and  abroad.     Col.  George  A.  Cantine,  father  of  Edward 


bbWAKb  B.  CANTINt. 


55 

B.,  is  widely  known  throughout  the  country  as  a  soldier,  orator,  and  lecturer.  He 
served  with  distinction  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  being  identified  with  the  7th  Vt. 
Vols.,  and  subsequently  in  the  Sequestration  Department.  He  also  served  as  assist- 
ant quartermaster-general  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Sylvester  Bering  and  was  later  pro- 
moted assistant  inspector-general  with  the  rank  of  colonel.  After  the  war  he  settled 
in  Rome,  Oneida  county,  and  finally  m  Newburgh,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  now  resides. 

Edward  B.  Cantine  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  academy  of  Rome, 
N.  Y.,  and  finished  at  Cazenovia  Seminary.  He  then  entered  the  employ  of  the 
wholesale  grocery  house  of  Alfred  Ethridge  &  Co.,  of  Rome,  and  continued  as  trav- 
eling salesman  for  nine  years.  In  1890  he  came  to  Albany  as  manager  of  the  Al- 
bany office  of  the  New  York  Life  Insurance  Company.  In  1892,  after  the  election 
of  John  A.  McCall  as  president  of  the  company,  Mr.  Cantine  was  made  agency 
director,  which  position  he  still  holds,  having  charge  of  the  business  in  the  counties 
of  Albany,  Columbia,  Greene,  and  Schoharie.  He  is  one  of  the  best  known  insur- 
ance men  in  Eastern  New  York,  and  has  directed  the  affairs  of  the  New  York  Life 
in  this  section  with  great  credit  and  ability. 

Mr.  Cantine  has  also  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  Republican 
partv,  which  has  honored  him  with  several  positions  of  responsibility.  He  has  been 
for  three  years  clerk  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Albany  county  and  in  1892  rep- 
resented the  13th  ward  of  the  city  in  the  Common  Council.  In  1893  he  was  the  un- 
successful candidate  for  member  of  assembly  from  the  Third  assembly  district,  then 
as  now  a  stronghold  of  Democracy.  He  has  been  chairman  of  the  executive  com- 
mittee of  the  Albany  County  Republican  organization  since  1895,  and  is  also  chair- 
man of  the  General  Republican  Committee  of  the  city  of  Albany.  He  is  a  promi- 
nent Mason,  being  a  member  of  Temple  Lodge,  No.  14,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Capital  City 
Chapter,  No.  242,  R.  A.  M.,  De  Witt  Clinton  Council,  No.  22,  R.  &  S.  M.,  Temple 
Commandery,  No.  2,  K.  T.,  and  Cyprus  Temple  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Elks,  the  Unconditional  Republican  and  Capital  City  Clubs, 
Albany  County  Wheelman,  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and  the  Albany  Club,  of  which  he  is  a 
member  of  the  house  committee.  He  is  public  spirited,  enterprising,  and  progressive, 
and  takes  a  lively  interest  in  all  that  concerns  the  welfare  and  advancement  of  the 
community. 


GEORGE  I.   AMSDELL. 

George  I.  Amsdell  is  of  English  descent,  and  on  his  mother's  side  traces  his  an- 
cestry to  the  Pilgrim  band  of  the  Mayflower.  His  father,  William  Amsdell,  was 
horn  in  Cambridge,  England,  in  1797,  came  to  America  in  1818,  and  in  1820  settled 
in  Albany,  where  he  died  in  1870.  He  was  a  brewer  and  maltster.  His  wife.  Abi- 
gail Millard,  was  born  in  New  Paltz,  Ulster  county,  X.  Y..  in  1803. 

Mi.  Amsdell  was  born  in  Kinderhook,  N.  Y.,  September  3,  1827,  and  received  Ins 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Albany  and  at  boarding  schools  in  Chatham  and 
Bloomingdale,  N.  Y.  When  fifteen  years  of  age  he  entered  the  brewery  of  John 
Taylor  in  Albany  and  later  was  employed  in  the  brewery  of  Reed  Brothers,  of  Troy. 
In  these  two  establishments  he  laid  the  foundations  of  a  successful  brewer  and  malt- 


56 

ster,  which  he  supplemented  by  six  years'  experience — from  1845  to  1851 — in  his 
father's  brewery  in  Guilderland,  Albany  county.  In  1851  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  his  brother,  Theodore  M.,  under  the  firm  name  of  Amsdell  Brothers,  and 
started  the  nucleus  of  his  present  brewery  on  the  end  of  the  lot  bounded  by  Jay, 
Dove,  and  Lancaster  streets  in  Albany.  In  1856  they  erected  the  present  malt 
house,  which  with  the  brewery,  stables  and  storage  buildings  has  frontages  of  354 
feet  on  Jay  and  Lancaster  streets  and  150  feet  on  Dove  street,  the  main  building 
being  five  stories  high.  The  capacity  of  the  plant  is  about  360  barrels  of  ale  daily 
and  125,000  bushels  of  malt  per  annum.  George  I.  Amsdell  personally  superin- 
tended the  malt  department  and  his  brother  acted  as  brewer  until  1870,  when  their 
business  had  increased  to  such  extensive  proportions  that  both  thenceforward  de- 
voted their  energies  solely  to  the  management  of  the  concern.  In  October,  1892, 
the  firm  was  dissolved,  George  I.  Amsdell  becoming  the  sole  proprietor,  and  in  this 
capacity  he  has  since  conducted  with  uniform  success  one  of  the  oldest  and  largest 
breweries  and  malt  houses  in  the  capital  city,  having  also  a  large  distributing  depot 
in  New  York,  on  Thirty-fourth  street,  since  1883.  which  is  in  charge  of  his  son, 
George  H. 

Mr.  A.msdell  has  always  been  an  ardent  Democrat  and  was  for  four  years  alder- 
man of  the  Ninth  ward,  but  excepting  this  has  steadfastly  declined  public  office.  He 
is,  however,  actively  identified  with  several  important  institutions  of  the  city,  being 
one  of  the  founders  and  a  director  of  the  Capital  City  Insurance  Company,  a  trustee 
of  the  Albany  City  Savings  Institution,  and  a  director  and  vice  president  of  the 
Albany  City  National  Bank.  He  was  a  member  of  Co.  B,  Albany  Continentals,  and 
later  of  the  Tenth  Regiment  N.  Y.  N.  G.,  serving  altogether  twelve  years. 

Mr.  Amsdell  has  twice  married.  September,  1847,  he  married  Miss  Esther  J. 
White,  of  Albany,  by  whom  he  had  six  children,  four  sons  and  two  daughters.  In 
August,  1875,  he  married  Miss  Dora  C.  Roraback,  of  Albany. 


HOWARD  N.   FULLER. 

Howard  N.  Fuller  was  born  in  New  Baltimore,  Greene  county,  N.  Y. ,  October 
29,  1853.  His  lineage  is  most  honorable,  notable  and  interesting.  The  blood  of  the 
patriots  and  founders  of  our  country  flows  unsullied  through  his  veins.  His  ances- 
tors, in  both  lines,  made  much  of  our  nation's  history,  and  contributed  largely  to  the 
permanent  establishment  of  those  essential  principles  of  civil  and  religious  liberty 
upon  which  our  government  is  founded  and  thereby  secured  to  us  the  proud  enjoy- 
ment of  their  beneficences. 

Mr.  Fuller  is  the  son  of  William  Fuller  and  Lydia  Allen  Swezey.  On  the  paternal 
side  he  is  a  direct  lineal  descendant  of  Thomas  Fuller,  one  of  the  immortal  Mayflower 
band  of  1620,  whose  descendants  achieved  wide  distinction  in  the  realms  of  theology, 
medicine  and  law.  On  the  maternal  side  he  is  the  great-great-grandson  of  Jonathan 
Dickinson,  the  founder  and  first  president  of  Princeton  College,  and  through  Jona- 
than Dickinson's  wife,  his  great-great-grandmother,  Joanna  Melyn,  he  is  a  lineal 
descendant  of  Cornells  Melyn,  the  powerful  and  humane  patroon  of  Staten  Island, 
who  resisted  so  effectually  the  selfish  and  unwarrantable  tvrannies  of  Governors 


57 

Kieft  and  Stuyvesant.  Jonathan  Dickinson's  father  was  Hezekiah  Dickinson,  born 
February  27,  1636,  and  his  grandfather  was  Nathaniel  Dickinson,  born  in  England 
near  the  close  of  the  sixteenth  century.  The  lives  and  deeds  of  the  Dickinsons  are 
inseparably  interwoven  with  the  colonial  period  of  our  republic.  Many  of  them  were 
killed  in  the  Indian  warfares,  but  the  progeny  was  numerous,  and  those  who  sur- 
vived became  distinguished  in  statecraft,  literature,  art  and  science.  Gen.  Horace 
Dickinson,  Hon.  Daniel  S.  Dickinson,  Hon.  Don  M.  Dickinson,  belong  to  the  same  line. 
Mr.  Fuller  is  a  great-grandnephew  of  Commodore  Oliver  Hazard  Perry  and  Com- 
modore Matthew  Calbraith  Perry,  and  is  immediately  related  to  the  Bigelows,  Bel- 
monts,  Sergeants  (Phila.),  Burnetts  (N.  J.),  Runyons  (N.  J.),  and  Greens,  (N.  J.),  one 
of  whom,  John  C.  Green,  has  made  munificent  gifts  to  Princeton  College  in  memory 
of  his  great-grandfather.  Judith,  the  sister  of  Eastman  Johnson,  the  celebrated  artist, 
is  Mr.  Fuller's  great-aunt.  Mr.  Fuller's  great-grandfathers,  Josiah  Wilson  and  John 
Anderson,  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  in  the  war  of  1812. 

Mr.  Fuller  received  his  earliest  education  in  the  primary  school  of  New  Baltimore 
and  at  the  Coeymans  Academy.  When  fifteen  he  entered  Rutgers  College  Grammar 
School  at  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  with  his  brother  Perry  J.,  who  is  now  a  prominent 
lawyer  in  New  York  city.  A  year  later  he  matriculated  at  Rutgers  College,  and 
after  a  regular  course  of  four  years  was  graduated  from  that  institution  in  1874. 
While  in  college  he  acquired  no  little  fame  in  literary  work.  In  1873  he  won  the  junior 
Philoclean  literary  prize  and  in  1874  secured  the  senior  prize  for  English  composition. 
He  not  only  was  a  great  lover  of  classical  and  English  literature,  but  also  of  athletic 
sports,  and  in  1873  was  delegated  to  meet  representatives  of  Yale,  Harvard.  Princeton, 
Columbia,  and  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  at  New  York,  to  make  rules  and  regu- 
lationsto  govern  collegiate  football  playing,  and  the  rules  then  adopted  still  govern  this 
sport  in  American  colleges.  At  college  Mr.  Fuller  also  exercised  his  poetical  genius, 
writing  among  other  pieces  a  song  entitled  "  On  the  Banks  of  the  Old  Raritan," 
which  has  ever  since  been  the  standard  college  song  of  old  Rutgers,  and  in  which 
his  name  will  live  so  long  as  the  stones  of  that  time-honored  institution  stand  one 
above  another. 

Returning  from  college  Mr.  Fuller  began  in  1875  the  publication  of  the  New  Balti- 
more Sun,  which  he  continued  about  a  year.  In  1876  he  came  to  Albany  and  with 
his  father  and  two  brothers,  under  the  firm  name  of  William  Fuller  &  Sons,  engaged 
in  government  contracting  and  dealing  in  building  materials.  While  following 
this  business  he  also  pursued  for  one  year  a  course  in  both  law  and  medicine,  and 
for  another  year  thereafter,  or  until  the  death  of  its  proprietor,  managed  and  edited 
the  Greenbush  Gazette.     Since  then  he  has  been  successfully  engaged  in  business. 

It  is  in  the  literary  field,  however,  that  he  has  won  fame  and  honor.  Acknowl- 
I  as  a  clever  writer,  and  possessing  a  genius  unlimited  in  style  and  scope, 
he  is  equally  happy  in  serious  and  humorous  composition.  For  two  years  he  wrote 
the  column  of  witty  paragraphs  for  the  Yonkers  Gazette  and  at  the  same  time  con- 
tributed to  the  leading  humorous  periodicals  of  the  country.  Among  his  lyric 
poems  is  that  of  "God  Bless  the  Little  Woman,"  the  sentiments  of  which  were 
suggested  by  Mrs.  Garfield's  tender  watchfulness  over  her  husband  after  he  had 
fallen  by  the  assassin's  bullet.  Afterward,  in  a  personal  note,  she  gracefully  ex- 
pressed her  thanks  to  him  for  the  song  which  had  not  only  touched  her  own  heart 
but  that  of  the  nation.  His  touching  tribute  to  the  martyred  president,  "  The  Heart 
u 


58 

of  the  Nation  is  Sad  To-day,"  and  his  poem  on  the  death  of  General  Grant  found 
wide  publicity  and  achieved  for  him  added  fame.  He  is  also  the  author  of  "  The 
Dear  Old  Home,"  a  popular  sentimental  song  sung  by  Thatcher,  Primrose  &  West's 
minstrels,  and  the  "  Bi-Centennial  Hymn,"  which  was  written  by  request  of  the 
committee  on  arrangements  and  sung  by  thousands  of  school  children  and  in  the 
city  churches  during  the  memorable  celebration  in  Albany  a  few  years  ago.  He  has 
also  done  considerable  literary  work  of  a  serious  and  religious  character.  His 
poetical  efforts  are  mainly  lyrical  and  pastoral,  and  reveal  the  true  poetic  instinct. 
In  all  he  displays  a  sympathetic  impulse,  a  pure  religious  fervor,  or  an  inspiring  pat- 
riotism. His  versified  and  prose  writings  are  characterized  by  that  simple  diction, 
that  pleasing  imagery,  that  original  thought  and  graceful  style  which  appeal  to  the 
hearts  of  his  readers  and  inspire  noble  actions. 

Mr.  Fuller  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  politics,  and  in  nearly  every  cam- 
paign since  1876  has  addressed  political  meetings  in  behalf  of  the  Republican  ticket. 
In  1885  he  was  elected  alderman  of  the  Eleventh  ward  and  served  a  term  of  two 
years,  refusing  a  renomination.  For  three  terms  he  was  president  of  the  Albany 
Unconditional  Republican  Club,  being  at  that  time  the  only  man  re-elected  to  this 
office  during  the  club's  permanent  existence.  He  was  one  of  the  originators  and  chief 
promoters  of  the  National  League  of  Republican  Clubs,  and  in  1890  was  his  party's 
candidate  for  mayor  of  the  city.  His  successful  opponent,  the  Hon.  James  H.  Man- 
ning, very  gracefully  appointed  him  commissioner  of  public  instruction,  which  office 
he  held  until  forced  to  resign  by  the  increased  exactions  of  business  occasioned  by 
the  death  of  his  father  and  his  brother,  De  Witt  A.,  who  were  associated  with  him. 
He  is  prominently  connected  with  several  social  and  literary  organizations,  is  a  Free 
Mason,  arid  a  member  of  the  Society  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution. 


GEORGE  HORNELL  THACHER. 

George  Hornell  Thacher,  vice-president  of  the  Albany  City  National  Bank,  and 
one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  extensive  car-wheel  manufactory  of  the  city,  was  born 
in  Albany  on  the  20th  of  November,  1851.  He  comes  from  a  genuine  New  England 
ancestry,  many  of  whose  members  were  influential  and  noted  personages  in  the 
history  of  the  old  Bay  State.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Hon.  George  Hornell  Thacher, 
who  was  born  in  Hornellsville,  Steuben  county,  N.  Y.,  on  the  4th  of  June,  1818,  and 
whose  mother  was  a  daughter  of  Judge  Hornell  of  Hornellsville,  after  whom  the 
town  is  named.  The  elder  Mr.  Thacher  married  Ursula  Jane  Boyd,  and  they  were 
the  parents  of  the  Hon.  John  Boyd  Thacher  and  George  H.  Thacher.  Mr.  Thacher's 
ancestors,  extending  back  in  a  direct  line  from  his  father,  were  Samuel  Olney 
Thacher,  born  February  9,  1789,  who  married  Martha,  daughter  of  the  Hon.  George 
Hornell,  1814;  Nathaniel  Thacher,  who  was  born  in  1767,  and  who  married  Lydia 
Place,  of  Gloucester,  R.  I.,  in  1787;  Samuel  Thacher,  born  at  Middleboro,  Mass.,  in 
1717,  who  married  Mrs.  Sarah  Kent  in  1758;  Peter  Thacher,  of  Middleboro,  Mass., 
born  in  1688,  who  married  in  1711,  Margaret  Mary,  daughter  of  Samuel  Prince, 
of  Boston,  a  minister  who  was  graduated  from  Harvard  College  in  1796;  Peter 
Thacher,  born  at  Salem,  Mass.,  in  1651,  who  married  Theodora,  daughter  of  Rev. 


GEORGE   H.   THACHHK. 


59 

John  Oxenbridge,  of  Boston,  who  was  also  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College  in  1671, 
and  a  minister;  and  Rev.  Thomas  Thacher,  born  in  England  in  1620,  married 
Elizabeth  Partridge,  1643,  the  original  member  of  this  branch  of  the  Thacher  family 
in  America,  who  became  a  distinguished  divine  and  first  pastor  of  the  Old  South 
church  of  Boston. 

George  H.  Thacher,  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  obtained  his  earlier  instruc- 
tion at  a  private  school  in  Albany  kept  by  Professor  Whitbeck.  At  the  age  of  thir- 
teen he  went  to  Williamstown,  Mass.,  where  he  was  placed  under  the  tuitio 
Professor  Griffin,  an  able  and  successful  teacher,  and  by  him  was  carefully  prepared 
for  college.  In  1868,  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  he  entered  Williams  College  in  the  class 
of  '72,  the  celebrated  Mark  Hopkins  being  the  then  president  of  that  institution. 
After  leaving  college  Mr.  Thacher  took  a  short  business  course  in  Bryant  &  Stratton's 
Commercial  College,  and  then  entered  the  car-wheel  manufactory  of  his  father  as  an 
apprentice  and  clerk.  He  afterwards  acted  as  foreman  of  the  establishment.  Al- 
ways of  an  inventive  and  progressive  turn  of  mind  he  was  ever  on  the  alert  for  ways 
and  means  by  which  he  might  cultivate  as  well  as  qualify  his  tastes  in  the  mechanical 
arts.  In  1880  he  struck  out  for  Colorado  in  the  early  and  stirring  days  of  Leadville, 
as  the  representative  of  some  eastern  stockholders  in  the  mining  business,  and  there 
his  native  born  energy  was  not  idle.  He  entered  with  great  zest  and  alacrity  into 
the  mining  operations  himself,  remaining  in  this  field  of  labor  during  the  years  1881, 
1882  and  1883. 

Returning  to  Albany  in  the  autumn  of  1883,  a  short  time  after  the  death  of  D.  S. 
Lathrop,  one  of  the  partners  in  the  firm  of  Thacher,  Lathrop  &  Co.,  he  was  made  a 
partner  in  the  concern,  and  since  the  death  of  his  father  in  1887  he  has,  in  connection 
with  his  brother,  John  Boyd  Thacher,  conducted  the  business  under  the  old  name  of 
George  H.  Thacher  &  Co.  In  1887  he  succeeded  his  father  as  a  director  in  the 
Albany  City  National  Bank,  becoming  vice-president  of  that  institution  in  1889.  Mr. 
Thacher  is  a  trustee  of  the  Albany  City  Savings  Institution,  trustee  of  the  First  Re- 
formed Dutch  church,  trustee  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club,  a  member  of  the  Albany 
Canoe,  Camera,  and  Country  Clubs,  and  in  the  Masonic  Fraternity  has  attained  to 
the  32°.  In  May,  1892,  he  was  appointed  a  water  commissioner  of  the  city  of  Albany 
by  Mayor  Manning,  but  after  vigorous  though  futile  efforts  to  give  to  the  city  a  new 
and  abundant  supply  of  pure  and  wholesome  water,  he  resigned  the  office  December 
1,  1894. 

Of  a  rather  slender  physique,  but  inheriting  a  vigorous  constitution,  Mr.  Thacher 
is  a  gentlemen  of  pleasing  address,  easy  in  his  manners,  cordial  in  his  friendships, 
generous  in  his  impulses,  with  a  happy  faculty  of  conducting  successfully  business 
matters,  and  a  supreme  and  lasting  love  for  outdoor  sports  and  pastimes  of  the  pres- 
ent day. 

In  college  Mr.  Thacher  was  a  skillful  boxer,  oarsman,  ball-player,  swimmer,  and 
skater,  and  to  this  day  retains  much  of  his  athletic  excellence.  He  has  also  attained 
high  rank  as  an  amateur  musician,  playing  the  'cello  with  rare  taste  and  ability,  and 
some  of  his  musical  compositions  are  of  great  merit.  I  lis  knowledge  of  banking  as 
well  as  of  business  matters  is  extensive  and  deep.  His  judgment  is  sound  and  dis- 
criminating, and  among  the  industrious,  useful  and  progressive  citizens  of  Albany,  in 
whose  welfare  he  has  taken  a  lively  interest,  no  name  shines  with  fairer  luster  than 
than  that  of  George  H.  Thacher. 


60 

In  1880  Mr.  Thacher  married  Emma  Louise  Bennett,  of  Albany.  They  have  five 
children  living:  George  H.,  jr.,  John  Boyd,  2d,  Thomas  Oxenbridge,  Kenelm 
Roland,  and  Edwin  Throckmorton.     The  family  reside  at  111  Washington  avenue. 


RT.   REV.  WILLIAM  CROSWELL  DOANE,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

The  Rt.  Rev.  William  Crosswell  Doane,  D.D.,  LL.  D.,  bishop  of  Albany,  was 
born  in  Boston,  March  2,  1832,  the  son  of  George  Washington  Doane,  who  was 
in  that  same  year  elected  bishop  of  New  Jersey.  The  family  is  descended  from 
Deacon  John  Doane,  who  came  over  from  England  in  one  of  the  three  first  ships  to 
Plymouth,  Cape  Cod,  between  1620  and  1623.  He  lived  at  Plymouth  until  1644, 
when  he  with  six  other  families  moved  to  Eastham,  Cape  Cod,  which  they  founded, 
and  in  which  Deacon  Doane  was  one  of  the  most  influential  members  of  the  com- 
munity, serving  on  important  committees  and  in  various  executive  capacities.  The 
first  Bishop  Doane,  of  New  Jersey,  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished  men  in  the 
Episcopal  church  of  the  United  States.  He  served  as  a  young  man  as  the  assistant 
rector  of  Trinity  church  in  New  York,  became  a  professor  in  Washington  College,  at 
Hartford,  Conn.,  and  was  rector  of  Trinity  church  in  Boston  at  the  time  of  his  elec- 
tion to  the  bishopric.  He  was  the  founder  of  St.  Mary's  Hall,  for  girls,  and  of 
Burlington  College,  for  boys  in  Burlington,  N.  J.,  the  author  of  many  sacred  songs 
and  fugitive  verses,  and  of  strong  and  eloquent  sermons  which  have  been  published. 
William  Croswell  Doane  resided  in  Burlington  until  the  year  1863.  He  graduated 
from  Burlington  College  in  1850,  with  honors,  delivering  the  English  oration  and  the 
poem  at  the  commencement,  and  immediately  afterward  began  the  study  of  theology. 
He  was  tutor  and  assistant  professor  of  English  literature  in  Burlington  College,  from 
which  institution  he  received  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Theology  in  1857.  He  was 
ordained  deacon  by  his  father  in  1853  and  priest  in  1856;  was  his  father's  assistant  in 
the  rectorship  of  St.  Mary's  church,  Burlington ;  founded  and  had  the  care  of  St.  Barn- 
abas's  Free  Mission  in  that  city,  and  became  rector  of  St.  Mary's  in  that  place  on  his 
father's  death  in  1859.  In  1864  he  became  rector  of  St.  John's  church,  Hartford,  Conn. , 
and  in  1867  he  was  called  to  be  rector  of  St.  Peter's  church  in  Albany,  succeeding 
the  Rev.  William  T.  Wilson.  In  these  several  charges  the  son  had  shown  qualities 
of  power  and  learning,  inherited  from  the  father,  which  proved  his  fitness  for  the 
high  place,  and  he  was  called  to  be  the  first  bishop  of  the  Albany  Diocese,  being 
consecrated  February  2,  1869. 

During  the  quarter  century  the  number  of  clergy  in  Bishop  Doane's  jurisdiction 
has  grown  from  sixty-eight  to  one  hundred  and  thirty.  This  diocese,  over  which  he 
now  holds  sway,  is  largely  missionary  ground,  containing  20,800  square  miles  and 
including  the  nineteen  counties  of  Northern  New  York.  A  number  of  beneficent  in- 
stitutions have  been  established  in  the  diocese.  The  more  noteworthy  are  St.  Agnes 
School,  the  Child's  Hospital  and  St.  Margaret's  House,  all  of  this  city.  It  is  to  these 
institutions  particularly  that  Bishop  Doane  has  given  greatly  of  his  time  and  efforts. 
The  St.  Agnes  School  was  established  first,  and  its  home  is  valued  at  $150,000. 
The  land  was  given  by  the,  late  Erastus  Corning  and  it  is  called  the  "Corning 
Foundation  for  Christian  Work."    This  institution,  started  in  1870,  is  for  the  education 


61 

of  girls,  being  similar  to  other  female  colleges.  It  accommodates  225  pupils. 
Tuition  fees  are  §500  a  year,  though  daughters  of  clergymen  are  educated  at  a  less 
cost.  Features  of  the  school  aside  from  its  delightful  building,  are  the  library  and 
the  collection  of  geological  specimens. 

The  Child's  Hospital,  located  for  thirteen  years  in  a  smaller  building,  and  now  in 
a  large  new  one  at  the  corner  of  Elk  and  Hawk  streets,  cares  for  one  hundred  chil- 
dren, eighty  of  whom  are  under  treatment.  The  institution  is  absolutely  free  to 
every  sick  child  and  to  cripples,  and  they  may  come  from  anywhere.  It  is  sup- 
ported by  money  paid  by  different  cities  for  poor  support,  by  a  small  endowment  and 
by  private  subscriptions. 

A  nursery  for  babies — St.  Margaret's  House — was  established  in  1884,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  Child's  Hospital.  Here  eighty  foundling  babies  and  orphans  are  cared 
for  every  year.  All  of  this  work  is  in  charge  of  the  Sisterhood  of  the  Holy  Child 
Jesus,  which  cares,  also,  for  the  St.  Christina  Home  in  Saratoga,  where  girls  are  trained 
for  domestic  service.  The  Diocesan  Sisterhood  was  organized  by  Bishop  Doane  in 
1873. 

All  Saints'  Cathedral  is  the  chief  glory  of  the  bishop's  work  as  a  founder.  For 
thirteen  years  the  old  Townsend  foundry,  which  had  been  fitted  up,  was  used  as  a 
church.  Finally,  on  land  given  by  the  present  Erastus  Corning,  the  present  cathe- 
dral was  built.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  on  June  3,  1884.  Though  the  exterior  is 
only  partly  finished,  8450,000  has  been  spent  on  the  cathedral.  Its  interior  finish  is 
grand  and  imposing.  Massive  stone  pillars,  beautifully  carved,  divide  the  audi- 
torium into  three  sections.  The  altar  is  a  solid  block  of  Carlisle  stone,  twelve  feet 
long,  and  rests  upon  a  separate  solid  foundation  of  stone  built  up  from  the  ground. 
In  the  choir  aisle  and  sanctuary  are  a  mosaic  pavement  and  four  mural  mosaics, 
among  the  most  beautiful  features  of  the  building.  The  furnishings  and  windows, 
with  the  architectural  beauty  of  the  place,  make  this  one  of  the  notable  cathedrals. 
Three  thousand  persons  can  be  seated  comfortably  in  it.  All  seats  are  free,  and  the 
church  is  supported  entirely  by  free  will  offerings.  There  is  now  no  debt,  the  last 
$75,000  having  been  raised  in  1892. 

The  most  important  work  the  bishop  has  done  outside  of  his  diocese  is  that  in  re- 
lation to  the  revision  of  the  prayer  book.  For  six  years  he  was  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  revision.  His  efforts  were  so  thoroughly  appreciated  that  in  the  gen- 
eral convention  held  in  Baltimore  in  1892,  the  following  resolution  offered  from 
the  standing  committee  on  the  revision  of  the  prayer  book,  was  unanimously  adopted: 

Wiikreas,  By  action  of  this  house  in  passing  upon  the  fifty-two  resolutions  which 
propose  various  alterations  in  the  book  of  common  prayer,  the  work  of  revision  lias 
been  on  the  part  of  this  house  finally  completed;  therefore 

Resolved,  That  this  house  desires  to  recognize  and  gratefully  record  its  sense  of 
the  gracious  goodness  of  God  and  the  overruling  presence  of  the  Creat  Head  of  the 
church,  in  that  during  nine  years  past  the  revision  of  the  book  of  common  prayer  has 
proceeded,  and  has  at  last  reached  a  conclusion  in  a  spirit  of  forbearance,  harmony 
and  practical  accord. 

Resolved,  That  in  thus  recognizing  the  divine  guidance  in  this  important,  deli- 
cate and  difficult  matter,  this  house  desires  also  to  mention,  with  cordial  appreciation, 
the  untiring  and  painstaking  labor  of  those  who  have  borne  the  burden  of  leadership 
in  this  movement;  and  pre-eminently  in   this  regard,   the   Bishop  of    Albany  (the 


62 

Right  Rev.  Dr.  William  Croswell  Doane),  whose  unfailing  courtesy,   patience  and 
considerateness  have  so  greatly  facilitated  this  happy  consummation. 

Bishop  Doane  is  a  man  of  strong  personality.  His  vigorous  intellect  makes  him 
one  of  the  most  prominent,  perhaps  the  most  prominent  of  the  American  bishops, 
with  an  influence  that  radiates  far  beyond  the  limits  of  his  own  diocese.  Affable, 
kindly  and  courteous  in  his  personal  intercourse,  scholarly  and  refined  in  his  tastes 
and  culture,  dignified  and  eloquent  in  the  pulpit,  a  man  of  strong  spirituality,  and 
withal  of  practical  affairs,  he  has  built  up,  here  in  Albany,  an  influence  for  good,  for 
activity  in  church  work,  which  is  felt  and  responded  to  beyond  the  limits  of  his  own 
denomination. 

Like  most  men  of  large  activities,  Bishop  Doane  finds  abundant  time  for  reading 
and  writing.  He  retains  his  knowledge  of  and  interests  in  the  classics,  and  is  inter- 
ested in  all  the  intellectual  movements  of  the  age.  Surrounded  by  a  large  and  well 
assorted  library,  he  loves  the  companionship  of  books,  works  readily  with  his  pen, 
and  is  a  frequent  contributor  of  verses  which  possess  a  high  order  of  literary  merit, 
among  them  the  familiar  -'Sculptor  Boy."  His  sermons  are  polished,  thoughtful 
and  direct,  and  bear  the  stamp  both  of  the  culture  and  spirituality  of  the  man.  Many 
of  his  poems  have  been  published,  as  have  also  a  number  of  his  sermons,  his  annual 
addresses  to  the  diocesan  convention  and  his  addresses  to  the  graduating  classes 
of  St.  Agnes.  In  addition  to  these,  he  has  issued:  "  The  Life  and  Writings  of 
Bishop  Doane  of  New  Jersey,"  four  volumes;  "  Questions  on  Collects,  Epistles,  and 
Gospels  of  the  Church's  Year,  and  Their  Connection;"  "  Songs  by  the  Way,"  poems 
by  Bishop  Doane,  sr.  ;  "  Mosaics;  or,  the  Harmony  of  Collect,  Epistle,  and  Gospel 
for  the  Christian  Year,"  which  was  published  in  1882.  He  frequently  contributes 
to  the  "North  American  Review"  and  other  standard  publications.  He  was  elected 
a  regent  of  the  University  of  the  State  of  New  York  in  the  winter  of  1892,  the  candiv 
date  of  both  parties  in  the  Legislature.  In  September  of  that  year  he  was  elected 
vice-chancellor,  succeeding  the  Rev.  Dr.  Upson,  made  chancellor  to  fill  the  vacancy 
caused  by  the  death  of  George  William  Curtis. 

No  bishop  of  the  American  church  has  received  such  honors  abroad  as  Bishop 
Doane.  By  invitation  he  preached  at  Edinburgh,  in  1884,  a  sermon  commemorative 
of  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  consecration  of  the  first  bishop  for  Amer- 
ica at  Aberdeen — the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Seabury.  In  1892  he  received  degrees 
at  the  hands  of  Oxford  and  Cambridge,  the  first  American  to  have  two  such  marks 
of  distinction  bestowed  upon  him  at  the  same  time.  For  several  years  he  has  been 
designated  by  Bishop  Williams  to  officially  visit  the  American  churches  abroad. 

At  the  Triennial  convention  of  the  church  at  Minneapolis  October,  1895,  Bishop 
Doane  was  elected  chairman  of  the  House  of  Bishops.  He  is  consequently  called 
"the  assessor  of  the  Primus." 

Bishop  Doane  is  known  to  all  Albanians  and  is  admired  and  loved.  He  is  a  strik- 
ing figure  on  the  street.  Albany  has  no  more  public  spirited  citizen  and  every  good 
movement  commands  his  sympathy  and  co-operation.  His  stirring  speech  at  the 
organization  meeting  in  the  City  Building  of  the  committee  of  fifty,  is  well  remem- 
bered. He  has  on  many  occasions  spoken  from  the  platform  in  behalf  of  practical 
temperance  and  his  appearance  before  the  legislative  committees  on  measures  affect- 
ing the  moral  side  always  ensure  a  warm  champion  of  the  right. 


JOHN   V.   L.   PRUYN,   LL.   D. 


63 

Bishop  Doane  bears  his  age  well.     He  is  as  vigorous  to  flay  as  he  was  twenty-five 
years  ago  and  his  voice  has  lost  none  of  its  strength  and  charm. 


JOHN  V.   L.   PRUYN,   LL.  D. 

Hon.  John  Van  Schaick  Lansing  Pruyn,1  known  as  John  V.  L.  Pruyn,  was  born 
in  Albany,  June  22,  1811,  of  Holland -Dutch  ancestry.  The  family  has  resided  in 
Albany  for  over  two  centuries  and  has  held  positions  in  the  city  government.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch,  after  studying  at  private  schools,  entered  the  Albany  acad- 
emy in  1824  and  completed  a  full  course  of  study.  The  famous  Theodoric  Romeyn 
Beck,  M.D.,  LL.  D.,  was  principal  of  the  academy  at  this  time.  Immediately  after 
leaving  the  academy,  Mr.  Pruyn  entered,  as  student,  the  law  office  of  the  late  James 
King,  who  was  one  of  Albany's  eminent  lawyers  and  distinguished  citizens.  In  this 
office  Mr.  Pruyn's  habits  of  order,  system  and  thoroughness  were  brought  to  a  per- 
fection which  he  retained  through  life.  He  became  Mr.  King's  principal  and  confi- 
dential clerk,  and  remained  as  such  for  some  months  after  his  admission  to  the  bar. 
He  was  admitted  as  an  attorney  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State  of  New  York  and 
a  solicitor  in  the  Court  of  Chancery  on  January  13,  1832.  The  latter  court  made  him 
a  counselor  May  21,  1833,  and  the  Supreme  Court  January  17,  1835. 

While  he  was  in  Mr.  King's  office,  Mr.  William  James,  the  father-in-law  of  Mr. 
King,  died,  leaving  a  large  fortune.  The  will  was  contested  and  the  case  was  one 
of  the  famous  litigations  of  the  day,  involving  the  whole  subject  of  trusts  and  pow- 
ers under  the  then  new  revised  statutes  of  the  State.  Questions  of  the  gravest  im- 
portance were  submitted  to  and  called  forth  the  highest  abilities  of  the  lawyers  en- 
gaged, of  whom  Mr.  Pruyn  was  one.  Many  of  the  most  distinguished  counselors  in 
the  State  took  part  in  this  litigation;  among  them  the  three  revisers,  John  C. 
Spencer,  Benjamin  F.  Butler  and  John  Duer;  Samuel  A.  Talcott,  Henry  R.  Storrs, 
Harmanus  Bleecker  (of  whom  hereafter),  Daniel  D.  Barnard,  Mr.  .Sibley  and  Mr. 
King  himself. 

About  1833  Mr.  Pruyn  formed  a  partnership  for  the  practice  of  the  law  with  Henry 
H.  Martin,  who  had  been  a  fellow  student  in  the  office  of  Mr.  King.  In  is:;:;  Mr. 
Pruyn  was  appointed  by  Governor  Marcy  an  examiner  in  chancery,  and  in  1830  a 
master  in  chancery;  and  upon  receiving  the  latter  appointment,  Chancellor  Wal- 
worth designated  him  as  injunction  master  for  the  third  circuit — a  position  which 
placed  him  next  in  official  position  to  the  vice-chancellor  of  the  circuit.  For  main- 
years  Mr.  Pruyn's  business  was  chiefly  in  the  Court  of  Chancery,  a  court,  which, 
however,  went  out  of  existence  by  the  adoption  of  the  new  State  constitution  in 
1846.  He  was  occupied  very  laboriously,  and  it  may  be  safely  said  that  few  persons 
enjoyed  the  confidence  of  Chancellor  Walworth  to  the  extent  that  Mr.  Pruyn  did. 
The  chancellor  sent  to  him  many  references,  and  it  is  believed  never  overruled  any 
of  his  reports.  In  1848  Mr.  Pruyn  was  admitted  to  practice  as  attorney  and  coun- 
selor in  the  United  States  Supreme  Court.      In  1834  the  Albany  City  Bank  was  in- 

1  This  name  is  pronounced  in  one  syllable,  as  if  written  Pryne,  a  corruption   of  one  of  the 
Dutch  pronunciations  of  the  name,  which,  as  nearly  as  we  can  express  it,  is  Proyn. 


64 

corporated,  with  Mr.  Erastus  Corning  as  president  and  Mr.  Watts  Sherman  as 
cashier.  Messrs.  Pruyn  and  Martin  were  the  counsel  to  the  bank,  but  in  1851  Mr. 
Martin  became  its  cashier. 

Mr.  Pruyn  became  a  director  and  was  afterwards  its  vice-president.  After  Mr. 
Martin  became  connected  with  the  bank,  Mr.  Pruyn  formed  a  partnership  with  John 
H.  Reynolds,  one  of  the  most  brilliant  lawyers  of  the  day. 

About  this  time  occurred  an  act  which  gave  evidence  of  the  confidence  reposed  in 
Mr.  Pruyn. 

Harmanus  Bleecker  (alluded  to  above),  one  of  Albany's  distinguished  citizens,  an 
eminent  lawyer,  member  of  Congress  during  the  War  of  1812,  and  during  the  presi- 
dency of  Honorable  Martin  Van  Buren  United  States  minister  to  Holland,  died  in 
July,  1849. 

It  had  been  Mr.  Bleecker' s  intention,  as  an  unmarried  man,  to  leave  the  whole  of 
his  estate—  about  eighty  thousand  dollars,  in  those  days  a  very  considerable  fortune 

to  some  public  object  for  the  benefit  of  the  city  of  Albany.     When  in   Holland, 

however,  he  married  a  Miss  Menz,  daughter  of  an  official  at  The  Hague.  His 
wishes  were  not  relinquished  upon  his  marriage  and  were  fully  concurred  in  by  his 
wife.  Upon  his  death  the  property  went  to  her  with  the  verbal  request  that,  he  having 
no  children,  she  would  at  her  death  dispose  of  it  in  some  way  for  the  benefit  of  the  city. 
Mrs.  Bleecker  for  a  period  resided  in  Albany,  but  before  long  she  married  Henrich 
Coster,  a  Dutch  gentleman,  and  returned  with  him  to  Holland.  Previous  to  their 
departure,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coster  united  in  an  absolute  conveyance  of  the  whole  prop- 
erty to  Mr.  Pruyn,  reserving  only  life  estates  to  themselves,  and  trusting  that  at  the 
expiration*  of  those  estates,  he  would  carry  out  the  wishes  of  Mr.  Bleecker. 

In  April,  1851  ('Laws  of  New  York,'  1852,  chap.  318),  the  Legislature,  at  Mr. 
Pruyn's  request,  enacted  a  law  drawn  up  by  him  by  which  the  Bleecker  estate  wras 
absolutely  protected  from  any  contingency  to  which  his  private  affairs  might  be  ex- 
posed. This  law  also  gave  Mr.  Pruyn  power  to  transfer  the  estate  in  whatever  man- 
ner he  might  see  fit.  Mr.  Coster  died  some  years  ago,  but  Mrs.  Coster  survived  Mr. 
Pruyn,  and  upon  opening  the  latter's  will  in  1877,  it  was  found  that  the  property 
was  left  to  Mr.  Amasa  J.  Parker  of  Albany,  "in  the  confident  belief  that  he  will 
carry  out  the  views  of  Mr.  Bleecker  as  fully  and  completely  as  I  was  requested  to 
do."  Mrs.  Coster,  who  resided  at  Arnheim,  Holland,  died  in  1886.  The  estate,  dur- 
ing Mr.  Pruyn's  administration  of  over  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  of  Judge  Parker's 
administration  of  more  than  ten  years,  has  largely  increased  in  value. 

The  citizens  of  Albany  having  raised  fifty  thousand  dollars,  Judge  Parker  has 
transferred  the  Bleecker  fund  to  the  Young  Men's  Association  for  Mutual  Improve- 
ment in  the  city  of  Albany.  A  large  public  hall,  costing  two  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars, is  to  be  erected,  and  called  the  Harmanus  Bleecker  Hall.  The  buildings  be- 
longing to  the  Bleecker  estate,  and  which  were  occupied  by  the  association,  have 
been  conveyed  to  it.  Thus  Mr.  Bleecker's  name  is  perpetuated,  and  an  existing  in- 
stitution preserved  and  strengthened. 

The  partnership  with  Mr.  Reynolds  lasted  until  1853,  when  Mr.  Pruyn's  relations 
to  the  railway  system  of  his  State  interfered  so  greatly  with  his  law  practice  that  he 
was  obliged  to  relinquish  it. 

In  1835  Mr.  Pruyn  was  chosen  a  director  of,  and  counsel  to,  the  Mohawk  &  Hudson 
Railroad  Company,  which  was  organized  by  the  Patroon,  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer, 


65 

Mr.  George  William  Featherstonhaugh  and  others.  This  was  the  first  railroad  in 
the  .State,  if  not  in  the  United  States,  its  charter  having  been  granted  by  the  Legisla- 
ture in  April,  1826.  In  1847  the  name  of  this  company  was  changed  to  the  Albany  & 
Schenectady  Railroad  Company. 

He  was  also  connected  with  the  Utica  &  Schenectady  Railroad  Company,  which 
was  chartered  in  1833,  as  counsel  and  treasurer.  He  also  was  president  of  the  Mo- 
hawk Valley  Railroad  Company,  which  was  organized  in  1852. 

These  and  other  railroads  formed  a  system  extending  from  the  Hudson  River  at 
Albany  and  Troy  to  Buffalo  and  Niagara  Falls.  By  an  act  of  the  Legislature  passed 
April  2,  1853,  any  two  or  more  of  these  railroad  companies  were  authorized  to  con- 
solidate and  form  a  new  corporation  to  be  called  the  New  York  Central  Railroad 
Company.  The  railroads  forming  the  new  corporation  were  ten  in  number,  and 
the  consolidation  agreement  between  them  was  drawn  up  by  Mr.  Pruyn.  This  in- 
volved probably  as  large,  if  not  larger  interests  than  had  before  been  embraced  in 
any  one  transaction  not  made  by  the  government  in  this  country.  This  instrument 
was  for  years  most  carefully  scrutinized  by  various  counsel,  but  never  questioned. 
It  was  a  remarkable  instrument,  and  in  the  words  of  Mr.  Martin,  Mr.  Pruyn's  former 
partner,  "  this  could  not  have  been  done  by  any  ordinary  man." 

Mr.  Pruyn  was  a  director  of  the  New  York  Central  Railroad  Company  and  its  gen- 
eral counsel  until  1866,  when  the  road  passed  into  the  control  of  the  Vanderbilts. 

The  Hudson  River  Bridge  Company,  at  Albany,  was  chartered  by  the  Legislature 
in  1856  for  the  purpose  of  bridging  the  Hudson  at  Albany.  The  right  thus  given 
was  questioned  and  for  many  years  the  matter  was  in  the  courts,  up  and  down,  and 
became  one  of  the  causes  celebres  of  the  country.  Mr.  Pruyn  took  part  in  it,  and 
associated  with  him  were  many  distinguished  counsel,  among  whom  was  Mr.  Brad- 
ley, now  a  justice  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court.  The  case  was  finally  argued, 
in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  by  Mr.  Pruyn  alone  for  the  bridge  com- 
pany, and  the  dcision  in  its  favor  virually  ended  the  great  controversy  of  many  years' 
standing  in  different  parts  of  the  country  as  to  the  right  to  bridge  navigable  streams. 

It  may  not  be  out  of  place  here  to  allude  to  the  celebrated  Sault  Ste.  Marie  Canal, 
Michigan  (St.  Mary's  Falls  Ship  Canal  Company).  This  very  important  work,  with 
its  two  enormous  locks,  was  carried  through  a  very  trying  period  while  Mr.  Pruyn 
was  its  financial  officer.  Mr.  Erastus  Corning,  the  president  of  the  company,  stood 
by  Mr.  Pruyn,  and  to  these  men  as  much  as  to  any  others  is  due  the  success  of  the 
undertaking. 

Mr.  Pruyn  was  connected,  directly  or  indirectly,  with  some  of  the  leading  financial 
and  railroad  enterprises  of  the  country.  He  was  a  trustee  of  the  Mutual  Life  In- 
surance Company  of  New  York  from  its  foundation,  and  was  for  many  years  the  only 
surviving  member  of  the  original  board.  He  was  also  a  director  of  the  Union  Trust 
Company  of  New  York  and  had  declined  the  offer  of  its  presidency. 

Mr.  Pruyn,  although  always  interested  in  political  life,  never  held  political  office 
until  after  he  was  fifty  years  old.  He  was  a  Democrat  of  the  old  school,  and  when 
the  Civil  war  broke  out  he  at  once  took  sides  with  the  North  as  a  conscientious  1  >em- 
ocrat  and  a  loyal  citizen. 

In  the  autumn  of  1861  he  was  elected  State  senator.  He  did  u<>t  seek  the  nomi- 
nation and  accepted  it  only  upon  the  condition  that  neither  he  nor  any  of  his  friends 
should  be  called  upon  to  contribute,  directly  or  indirectly,  any  money  to  control  the 
i 


66 

vote  ef  any  elector.     At  the  close  of  the  session  he  gave  his  salary  to  the  poor  of 
Albany. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  the  law  was  passed,  at  the  instance  of  Mr.  James  A. 
Bell,  Mr.  Pruyn  and  others,  for  the  building  of  the  new  Capitol.  Mr.  Pruyn  was  one 
of  the  original  commissioners  and  remained  a  member  of  the  commission  until  1870. 
At  this  period  the  board  was  reorganized,  and  Mr.  Pruyn  not  being  in  harmony  with 
the  very  unfortunate  political  influences  of  the  time  was  not  included  in  the  new 
commission.  He  and  his  friends,  for  reasons  not  necessary  to  enumerate,  regarded 
his  being  dropped  as  a  very  high  compliment  to  him. 

Mr.  Pruyn  laid  the  first  stone  of  the  foundation  of  the  new  building  on  July  7, 
1869,  in  the  presence  of  Governor  Hoffman  (now  deceased),  the  State  officials  and  a 
few  friends.  He  made  some  appropriate  remarks,  which  he  closed  as  follows:  "Here 
may  wise  laws  be  enacted ;  here  may  purity  and  integrity  of  purpose  always  mark 
the  action  of  executive  power  ;Jiere  may  justice,  the  attribute  of  Deity,  be  inflexibly 
administered,  and  may  Almighty  God  blessthe  State  and  prosper  the  undertaking." 
Mr.  Pruyn  was  a  representative  in  Congress  from  the  Albany  district  twice ;  first  in 
the  Thirty-eighth  Congress  (1863-65),  as  successor  to  Erastus  Corning,  resigned,  and  in 
the  Fortieth  Congress  ((1867-69).  In  Congress  he  served  upon  several  important 
committees — the  ways  and  means  (before  it  was  divided),  claims,  Pacific  Railroads, 
joint  library  and  foreign  affairs.  In  the  Thirty- eighth  Congress  he  was  unanimously 
chosen  by  the  Democratic  members  from  New  York  to  present,  on  their  behalf,  to 
the  House  of  Representatives  a  resolution  of  censure  of  the  executive  authority  for 
closing  the  offices  and  suspending  the  publication  of  the  New  York  World  and. 
Journal  of  Commerce  newspapers.  In  this  Congress  he  made,  among  others, 
speeches  in  opposition  to  the  Confiscation  act;  against  the  centralizing  influence  of 
the  Currency  bill;  in  favor  of  the  reciprocity  treaty  with  Canada,  and  upon  the 
abolition  of  slavery.  In  the  Fortieth  Congress  his  principal  speeches  were  on  the 
treaty-making  power,  under  the  Alaska  treaty  with  Russia;  on  the  reconstruction 
acts,  he  being  opposed  to  military  rule  in  the  Southern  States;  on  the  Diplomatic 
Appropriation  bill ;  on  the  resumption  of  specie  payments,  and  against  the  impeach- 
ment of  President  Johnson.  In  this  Congress,  on  the  part  of  the  House,  he  was 
chosen  a  Regent  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution  in  conjunction  with  the  Hon.  Luke 
P.  Poland  of  Vermont,  and  the  late  President  Garfield,  at  that  time  a  member  from 
Ohio.  On  the  first  election  of  General  Grant,  Mr.  Pruyn  was  appointed  with  the 
Hon.  James  F.  Wilson  of  Iowa,  a  Teller  of  the  House,  and  in  conjunction  with  Mr. 
Wilson  and  Senator  Morton  of  Indiana,  he  was  one  of  the  committee  to  inform  Gen- 
eral Grant  of  his  election.  Mr.  Pruyn's  remarks  upon  that  occasion,  referring  chiefly 
to  those  holding  office,  were  warmly  endorsed.  Mr.  Pruyn  did  excellent  work  in  the 
fields  of  philanthropy  and  education.  In  1831  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Al- 
bany Institute,  which,  as  the  successor  of  societies  previously  organized  and  consoli- 
dated, is  really  one  of  the  oldest  literary  and  scientific  societies  in  the  State.  In  it 
he  held  various  positions,  including  that  of  President,  to  which  he  was  elected  about 
1857  and  held  until  his  death. 

In  May,  1844,  at  the  age  of  thirty-three  he  was  appointed  a  Regent  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  in  January,  1862,  was  chosen  chancellor.  He 
was  regent  for  thirty-three  years  and  chancellor  (up  to  the  time  of  his  death)  for  over 
fifteen. 


G7 

The  Regents  perform  a  very  useful  work,  comparatively  but  little  understood.  The 
Board  of  Regents  was  organized  by  the  Legislature  in  1784,  but  important  changes 
were  made  in  1787.  The  university  is  similar  in  idea  to  those  of  Oxford  and  of  Cam- 
bridge, except  that  the  institutions  composing  it  are  scattered  throughout  the  State 
instead  of  being  concentrated  in  a  single  city,  The  educational  institutions  of  the 
State  (colleges  and  academies)  are  under  the  visitations  of  the  Regents,  and  the 
Regents  conduct  certain  examinations  known  as  the  preliminary  and  higher  academic 
examinations.  The  Regents  have  the  power  to  confer  degrees  above  that  of  master 
of  arts.  Unfortunately  the  usual  Baccalaureate  degrees,  as  well  as  most  of  the  de- 
grees in  medicine  and  law,  can  be  and  are  conferred  by  the  several  colleges.  It  is 
hoped,  however,  that  the  time  will  come  when  all  degrees  will  be  conferred  by  the 
central  body.  The  excellent  work  that  this  body  has  done  of  recent  years  is  largely 
due  to  Chancellor  Pruyn 

Mr.  Pruyn  was  also  a  member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  State  Normal 
School  at  Albany,  and  president  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  St.  Stephen's  College  at 
Annandale,  New  York — a  training  school  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church. 

The  establishment  of  the  State  Commissioner  of  Charities  was  recommended  by 
Governor  Fenton  upon  Mr.  Pruyn's  suggestion.  From  the  time  of  its  organization, 
in  1867,  until  his  death,  he  was,  with  a  slight  interruption,  its  president.  He  was 
also  at  the  time  of  his  death  president  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  of  the  State 
Survey,  He  had  been  a  member  of  the  Centennial  Commission,  but  resigned  before 
1876.  He  was  a  member  of  the  association  for  the  codification  of  the  law  of 
nations,  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society,  of  the  Wisconsin  Historical  Society,  of 
the  American  Geographical  and  Statistical  Society,  of  the  Literary  Fund  Society  of 
London,  of  the  Union  and  Century  Clubs  of  New  York,  and  of  other  clubs  and 
societies. 

Mr.  Pruyn  received  the  degree  of  master  of  arts  in  1835  from  Rutgers  College,  and 
in  1845  from  Union  College,  and  in  1852  that  of  doctor  of  laws  from  the  University 
of  Rochester. 

Originally  brought  up  in  and  an  officer  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  church,  he  subse- 
quently joined  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  and  was  at  one  time  a  vestryman  of 
St.  Peter's  church,  Albany.  In  all  church  affairs  he  took  a  deep  interest  and  his 
views  were  essentially  broad. 

Of  his  personal  character  it  is  for  his  friends  to  speak.  A  writer  in  the  Albany 
Evening  Times,  November  21,  1877,  says: 

It  may  be  added,  however,  in  the  language  of  one  who  has  known  him  intimately  from  boy- 
hood, that  amid  all  the  many  virtues  of  John  Y.  L.  Pruyn,  his  pre-emineni  characteristic  was 
"Is  this  just?  is  this  honest?''  was  the  first  question  with  him  always,  and  the  one 
whieh,  answered,  decided  his  course.  lie  was  always  gentle,  and  was  never  known  to  speak  ill 
of  anyone,  however  much  he  might  differ  witli  him  or  be  abused.  The  saying  so  common  was  of 
him  strictly  true:  "  He  had  not  an  enemy  in  the  world."  He  led  a  life  of  personal  purity  and  in- 
tegrity, unsullied  by  even  so  much  as  a  rumor  of  anything  to  the  contrary.  The  wise  counselor, 
the  prudent,  conscientious  public  servant;  prominent  in  all  things  tending  to  dignify  ami  elevate 
the  human  race;  given  to  boundless  hospitality;  a  kind,  sympathizing,  sincere  friend;  a  loving, 
indulgent  husband,  father  ami  brother;  in  all  things  the  man  of  integrity,  conservatism  an.: 
sense;  such  is  the  record  of  John  V,  I..  Pruyn.    In  all  that  pertains  to  those  " things  which  i 

good  report,"  it  is   a    proud    record    for   any    man    to   leave     a    :<  .ill  may  well  study,  and 

may  well  aim  to  equal. 

Mr.  Pruyn  died  November  21,  1877,  at  Clifton  Springs,  New  York,  where  he  had 


68 

gone  in  October  to  take  the  mineral  baths  for  a  complication  of  disorders.     A  son  by 
his  first  wife,  his  second  wife  and  two  daughters  survive  him. 


JONAS  H.   BROOKS. 

The  ancestry  of  Mr.  Brooks's  family  is  traced  to  Captf  (1)  Thomas  Brooke,  who 
came  from  England  and  settled  at  Watertown,  Mass.,  in  1630-31,  at  the  time  of  the 
formation  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  colony  under  Governor  Winthrop.  He  was  ad- 
mitted freeman  December  7,  1636,  and  about  the  same  time  he  became  one  of  the 
founders  of  Concord,  Mass.  He  was  a  captain  in  the  local  militia,  constable  1638, 
appointed  1640  under  law  to  value  property  at  Concord,  a  representative  or  deputy 
to  the  General  Court  at  Boston  eight  years,  between  1644  and  1662,  and  commissioner 
under  authority  of  this  court  to  regulate  the  liquor  trade  among  the  Indians.  He  owned 
a  large  tract  of  land  in  Concord,  and  at  one  time  controlled  the  fur  trade  among  the 
Indians,  by  purchase  of  grant  from  the  court,  in  the  Concord  district.  In  1660  he 
purchased,  with  his  son-in-law,  Timothy  Wheeler,  400  acres  of  land  in  Medford  for 
£404  sterling,  and  the  most  of  this  tract  has  been  continuously  owned  by  his  de- 
scendants in  the  Brooks  name.  Capt.  Thomas  Brooke  (this  style  of  spelling  is 
f.Aind  in  the  King's  Court  records  at  Boston)  died  in  Concord,  May  21,  1667.  He 
was  married  in  England  (where  two  if  not  three  of  his  children  were  born)  to  Grace 

)  who  died  May  2,  1664.     They  had  at  least  four  sons — Joshua,  Caleb,   Ger- 

shom,  and  Thomas,  jr. — and  one  daughter,  Mary,  who  married  Timothy  Wheeler. 
These  sons  originally  spelled  the  name  Brookes,  but  by  mutual  agreement  in  1680 
dropped  the  "e,"  and  ever  since  the  present  style,  Brooks,  has  uniformly  prevailed. 
(2)  Joshua  Brookes  (later  Brooks),  a  tanner  and  a  resident  of  what  is  now  Lincoln  (then 
Concord),  Mass.,  was  probably  born  in  England,  and  on  the  17th  of  the  8th  mo,  (Octo- 
ber), 1653,  was  married  to  Hannah  Mason,  of  Watertown,  daughter  of  Hugh  Mason, 
a  tanner,  deputy  to  the  General  Court  and  a  commissioner  against  the  Dutch  in 
1664.  Joshua  was  admitted  freeman  May  26,  1652,  was  a  deacon  in  the  church  for 
many  years,  and  died  prior  to  April  16,  1697.  He  had  eleven  children,  of  whom  (3) 
Daniel  Brooks,  the  fourth,  born  November  15,  1663,  married  Ann  Meriam  August  9, 
1692,  and  died  October  18,  1733,  at  Concord,  where  his  tombstone  is  still  standing. 
She  died  January  24,  1757.  Daniel  was  an  ensign  in  the  militia,  and  a  prominent 
man,  selectman  1716  to  1719,  1725  to  1729,  and  a  large  landowner  in  Concord  and 
Lincoln.  He  had  eleven  children,  of  whom  the  sixth,  (4)  John  Brooks,  born  February 
12,  1702,  married,  January,  1728,  Lydia  Barker,  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
Barker  of  Concord,  Mass.,  born  June  18,  1711 ;  he  died  March  6,  1777,  she  died  June 
3, 1802,  aged  ninety-one ;  both  are  buried  in  Woodlawn  Cemetery  (tombstone)  at  Acton 
(a  part  of  old  Concord),  Mass.  John  was  for  many  years  a  deacon  in  the  church  at 
Acton  and  a  selectman  of  the  town,  and  assessor  several  years.  December  21,  1772, 
he  was  on  a  committee  from  his  town  to  consider  the  state  of  the  rights  of  the  colon- 
ists and  the  violation  of  said  rights  and  report  a  draft  of  such  votes  as  they  shall 
think  proper,  and  was  a  cousin  of  Col.  Eleazer  Brooks,  who  commanded  the  minute- 
men  at  the  North  Bridge  at  Concord,  April  19,  1775,  and  ordered  them  to  fire  on  the 
British.     He  also  had  eleven  children,  of  whom  (5)  Charles  Brooks,  the  third,  born  at 


69 

Concord  April  6,  1732,  lived,  after  his  marriage,  in  Marlboro  until  1704,  and  then 
purchased  lands  and  moved  to  Princeton,  Mass.,  where  he  died  in  March,  1798.  In 
1757  he  was  a  member  of  Lieutenant  Maynard's  Company  of  Marlboro,  and  was  at 
Fort  William  Henry  when  it  was  captured  by  Montcalm,  being  one  of  the  700  out  of 
the  2,500  American  troops  who  escaped  the  massacre  that  followed  by  Montcalm's 
Indians.  In  1773  he  was  one  of  a  Committee,  appointed  by  the  town  (Princeton),  of 
Correspondence  "to  reply  to  a  letter  from  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Boston, 
showing  infringement  upon  and  violation  of  our  Rights  and  Liberties  (by  the  mother 
country)."  On  April  20,  1775,  he  marched  as  a  member  of  minute-men  in  Capt 
Joseph  Sargent's  Company,  Colonel  Sparhawk's  regiment,  to  Cambridge,  in  response 
to  the  Lexington-Concord  alarm  of  April  19;  in  service  sixteen  days.  June  2,  1775, 
was  chosen  ensign  of  Alarm  Company.  1777,  one  of  a  committee  (town  of  Princeton) 
"to  make  an  everage  of  the  money  and  servisesof  the  present  war."  1778,  treasurer 
of  the  town.  1779,  on  committee  of  three  "to  borrow  the  money  to  pay  the  men 
which  may  be  engaged  for  the  Army."  1779,  September  9,  on  standing  committee 
"to  procure  money  from  time  to  time  to  pay  men  which  shall  be  called  for  the  defence 
of  their  country."     The  town  records  also  show  the  following: 

"To  Enoch  Brooks,  Treasurer,  You  are  hereby  required  to  pay  to  Capt.  John  Mirick,  Lt. 
Charles  Brooks  and  Josiah  Davis,  a  committee  appointed  by  the  Town  to  procure  money  to  pay 
the  soldiers  as  encouragement  for  to  enter  into  the  Continental  or  State  servis,  the  sum  of  Eleven 
thousand  three  hundred  and  forty  four  pounds. 

"  l'.i  \j.  Holdex, 
"Sadev  M 
"  Paul  Matthews, 
"July  1.  1780.  Selectmen." 

'•  For  value  received,  I  the  subscriber,  promise  to  pay  the  sum  of  eleven  hundred  pounds,  in 
the  present  currency,  to  be  paid  in  three  months,  for  a  hors  for  the  Continental  servis,  and  if  not 
paid  then  to  be  on  interest  till  paid,  as  witness  my  hand.  CHARLES  BR(  k  iks. 

.        "  Princeton,  July  13,  1780." 

September  11,  1780,  on  treasurer's  account,  "Lt.  Charles  Brooks,  one  day  pro- 
curing horses  for  the  Continental  army;"  again  in  1783  for  same  services.  He 
took  an  active  part  in  raising  men  and  supplies  to  carry  on  the  Revolutionary 
war  and  was  one  of  the  most  loyal  supporters  of  the  colonies.  November  24, 
1757,  he  married  Mary  Hapgood  (born  June  4,  1740,  died  August  16,  1808),  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Abigail  (Morse)  Hapgood,  of  Marlboro.  They,  too,  had  eleven 
chlidren,  of  whom  the  fifth,  (I!)  Jonas  Brooks,  born  in  Princeton  December  Hi, 
177(1,  died  there  October  7,  1805,  was  a  builder,  contractor  and  farmer.  Jonas 
was  active  in  public  affairs,  was  for  many  years  a  justice  of  the  peace,  settled  as  ad- 
ministrator a  large  number  of  estates,  and  was  especially  noted  for  his  great  physical 
endurance  and  strength.  With  his  brother  John  H.  he  was  arrested  for  debt  in  re- 
fusing to  pay  the  town  tax  for  the  support  of  the  State  church,  as  was  customary  in 
those  days.  He  successfully  defended  his  positio  i  in  the  courts,  and  since  then  no 
tax  has  been  levied  for  church  purposes  in  the  towns  of  Massachusetts.  At  this  time 
he  belonged  to  the  Congregational  Society.  Afterward  he  and  his  brother  and  two 
other  men  organized  and  built  the  M.  E.  church  there  and  continued  in  its  support 
until  his  death.  He  married,  first,  October  30,  1794,  Lydia,  daughter  of  Aaron 
Temple  of  Boylston,  who  was  born  February  G,  1775,  and  died  October  29,  1819.  In 
May,  1822,  he  married  second,  Nancy,  daughter  of  Samuel  Davis  of  Oakham,  M 


70 

who  died  September  14,  1868,  aged  eighty-six.  Of  his  ten  children  (7)  Moses  Brooks, 
the  seventh,  was  born  in  Princeton,  Mass.,  July  19,  1808,  and  married,  January  19, 
1832,  Sophronia,  daughter  of  Ethan  Greenwood,  of  Hubbardston,  Mass.,  who  was 
born  June  18,  1810.  In  the  southern  part  of  Princeton,  the  town  of  his  birth,  is  a 
station  called  Brooks  (named  after  the  family)  on  the  Boston,  Barre  and  Gardner 
railroad,  now  a  part  of  the  Boston  and  Maine  system,  the  depot  being  the  old  home- 
stead built  by  Jonas  Brooks  in  1810  or  '11.  In  1835  Moses  Brooks  moved  to  Rutland, 
Mass.,  but  in  1851  returned  to  the  parental  home  in  Princeton,  and  in  1856  came  to 
Oxford,  Chenango  county,  N.  Y.  In  1862  he  settled  in  the  town  of  Unadilla,  near 
Rockdale,  N.Y.,  where  his  wife  died  December  7,  1889,  and  where  his  death  occurred 
November  12,  1893.  Their  children  were  Charles  Aaron,  born  March  11,  1833,  died 
August  18,  1835;  Jonas,  born  March  9,  1835,  died  January  10,  1843;  Edward,  born 
May  19,  1837,  was  graduated  from  the  Jefferson  Medical  College  of  Philadelphia  in 
1862,  entered  the  U.  S.  army  as  assistant  surgeon  the  same  year,  and  died  in  the 
service  April  19,  1866 ;  Sarah  Sophronia,  born  November  4,  1839,  married  December 
30,  1867,  Edwin  R.  Barnes  of  Norwich,  N.  Y.,  and  died  February  1,  1877,  leaving 
two  children,  Lenora  Sarah,  since  deceased,  and  Charles  Edward,  of  Norwich; 
Moses  Walter,  a  practicing  physician  of  Sidney,  N.  Y.,  born  November  4,  1841, 
married  Abigail  Peet,  of  Hunter,  N.  Y. ,  and  was  graduated  from  the  medical  de- 
partment of  the  University  of  Vermont  at  Burlington  in  1879;  Jonas  Hapgood,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch;  and  Charles  Greenwood,  of  Mount  Upton,  N.  Y.,  born  De- 
cember 23,  1849. 

Jonas  Hapgood  Brooks,  the  eighth  in  lineal  descent  from  the  pioneer,  Capt. 
Thomas  Brooke,  was  born  in  Rutland,  Worcester  county,  Mass.,  January  5,  1848, 
and  came  with  his  parents  to  this  State  in  1856.  Here  he  spent  his  early  life  on  the 
farm  and  attending  the  district  schools  and  Oxford  Academy,  where  he  developed 
those  native  talents  which  distinguish  the  scholar.  He  gave  special  attention  to 
medicine,  which  he  expected  to  adopt  as  a  profession  and  practice  with  his  eldest 
brother,  Edward,  who  was  then  a  surgeon  in  the  army.  But  the  death  of  the  latter 
in  1866  changed  his  plans,  though  he  has  never  forgotten  his  love  for  medical  science. 
In  the  winter  of  1866-67  he  taught  school  at  Guilford,  N.  Y.,  and  in  the  fall  of  1867 
resumed  his  studies  at  Norwich  Academy,  where  he  obtained  a  teacher's  certificate, 
as  he  also  had  the  preceding  year  at  Oxford.  The  following  winter,  1867-68,  he 
taught  the  school  at  Rockwell's  Mills  in  the  town  of  Guilford,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1868  became  a  clerk  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  New  Berlin,  N.  Y.,  where  in  Jan- 
uary, 1869,  he  was  chosen  teller,  a  position  he  filled  with  credit  and  satisfaction  until 
he  resigned  in  December,  1873.  He  was  also  a  director  in  this  bank  during  his  last 
year  there.  In  December,  1873,  he  accepted  the  appointment  of  teller  of  the  National 
Albany  Exchange  Bank,  of  Albany,  and  on  the  death  of  its  cashier,  Theodore  L. 
Scott,  on  February  22,  1881,  succeeded  him  in  that  position,  which  he  held  until  the 
bank  was  closed  on  the  expiration  of  its  charter  in  January,  1885.  On  the  formation 
of  the  new  National  Exchange  Bank  of  Albany  (which  succeeded  the  old  institution), 
in  which  he  with  Chauncey  P.  Williams,  the  president,  took  the  active  part,  Mr. 
Brooks  was  elected  the  cashier,  and  discharged  with  fidelity  the  arduous  duties  of 
that  office  until  November  6,  1889,  when  he  was  chosen  a  director  and  cashier  of  the 
Albany  City  National  Bank,  which  positions  he  still  holds.  In  December,  1889,  he 
was  also  elected  a  trustee  and  treasurer  of  the  Albany  City  Savings  Institution,  but 


71 

subsequently  resigned  the  treasurership.  While  cashier  of  the  National  Exchange 
Bank  he  was  also  a  trustee  in  the  Albany  Exchange  Savings  Bank,  but  resigned  this 
post  November  6,  1889,  to  give  his  whole  attention  to  the  affairs  of  the  two  institu- 
tions with  which  he  is  now  connected, 

Mr.  Brooks  has  always  been  a  staunch  Republican,  has  taken  a  deep  interest  in 
political  affairs,  and  in  1886  was  a  delegate  to  the  Republican  State  Convention  at 
Saratoga.  He  was  for  two  years  treasurer  of  St.  Peter's  church  and  in  January, 
1890,  was  elected  trustee  and  treasurer  of  the  Corning  Foundation  for  Christian 
Work  in  the  Diocese  of  Albany,  which  positions  he  still  holds.  This  organization,  in 
which  he  has  manifested  deep  interest,  and  of  which  Bishop  Doane  is  the  head,  em- 
braces the  supervision  and  care  of  St.  Agnes  School,  the  Child's  Hospital,  St.  Mar- 
garet's House,  and  the  Sisters'  House,  and  is  one  of  the  most  worthy  benevolent  in- 
stitutions in  the  State.  Mr.  Brooks  was  a  foundation  member  of  the  Fort  Orange 
Club  in  1880,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  Unconditional  Republican  Club  of 
Albany  since  about  1875,  being  its  treasurer  during  the  Garfield  campaign.  lie  is 
fond  of  athletic  sports  and  outdoor  exercise,  has  won  several  prizes  at  the  Rensse 
laerwyck  Rifle  Range,  is  an  extensive  reader  on  historical  and  scientific  subjects, 
and  is  a  close  observer  and  student  of  human  nature  and  natural  scenery.  He  has 
devoted  much  time  to  genealogical  research,  and  has  in  his  possession  copies  of  wills 
and  settlements  of  estates  of  seven  generations  of  his  family  in  America. 

Mr.  Brooks  was  married  on  January  22,  1889,  to  Miss  Frances  S.,  daughter  of  the 
late  Samuel  Patten,  of  Albany,  and  Julia,  daughter  of  William  Newton.  At 
the  wedding  were  Mr.  Brooks's  parents,  who  three  days  before  had  celebrated 
their  fifty-seventh  marriage  anniversary.  They  have  had  two  children :  Edward, 
who  died  in  infancy,  and  Julia  Newton  Brooks,  born  July  10,  189:5.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Brooks  have  traveled  quite  extensively,  both  in  this  country  and  in  Europe.  In  the 
winter  of  1895  they  were  among  the  passengers  who  had  a  thrilling  experience  on 
board  the  ill-fated  steamer  Cienfuegos,  which  on  February  4  was  wrecked  and  lost 
off  Harbor  Island,  one  of  the  group  of  the  West  Indies. 


MATTHEW  HALE. 

Hon.  Matthew  Hale,  born  in  Chelsea,  Vt. ,  June  20,  1829,  is  a  descendant  of 
Thomas  Hale  (married  Joan  Kirby),  a  yeoman  of  Watton- at-Stone,  Hertfordshire, 
England,  who  died  in  October,  1630.  Thomas  Hale,  jr.,  born  at  Watton-at-Stone  in 
L605,  came  to  America  in  1637  and  settled  in  Newbury,  Mass.,  where  Ik- died  De- 
cember 31,  1682.  His  son  Thomas  was  born  in  England,  November  18,  1633,  died 
in  Newbury,  October  22,  1688,  leaving  a  son,  Dr.  Thomas  Hale,  a  physician  of  11.. 
erill.  Mass,  who  died  in  1732.  Moses  Hale,  son  of  Thomas,  was  born  in  1703,  settled 
in  New  Hampshire  and  died  in  176',).  His  son  Nathan,  born  in  1743,  served  in  the 
Revolution  as  colonel  of  a  New  Hampshire  regiment  and  died  on  Long  Kland.  a 
prisoner  of  war,  in  1780.  Harry  Hale,  a  son  of  Col.  Nathan,  was  born  in  1780, 
settled  in  Chelsea,  Vt.,  was  many  years  clerk  of  Orange  county,  member  of  the 
Legislature,  state  bank  commissioner,  captain  of  militia,  a  merchant,  mill  owner 
and  farmer  and  died  in  1861.     He  married,   first,    Phoebe  Adams,  who  bore  him 


72 

eleven  children.  By  his  second  wife,  Lucinda  Eddy,  he  had  seven  children,  the 
youngest  being  Matthew.  She  was  a  direct  descendant  of  Miles  Standish  and  John 
Alden  of  the  Mayflower,  through  a  son  of  Standish,  who  married  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Priscilla  (Mullens)  Alden. 

Matthew  Hale  attended  the  Bradford  (Vt.)  Academy,  was  graduated  from  the 
University  of  Vermont  in  1851,  and  read  law  in  Elizabethtown,  N.  Y.,  with  Kellogg 
&  Hale  (the  latter  being  Hon.  Robert  S.  Hale,  a  member  of  Congress  and  Regent  of 
the  University,  and  Matthew's  elder  brother).  Admitted  to  the  bar  at  Salem,  N.  Y., 
in  1853,  he  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Poughkeepsie  with  his  brother 
Henry,  and  continued  with  Gen.  A.  B.  Smith.  In  1859  he  removed  to  New  York 
city  and  became  a  partner  of  Lot  C.  Clark.  Returning  to  Elizabethtown,  N.  Y., 
in  December,  1863,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Judge  A.  C.  Hand  (his  father-in- 
law  and  one  of  the  first  justices  of  "the  Supreme  Court  elected  under  the  constitution 
of  1846)  and  Richard  L.  Hand,  under  the  firm  name  of  Hand  &  Hale. 

Mr.  Hale  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  State  Constitutional  Convention  of  1867 
and  served  on  the  judiciarv  committee  of  that  body.  In  1867  he  was  elected  State 
senator.  In  1868  he  removed  to  Albany  and  with  the  late  Samnel  Hand  and  the 
late  Nathan  Swartz,  formed  the  law  firm  of  Hand,  Hale  '&  Swartz  which,  on  the 
admission  of  Charles  S.  Fairchild,  became  Hand,  Hale,  Swartz  &  Fairchild.  This 
was  dissolved  in  1875.  Afterwards  Alpheus  T.  Bulkeley  and  Hon.  Esek  Cowen  were 
his  partners.  The  present  firm  of  Hale,  Bulkeley  &  Tennant  consists  of  Mr.  Hale, 
Alpheus  T.  Bulkeley  and  Albert  C.  Tennant. 

In  1883  Mr.  Hale  was  the  Republican  candidate  for  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court 
and  in  that  year  the  University  of  Vermont  conferred  upon  him  the  honorary  de- 
gree of  LL.D.     He  is  a  distinguished  writer  and  speaker  and  eminent  lawyer,  and 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  New  York  State  Bar  Association,  of  which  he  has 
been  president. 

He  has  been  counsel  in  many  important  cases,  and  within  the  last  year  has  sue 
cessfully  argued  in  the  Court  of  Appeals  a  case  involving  the  effect  of  the  civil  serv- 
ice provision  in  the  Constitution  of  1894,  in  which  he  obtained  a  decision  giving 
full  force  and  effect  to  such  provision  as  against  an  attack  made  by  the  superintend- 
ent of  Public  Works;  also  a  case  in  favor  of  the  Adelphi  Club  of  Albany,  in  which 
it  was  held  that  the  license  law  of  1892 did  not  apply  to  social  clubs;  also  the  Albany 
Police  case,  in  which  an  act,  passed  by  the  Legislature  in  1895  making  a  total  change 
of  the  Albany  police  force,  was  held  to  be  unconstitutional  and  void. 

He  was  a  charter  member  and  trustee  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club,  is  a  trustee  and 
vice-president  of  the  Albany  Savings  Bank,  member  of  the  Reform  Club  of  New 
York  city,  and  at  one  time  was  vice-president  of  the  Commonwealth  Club  of  New 
York  and  president  of  the  United  Chapters  of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa.  In  politics  he  is 
Independent  and  has  been  for  many  years.  He  is  one  of  the  executive  committee 
of  the  National  Municipal  League,  is  president  of  the  Citizens'  Association  of  Al- 
bany; president  of  the  Albany  Vigilance  League;  president  of  the  New  York  State 
Civil  Service  Reform  League  and  of  the  Albany  Association  on  the  same  subject. 

In  1856  he  married  Ellen  S.,  daughter  of  Hon.  A.  C.  Hand.  She  died  in  1867,  and 
in  1877  he  married,  second,  Mary,  daughter  of  Col.  Francis  L.  Lee,  of  Boston,  Mass., 
by  whom  he  has  three  daughters  and  two  sons, 


HUGH  HASTINGS. 


73  - 
HUGH  HASTINGS. 

Hugh  Hastings,  State  Historian,  third  son  of  Col.  John  Hastings  was  born  in  Al- 
bany, July  22,  1856.  Colonel  Hastings  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1824,  .came  with  his 
parents  to  Albany  in  1831  and  died  here  June  3,  1887.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the 
war  of  the  Rebellion  he  was  engaged  in  the  job  printing  business  in  the  old  Museum 
building.  April  19,  1861,  he  organized  Co.  B,  18th  N.  Y.  Vols.,  was  commissioned 
its  captain  April  24,  was  promoted  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  7th  N.  Y.  H.  A.,  Septem- 
ber 8,  1862,  and  was  honorably  discharged  July  29,  1864.  Afterward  he  was  editor 
of  the  Albany  Knickerbocker  until  August,  1877,  when  he  retired.  He  married  Mar- 
garet, daughter  of  Henry  L.  Jewell,  of  Albany,  and  their  children  were  John,  Hugh, 
David,  Warren,  Mary  (widow  of  Lewis  H.  Van  Antwerp),  and  Jennie,  who  survive, 
and  Henry  J.,  William,  Frank  and  Margaret,  deceased. 

Hugh  Hastings  was  educated  in  the  Albany  public  and  High  School  and  the  Cass 
Academy,  and  began  journalistic  work  on  the  old  Knickerbocker,  founded  by  his 
uncle,  Hugh  J.  Hastings,  September  3,  1843.  In  1874  he  joined  the  staff  of  the  New 
York  Commercial  Advertiser,  of  which  he  became  city  and  financial  editor  and  where 
he  began  his  career  as  a  writer  on  political  subjects.  In  October,  1885,  he  joined  the 
World's  staff,  and  in  1886  became  its  Albany  correspondent,  but  in  1887  was  placed 
in  charge  of  its  Washington  bureau.  In  1888  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  New 
York  State  Political  Department  of  the  New  York  Times,  for  which  he  described  the 
Johnstown  flood  of  1889  and  the  Homestead  and  Buffalo  strikes  of  1892. 

On  the  creation  of  the  office  of  State  Historian,  he  was  appointed  and  entered 
upon  his  duties  April  30,  1895,  and  has  ably  organized  that  department.  His  first 
report,  transmitted  to  the  Legislature  March  3,  1896,  clearly  shows  the  work  he  has 
in  view,  the  permanent  preservation  of  New  York's  most  important  war  records, 
covering  a  period  of  125  years.  Excepting  those  of  1884  he  has  attended  every  na- 
tional and  New  York  State  political  convention  since  1878.  April  5,  1883,  he  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Rehrer  Dock  of  Harrisburg,  Pa, 


REV.   WILLIAM  GRIFFIN,   D.   D. 

Few  men  have  been  more  deservedly  prominent  and  popular  in  the  work  and  his- 
tory of  the  Troy  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  than  Dr.  Griffin.  He 
was  well  educated  and  endowed  with  a  clear  and  logical  brain,  possessed  broad  sym- 
pathies and  positive  convictions  and  he  was  perforce  of  his  mental  and  moral  or- 
ganization a  man  of  action  as  well  as  ideas,  early  attaining  prominence  as  a  leader 
among  his  brethren. 

Three  times  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  districts  and  four  times  elected  to  repre- 
sent his  conference  in  the  General  Conference.  Though  retired  from  the  active  work 
of  the  ministry  several  years  ago,  he  has  always  kept  in  touch  with  the  needs  of  the 
world  and  the  work  of  the  church,  and  no  worthy  object  ever  appealed  to  him  in  vain 
when  it  was  in  his  power  to  grant  the  desired  assistance. 

To  the  cause  of  education  he  has  always  been  a  ardent  friend  and  liberal  supporter. 
.i 


74 

Wesleyan  University  at  Middletown,  Conn.,  credits  him  with  the  endowment  of  its 
"  Chair  of  Philosophy"  and  Syracuse  University  with  having  endowed  its  professor- 
ship of  "  History  and  Political  Science." 

Cazenovia  Seminary,  where  Mrs.  Griffin  had  been  both  pupil  and  preceptress,  was 
made  the  recipient  of  §25,000,  to  endow  the  chair  once  occupied  by  her  and  to  per- 
petuate the  memory  of  the  place  where  she  had  passed  not  a  few  of  the  sunniest  days 
of  her  life.     Generous  contributions  have  been  made  to  other  educational  institutions. 

But  history  will  undoubtedly  show  that  at  Round  Lake  he  has  accomplished  the 
crowning  work  of  his  life. 

In  1886  he  was  elected  president  of  the  association,  and  most  worthily  has  he  filled 
the  position  for  more  than  a  decade  and  most  generously  has  he  contributed  to  the 
development  of  its  growing  educational  work.  Here  he  has  had  ample  field  for  his 
versatile  genius,  broad  sympathies  and  indomitable  perseverance.  Up  as  by  magic 
have  sprung  a  summer  school  with  its  varied  departments  of  music,  art,  archaeology, 
oratory,  modern  and  ancient  languages,  theology,  and  a  popular  assembly  of  wide 
range  in  up  to  date  subjects. 

Here,  also,  has  been  established  a  flourishing  academy  and  an  exceptionally  fine 
museum  of  art  and  archaeology. 

Though  eighty  years  have  rolled  past  him,  time  has  dealt  most  kindly  with  his 
vigorous  physique  and  left  little  impression  save  in  his  whitened  locks.  Living  roy- 
allv  in  years  and  deeds  and  memories,  he  is  yet  planning  larger  things  in  the  inter- 
ests of  his  beloved  Round  Lake. 


JOHN  H.   VAN  ANTWERP. 

John  Henry  Van  Antwerp  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  Daniel  Janse  Van  Antwerp 
(married  Maritie,  daughter  of  Simon  Groot),  of  Holland,  who  settled  in  Beverwyck 
in  1661.  Daniel  J.  Van  Antwerp  was  a  proprietary  settler  of  Schenectady,  where 
several  of  his  children  were  killed  or  taken  prisoners  to  Montreal  when  that  town 
was  burned  by  the  French  and  Indians.  He  was  a  fur  trader  and  a  member  of  the 
Dutch  church,  giving  on  June  23,  1715,  the  land  on  which  the  Reformed  church  of 
Schenectady  now  stands.  Mr.  Van  Antwerp's  grandfather,  Daniel  Lewis  Van  Antwerp, 
1771-1832,  of  Schenectady  and  later  of  Albany,  was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional 
Convention  of  1801,  member  of  the  Legislature  for  Saratoga  in  1808-10,  and  district 
attorney  in  1811  for  the  counties  of  Albany,  Schenectady,  Saratoga,  Montgomery 
and  Schoharie,  being  appointed  March  9,  1811,  by  Gov.  Daniel  D.  Tompkins.  When 
Albany  county  was  erected  into  a  separate  district,  April  21,  1818,  he  was  reap- 
pointed by  Gov.  De  Witt  Clinton,  June  11,  1811,  his  commissions  in  each  case  being 
unlimited,  but  continuous  during  the  pleasure  of  the  Governor  and  Council.  He 
was  brigade  quartermaster  in  the  war  of  1812,  member  of  the  Legislature  for  Sche- 
nectady in  1818,  and  judge  of  the  Court  of  Justices  in  1820.  His  son,  William  Van 
Antwerp,  1799-1829,  was  a  prominent  lawyer  of  Albany,  married  Sarah  Meadon, 
and  had  four  children:  John  Henry,  William  Meadon,  Daniel  Lewis,  and  one,  a 
daughter,  deceased. 

John  H.  Van  Antwerp,  born  in  Albany,  October  12,  1823,  received  a  private  school 


75 

education  and  began  his  business  life  as  a  clerk.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  and 
original  trustees  of  the  National  Savings  Bank  of  Albany,  and  has  been  its  president 
since  May,  1872,  shortly  after  its  organization.  He  has  also  been  connected  with  the 
New  York  State  National  Bank  since  July  17,  18-17.  first  as  corresponding  clerk,  and 
from  January  1,  1856,  as  cashier,  until  1880,  when  he  resigned  to  become  first  vice- 
president,  which  position  he  now  holds. 

John  H.  Van  Antwerp  married  Martha  Wiswall  in  August,  1842.  They  have  two 
children  living,  Kate  Josephine,  wife  of  J.  R.  Stanton,  paymaster  United  States 
Navy,  and  Henrietta  W.,  wife  of  Major  J.  W.  MacMurray  of  the  U.  S.  Army;  and 
one  son  and  daughter  deceased.  Mrs.  Van  Antwerp  died  in  August,  1880.  Mr.  Van 
Antwerp  and  wife  early  became  members  of  St.  Paul's  Episcopal  church  of  Albany, 
of  which  for  many  years  he  has  been  and  is  senior  warden.  He  was  one  of  the 
originators  of  the  scheme  for  the  creation  of  Washington  Park,  Albany,  and  one  of 
the  commissioners  named  in  the  act  of  the  Legislature  creating  it ;  was  the  first  pres- 
ident for  thirteen  years  of  the  board  during  the  formative  period  of  the  park,  and 
subsequently  declined  a  reappointment  by  the  mayor  at  the  expiration  of  his  last 
term  of  service. 

Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  Manhattan  and  St.  Nicholas  Clubs  of  New  York 
city, Fort  Orange  Club,  and  the  Country  Club,  city  of  Albany;  also  a  member  of  the 
Holland  Society,  Sons  of  the  Revolution,  Fellow  of  the  American  Geographical  So- 
ciety of  the  city  of  New  York,  and  the  Albany  Institute.  As  a  financier  he  has  for 
half  a  century  been  connected  with  the  banking  interests  of  Albany,  and  has  shown 
himself  to  be  of  acknowledged  ability,  which  is  indicated  by  the  standing  of  the 
institutions  with  which  he  has  been  connected  in  his  official  capacity  as  director 
or  officer,  and  the  length  of  time  he  has  remained  in  connection  with  them. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  New  York  State  Board  of  Charities  for  over  eighteen 
years;  it  being  an  unsalaried  office  Often  when  duties  in  other  directions  claimed 
his.  time  he  cheerfully  devoted  it  to  the  interest  of  the  State  and  early  called  atten- 
tion to  the  necessity  of  some  restriction  by  the  government  of  unsupervised  emigration 
from  Europe  to  this  country. 


LUCY  ANN  PLYMPTON. 

Miss  Lucy  Ann  Plympton,  since  1879  principal  of  the  Albany  Female  Academy, 
is  of  English  descent,  both  her  paternal  and  maternal  ancestors  coming  to  Medfield, 
Mass.,  in  1G39.  In  each  case  the  original  estates  in  that  town  have  never  been  owned 
outside  the  family.  She  was  born  in  Shrewsbury,  Mass..  May  6,  1834,  and  spent  her 
earlier  years  in  her  native  village,  attending  the  public  and  private  schools  and  the 
academy  and  developing  a  natural  talent  for  study.  She  finished  a  course  at  the 
New  Hampshire  Conference  Seminary,  taught  for  two  years  in  grammar  and  private 
schools,  took  the  degree  of  Mistress  of  Liberal  Arts  at  the  New  Hampshire  Female 
College,  and  became  a  teacher  rn  the  Newbury  (Vt.)  Seminary.  When  the  Rebellion 
broke  out  she  returned  home,  but  soon  took  charge  of  the  girls'  department  in  the 
Troy  Conference  Academy  for  one  year,  when  she  became  lady  principal  of  Ripley 
College,   which   position   she  resigned  in  1S(!7.      In  1869  she  was  elected  principal  of 


76 

Wilson  College  at  Chambersburg,  Pa.,  where  she  spent  six  years,  coming  thence  to 
Albany,  where  she  has  since  resided.  Here  she  started  a  private  enterprise  known 
as  Miss  Plympton's  School  for  Young  Ladies,  which  in  1879  was  merged  into  the 
Albany  Female  Academy,  over  which  she  has  since  presided  as  principal.  (A  de- 
tailed sketch  of  this  historic  institution  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume.)  Miss 
Plympton's  long  and  faithful  service  in  the  academy  has  placed  her  among  the  fore- 
most educators  of  the  time.  She  represented  as  a  delegate  the  Dana  Natural  Histol^ 
Society  of  Albany  in  the  International  Geological  Congress  at  London  in  1888,  was 
an  early  officer  and  has  continuously  been  chairman  of  the  educational  committee  of 
the  Young  Woman's  Christian  Association,  and  is  actively  interested  in  all  move- 
ments which  tend  to  advance  and  educate  not  only  her  sex,  but  mankind. 


CHARLES  J.   BUCHANAN. 

Charles  J.  Buchanan  was  born  of  Scoth-Irish  ancestry  in  New  Berlin,  Chenango 
county,  N.  Y.,  December  27,  1843,  and  received  his  preliminary  education  in  the 
common  schools  and  academy  of  his  native  town.  Of  studious  habits  he  was  ambi- 
tious to  acquire  the  benefits  of  a  college  course,  but  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion  fired  bis  youthful  ardor  and  patriotism  and  caused  him  to  enlist  in  the 
Union  cause.  In  the  autumn  of  1861  he  enlisted  as  a  volunteer  in  the  1st  Regiment 
of  U.  S.  (Berdan's)  Sharpshooters  and  joined  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  in  which  he 
served  with  distinguished  gallantry  for  three  years,  rising  to  the  rank  of  first  lieu- 
tenant and  acting  adjutant.  He  participated  in  many  battles  and  skirmishes,  from 
Yorktown  in  1862  to  Appomattox  in  1865,  among  them  Hanover  Court  House,  the 
Seven  Days'  Fight  before  Richmond,  Antietam,  Wapping  Heights,  Fredericksburgh, 
Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  the  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  Cold  Har- 
bor, Deep  Bottom,  the  mine  explosion  at  Petersburgh,  Weldon  Railroad,  the  siege  of 
Petersburgh,  etc.  He  was  never  away  from  his  regiment  until  his  final  discharge  and 
was  never  sick  nor  wounded  while  in  the  service.  At  the  close  of  the  war  in  1865  he 
accepted  an  appointment  as  clerk  in  the  Quartermaster-General's  office  at  Washington 
and  for  a  time  was  stationed  at  Fort  Snelling,  Minn.  After  about  a  year  he  resigned 
this  position  to  complete  his  academic  studies,  which  his  enlistment  had  interrupted. 
In  1867  General  Hancock  offered  him  a  lieutenancy  in  the  regular  army,  which  he 
declined,  and  this  same  year  he  was  appointed  by  President  Johnson  a  cadet  to  the 
U.  S.  Military  Academy  at  West  Point,  where  he  made  valuable  use  of  his  time.  In 
October,  1870,  he  resigned  his  cadetship  to  study  law,  which  he  had  contemplated  for 
several  years.  Entering  the  offices  of  Smith,  Bancroft  &  Moak,  one  of  the  ablest  law 
firms  ever  known  in  Albany,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  the  January  General 
Term,  1874,  and  the  next  year  became  a  partner  in  this  firm. 

This  partnership  continued  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Bancroft  in  January,  1880,  when 
the  firm  became  Smith,  Moak  &  Buchanan.  Upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Smith  in  Decem- 
ber, 1884,  the  firm  of  Moak  &  Buchanan  was  formed.  These  several  firms  enjoyed 
large  and  successful  practices,  having  important  and  intricate  cases  in  the  various 
courts.     Mr.  Moak  died  September  17,  1892,  since  which  time  Mr.  Buchanan  has  con- 


ROBERT    H.  MCCORMIC,  JR. 


77 

tmued  the  practice  of  the  law  at  the  same  offices  occupied  by  his  former  partner- 
ships. 

Mr.  Buchanan  has  always  taken  great  interest  in  military  affairs.  On  July  2, 
1889,  he  delivered  the  oration  at  Gettysburg  on  the  dedication  of  the  monument 
to  the  1st  Regiment  of  U.  S.  Sharpshooters,  which  was  subsequently  issued  in  pam- 
phlet form  and  is  replete  with  interesting  historical  facts  and  reminiscences.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic;  has  been  first  vice-president  and  a 
member  of  the  board  of  managers  of  the  Young  Men's  Association  (a  literary  insti- 
tution founded  by  Amos  Dean);  is  a  life  trustee  of  the  Young  Men's  Association; 
is  a  trustee  and  secretary  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Albany  Law  School ;  is  a 
trustee  of  the  National  Savings  Bank  of  Albany ;  has  been  for  several  years  a  member 
and  treasurer  of  the  board  of  commissioners  of  Washington  Park  ;  is  a  member  of  the 
Fort  Orange  and  Albany  Clubs;  and  of  the  St.  Andrew's  Society;  and  of  the  Albany 
Burns  Club(of  which  last  named  club  he  has  been  president);  and  the  Buchanan  Society 
of  Scotland.  He  is  judge  advocate,  with  the  rank  of  major,  of  the  3d  Brigade,  N.  G. 
N.  Y.  He  was  active  in  raising  the  Harmanus  Bleecker  Hall  fund,  and  has  always 
taken  a  keen  interest  in  the  advancement  of  the  city  of  Albany,  with  so  many  of 
whose  institutions  he  is  so  prominently  identified.  In  politics  he  is  a  staunch  Repub- 
lican. He  is  public  spirited,  patriotic  and  progressive,  and  liberally  encourages  all 
worthy  public  movements.  Mr.  Buchanan  is  a  member  of  the  first  class  of  the 
Military  Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the  United  States,  which,  as  is  well  known,  is 
composed  of  those  who  were  commissioned  officers  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion. 

In  October,  1875,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  married  to  Miss  Caroline  Van  Yalkenburg, 
daughter  of  the  late  Isaac  Yan  Yalkenburg,  of  Xorthville,  Fulton  county,  N.  Y. 


ROBERT  H.  McCORMIC,  Jr. 

Robert  H.  McCormic,  Jr.,  was  born  January  30, 1870,  in  the  city  of  Albany,  X.Y. 
In  the  line  of  the  paternal  ancestry  he  represents  the  seventh  generation  of  his  fam- 
ily in  America,  in  each  of  which  the  eldest  son  bore  the  name  of  Robert,  he  being 
the  seventh  Robert  in  direct  line.  His  ancestor  who  immigrated  to  America  was  born 
of  Scotch-Irish  parentage  in  Londonderry,  Ireland,  and  immigrated  to  America  in 
172")  in  company  with  John  Woodburn,  the  great-grandfather  of  Horace  Greeley. 
They  were  among  the  original  settlers  of  Londonderry,  N.  II.,  from  whence  the 
McCormic  family  moved  and  settled  the  town  of  Londonderry,  Yt.  Mr.  McCormic's 
great-great-grandfather  served  in  the  Revolution  and  was  one  of  the  participants  in 
the  battle  of  Bennington  under  Stark.  On  his  mother's  side  he  represents  the 
twelfth  generation  of  his  family  in  America.  I  lis  maternal  ancestor,  Cornelius  Van 
Ness,  was  born  of  Dutch  parentage  upon  the  Havendyek  in  Holland  and  came  to 
America  in  1642  and  settled  at  Greenbush.  X.  V.  The  family  spread  rapidly  and 
later  generations  settled  upon  large  tracts  of  land  in  Columbia  county,  near  Kinder- 
hook.     The  family  contained  many  lawyers,  some  of  whom  became  noted. 

Mr.  McCormic's  great-great-grandfather,  John  P.  Van  Ness,  was  born  in  the  Clav- 
erack  district  in  1770.  was  educated  at  Columbia  College  and  was  subsequently  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar.     He  was  elected  to  Congress   in   1801,  and   afterward   became 


78 

mayor  of  Washington,  D.  C,  and  president  of  the  Bank  of  the  Metropolis.  He  had 
two  brothers,  William  P.  and  Cornelius  P.  Van  Ness,  who  were  also  distinguished 
lawyers  and  jurists.  Cornelius  P.  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1804.  Later  he  moved 
to  Vermont,  became  United  States  district  attorney,  collector  of  customs,  member 
of  assembly,  chief  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Vermont,  twice  governor  of  Ver- 
mont and  finally  minister  plenipotentiary  and  envoy  extraordinary  to  the  court  of 
Spain.  William  P.  was  one  of  the  leading  lawyers  of  his  time  and  became  judge  of 
the  United  States  District  Court  for  the  Southern  District  of  New  York.  He  was 
one  of  the  seconds  for  Burr  in  the  famous  Hamilton  and  Burr  duel.  He  owned 
"  Lindenwald"  at  Kinderhook,  N.Y.,  which  he  afterward  sold  to  Martin  Van  Buren, 
who  read  law  in  his  office.  He  was  also  a  colonel  in  the  war  of  1812  and  a  member 
of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1821. 

Mr.  McCormic's  great-grandfather,  Jesse  Van  Ness,  was  a  farmer  and  served  as  a 
captain  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  between  Castleton  and 
Muitseskill  in  Rensselaer  and  Columbia  counties,  portions  of  which  remained  in  the 
possession  of  the  family  until  quite  recently. 

Mr.  McCormic's  father,  Robert  H.  McCormic,  was  born  at  Coxsackie,  N.  Y.,  but 
passed  the  days  of  his  youth  near  Windham,  Vt.,  graduating  from  Burr  Seminary  at 
Manchester,  Vt.  He  served  as  a  captain  in  the  late  Civil  war  on  the  Union  side. 
He  is  living  and  is  now  and  for  some  time  past  has  been  engaged  in  the  insurance 
business.  Mr.  McCormic's  mother,  Carrie  Van  Ness,  was  born  at  Stuyvesant,  N.Y. , 
and  graduated  from  Coeymans  Academy  at  Coeymans,  N.  Y.  She  died  August  20, 
1875,  and  her  mother,  Amanda  Van  Ness,  immediately  removed  to  Albany,  N.  Y., 
and  assumed  the  responsibility  of  caring  for  the  two  motherless  children,  Mr.  Mc- 
Cormic, then  but  five  years  old,  and  his  sister  Grace  E.,  then  three  years  old,  who  is 
now  a  teacher  in  one  of  the  public  schools  at  Yonkers,  N.  Y.  At  the  age  of  seven 
years  young  McCormic  entered  public  school  No.  12  of  Albany  and  graduated  with 
honors,  receiving  a  graduation  diploma,  scholarship  diploma,  and  Regents'  certifi- 
cate. He  entered  the  Albany  High  School,  chose  the  classical  course  and  graduated 
therefrom  in  1888.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Philologian  Society  and  held  several 
important  offices  therein.  After  graduating  from  the  High  School  he  entered  the 
insurance  office  of  his  father.  He  left  this  employment  for  a  brief  period  in  1888  to 
accept  the  position  of  bookkeeper  in  closing  up  the  business  of  the  clothing  house  of 
Joseph  Gardner  in  Albany,  and  then  returned  again  to  his  father's  office.  While 
with  his  father  he  began  to  read  law  and  on  the  first  day  of  September,  18S9,  en- 
tered upon  a  regular  clerkship  under  the  instruction  of  the  late  William  A.  Allen, 
who  occupied  the  same  offices.  On  the  18th  of  April,  1891,  he  entered  the  law  office 
of  County  Judge  J.  H.  Clute  as  a  minor  clerk.  His  progress  there  was  rapid  and  he 
was  soon  made  managing  clerk  of  the  office  and  on  the  15th  of  September,  1892,  was 
admitted  to  practice  law.  He  continued  to  occupy  his  position  of  managing  clerk 
after  his  admission  to  the  bar  and  also  practiced  law  himself,  and  in  a  short  time 
had  acquired  a  very  fair  practice.  On  the  first  of  April,  1896,  just  subsequently  to 
the  retirement  of  Judge  Clute  from  the  bench,  he  entered  into  a  partnership  with 
the  judge  under  the  firm  name  of  Clute  &  McCormic,  with  offices  at  5-15  Tweddle 
building,  Albany.     This  partnership  has  since  continued. 

Mr.  McCormic  takes  an  active  interest  in  politics  and  is  at  present  the  secretary 


79 

and  treasurer  of  the  Second  Assembly  District  Committee  of  the  Republican  organ- 
ization of  Albany  count}'. 

He  early  became  affiliated  with  secret  societies  and  is  now  the  sitting  vice-grand 
of  Clinton  Lodge,  No.  7,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  the  junior  seneschal  of  Albany  Senate  No. 
641,  Knights  of  the  Ancient  Essenic  Order,  of  which  senate  he  is  a  charter  member. 
He  is  also  a  past  captain  of  Frederick  Townsend  Camp  No.  1,  Sous  <,f  Veterans,  and 
has  held  nearly  all  the  important  positions  in  the  State  body  of  that  organization 
and  has  been  a  delegate  to  the  national  body. 

On  October  31,  1894,  he  married  Estelle  N.,  daughter  of  Horace  R.  Lockwood  of 
South  Westerlo,  N.  Y.,  who  was  educated  in  Greenville  Academy,  located  at  Green- 
ville, N.  Y.,  and  the  State  Normal  and  Training  School  at  Oswego,  N.  Y.  He  has 
no  children. 


CHARLES  F.   STOWELL. 

Charles  Frederick  Stowell,  son  of  Thomas  P.  and  Henrietta  (Fowler)  Stowcll, 
was  born  in  Owego,  N.  Y.,  February  28,  1853,  and  descends  from  an  English  family 
who  emigrated  to  New  England  in  the  early  history  of  this  country.  Thomas  P. 
Stowell  was  prominent  in  the  fire  insurance  business,  being  connected  with  the 
JEtna.  Fire  Insurance  Company  for  about  twenty  years;  he  lived  in  Rochester,  N.Y., 
where  he  died  in  February,  1896. 

Charles  F.  Stowell  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  Free  Academy  of  Roch- 
ester, was  graduated  as  a  civil  engineer  from  the  Rensselaer  Polytechnic  Institute 
at  Troy  in  1879,  and  for  five  years  thereafter  was  associated  in  a  professional  capac- 
ity with  Charles  Hilton  and  the  Hilton  Bridge  Construction  Company,  bridge  build- 
ers. In  1884  he  was  appointed  as  bridge  engineer  of  the  New  York  State  Board  of 
Railroad  Commissioners  and  held  the  position  until  1892.  His  duties  consisted  ot 
examining  plans  and  strains  of  all  railroad  bridges  in  the  State  and  reporting  as  to 
their  safety.  The  results  of  his  valuable  labors  were  published  by  the  board  in  1  S'.U  , 
in  a  volume  of  1,880  pages,  and  covers  outline  sketches  of  every  railroad  bridge  then 
in  the  State,  with  the  strains  of  each  member  of  the  bridge,  a  tabulation  of  sizes  of 
each  member  and  recommendations  for  strengthening  where  weakness  was  found. 
As  a  result  of  that  report  probably  one-half  of  the  railroad  bridges  in  the  State  were 
strengthened  or  rebuilt,  and  since  then  no  railway  bridge  in  New  York  lias  broken 
down. 

Since  1892  Mr.  Stowell  has  been  a  consulting  bridge  engineer  and  is  now  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Stowell  &  Cunningham.  He  is  a  member  of  the  American  Society 
of  Civil  Engineers.  October  10,  1882,  he  married  Emily  A.,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Blossom,  of  Canandaigua,  N.  Y.,  a  prominent  railroad  man  and  identified  with  the 
Rochester  Water  Works.  They  have  two  children :  Grace  Elizabeth  ami  Thomas 
Charles.  Mrs.  Stowell's  family  were  early  Puritan  settlers  of  Massachusetts  and 
prominent  in  public  life.  Her  grandfather,  Col.  William  Blossom,  was  a  noted  bote] 
keeper  in  Canandaigua. 


80 
HOWARD  VAN  RENSSELAER,  M.   D. 

Howard  Van  Rensselaer,  M.  D.,  son  of  Bayard  Van  Rensselaer,  was  born  in 
Albany  on  the  26th  of  June,  1858,  and  descends  from  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  re- 
spected families  in  Eastern  New  York.  Killian  Van  Rensselaer,  the  original  ances- 
tor, a  merchant  in  Amsterdam,  Holland,  and  a  member  of  the  Dutch  West  India 
Company,  availed  himself,  about  the  year  1630,  of  the  privileges  offered  by  the  As- 
sembly of  XIX  and  the  commissioners  of  the  States-General,  passed  in  1629,  by 
which  all  members  of  the  company  who  planted  a  colony  of  fifty  souls  over  fifteen 
years  of  age  were  to  be  acknowledged  patroons  of  the  New  Netherlands.  He  further 
perfected  his  title  to  the  lands  thus  granted  by  purchasing  them  from  the  Indians. 
These  purchases  embraced  a  territory  extending  along  the  Hudson  River,  for 
twenty-four  miles  back  on  each  side,  from  Baeren  Island  to  Cohoes  Falls,  Fort 
Orange  only  being  reserved  by  the  West  India  Company.  Killian  Van  Rensselaer 
died  in  1648,  and  his  son  Johannes  succeeded  him.  The  latter  is  believed  to  have 
come  here,  and  in  1642  to  have  built  the  mansion  at  Greenbush,  which  is  still  stand- 
ing. His  son  Killian  and  the  son  of  his  brother  Jeremiah,  also  named  Killian,  set- 
tled here,  and  to  these  two  Killians  were  given  the  English  patents  in  trust  for  their 
grandfather  Killian.  Killian  the  son  of  Johannes  died  without  issue  and  the  grant 
was  confirmed  to  Killian  the  son  of  Jeremiah,  who  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Stephen, 
whose  eldest  son  Stephen  became  the  seventh  patroon,  or  lord  of  the  manor,  and 
died  in  1769,  just  after  the  completion  of  the  present  manor  house  in  North  Broad- 
way. Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  son  of  the  last  named  Stephen,  was  born  in  New 
York  city  in  1764,  his  mother  being  Catharine,  daughter  of  Philip  Livingston,  one 
of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  General  Ten  Broeck,  his  uncle, 
had  the  management  of  the  estate  until  he  attained  the  age  of  twenty-one.  Mr. 
Van  Rensselaer  attended  school  in  Albany,  the  Kingston  Academy,  and  Princeton 
College  in  1782,  and  in  1783  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Gen.  Philip  J.  Schuyler, 
who  died  in  1801,  leaving  a  son  Stephen.  His  second  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Judge 
Patterson,  of  New  Jersey,  of  the  U.  S.  Supreme  Court.  He  was  member  of  assembly 
in  1789,  1808,  1810,  and  1816,  State  senator  from  1791  to  1795,  lieutenant-governor 
from  1795  to  1801,  colonel  of  State  cavalry  in  the  war  of  1812,  member  of  Congress 
from  1822  to  1829,  chancellor  of  the  university  in  1835,  and  for  twenty-two  years  a 
canal  commissioner  and  for  fifteen  years  president  of  the  board.  He  died  in  the 
manor  house  January  26,  1839.  His  son  Stephen  married  Harriet  Bayard,  of  New 
York,  and  died  in  1868.  Their  son  Bayard,  who  died  in  1859,  married  Laura,  daugh- 
ter of  Marcus  Tullius  Reynolds,  who  survives  him.  Both  were  natives  of  Albany, 
and  the  parents  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Dr.  Van  Rensselaer,  at  an  early  age,  was  placed  in  the  State  Normal  School  at 
Albany  and  later  in  the  Albany  Academy.  In  these  two  institutions  he  developed  a 
deep  love  for  the  pursuit  of  knowledge  and  won  a  warm  place  in  the  affections  of  his 
teachers  and  companions.  After  leaving  the  academy  he  spent  three  years  in  a  pri- 
vate boarding  school  in  Catskill  and  six  years  in  St.  Paul's  School  at  Concord,  N.  H., 
where  he  gave  special  attention  to  scientific  study,  and  where  he  took  a  yearly  testi- 
monial for  high  standing,  two  literary  prizes,  and  the  school  medal,  the  highest 
honor  given  by  that  institution.     There  he  also  took  an  active  part  in  athletics,  be- 


HOWARD  VAN  RHNSSbLAER,  M.   D. 


81 

ing  president  of  the  Athletic  Association  and  stroke  in  the  successful  school  crew. 
He  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of  Ph.  B.  from  Yale  Scientific  School  in  1881,  and 
also  spent  some  time  in  the  Yale  Art  School,  taking  a  literary  prize.  At  both  Yale 
and  St.  Paul's  he  made  records  in  walking  contests. 

Having  completed  his  literary  studies  he  immediately  entered  the  College  of  Physi- 
cians and  Surgeons  of  New  York  City  and  received  the  degree  of  M.  D.  in  1884.  He 
became  an  assistant  in  the  Chambers  Street  Hospital  and  a  student  in  a  post-gradu- 
ate medical  school,  and  on  competitive  examination  secured  a  post  as  interne  in  the 
in  the  New  York  Hospital,  where  he  remained  eighteen  months.  The  years  1887 
and  1888  he  spent  in  Europe,  where  he  studied  in  the  hospitals  of  Berlin,  Paris, 
Vienna,  Munich,  London,  Edinburgh,  and  other  cities,  and  also  visited  the  noted 
art  galleries  of  the  Old  World.  Returning  to  America  in  February,  1889,  he  began 
the  active  practice  of  his  profession  in  Albany  and  was  at  once  appointed  visiting 
physician  at  St.  Peter's  Hospital  and  attending  physician  at  the  dispensary  of  the 
Child's  Hospital.  In  the  following  autumn  he  became  instructor  in  nervous  diseases 
and  diseases  of  the  chest  at  the  Albany  Medical  College,  and  in  December  was  made 
attending  physician  to  the  Hospital  for  Incurables.  In  January,  1890,  he  was  elected 
visiting  physician  to  the  Home  of  the  Friendless  and  in  June  was  called  as  lecturer 
on  materia  medica  at  the  Medical  College.  In  1891  he  was  appointed  lecturer  on 
diseases  of  the  heart  and  lungs  in  the  Albany  Medical  College.  In  1892  he  was 
chosen  editor  of  the  Albany  Medical  Annals.  In  1893  he  was  elected  attending 
physician  in  the  City  Hospital,  and  was  also  made  president  of  the  Country  Club. 
In  1894  he  was  appointed  associate  professor  of  materia  medica  in  the  Medical  Col- 
lege. In  1895  he  was  elected  as  State  medical  examiner  for  the  Civil  Service  Com- 
mission. In  1896  he  was  promoted  to  the  associate  professorship  on  thereapeutics, 
and  was  also  made  associate  professor  on  general  medicine  in  the  Albany  Medical 
College. 

Dr.  Van  Rensselaer,  besides  visiting  and  studying  abroad,  has  traveled  exten- 
sively on  the  American  continent,  and  possesses  an  interesting  fund  of  reminiscence 
and  learning.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club,  the  Albany  County  Club, 
the  Calumet  Club  of  New  York,  and  the  Berzelius  Society  of  Yale  Scientific  School. 


ANTHONY  N.    BRADY. 

Anthony  N.  Brady,  who  for  many  years  has  been  prominently  identified  with 
various  gas  and  electric  street  railway  enterprises  of  the  State,  was  born,  a  son  of 
Nicholas  and  Helen  (Malone)  Brady,  in  Lille,  France,  August  22,  1843,  and  came 
with  his  mother  to  this  country  in  1845,  settling  in  Troy,  N.  V.,  where  he  received  a 
thorough  public  school  education.  He  first  engaged  in  the  tea  business  in  Albany, 
Troy  and  Cohoes,  and  subsequently  became  a  contractor  in  all  kinds  of  work, 
executing  among  his  numerous  contracts  the  stone  work  of  the  Hawk  street  viaduct 
in  Albany. 

In  1885  Mr.  Brady  became  interested  in  the  gas  business  and  later  in  electric 
street  railway  enterprises,  and  since  then  he  has  been  actively  and  prominently  con- 
nected with  various  large  corporations  of  this  character.      These  enterprises  are 

K 


82 

associated  with  the  progress  and  development  of  a  number  of  the  chief  cities  of  the 
Empire  State.  He  is  president  of  the  Municipal  Gas  Company  of  Albany,  vice- 
president  of  the  Albany  and  Troy  City  Railway  Companies,  and  a  director  in  several 
other  gas  and  electric  street  railway  corporations  operating  in  the  States  of  New 
York,  Indiana,  Rhode  Island  and  Illinois.  He  is  also  a  director  in  the  Commercial 
National  Bank  of  Albany,  and  served  that  city  for  several  years  as  a  fire  commis- 
sioner, being  first  appointed  by  Mayor  Nolan.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  and 
Fort  Orange  Clubs  of  Albany  and  of  the  Manhattan  and  New  Club,  the  Downtown 
Association,  and  the  Fifth  Avenue  Democratic  Club  of  New  York  city.  He  has 
never  sought  public  preferment,  but  has  always  taken  a  lively  interest  in  every 
movement  affecting  the  general  welfare  and  advancement. 

Mr.  Brady  was  married  in  1866  to  Miss  Marcia  A. ,  daughter  of  Harmon  Myers,  of 
Bennington,  Vt.     They  are  the  parents  of  six  children,  and  reside  in  Albany. 


JOHN  A.   DELEHANTY. 

John  A.  Delehanty  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  May  18,  185K,  and  received  his 
earlier  education  in  the  public  schools  and  Free  Academy  of  his  native  city.  He 
was  graduated  with  honor  from  Union  College  in  1877,  read  law  in  the  office  of  Hon. 
Simon  W.  Rosendale,  ex-attorney  general,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Septem- 
ber, 1879,  when  he  at  once  began  the  active  practice  of  his  profession.  In  1881  he 
was  appointed  assistant  district  attorney  of  Albany  county  by  District  Attorney  D. 
Cady  Herrick,  and  held  that  position  until  Judge  Herrick  became  corporation  coun- 
sel of  the  city  of  Albany  in  May,  1886,  when  he  resigned  to  accept  the  appointment 
of  assistant  corporation  counsel  under  Mr.  Herrick.  Upon  Judge  Hernck's  elevation 
to  the  Supreme  Court  bench  on  January  1,  1892,  Mr.  Delehanty  succeeded  him  as 
corporation  counsel,  and  continued  in  that  capacity  until  May  1,  1894.  He  was 
appointed  corporation  counsel  January  1,  1896,  and  is  the  present  incumbent  of  the 
office. 

The  office  of  corporation  counsel  is  perhaps  the  most  important  and  responsible 
position  connected  with  a  municipal  government,  as  the  incumbent  of  the  office  is  not 
only  required  to  represent  the  corporation  in  all  litigation  in  which  it  is  interested, 
but  the  relations  between  the  various  departments  are  determined  and  regulated 
under  his  advice  and  direction.  The  subject  of  reform  in  the  method  of  governing 
municipal  corporations  which  is  now  attracting  such  widespread  attention  is  a  prob- 
lem, to  which  Mr.  Delehanty  has  devoted  much  time  and  study.  His  experience  has 
made  him  a  firm  believer  in  and  advocate  of  the  theory  that  the  most  businesslike 
administration  of  city  affairs  depends  upon  the  concentration  of  the  exclusive  power 
of  appointment  of  all  subordinate  officers  in  the  chief  executive,  thus  imposing 
responsibility  where  it  rightfully  belongs.  With  this  idea  in  view  during  his  connec- 
tion with  the  city  government  he  has  been  instrumental  in  effecting  legislation  which 
has  entrusted  such  power  in  the  mayor  of  Albany  to  a  greater  extent  perhaps  than  in 
any  other  city  in  the  State  of  New  York ;  in  fact  it  now  applies  to  almost  every  de- 
partment of  the  city  government.  He  is  also  the  author  of  a  proposed  charter  for  a 
city  government  which  follows  this  doctrine  to  its  fullest  extent  and  provides  for  de- 


JOHN   A.   DELEHANTY. 


JAMES  M.   BORTHWICK. 


83 

partments  each  under  the  management  of  a  single  individual  instead  of  boards  and 
commissions  as  now  generally  administered.  Although  the  measure  has  not  as  yet 
become  a  law,  the  plan  proposed  has  received  favorable  comment  from  students  of 
municipal  reform,  who  are  of  the  opinion  that  it  will  in  a  great  measure  solve  this 
much  vexed  question.  The  commissions  appointed  by  Governor  Morton  to  report 
uniform  charters  for  cities  of  the  second  and  third  class  have  reported  proposed 
charters,  based  upon  the  plan  which  Mr.  Delehanty  devised  incorporating  therein 
many  sections  of  his  proposed  charter  in  their  entirety  without  change  of  language. 

During  the  administration  of  the  office  of  corporation  counsel  by  Mr.  Delehanty 
the  city  has  been  unusually  successful  in  its  litigations.  His  great  experience  in 
corporation  law  has  been  valuable  and  useful  in  his  private  practice,  and  he  has 
been  successful  in  a  large  number  of  cases  involving  intricate  points  of  municipal 
law. 

Mr.  Delehanty  is  a  member  of  the  Fort  Orange  and  Albany  Clubs,  and  takes  an 
active  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  native  city.  He  was  married  in  1884  to  a  daugh- 
ter of  the  late  Hon.  Daniel  Manning  of  Albany,  and  they  have  two  children:  Mar- 
garet Manning  Delehanty  and  Raymond  Manning  Delehanty. 


JAMES  M.   BORTHWICK. 

James  M.  Borthwick,  son  of  William  D.  and  Maria  (Russell)  Borthwick,  was  born 
on  a  farm  in  Broome,  Schoharie  county,  January  29,  1849,  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  when  seventeen  began  teaching  a  district  school,  an  occupation  he 
followed  winters  until  1874.  In  1875  he  engaged  in  mercantile  business  in  Hunters- 
land,  N.  Y.,  and  continued  until  the  spring  of  1877,  having  for  one  year  Holmes 
Wiltsie  as  a  partner.  Selling  out  he  became  a  clerk  for  G.  B.  Russell  'at  Clarksville, 
Albany  county,  one  year  and  then  spent  two  years  on  the  farm  and  two  years  as  a 
general  merchant  at  South  Berne. 

In  1882  he  came  to  Albany  and,  forming  a  partnership  with  George  B.  Russell, 
engaged  in  the  grocery,  flour  and  feed  business.  Five  years  later  he  sold  out  to  Mr. 
Russell  and  went  to  Coeymans  Junction  (now  Ravena)  as  a  general  merchant,  being 
also  postmaster.  In  1890  he  sold  out  to  Bentley  &  Shultes,  and  for  a  short  time  en- 
gaged in  real  estate  operations.  Returning  to  Albany  in  September,  1890,  he  became 
proprietor  of  the  Pearl  Street  House,  which  he  sold  in  1891  to  John  .G.  Myers.  On 
May  1,  1891,  he  became  proprietor  of  the  Kimball  House  on  Washington  Avenue, 
which  he  has  since  conducted. 

He  has  always  been  an  active  Republican,  a  delegate  to  several  political  conven- 
tions, and  in  1895  was  elected  county  clerk  of  Albany  county,  over  Joslyn  Nodine, 
receiving  the  largest  majority  (1,032)  of  any  man  on  the  ticket.  He  is  a  member  of 
Middleburg  Lodge  No.  663,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Capital  City  Chapter  No.  242,  R.  A.  M., 
De  Witt  Clinton  Council  No.  22,  R.  \-  S.  M.,  Temple  Commandery  No.  2,  K.  T., 
Cyprus  Temple,  N.  ().  M.  S.,  and  the  Republican  Unconditional  Club  and  was  sonic 
time  a  member  of  the  Jackson  Corps. 

In  1869  he  married  Chanty,  daughter  of  Cook  Sisson,  of  Iluntersland,  Schoharie 
county,  and  they  have  two  children:  Acton  S.  and  Blanche  M. 


84 
JOSIAH  G.   ROOT. 

Josiah  Goodrich  Root,  manufacturer,  was  born  in  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  May  28, 
1801.  He  was  descended  from  an  old  Northamptonshire  (England)  family.  His 
father  being  a  farmer,  the  boy  worked  on  the  farm  in  the  intervals  of  attendance  at 
the  town  schools.  At  this  period  Pittsfield  was  becoming  a  home  of  woolen  manu- 
facture, looms  for  the  making  of  broadcloth  having  been  set  up  there  in  1804.  Mr. 
Root  entered  one  of  these  mills  and  soon  acquiring  a  practical  knowledge  of  the 
business  he  started  for  himself,  setting  up  a  small  mill  for  dyeing  and  finishing 
goods.  When  wool  spinning  and  weaving  were  transferred  from  the  homes  of  the 
people  to  large  establishments,  Mr.  Root  devoted  himself  to  setting  up  machinery 
and  starting  mills  for  other  parties. 

In  1833  he  was  employed  to  set  up  the  machinery  of  a  new  woolen  mill  at  Water- 
vliet,  N.  Y. ,  of  which  he  became  manager,  operating  it  with  success  for  the  next 
three  years.  This  was  the  nucleus  of  the  extensive  establishment  of  James  Roy  & 
Co.  In  1836  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer  of  Albany,  the  patroon,  who  had  been  running 
flour  mills,  desired  to  engage,  instead,  in  woolen  manufacture,  and  built  the  Tivoli 
Mills,  engaging  Mr.  Root  as  manager,  a  position  the  latter  continued  to  hold  until 
1839,  when  he  became  proprietor.  For  sixteen  years  thereafter  he  was  well  known 
as  a  woolen  manufacturer.  Then  the  city  of  Albany  purchased  the  control  of  the 
water  of  the  patroon' s  creek  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  the  city  of  Albany  with 
pure  water,  and  this  necessitated  the  closing  of  his  mills. 

He  purchased  the  hosiery  business  and  machinery  of  Thomas  Fowler,  at  Cohoes, 
about  the  same  time  and  became  the  largest  manufacturer  of  knit  underwear  in  the 
United  States.  He  made  many  improvements  in  this  manufacture  by  the  introduc- 
tion of  new  machinery,  and  about  1859  erected  a  new  and  larger  building,  called  the 
Tivoli  Knitting  Mills,  one  of  the  best  appointed  in  the  country,  and  received  his 
sons,  Andrew  J.  and  Samuel  G.,  into  partnership  under  the  firm  name  of  J.  G.  Root 
&  Sons.  In  1869  the  senior  partner  retired,  the  business  being  thereafter  continued 
under  the  firm  name  of  J.  G.  Root's  Sons.  Samuel  Gilbert  Root,  the  elder  son,  was 
born  in  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  June  26,  1826,  and  Andrew  Josiah  Root,  the  younger,  in 
Albany,  January  12,  1834. 

The  panic  of  1857  caused  a  general  stoppage  of  the  cotton  and  hosiery  mills  at 
Cohoes,  but  only  for  two  weeks.  In  1874  the  firm  suffered  a  loss  of  nearly  §200,000, 
as  well  as  a  grave  interruption  of  their  business  by  the  complete  destruction  of  their 
mills  by  fire.  This  fire  occurred  when  the  operatives,  about  350  in  number,  were  all 
at  work,  but  fortunately  the  fire  escapes  proved  entirely  adequate,  and  no  employee 
was  in  any  way  injured.  A  new  building  was  immediately  erected,  called  like  its 
predecessor,  the  Tivoli  Hosiery  Mill.  It  was  built  in  the  most  substantial  manner, 
provided  with  every  reasonable  safeguard  in  case  of  fire,  and  furnished  with  all  the 
improved  appliances  for  heat,  light  and  ventilation. 

January  1,  1875,  the  concern  was  reorganized  as  a  corporation  under  the  name  of 
the  Root  Manufacturing  Company,  with  Josiah  G.  Root  president;  Andrew  J.  Root, 
treasurer  and  general  manager;  Samuel  G.  Root,  superintendent;  George  Water- 
man, jr.,  secretary.  New  facilities  have  since  been  added  through  the  purchase  of 
the  Mohawk  mill. 


85 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  established,  in  1859,  the  bank  which  is  now  the  National 
Bank  of  Cohoes;  he  was  one  of  the  original  directors  and  afterwards  vice-president 
and  acting  president.  He  enjoyed  in  the  highest  degree  the  respect  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  resided.     Josiah  G.  Root  died  February  2,  1883. 

In  1881  S.  G.  Root  withdrew  and  A.  J.  Root  succeeded  to  the  entire  business, 
which  has  since  been  again  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  another  mill  to  the  plant, 
making  in  all  three  mills  with  an  annual  production  of  81,000,000,  and  giving  em- 
ployment to  550  operatives.  The  Root  Manufacturing  Company  manufactures  ex- 
tensively the  famous  "Tivoli  Standard"  all  wool  and  merino  knit  underwear,  which 
is  unrivalled  for  quality,  finish,  durability  and  uniform  excellence,  and  has  no  superior 
in  the  American  or  European  markets.  The  present  officers  of  the  company  are 
Andrew  J.  Root,  president  and  treasurer;  Charles  H.  Douglas,  secretary;  Charles  F. 
Root,  superintendent. 


JACOB  H.   CLUTE. 

Judge  Jacob  H.  Clute  was  born  in  the  town  of  Guilderland,  Albany  county,  XV., 
March  16,  1827,  and  is  descended  from  Holland  Dutch  stock.  The  Clutes  are  a  very 
old  Albany  county  family.  Mr.  Clute  has  always  been  a  resident  of  Albany  county  ex- 
cept for  a  period  of  six  months,  when  he  was  about  nine  years  of  age,  during  which 
time  his  parents  lived  in  the  town  of  Rotterdam,  Schenectady  county.  He  was  born 
on  a  farm  and  has  always  retained  his  affection  for  the  life  of  the  agriculturist.  He 
still  has  a  well  kept  farm  within  a  mile  of  his  birthplace  where  he  spends  a  portion 
of  his  time.  Until  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age  he  attended  the  district  school  of  his 
town  and  then  went  to  Schenectady  where  he  entered  the  old  Schenectady  Lyceum, 
an  advanced  grammar  school  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  began  to  teach  school  and 
study  law. 

He  early  displayed  that  aptitude  for  the  law  which  has  characterized  his  whole 
professional  career  and  long  before  he  was  old  enough  to  be  formally  admitted  to  the 
bar  was  winning  suits  in  the  justices  courts.  In  1851  he  was  admitted,  and  in  De- 
cember of  that  year  opened  a  law  office  in  Blunts  building,  now  the  Globe  Hotel. 
From  that  time  to  the  present  he  has  steadily  built  up  a  large  practice  and  has  won 
for  himself  an  enviable  reputation  at  the  Albany  county  bar. 

In  1863  he  received  the  nomination  for  county  judge  and  was  elected  by  a  flatter- 
ing majority.  Four  years  later,  when  his  term  expired,  his  ability  and  integrity  up- 
on the  bench  were  recognized  by  his  fellow  citizens,  and  he  was  again  elected  for 
another  term  of  four  years.  After  his  second  term  expired  Judge  Clute  confined 
himself  to  the  practice  of  his  profession  and  although  numerous  nominations  were 
within  his  reach  he  steadily  declined  them.  He  has  always  been  an  earnest  and  re- 
liable adherent  to  Democracy  and  has  done  appreciative  service  for  the  party.  In 
1889  he  was  again  nominated  and  elected  to  be  judge  of  Albany  county  for  a  term  of 
six  years,  which  term  expired  in  1895.  He  has  been  a  familiar  figure  in  various 
National,  State  and  county  conventions. 

He  has  a  pleasant  city  home  as  well  as  one  in  the  country.  Few  men  are  better 
known  or  more  highly  respected.  Since  his  third  term  as  county  judge.  Judge  Clute 
has  attended  strictly  to  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  his  office  in  the  Tweddle 


80 

building.     In  April,  1896,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Robert  H.   McCormic,  jr., 
under  the  firm  name  of  Clute  &  McCormic. 


RICHARD  W.    BRASS. 

Richard  W.  Brass,  son  of  Charles  W.  and  Anna  (Bay)  Brass,  was  born  in  Brook- 
lyn, N.Y.,  January  28,  1861.  His  father,  a  native  of  Bremen,  Germany,  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  in  New  York  city  and  died  in  Brooklyn  in  April,  1863,  aged 
forty-six.  In  1869  his  widow  moved  with  the  family  to  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  where 
and  in  Munich,  Germany  (where  they  lived  from  1863  to  1868),  Richard  W.  received 
his  education. 

Mrs.  Anna  Brass  was  a  daughter  of  Dr.  John  W.  Bay  and  a  granddaughter  of  Dr. 
William  Bay,  both  prominent  Albany  physicians.  His  maternal  great-great-grand- 
father was  Dr.  Samuel  Stringer,  also  a  noted  Albany  physician,  who  was  held  in 
high  repute  in  the  British  army  and  later  in  the  American  Revolution.  In  1775  Dr. 
Stringer  was  a  member  of  the  Albany  Committee  of  Safety  and  was  subsequently 
appointed  by  Congress  director-general  of  hospitals  in  the  Northern  Department, 
and  accompanied  the  troops  to  Canada.  He  was  a  charter  member  of  Masters 
Lodge  No.  5,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Albany,  and  its  master  from  1768  to  1781,  and  in  1776  pur- 
chased the  site  upon  which  the  new  Masonic  Temple  now  stands,  deeding  the  prop- 
erty eventually  to  his  lodge.  He  married  Rachel  Van  Der  Heyden,  of  a  prominent 
Albany  family. 

John  Bay,  father  of  Dr.  William,  was  born  in  Maryland  in  1743,  became  a  lawyer 
and  a  member  of  the  Albany  Committee  of  Safety  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  died 
in  Claverack,  N.  Y.,  in  1818.  Dr.  William  married  Katherine  Van  Ness.  Their  son, 
Dr.  John  W.  Bay,  married  Eliza  Treat,  a  lineal  descendant  of  Robert  Treat,  the 
loyal  defender  of  the  Charter  of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut  when  surrender  of  same 
was  demanded  by  Governor  Edmund  Andros  by  direction  of  King  James,  and  for 
nearly  thirty  years  governor  of  Connecticut.  Her  father  was  Judge  Richard  S. 
Treat,  of  Albany,  a  great-grandson  of  the  colonial  governor,  and  the  son  of  Rev. 
Joseph  Treat,  born  1734,  died  1797,  who  was  commissioned  chaplain  of  Colonel  Mal- 
colm's regiment  May  6,  1776,  being  at  that  time  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
church  of  New  York  city. 

Richard  W.  Brass  remained  in  Binghamton  until  April,  1882,  beginning  the  study 
of  the  law  there  with  M.  J.  Keeler.  Coming  to  Albany  he  completed  his  legal  studies 
with  Judge  A.  B.  Voorhees  and  was  admitted  at  Saratoga  in  September,  1883.  May 
1,  1884,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Judge  Voorhees,  which  continued  for  four 
years.     Since  then  he  has  been  associated  with  E.  W.  Rankin. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  New  York  State  Bar  Association,  a  member  of  the  Albany 
Camera  Club,  the  Unconditional  Club,  the  Albany  Burgesses  Corps,  and  the  Wash- 
ington Continentals,  and  for  five  years  has  been  a  director  and  treasurer  of  the  Bran- 
dow  Printing  Co.  He  was  also  for  several  years  a  trustee  of  the  estate  of  Catherine 
W.  Van  Rensselaer  under  the  will  of  her  mother,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Bleecker.  He  is  a 
Republican  and  at  one  time  was  a  candidate  for  justice  of  the  City  Court. 

June  2,  1886,  he  married  Harriet  C,  daughter  of  Jacob  Neville,  a  merchant  of  Mid- 
dleburg,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have  had  four  children:  Harold  Neville,  Gertrude  Stringer, 
(deceased),  Janet  Elizabeth,  and  Karl  Van  Ness. 


RICHARD  W.   BRASS. 


NATHANIEL   B.  SPALDING. 


87 
NATHANIEL    B.   SPALDING. 

Nathaniel  B.  Spalding  is  of  English  descent,  the  first  of  that  name,  Edward 
Spalding,  having  come  to  this  country  about  the  year  1620  from  Lincolnshire,  ling- 
land,  and  settled  in  Braintree,  Mass. 

The  name  it  is  said  received  its  derivation  from  "Spall"  English  meaning  shoul- 
der; and  "ding"  to  strike.     It  is  supposed  the  name  originated  in  the  middli 
when  battles  were  fought  hand  to  hand,  and  the  two  handed  sword  found  in  th< 
of  arms  of  the  name,  seems  to  strengthen  this  view. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  of  the  eighth  generation  descended  from  said  Ed- 
ward Spalding,  and  was  born  in  Saratoga,  N.  Y.,  in  1863,  the  youngest  son  of  the  Rev. 
N.  G.  Spalding,  a  prominent  clergyman  of  that  place.  His  mother  was  Miss  Harriet 
Dorr,  daughter  of  the  late  Dr.  Russell  Dorr  of  Chatham,  a  collateral  relative  of 
Thomas  W.  Dorr,  the  champion  and  fearless  leader  of  the  movement  known  in  his- 
tory as  the  "Dorr  Rebellion,"  which  so  called  rebellion  asserted  and  finally  estab- 
lished the  principle  that  manhood  and  not  property  was  the  proper  and  essential 
basis  upon  which  should  rest  the  right  of  suffrage,  in  the  Commonwealth  of  Rhode 
Island.  Mr.  Spalding  is  a  brother  of  Dorr  Spalding,  now  deceased,  Harriet  Mabel 
Spalding  and  Dr.  Warren  Clyde  Spalding  of  New  York  city.  During  his  childhood 
the  family  removed  to  a  suburb  of  Albany,  N.  Y. ,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  he  en- 
tered the  Albany  Boys'  Academy,  where  he  remained  several  years,  later  joining 
the  senior  class  of  the  Union  Classical  Institute  at  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1881.  He  entered  Union  College  the  same  year  becoming  a 
member  of  the  class  of  1885  and  taking  the  classical  course. 

Finding  it  impossible  to  expend  the  time  necessary  to  complete  an  academic  course 
he  subsequently  withdrew  from  his  class  and  entered  upon  the  study  of  law  in  con- 
nection with  teaching,  completing  his  studies  at  the  Albany  Law  School,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1884,  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws. 

In  the  following  year  he  began  the  practice  of  law  at  Albany  where  he  has  since 
resided  and  devoted  his  time  strictly  to  his  chosen  profession. 

In  1891  he  married  Miss  Matilda  Garretson  Galbraith,  daughter  of  Judge  Thomas 
J.  Galbraith,  an  able  and  distinguished  lawyer  of  the  West,  whose  decisions  on  the 
many  intricate  questions  affecting  mines  and  water  rights  have  been  widely  quoted. 

In  1892  Mr.  Spalding  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  Federal  Courts,  thus  prepar- 
ing himself  for  more  varied  fields  of  professional  activity. 

He  is  an  active  member  of  the  New  York  State  Bar  Association  and  has  member- 
ship in  several  local  and  out  of  town  clubs,  societies  and  alumni  organizations.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

Mr.  Spalding  is  a  polished  and  forceful  speaker.  His  addresses  upon  public  occa- 
sions have  been  highly  commended  and  have  gained  for  him  a  place  among  the 
gifted  and  eloquent  young  orators  of  the  city. 

In  politics  he  has  always  been  a  staunch  and  unswerving  Democrat,  having  held 
active  membership  in  the  Young  Men's  Democratic  Club  and  other  political  so, 

Mr.  Spalding  has  never  been  a  candidate  for  office  though  always  taking  a  keen 
interest  in  politics.  During  President  Cleveland's  first  administration  he  was 
appointed  to  an  office  under  the  Treasury  Department,  but  was   unable 


88 

it  as  it  necessitated  his  removal  from  Albany  and  the  abandonment  of  his  profess- 
ional interests,  which  were  already  growing  large.  He  has  devoted  himself  un- 
tiringly to  his  profession  and  has  gained  a  wide  reputation  in  the  department  of 
practice  to  which  he  has  mainly  devoted  his  energies.  Among  the  notable  matters 
with  which  he  has  been  professionally  identified  was  the  claim  of  the  United  States 
against  the  government  of  Venezuela,  which  came  before  the  International  Court 
organized  at  Washington  in  1894  by  which  an  award  of  over  half  a  million  was  ren- 
ered  the  following  year  in  favor  of  the  American  claimants. 

In  1895  Mr.    Spalding  formed  a  partnership  in  the  practice  of  law  with  Mr.  S.  J. 
Daring,  which  has  since  continued  under  the  firm  name  of  Spalding  &  Daring. 


EDWARD  De  L.   PALMER. 

Edward  De  L.-  Palmer,  son  of  Amos  P.  and  Hannah  B.  (Crafts)  Palmer,  was  born 
in  Newtonville,  Albany  county,  March  19,  1848.  Amos  P.  Palmer,  born  in  Otsego 
county  in  1820,  came  to  Albany  county  about  1837,  was  for  many  years  a  fire  brick 
manufacturer  and  later  a  banker,  and  died  in  1894. 

Edward  De  L.  Palmer  received  his  education  mainly  at  Newtonville  under  the 
father  of  the  late  President  Chester  A.  Arthur.  For  eight  years  he  was  associated  with 
his  father's  firm  in  the  manufacture  of  fire  biick;  later  he  was  for  nine  years  chief 
clerk  and  private  secretary  to  James  W.  Eaton  during  Mr.  Eaton's  incumbency  as 
superintendent  of  construction  of  the  new  Capitol;  and  for  two  years  thereafter  he 
was  a  member  of  the  firm  of  J.  W.  Eaton  &  Co.,  contractors  and  real  estate  dealers. 
When  Mr.  Eaton  began  to  withdraw  from  active  business,  Mr.  Palmer  assumed  the 
real  estate  department  and  is  now  one  of  the  leading  real  estate  operators  in  the  city. 
He  is  a  trustee  of  the  Albany  City  Savings  Institution,  treasurer  of  St.  Peter's  Epis- 
copal church  and  a  member  of  the  Fort  Orange  club. 

In  1876  he  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Gad  B.  Worthington,  of  Batavia,  N.  Y.,  and 
they  have  three  children :  Worthington,  Florence  and  De  Lancey. 


GARRET    A.   VAN  ALLEN. 

Garret  Adam  Van  Allen,  fire  underwriter  and  financier,  was  born  in  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  February  28,  1835,  the  oldest  son  of  Adam  Van  Allen,  a  wholesale  lumber 
merchant  and  banker  of  that  city.  The  Van  Aliens  are  of  Dutch  descent,  their  an- 
cestors having  resided  in  Albany  county  for  fully  two  centuries.  Garret  A.  Van 
Allen  was  educated  in  the  Albany  Academy.  After  some  experience  as  bank  clerk, 
he,  from  1857  to  1860,  occupied  the  position  of  deputy  county  treasurer  of  Albany 
county.  In  1859  he  became  prominently  identified  with  the  organization  of  the  Com- 
merce Insurance  Company,  of  which  he  was  secretary  from  1859  to  1867,  when  he 
became  vice-president,  which  office  he  held  until  1884,  when  he  succeeded  his  father 
as  president.  Fire  underwriting  may,  therefore,  be  said  to  have  been  Mr.  Van 
Allen's  life  business,  and  in  that  profession  he  passed  through  various  experiences, 


89 

such  as  the  Chicago  (1871)  and  Boston  (1872)  conflagrations,  in  which  the  Commerce 
Insurance  Company  paid  over  $500,000  in  losses.  In  that  connection  he  has  also 
been  prominently  identified  with  the  National  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters,  holding 
positions  in  its  executive  committee  and  being  chairman  of  its  Incendiarism  and 
Arson  Committee  for  several  years.  In  1864,  becoming  impressed  with  the  value 
and  importance  of  the  national  banking  system,  Mr.  Van  Allen  so  urged  its  advan- 
tages upon  the  gentlemen  with  whom  he  was  associated  in  the  Commerce  Insurance 
Company,  that,  with  four  of  them,  he  became  one  of  the  five  incorporators  and  first 
directors  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Albany.  He  has  been  a  director  of  that  in- 
stitution since  1864;  vice-president  from  1876  to  1884;  and  in  September  of  the  latter 
year  succeeded  his  father  as  president.  Mr.  Van  Allen  has  been  a  prominent  mem 
ber  of  the  American  Bankers'  Association  ;  was  vice-president  for  New  York  State  in 
1889-1891 ;  and  was  elected  a  member  of  its  executive  council  at  New  Orleans,  La., 
in  November,  1891,  for  three  years.  He  is  vice-president  of  the  National  Savings 
Bank  of  Albany,  treasurer  of  the  Capital  City  Malleable  Iron  Company,  and  has  also 
been  identified  with  a  number  of  important  business  enterprises;  and  is  a  member 
of  the  Holland  Society,  Fort  Orange  Club,  and  Albany  Institute.  Mr.  Van  Allen 
was  married  on  September  6,  1860,  to  Elizabeth  Morgan  Barker,  of  Newport,  R.  I. 
They  have  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Anna  V.  A.  Jenison,  whose  husband  is  secretary  of 
the  "Commerce"  and  associated  with  Mr.  Van  Allen  in  other  business  enterprises. 
In  politics  he  has  always  been  a  Republican,  and  has  held  elective  offices  twice,  be- 
ing fire  commissioner  from  1874  to  1878,  and  alderman  from  1888  to  1892. 


JOHN  C.   SANDFORD. 

John  C.  Sandford  is  the  owner  and  originator  of  the  Fashion  Knitting  Mills  of 
Cohoes.  He  established  that  industry  after  having  been  burned  (Hit  of  the  dry 
goods  business,  which  he  had  conducted  there  for  some  years.  He  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  of  Passaic  county,  N.  J.,  where  he  was  born  in  1841.  He  acquired 
the  blacksmith's  trade  and  came  here  in  1870,  engagingin'thecarnage-niakingindustry 
for  seven  years.  Later  he  entered  the  insurance  and  real  estate  business,  then  the 
paper  box  manufacture,  operating  box  shops  at  Cohoes,  Troy  and  Amsterdam.  He 
was  at  one  time  president  of  the  Adams  Steamer  Company,  also  a  member  of  the 
Taxpayers  Committee.  In  1884  Mr.  Sandford  declared  allegiance  to  the  Prohibi- 
tion party,  was  boycotted  by  the  Republicans,  and  being  independent  he  advertised 
boycotted  goods  for  sale.  He  was  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  church  about  forty  years, 
but  withdrew  from  it  after  election  in  1896,  because  the  bishops  voted  a  license  ticket 
and  for  a  man  for  president  that  leased  property  for  a  saloon. 


THEODORE  TOWNSEND, 

Theodore  Townsend  was  born  in  Albany,   October  9,   L826.     His  father,  John 
Townsend,  came  here  from  Orange  county,  X.  Y.,  early  m  the  present  century  and 


90 

became  a  business  partner  with  his  elder  brother,  Isaiah,  who  had  previously  ar- 
rived. The  partnership  thus  formed  continued  for  more  than  thirty  years,  until  the 
death  of  the  latter.  During  all  of  this  time  the  brothers  lived  from  a  common  purse, 
supporting  large  families,  acquiring  a  common  fortune  and  both  attaining  high  and 
honorable  positions  in  the  community.  John  Townsend  married  a  daughter  of  Am- 
brose Spencer,  long  chief  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  York.  She  was  a 
noble  Christian  woman,  beloved  by  her  family  and  all  who  knew  her. 

Theodore  Townsend  was  educated  at  the  Albany  Academy,  the  Poughkeepsie 
Collegiate  School  and  Union  College.  In  the  spring  of  1846  he  engaged  in  the 
foundry  and  iron  business  with  his  cousins,  Franklin  and  Frederick  Townsend,  suc- 
ceeding to  the  establishment  which  had  been  started  and  long  carried  on  by  their 
fathers.  Frederick  withdrew  the  same  year,  but  Franklin  and  Theodore  continued 
partners  for  ten  years,  when  the  latter  retired  to  enter  into  partnership  with  Lewis 
Rathbone  and  Joseph  P.  Sanford,  in  the  manufacture  of  stoves.  He  remained  in 
this  business  until  September,  1862,  when  he  was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln 
United  States  collector  of  internal  revenue  for  the  counties  of  Albany  and  Scho- 
harie which  office  he  held  until  December,  1869. 

On  several  occasions  he  was  invited  by  the  authorities  at  Washington  to  consult 
with  them,  and  was  complimented  by  them  for  the  able  and  business-like  manner 
in  which  his  duties  were  discharged,  and  which  gave  to  his  district  the  reputation  of 
being  with  one  other  the  model  one  among  200  or  more  in  the  United  States.  As 
Mr.  Townsend  was  not  a  politician  he  finally  resigned,  an  act  which  was  greatly 
regretted.  He  had  collected  and  paid  over  §20,000,000.  During  a  part  of  his 
term  he  was  also  receiver  of  commutation  money  for  drafted  men  and  in  this  capacity 
more  than  half  a  million  dollars  passed  through  his  hands.  Being  the  father  of  four 
motherless  children,  he  sent  a  substitute  to  the  Union  army. 

In  January,  1870,  he  became  connected  with  the  Albany  Insurance  Company,  the 
second  in  age  in  this  State,  being  incorporated  in  1811,  the  firm  of  I.  &  J.  Townsend 
having  been  the  first  subscribers  to  its  stock,  the  former  being  president  for  over  a 
quarter  of  a  century  and  the  latter  vice  president  and  president  many  years.  During 
his  active  management  he  maintained  the  high  reputation  and  integrity  which  the 
company  has  always  enjoyed.  He  resigned  as  manager  in  1882  and  is  now  vice- 
president. 

In  1882  he  was  elected  treasurer  of  the  Albany  Savings  Bank,  also  the  second 
oldest  of  its  kind  in  the  State,  having  been  chartered  in  1820,  his  father  being  one 
of  the  original  incorporators  as  a  vice-president.  He  still  holds  this  responsible 
position. 

December  18,  1851,  he  married  Miss  Louisa  Mickle,  daughter  of  Hon.  Andrew  H. 
Mickle,  formerly  mayor  of  New  York.  She  died  August  3, 1862,  and  June  15,  1865,  he 
married  Miss  Mary  Lathrop  Sprague,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  William  B.  Sprague, 
for  forty  years  the  distinguished  minister  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  church  of 
Albany.  Mr.  Townsend  has  had  four  children,  of  whom  the  eldest  married  in  1889 
Winthrop  Scudder,  of  Brookline,  Mass.  She  died  in  1890.  Two  daughters  still 
reside  with  their  father.  His  son,  John  Townsend,  of  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  married  Miss 
Mary  Learned  Cook,  daughter  of  the  late  James  C.  Cook.  Mr.  Townsend  was  an 
alderman  in  1853  and  1854,  was  president  of  the  Young  Men's  Association  in  1852, 
and  is  now  a  warden  of  St.  Peter's  church. 


THOMAS  SLAVIN. 


91 

FREDERICK  J.   H.   MERRILL. 

Frederick  James  Hamilton  Merrill  was  born  in  New  York  city,  April  30,  1861. 
His  early  education  was  received  at  Charlier  Institute  and  other  schools.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1880,  he  entered  the  School  of  Arts  at  Columbia  College  and  in  October,  1882, 
he  entered  the  School  of  Mines  at  the  same  college.  In  June,  1885,  he  was  grad- 
uated with  the  degree  of  Ph.  B.  From  1885  to  1887  Mr.  Merrill  was  assistant 
on  the  geological  survey  of  New  Jersey,  and  from  1886  to  1890  he  was  fellow  in 
geology  at  Columbia  College.  In  June,  1890,  he  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Philosophy,  and  the  summer  of  that  year  was  spent  in  visiting  the  principal  natural 
history  museums  of  Europe.  He  was  assistant  state  geologist  of  New  York  from 
October,  1890,  to  June,  1893.  In  December,  1890,  he  was  appointed  assistant  director 
of  the  New  York  State  Museum  during  1892  and  1893,  and  was  director  of  the  Scien- 
tific Exhibit  of  the  State  of  New  York  at  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition.  In 
June,  1894,  Dr.  Merrill  was  appointed  director  of  the  New  York  State  Museum.  He 
is  a  fellow  of  the  American  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science,  a  fellow 
of  the  Geological  Society  of  America,  a  fellow  of  the  New  York  Academy  of  Sciences, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  American  Institute  of  Mining  Engineers,  the  American 
Society  of  Naturalists,  the  National  Geographic  Society,  and  of  the  Brooklyn  Institute. 
Dr.  Merrill  has  published  many  important  articles  in  leading  scientific  journals  in 
connection  with  his  profession,  and  several  bulletins  of  the  New  York  State  Museum 
on  the  subject  of  the  Mineral  Resources  of  this  State.  In  1887  he  married  Miss 
Winifred  Edgerton,  of  New  York  city,  and  they  have  two  children  :  Louise  Edgerton 
and  Hamilton. 


THOMAS  SLAVIN. 

Thomas  Si. .win,  though  a  native  of  Waterford,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  born  Octo- 
ber 20,  1833,  has  been  a  lifelong  resident  of  Cohoes.  His  reminiscences  of  the 
place  in  its  infancy  are  very  interesting,  and  he  is  regarded  as  a  personal  land- 
mark and  a  compendium  of  data  concerning  the  early  times.  His  testimony  is  re- 
garded as  unimpeachable  in  cases  involving  boundaries  and  conditions  of  half  a  cen- 
tury ago.  Here  has  been  the  scene  of  his  early  struggles  in  business  life,  for  Mr. 
Slavin  is  a  self-made  man;  being  one  of  seventeen  children  he  early  assumed  the 
responsibility  of  earning  a  livelihood. 

He  was  the  eldest  son  of  Michael  Slavin,  a  man  well  known  in  both  counties,  and 
whose  home  was  ever  a  haven  to  the  hungry  or  weary  traveler — of  whom  there  were 
many  in  those  early  days.  Father  and  son  did  teaming  for  the  large  flour  mills 
which  then  flourished  in  this  vicinity.  In  1865  he  established  a  coal  business,  and 
in  1869  removed  to  No.  135  Saratoga  street,  where  he  still  conducts,  together  with 
his  son,  Thomas  Slavin,  jr.,  the  most  successful  coal  and  gram  business  in  the  city. 
His  eldest  son,  Charles  J.   Slavin,   he  established  in   the  coal   busini  using 

street  some  ten  years  ago. 

In  1859  Mr.  Slavin  married  Elizabeth  Brcnnan,  of  Troy.  Of  tins  union  five  chil- 
dren survive:  Charles  J.,  Thomas,   jr.,   Mary,  Helen  and  Sara.     Mr.    Slavin's  aim 


92 

has  been  not  to  amass  a  fortune,  but  to  aid  his  fellow-men  in  and  beyond  Cohoes, 
where  his  name  is  associated  with  every  movement  for  the  welfare  of  the  people, 
city  and  dear  old  Albany  county. 


LOUIS    STERN. 

Louis  Stern  was  born  in  Germany  on  the  22d  of  February,  1847,  and  came  to 
America  with  his  parents,  M.  A.  and  S.  Stern,  in  1854.  The  family  first  located  in 
New  York  city,  but  in  1855  removed  to  Albany,  where  the  father  was  engaged  in 
the  jewelry  business  until  his  death  in  1866.  Mr.  Stern  received  a  thorough  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  the  capital  city  and  at  the  Albany  State  Normal  School, 
and  when  fourteen  became  a  clerk  in  a  large  dry  goods  store  in  Petersburg,  Va. , 
where  he  remained  until  1863.  He  then  went  to  Memphis,  Tenn.,  and  later  to  Mobile, 
Ala.,  being  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  trade  in  those  cities. 

In  1867  he  removed  to  New  York  city,  and  with  his  brother  Isaac,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Stern  Brothers,  established  a  dry  goods  business  on  Sixth  avenue,  between 
22d  and  23d  streets.  This  enterprise,  founded  in  a  modest  way  and  being  confined 
strictly  to  the  dry  goods  trade,  formed  the  nucleus  to  the  firm's  present  establish- 
ment, which  was  moved  to  the  site  it  now  occupies  on  23d  street,  between  Fifth  and 
Sixth  avenues  in  1878.  The  firm  now  consists  of  three  brothers,  Louis,  Isaac,  and 
Benjamin,  the  latter  being  admitted  in  1886.  Another  brother,  Bernhard,  was  also 
a  partner  for  several  years  prior  to  his  death  in  1888. 

Mr.  Stern,  in  co-operation  with  his  brothers,  has  built  up  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
successful  dry  goods  establishments  in  New  York,  and  from  the  first  has  confined  it 
strictly  to  the  retail  dry  goods  and  upholstery  trade.  The  name  of  Stern  Brothers 
has  a  wide  reputation  throughout  the  United  States.  They  employ  nearly  2,000 
people,  and  carry  an  extensive  line  of  high  class  imported  and  domestic  goods,  and  are 
noted  for  fairness  and  reliability  in  all  business  transactions.  Mr.  Stern  is  an  active 
Republican  in  politics,  taking  a  keen  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  party,  and  is  a 
member  and  the  third  vice-president  of  the  Republican  Club  of  New  York.  He  is  a 
director  of  the  Bank  of  New  Amsterdam  of  New  York'city,  a  member  of  the  Chamber 
of  Commerce,  New  York  Geographical  Society,  and  first  vice-president  of  the  Albany 
Society  of  New  York,  an  organization  to  which  many  former  Albanians  belong,  and 
which  ably  fosters  their  interest  in  the  capital  city  though  engaged  in  business  in  the 
metropolis.  Besides  these  he  is  prominently  identified  with  several  other  social,  civil, 
and  commercial  institutions,  and  as  a  citizen  is  public  spirited,  liberal,  and  enter- 
prising. 


WILLIAM  C.   VAN  ALSTYNE. 

William  C.  Yan  Alstyne,  son  of  Thomas  W.  and  Sarah  E.  (Pease)  Van  Alstyne, 
was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  December  7,  1846.  He  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  Henry 
Van  Alstyne  who  was  knighted  by  Otho  II,  emperor  of  Germany,  and  who  assisted 


LOUIS  SThRN, 


93 

at  the  coronation  of  Otho  III,  by  Pope  Gregory  V,  in  A.  D.  983,  and  whom  he 
served  in  the  wars  against  Henry  III  of  France.  Henry  remained  in  Flanders  and 
his  descendants  have  lived  in  Belgium  and  Holland  to  the  present  time.  A  branch 
became  Protestants,  represented  in  this  country  first  by  John  Martense  Van  Alstyne, 
who  left  Gand  (Ghent),  Belgium,  in  1635  and  finally  settled  the  village  of  Ghent,  near 
Kinderhook,  Columbia  county.  One  of  Mr.  Van  Alstyne's  ancestors  was  the  first 
president  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  village  of  Kinderhook,  and  a  cousin  of  his 
now  (1896)  occupies  the  same  position.  The  original  grant  in  heraldry  was  by  Otho 
II,  and  a  re  grant  was  published  by  Marie  Therese,  empress  of  Austria,  January  17, 
1771.  The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Thomas  W.  Van  Alstyne,  was  a  mer- 
chant and  sheriff  of  Albany  county  from  1858  to  1861. 

William  C.  Van  Alstyne  was  educated  at  the  State  Normal  School  at  Albany  and 
graduated  from  the  Albany  Academy  in  1864.  He  was  assistant  treasurer  of  the 
Albany  and  Susquehanna  Railroad,  and  was  for  a  time  in  the  emplov  in  a  similar 
capacity  of  the  Delaware  &  Hudson  Canal  Company's  Railroad.  In  1872  he  moved 
to  Chicago  to  accept  an  official  position  with  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad  ;  in  1880 
he  was  obliged  to  return  east  on  account  of  illness,  and  he  accepted  the  position  of 
general  manager  of  the  Lebanon  Springs  Railroad,  which  position  he  resign. 
1886.  Since  then  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  manufacturing  business  as  secretary 
and  manager  of  the  Standard  Emery  Wheel  Company.  Mr.  Van  Alstyne  is  also  a 
dealer  in  emery  and  kindred  supplies. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Holland  Society  of  New  York,  the  Camera  Club  of  Albany, 
Masters  Lodge  No.  5,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Beaverwyck  Lodge  No.  261,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  the  Albany 
Institute,  and  of  the  Emmanuel  Baptist  church  of  Albany.  In  1869  he  married  Mary 
Warren  Carter,  of  Albany. 


JAMES  NEWTON  FIERO. 

J  imes  Newton  Fiero,  dean  of  the  Albany  Law  .School,  was  born  May  33,  1*47,  in 
Saugerties-on-the  Hudson,  Ulster  county.  He  is  the  son  of  the  late  Christ. 
Fiero,  who  in  1853  organized  the  20th  N.  Y.  Militia,  which  was  known  during  the 
Rebellion  as  the  18th  N.  Y.  Vols.,  and  under  Col.  George  W  Pratt  achieved  a  most 
honorable  career  at  the  front.  Christopher  Fiero  was  colonel  of  this  regiment  from 
its  organization  until  his  retirement  in  1858.  J.  Newton  Fiero's  paternal  grandfather 
was  Dr.  Abraham  Fiero,  a  noted  physician.  His  paternal  grandmother,  Eliza 
Gillespy,  was  of  Scotch  descent.  I  lis  maternal  grandparents  were  of  Holland  stock, 
descendants  of  the  Van  Schaicks  and  Van  Slykes.  The  name  fiero  is  probably  of 
Spanish  origin,  from  settlers  in  Holland  at  the  time  of  the  Spanish  conquest.  The 
first  record  of  the  name  in  Ulster  county  is  attached  to  an  old  document  during  the 
early  days  of  the  Revolution,  protesting  against  the  arbitrary  action  of  the  British 
toward  our  people  for  the  maintenance  of  their  rights  as  American  citizens.  J.  New- 
ton Fiero  after  attending  the  district  school,  entered  the  Delaware  Academy  at 
Delhi,  then  under  Prof.  John  L.  Sawyer.  He  subsequently  became  a  student  in  the 
Cherry  Valley  Academy  and  for  a  brief  period  was  a  member  of  Rutgers  Col 
but  m  January,  1865,  entered  the  sophmore  class  of   Union   College  at  Schenectady, 


94 

from  which  he  graduated  with  honors  in  1867.  Mr.  Fiero  studied  law  with  Hon. 
William  Murray,  of  Delhi,  a  distinguished  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court.  In  May, 
1879,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  the  General  Term  of  the  Supreme  Court  at 
Binghamton.  After  remaining  in  the  office  of  his  preceptor  a  few  months  he  re- 
turned to  his  native  village  and  began  a  successful  legal  practice.  In  January,  1872, 
he  went  to  Kingston  and  formed  a  partnership  with  Reuben  Bund,  remaining  at 
Kingston  until  1891,  when  he  removed  to  Albany  and  entered  into  partnership  with 
Gen.  Amasa  J.  Parker  taking  the  place  of  the  late  Judge  Amasa  J.  Parker  in  the 
firm.  In  1887  Mr.  Fiero  published  his  first  law  book,  treating  of  "Special  Proceed- 
ings in  the  State  of  New  York"  and  followed  it  in  1888  by  "Special  Actions."  These 
books  are  now  standard  works  upon  the  subjects  treated,  a  new  edition  of  the 
latter  having  been  published  early  in  1897.  He  was  chairman  of  a  committee  to 
draft  an  act  to  facilitate  the  business  of  the  courts  of  this  State.  At  a  recent  meeting 
of  the  American  Bar  Association  he  was  appointed  chairman  of  a  committee  to 
investigate  into  the  expediency  of  a  scheme  for  uniformity  in  legal  reporting  and  to 
recommend  a  remedy  for  existing  difficulties.  He  is  now  chairman  of  a  special 
committee  of  that  association  on  Uniformity  of  Procedure.  Mr.  Fiero  has  won  a 
wide  and  enviable  reputation  in  his  persistent  efforts  in  the  law  reforms  in  our  courts 
of  justice.  In  January,  1891,  he  was  retained  by  Messrs.  Knevals,  Cox  and  Basselir, 
forest  commissioners,  as  leading  counsel  in  the  investigation  ordered  by  the  Assem- 
bly as  to  the  management  of  the  forests,  which  resulted  in  the  complete  exoneration 
of  the  commissioners;  he  was  also  counsel  for  the  commission  in  matters  relating  to 
the  Catskills.  Mr.  Fiero  has  been  a  member  of  the  faculty  of  the  Albany  Law 
School  for  several  years,  lecturing  upon  practice  and  pleading,  and  in  1895  was 
elected  dean  of  the  institution.  In  1892  he  was  elected  president  of  the  New  York 
State  Bar  Association  and  was  re-elected  in  1893.  He  was  chairman  of  the  commit- 
tee on  law  reform,  succeeding  David  Dudley  Field.  In  politics  he  has  always  been 
a  pronounced  Republican.  He  began  stump  speaking  in  the  Grant-Seymour  canvass 
in  1868  and  has  been  in  every  important  campaign  since.  He  was  for  many  years 
a  leading  member  of  the  Ulster  County  Republican  Committee,  and  for  a  considera- 
ble period  its  chairman.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Fort  Oiange  Club  and  the  Univer- 
sity Club  of  New  York  city.  In  1870  he  married  Miss  Jennie  Sands  McCall  of  Delhi, 
and  they  have  three  children:  Maude  Goodrich,  Clifford  B.,  and  Harriette  A. 


WILLIAM  J.  WALLACE. 

Hon.  William  James  Wallace,  judge  of  the  United  States  Circuit  Court  for  the 
Second  Judicial  District  since  April,  1882,  is  a  son  of  E.  Fuller  and  Lydia  (Wheel- 
wright) Wallace,  early  settlers  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  and  was  born  there  April  14,  1838. 
He  was  prepared  for  college  with  the  view  of  entering  Dartmouth,  from  which  his 
father  was  graduated,  but  having  decided  upon  the  law,  pursued  a  course  of  general 
studies  in  lieu  and  having  special  reference  to  that  profession  under  Hon.  Thomas 
Barlow,  of  Canastota.  Subsequently  he  entered  the  law  department  of  Hamilton 
College,  of  which  Prof.  Theodore  W.  Dwight  was  then  the  preceptor  and  was  gradu- 
ated and  took  his  degree  from  that  institution   in   1858.     On   the  day  he  became 


95 

twenty-one  years  of  age,  Judge  Wallace  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Syracuse  in  copartnership  with  Hon.  William  Porter.  Later  he  was  associated  with 
Levi  W.  Hall,  Hon.  William  C.  Ruger  and  Edwin  S.  Jenney.  In  1873  he  was  elected 
mayor  of  Syracuse  on  the  Republican  ticket.  In  March,  1874,  President  Grant  ap- 
pointed him  a  judge  of  the  United  States  District  Court  for  the  Northern  District  of 
New  York  to  succeed  Hon.  Nathaniel  K.  Hall.  In  April,  1882,  Judge  Wallace  was 
appointed  by  President  Chester  A.  Arthur  judge  of  the  United  States  Circuit  Court 
for  the  Second  Judicial  District,  comprising  the  States  of  New  York  Vermont  and 
Connecticut,  which  exalted  office  he  still  holds.  Judge  Wallace  has  exercised  the 
duties  of  his  judicial  positions  with  great  dignity,  honor  and  credit.  In  1876  Hamil- 
ton College  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  LL.D.,  and  in  1883  Syracuse  Univer- 
sity presented  him  with  a  similar  honor.  Judge  Wallace  married,  first,  Miss  Joseph- 
ine Robbins,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  who  died  in  1874,  and  in  1878  he  married  Alice 
Heyward  Wheelwright,  of  New  York  city.  Judge  Wallace  and  his  family  have  re- 
sided in  Albany  since  1893. 


WILLIAM  L.   LEARNED,   LL.D. 

Hon.  William  L.  Learned,  LL.D.,  eminent  lawyer  and  jurist,  was  born  at  New 
London,  Conn.,  July  24,  1821,  of  English  ancestry.  His  father  was  a  lawyer  and  finan- 
cier of  great  ability.  When  sixteen  years  of  age,  Judge  Learned  entered  Yale  Col- 
lege, graduating  four  years  later  with  high  honors.  He  was  noted  as  a  fine  classi- 
cal scholar,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  society.  He  was  admitted  to 
practice  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in  1844  settled  in  Albany,  and  during  the  earlier  years 
of  his  professional  practice  was  associated  with  Gilbert  L.  Wilson  and  James  C.  Cook. 
In  1870  he  was  appointed  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  and  was  later  elected  to  that 
office  for  a  term  of  fourteen  years.  At  the  end  of  that  term  he  was  re-elected.  He 
was  appointed  presiding  justice  of  the  General  Term  in  1875,  and  held  that  office  till 
disqualified  by  age.  In  1874  he  was  made  a  member  of  the  faculty  of  the  Albany 
Law  School  and  was  for  years  the  honored  president  of  that  body.  His  opinions  as 
presiding  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  evince  great  vigor  and  acumen.  In  1878  he 
was  accorded  the  degree  of  LL.D.  by  his  Alma  Mater. 


ALDEX  CHESTER. 

Hon.  Alden  Chester,  youngest  son  of  Alden  Chester  (born  iu  New  London, 
Conn.,  May  36,  1803,  died  in  Westford,  X.  V.,  March  1,  is.">7),  was  born  in  Westford, 
Otsego  county,  September  4,  1848,  and  descends  from  Capt.  Samuel  Chester,  who 
came  from  England  to  Boston  and  settled  in  New  London  in  Hi:!:!.  Judge  Chester's 
mother,  Susan  G.  Draper,  descended  from  James  Draper,  who  came  from  England 
to  Roxbury,  Mass.,  about  1643. 

Judge  Chester  was  educated  at  the  Westford  Literary  Institute,  taught  therein  and 
became  clerk  in  a  store  in  his  native  village.   When  eighteen  he  was  made  telegraph 


operator  on  the  old  Albany  and  Susquehanna  Railroad.  He  graduated  from  Columbia 
College  Law  School  in  1871,  was  admitted  in  May  of  that  year  and  came  to  Albany, 
where  he  formed  a  law  partnership  with  his  cousin,  Andrew  S.  Draper.  From  1876  to 
1882  Hon.  William  S.  Paddock  was  a  member  of  the  firm,  under  the  name  of  Paddock, 
Draper  &  Chester;  since  1887  Judge  Chester  has  practiced  alone.  In  1874  and  1876 
he  was  deputy  clerk  of  the  Assembly;  for  several  years  he  was  a  member  and  secre- 
tary of  the  Republican  General  Committee  of  Albany  county ;  has  been  a  member 
and  president  of  the  Board  of  Public  Instruction,  and  was  appointed  assistant  United 
States  attorney  for  the  Northern  District  of  New  York  in  1882;  resigned  in  1885;  was 
appointed  by  Governor  Morton  in  1895  member  of  the  commission  to  prepare  a  uni- 
form charter  for  cities  of  the  second  class,  and  in  November  "of  the  same  year  he  was 
elected  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  for  the  term  of  fourteen  years. 


RT.   REV.   THOMAS  BURKE. 

Rt.  Rev.  Thomas  Burke,  M.  A.,  was  born  in  1840,  and  is  the  son  of  the  late  Dr. 
Ulric  Burke,  of  Utica,  N.  Y.  He  was  educated  in  the  school  and  academy  under  the 
charge  of  the  Christian  Brothers  in  Utica,  later  in  the  college  of  St.  Michael  at 
Toronto,  and  entered  St.  Charles  College,  Maryland,  in  1856.  Cardinal  Gibbons, 
Archbishop  Kain  of  St.  Louis,  and  the  rector  of  the  Catholic  University  of  Washing- 
ton, Bishop  Keane,  were  students  at  the  latter  institution  during  Bishop  Burke's 
term.  Upon  graduating  from  St.  Charles,  Bishop  Burke  entered  St.  Mary's  Semi- 
nary, Baltimore,  Md.,  where  he  was  ordained  on  June  30,  1864,  which  conferred  on 
him  the  degrees  of  Master  of  Arts  and  Bachelor  of  Theology. 

He  came  at  once  to  Albany  and  remained  about  two  months  with  Cardinal  Mc- 
Closkey  at  the  Episcopal  residence,  and  was  appointed  as  assistant  at  St.  John's 
church,  Albany,  on  September  4, 1864.  He  remained  at  St.  John's  until  April  4,  1865, 
when  he  was  transferred  to  the  assistant  pastorate  of  St.  Joseph's  church.  In  1874 
he  was  appointed  pastor  of  that  church,  which  pastorate  he  held  until  appointed 
bishop  of  Albany  in  1894. 

In  1884  Father  Burke  was  appointed  theologian  by  the  Most  Rev.  Apostolic  Dele- 
gate in  the  Third  Plenary  Council  at  Baltimore,  in  which  he  distinguished  himself 
by  his  eloquence  and  learning. 

The  ceremony  of  his  consecration  took  place  on  Sunday,  July  1,  1894,  at  the 
Cathedral  of  the  Immaculate  Conception,  and  was  a  most  notable  event.  His  Grace 
the  Most  Rev.  Archbishop  Corrigan  of  New  York  was  the  consecrator,  and  the  assist- 
ing consecrating  prelates  were  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  McOuadeof  Rochester,  and  Rt.  Rev. 
Bishop  Ludden  of  Syracuse.  The  ceremony  on  the  occasion  was  one  of  the  grand- 
est and  most  solemn  that  ever  took  place  in  this  country. 

In  1871,  while  at  St.  Joseph's,  he  was  instrumental  in  having  erected  for  school 
accommodations  for  boys  the  commodious  structure  situated  on  the  corner  of  North 
Pearl  and  Colonie  streets.  It  was  largely  through  Bishop  Burke's  effort  that  the 
Hawk  street  viaduct  was  erected. 

Bishop  Burke  is  a  scholar,  a  forcible  preacher,  and  an  authority  in  theological  law. 
He  spent  the  summers  of  1871  and  1889  in  Rome.     In  1890  he  was  made  a  Knight  of 


97 

the  Holy  Sepulchre  by  authority  of  Pope  Leo.  Immediately  after  his  consecration 
as  bishop  he  was  made  a  Knight  of  the  Grand  Cross  of  Jerusalem.  In  1887  he  was 
appointed  vicar-general  of  the  diocese  of  Albany. 

As  an  educator  Bishop  Burke  has  a  remarkable  record,   particularly  in  the  i 
lishment  of  flourishing  schools,  which  include  St.  Joseph's  Male  and  Female  Acad- 
emy, which  has  a  well-deserved  and  wide  reputation  for  excellence. 


LEVI  P.   MORTON 

Hon.   Levi    Parsons    Morton  was  born  in  Shoreham,   Vt,   May  16,    1824.     Mr. 

Morton  is  a  son  of  Rev.  Daniel  0.  Morton,  a  Congregational  minister,  and  is  de- 
scended from  George  Morton,  who  came  to  America  from  England  in  the  ship  Ann 
in  1628.  Mr.  Morton's  mother  was  Lucretia  Parsons,  whose  father  and  grandfather 
were  both  clergymen,  and  he  was  named  after  her  brother,  who  was  the  first  Ameri- 
can missionary  to  Palestine.  Owing  to  the  small  salary  paid  Mr.  Morton's  father, 
only  the  elder  son  had  a  college  education,  Levi  Parsons  having  to  content  himself 
with  a  common  school  education. 

When  Mr.  Morton  was  about  eight  years  old  the  family  removed  to  Springfield, 
Vt.,  and  four  or  five  years  later  to  Winchendon,  Mass.,  where  he  first  earned  money 
by  ringing  the  bell  of  the  church  m  the  town  in  which  his  father  preached.  At  the 
age  of  fifteen  he  was  employed  in  the  country  store  of  Ezra  Casey  at  Enfield,  Mass., 
where  he  remained  two  years.  Then  he  taught  a  country  school.  When  seventeen 
he  entered  the  store  of  W.  \Y.  Esterbrook  at  Concord,  N.  H.  In  1*40  he  was 
made  manager  of  a  branch  store  at  Hanover,  the  seat  of  Dartmouth  College  Two 
years  later  he  was  given  an  interest  in  the  store.  For  six  years  Mr.  Morton  re- 
mained in  Hanover,  each  year  gaining  in  experience  and  knowledge.  Mr.  Ester- 
brook  was  forced  to  suspend  shortly  after  Mr.  Morton  became  a  partner,  and  J.  M. 
Beebe,  of  New  York,  the  chief  creditor,  assumed  charge  and  was  so  much  pleased 
with  Mr.  Morton  that  he  gave  him  his  support. 

In  1849  Mr.  Morton  went  to  Boston,  where,  as  a  partner  of  Mr.  Beebe  he  carried 
on  the  dry  goods  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Beebe,  Morgan  &  Co.  In  1S.">4  he 
removed  to  New  York  and  founded  the  dry  goods  house  of  Morton,  Grinnell  &  Co. 
Mr.  Morton's  partner  in  the  firm  of  Morton  &  Grinnell  was  the  son  of  Hon  George 
Grinnell,  a  member  of  Congress  from  Massachusetts.  The  later  failure  of  the  firm 
was  largely  due  to  the  repudiation  of  Southern  paper  in  lsiil 

Near  the  close  of  I860  Mr.  Morton  became  a  banker,  the  firm  name  being  L,  P. 
Morton  &  Co.  One  of  the  members  of  the  firm,  Charles  W.  McCune,  withdrew  in 
1863.  In  1868  George  Bliss  became  a  member  of  the  firm,  the  name  being  changed 
to  Morton.  Bliss  &  Co.  The  same  year  a  joint  banking  house  was  formed  in  Lon- 
don, that  of  Morton,  Rose  &  Co,  the  leading  partner  being  Sir  John  Rose,  late 
finance  minister  of  Canada.  It  was  through  the  efforts  of  these  two  houses  that  a 
syndicate  was  formed  to  assist  the  United  States  in  resuming  specie  payments,  and 
by  their  floating  five  per  cent,  bonds,  it  is  estimated  they  saved  the  government 
000,000.  Mr.  Morton's  linns  also  exerted  an  influence  in  bringing  about  the  removal 
M 


98 

of  the  ill  feeling  between  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States  by  settling  the  Ala- 
bama claims  satisfactorily. 

In  1878  Mr.  Morton  was  elected  to  Congress  and  his  influence  in  financial  matters 
was  very  great.  In  1880  President  Garfield  appointed  him  minister  to  France.  Mr. 
Morton  hammered  the  first  nail  in  the  construction  of  the  Statue  of  Liberty  and  de- 
livered a  speech  on  June  15,  1884,  accepting  the  statue  on  behalf  of  the  American 
government.  The  commercial  relations  between  France  and  the  United  States  ran 
smoothly  during  Mr.  Morton's  term.  June  25  1888,  Mr.  Morton  was  nominated  for 
vice-president  on  the  Republican  ticket  and  was  elected  the  following  November. 
After  his  term  as  vice-president  Mr.  Morton  traveled  and  returned  in  the  summer 
of  1894.  September  18,  1894,  Mr.  Morton  was  nominated  for  governor  upon  the 
first  ballot  of  the  Republican  State  Convention  at  Saratoga,  and  was  elected  the  fol- 
lowing November. 

Mr.  Morton  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Lucy  Kimball,  and  they 
had  no  children.  In  1875  Mr.  Morton  married  the  daughter  of  William  J.  Street, 
and  they  have  five  children,  all  girls.  Mrs.  Morton  has  been  of  great  help  to  her 
husband  during  his  political  career  and  her  sweet  smile  and  cordial  manner  are 
lovingly  remembered  by  all  who  have  met  her. 


JAMES  BARCLAY  JERMAIN. 

The  name  of  this  venerable  Albanian  will  long  be  cherished  as  that  of  a  truly 
noble  philanthropist.  Modestly  regarding  himself  as  but  a  custodian  of  great  wealth, 
he  has  dispensed  his  charities  with  a  liberal  hand,  yet  wisely.  He  is  the  son  of  Syl- 
vanus  Pierson  and  Catherine  (Barclay)  Jermain,  and  is  descended  from  a  long  line 
of  English  and  Scotch  ancestry.  He  was  born  in  Albany,  August  13,  1809.  His 
father  settled  in  Albany  at  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  and  for  many 
years  was  a  commission  merchant  in  that  city,  gradually  accumulating  a  large  prop- 
erty. 

Deprived  of  his  mother's  care  by  her  death  in  1816,  James  became  the  protege  of 
his  uncle,  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  S.  Prime,  by  whom  he  was  prepared  for  college.  He 
entered  Middlebury  College  in  1824,  subsequently  attended  Yale,  which  he  was 
obliged  to  leave  on  account  of  ill  health,  and  later  entered  Amherst,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1831.  Soon  after  leaving  college  he  began  the  study  of  law,  and  in 
1836  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

In  1842  he  married  Miss  Catherine  Ann  Rice,  of  Cambridge,  Washington  county, 
N.Y.  She  bore  him  five  children,  of  whom  three  daughters  are  now  living.  Mrs. 
Jermain  died  in  1873. 

Upon  the  death  of  his  father  in  1869  a  large  inheritance  came  into  Mr.  Jermain's 
possession  and  to  his  wise  dispensation  ;  to  this  duty  he  brought  a  cultured  mind  in 
its  matured  strength  and  a  noble  heart.  For  the  cause  of  practical  Christianity,  as 
well  as  for  a  family  memorial,  he  erected  at  Watervliet  the  Jermain  Memorial 
church,  a  structure  of  grace  and  beauty  and  an  enduring  monument.  Bereft 
of  an  only  son,  a  young  man  of  great  promise,  in  1883  he  endowed  as  a  memorial 
the  Barclay  Jermain  professorship  in  Williams  College,  his  alma  mater.   Mr.  Jermain's 


99 

local  benefactions  have  been  many  and  munificent.  One  of  the  most  admirable  of 
them  is  the  Home  for  Aged  Men  on  the  Troy  road,  of  which  institution  he  has  been 
the  chief  founder  and  patron.  The  magnificent  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building  in  Albany  will 
long  and  fittingly  commemorate  the  almost  princely  generosity  of  its  founder.  The 
Pairview  Home  for  Friendless  Children  owes  its  existence  and  continued  usefulness 
mainly  to  Mr.  Jermain.  It  is  beautifully  situated  on  the  hill  above  Watervliet,  and 
is  designed  to  shelter  one  hundred  children. 

It  is  hoped  that  years  may  yet  be  granted  to  a  life  so  marked  by  unostentatious 
philanthropy,  and  by  the  promotion  of  practical  Christianity  and  the  best  interests 
of  humanity. 

In  1S92  Williams  College  conferred  upon  Mr.  Jermain  the  degree  of  LL.D, 


HERMAN  BENDELL,   M.    I). 

Dr.  Herman  Bendell  is  a  son  of  Edward  and  Hannah  (Stern)  Bendell,  both  na- 
tives of  Bavaria,  Germany,  and  was  born  in  Albany,  X.  Y.,  <  >ctober  28,  1843.  His 
father,  who  was  born  in  1809,  came  to  this  country  in  1838,  and  died  in  1891.  His 
mother  still  survives.  Dr.  Bendell  received  his  rudimentary  education  in  the  public 
and  select  schools  of  his  native  city.  He  read  medicine  with  Dr.  Joseph  Lewi 
(whose  sketch  appears  in  this  volume)  and  at  the  Albany  Medical  College,  which  he 
left  May  28,  1861,  to  enter  the  United  States  service  as  hospital  steward  of  the  :!9th 
X.  Y.  Vols.  On  September  1  of  that  year  he  was  appointed  acting  assistant  sur- 
geon in  the  United  States  army.  Returning  to  Albany  early  in  the  winter  of  1862, 
he  received  in  December  the  degree  of  M.  D.  from  the  Albany  Medical  College,  and 
almost  immediately  rejoined  his  regiment  at  the  front.  On  February  24,  1863,  he 
was  commissioned  assistant  surgeon  of  the  6th  N.  Y.  Heavy  Artillery,  and  on  Janu- 
ary 3,  1864,  he  became  surgeon  of  the  86th  X.  V.  Vet.  Vols,,  in  which  capacity  he 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  On  May  18,  1866,  he  was  brevetted  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  New  York  Volunteers  for  faithful  and  meritorious  services. 

Dr.  Bendell  served  in  the  field  with  his  regiments,  participated  in  nearly  all  the 
battles  fought  by  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  during  the  last  campaign  of  that 
victorious  army  was  in  charge  of  its  depot  field  hospital.  He  was  also  present  at 
Lee's  surrender  at  Appomattox,  and  thus  closed  a  brilliant  military  record  extending 
over  a  period  of  four  years.  After  the  close  of  the  Rebellion  he  entered  upon  the 
active  practice  of  his  profession  in  Albany,  where  he  continued  successfully  until 
1869,  when  he  was  appointed  by  President  Grant  as  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs 
for  the  Territory  of  Arizona.  In  is?:!  lie  resigned  this  posl  to  accept  at  the  hands  of 
President  Grant  the  appointment  of  United  Mates  consul  to  Denmark,  where  he  not 
only  served  his  country  faithfully  and  efficiently  for  two  years,  but  where  he  also  de- 
voted considerable  time  to  the  study  of  ophthalmology  and  otology  in  the  University 
of  Heidelberg,  receiving  a  special  degree  of  proficiency  in  these  branches.  Return- 
ing to  Albany  in  1876  lie  lias  since  practiced  these   specialties  with  uniform  sm 

For  two  years  Dr.  Bendell  was  lecturer  on  physiology  at  the  Albany  Medical  Col- 
lege, and  he  is  now  clinical  professor  of  otology  in  that  institution.  He  is  ophthalmic 
and  aural  surgeon  on  the  stall'  of  the  Albany  City    Hospital  and  at  St.  Vincent's  and 


100 

St.  Francis  De  Sales's  Orphan  Asylums,  medical  adviser  of  the  Jewish  Home  Soci- 
ety, and  surgeon  of  the  Third  Brigade,  N.  G.  N.  Y.,  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Robert 
Shaw  Oliver,  having  been  first  appointed  to  this  position  in  1886  on  the  staff  of  Gen. 
Amasa  J.  Parker.  He  is  a  member  and  in  1893  was  president  of  the  Medical  Society 
of  the  State  of  New  York;  a  member  and  in  1884  president  of  the  Albany  County 
Medical  Society ;  a  member  and  in  1885  president  of  the  Alumni  Association  of  the 
Albany  Medical  College;  a  member  and  past  master  of  Washington  Lodge  No.  85, 
F.  &  A.  M.  ;  and  a  member  of  Temple  Chapter  No.  5,  R.  A.  M.,  De  Witt  Clinton 
Council  No.  22,  R.  &  S.  M.,  George  Dawson  Post,  No.  63,  G.  A.  R.,  and  the  military 
order  of  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the  United  States. 

He  is  a  prominent  Republican,  and  has  always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  educa- 
tional matters,  especially  in  the  sanitary  care  of  school  houses  and  school  hygiene, 
in  which  he  has  rendered  valuable  service  to  the  city.  From  1880  to  1886  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Public  Instruction  of  Albany  and  for  two  years  served  as  its 
president.  Upon  the  reorganization  of  the  board  in  1892  he  again  became  a  member 
and  still  continues  in  that  capacity.  He  was  appointed  by  Mayor  Thacher  for  a 
term  of  seven  years  in  January,  1897.  He  is  widely  respected  and  esteemed  as  one 
of  Albany's  most  successful  surgeons  and  professional  men,  and  enjoys  the  confidence 
of  all  who  know  him. 

In  September,  1813,  Dr.  Bendell  was  married  to  Miss  Wilhelmine  Lewi,  eldest 
daughter  of  his  medical  preceptor,  Dr.  Joseph  Lewi,  of  Albany,  and  they  have  three 
children:  Joseph  Lewi  Bendell,  Myra  Lewi  Bendell,  and  Berta  S.  Bendell. 


ABRAHAM  LANSING. 

Hon.  Abraham  Lansing,  son  of  Christopher  Yates  Lansing  and  Caroline  Mav 
Thomas,  was  born  in  Albany  February  27,  1835.  He  attended  school  in  Berkshire 
county,  Mass.,  and  afterwards  the  Albany  Boys'  Academy,  and  entered  Williams 
College  in  the  sophomore  class  of  1852,  and  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of  A.  B. 
in  1855.  He  then  studied  law  in  his  father's  office,  and  entered  and  was  graduated 
from  the  Albany  Law  School,  and  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1857. 

He  was  appointed  city  attorney  of  Albany  in  1868,  and  was  the  first  reporter 
of  the  Supreme  Court  under  authority  of  law,  having  been  appointed  to  that  position 
in  1869,  under  act  of  that  year,  by  the  governor,  attorney-general  and  secretary  of 
state,  and  published  the  first  seven  volumes  of  the  series  of  decisions  of  that  court, 
known  as  Supreme  Court  Reports.  In  1874  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Dix  as 
acting  state  treasurer.  In  1876  he  was  appointed  corporation  counsel  of  Albany, 
and  in  1882  was  elected  upon  the  Democratic  ticket  by  a  majority  exceeding  that  of 
any  predecessor  of  his  to  the  office  to  represent  Albany  county  in  the  State  Senate. 
He  was  chairman  of  the  railroad  committee  of  the  Senate  and  member  of  the  finan- 
cial committee,  and  was  actively  identified  with  the  passage  of  the  act  providing  for 
a  State  Railroad  Commission,  and  in  the  other  important  measures,  which  come  be- 
fore the  railroad  committee  of  the  Legislature  during  his  term. 

He  interested  himself  in  the  enactment  of  the  act  called  the  new  Albany  Charter, 
and  succeeded  against  most  determined  opposition  in  carrying  that  measure  through 


THOMAS  J.   VAN   ALSTYNE. 


101 

the  Senate  in  1882,  and  subsequently  in  1883,  when  it  became  a  law.  He  interested 
himself  in  the  remodeling  of  the  scientific  departments  of  the  State,  formed  and 
carried  through  the  acts  which  accomplished  that  result,  and  placed  the  Capitol  and 
different  buildings  of  the  State  at  Albany  in  the  control  of  a  single  superintendent. 
He  took  charge  of  the  measure  in  the  Senate  which  provided  for  the  reservation  anil 
establishment  of  the  State  Park  at  Niagara  Falls,  and  earnestly  advocated  that 
measure  upon  the  floor  of  the  .Senate. 

He  has  been  for  many  years  a  director  of  the  National  Commercial  Bank,  and  in 
term  of  service  is  the  senior  director  of  that  bank,  and  also  its  counsel.  He  is  a  trus- 
tee of  the  Albany  Savings  Bank,  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Park  Commissioners  of 
Albany,  a  trustee  of  the  Albany  Boys'  Academy,  one  of  the  governors  of  the  Albany 
Hospital,  a  trustee  of  the  Albany  Medical  College,  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees of  the  Albany  Rural  Cemetery,  and  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Dudley 
Observatory,  and  was  a  foundation  member  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club,  one  of  its  first 
Board  of  Trustees,  and  a  member  of  its  first  House  Committee.  He  was  much  inter- 
ested in  the  formation  of  that  club,  drew  its  charter,  and  made  the  draft  of  its  con- 
stitution. Mr.  Lansing  is  also  a  life  member  of  the  State  Geological  Society,  a 
member  of  the  Century  Association,  and  of  the  University  Club  and  Bar  Associa- 
tion of  New  York  city. 

At  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  the  present  City  Hall  he  spoke  for  the  county 
and  city.  He  received  the  statue  of  Robert  Burns  for  the  Park  Commission,  and 
made  an  address  on  the  inauguration  of  the  present  Dudley  Observatory  on  behalf 
of  its  Board  of  Trustees,  and  at  their  request.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Holland  So- 
ciety, and  of  the  Albany  Burns  Club.  Mr.  Lansing  was  an  active  Tilden  Democrat 
and  at  one  time  chairman  of  the  Democratic  County  Committee.  He  has  been  iden- 
tified with  the  Tilden  wing  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  has  done  some  work  in  the 
advocacy  of  its  cause. 

His  father  was  a  lawyer,  a  native  of  Albany,  and  son  of  Abraham  G.  Lansing, 
who  also  held  the  office  of  state  treasurer  for  many  years,  both  by  appointment  and 
election,  and  other  public  offices,  in  the  early  days  of  the  city,  and  was  the  brother 
of  Chancellor  John  Lansing,  jr.  Mr.  Lansing  married  Catherine,  a  daughter  of  Peter 
( 'lansevoort. 


THOMA*S  J.  VAN  ALSTYNE. 

Hon.  Thomas  J.  Van  ALSTYNE,  who  has  been  active  in  business  intercourse  with  the 
citizens  of  Albany  county  for  nearly  fifty  years,  has  so  identified  himself  with  its  ad- 
vancement that  its  history  would  be  incomplete  without  reference  to  him.  In  line 
of  ancestry  Mr.  Van  Alstyne  traces,  without  break,  citizenship  in  America,  on  both 
paternal  and  maternal  side,  back  as  early  as  1686.  John  Martin  Van  Alstyne  was  a 
freeholder  in  Fort  Orange  as  early  as  1  ('>.">;,  from  which  time  his  lineal  descendants 
direct,  down  to  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  have  been  freeholders  in  either  one  of  the 
three  adjoining  counties  of  Albany,  Columbia,  and  Schoharie,  and  the  descendants 
from  this  same  head  are  to  be  found  in  several  other  counties  of  this  Stal  e  and  many 
Otherparts  of  the  United  States.     Samuel  C.ile,  Mr.  \  ae's  firsl  (American) 


102 

maternal  ancestor,  was  freeman  and  freeholder  in  Haverhill,  Mass.,  early  in  1640. 
All  of  these  first  immigrants  were  intelligent  and  thrifty  farmers  who  by  industry 
and  frugality  acquired  wide  stretches  of  real  estate  and  considerable  personal  prop- 
erty, which  was  mostly  transmitted  to  their  children,  and  became  a  fitting  incentive 
to  them  to  emulate  such  example  of  their  parents.  As  these  men  were  successful 
in  their  endeavors,  public  spirited  in  thought  and  action,  so  have  their  descendants 
been  good  citizens  and  loyal  to  their  fellows, — especially  so  at  the  period  of  the 
Revolutionary  war.  Two  of  the  great-grandfathers  of  Mr.  Van  Alstyne  did  service 
in  council  and  in  the  field ;  William  Van  Alstyne  having  been  captain,  and  Moses  Gile 
a  member  of  the  Standing  Committee  of  Correspondence  of  the  county  of  Charlotte, 
Vt.,  and  at  fifty-eight  years  of  age,  having  done  service  in  the  field  in  the  regiment 
commanded  by  Colonel  Marsh.  Mr.  Van  Alstyne's  grandfather,  Thomas  Van  Al- 
styne, at  the  age  of  sixteen  enlisted  and  served  in  the  regiment  commanded  by  Col- 
onel Clyde.  This  manifestation  of  active  loyalty  by  both  extremes,  advanced  age 
and  comparative  youth,  is,  and  should  be  considered,  unchallengeable  grounds  for 
pride  in  patriotic  ancestry.  In  the  late  Rebellion,  while  Mr.  Van  Alstyne  was  pre- 
vented by  business  interests  and  domestic  obligations  from  entering  the  field  in 
person,  he  placed  in  the  service  on  behalf  of  the  Union  a  representative,  and  was  an 
active  supporter  of  the  government,  so  far  as  his  influence  could  be  exerted,  in  the 
vigorous  and  speedy  prosecution  of  the  war. 

Mr.  Van  Alstyne  is  the  son  Dr.  Thomas  B.  Van  Alstyne  (formerly  an  eminent 
physician  and  prominent  citizen  of  the  locality  in  which  he  lived),  and  Eliza  Gile. 
his  wife,  late  of  Richmondville,  Schoharie  county,  N.  Y. ,  at  which  place  he  was  born 
July  25,  1827.  Blessed  with  a  vigorous  constitution  even  in  infancy,  and  continually 
growing  and  developing  in  physical  strength  and  activity,  he  spent  the  first  seven 
years  of  school  life  in  the  village  school  when  in  session,  mastering  the  limited  in- 
struction there  imparted,  and  during  vacation  baiting  the  tiny  fishes  of  the  brooks, 
or  hunting  the  squirrel  and  partridge  in  the  neighboring  mountain  forests — being  in 
these  times  free  from  care,  and  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  all  those  things  that  con- 
stitute happiness  in  the  boy. 

At  the  age  of  thirteen  years,  the  boy,  while  visiting  the  house  of  his  brother-in- 
law,  a  minister  of  a  Baptist  church  in  Cayuga  county,  conceived  the  purpose  of  ac- 
quiring advanced  education,  and  became  a  student  in  the  academy  at  Moravia,  dis- 
tant three  and  a  half  miles  from  Locke.  Seven  miles  was,  by  choice,  the  regular 
school-day  walk  of  the  young  student  for  months.  After  a  year  spent  thus  at  Mo- 
ravia, and  a  period  at  a  select  classical  school,  he  became  a  student  at  Hartwick 
Seminar}',  where  he  completed  his  preparation  for  college.  With  six  others  from 
the  same  school  he  matriculated  in  Hamilton  College,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1848,  receiving  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  and  in  1851  that  of  Master  of  Arts. 
In  the  college  course  his  class  standing  was  good,  and  he  especially  excelled  in 
mathematics.  In  addition  to  the  regular  college  course  Mr.  Van  Alstyne  with  a 
few  others,  took  a  private  course  in  law,  under  the  instruction  of  Prof.  Theodore  W. 
Dwight,  who  subsequently  became  eminent  as  an  instructor  in  the  Law  Department 
of  Columbia  College  of  New  York. 

In  1848  Mr.  Van  Alstyne  entered  the  law  office  of  Messrs.  Harris  and  Van  Vorst, 
of  Albany.  By  diligent  attention  to  the  business  of  the  office  he  was  enabled,  with 
his  knowledge  of  the  principles  of  law  before  acquired,  to  pass,  before  the  close  of 


103 

the  year,  a  satisfactory  and  successful  examination  for  admission  to  practice  in  all 
the  courts  of  the  State,  the  late  Hon.  John  II.  Reynolds,  Hon.  John  K.  Porter  and 
)rando  Mead,  esq.,  comprising  the  examining  committee.  Mr.  Van  Alstyne,  how- 
ever, retained  his  desk  in  the  office  of  Harris  <fc  Van  Vorst  until  1850,  continuing 
,'ith  the  exception  of  business  personal  to  himself  and  his  father,  study  and  practice 
is  a  student,  devoting  a  reasonable  portion  of  the  time,  however,  to  travel  and  va- 
cation. After  opening  an  office  for  public  practice,  he  continued  by  himself  until 
is,"):!,  when  he  was  invited  to  and  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Matthew  McMahon, 
with  whom  he  was  associated  for  four  years.  The  firm  did  a  large  and  diversified 
business,  Mr.  McMahon  being  the  confidential  adviser  of  the  1'relates  of  the  Dio- 
cese of  the  church  of  which  he  was  a  member,  and  Mr.  Van  Alstyne  managing  the 
legal  details  of  the  business  and  the  trials  of  causes. 

In  1858  Mr.  Van  Alstyne  formed  a  copartnership  with  Mr.  Winfield  S.  Hevenor, 
which  has  continued  down  to  the  present  time — making  the  firm  the  oldest  in  con- 
tinuance of  any  in  Albany.  When  this  firm  commenced  business  Ira  Harris,  William 
B.  Wright,  George  Gould  and  Henry  Hogeboom  were  justices  of  the  Supreme  Court 
for  the  Third  Judicial  district  (embracing  the  county  of  Albany),  and  a  large  pro- 
portion of  the  court  business  of  the  firm  for  years  was  transacted  before  these 
justices.  The  firm  remains,  and  its  members  have  survived  all  of  these  eminent 
men,  and  have  seen  of  their  respective  successors,  Judges  Peckham  (the  elder), 
Miller,  Danforth,  Westbrook  and  Osborn  yielding  to  the  inevitable,  gathered  by  the 
scythe  of  death,  Judges  Iugalls  and  Learned  retired  from  the  bench  on  account  of 
age,  and  the  younger  Peckham  promoted  to  the  position  of  justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  States,  leaving  at  this  writing  Messrs.  Parker,  Edwards,  May- 
ham,  Pursman  and  Chester  as  justices  of  the  Third  Judicial  District,  all  of  whom, 
except  Judge  Mayham,  are  much  younger  than  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  The  busi- 
ness of  the  firm  of  Van  Alstyne  &  Hevenor  was  large  from  the  first,  embracing  most 
of  the  branches  of  the  law.  Roth  members  being  self-reliant  and  capable,  they  con- 
ducted all  matters  entrusted  to  them  without  help  of  counsel.  They  adopted  as 
rules  of  action,  never  to  give  advice  unfounded  on  actual  or  assured  fact,  or  unwar- 
ranted in  law;  never  to  appeal  from  a  just  verdict  upon  the  merits,  though  a  reversal 
OB  account  of  error  might  be  had  and  might  result  in  a  new  trial  (the  final  result  in 
such  cases  generally  ending  in  mulcting  the  client  in  greater  loss  in  money,  time 
and  anxiety). 

In  politics  Mr.  Van  Alstyne  has  always  been  a  Democrat.      Prior  to  the  war  o 
Rebellion  he  was  a  Freesoiler  on  principle,  but   recognized   the  rights  of  the  slave- 
holding  States  under  the  constitution,   and  approved   their  maintenance  under  the 
law.      War  supervening,  based  upon  the  institution  of  slavery,  lie  urged  its  vigorous 
prosecution  with  the  certain  abolition  of  slavery  as  an  incident. 

In  1871,  at  the  solicitation   of  many  citizens  of  the  county,  Mr.  Van   Alstyne  con- 
sented to  become  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  county  judge  on  the  ticket  of  his  ; 
and  was  elected,  receiving  the  largest  vote  east  for  any  candidate  on  the  tickel 
assuming  the  duties  of  his  office  he  adopted  strict   rules  for  conducting  the  business 
of  the  court,  thereby   effecting  an   immediate  and   needed  reform    in  that   tribunal. 
The  court  calendar  during  the  twelve  years  of  his  service  as  county  judge  was 
the  number  of  causes   tried    before  him  nearly  equaling  the  number  of  those  tried  at 
the  Albany   Circuit,  ami  were  as   varied    and  difficult   in   nature       Very   few  verdicts 


104 

were  reversed  for  mistrial,  and  very  few  decisions  of  his  were  set  aside  as  being 
against  the  law. 

In  1882  Mr.  Van  Alstyne  was  tendered,  without  solicitation,  the  nomination  for 
Representative  in  Congress.  It  was  accepted  in  the  sense  of  duty;  and  he  was 
elected  by  a  most  flattering  vote.  On  taking  his  seat  in  the  48th  Congress,  he  was 
appointed  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Claims,  and  also  on  the  Committee  on  Ex- 
penditures of  the  Department  of  Justice.  In  the  former  committee  the  reports  will 
show  the  activity  of  the  new  member,  and  the  passage  of  bills  resting  upon  them 
testifies  to  the  correctness  of  his  conclusions.  In  the  latter  committee,  the  two 
printed  volumes  of  the  reports  exhibit  the  extent  of  labor  and  inquiry  expended  by 
its  members,  resulting  in  the  reform  of  many  evils  in  administration  in  many  im- 
portant branches  of  the  service,  and  in  saving  much  unnecessary  expenditure  of 
money  to  the  country.  He  was  also  on  the  Special  Committee  of  three  (Messrs. 
Springer,  of  Illinois,  and  Stewart,  of  Vermont,  being  his  associates),  appointed  to 
investigate  charges  of  improper  conduct  on  part  of  the  United  States  marshal  for 
the  Southern  District  of  Ohio  at  the  Congressional  election  of  1884. 

Mr.  Van  Alstyne  had  secured  the  confidence  and  cordial  friendship  of  the  ablest 
and  best  members  of  the  House,  and  was  renominated  by  acclamation  to  succeed 
himself.  The  election  in  1884  was  the  first  in  fact  after  the  reform  in  State  offices 
introduced  by  Governer  Cleveland  had  become  operative,  requiring  the  conducting 
of  the  affairs  of  the  public  on  business  principles.  It  generated  an  opposition  to  the 
party,  which,  aided  by  the  fact  that  the  opposing  candidate  for  Congress,  Hon.  John 
Swinburne,  was  one  of  the  ablest  physicians  and  surgeons  of  the  State,  and  one  of 
the  most  philanthropic  and  charitable  citizens  of  the  district,  resulted,  without  fault 
of  Mr.  Van  Alstyne,  and  without  implied  condemnation  of  him,  in  a  tidal  wave  in 
his  defeat  and  for  the  success  of  his  opponent.  If  he  had  been  continued  in  the 
House  of  Representatives  his  influence  in  that  body,  already  great,  would  have  been 
more  effective ;  but  he  accepted  the  result  of  the  election  more  as  a  favor  than  as  a 
loss,  and  thereafter  refused  a  further  tender  of  nomination  and  retired  from  politics, 
against  the  wishes  and  earnest  protestations  of  the  chiefs  of  his  party. 

Mr.  Van  Alstyne  has  been  thrice  married — first,  in  1851  to  Miss  Sarah  Clapp, 
daughter  of  the  late  Ruel  Clapp,  of  Albany.  Of  this  marriage  one  son  survives, 
Mr.  Thomas  Butler  Van  Alstyne,  lawyer  and  fruit  grower,  residing  in  Southern  Cal- 
ifornia. Secondly,  in  1876  to  Miss  Louisa  Peck,  a  daughter  of  the  late  Samuel  S. 
Peck,  of  Albany;  and  thirdly,  in  1886  to  Miss  Laura  Louisa  Wurdemann,  daughter  of 
W.  W.  Wiirdeman,  esq.,  of  Washington,  D.  C.  Of  this  latter  marriage  one  son  aged 
nine  years  is  living. 

Mr.  Van  Alstyne  is  a  member  of  Emmanuel  Baptist  church  of  Albany,  as  has  been 
each  of  his  wives.  He  is  also  a  member  of  several  orders  and  societies,  but  was 
never  a  devotee  or  habitue  of  the  social  society  of  the  day  so  attractive  to  and  patron- 
ized by  many.  He  has  a  well  selected  library  of  over  six  thousand  volumes  of  mis- 
cellaneous books,  to  which  he  gives  constant  nightly  attention,  and  from  which  he 
gleans  richer  and  less  wearying  enjoyment  than  could  be  derived  from  the  social 
whirl.  He  is  still  in  full  vigor  and  perfect  health,  with  a  fair  prospect  of  being  per- 
mitted to  survive  many  years  in  future. 


ISAAC  G.   PERRY. 


105 
ISAAC  G.   PERRY. 

Is,\A(  G.  Perry,  architect  and  commissioner  of  the  State  Capitol,  is  of  Scotch 
descent  and  was  born  in  Bennington,  Vt.,  March  '24  1822.  His  father,  Seneca  Perrv. 
a  native  of  White  Creek,  Washington  county,  N.  V.,  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner  by 
trade,  and  died  in  1808,  his  wife,  Martha  Ann  Taggart,  a  native  of  Londonderrv.  X. 
H",  and  an  ardent  member  of  the  old  Presbyterian  church,  having  died  in  1860.  Mr. 
Perry's  grandparents  were  Valentine  and  Patient  (Hays)  Perry,  both  of  White 
Creek,  N.  Y. 

When  a  lad  of  seven  years  Mr.  Perry  moved  with  his  parents  to  Keeseville,  Essex 
county,  N.Y.,  where  he  attended  the  village  school  and  served  an  apprenticeship  with 
his  father  at  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner.  He  soon  mastered  the  business  and 
won  a  local  reputation  as  an  architect,  and  for  several  years  successfully  prosecuted 
the  work  of  contracting  and  building  on  his  own  account.  In  1852  he  moved  to  New 
York  city  and  opened  an  office  at  No.  229  Broadway,  where  for  twenty  vears  he 
carried  on  a  steadily  increasing  architectural  business.  In  1857  he  received  a  com- 
mission to  furnish  the  plans  and  superintend  the  construction  of  the  New  York  State 
Inebriate  Asylum  at  Binghamton,  a  fine  specimen  of  castellated  Gothic  architecture, 
which  won  for  him  a  wide  and  permanent  reputation.  He  also  designed  and  erected 
many  other  notable  buildings  in  Binghamton,  including  the  First  Baptist  church,  the 
Centenary  M.  E.  and  Congregational  churches,  St.  Patrick's  church,  the  Phelps 
and  First  National  Bank  buildings,  the  McNamara,  Hagaman  and  Perry  blocks,  the 
High  School,  Hotel  Bennett,  the  Phelps  mansion,  and  numerous  others  of  equal 
prominence.     His  works  extended  throughout  and  beyond  the  Chemung  Valley. 

In  1872  Mr.  Perry  removed  to  Binghamton  in  order  to  be  nearer  the  scene  of  his 
labors,  and  thenceforward  his  work  was  pushed  into  adjoining  cities  and  towns  with 
a  vigor  which  has  characterized  all  his  undertakings.  At  Scranton,  Pa.,  he  built  the 
Lackawanna  court  house,  the  Dickson  Manufacturing  Company's  machine  shops,  the 
Second  National  and  the  Scranton  Trust  Company's  Banks,  the  library  edifice- 
many  dwellings,  such  as  those  of  Hon.  Joseph  H.  Scranton,  jr.,  and  the  Messrs. 
Linnen  and  Green.  In  Wilkesbarre,  Pa.,  he  designed  and  erected  the  First  Natiaual 
Bank,  the  opera  house,  several  blocks,  and  many  residences,  including  those  of 
Charles  Parish  and  Stanley  Woodward.  At  Port  Jervis,  N.  Y.,  he  built  the  Hutch 
Reformed  and  Catholic  churches,  the  Farnum  &  Howell  block,  and  a  number  of 
private  and  public  edifices.  This  is  but  a  small  portion  of  the  work  designed  and 
executed  by  Mr.  Perry,  but  it  furnishes  an  idea  of  the  wide  and  varied  demands  upon 
his  services,  which  were  sought  in  many  Western  States  and  in  other  sections  of  the 
east.  It  has  been  estimated  that  at  times  the  work  in  his  office  aggregated  $1,000,- 
000. 

On  March  80,  1883,  Governor  Cleveland  appointed  Mr.  Perry  the  regular  commis- 
sioner of  the  State  Capitol  at  Albany,  under  a  new  law  creating  a  single  commis- 
sioner to  have  "  entire  charge  of  the  interests  which  had  heretofore  been  confidi 
a  board  of  commissioners,"  and  six  days  later  this  appointment  was  confirmed  by  the 
Senate.  The  office  was  conferred  upon  him  without  solicitation,  and  .• 
ablv  received  by  the  press  'if  all  political  parties.  Since  then  he  has  most  ably 
administered  his  duties,  superintending  the  work  with  commendable  energy,  dili- 

N 


106 

gence  and  fidelity.  Much  of  the  interior  arrangement  and  decoration  as  well  as  the 
principal  exterior  embellishments  of  that  immense  structure  are  due  to  his  artistic 
taste  and  skill,  and  many  of  the  designs  are  his  own  creations.  He  has  not  only 
established  the  highest  reputation  as  a  first-class  builder,  but  he  has  won  merited 
praise  as  an  accomplished  architect,  and  is  deservedly  styled  the  master  of  his  pro- 
fession. He  is  also  the  architect  of  the  new  armory  building  on  the  corner  of  Wash- 
ington avenue  and  Lark  street. 

Mr.  Perry  was  married  in  December,  1848,  to  Miss  Lucretia  L.  Gibson  of  Keese- 
ville,  N.  Y. 


CHARLES  H.   PECK,  A.   M. 

Charles  H.  Peck,  the  son  of  Joel  B.  and  Pamelia  Horton  Peck,  was  born  in  Sand 
Lake,  Rensselaer  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1833.  He  is  the  oldest  of  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren, six  of  whom  are  now  living.  During  his  early  years  his  father  was  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  lumber.  Accordingly  in  his  youth  he  was  in  close  association 
and  familiarity  with  the  trees  of  the  forests  that  surrounded  his  home.  When  he 
was  five  years  old  he  commenced  his  educational  course  by  attending  the  district 
school.  This  was  at  that  time  kept  in  a  log  school  house  whose  furnishings  were  of 
the  most  primitive  character.  As  soon  as  he  was  old  enough  to  be  of  assistance  in 
the  saw  mill,  his  school  days  were  limited  to  the  winter  season,  his  help  being  re- 
quired in  the  mill  during  the  summer. 

When  eighteen  years  old  he  entered  the  State  Normal  School  at  Albany,  from 
which  he  graduated  at  the  end  of  the  year.  While  here  he  joined  a  voluntary  class 
in  botany,  taking  this  study  as  an  extra,  since  it  was  not  at  that  time  included  in  the 
regular  course  of  study,  These  few  lessons  awakened  in  him  a  love  for  botanical 
pursuits  that  never  afterwards  left  him.  By  such  trifling  and  apparently  almost  ac- 
cidental circumstances  the  whole  future  course  of  life  is  sometimes  changed.  This 
love  of  botanical  science  afterwards  proved  to  be  the  controlling  power  in  his  life 
work. 

The  winter  succeeding  his  graduation  found  him  in  chargeof  a  large  district  school 
in  the  town  of  Poestenkill,  Rensselaer  county.  The  next  summer  he  accepted  a 
clerkship  in  a  general  country  store,  but  long  hours  of  labor  and  close  confinement 
soon  impaired  the  health  of  a  constitution  never  very  robust,  to  such  a  degree  that 
he  was  obliged  to  change  his  occupation.  This  he  did  without  much  reluctance, 
determining  to  take  a  course  of  study  in  college  that  he  might  be  better  prepared  for 
some  more  agreeable  field  of  labor.  Having  pursued  the  necessary  preparatory 
studies  in  the  Sand  Lake  Collegiate  Institute,  he  entered  Union  College  in  1855. 

He  took  the  regular  classical  course,  and  was  one  of  three  members  of  his  class  to 
whom  was  awarded  what  was  then  known  as  a  Nott  Prize  Scholarship,  This  was 
an  honor  granted  to  those  only  who  sustained  a  special  rigid  examination  in  the  pre- 
paratory studies,  and  it  was  continued  only  as  long  as  its  recipients  maintained  a 
certain  high  standard  of  excellence  in  their  studies  and  deportment.  During  his 
college  course  his  botanical  inclinations  supplied  much  of  his  recreation.  Instead  of 
playing  foot  ball  with  his  fellows  on  the  college  campus,  he  sought  communion  with 


107 

his  plant  friends  in  the  fields  and  woods.  In  these  rambles  many  treasures  were 
gathered  to  enrich  his  small  but  gradually  increasing  herbarium.  In  this  study  he 
received  instruction  from  the  late  Professor  Pierscn,  not  only  in  the  class  room  but 
also  sometimes  in  the  field,  for  it  was  the  custom  of  the  professor  to  be  a  leader  and 
a  companion  of  his  scholars  in  their  excursions  after  material  for  study.  He  grad- 
uated in  1859  and  three  years  after  received  the  degree  of  A.  M.  from  his  Alma 
Mater. 

Scarcely  had  he  finished  his  college  course  when  he  was  offered  a  position  as 
teacher  of  classics,  mathematics  and  botany  in  Sand  Lake  Collegiate  Institute,  where 
four  years  before  he  had  been  a  student.  This  position  was  accepted  and  proved  so 
satisfactory  that  an  opportunity,  which  was  offered  some  time  afterward,  to  teach  in 
a  more  prominent  position  of  learning,  was  declined. 

About  seven  years  were  spent  in  teaching  here  and  in  Albany.  While  in  the  latter 
place  he  formed  the  acquaintance  of  the  Hon.  George  W.  Clinton,  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Regents  of  the  University.  Judge  Clinton  was  a  good  botanist  himself, 
and  interested  in  the  improvement  and  extension  of  the  State  Herbarium,  a  part  of 
the  State  Museum  of  Natural  History.  Through  his  instrumentality,  Mr.  Peck  was 
employed  to  do  this  work  and  to  add  to  the  Herbarium  specimens  of  the  cryptogamic 
flora  of  the  State,  but  few  of  which  plants  were  then  represented  in  it.  Upon  the 
passage  of  the  law  recognizing  the  geologist  and  paleontologist,  the  botanist  and  the 
entomologist,  as  constituting  the  scientific  staff  of  the  State  Museum,  he  was  ap- 
pointed as  botanist  of  the  staff,  which  position  he  now  holds.  By  his  labors  the  num- 
ber of  plant  species  represented  in  the  Herbarium  has  been  trebled,  and  it  is  now- 
one  of  the  most  complete  and  extensive  local  collections  in  the  country.  His  duties 
have  required  him  to  devote  much  time  to  the  investigation  of  the  fungi  which  con- 
stitute by  far  the  most  extensive  and  intricate  branch  of  the  cryptygamic  flora.  ( >f 
these  plants  he  has  described  many  new  species  and  added  vastly  to  the  scientific 
value  of  the  Herbarium  by  placing  in  it  the  type  specimens  of  these  new  species. 
His  investigations  of  the  fleshy  fungi,  especially,  have  been  so  thorough  and  exten- 
sive, that  he  has  become  a  recognized  authority  in  this  department  of  botany.  By 
experimental  trials  of  their  edibility  he  has  added  many  species  to  the  list  of  useful 
and  edible  mushrooms.  There  are  few  mycologists  in  this  country  who  have  not 
been  at  some  time  or  who  are  not  now  his  correspondents.  Many  of  them  have  re- 
ceived more  or  less  assistance  from  him  in  acquiring  a  knowlege  of  these  plants. 
At  the  present  time  he  is  in  almost  daily  receipt  of  specimens  of  fungi  from  various 
parts  of  the  country.  These  are  sent  for  identification  or  as  data  for  the  solution  of 
some  problem  in  regard  to  their  character,  quality  or  edibility. 

His  literary  productions  are  not  extensive,  consisting  chiefly  of  several  papers  on 
botanical  topics  read  before  the  Albany  Institute,  contributions  from  time  to  time  to 
the  Country  Gentleman,  replies  to  botanical  queries  therein  and  his  annual  reports 
made  to  the  Board  of  Regents  and  published  in  the  Museum  Reports.  These  now 
exceed  twenty-five  in  number,  but  some  of  the  earlier  ones  are  out  of  print.  They 
are  eagerly  sought  by  botanists  and  especially  by  mycologists.  The  application  for 
copies  of  the  one  containing  the  report  on  the  edible  and  poisonous  mushrooms  of 
the  State  were  unprecedented  in  number,  scores  of  them  being  received  even  before 
the  issuing  of  the  report.     They  came  from  various  parts  of  the  country  and  indii  . 


IDS 

a  wide  spread  interest  in  the  subject  and  an  evident  desire  for  information  in  this 
practical  branch  of  botany.  ♦ 

In  1861  he  married  Miss  Mary  C.  Sliter  of  Sand  Lake.  He  has  two  sons,  Harry 
S.  and  Charles  A.  Peck,  both  of  whom  are  now  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits.  He 
is  fond  of  his  home  and  takes  much  pleasure  and  recreation  in  his  garden  at  Menands. 
By  experiments  in  it,  he  derives  from  it  aid  in  solving  or  in  verifying  many  problems 
in  plant  life  and  plant  diseases.  He  is  naturally  modest  and  retiring  in  his  disposi- 
tion, shrinking  from  the  excitements  of  public  life,  averse  to  extravagant  pretensions 
and  ostentatious  display,  contented  to  labor  on  quietly  and  faithfully  in  his  chosen 
field  and  to  add  what  he  can  to  the  sum  of  human  knowledge  and  human  happiness. 
He  is  an  active  member  of  several  scientific  societies,  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian 
church,  a  Republican  in  politics,  but  has  never  held  nor  earnestly  sought  an  elective 
civil  office.  He  is  decided  in  his  own  political  and  religious  opinions  but  tolerant  of 
others  who  hold  different  views. 


CHARLES  WHITNEY  CARPENTER. 

Charles  Whitney  Carpenter  is  descended  from  an  old  Albany  family,  his  paternal 
grandfather,  Henry,  being  a  life-long  resident  of  that  city.  His  father,  George  W. 
Carpenter,  who  still  resides  in  Albany  at  the  age  of  eighty-six,  was  educated  at 
the  Albany  Academy  and  afterward  became  one  of  its  professors;  later  he  was  for 
over  twenty  years  the  city  surveyor,  and  subsequently  was  superintendent  and  engi- 
neer of  the  Albany  Water  Works  for  over  forty  years  and  an  active  member  of  the 
Board  of  Education  for  more  than  twenty-five  years,  being  most  of  that  time  its 
president.     He  married  Mary  Ann  Burton,  who  died  in  1877. 

Charles  Whitney  Carpenter  was  born  in  Albany,  N..  Y.,  March  13,  1847,  and 
graduated  from  the  Albany  Academy  in  1864.  He  was  subsequently  a  clerk  in  the 
wholesale  grocery  store  of  E.  C.  Batchelder  &  Co.,  of  Albany,  until  June  10,  1869, 
when  he  went  to  New  York  city  and  accepted  the  position  of  cashier  and  bookkeeper 
for  J.  N.  Perkins  &  Co.,  brokers,  in  Wall  street.  Eighteen  months  later  he  entered, 
as  a  clerk,  the  well  known  establishment  of  R.  Hoe  &  Co.,  with  whom  he  has  ever 
since  remained,  becoming  in  a  short  time  their  correspondent,  confidential  clerk, 
and  salesman. 

The  firm  of  R.  Hoe  &  Co.  was  founded  by  Robert  Hoe  about  the  year  1804  under 
the  name  of  Robert  Hoe  &  Co.,  and  is  the  largest  printing  press  manufactory  in  the 
world.  Many  changes  have  occurred  in  the  firm,  by  death  and  from  other  causes, 
since  Mr.  Carpenter  became  associated  with  the  house,  and  on  January  1,  1888,  he 
was  admitted  to  partnership.  The  firm  now  consists  cf  Robert  Hoe,  Theodore  H. 
Mead,  and  Mr.  Carpenter.  R.  Hoe  &  Co.  have  gained  a  world-wide  reputation  in 
the  manufacture  of  printing  presses  of  every  size  and  description,  ranging  in  price 
from  about  $1,000  to  the  great  combined  newspaper  and  color  press  costing  S55.000. 
Wherever  printing  is  done  their  name  is  known.  They  also  manufacture  immense 
quantities  of  cast  steel  circular  saws,  which  go  to  every  country  on  the  globe.  In 
their  New  York  establishment  they  employ  from  1,400  to  1,500  men,  manufacturing 
almost  everything  used  by  the  printer,  excepting  type,  ink,  and  paper.     Here  also  are 


CHARLES  W.  CARPENTER. 


109 

about  300  apprentice  boys  under  competent  instructors  and  professors.  In  the 
London  works  some  600  men  are  employed,  making  presses  for  England  and  her 
colonies. 

Mr.  Carpenter  is  an  able  business  man,  and  has  always  been  a  staunch  Republi- 
can, following,  in  this  respect,  in  the  footsteps  of  his  grandfather,  father,  and 
brother.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution  through  his  father's  maternal 
grandfather,  Mr.  Mascraft,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  New  England  Society  and 
the  Union  League  and  Grolier  Club  of  New  York. 

On  October  16,  1869,  he   was   married  to  Miss  Caroline   Bowne   Smith,  a  great- 
granddaughter  of  Walter  Bowne,  who  was  mayor  of  New  York  city  from  1829 
They  have  had  eight  children:  Arthur  and  Jessie,  deceased;  and  Lilian,  George W., 
2d,  Florence,  Charles  W.,  jr.,  Adele,  and  Beatrice. 


RUFUS  W.   PECKHAM. 

Among  the  landmarks  which  give  prominence  to  Albany  county  it  is  impossible 
for  the  historian  to  overlook  the  name  of  Rufus  W.  Peekham.  The  court  proceed- 
ings and  public  affairs  of  the  county  bear  testimony  to  the  activity  and  prominence 
of  a  member  of  the  bar  by  that  name  at  a  period  more  than  half  a  century  ago;  the 
history  of  his  further  public  career  of  honor  and  prominence  is  preserved  in  the 
records  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  of  this  State,  of  botli  of 
which  he  was  a  vigorous  and  able  member. 

To  the  present  Rufus  W.  Peekham  no  higher  praise  can  be  given  than  to  say  that 
he  is  a  most  worthy  successor  to  his  ancestor  in  whose  footsteps  he  follows.  He 
seems  to  have  inherited  the  mental  as  well  as  physical  characteristics  of  his  father. 

Born  in  Albany  in  1838,  the  present  Rufus  W.  Peekham  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
and  engaged  in  the  active  practice  of  the  profession.  He  soon  developed  the  quali- 
ties of  an  advocate,  and  many  important  trials  occupied  his  attention,  not  only  at 
the  Albany  Circuit,  but  in  contiguous  counties. 

As  district  attorney  of  Albany  county  his  prosecutions  were  marked  by  a  fearless 
discharge  of  duty;  as  corporation  counsel  of  the  city  of  Albany  he  conducted  the 
legal  affairs  of  the  city  with  eminent  success,  besides  being  largely  instrumental  in 
forming  a  new  charter  containing  many  reforms. 

The  energetic  and  sturdy  advocacy  of  his  views,  his  unswerving  loyalty  to  friends, 
the  reliance  to  be  placed  on  him  by  associates,  his  ability  as  a  vigorous  leader  in 
debate,  made  him  a  conspicuous  figure  at  political  gatherings;  he  was  prominent  in 
the  counsels  of  his  party,  and  a  champion  in  the  contests  of  Democratic  conventions. 
As  a  public-spirited  citizen  he  was  interested  in  local  institutions,  and  participated 
in  their  administration,  as  a  governor  of  the  City  Hospital,  as  a  bank  director  and 
park  commissioner.  His  independence  in  politics  was  frequently  made  manifest. 
His  voice  publicly  and  privately  was  always  heard  in  the  interest  of  clean  politics 
and  for  good  and  pure  government. 

In  1884  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,   and  while   his  admire: 
gretted  his  retiring  from  practice,  believing  that  his  greatest  Held    for  personal  suc- 
cess and   public  service  lay  in  his  career  at  the  bar.  his  great   qualification   for  the 


110 

judiciary  was  made  manifest.  He  was  most  efficient  as  a  trial  judge.  In  1887  he 
was  elected  to  the  Court  of  Appeals,  and  his  written  opinions  with  which  the  reports 
of  that  court  abound,  are  further  proof  of  his  judicial  ability.  In  1895  he  was  ap- 
pointed a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  of  which  he  is  now  a 
member.  His  attainments  as  a  lawyer,  his  lofty  personal  character  and  intellectual 
perspicuity,  so  marked  a  characteristic,  have  already  won  for  him  an  exalted  posi- 
tion among  his  associates,  and  his  standing  is  of  the  highest  among  the  distinguished 
members  of  that  august  tribunal. 

While  his  place  of  residence  is  nominally  at  Washington,  D.  C,  the  long  recesses 
of  the  court  are  spent  in  Albany  county,  at  his  summer  home  in  Altamont,  on  the 
side  of  the  Helderberg  Mountains. 


GEN.    EDWIN  A.   McALPIN. 

Gen.  Edwin  A.  McAlpin  was  born  in  New  York  city,  June  9,  1848,  and  is  the  son 
of.  David  H.  McAlpin,  the  president  of  D.  H.  McAlpin  &  Co.,  one  of  the  largest  to- 
bacco establishments  in  the  country.  General  McAlpin  attended  the  public  schools 
in  New  York  city  and  later  was  graduated  from  the  academy  at  Andover,  Mass.  He 
early  showed  his  love  for  the  military  by  enlisting,  when  a  mere  boy,  as  a  drummer 
boy  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  but  was  of  course  prevented  from  serving,  being 
under  age.  In  November,  1869,  he  enlisted  in  the  7th  Regt.  N.  Y.  ;  in  1872  was 
elected  corporal;  was  elected  first  lieutenant  of  the  71st  Regt.  in  November,  1873, 
and  captain  in  1875;  major  in  August,  1875;  resigned  from  the  71st  Regt.  in  the  fall 
of  1882  to  accept  a  captaincy  in  the  7th  Regt. :  elected  colonel  of  the  71st  Regt.  in 
May,  1885,  and  resigned  his  commission  in  June,  1888;  in  the  spring  of  1888  was 
elected.colonel  of  the  71st  Regt.  Veterans  Association.  Gen.  McAlpin  is  a  man  of 
large  fortune  and  is  very  liberal.  He  is  director  of  the  Eleventh  Ward  Bank  and 
director  of  the  Sixth  National  Bank  of  New  York  city  and  of  the  firm  of  D.  H.  Mc- 
Alpin &  Co.  of  New  York  city.  He  owns  a  delightful  summer  residence  at  Lake 
Brandreth.  Since  1878  Gen.  McAlpin  has  lived  in  the  village  of  Sing  Sing  and  he 
has  contributed  largely  to  its  development.  In  1884  and  1888  Gen.  McAlpin  was  up- 
on the  Republican  electoral  ticket  in  the  State  of  New  York  and  in  the  year  General 
Harrison  was  elected,  he  received  the  largest  number  of  votes.  General  McAlpin 
was  president  of  the  Republican  State  League  for  three  years,  and  was  appointed  by 
Gov.  Levi  P  Morton  adjutant-general  of  this  State  June  1,  1895.  The  wife  of  Gen- 
eral McAlphin  was  a  Miss  Brandreth  of  Sing  Sing. 


JOHN  R.  VAN  WORMER. 

John  R.  Van  Wormer  is  a  member  of  an  old  Albany  family,  the  original  American 
ancestor  of  which  was  Henri  Van  Wormer,  who,  with  a  brother,  came  from 
Wormer,  Holland,  about  1655,  and  first  settled  in  New  Jersey,  whence  he  moved  to 
this  locality.     From  here  a  member  of  the  family  removed  to  the  Lake  George  region, 


JOHN    K.   VAN  WORMHR. 


Ill 

long  prior  to  the  Revolution,  and  there  Abram  Van  Wormer,  grandfather  of  John  R., 
was  born,  his  father  Henry  being  a  lieutenant  in  the  Continental  army  during  the 
Revolutionary  war  in  a  company  of  the  14th  Albany  County  Regiment.  Abram 
served  in  the  War  of  1812,  on  the  Canadian  frontier,  and  subsequently  settled  in 
Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.  He  had  a  son  Rufus,  who  married  Eunice  E.  Bullock,  of 
Trenton,  Oneida  county,  N.  Y.,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch. 

John  R.  Van  Wormer  was  born  in  Adams,  Jefferson  county,  March  II,  1S40,  and 
received  first  a  thorough  preliminary  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
town.  There  he  also  attended  the  Hungerford  Collegiate  Institute,  an  academy  of 
excellent  reputation,  and  meanwhile  learned  telegraphing,  a  business  he  followed  for 
many  years  in  various  places.  In  1869  he  became  a  member  of  the  faculty  of  the 
Hungerford  Institute,  having  charge  of  the  military  department  until  1872,  when  he 
went  to  Oswego  in  the  employ  of  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Company.  The 
same  year  he  was  made  the  Oswego  correspondent  of  the  New  York  Times,  which 
supported  General  Grant  for  president  as  against  Horace  Greeley,  the  candidate  of 
the  Liberal  Republicans  and  Democrats.  Hon.  De  Witt  C.  Littlejohn,  of  Oswego, 
was  an  ardent  partisan  of  Greeley's,  and  became  a  candidate  for  member  of  assembly 
in  Oswego  with  a  view  to  aiding  the  cause  he  espoused.  He  was  defeated  and  I  )aniel 
G.  Fort  was  elected.  This  episode  terminated  Littlejohn's  public  career.  During 
that  campaign  he  was  also  active  on  the  stump,  making  political  speeches  which 
attracted  wide  attention.  He  had  previously  had,  from  youth  up,  considerable 
experience  as  a  public  speaker  and  debater,  and  his  talents  now  formed  a  wider 
field  as  a  campaign  orator  and  correspondent. 

Late  in  the  year  1872  Mr.  Van  Wormer  came  to  Albany  (where  he  had  spent  much 
time  since  1868)  and  remained  here  in  the  employ  of  the  Western  Union  Telegraph 
Company  until  January,  1878,  doing  also  considerable  newspaper  work  and  stump 
speaking  and  taking  an  active  part  in  Republican  politics.  When  Hon.  George  B. 
Sloane  was  elected  speaker  of  the  Assembly  in  1876  Mr.  Van  Wormer  became  his 
private  secretary.  In  the  fall  of  1877  he  was  appointed  the  Albany  correspondent 
of  the  New  York  Evening  Post,  but  in  January  following  he  resigned  this  position 
to  become  private  secretary  to  U.  S.  Senator  Roscoe  Conklingand  clerk  of  the  Senate 
committee  on  commerce,  of  which  Mr.  Conkling  was  chairman.  He  filled  these 
positions  for  about  one  year.  Early  in  1879  he  was  made  chief  clerk  of  correspond- 
ence in  the  New  York  post-office  under  Postmaster  Thomas  L.  James,  and  in  1881, 
when  the  latter  was  appointed  postmaster-general,  he  became  his  private  sec- 
retary and  soon  afterward  chief  clerk  of  the  post-office  department  at  Washington. 
I  In  January  1,  1882,  Mr.  James  resigned  and  returned  to  New  York  with  all  theglory 
and  distinction  he  had  won  in  the  famous  Star  route  cases,  which  he  had  successfully 
carried  through,  and  in  the  credit  for  doing  whicli,  Mr.  Van  Wormer  shared  as  the 
active  executive  officer  of  the  Post-office  Department  during  this  trying  pi 
Mr.  Yan  Wormer  returned  also,  and  was  made  teller  of  the  newly  organized 
Lincoln  National  Bank,  which  commenced  business  January  12,  lvx.'  in  a  build- 
ing opposite  the  Grand  Central  depot.  This  hank  now  has  deposits  aggr< 
ing  about  |10,000,000.  The  Lincoln  Safe  Deposit  Company  was  organized  and 
in  July,  1883,  occupied  the  substantial  budding  erected  for  the  purposi  al  32  88 
4'Jd  street,   New   York  city,    and  since  then  Mr.  Yan  Wormer  has  been  il 


112 

and  general  manager.  Hon.  Thomas  L.  James  is  president  of  both  institutions, 
which  now  occupy  the  same  structure.  The  Deposit  Company,  which  has  a  capital 
of  $1,000,000,  was  the  pioneer  in  the  United  States  in  the  construction  of  absolutely 
fire-proof  safe  deposit  and  warehouse  buildings.  Besides  the  building  containing 
the  huge  deposit  vaults  they  have  four  large  warehouses,  erected  in  1884,  1891,  1894, 
and  1896  respectively. 

Mr.  Van  Wormer,  as  general  manager  of  this  immense  property,  has  shown  marked 
business  ability,  and  has  won  the  confidence  and  respect  of  all  with  whom  he  has 
come  in  contact.  During  an  active  life  he  has  enjoyed  the  acquaintance  and  confi- 
dence of  the  leading  men  of  the  country— of  statesmen,  financiers,  authors,  news- 
paper men,  lecturers,  politicians,  etc.  He  achieved  distinction  as  a  correspondent 
and  no  little  renown  as  an  orator,  especially  on  political  subjects.  He  is  the  vice- 
president  and  a  director  of  the  Brooklyn  Warehouse  and  Storage  Company,  which 
was  organized  in  1892,  and  which  has  a  large  building  on  the  site  of  Dr.  Talmadge's 
original  tabernacle  at  Schermerhorn  street  and  Third  avenue,  Brooklyn.  He  is  also 
a  director  of  the  Schermerhorn  Bank  of  Brooklyn,  and  a  member  of  the  Union  League 
Club,  of  which  he  was  secretary  in  1892  and  1893,  and  of  whose  house  committee  he 
is  now  chairman.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lotos  Club,  the  Republican  Club,  and  the 
New  York  Athletic  Club,  all  of  New  York  city,  being  a  member  of  the  finance  and 
building  committee  of  the  latter  organization,  which  is  erecting  a  handsome  new 
club  house  at  59th  street  and  Sixth  avenue.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  St.  Nicholas, 
the  Holland,  the  New  England,  and  the  Albany  Societies,  all  of  New  York,  and  the 
Sons  of  the  American  Revolution. 


TIMOTHY  L.  WOODRUFF\ 

Hon.  Timothy  L.  Woodruff  was  born  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  August  4,  1858. 
His  ancestors  fought  in  the  Revolution  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revo- 
lution, His  father  was  a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  from  1855  to  the 
close  of  the  Civil  war.  Mr.  Woodruff  received  his  preparatory  education  at  Phillips 
Exeter  Academy  and  entered  Yale  University  in  1875  and  was  graduated  in  1879  as 
Bachelor  of  Arts,  and  received  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  in  1889.  After  leaving 
Yale  he  took  a  course  at  Eastman  Business  College  in  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.  In  Jan- 
uary, 1881,  after  a  year's  clerkship,  he  was  admitted  to  the  firm  of  Nash,  Wheton  & 
Co.,  now  the  Worcester  Salt  Ccmpany,  of  which  he  is  treasurer.  He  took  up  his 
residence  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  in  the  spring  of  the  same  year.  In  1887  he  was  the 
proprietor  of  the  Franklin,  Commercial,  Nye  and  Waverly  stores  and  two  grain  ele- 
vators. In  1888  he  was  made  a.  director  and  secretary  of  the  Brooklyn  Grain  Ware- 
house Company.  In  1889  he  became  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Maltine  Manufac- 
turing Company  of  New  York,  of  which  he  is  now  president.  He  was  one  of  the  in- 
corporators of  the  Kings  County  Trust  Company,  the  Hamilton  Trust  Company  and 
the  Manufacturers  Trust  Company  of  Brooklyn.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Merchants 
Exchange  National  Bank  of  New  York  and  a  member  of  the  New  York  Chamber  of 
Commerce.  In  1881  and  1883  he  was  a  member  of  the  executive  and  advisory  com- 
mittees of  the  Brooklyn  Young  Republican  Club.     He  was  a  member  of  the  Repub- 


113 

lican  State  Convention  of  1885  and  has  been  a  delegate  to  nearly  all  State  and  local 
conventions  ever  since.  In  1888  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  convention  at  Chicago,  and 
in  1889  and  1890  he  was  a  member  of  the  Republican  State  Committee.  Mayor 
Wurster,  upon  assuming  office,  appointed  him  Commissioner  of  Parks  of  Brooklyn. 
He  was  also  a  delegate  to  the  convention  at  St.  Louis  which  nominated  William 
McKinley.  Socially,  Mr.  Woodruff  occupies  a  very  prominent  place  in  Brooklyn  and 
is  a  member  of  all  the  fashionable  clubs  and  societies.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Union  League  and  University  Clubs  of  New  York  city.  In  November,  1896,  he  was 
elected  lieutenant-governor  of  New  York  State.  His  wife  was  Cora  C.  Eastman, 
daughter  of  the  late  Hon.  H.  G.  Eastman,  at  one  time  mayor  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y 
They  are  both  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  They  have  one  son,  a  student 
at  Paul's  School  at  Concord,  N.  H. 


THEODORE  E.  HANCOCK. 

Ilo.s.  Theodore  E.  Hancock  was  born  in  1847,  in  the  town  of  Granby,  Oswego  Co., 
N.  Y.  He  is  a  descendant  on  his  mother's  side  from  Roger  Williams.  His  paternal 
ancestors  were  natives  of  Massachusetts,  from  which  State  his  father  emigrated 
about  1836  to  Oswego  county.  He  attended  the  public  schools  and  the  Falley  Sem- 
inary, where  he  prepared  for  college.  He  entered  the  Wesleyan  University  in  1867, 
and  was  graduated  with  honors  in  1871.  While  at  college  he  was  a  diligent  stu 
dent  of  the  classics  and  mathematics  and  showed  great  skill  in  logic  and  debate. 
After  leaving  the  University  he  studied  law  in  the  office  of  the  Hon.  Edward  T. 
Bartlett,  now  judge  of  the  Court  of  Appeals.  He  also  took  a  course  of  study  in  the 
Columbia  Law  School  of  New  York  and  in  1873  was  admitted  to  practice  in  all  the 
courts  of  this  State.  He  chose  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  as  his  home  and  commenced  his 
practice  there.  He  met  with  great  success  and  for  many  years  he  has  been  the 
senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Hancock,  Beach,  Peck  &  Devine,  now  Hancock, 
Hogan,  Beach  &  Devine.  In  1889  he  was  elected  district  attorney  for  the  term  of 
three  years.  In  1893  he  was  nominated  to  the  office  of  attorney-general  of  New 
York  State  and  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  21,290.  He  assumed  office  January  1, 
1894,  and  in  1895  was  re-elected  by  a  plurality  of  94,758.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
'  >dd  Fellows  and  Knights  of  Pythias. 

In  1880  he  married  Martha  B.  Connolly,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and  they  have  two 
suns  and  one  daughter. 


WALTER   DICKSON. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  at  Albany,  X.  Y.     His  father,  James  I  »ickson, 
and  mother,  Margaret  Leitch  Russell,  were  natives  of  Scotland,  the  former  of  Pe< 
near  Edinburgh,   the  latter  of  Hamilton,    near  Glasgow.     Walter   Dickson   is  the 
eighth  successive  generation  of  this  old   Scottish   border  name.     His  mother ' 
o 


114 

descendant  of  Major  Andrew0  Leitch,  who  fell  at  Harlem  Heights  in  1776,  fighting 
under  Washington.  Walter's  school  life  was  spent  at  Prof.  Anthony's  Classical  In- 
stitute, and  the  Albany  Academy.  He  excelled  in  boy's  sports,  and  very  early  evinced 
a  taste  for  drawing  and  construction.  William  Ellis,  then  the  principal  architect 
in  Albany,  having  seen  some  of  the  boy's  handiwork,  prevailed  upon  his  (Walter's) 
father  to  have  him  study  in  his  office.  Later  the  boy  entered  the  office  of  William 
L.  Woollett,  of  Albany,  also  prominent  in  his  profession,  and  finally  completed  his 
studies  in  New  York  city.  He  held  the  office  of  resident  architect  of  the  new  Fed- 
eral Building  at  Albany  for  years  and  it  was  completed  under  his  supervision. 
Ambitious  for  agreater  field,  he  associated  himself  in  1887  with  Frederick  C.  Withers, 
an  old  and  well  known  architect  of  New  York  city,  their  practice  being  largely  in 
public  buildings.     They  are  at  present  erecting  many  for  the  city  of  New  York. 

Mr.  Dickson  is  a  member  of  twenty  years  standing  of  the  American  Institute  of  Archi- 
tects, and  also  of  the  Architectural  League,  and  has  been  president  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Architecture  of  the  Brooklyn  Institute  of  Arts  and  Sciences. 

From  boyhood  he  has  been  a  student  of  history  and  of  places  of  historical  interest 
around  him,  which  his  published  articles  and  tales  of  Old  Albany  attest  to.  In  fact, 
antiquities  are  his  hobby.  He  was  placed  at  the  head  of  historical  committee  of  the 
Albany  Bi-Centennial  Celebration  of  1886,  and  it  was  through  his  efforts  that  the 
memories  of  many  places  and  events  of  historical  interest  in  Albany  were  perpetu- 
ated by  the  the  bronze  tablets  now  seen  about  the  city,  the  importance  of  which  was 
so  eloquently  set  forth  at  the  time  by  an  eminent  Roman  Catholic  divine,  who  said: 
"  When  the  noise  of  smoke  and  cannon,  and  the  glitter  and  music  of  parade,  and  the 
brilliant  effusions  of  inspired  oratory  will  have  all  passed  away,  these  bronze  tablets 
indelibly  inscribed  with  history  will  be  the  only  imperishable  thing  left  to  tell  the 
story  of  Albany's  Bi-Centennial." 

Mr.  Dickson  has  been  identified  with  many  of  Albany's  institutions.  He  succeeded 
his  father  as  president  of  St.  Andrew's  Society,  was  president  of  the  Young  Men's 
Association,  commandant  of,  and  closely  identified  with  the  Albany  Burgesses 
Corps.  He  was  one  of  the  original  curlers  of  Albany,  and  one  of  the  citizens  who 
introduced  the  steam  fire  engine  into  this  city.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Fort 
Orange  Club,  and  the  designer  of  the  great  Albany  Army  Relief  Bazaar,  and  the 
first  president  of  the  first  Electric  Illuminating  Company  in  Albany.  He  is  at  pres- 
ent an  officer  in  the  Albany  Society  of  New  York,  and  in  addition  to  the  other  or- 
ganizations with  which  he  has  been  associated,  has  been  for  more  than  thirty  years 
a  32°  Mason. 

Mr.  Dickson  married  Fanny  Louise  Guest,  of  Ogdensburg,  N.  Y. ,  a  descendant  of 
an  old  Albany  family,  and  has  three  sons  and  two  daughters.  His  only  sister,  Jean 
Agnes  Dickson,  was  the  wife  of  William  H.  Tayler,  both  of  whom  are  now  deceased. 


J.   TOWNSEND   LANSING. 

J.  Townsend  Lansing  is  a  descendant  of  (1)  Frederick  Lansing,  of  Hassei,  Hol- 
land, who  came  to  New  Amsterdam  (New  York)  with  three  sons  and  three  daughters 
and  probably  settled  in  Rensselaerwyck  about  1650.     Gerrit  Frederick  Lansing  (2), 


115 

his  son,  was  no  doubt  the  progenitor  of  all  the  Lansings  in  America.     The  line 
Gerrit,  born  in  Hassel,  Holland;    (4)  Jacob  Gerritse,    1681-1707,  who  built  the  old 
"Pemberton  House;"  (5)  Gerrit  J.;  (6)  Abraham  G.,  1756-1844;  (7)  Gerrit  Y.,  1783 
1862,  member  of  the  State  Legislature,  chancellor  of  the  Regents  of  the  University 
of  New  York,  and  member  of  Congress,  married  Helen  Ten  Eyck;  (8)  Charh 
married  Catharine  Clinton  ;  and  (9)  J.  Townsend. 

John  Townsend  Lansing,  born  in  New  Haven  county,  Conn.,  was  educated  in 
Albany  and  in  1866  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  saws  with  Robert  C.  Pruyn  and 
James  Goodwin,  under  the  firm  name  of  Pruyn  &  Lansing,  succeeding  the  fathers 
of  Messrs.  Lansing  and  Pruyn.  They  continued  this  business  until  1878  and  also 
manufactured  files  under  the  name  of  the  Sheffield  File  Works  and  were  interested 
in  the  embossing  company. 

Since  1878  Mr.  Lansing  has  been  interested  in  the  care  of  trusts,  estates  and  real 
estate  and  has  often  acted  a6  administrator.  He  is  a  director  in  the  New  York  State 
National  Bank,  the  Albany  Insurance  Company,  the  Public  Market  Company  and 
the  Wheeler  Rent  and  Power  Company;  a  trustee  of  the  National  Savings  Bank,  the 
Dudley  Observatory,  the  House  of  Shelter,  the  Albany  Medical  College,  the  Charity 
Organization  Society,  the  Albany  Historical  and  Art  Society,  the  City  Mission,  and 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association ;  and  is  a  member  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club 
of  Albany,  the  Reformed  Club  of  New  York,  the  Holland  Society  and  the  Old  Guard 
Albany  Zouave  Cadets.  He  is  also  identified  with  several  other  organizations  of  the 
capital  city. 

In  1870  he  married  Helen  Franehot  Douw,  daughter  of  Yolckert  P.  Douw  of  Al- 
bany. 


JOSEPH   ALBERT   LINTNER. 

Joseph  Ai.iu.im  Lintner,  Ph.  D.,  of  German  descent,  is  a  son  of  Rev.  George 
Ames  Lintner,  D.D.,  who  was  born  in  Minden,  Montgomery  county,  X.  Y..  in  1796, 
was  graduated  from  Union  College  in  1817  and  was  pastor  of  the  Lutheran  churches 
of  Schoharie,  Middleburg  and  Cobleskill  for  many  years.  Prof.  Lintner  was  horn 
in  Schoharie,  February  8,  1822,  attended  the  Jefferson  Academy,  was  graduated 
from  the  Schoharie  Academy  in  1837  and  spent  ten  years  in  mercantile  pursuits  in 
New  York  city,  where  he  also  prosecuted  his  studies  under  the  Mercantile  Library 
Association.  He  contributed  scientific  articles  to  the  Tribune  and  other  newspapers, 
and  returning  to  Schoharie  in  1848,  engaged  anew  in  mercantile  business.  1 
he  began  a  collection  of  insects,  and  in  I860  removed  to  Utica,  where  for  seven 
he  manufactured  woolen  goods.  Meanwhile  he  had  steadily  pursued  his  sci- 
entific studies,  for  which  he  had  a  natural  taste  and  unusual  capacity.  In  181 
became  zoological  assistant  in  the  State  Museum  of  Natural  History  at  Albany;  in 
he  was  appointed  by   Governor  Cornell  State  en  torn  lss">  he    was 

placed  on  the  scientific  staff  of  the  museum,  a  position  he  still  holds.      He  has  writ- 
ten about  1,000  papers  on  scientific  subjects,  published  eleven  annual  Reports  on  the 
Injurious  and  other  Insects,  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  is  wide'. 
one  of  the  foremost  entomologists  of  the  world.      His  services  in  the  inter< 


116 

culture  and  allied  pursuits  have  been  of  great  value  to  both  the  State  and  nation. 
He  is  a  forceful  speaker,  an  accomplished  writer  and  a  man  of  not  only  high  scien- 
tific, but  of  rare  personal  attainments.  In  1884  the  Regents  of  the  University  of  the 
State  of  New  York  conferred  upon  him  the  honorary  degree  of  Ph.  D.  He  was 
president  of  the  Entomological  Club  of  the  American  Association  for  the  Advance- 
ment of  Science,  and  the  Association  of  Economic  Entomologists,  two  years  each, 
has  been  president  of  the  department  of  natural  science  in  the  Albany  Institute 
since  1879  and  is  a  member  of  the  American  Entomological  Society,  the  Entomo- 
logical Society  of  Washington,  D.  C,  the  Entomological  Society  of  Ontario,  Canada, 
the  New  York  Academy  of  Sciences,  the  Buffalo  Society  of  Natural  Sciences,  the 
Cambridge  Entomological  Club,  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Davenport, 
Iowa,  the  Oneida  Historical  Society,  the  Kansas  State  Horticultural  Society,  the 
New  York  State  Agricultural  Society,  the  Musee  Royal  d'Histoire  Naturelle  de 
Beige,  Societe  Imperiale  des  Naturalistes  de  Moscou,  and  Societe  Entomologique  de 
France,  and  since  August  21,  1873,  fellow  of  the  American  Association  for  the  Ad- 
vancement of  Science.  October  2,  1856,  he  married  Frances  C,  daughter  of  Hon. 
Holmes  Hutchinson,  of  Utica,  N.  Y.  Their  children  are  George  A.,  of  Minneapolis, 
and  Charles  H.  of  St.  Paul,  Minn. ;  and  Mary  C.  and  Laura  B.,  of  Albany,  N.  Y. 


JAMES  H.   WILSON. 

James  H.  Wilson  is  one  of  the  foremost  temperance  leaders  in  the  city  of  Cohoes 
and  a  faithful  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  in  which  he  has  served  as  trustee  for 
the  past  three  years,  and  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  he  has  been  very 
successful.  He  is  prominent  in  the  I.  O.  G.  T.,  and  assisted  in  organizing  the  Tem- 
ple of  Honor  in  1873,  and  was  a  charter  member  of  both4  organizations.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  is  serving  as  a  trustee.  As  a  director  of  the  Y. 
M.  C.  A.  he  is  serving  his  fifth  year,  and  also  does  mission  work  on  Van  Schaick's 
Island,  where  he  was  one  of  the  early  settlers.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and 
is  serving  his  third  term  as  school  commissioner,  and  is  also  a  valued  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity. 

He  was  born  in  1854  at  Lowell,  Wis.,  and  is  a  son  of  James  S.  Wilson,  a  contract- 
ing carpenter.  He  lived  at  Clifton  Park  until  twelve  years  of  age,  when  he  came  to 
Waterford  and  assisted  his  father  (who  died  in  1894,  and  his  mother  in  1891). 

He  came  to  Cohoes  in  1868,  and  in  1878  became  engaged  with  Leggett  &  Son,  paper 
box  manufacturers,  with  whom  he  remained  until  May,  1885,  when  he  purchased  the 
business  and  has  since  successfully  conducted  the  same. 

In  1892  he  organized  the  Continental  Knitting  Co.,  of  which  he  served  as  president 
until  he  severed  his  connection  with  the  company  in  December,  1894. 

In  1875  he  married  Adelaide  Delanoy,  by  whom  he  had  two  children.  The  daugh- 
ter, Frances  D.,  died  in  1892  at  the  age  of  sixteen ;  she  was  a  talented  musician  and 
highly  respected.     The  son,  William  J.,  was  born  in  1887. 


J.  H.  WILSON, 


117 

A.  BLEECKER    BANKS. 

Hon.  A.  Bleecker  Banks  was  born  in  New  York  city,  March  7,  1837.  He  comes 
from  old  Revolutionary  stock  and  is  a  son  of  David  Banks,  who  founded  a  law  book 
publishing  house  in  New  York  city  in  1804  and  a  branch  at  Albany  soon  after,  of 
which  branch  Mr.  A.  B.  Banks  has  been  the  manager  since  1858.  Mr.  Banks  was 
educated  at  the  public  and  private  schools  and  Columbia  College,  New  York  city. 
He  was  a  member  of  assembly  from  Albany  county  in  1862,  State  senator,  1868-71, 
and  mayor  of  Albany  city.  1876  to  1878  and  also  1884  and  1885.  He  was  instru- 
mental during  his  first  term  as  senator  in  securing  the  first  appropriation  for  the  new 
State  Capitol,  establishing  Washington  Park  and  legislating  a  new  charter  for  his 
city.  When  mayor  he  inaugurated  the  granite  block  pavement  and  improved  sew- 
erage systems,  which  has  made  Albany  one  of  the  best  paved  and  drained  cities  of 
the  State.  It  was  through  his  plans  and  management  that  the  Bi-Centennial  of  Al- 
bany city  was  carried  on  to  its  final  success.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Democratic 
National  Convention  at  Chicago  in  1884,  and  aided  in  nominating  Grover  Cleveland 
for  president;  he  was  also  a  delegate  to  the  State  Constitutional  Convention  of  1894. 
He  is  an  active  member  of  the  firm  of  Banks  &  Brothers,  law  book  publishers,  Al- 
bany and  New  York. 


CHARLES  W.  LITTLE. 

Charles  W.  Little  is  a  descendant  of  George  Little,  the  founder  of  the  Newbury 
family  of  this  name,  who  came  in  1640  from  Unicorn  street,  near  London  Bridge, 
England,  and  settled  in  Newbury,  Mass.  Mr.  Little  was  born  in  Albany,  February 
4,  1850.  His  father,  Weare  Coffin  Little,  was  the  sixth  in  descent  from  George 
Little,  and  was  born  July  31,  1806,  in  Maine.  In  1827,  while  acting  as  the  western 
representative  of  the  firm  of  Little,  Brown  &  Co.,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  he  established 
in  Albany,  the  law  publishing  house  of  W.  C.  Little  &  Co.  He  died  February  20, 
1885,  after  a  long  and  successful  business  life;  his  uprightness  and  integrity  having 
gained  him  the  regard  and  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him.  C.  W.  Little's  mother  was 
Elizabeth  Latimer,  and  her  grandfather,  Col.  Jonathan  Latimer,  who  served  in  the 
Connecticut  forces  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  was  present  at  Bunker  Hill  and 
Stillwater  and  also  fought  in  the  French  and  Indian  war.  Mr.  Little  was  educated 
at  Professor  Anthony's  Classical  Institute  and  the  State  Normal  School  in  Albany. 
After  leaving  school  he  entered  his  father's  law  book  publishing  house  and  upon  the 
death  of  his  father  in  1885,  became  the  sole  proprietor.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Fori 
Orange  and  Unconditional  Republican  Clubs,  a  life  member  of  the  Young  Men's  As- 
sociation and  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  December  81,  1872,  be 
married  Edith,  daughter  of  Samuel  B.  Herbert,  of  London,  England,  who  was  a 
direct  descendant  of  the  Earl  of  Pembroke.  They  have  three  daughters  Milla  A.. 
Edith  H.  and  Elizabeth  W. 


118 
RALPH  HORNBY. 

Ralph  Hornby,  now  retired  from  active  life,  took  up  the  machinist  trade  upon 
coming  to  Cohoes  from  England,  where  he  was  born  in  1829.  His  early  manhood 
was  spent  as  a  cotton  weaver,  but  on  coming  to  America  he  entered  the  employ  of 
Campbell  &  Clute,  remaining  with  them  twenty-six  years,  holding  the  position  of 
foreman  for  the  last  twelve  years. 

Mr.  Hornby,  from  a  poor  boy,  by  economy,  hard  work,  and  perseverance,  has  ac- 
cumulated a  substantial  fortune.  He  is  practically  the  father  of  the  Fifth  ward  of 
Cohoes.  having  built  the  first  house  in  that  ward.  He  has  been  largely  instrumen- 
tal in  the  development  and  upbuilding  of  that  part  of  the  city. 

November  19,  1859,  he  married,  in  England,  Jane  Bell,  of  Preston,  Lancashire, 
Eng.,  who  has  borne  him  six  children,  but  two  of  whom  are  living:  Elizabeth  and 
Ellen. 


FRANCIS  H.    WOODS. 

Hon.  Francis  H.  Woods  was  born  in  Albany,  his  parents  emigrating  here  from 
county  Longford,  Ireland,  early  in  the  present  century.  He  received  his  education 
at  Capt.  Michael  O  Sullivan's  school  and  the  Albany  Boys'  Academy,  where  he  won 
the  principal's  prize  for  his  essay  on  "  Mahomet."  He  soon  began  to  take  an  active 
part  in  the  public  duties  of  life  and  while  a  delegate  from  Engine  Company  No.  11, 
was  elected  president  of  the  Albany  fire  department  in  1865  and  by  his  prudent 
management  secured  the  stability  of  the  relief  fund.  In  1865  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  having  studied  in  the  office  of  Warren  S.  Kelly  and  subsequently  going  into 
partnership  with  ex-Judge  James  A.  McKown. 

His  political  career  began  in  1867,  when  he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  by  a 
handsome  majority  and  served  with  credit  on  the  committee  on  judiciary.  In  1873 
he  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  Justice's  Court,  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death 
of  Dennis  B.  Gaffney.  He  was  again  elected  for  a  full  term  by  3,000  majority  and 
again  for  a  third  term  without  opposition,  5,000  Republican  ballots  being  cast  for 
him.  After  an  honorable  and  impartial  career,  Mr.  Woods  retired  from  the  Justice  s 
Court  in  1883.  On  this  occasion  many  members  of  the  bar  united  in  presenting  him 
with  a  handsomely  engrossed  testimonial. 

In  the  fall  of  1883  he  was  unanimously  nominated,  by  his  party  for  the  office  of  sur- 
rogate and  was  elected  by  a  commanding  majority.  He  discharged  the  duties  of 
that  office  for  the  full  term  of  six  years  with  credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  the 
public.  On  his  retirement  every  newspaper  in  the  county  made  him  the  subject  of 
a  laudatory  editorial  notice,  commending  him  for  his  industry,  courtesy,  learning 
and  integrity. 

The  period  of  Mr.  Woods's  incumbency  as  surrogate  is  the  brightest  chapter  in  his 
career,  as  it  is  one  of  the  most  honorable  and  creditable  in  the  county  history.  In 
1890  he  served  as  a  member  of  the  State  commission  appointed  by  Governor  Hill  to 
revise  the  judiciary  article  of  the  constitution.     He  is  now  serving  as  postmaster  of 


RALPH   HORNBY. 


119 

the  city  of  Albany  and  has  shown  a  progressive  spirit  in  the  management  of  that 
office,  where  his  unusual  executive  ability  findsa  good  field  of  display.  His  appoint- 
ment was  made  on  the  suggestion  of  President  Cleveland,  with  the  approbation  of 
Senator  Hill. 

As  a  Democratic  orator,  Mr.  Wood's  most  notable  work  was  in  Mayor  Nolan's 
campaign,  in  the  various  addresses  he  made  while  accompanying  Mr.  Manning  and 
the  Democratic  Phalanx  to  the  Chicago  convention  which  nominated  Grover  Cleve- 
land ;  at  the  great  Fort  Plain  meeting  with  Mr.  Apgar,  being  the  first  Cleveland 
meeting  in  the  interior  of  the  State.  He  displayed  great  activity,  was  at  his  best  in 
scores  of  out  door  gatherings  in  the  campaign  of  1888,  and  accompanied  John  Boyd 
Thacher  in  a  part  of  the  novel  cruise  of  the  boat  Thomas  Jefferson  down  the  Erie 
Canal,  making  speeches  of  electric  power  at  Schenectady,  West  Troy  and  Albany 
from  the  bow  of  the  boat.  In  the  campaign  of  1892,  as  president  of  the  Mills  Club, 
he  displayed  notable  activity  on  the  stump.  He  is  a  born  orator;  his  appearance  on 
the  platform  is  indicative  of  power  and  ability.  He  is  an  intelligent  lawyer,  a  lover 
of  books  and  a  sound  adviser. 


JOHN  F.    RATHBONE. 

John  P.  Rathbone  was  born  in  Albany,  N.Y.,  October  9,  1819.  He  was  educated 
in  the  Albany  Academy  and  the  Brockport  Collegiate  Institute.  His  father  died 
May  13,  1833.  The  following  year  he  united  with  the  Baptist  church  in  Brockport, 
and  within  a  year  thereafter  he  left  school  and  became  a  clerk  in  Rochester,  X.  Y. 
In  1837  he  returned  to  Albany,  first  in  the  employ  of  Jared  L.  Rathbone,  and  then 
becoming  clerk  in  Joel  Rathbone's  foundry  in  the  south  part  of  the  city.  In  1840  he 
went  into  business  with  S.  H.  Ransom,  with  Joel  Rathbone  and  Jared  L.  Rathbone 
as  special  partners.  In  1845  he  built  a  stove  foundry  in  Albany,  which  with  the  ad- 
ditions since  made  is  one  of  the  largest  in  the  world.  He  is  now  at  the  head  of  the 
firm  of  Rathbone,  Sard  &  Co.  Early  in  1861  Mr.  Rathbone  was  appointed  brigadier- 
general  of  the  9th  Brigade  of  the  National  Guard.  State  of  New  York,  and  on  the 
opening  of  the  Albany  depot  for  New  York  State  volunteers,  he  was  appointed  its 
commandant.  On  being  relieved  from  the  command  General  Rathbone  was  highly 
complimented,  not  only  by  the  adjutant-general,  but  by  the  commander-in-chief, 
Governor  Morgan.  In  ls(i7  General  Rathbone  resigned  his  position  as  commandant 
of  the  9th  Brigade.  January  1,  1873,  he  was  appointed  adjutant-general  by  Gov. 
John  A.  Dix,  with  the  rank  of  major-general  and  served  with  credit  to  himself  and 
advantage  to  the  State.  He  is  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Albany  Orphan  Asylum  of 
which  he  has  been  president  and  trustee  for  many  years;  president  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  the  Dudley  Observatory,  also  of  the  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Co.  of  Al- 
bany; one  of  the  Park  Commissioners,  and  trustee  of  t lie  Albany  Rural  Cemi 
and  president  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Albany  Academy.  He  was  tor  fifty 
years  the  superintendent  of  the  Emmanuel  Baptist  Sunday  school  and  is  president  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  church,  lie  founded  the  Rathbone  Library  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Rochester,  of  which  he  is  a  trustee,  and  contributed  $40,000  to  us  funds. 


120 
ALBERT  P.   STEVENS. 

Albert  Parsons  Stevens,  son  of  Isaac  and  Maria  C.  (Parsons)  Stevens,  was  born 
in  Springfield,  Mass.,  April  10,  1835,  and  descends  from  Col.  Thomas  Stevens,  of 
the  Devonshire  line,  through  Cyprian  Stevens,  who  came  to  this  country  in  1660  and 
was  one  of  five  who  purchased  from  the  Indians,  in  1686,  a  tract  of  land  twelve 
miles  square,  comprising  what  is  now  the  town  of  Rutland,  Mass.  Cyprian's  de- 
scendants were  residents  of  that  town  for  more  than  150  years.  On  his  mother's 
side  Mr.  Stevens  is  in  the  direct  line  of  descent  from  William  Bradford,  who  came 
over  in  the  Mavnower  in  1620,  and  was  the  second  governor  of  Plymouth  Colony. 
Joseph  Stevens,  son  of  Cyprian,  was  one  of  the  first  selectmen  and  assessors  of 
the  town  of  Rutland,  was  the  first  town  treasurer,  one  of  the  committee  to  set  off 
the  land,  a  deacon  in  the  church  and  a  captain  in  the  militia.  Isaac  Stevens  was 
born  in  Rutland,  Mass.,  August  8,  1795,  and  died  July  31,  1835. 

Albert  P.  Stevens,  his  son,  came  to  Albany  in  October,  1853,  and  took  a  position 
as  clerk  in  the  Albany  Exchange  Bank,  then  in  the  second  story  of  the  Exchange 
building,  on  Broadway  and  State  streets,  where  the  present  post-office  building 
stands.  He  was  connected  with  several  banks  in  the  city  until  1869,  when  he  be- 
came secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  National  Savings  Bank  at  the  organization  of 
that  institution.  He  has  continuously  held  these  positions  ever  since.  He  is  prom- 
inent in  religious  and  charitable  organizations  and  is  a  member  of  both  the  board  of 
trustees  and  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  and 
was  the  president  for  four  years.  He  was  treasurer  of  the  Albany  City  Tract  and 
Missionary  Society  for  many  years,  and  was  treasurer  of  the  Albany  County  Bible 
Society  for  nearly  twenty  years  and  is  now  its  president.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  church  and  one  of  its  trustees,  is  treasurer  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Albany,  member  of  the  permanent  committee  on  synodical  aid  of  the  Synod  of  New 
York,  and  a  member  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club. 

December  30,  1856,  he  married  Emma  Henrietta,  daughter  of  the  late  Thomas 
McMullen,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Albany;  she  died  February  12,  1891,  and  they 
had  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  two  sons,  Clarence  W.  and  Frederic  B., 
are  living. 


YERPLANCK  COLVIN. 

Verplanck  Colvin  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  January  4,  1847.  His  first  name 
is  derived  from  the  family  of  his  father's  mother,  one  of  the  oldest  families  of 
Albany  county  of  ancient  Dutch  lineage,  while  his  family  name  is  of  the  oldest 
English  origin,  though  his  paternal  great-grandfather  came  to  this  country  from 
Scotland.  John  Colvin  was  this  paternal  great-grandfather.  He  was  born  in  Scot- 
land in  1752,  settling  at  Nine  Partners,  Dutchess  county,  in  1772,  where  he  married 
Sarah  Fuller  (descendant  of  one  of  the  Fullers  who  came  over  on  the  Mayflower)  in 
1774,  and  subsequently  removing  to  Coeymans,  Albany  county,  he  purchased  a  farm. 
In  1810  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  State  Assembly.  Johannes  Verplanck,  also 
a  great-grandfather  of  Verplanck  Colvin,  was  a  descendant  of  Abraham  Verplanck, 


121 

who  came  from  Holland  when  there  were  only  fifteen  houses  in  the  present  city  of 
New  York,  and  was  commander  of  Dutch  forces  there  under  Governor  Kieft  in  the 
war  with  the  Indians.  It  was  in  the  house  of  the  Verplancks  at  Fishkill  that  the 
Society  of  the  Cincinnati  was  formed.  Verplanck  Colvin's  father,  Hon.  Andrew  J. 
Colvin,  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Martin  Van  Buren  and  Benjamin  F.  Butler,  and 
was  corporation  counsel  of  the  city  of  Albany;  district  attorney  of  the  county,  and 
State  senator.  In  1861  he  was  the  first  State  senator  to  speak  for  the  defence  of  the 
Union  and  was  chosen  by  the  New  York  Legislature  to  be  president  of  the  joint 
assembly  receiving  Abraham  Lincoln,  the  president-elect. 

Andrew  J.  Colvin  married  as  his  second  wife  Margaret  Crane  Ailing,  daughter  of 
Prudden  Ailing  and  Maria  Halsey  Ailing,  of  Newark,  N.  J.  It  was  at  the  residence 
of  Col.  John  Ford,  uncle  of  Maria  Halsey  Ailing,  that  Gen.  George  Washington,  by 
invitation,  made  his  headquarters  in  Morristown,  N.  J.,  during  the  Revolution,  and 
John  Ailing,  of  Col.  J.  Baldwin's  Regiment  of  the  Continental  army  and  great- 
grandfather of  Prudden  Ailing,  in  another  regiment  (of  whom  Mr.  Colvin  is  a  lineal 
descendant),  assisted  in  the  defence  of  the  city  of  Newark,  fighting  face  to  face  with 
the  British.  General  Prudden  and  General  Ebenezer  Foote,  who  were  personal 
friends  of  General  Washington,  were  also  relatives  of  Mr.  Colvin's  mother. 

Verplanck  Colvin  attended  the  Albany  Academy  and  subsequently  studied  law 
in  his  father's  office,  practicing  in  the  minor  courts  and  was  successful  in  all  the 
cases  entrusted  to  him.  The  law,  however,  did  not  please  him,  as  he  was  mathe- 
matically inclined  and  preferred  scientific  research  and  engineering;  and,  in  1865,  he 
began  those  scientific  explorations  of  the  then  unknown  Adirondack  wilderness  which 
became  of  such  importance.  In  winters  he  gave  more  attention  to  scientific  study 
and  in  1868  organized  a  very  successful  course  of  free  scientific  lectures  in  the  State 
Geological  Hall  at  Albany.  In  1869  he  made  a  careful  study  of  the  topography  and 
geology  of  the  Helderberg  mountains  and  publishect  a  description  of  that  region  m 
Harper's  Magazine.  In  1870  he  explored  the  Cough-sa-gra-ge,  or  Dismal  Wilder- 
ness of  the  Indians,  and  made  the  first  known  ascent  and  measurement  of  Mt. 
Seward  and  other  high  peaks;  and  during  the  winter  of  this  year  he  traveled  exten- 
sively in  the  Southern  States.  In  1871  he  made  the  journey  across  the  great  plains 
of  the  far  West,  passing  through  Chicago  the  day  before  the  great  tire,  and  crossing 
Kansas  in  the  midst  of  the  herds  of  innumerable  buffalo.  In  Colorado  he  studied 
tlii-  geology  and  mineralogy  of  the  gold  and  silver  mining  districts  and  asp< 
the  highest  peaks  of  the  Snowy  Range,  returning  through  the  Black  Hills,  Wyoming 
and  Nebraska.  Subsequently  he  wrote  and  illustrated  an  article  for  Harper' i 
azine  which  he  entitled  the  "  Dome  of  the  Continent."  and  from  this  article  arose 
the  name  of  "Dome  State"  for  Colorado.  In  acknowledgment  of  his  Colorado  ex- 
plorations Mr.  Colvin  was  elected  an  honorary  member  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  Club 
of  Denver,  an  appointment  only  conferred  upon  a  few  of  the  explorers  of  the  high 
snowy  ranges  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  being  associated  with  Gen.  Philip  Sheridan 
in  this  honor. 

In  is?.!,  recognizing  the  need  of  a  careful  survey  oi  New  York,  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  its  land  boundaries  and  forests  protecting  the  water  supply.  Mr.  Colvin  went 
before  the  Legislature  and  succeeded  in  having  made  the  first  appropriation  for  the 
State  survey  in  the  Adirondack  region,  and  he  thus  was  the  first  to  make  any  tri- 
angulation  of  New  York  under  the  authority  of  the  State  government.  He  this 
p 


122 

year  traced  the  Hudson  River  to  its  highest  pond-source,  Lake  Tear-of-the-Clouds, 
which  he  was  the  first  to  visit,  geographically  locate,  name  and  describe.  This  is 
now  accepted  as  the  true  source  of  the  Hudson  River.  In  this  year,  also,  Mr.  Colvin 
was  the  first  to  suggest  to  the  Legislature  the  construction  of  an  aqueduct  from  the 
upper  Hudson  in  the  Adirondacks  as  a  source  of  water  supply  for  New  York  city 
and  the  cities  of  the  Hudson  valley.  From  this  time  Mr.  Colvin  has  continued  in 
the  employment  of  the  State  as  superintendent  of  this  survey. 

In  187o  lie  was  appointed  one  of  the  commissioners  of  State  Parks,  Gov.  Horatio 
Seymour  being  president  thereof,  and  Mr.  Colvin  having  been  the  first  to  recom- 
mend to  the  Legislature  the  Adirondack  Park  as  a  forest  preserve  in  a  previous 
report  made  to  the  Regents  of  the  State  University.  During  this  year  Mr.  Colvin 
extended  the  exploration  of  the  wilderness  over  great  areas  in  the  western  unex- 
plored section ;  but,  in  1874,  the  work  almost  ceased,  on  account  of  the  financial 
panic. 

In  1875  the  surveys  were  continued,  Mr.  Colvin  personally  making  the  first  true 
measurement  of  Mt  Marcy,  the  highest  mountain  peak  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
with  leveling  observations  on  a  rod  read  by  vernier  to  the  thousandth  part  of  a 
foot.  In  1876  larger  appropriations  were  made  and  the  work  continued.  During  all 
the  years  following,  he  has  sustained  a  reputation  second  to  none  for  careful  and 
systematic  engineering  and  surveying,  and  his  services  have  been  of  great  value  to 
the  State  and  science  at  large. 

In  1881  he  was  engaged  by  the  faculty  of  Hamilton  College  to  lecture  on  higher 
surveying  and  Geodetic  Engineering,  but  on  completing  his  first  course  of  lectures 
retired  from  this  work,  finding  teaching  to  be  a  monotonous  employment. 

In  1882  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  New  York  State  delegates,  with  the  then  Gover- 
nor Cornell,  to  attend  the  first  American  Forestry  Congress,  where  Mr.  Colvin  read 
one  of  the  most  important  papers 

In  1883  a  law  was  passed  by  which  he  was  given  full  charge  of  the  New  York  State 
Land  Survey. 

In  1888,  when  the  ten  and  twelve-inch  cannon  for  the  coast  defense  of  the  United 
States  were  ordered  by  the  government,  Mr.  Colvin  showed,  in  a  clearly  written 
paper,  that  Albany  was  the  one  unconquered  State  Capital  of  the  United  States, 
and  hence,  probably  the  most  secure  location  for  the  new  gun  foundries  was  at  the 
Watervliet  Arsenal  near  Albany.  The  United  States  Congress  adopted  Mr.  Colvin's 
views  as  conclusive,  and  he  was  called  into  consultation  by  the  ordnance  officers  of 
the  U.  S.  A.  and  was  present  at  the  assembling  of  the  first  great  gun  at  said  arsenal 
by  special  invitation.  The  Burgesses  Corps  of  Albany,  in  recognition  of  Mr.  Colvin's 
services  in  urging  the  location  of  the  gun  foundry  near  Albany,  presented  him  with 
a  sword  which  Mr.  Colvin  justly  prizes. 

Mr.  Colvin  is  a  member  of  many  scientific  societies.  He  is  president  of  the  Albany 
Institute,  perhaps  the  oldest  scientific  and  literary  society  in  New  York  if  not  in  the 
United  States,  having  held  its  sessions  while  the  British  flag  yet  floated  over  the 
fort  at  Oswego,  and  this  society  having  had  as  its  first  president  Robert  R.  Livings- 
ton, one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  and  of  the  committee 
which  drew  that  memorable  document.  Gen.  Simeon  De  Witt,  chief  engineer  on 
the  staff  of  General  Washington,  Prof.  Joseph  Henry,  the  first  to  send  telegraphic 
signals  by  electricity,  Mr.  Bloodgood,  to  whom  Ericsson   the  builder  of  the  Monitor 


123 

attributed  the  invention   of  the  revolving  iron  clad  turret,   the   Van  Rensselaers, 
Pruyns,  etc.,  were  former  officers  of  the  Institute. 

Mr.  Colvin  is  a  life  member  of  the  American  Geographical  Society  and  of  the 
American  Institute  of  Mining  Engineers,  and  honorary  member  of  the  Club  Alpine 
Prancais  of  Paris,  through  his  membership  in  the  Rocky  Mountain  Club,  honorary 
member  of  the  Adirondack  Club,  a  foundation  member  of  the  Fortnightly  Club.  lit- 
is a  fellow  of  the  American  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science  and  an  hon- 
orary member  of  the  British  Society  for  the  Advancement  of  Science  of  London,  Eng- 
land, a  corresponding  member  of  the  Appalachian  Mountain  Club  of  Boston,  Mass., 
honorary  president  of  the  Adirondack  Guides  Association,  etc.,  as  the  chief  emp 
of  the  guides.  His  numerous  reports  to  the  Legislature  are  an  authority  on  the 
questions  with  which  they  deal.  He'  has  delivered  numerous  lectures  and  written 
many  papers  on  scientific  subjects,  engineering,  astronomy,  geology,  chemistry  and 
physics,  besides  articles  in  the  magazines.  His  portable  boat  for  explorations,  his 
improvement  in  telescopes  and  his  recent  discovery  of  a  method  of  securing  the 
mean  temperature  of  the  atmos])here  independently  of  thermometer,  by  observation 
of  the  velocity  of  sound,  were  notable  discoveries. 

In  1891  Mr.  Colvin  was  nominated  for  the  office  of  State  engineer  and  surveyor 
receiving  538,000  votes  and  running  4,000  ahead  of  his  ticket. 

In  1893  Mr.  Colvin  represented  the  State  of  New  York  in  the  reception  of  the  Duke 
and  Dutchess  of  Veragua,  the  descendants  of  Columbus,  enjoying  the  pleasant  expe- 
riences of  traveling  with  them  among  the  mountains  and  lakes  of  this  State,  and  was 
given  a  dinner  at  the  Hotel  Waldorf  in  New  York  by  the  duke  and  duchess,  on  the 
evening  of  the  departure  of  the  distinguished  descendants  of  the  discoverer  of  Amer- 
ica for  Europe,  Col.  J.  Y.  L.  Pruyn,  of  the  Governor's  staff  being  the  only  othei 
guest  on  this  occasion. 

In  189")  Mr.  Colvin  was  reappointed  superintendent  of  the  State  Land  Survey,  an 
office  which  he  still  holds,  and  in  which  he  is  given  special  power  and  authority  to 
locate  the  boundaries  of  lands,  especially  of  the  great  counties,  towns  and  townships, 
his  decisions  being  prima-facie  evidence  in  the  courts. 

Mr.  Colvin  has  never  been  married. 


LUTHER  TUCKER. 

Li  iiii.k  Ti  i  kee  was  born  in  Brandon,  Vt.,  May  ;,  1802.  At  the  age  of  fourteen 
he  was  apprenticed  to  Timothy  C.  Strong,  a  printer  of  Middlebury.  Mr.  Strong  re- 
moved to  Palmyra,  N.  Y.,  in  1817  and  took  the  young  man  with  him,  but  they  did 
not  remain  long  together,  the  separation  coming  two  years  later,  before  Mr.  Tucker 
had  quite  finished  his  apprenticeship.  Mr.  Tucker  then  started  out  for  himself  ami 
in  the  prosecution  of  his  work,  visited,  difring  five  succeeding  years,  various  points  in 
the  North  and  East,  and  the  cities  of  Philadelphia,  Baltimore,  Washington  and  New 
York.  In  the  spring  of  1825  he  entered  into  partnership  at  Jamaica,  Long  Island, 
with  Henry  C.  .Sleight,  whose  business  was  chiefly  the  publication  of  standard  works 
for  New  York  houses.  Some  of  the  volumes  then  published  are  now  in  the  pi 
sion  of  his  sons,  bearing  the  imprint  of  Sleight  &  Tucker.     In   1823  Mr.  Tucker  had 


124 

passed  through  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  and  although  the  place  was  then  very  small,  he 
was  much  impressed  with  the  location.  He  witnessed  there  the  first  crossing  on  the 
aqueduct,  over  the  Genesee,  of  the  Erie  Canal.  When  looking  for  a  wider  field  than 
that  at  Tamaica,  he  went  to  Rochester  and 'at  the  earl}-  age  of  twenty-four  he  began 
the  publication  of  the  Rochester  Advertiser,  the  first  daily  newspaper  established  on 
this  continent  west  of  the  city  of  Albany.  Its  first  number  appeared  October  27, 
1826,  and  it  at  once  attracted  attention.  January  1,  1831,  he  established  the  Genesee 
Farmer,  while  still  continuing  the  Daily  Advertiser  The  circulation  of  the  Genesee 
Farmer  rapidly  increased,  notwithstanding  the  establishment  of  the  Cultivator  at 
Albany,  by  Judge  Buel,  under  the  auspices  of  the  State  Agricultural  Society  in  1834. 
Mr.  Tucker's  paper  had  the  larger  circulation  of  the  two.  In  1839,  after  purchasing 
a  farm  near  Rochester,  he  sold  the  daily  paper,  which  still  exists  as  one  of  the  lead- 
ing journals  of  Western  New  York,  under  the  name  of  the  Rochester  Union  and  Adver- 
tiser. Mr.  Tucker  then  intended  that  farming  and  the  publication  of  the  Farmer 
should  occupy  all  his  time,  but  before  a  single  season,  Judge  Bud's  death  at  Albany 
left  the  Cultivator  without  a  head  and  Mr.  Tucker  was  induced  to  combine  the  two 
papers.  The  number  of  the  paper  for  January,  1840,  was  published  from  Albany 
and  bore  the  title  of  "The  Cultivator;  a  consolidation  of  Buel's  Cultivator  and  the 
Genesee  Farmer."  The  publication  is  still  continued  by  one  of  his  sons  and  a  grand- 
son, under  the  old  firm  name,  Luther  Tucker  &  Son,  the  paper  (now  called  "The 
Cultivator  and  Countrv  Gentleman")  being  very  much  the  oldest  agricultural  period- 
ical of  any  class  in  this  country.  Mr.  Tucker  died  of  pneumonia,  Sunday,  January 
20,  187:1. 


LUTHER  H.  TUCKER. 

Luther  Henry  Tucker,  son  of  Luther  and  Mary  (Sparhawk)  Tucker,  was  born  in 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  October  19,  1834.  His  parents  were  of  English  descent  and  New 
England  birth  and  ancestry  dating  back  into  the  seventeenth  century.  At  the  time 
of  his  birth  his  father  was  engaged  in  the  publication  of  the  Rochester  Daily  Adver- 
tiser (a  journal  still  widely  popular  and  influential  in  this,  its  seventy  first  year)  and  of 
the  Genesee  Farmer,  both  which  papers  he  founded,  the  Advertiser  being  the  first 
daily  established  west  of  Albany  and  the  Farmer  the  first  really  practical  agricultural 
weekly  in  the  world.  The  death  of  Judge  Buel  of  Albany,  conductor  of  the 
Cultivator,  which  occurred  in  1839,  gave  Luther  Tucker  the  opportunity  of  acquir- 
ing that  paper  and  the  good  will  of  the  New  York  State  Agricultural  Society,  of 
which  body  the  Cultivator  was  regarded  as  in  some  sense  the  organ ;  and  he  estab- 
lished himself  at  Albany,  bringing  his  family  with  him,  in  time  to  consolidate  his 
new  purchase  with  the  Genesee  Farmer  for  the  first  issue  of  the  year  1840,  calling 
the  remodeled  journal  by  the  broader  name.  Here  his  son  began  school  life,  study- 
ing at  the  Albany  Academy  and  one  or  two  smaller  institutions,  and  entering  the 
sophomore  class  at  Yale  College  before  he  had  reached  his  eighteenth  birthday. 
Although  obliged  to  leave  his  college  course  unfinished,  he  took  high  junior  honors, 
became  eligible  to  election  to  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  fraternity,  and  the  faculty- 
granted  him  the  honorary  degree  of  A.  M.  with  the  rest  of  his  class. 


125 

The  premature  return  from  college  seemed  to  be  necessitated  by  the  state  of 
affairs  at  home.  When,  in  addition  to  the  monthly  Cultivator,  Luther  Tucker 
started  an  agricultural  weekly,  the  Country  Gentleman,  he  was  not  successful  in 
securing  for  the  business  management  of  the  venture  such  assistance  as  he  shortly 
found  to  be  absolutely  needful.  He  had  himself  little  aptitude  and  less  liking  for 
business  details  and  financial  plans.  The  son  appreciated  the  situation  and  felt 
there  was  just  one  course  for  him  to  pursue — abandon  his  studies  and  thoughts  of  a 
strictly  professional  career  and  lend  his  aid  to  the  management  of  the  papers.  So 
he  left  college  in  the  middle  of  junior  year  and  took  charge,  in  January,  1854,  of  the 
financial  side  of  his  father's  affairs,  becoming,  December  1,  1855,  a  partner  in  the 
firm  of  Luther  Tucker  &  Son.  And  it  was  chiefly  owing  to  his  efforts  that  the  new 
paper,  the  Country  Gentleman  (with  which  the  Cultivator  was  finally  merged),  proved 
a  financial  success. 

During  the  following  thirty  years  he  devoted  himself  to  the  paper  with  unremitting 
energy,  assuming  at  the  death  of  his  father  in  1873  the  editorial  as  well  as  the  busi- 
ness management.  In  the  beginning  he  taught  himself  bookkeeping  by  the  rapid 
absorption  of  the  contents  of  one  or  two  manuals  of  the  art  that  happened  to  be  at 
hand,  and  ultimately  devised  a  special  system  of  accounts  for  his  special  needs 
which  has  proved  in  the  highest  degree  satisfactory,  though  probably  quite  unlike 
anything  in  use  anywhere.  And  every  department  of  the  business  came  under  his 
scrutiny  and  largely  into  his  personal  care.  Economies  were  rapidly  effected,  the 
circulation  of  the  papers  was  pushed  by  every  means  then  known,  order  was  brought 
out  of  chaos,  and  business  prosperity  began. 

But  he  also  early  entered  into  the  editorial  part  of  the  work,  and  found  himself 
equally  successful  in  this  sphere,  and  fast  winning  wide  reputation.  In  the  summer 
of  fSfiO,  after  seeing  what  he  could,  in  brief  visits  here  and  there,  of  the  best  Ameri- 
can farming,  he  spent  some  months  in  Europe  (agricultural  operations  m  this  coun- 
try being  at  that  time  modeled  on  foreign  practice  after  a  fashion  hardly  conceivable 
bv  the  present  younger  generation  of  American  farmers)  and  detailed  his  observa- 
tions, first  in  letters  to  the  Country  Gentleman,  and  afterwards  in  a  contribution  to 
the  nineteenth  volume  of  the  "Transactions  of  the  State  Agricultural  Society,"  and 
in  a  series  of  lectures  on  English  agriculture  in  a  course  of  agricultural  instruction 
at  New  Haven  (delivered  in  I860)  which  attracted  wide  attention  and  aided  ma- 
terially in  the  subsequent  development  of  the  Sheffield  Scientific  School.  It  lias 
seemed  surprising  that  he  was  able  to  collect,  in  so  short  a  time,  and  particularly 
in  countries  like  France  and  Germany,  whose  languages  he  was  compelled  to  ac- 
quire by  periods  of  study  that  most  persons  would  consider  utterly  inadequate — 
Such  a  wealth  of  the  practical  ami  accurate  information  on  agricultural  practii  i 
which  the  trip  was  undertaken,  selecting  with  rare  judgment  the  points  most  likely 
to  In-  useful  in  the  United  States. 

(  >f  other  literary  work,  outside'  of  that  constantly  done  m  the  office  of  the  Country 
Gentleman,  Mr.  Tucker  preserved  no  record,  being  absolutely  careless  of  his  reputa- 
tion as  a  writer  and  speaker,  and  keeping  no  copies  of  a  number  of  lectun 
essays  of  his  that  were  at  one  time  and  another  printed.  In  1865,  at  the  time  when 
Congress  distributed  the  public  land  fund  for  the  establishment  of  colleges  of  agri- 
culture and  the  mechanic  arts,  Rutgers  College  at  New  Brunswick,  N.  I  .  received 
its  share,  and  Mr.  Tucker  was  appointed  professor  of  agriculture  in  the  first  an 


126 

ment  of  the  faculty  and  delivered  a  full  course  of  lectures.  He  was  compelled  to 
resign  his  chair,  however,  at  the  completion  of  his  course,  because  of  more  pressing 
duties  at  home. 

In  1858  Mr.  Tucker  was  elected  treasurer  of  the  State  Agricultural  Society  (as  had 
been  his  father,  ten  years  before),  and  entered  at  once  actively  into  the  management 
of  that  body.  He  brought  to  official  duty  the  same  habits  of  unbounded  energy, 
scrupulous  accuracy,  and  the  constant  aiming  at  improvement  and  expansion,  that 
characterized  his  operations  as  a  publisher ;  and  the  rapid  increase  in  the  financial 
resources  of  the  society  which  followed  his  election  was  certainly  due  in  considerable 
part  to  the  good  management  of  the  treasurer's  office  and  to  the  sound  judgment  of 
the  treasurer  himself  in  the  councils  of  the  governing  board.  He  resigned  this  office 
on  the  death  of  his  father  in  1873,  when  he  became  senior  member  of  the  firm  (the 
original  title  remaining  unaltered),  that  occurrence  throwing  upon  him  the  heavy 
burden  of  the  editorship  in  chief  of  the  paper  and  adding  greatly  to  his  responsibili- 
ties. The  executive  committee  accepted  the  resignation  "with  great  reluctance," 
according  to  a  minute  made  at  the  time,  adding  that  the  office  had  been  filled  by 
him  "most  acceptably  and  efficiently." 

So  passed  thirty  active  and  successful  years — years  however  in  which  there  was  at 
first  no  opportunity,  and  afterwards  but  little  thought,  of  recreation  or  pleasure. 
He  did,  it  is  true,  make  two  or  three  flying  visits  to  warmer  climes  like  Florida  and 
Cuba  to  escape  the  opening  of  our  northern  spring,  and  he  took  occasionally  a  few 
days  at  the  seashore  and  the  springs  in  summer.  But  for  the  most  part  he  was  per- 
petually at  his  post. 

In  the  autumn  of  1884,  however,  when  he*  had  just  passed  his  fiftieth  birthday,  this 
unremitting  application  began  to  tell.  A  heavy  cold,  neglected  at  first,  refused  after- 
ward to  yield  to  treatment,  and  brought  about  a  condition  of  general  malaise  that 
rendered  exertion  of 'any  kind  most  irksome;  and  at  last,  one  gloomy  dav  toward 
the  close  of  the  year — a  busy  day  it  was,  too,  when  the  editor-in-chief  had  his  hands 
and  his  head  especially  full — he  found  himself  absolutely  unable  to  go  on,  and  left 
the  office  for  rest  and  medical  advice,  expecting  that  a  few  days  at  home  would 
make  him  all  right  again. 

But  his  condition  had  become  so  serious  that  a  winter  in  Nassau  was  necessary, 
and  even  this  did  not  restore  his  former  health.  The  following  winter  (1886)  was 
spent  in  Bermuda,  and  from  January  to  June,  1887,  he  traveled  in  Southern  Europe 
and  Great  Britain.  For  some  years  following  shorter  trips  were  taken ;  another 
foreign  tour  in  1895.  So  although  these  years  were  shadowed  by  semi-invalidism, 
there  were  great  alleviations  in  the  larger  leisure  and  opportunities  for  travel  and 
observation.  His  life,  in  short,  seemed  enviable,  and  would  have  been  so  indeed, 
had  he  succeeded  in  recovering  completely  his  lost  health.  But  this  was  not  to  be. 
A  complication  of  disorders  caused  him  trouble,  and  gave  anxiety  to  those  who  loved 
him,—  sometimes  more,  and  sometimes  less,  but  never  entirely  absent  after  the  first 
break  down.  Toward  the  end  of  February,  1897,  the  symptoms  of  acute  Bright's 
disease  suddenly  developed,  and  on  Tuesday,  February  23,  he  passed  away  peace- 
fully and  painlessly. 

Mr.  Tucker  was  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Albany  Savings  Bank,  treasurer  of 
the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Albany  College  of  Pharmacy,  and  a  vestryman  of  St. 
Peter's  church. 


127 

November  28,  1865.  at  St,  George's  Manor,  L.  [.,  Mr.  Tucker  was  married  to  Cor- 
nelia Strong  Vail,  daughter  of  Harvey  Wentworth  Vail  and  Anne  (Jdall  \Tail  of 
Islip,  L.  I.  His  wife  survives  him  and  four  children,  Luther  Henry,  jr.,  Cornelia, 
Wentworth  and  Carll. 

The  following  are  among  the  resolutions  passed  at  Mr.  Tucker's  death  by  the 
various  bodies  with  which  he  was  connected: 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Albany  Savings  Bank,  called 
to  take  action  in  regard  to  the  death  of  Luther  H.  Tucker,  the  following  minute  was 
adopted : 

The  associates  of  Luther  II.  Tucker,  who  for  nearly  fourteen  years  has  been  a  trustee  <>f  this 
bank,  desire  to  express  their  sincere  sorrow  for  the  loss  of  one  who  lias  so  long  and  so  ablv  as- 
sisted in  the  management  of  this  institution,  and  to  bear  testimony  to  the  faithfulness  with  which 
he  has  met  the  responsibilities  of  the  position. 

While  unobtrusive  in  manner,  he  was  always  firm  in  his  advocacy  of  every  measure  which  he 
believed  would  subserve  the  best  interests  of  the  depositors,  and  his  associates  felt  that  they 
could  depend  upon  him  for  advice  and  council  whenever  needed. 

Totiis  family,  so  sadly  bereaved,  they  extend  their  sympathy  in  this  hour  of  trial,  and  as  a 
manifestation  of  their  respect  will  attend  his  funeral  in  a  body. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry  of  St.  Peter's  church,  Albany,  February  28,  1897.  an 
entry  was  directed  on  the  minutes  of  the  board,  in  respect  to  the  death  of  the  late 
Luther  H.  Tucker,  as  follows: 

The  rector,  wardens  and  vestrymen  of  St.  Peter's  church  have  received  with  profound  sorrow 
the  announcement  of  the  death  of  their  friend  and  associate,  Luther  H.  Tucker.  They  deeply 
mourn,  in  this  event,  the  loss  of  a  trusted  and  greatly  esteemed  officer  of  the  church,  and  of  a  fel- 
low citizen  of  rare  attainments,  widely  extended  influence  and  estimable  life  and  character,  and 
they  direct  that  the  following  brief  record  of  his  earthly  career  shall  be  entered  in  their  min 
transmitted  to  his  family,  and  given  to  the  press  for  publication. 

Somewhat  more  than  forty  years  ago  Mr.  Tucker,  then  barely  twenty  years  of  age,  came 
with  a  brilliant  record  for  scholarship  from  Yale  College,  his  Alma  Mater,  back  to  his  honic.it 
Albany,  quietly  dropped  into  his  seat  in  the  editorial  sanctum  of  the  Country  Gentleman,  by  i he- 
side  of  that  of  his  distinguished  father,  Luther  Tucker,  the  founder,  proprietor  and  editor  of  that 
sheet,  and  at  once  addressed  his  attention  diligently,  and  with  great  zeal,  to  the  especial  news- 
paper work  of  that  agricultural  organ. 

Sonic  twenty  years  later,  when  Luther  T inker,  the  senior,  having  conducted  the  papei 
through  his  untiring  and  determined  labors  to  a  useful  a  prosperous  career,  rested  from  his 
arduous  duties,  the  son  stepped  from  the  seat  which  hael  been  at  his  lather's  side  into  the  vacant 
place  at  the  head,  and  became,  as  his  father  before  him,  manager  and  editor-in-chief.  The 
prise  expanded  and  grew  with  the  efflux  of  years,  under  the  intelligent  management  which 
shaped  its  editorial  work,  and  guided  its  business  affairs,  and  it  became  more  and  tflore,  as  it 
continues  to  be  to-day,  the  most  important  and  reliable  of  the  agricultural  periodicals  of  tin's 
country. 

In  the  editorial  work  of  the  Country  Gentleman;  in  the  study  of  those  branches  of  useful  and 
practical  knowledge  which  were  incidental  and  essential  to  that  work;  in  literary  pursuits,  foi 
which  he  had  especial  fondness  and  adaptation;  in  the  enjoyment  of  tin-  pleasures  of  an  affluent 
and  delightful  domestic  life,  and  of  a  generous  hospitality;  in  the  pleasure  of  a  constant  ■ 
mi  travel  and  in  the  rational  enjoyments  of  human  existence.  Mr.  Tinker's  life  was  ; 
and  has  closed  with  the  record  of  a  career  of  undeviating  zeal  and  industry,  and  of  a  beneficial, 
although  seemingly  impersonal  influence  upon  human  society  which  is  seldom  the  lot  of  indi- 
vidual men  to  exert. 

The  honors  which  he  achieved  in  more  public  employments  were  those  obtained  throuj 
oasional  nor,  editorial  literary  productions  in  the  earlier  period  of  his  career;  bj  a    ■ 
tares  on  agricultural  subjects  at  Yale  College;  through  his  connection  with  Rutgei 
its  professor,  for  a  brief  period,  of  agriculture,  a  position  resigned  as  im  i 

torial  duties  at    Albany,   and    through   his  connection    with    the   NTew    York   §1  -lltural 

Societv  for  some  time  as  its  most  efficient  treasurer. 


128 

I  01  fifteen  years  he  had  been  a  member  of  this  board,  constantly  devoted  to  the  interests  of 
St.  Peter's  church;   a  judicious  and  reliable  counselor  in  its  affairs  and  a  ready  benefactor  in  its 

needs. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Albany  College  of  Pharmacy,  Feb- 
ruary 25,  the  following  resolution  was  adopted: 

Resolved-  That  in  the  death  of  Luther  H.  Tucker,  who  from  the  founding-  of  the  college  had 
been  a  member  of  this  board  and  its  treasurer,  we  have  suffered  great  and  serious  loss.  We 
shall  miss  his  wise  counsel,  unswerving  loyalty  and  substantial  aid.  We  extend  to  his  bereaved 
family  our  sincere  sympathy,  and  direct  that  this  resolution  be  suitably  published  and  spread 
upon  the  minutes  of  this  board. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Yale  Alumni   Association  of   Eastern  New  York  at  Albany, 
February  24,  the  following  was  adopted: 

The  friends  of  Mr.  Tucker  entertain  pleasant  memories  of  their  associations  with  him  in  the 
past,  and  they  appreciate  the  honor  which  his  literary  work  has  conferred  upon  his  Alma  Mater. 
In  later  years  he  showed  his  affection  for  the  college  by  sending  to  it  his  eldest  son,  to  be  edu- 
cated there.  The  association  desire  to  express  to  his  widow  and  children  their  heartfelt  sym- 
pathy in  their  hour  of  trial  and  loss. 


GEN.  JOHN  G.   FARNSWORTH. 

John  Gosman  Farnsworth  was  born  in  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  January  21,  1832.  His 
parents  were  Marshall  L.  Farnsworth  and  Joanna  B.  Gosman,  his  wife.  His  father 
was  born  March  12,  1798,  was  graduated  at  Union  College  in  1825,  and  on  June  30, 
1830,  married  Joanna  B.  Gosman;  he  died  November  27,  1838.  He  was  a  faithful 
minister  of  the  Congregational  church.  General  Farnsworth  traced  his  descent  to 
both  English  and  Holland  Dutch  sources.  On  the  paternal  side  he  was  descended 
from  members  of  that  sturdy  body  of  Puritans  who  made  a  home  on  the  rugged 
shores  of  Massachusetts  more  than  two  and  a  half  centuries  ago,  and  among 
whose  children  and  children's  children  were  many  whose  names  became  prominent 
in  the  Revolutionary,  literary  and  theological  history  of  the  early  days  of  this 
country,  On  his  mother's  side  he  came  from  the  earliest  Dutch  settlers  of  New 
York. 

General  Farnsworth  was  the  recipient  of  a  practical  education,  having  pursued  in- 
telligently and  faithfully  his  studies  at  the  academies  in  Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  and  Albany, 
supplemented  by  a  course  at  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  fitting  him  thoroughly  for  the  active 
duties  and  responsibilities  of  life.  His  first  business  enterprise  was  in  the  wholesale 
lumber  trade  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  J.  O.  Towner  &  Co.,  which  for  many  years 
carried  on  an  extensive  business.  Here  Mr.  Farnsworth  found  active  employment 
for  his  mind,  and  gradually  absorbed  those  correct  and  systematic  business  prin- 
ciples which  in  later  years  made  him  so  valuable  a  servant  in  the  public  service. 

When,  in  1861,  the  crash  of  civil  war  pealed  over  the  land,  shattering  the  con- 
tent of  thousands  of  homes,  and  plunging  into  chaos  the  business  of  the  country, 
young  Farnsworth  felt  moving  within  him  a  new  and  theretofore  untried  sentiment. 
A  firm  Democrat  of  the  Jacksonian  school,  he  was  none  the  less  a  patriot  and  sup- 
porter of  the  administration  to  which  he  was  politically  opposed.  If  his  country 
needed  his  services  in  the  suppression  of  the  Rebellion,  he  was  ready  to  devote  them 
to  the  full  extent  of  his  power. 


129 

On  the  14th  of  April,  1802,  he  was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln  to  the  post  of 
of  captain  and  assistant  quartermaster  and  assigned  to  duty  in  the  Army  of  the 
1'otomac.  In  this  position  he  found  ample  scope  to  employ  the  knowledge  gained 
in  his  business  experience,  and  so  well  did  he  apply  it  that  from  July.  1S<">2,  to 
August,  1883,  he  served  as  chief  quartermaster  of  the  Fourth  Army  Corps  under 
.M;il.-Gen.  E.  D.  Keyes.  From  August,  1803,  until  January,  1864,  as  a  member  of 
the  staff  of  Gen.  M.  C.  Meigs,  quartermaster-general  of  the  U.  S.  army,  he  accom- 
panied the  latter  on  a  tour  of  inspection  through  the  western  departments,  and  was 
present  with  him  during  the  siege  of  Chattanooga  and  at  the  desperate  battles  of 
Mission  Ridge  and  Lookout  Mountain. 

From  February,  1864,  to  November  of  the  same  year  General  Farnsworth  was  in 
command  at  Wheeling  of  the  principal  supply  depot  of  the  quartermaster's  depart- 
ment of  West  Virginia,  and  from  November,  L864,  to  September,  1865,  he  was  chief 
quartermaster  of  the  department  of  West  Virginia  with  headquarters  at  Cumber- 
land. October  23,  1865,  upon  his  own  application,  he  was  mustered  out  of  the 
United  States  service  and  returned  home  to  engage  in  his  former  business.  1 1  is 
record  throughout  the  Rebellion  was  untarnished;  on  the  contrary  his  whole  career 
was  characterized  by  faithfulness,  energy,  and  the  brilliant  faculty  of  always  being 
ready,  and  his  brevets  of  major,  lieutenant-colonel  ami  colonel  of  United  States 
Volunteers  were  but  small  tokens  of  recognition  of  the  worth  of  his  devotion  and 
labor. 

September  21,  1868,  he  became  connected  with  the  military  service  of  the  State, 
and  until  1871  was  colonel  of  the  10th  Battalion,  National  Guard.  January  1,  1883, 
Governer  Cleveland  appointed  him  adjutant  general  of  the  State,  and  in  this 
capacity  he  proved  his  ability  as  an  administrative  military  officer.  1  Hiring  his  in- 
cumbency the  National  Guard  improved  in  strength,  discipline  and  efficiency,  and 
the  Camp  of  Instruction  (established  by  General  Townsend  in  1882)  was  made  . 
manent  feature;  under  General  Farnsworth's  direction  the  site  near  Peekskill  was 
purchased  for  this  purpose  and  is  now  known  as  the  State  Camp;  also,  during  his 
term,  a  new  service  uniform  was  adopted,  a  new  military  code  became  a  law  and 
new  regulations  were  adopted.  .  On  the  request  of  General  Farnsworth  in  1S84,  the 
United  States  War  Department  permitted  the  use  of  one  of  the  forts  at  New  York, 
for  a  brief  period,  to  be  occupied  by  a  regiment  from  that  city  for  the  purpose  of 
instruction  in  the  handling  and  firing  the  heavy  sea-coast  guns,  the  success  of  which 
tour  proved  its  wisdom  ;  the  practice  was  continued  during  his  administration. 

At  the  close  of  his  official  term,  General  Farnsworth  was  placed  on  the  super- 
numerary list  of  officers,  subject  to  call  to  duty  when  required,  an  instance  of  which 
occurred  in  1890,  when  he  was  sent  to  Syracuse  to  take  command  in  suppressing  the 
threatened  railroad  difficulties  at  that  point. 

In   187H  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  commissioners  of  Washington    Park  and 
served  as  such  nine  years.      In  1880  he  was  placed   in   charge  of  the  prosecution  of 
war  claims  of  the  State  of  New  York  against   the  United  States,  an  office  he  fill' 
the  time  of  his  death,  and  in  which  he  succeeded  in  collecting  about  $8,000,000.      He- 
was  a  member  of  the  Military   Order  of  the  Loyal    Legion  of  the  United   Stati 
the  Fort  Orange  Club,  the  Masonic  order,  and  several  other  organizations. 

In  1850  General    Farnsworth   was  married   to  Miss  Sarah  V.  Gourlay,  daughti 
Q 


130 

William  B.  Gourlay,  of  Albany.     They  had  two  children:  John  Farnsworth,  married 
and  a  resident  of  Plattsburg,  and  a  daughter,  Emma. 

General  Farnsworth  died  from  a  stroke  of  paralysis,  at  the  Arlington  Hotel, 
Washington,  D.  C,  April  6,  1895.  He  contracted  a  heavy  cold  the  previous  winter, 
which  developed  into  a  protracted  attack  of  the  grip.  In  the  hope  of  being  able  to 
drive  the  disease  from  his  system  he  went  to  Washington  six  weeks  before  his 
demise,  and  was  followed  two  weeks  later  by  Mrs.  Farnsworth,  who  was  by  his  bed- 
side when  he  expired. 

His  funeral  was  notable,  not  only  in  the  numbers  and.  prominence  of  those  in  at- 
tendance, but  in  the  impressive  solemnity  of  the  service,  and  accompanied,  as  it  was, 
with  all  the  honors  that  should  be  paid  to  a  gallant  soldier,  an  upright  and  faithful 
official  and  good  citizen.  St.  Peter's  chnrch  never  held  within  its  walls  a  more 
sympathetic  body  of  mourners,  and  the  unspoken  sorrow  was  visibly  impressed  upon 
the  face  of  every  one  present. 

The  following  tribute  to  General  Farnsworth  is  taken  from  resolutions  passed  by 
the  Commandery  of  the  State  of  New  York,  Military  Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion  of 
the  United  States: 

1 '  On  the  evening  of  April  6,  1895,  there  passed  suddenly  from  life's  activities  here  to 
the  life  beyond  one  whose  mainspring  of  action  was  intense  loyalty  to  duty  and  to 
friends.  Gentle  by  nature  and  simple-hearted,  trustful  yet  cautious,  generous  of  im- 
pulse and  with  straightforward  singleness  of  purpose,  doing  the  right  because  it  was 
right  without  thought  of  his  own  advancement  and  interest,  a  lovely,  honest,  brave 
character,  he  died  deeply  lamented  by  his  immediate  friends,  who  were  legion,  and 
by  a  greater  multitude  with  whom,  through  many  years,  he  had  been  thrown  in 
familiar  official  intercourse.  The  tributes  of  intense  respect  showered  upon  his 
bereaved  family  were  silent  witnesses  to  the  manly  life  of  one  who  never  turned  his 
back  on  a  friend  nor  faltered  in  the  performance  of  duty  or  in  any  proper  sacrifice 
to  aid  others.  Unselfish  to  the  last  degree,  he  was  blind  to  the  ingratitude  of  others. 
His  eyes  beheld  always  the  better  and  bright  side  of  human  nature. 

"  Pleased  with  his  guests,  the  good  man  learned  to  glow, 
And  ciuite  forget  their  vices  in  their  woe; 
Careless  their  merits  or  their  faults  to  scan, 
I  lis  pity  gave  ere  charity  began. 

Thus  to  relieve  the  wretched  was  his  pride, 

And  e'en  his  failings  leaned  to  virtue's  side." 


GEORGE  H.   CURREEN. 

George  H.  Curreen,  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Moure)  Curreen,  was  born  in  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  May  27,  183G.  His  maternal  great-grandfather,  Hans  Collenberg,  came  from 
Holland  and  located  in  the  town  of  Bethlehem,  Albany  county,  and  built  a  house 
where  the  Reformed  church  school  house  now  stands.  His  paternal  great-grandfather 
came  from  Nova  Scotia.  Mr.  Curreen  attended  the  public  schools  of  the  city  of 
Albany,  and  learned  the  trade  of  stonecutter  with  George  Belden  in  Greenbush,  N.Y. 
He  remained  with  him  four  years  and  then  started  in  business  for  himself.     The 


GEORGE  H.  CURREEN. 


131 

panic  of  1857  caused  him  considerable  loss  and  he  moved  to  Ballston  Spa,  N.  Y., 
where  he  worked  for  O.  D.  Vaughn  at  the  trade  he  had  learned,  until  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war. 

In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  115th  N.  Y.  Vols,  and  was  made  first  sergeant 
upon  the  organization  of  Company  C.  At  the  surrender  of  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  to 
Stonewall  Jackson,  Sept.  25,  1862,  where  with  his  Regiment  he  was  made  a  prisoner, 
Sergeant  Curreen  saved  the  regimental  colors,  the  only  colors  of  the  12,000  troops 
that  were  saved  from  the  enemy.  He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Olustee,  Florida, 
February  20,  1864,  and  received  promotion  to  second  lieutenant  from  Governor 
Horatio  Seymour,  the  commission  dating  from  the  battle  of  Olustee.  He  was  again 
wounded  June  30,  1864,  at  the  Mine  Explosion,  Petersburg,  Va.,  and  thereupon  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant.  Many  times  he  was  sent  North  by  Gen. 
(  ).  A.  Gilmore  on  special  service.  He  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  at  Albany, 
X.  Y.,  in  December,  1864,  and  in  1865  Governor  Fenton  commissioned  him  captain 
of  the  National  Guard  in  recognition  of  his  many  noble  acts.  Mr.  Curreen  is  now 
a  member  of  Post  644,  G.  A.  R.,  and  has  held  at  different  times  all  the  offices  of 
the  post.  He  was  also  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Lucius  B.  Fairchild  when  he  was  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  G.  A.  R. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Curreen  located  in  Greenbush,  N.  V.,  where  he  had  charge  of 
the  police  force,  then  under  the  Capital  City  Police  Commission,  associated  with 
Chief  Shepard  and  Superintendent  Allen.  He  subsequently  went  into  business 
again  and  owned  and  controlled  the  Monumental  Architectural  Works.  He  re- 
mained in  Greenbush  until  1891,  when  he  removed  to  his  present  location,  No.  154 
Madison  avenue,  Albany.  He  held  public  office  in  Greenbush  several  times.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Liederkranz  Singing  Society  and  of  the  Trinity  M.  E.  church,  in 
which  he  has  held  many  important  offices.  June  1,  1857,  he  married  Sarah  A.  Near 
of  Albany,  and  they  had  five  children:  George  B.,  Lewis  M.,  Grace  R.,  Ida  F.  and 
Fred  M.     Mrs.  Curreen  died  Mav  12,  1895. 


ISAAC    H.    MAYNARD. 

Hon.  Isaac  H.  Maynard  was  born  in  Bovina,  Delaware  county,  N.  Y.,  April  9, 
1838.  His  paternal  ancestry  were  of  English  origin,  his  great-grandfather  emigrat- 
ing to  this  country  from  the  north  of  England  in  1740.  His  maternal  ancestors  were 
Scotch.  His  earlier  years  were  passed  on  his  father's  farm  and  in  attendance  at  the 
district  school.  In  1854  he  entered  the  Stamford  Seminary,  where  he  prepared  for 
college,  entering  Amherst  College  in  1858  and  graduating  with  honors  in  1862.  In 
the  study  of  Greek  he  took  one  of  the  Mather  prizes  and  for  his  proficiency  in  extem- 
poraneous debate  during  his  college  course,  he  received  one  of  the  Hardy  prizes. 
He  delivered  the  German  oration  at  the  Junior  exhibition  and  was  one  of  the  moni- 
tors of  his  class.  He  pronounced  one  of  the  English  orations  at  the  commencement 
and  was  valedictorian. 

Two  months  after  graduating  he  entered  the  law  office  of  the  late  Hon.  William 
Murray,  afterwards  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  at  Delhi,  N.  V.,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1863.     He  practiced  law  in  Delhi  in   1865,  when   he  removed  to  Stain- 


132 

ford,  Delaware  county,  and  formed  a  partnership  with  his  cousin,  F.  R.  Gilbert, 
afterwards  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  which  continued  until  January,  1878.  Mr. 
Maynard  was  elected  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Stamford,  and  in  1870  was  re-elected 
and  made  chairman  of  the  board.  He  was  largely  instrumental  in  securing  the  in- 
corporation of  the  village  by  special  act  of  the  Legislature  and  was  the  author  of  its 
charter.  He  was  elected  the  first  president  and  was  re  elected  unanimously  for  ten 
successive  years. 

In  1875  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Assembly  and  in  1876  was  re  elected.  He 
was  an  active  supporter  of  Governor  Tilden  in  the  presidential  contest  of  1877,  and 
was  always  among  the  foremast  leaders  of  the  Democratic  party.  In  1877  Mr.  May- 
nard was  elected  county  judge  and  surrogate  of  Delaware  county  and  served  a  full 
term  of  six  years.  In  1883  he  was  the  Democratic  candidate  for  secretary  of  state. 
January  1,  1884,  he  was  appointed  by  Attorney-General  O'Brien,  deputy  attorney- 
general,  which  office  he  held  until  the  following  June,  when  he  was  called  by  Presi- 
dent Cleveland  to  assume  the  duties  of  second  comptroller  of  the  United  States 
Treasury.  April  1,  1887,  he  was  appointed  assistant  secretary  of  the  treasury,  to 
succeed  Charles  S.  Fairchild,  who  had  been  made  secretary  upon  the  retirement  of 
Daniel  Manning.  He  resigned  this  position  March  5,  1889,  but  remained  at  his  desk 
until  April  1,  at  the,  request  of  Secretary  Windom. 

On  May  22,  1889,  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Hill,  one  of  the  commissioners  to 
revise  the  laws  of  the  State  of  New  York  and  while  engaged  in  this  work,  he  pre- 
pared the  original  draft  of  the  revised  corporation  laws  of  the  State.  January  1, 
1890,  he  was  again  appointed  deputy  attorney  general  by  Attorney-General  Tabor 
and  re-appointed  January  1,  1892,  by  Attorney-General  Rosendale. 

On  January  19,  1892,  he  was  honored  by  Governor  Flower  with  the  appointment 
as  associate  judge  of  the  Court  of  Appeals,  in  place  of  Judge  Earl,  who  had  been  ap- 
pointed chief  judge  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  Judge  Ruger,  and  he  was 
reappointed  January  1,  1893,  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  election  of  Judge  Andrews 
to  be  chief  judge.  In  the  latter  year  he  was  nominated  by  the  Democrats  to  succeed 
himself,  but  was  defeated.  Upon  his  retirement  from  the  bench,  January  1.  1894, 
Judge  Maynard  resumed  the  practice  of  the  law  in  Albany,  in  connection  with  his 
former  partner,  Judge  Gilbert,  the  firm  being  Maynard,  Gilbert  &  Cone.  He  was 
an  eminent  jurist  and  a  lawyer  of  great  learning,  and  his  native  sagacity,  his  long- 
experience  and  intimate  knowledge  of  men  and  affairs  greatly  enhanced  his  useful- 
ness as  a  judge  of  the  highest  court  of  the  State.  He  died  in  Albany  June  12,  1896, 
leaving  a  widow  and  one  daughter,  who  reside  in  Stamford,  N.  Y. 


NOEL   E.    SISSON. 

Noel  E.  Sisson  was  born  in  the  town  of  Berne,  Albany  county,  N.  Y.,  on  the  23d 
day  of  January,  1821.  In  those  days  in  the  country  it  was  always  a  hard  struggle 
for  a  livelihood,  and  Noel,  appreciating  this  fact,  and  being  slender  in  physique  and 
not  very  robust,  at  the  early  age  of  fourteen  left  the  farm  and  parental  roof,  with 
consent  of  his  parents,  and  went  to  work  in  a  store  at   Hunter's  Land,  where  his 


NOEL  E.  S1SSON, 


133 

employer,  who  had  been  a  schoolmaster,  promised  him  teaching  in  books  and  instruc- 
tion as  his  compensation. 

The  boy  soon  found,  however,  that  the  promised  instructon  was  mainly  confined 
to  the  manual  labor  he  was  expected  to  perform  in  the  store  and  daily  chores. 

He  remained  in  this  place  about  a  year;  but  during  this  period  young  Sisson  em- 
ployed all  his  spare  time  at  his  books. 

The  next  few  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  working,  going  to  school  and  teaching 
school;  always  striving  to  get  an  education  and  better  his  condition  in  life.  With 
this  end  in  view,  at  the  age  of  twenty-four,  in  1845,  he  did  what  so  many  others  have 
done,  and  what  so  many  are  still  doing;  he  came  to  the  city — to  Albany,  full  of  ardor 
and  full  of  hope,  with  a  firm  determination  to  succeed  in  life 

At  this  time  the  method  of  taking  pictures  by  photography  was  in  its  infancy,  and 
Mr.  Sisson,  after  carefully  studying  the  process  and  becoming  familiar  with  the  art, 
entered  into  the  business  at  the  corner  of  Maiden  Lade  and  Broadway.  Subse- 
quently he  enlarged  his  business  and  dealt  in  photographers'  supplies,  etc.,  and 
built  up  a  large  trade,  which  he  continued  at  this  place  with  great  success  for  four- 
teen years. 

About  this  time  Mr.  Donald  MacDonald,  a  sturdy,  worthy  Scotchman  and  friend,  had 
just  returned  from  a  visit  abroad,  where  he  had  found  his  brother  making  gas  meters, 
and  believing  that  it  would  be  a  profitable  venture  to  enter  into  in  this  country,  he 
came  to  Mr.  Sisson,  his  old  friend,  and  asked  him  to  loan  him  a  thousand  dollars. 
Mr.  Sisson,  knowing  Mr.  MacDonald  to  be  an  honest,  worthy  man,  and  wishing  to 
aid  him,  kindly  advanced  the  sum  required. 

A  little  later  on,  another  loan  was  applied  for  and  freely  given.  Mr.  MacDonald 
had  started  his  manufactory  in  a  small  shop  on  Lancaster  street,  employing  but  a 
few  men.  The  business  grew,  but  money  was  wanted,  and  Mr.  MacDonald  came  to 
Mr.  Sisson  and  asked  him  to  take  a  half  interest  in  the  business  and  furnish  the 
necessary  capital. 

The  arrangement  was  made  and  the  firm  of  D.  MacDonald  &  Co.  was  formed  in 
1859,  and  still  continues.  The  elder  MacDonald  is  dead,  but  his  son  has  succeeded 
to  his  father's  interest. 

The  little  shop  of  1859  has  grown  to  a  fine  stately  building,  running  through  from 
Lancaster  to  Chestnut  street,  in  1897  giving  employment  to  some  2Q0  men. 

Mr.  Sisson  has  twice  married;  his  first  wife  was  Miss  Emaline  Griffin,  daughter'of 
Dr.  Griffin,  of  Middleburgh,  N.  Y.  He  has  two  children :  a  daughter,  Eleanor,  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Daniel  C.  Bennett,  and  a  son,  Frank  N.  Sisson.  The  second  wife  was 
Miss  Anna  Bogardus  of  Albany.  Mr.  Sisson  has  long  resided  at  92  Lancaster  street. 
in  one  of  the  pleasantest  residences  in  Albany,  with  large  grounds  in  the  rear,  where 
in  the  summer  time  it  is  his  delight  to  spend  a  portion  of  his  time  in  his  well  culti- 
vated garden  and  among  his  beautiful  roses  and  flowers. 

Mr.  Sisson  is  a  director  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Albany,  and  of  the  Commerce 
Insurance  Company  of  Albany.  He  is  also  president  of  the  Gas  Light  Company  of 
Bath,  Steuben  county,  X.  Y. .  and  a  charter  member  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club  of 
Albany. 

Mr.  Sisson  is  a  plain,  quiet,  unostentatious  man,  with  habits  of  industry  and  per- 
severance, genial  manners,  sturdy  honesty  and  square  dealings  in  all  his  business 
affairs;  whose  word  among  his  associates  is  always  as  good  as  lus  bond  ;  thrifty  and 


,  134 

saving  in  the  early  period  of  his  life,  and  when  in  after  years  well  earned  compe- 
tency came,  generous  and  liberal  to  old  friends  and  worthy  charities;  a  man  of  keen 
perception  and  far  seeing  intuition  in  business  affairs  that  has  made  him  a  valued 
adviser  to  many  friends,  and  a  wise  counselor  to  his  associates  in  the  companies  and 
corporations  with  which  he  has  been  officially  connected ;  upright  character,  honesty 
and  integrity,  all  these  are  happily  united  and  firmly  welded  in  the  life  and  char- 
acter of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Now  in  his  after  years,  when  his  sun  has  passed  the  meridian,  and  he  looks  back 
along  the  paths  of  his  labor  and  life's  work  with  supreme  happiness  and  contentment, 
how  pleasant  must  be  the  satisfaction  to  him  that  he  has  not  lived  in  vain  ;  that  while 
making  himself  and  his  family  happy  and  prosperous,  he  has  also  contributed  to  the 
happiness  and  prosperity  of  others;  that  he  has  been  instrumental  in  giving  honora- 
ble employment  to  thousands  of  men,  with  fair  and  reasonable  remuneration,  and 
that  by  so  doing  he  has  largely  aided  in  making  many  happy  homes  and  contributed 
to  the  prosperity  of  the  city  of  his  adoption. 

This,  in  brief,  is  the  story  of  Mr.  Sisson's  life,  and  it  presents  a  fruitful  chapter  to 
the  young  men  of  the  present  age,  full  of  useful  lessons  and  instruction  for  their 
benefit  and  guidance. 


DANIEL  MANNING. 

Hon.  Daniel  Manning,  son  of  John,  was  born  in  Albany,  August  10,1831,  and  died 
there  December  24, 1887.  He  received  a  good  public  school  education  and  when  twelve 
years  of  age  entered  the  office  of  the  Albany  Argus,  where,  by  his  natural  abilities, 
he  rose  gradually  through  the  various  grades  until  he  became  manager  of  the  paper. 
In  1873  he  was  elected  president  of  the  Argus  Company,  which  position  he  held  until 
his  death.  He  devoted  much  study  to  our  banking  system,  became  well  versed  in  all 
great  financial  matters  and  was  an  authority  on  different  questions  in  this  depart- 
ment. He  was  a  trustee  of  the  National  Savings  Bank,  became  vice-president  of 
the  National  Commercial  Bank  in  1881  and  at  .the  death  of  Hon.  Robert  H.  Pruyn 
in  1882,  was  elected  president  of  the  latter  institution.  He  also  gave  much  attention 
to  railroad  matters  and  was  especially  interested  in  the  Albany  &  Susquehanna  line. 
His  political  career  was  a  most  brilliant  one,  beginning  about  1872,  and  for  many 
years  he  was  the  recognized  leader  in  Albany  of  the  Democratic  party.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  State  Democratic  Conventions  from  1874  to  1884,  a  member  of  the 
Democratic  State  Committee  from  1874  to  1885,  secretary  of  the  same  in  1879-80 
and  chairman  from  1881  to  1884,  and  a  delegate  to  the  National  Democratic  Conven- 
tions of  1876,  1880,  and  1884,  serving  as  chairman  of  that  body  in  1880  and  of  the 
New  York  delegation  in  1884,  when  Grover  Cleveland  was  first  nominated  for  the 
presidency,  an  event  largely  due  to  the  political  sagacity  and  bold  leadership  of  Mr. 
Manning.  In  March,  1885,  President  Cleveland  appointed  him  secretary  of  the 
treasury  at  Washington,  which  position  he  resigned  in  April,  1887,  in  consequence 
of  failing  health.  The  last  official  appointment  which  he  accepted  was  the  presi- 
dency of  the  Western  National  Bank  of  New  York.  As  an  able  and  sound  financier 
and  as  a  successful  politician,  his  name  will   live   in    the  pages  of  American  history 


135 

through  coming  generations.  In  1853  Mr.  Manning  married  Mary  Little,  who  died 
in  1882.  There  were  four  children:  James  Hilton  Manning,  so  long  identified  with 
the  Argus,  and  Frederick  Clinton  Manning,  a  prominent  engraver  of  Albany,  arc 
his  sons;  and  two  daughters,  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Jules  C.  Van  der  Oudermeuluen ; 
Anna,  wife  of  John  A.  Delehanty.  November  19,  1884,  he  married  Mary  Margarctta 
Fryer,  daughter  of  William  J,  Fryer,  of  Albany. 


JOHN  M.    BIGELOW,   M.  D.,   Ph.  D. 

John  M.  Bigelow,  M.D.,  Ph.D.,  was  born  in  Albany  on  the  22d  day  of  August. 
1847,  and  descends  from  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  respected  families  in  American 
colonial  history.  His  ancestors  migrated  from  Braintree,  Essex  county,  England, 
and  settled  near  Boston,  Mass.,  soon  after  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims  in  1620.  From 
that  time  until  the  present  they  have  been  conspicuous  in  professional,  commercial, 
civil,  military  and  social  affairs,  many  of  them  holding  high  official  posts  in  the  army, 
the  State  and  the  nation.  They  were  especially  prominent  in  developing  the  early 
history  of  New  England  and  in  shaping  the  destinies  of  the  Massachusetts  colony. 
Among  Dr.  Bigelow' s  ancestors  are  Dr.  Jacob  Bigelow  and  Dr.  Henry  J.  Bigelow, 
D.C.L.,  of  Boston;  Hon.  John  Bigelow,  secretary  of  state;  Harriet  Beecher  Stowe, 
the  famous  authoress;  and  Hon.  Alpheus  Bigelow,  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court;  and 
many  who  were  active  as  soldiers,  officers  or  civilians  during  the  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. On  his  mother's  side  he  is  of  pure  German  stock,  being  a  descendant  of  Jacob 
von  Zimmer,  a  general  in  the  army  of  Frederick  the  Great,  who  settled  in  America 
in  1732.  Another  famous  ancestor  was  Frederick  Basslaer,  a  professor  in  the  Univer- 
sity of  Berne,  Switzerland,  who  came  to  the  United  States  in  1740.  The  late  T.  S. 
Doolittle,  D.D. ,  LL.D.,  vice-president  of  Rutgers  College,  was  also  connected  with 
the  family. 

Dr.  Bigelow's  great-great-grandfather,  Dr.  Josiah  Bigelow,  of  Weston,  Mass.,  was 
born  in  1730  and  died  in  1810,  and  was  a  prominent  physician,  as  was  also  his  son, 
Dr.  Uriah  Bigelow,  of  Worcester,  N.  Y.,  who  was  born  in  1765  and  died  in  1842. 
His  grandfather,  Dr.  Uriah  Gregory  Bigelow,  sr.,  of  Worcester,  and  son  of  Dr.  Uriah, 
was  born  in  1794,  married  Miss  Henrietta  Barnes  in  1816,  became  a  member  of  the 
New  York  State  Medical. Society,  and  died  in  1850.  Dr.  Bigelow's  father,  Dr.  Uriah 
Gregory  Bigelow,  jr.,  was  born  in  Worcester,  N.  Y.,  in  1821,  married  Lovina  von 
Zimmer  in  1843,  settled  in  Albany  in  May,  1844,  and  died  here  in  February,  1872;  he 
was  at  one  time  president  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society,  curator  of  the 
Albany  Medical  College,  member  of  the  New  York  State  Medical  .Society,  and  was 
one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  the  city. 

Dr  John  M.  Bigelow  inherited  the  sturdy  characteristics  and  rare  mental  endow- 
ments of  this  splendid  ancestry,  and  ably  represents  the  fifth  of  five  generations  of 
talented  physicians  and  surgeons.  From  early  youth  he  has  worked  assiduously, 
first,  to  secure  an  education,  and  afterward  to  practice  those  principles  which  hard 
and  continued  study  enabled  him  to  master.  He  was  graduated  from  the  Albany 
Boys'  Academy  with  full  diploma  in  1863  and  won  several  prizes,  among  them  the 
Van  Rensselaer  classical  medal.     In  1864  he  entered  the  junior  class  of  Williams 


136 


College,  where  he  made  rapid  progress  in  his  studies,  and  from  which  he  was  gradu 
ated  with  the  degree  of  A.B.  in  1866.  Soon  afterward  he  began  the  study  of  medi- 
cine at  the  Albany  Medical  College  and  later  entered  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons  of  New  York  city,  and  received  the  degree  of  M.D.  from  each  institution 
in  1870.     He  became  a  practicing  physician  in  Albany,  by  license   in  1869. 

Dr.  Bigelow  was  among  the  first  physicians  in  the  United  States  to  make  a  specialty 
of  diseases  of  the  throat  and  nose,  in  the  treatment  of  which  he  has  had  a  wide  and 
valuable  experience.  There  are  few  practitioners  in  the  State  who  are  better  known 
or  enjoy-  a  higher  reputation.  His  work  in  colleges  and  hospitals  has  been  varied. 
He  was  professor  of  materia  medica  and  therapeutics  and  of  diseases  of  the  throat 
and  nose  in  the  Albany  Medical  College  from  1870  to  1896,  when  he  resigned  the 
former  chair  to  devote  his  attention  to  the  latter.  He  has  been  attending  physician 
to  the  Albany  City  and  St.  Peter's  Hospitals  since  1870,  and  the  Old  Men's  Home 
since  1874,  and  is  now  attending  physician  and  surgeon  for  the  diseases  of  the  throat 
and  nose  to  each  of  these  institutions.  In  therapeutics  he  is  a  recognized  authority 
in  this  country.  His  lectures,  which  are  mainly  extempore,  embody  the  most  ad- 
vanced and  tenable  thoughts  and  facts  of  the  science  and  art  of  medicine  of  the 
present  age,  and  the  remark  is  often  made  that  they  have  the  finish  of  a  book.  They 
are  certainly  combined  with  and  illustrated  by  a  long  and  successful  practice,  and 
are  remarkable  for  their  command  of  language  and  clear,  concise  presentation  of  the 
subject.  His  connection  with  the  Albany  Medical  College  has  been  of  inestimable 
value  to  that  institution  and  to  the  hundreds  of  students  who  have  pursued  their 
professional  education  under  his  able  and  conscientious  teachings. 

Dr.  Bigelow  was  county  physician  in  1871,  has  been  president,  and  for  twenty-seven 
years  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society,  and  is  a  member  of  the  New 
York  State  Medical  Society  and  the  American  Medical  Association.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  International  Medical  Congress,  was  one  of  the  honorary  presidents 
of  the  Pan-American  Congress,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  and  Alpha 
Delta  Phi  college  fraternities,  and  of  Masters  Lodge  No.  5,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Albany. 
He  is  a  life  member  and  ex-president  of  the  Young  Men's  Association,  an  honorary 
member  of  the  Albany  Burgesses  Corps,  a  charter  member  of  the  Albany  Club,  an 
associate  member  of  the  Albany  Press  Club,  a  member  of  the  Unconditional  Repub- 
lican Club,  and  an  honorary  member  of  several  other  organizations.  In  March,  1892, 
Rutgers  College  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  Ph.D.  He  is  one  of  the  most 
charitable,  public  spirited  and  benevolent  of  men,  kind  hearted,  companionable  and 
sympathetic,  and  is  always  ready  to  relieve  distress  and  encourage  worthy  enter- 
prises. He  is  a  large  property  owner,  is  one  of  the  substantial  and  foremost  citizens 
of  Albany,  and  is  universally  esteemed  and  respected  as  a  gentleman  and  highly 
honored  as  a  physician. 

On  February  14,  1874,  Dr.  Bigelow  was  married  to  Miss  Sara  A.,  daughter  of  the 
late  Thomas  P.  and  Amelia  T.  Crook,  of  Albany,  where  she  was  born  January  19, 
1848.  She  died  September  21.  1879.  Their  only  son  and  child,  Albert  Stewart  Bige- 
low, died  November  26,  1876. 


137 
JOHN  H.   FARRELL.      » 

John  H.  Farreli.  was  born  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson  River,  near  Albany,  Sep- 
tember 1,  1839,  and  was  educated  at  No.  8  public  school  in  Albany  and  the 
Christian  Brothers'  Academy  in  Troy.  When  fifteen  he  entered  the  employ  of 
Hugh  J.  Hastings  of  the  Albany  Knickerbocker  and  remained  with  him  nearly  two 
years;  he  then  entered  the  employ  of  Luther  Tucker,  editor  of  the  Country  Gentle- 
man and  Cultivator,  where  he  remained  until  January,  1870.  In  1863  he  accepted 
an  appointment  to  edit  the  telegraphic  dispatches  for  the  morning  and  evening 
papers  in  Albany  and  continued  to  do  this  until  January,  1870,  when  he  resigned 
and  succeeded  Daniel  Shaw  as  city  editor  of  the  Albany  Argus.  The  Sunday  Press 
was  started  in  May,  1870,  by  E.  H.  Gregory,  J.  H.  Mulligan,  John  T.  Maguire, 
Myron  H.  Rooker,  James  MacFarlane  and  John  H.  Farreli.  In  September,  1870 
the  first  three  named  persons  sold  their  interests  in  the  paper  to  Mr.  Farreli  and  on 
June  1,  1871,  he  retired  from  the  Argus  to  devote  his  energies  to  the  Sunday  Press, 
which  was  in  1877  made  a  daily.  In  August  following  Mr.  Farreli  purchased  the 
Knickerbocker  and  consolidated  it  with  the  Daily  Press.  In  March,  1891,  after 
twenty-one  years'  partnership,  Mr.  Fan-ell  sold  his  one  half  interest  in  the  Press  and 
Knickerbocker  and  Sunday  Press  to  his  partners  for  $50,000  cash,  and  after  a  brief 
rest  purchased  the  Evening  Union.  During  the  summer  of  1891  he  purchased  the 
Albany  Sun  and  Evening  Times  and  combined  the  three  dailies  in  one  called  the 
Times-Union.  Mr.  Farreli' s  ability  as  a  newspaper  editor  has  been  acquired  bv  an 
exceedingly  active  daily  experience,  covering  the  entire  period  of  his  manhood.  He 
was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  United  Press  and  has  been  its  vice-president,  and  has 
also  been  a  member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  New  York  State  Associated 
Press.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Asso- 
ciation and  for  several  years  has  been  a  member  of  its  executive  committee.  He  was 
president  of  the  New  York  State  Editorial  Association  in  1895-96;  is  a  vice-president 
of  the  Home  Savings  Bank  of  Albany;  a  director  in  the  Albany  City  National  Bank 
and  the  Commerce  Insurance  Company;  and  is  a  trustee  of  St.  Agnes  Cemetery,  St. 
Vincent  Male  and  Female  Orphan  Asylums  of  Albany,  and  the  Albany  Hospital  for 
Incurables.  He  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club,  and  is  deeply  inter- 
ested either  as  officer  or  stockholder  in  several  enterprises  in  the  city  of  Albanv. 

In  June,   1869,  Mr.   Farreli  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  V.  Gibbons,  of  New  York 
and  they  have  three  sons  and  four  daughters:  James  C.  Farreli,  the  eldest  son    is 
manager  of  the  Argus;  John  F. ,   the  second  son,  is  a  lawyer,  while  Joseph  A.  is  on 
the  editorial  staff  of  the  Times-Union. 


JAMES  W.  COX,   M.  I). 

James  William  Cox,  M.  D.,  son  of  Thomas  and  Sally  (Bump)  Cox,  was  horn  Feb- 
ruarys, 1828,  in  Gilbertsville,  Otsego  county,  N.  V.,  where  his  paternal  ancestor, 
Joseph  Cox,  from  England,  settled  in  1787.  Thomas  was  a  soldier  at  Sackett's  Har- 
bor in   the  war  of  1812,  while  his  father-in-law,   Jacob   Bump,  of   Uxbridge,  Mass., 


K 


138 

served  in  the  Colonial  war,  was  present  at  the  assault  and  capture  of  Quebec,  and 
signed,  with  others,  the  "Association  Test"  of  1776.  The  Cox  family  were  prom- 
inent farmers  in  Otsego  county. 

Dr.  J.  W.  Cox  was  educated  privately  under  Rev.  James  Hughes  and  at  the  Gil- 
bertsville  Academy  and  when  eighteen  began  teaching  school  at  a  salary  of 
$10  per  month.  His  father  died  when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  twenty  and  he  was 
obliged  to  attend  to  the  farm.  When  twenty-one  he  was  elected  superintendent  of 
common  schools  on  the  Whig  ticket  and  about  the  same  time  began  the  study  of 
medicine  with  Dr.  Charles  Sumner  of  Gilbertsville.  In  the  fall  of  1848  he  came  to 
Albany  and  completed  his  medical  studies  with  Dr.  Henry  M.  Paine,  the  eminent 
homeopathist  and  was  graduated  as  M.  D.  from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  Jan- 
uary, 1852.  For  two  years  he  was  associated  in  practice  with  his  last  preceptor.  In 
1854  he  opened  an  office  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Maiden  Lane  and  Chapel  street, 
and  in  1862  moved  thence  to  No.  109  State  street,  where  he  died  June  9,  1896. 

He  was  a  man  of  rare  mental  attainments,  ranked  high  among  the  leading  home- 
opathists  of  the  State  and  was  successful  and  widely  respected.  He  was  a  senior 
member  of  the  American  Institute  of  Homeopathy,  a  member  of  the  New  York 
State  Homeopathic  Medical  Society,  a  founder  and  president  of  the  Albany  County 
Homeopathic  Medical  Society,  a  prime  mover  in  establishing  the  Homeopathic 
Free  Dispensary  in  Plain  street,  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Albany  City 
Homeopathic  Hospital  and  Dispensary,  of  which  he  was  consulting  physician  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  He  was  continuously  in  charge  of  the  homeopathic  ward  at  the 
Child's  Hospital;  was  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason,  holding  membership  in  Mas- 
ters Lodge  No.  5;  was  a  Whig  and  later  a  Republican  and  in  1863  served  as  United 
States  medical  examiner  in  Albany  to  examine  recruits,  and  was  a  charter  member 
of  the  Fort  Orange  Club. 

In  1854  he  married  Hannah  M.,  daughter  of  Joseph  Thomas  and  Hannah  (Thorpe) 
Gilbert,  and  granddaughter  of  Abijah  Gilbert,  the  founder  of  Gilbertsville.  She 
was  born  in  1830,  and  died  March  16,  1885,  leaving  four  children:  Caroline  Gilbert, 
wife  of  Frederick  Harris,  an  attorney;  James  W.,  jr.,  born  in  April,  1859,  now 
president  of  the  Albany  Felt  Company;  and  Drs.  Frederick  J.  and  Edward  G.,  who 
succeeded  their  father  in  practice. 

Frederick  Joseph  Cox.  M.  D.,  born  June  27,  1866,  was  graduated  from  Greylock 
Institute  at  South  Williamstown,  Mass.,  in  1885,  from  Williams  College  in  1889,  and 
from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  1892,  having  read  medicine  meanwhile  with  his 
father.  He  is  a  member  of  the  American  Institute  of  Homeopathy,  the  New  York 
State  and  Albany  County  Homeopathic  Medical  Societies,  the  sons  of  the  American 
Revolution  and  the  Fort  Orange  Club,  and  visiting  physician  to  the  Albany  City 
Homeopathic  Hospital  and  Dispensary. 

Edward  Gilbert  Cox,  M.  D.,  was  born  February  6.  1868,  was  graduated  from  Grey- 
lock  Institute  in  1887  and  matriculated  at  Williams  College  in  the  class  of  1891.  He 
was  graduated  as  M.  D.  from  the  Albany  College  in  1893,  is  a  member  of  all  the 
societies  to  which  his  brother,  Dr.  Frederick  J.  Cox,  belongs  and  is  attending  sur- 
geon to  the  Albany  City  Homeopathic  Hospital  and  secretary  and  treasurer  of 
the  Albany  County  Homeopathic  Medical  Society;  vice-president  New  York  State 
Homeopathic  Medical  Society.  In  October,  1892,  he  married  Mary  L.  Adams  of 
Albany- 


139 
SAMUEL  HAND. 

Samuel  Hand  was  born  in  Elizabeth  town,  Essex  county,  N.  Y. ,  May  1,  1833.  He 
acquired  his  early  education  from  his  father,  Augustus  C.  Hand,  for  a  time  a  justice 
Of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  from  Robert  S.  Hale,  who  were  both  men  of  scholarly 
tastes.  At  fourteen  he  entered  the  college  at  Middlebury,  Vt.,  which  he  left  after 
two  years  to  go  to  Union  College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1851.  He  then 
returned  to  Elizabethtown,  studied  law  with  his  father  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar, 
where  he  practiced  until  1859,  when  he  went  to  Albany  and  formed  a  partnership 
with  J.  V.  L.  Pruyn,  who  retired  from  practice,  however,  a  year  later.  After  a  short 
time  Mr.  Hand  was  taken  into  the  firm  of  Cagger  &  Porter,  and  upon  the  election  of 
Mr  Porter  as  judge  of  the  Court  of  Appeals,  succeeded  to  the  appellate  work  of  the 
firm  which  was  at  the  time  large,  as  it  was  in  great  measure  the  inheritance  from 
that  of  Nicholas  Hill,  when  the  firm  had  been  that  of  Hill,  Cagger  &  Porter.  Mr. 
Cagger  was  accidentally  killed  in  1868  and  Mr.  Hand  again  found  himself  alone, 
though  this  time  with  a  large  practice. 

In  1809  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother-in-law,  Matthew  Hale,  to  which 
were  added  later  Nathan  Swartz  and  Charles  S.  Fairchild.  In  1881  Mr.  Hand  dis- 
solved his  partnership  with  Mr.  Hale,  who  was  at  the  time  the  only  other  member  of 
the  firm,  and  he  continued  practice  alone  until  he  stopped  altogether,  shortly  before 
his  death,  May  21,  1886. 

Mr.  Hand's  practice  as  a  lawyer  was  almost  from  the  first  largely  confined  to  ap- 
pellate work,  in  which  he  attained  great  skill  and  a  high  repute.  During  the  ten 
years  preceding  his  death  it  is  probable  that  no  lawyer  was  retained  in  as  many  cases 
before  the  Court  of  Appeals  as  he,  and  he  was  probably  the  last  of  a  long  line  of 
able  lawyers  in  Albany  who  could  devote  themselves  wholly  to  this  cream  of  legal 
practice  in  the  court  of  last  resort ;  since  by  the  increased  facilities  of  travel  lawyers 
can  now  take  charge  of  their  own  work  in  this  court,  and  so  can  save  the  expense  of 
counsel  to  their  clients  and  gain  reputation  for  themselves.  It  would  be  needless  to 
enumerate  the  most  important  cases  in  which  Mr.  Hand  wasengaged,  because  nothing 
is  more  ephemeral  than  the  interest  which  any  individual  case  occasions,  though  it 
be  of  high  importance  to  the  parties  and  involve  an  important  point  of  law.  Perhaps 
the  Parish  will  case  and  the  suit  of  the  State  against  the  canal  ring  may  vet  be  gen- 
erally remembered. 

In  1863  Mr.  Hand  was  appointed  corporation  counsel  of  Albany  to  succeed  Clinton 
Cassidy,  and  in  1869,  reporter  to  the  Court  of  Appeals,  a  position  which  he  held  until 
|872,  when  he  resigned  after  reporting  six  volumes,  in  order  the  better  to  conduct 
his  increasing  practice  at  the  bar.  In  1876  Mr.  Hand  declined  an  appointment  by 
Governor  Tilden  as  justice  of  the' Supreme  Court,  but  in  June,  187S,  he  accepted  an 
appointment  by  Governor  Robinson  as  associate  judge  of  the  Court  of  Appeals,  in 
the  place  of  Judge  Allen,  who  had  died,  and  he  held  this  office  until  the  end  of  that 
year,  being  the  youngest  man  but  one  who  had  held  the  position.  He  failed  of  the 
Democratic  nomination  for  the  election  in  the  ensuing  November  owing  to  the  oppo- 
sition of  Tammany  Hall,  of  which  John  Kelly  was  at  the  time  the  leader,  and  from 
that  time  he  held  no  further  public  office. 

Mr.  Hand  came  of  a  strongly  Democratic  family  and  was  always  a  staunch  sup- 


140 

porter  of  that  party.  He  was  an  intimate  friend  of  Governor  Tilden,  who  wished 
him  to  run  for  governor  in  1876,  after  Horatio  Seymour  had  declined  the  nomination, 
when  Tilden  was  running  for  president.  The  leaders  decided  to  nominate  Mr. 
Hand,  but  he  declined  and  Lucius  Robison  was  nominated  and  elected.  In  1875  he 
served  as  a  member  of  a  Commission  on  Reform  of  Municipal  Government,  of  which 
Senator  Evarts  was  chairman.  It  was  as  a  member  of  this  commission  in  advocating 
the  restriction  of  the  suffrage  in  cities  that  Mr.  Hand  incurred  the  enmity  of  Tam- 
many Hall  which  proved  fatal  to  his  nomination  for  the  position  of  judge  of  the 
Court  of  Appeals.  He  was  also  intimate  with  President  Cleveland  while  he  was 
governor  and  was  one  of  his  trusted  advisers  at  the  same  time. 

In  1885  Mr.  Hand  was  appointed  upon  a  special  water  commission  for  Albany  and 
was  president  of  the  same.  He  was  one  of  the  first  vice-presidents  of  the  New  York 
State  Bar  Association  and  its  second  president  for  two  terms.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  president  of  the  Chi  Psi  Alumni  Society  of  this  section  and  a  governor 
of  the  Fort  Orage  Club.  In  1884  he  received  the  degree  of  LL.  D.  from  Union  Col- 
lege. In  April,  1863,  he  married  Lydia  Learned,  daughter  of  Billings  P.  Learned, 
by  whom  he  had  two  children,  a  daughter  and  a  son.  His  widow  and  children  all 
survived  him. 

Mr.  Hand  was  a  man  of  good  scholarly  and  literary  attainments,  in  this  respect  a 
distinct  exception  to  many  lawyers  who  attain  high  eminence  at  the  bar.  He  accumu  - 
lated  a  large  private  library,  containing  some  books  of  rarity  and  beauty,  which 
was  particularly  strong  in  history  and  biography.  He  delighted  especially  in  fine 
engravings  and  good  editions,  of  which  he  acquired  a  number,  and  at  one  time  he 
edited  De  Bury's  Philobiblion,  a  little  work  in  which  his  own  tastes  gave  him  a 
ready  sympathy.  His  conversation  was  varied  and  showed  humane  learning,  cer- 
tainly without  any  pedantry.  Particularly  obnoxious  to  him  was  the  loose  and 
careless  use  of  language,  as  for  example  in  th?  form  of  "slang."  and  perhaps  in  his 
endeavor  to  use  lauguage  with  a  nice  taste  and  conscientious  intelligence  did  he 
show  most  that  real  culture  which  is  seldom  a  characteristic  of  men  of  affairs.  He 
took  great  pleasure  also  in  music  and  had  fine  discrimination  for  that  which  was 
excellent.  It  may  well  be  doubted  whether  at  the  time  of  his  death  there  was  in  his 
city  a  man  who  excelled  Mr.  Hand  at  once  in  his  professional  success  and  his 
culture. 


JOHN  G.   BURCH. 

John  G.  Burch  was  born  in  Rensselaer  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1827.  He  is  a  son  of 
Henry  and  Susan  (Garvey)  Burch,  and  is  descended  from  a  long  line  of  English  an- 
cestors. The  Burch  family  left  the  mother  country  previous  to  the  Revolution  and 
came  to  America  to  seek  a  fortune.  They  possessed  courage  and  perseverance  and 
after  settling  in  New  Jersey  soon  displayed  these  characteristics.  Ebenezer  Burch, 
the  grandfather  of  John  G.  Burch,  won  distinction  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  Henry  Burch  fought  in  the  war  of  1812.  Both  Mr.  Burch's  grandfather  and 
grandmother  received  a  pension  and  his  father  received  a  very  handsome  bounty, 
richly  deserved.     Mr.  Burch  attended  the  common  schools  and  when  just  of  age  re- 


JOHN   G.   BURCH. 


-3.^1 


141 

moved  to  Albany  where  he  cast  his  first  vote  for  old  General  Taylor  for  president  in 
1848.  Railroading  was  a  new  enterprise  in  those  days,  and  so,  anxious  to  associate 
himself  with  a  growing  business,  Mr.  Burch  connected  himself  with  the  Central  Rail- 
road as  a  master  painter.  For  twenty-five  years  he  worked  for  this  company  and 
was  a  witness  of  its  steady  growth  to  become  the  greatest  road  in  the  world.  Mr. 
Burch  was  foreman  of  the  first  gang  of  men  at  West  Albany,  which  has  since 
become  noted  for  its  large  railroad  yard,  and  consequently  he  was  a  pioneer  of 
West  Albany.  He  has  seen  West  Albany  grow  from  nothing  more  than  a  huckle- 
berry bush  to  its  present  size,  as  he  says.  Mr.  Burch's  keen  foresight  led  him  to 
believe  that  in  time  West  Albany  would  grow  to  be  a  prosperous  suburb  of  Albany, 
inasmuch  as  the  railroad  business  was  increasing  so  rapidly.  He  therefore  decided 
to  open  a  general  trading  store  and  in  1873  entered  the  business  of  selling  groceries 
and  provisions  and  in  connection  with  the  store,  a  coal  and  wood  yard.  His  was  the 
first  store  of  its  kind  opened  on  that  hill  and  the  first  coal  and  wood  yard  west  of 
Lark  street.  He  was  associated  with  Mr.  George  W.  Gibbons  as  a  partner  for  eleven 
years.  The  business  increased  so  rapidly  that  after  a  time  Mr.  Burch  gave  up  the  store 
and  confined  himself  to  selling  coal  and  wood  exclusively,  which  business  he  is  engaged 
in  to-day.  In  1871  Mr.  Burch  was  elected  to  represent  the  Ninth  ward  in  the  Com- 
mon Council  of  Albany.  After  the  expiration  of  this  term,  he  was  re-elected  and 
chosen  president  of  the  board  of  aldermen.  While  Mr.  Burch  was  president  of  the 
board,  occurred  the  mayoralty-  election  when  George  H.  Thacher,  Democrat,  ran 
against  Edmund  L.  Judson,  Republican.  The  Democrats  counted  Mr.  Judson  out 
and  he  took  it  to  the  courts.  Mr.  Thacher,  then  mayor,  fearing  an  unfavorable  de- 
cision, resigned.  As  a  consequence,  Mr.  Burch  had  the  honor  of  acting  as  mayor 
until  the  election  of  the  following  spring.  Mr.  Burch  made  many  friends  while  act- 
ing as  mayor  and  displayed  rare  executive  ability.  With  the  exception  of  his  first 
vote,  which  was  cast  for  a  Whig,  Mr.  Burch  has  voted  the  Republican  ticket  from 
Fremont  to  McKinley.  Inasmuch  as  Mr.  Burch  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  and  the 
first  storekeeper  in  West  Albany,  he  has  acquired  considerable  property  there.  No 
work  of  a  public  nature,  such  as  paving  of  streets  or  laying  of  drains  or  sewers,  is 
attempted  without  first  consulting  him.  He  holds  a  leading  place  among  property 
owners.  In  1890  he  took  his  son,  George  Seward,  in  partnership  with  him.  He  is 
no  club  or  society  man,  for  he  believes  all  his  time  belongs  to  his  business  and  his 
family.  He  is  very  domestic  in  his  tastes.  In  1853  he  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Green 
of  Clinton,  Oneida  county.  Her  family  originally  came  from  Connecticut  Their 
family  consists  of  two  daughters  and  three  sons. 


JAMES  A.   McKOWN, 

Hon.  James  A.  McKOWN,  who  has  won  for  himself  a  prominent  position  at  the  Al- 
bany bar,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Guilderland,  Albany  county,  X.  V.,  March  31, 
1819.  His  father  was  Absalom  McKown,  a  prominent  and  highly  esteemed  citizen 
of  Albany  county.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Edith  Le  Grange,  daughter  of 
John    Le  Grange,   esq.,   a  man    of  high   standing  in   his  day.     The  advantages  ol 


142 

young  McKown  for  obtaining  an  education  were  confined  principally  to  the  common 
district  school.  In  his  youthful  days  our  present  system  of  general  education  was 
unknown  and  institutions  ranking  above  the  common  schools  were  few,  but  he 
utilized  to  the  fullest  extent  every  advantage  he  had.  He  obtained  a  very  good 
practical  education  with  which  he  attained  his  success  in  life  through  his  own  un- 
aided efforts.  He  therefore  belongs  to  that  large  and  valuable  class  of  men  with 
which  the  legal  and  generally  all  professions  abound — self-made  meri.  He  early  de- 
cided to  become  a  lawyer,  and  to  bring  that  to  pass  he  directed  every  energy.  In 
recognition  of  his  intelligence,  sound  judgment,  practical  good  sense  and  legal  in- 
formation, he  was  quite  early  in  life  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace  at  (uiilderlaud, 
serving  in  a  very  acceptable  manner  for  the  almost  unprecedented  long  period  of 
eighteen  years.  His  eminent  services  as  a  justice  of  the  peace  were  fully  recog- 
nized, not  only  by  the  people  or  Guilderland,  but  by  the  people  of  the  county  at 
large,  and  this,  in  1852,  brought  him  forward  as  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  associate 
judge  of  Albany  county.  He  was  elected  by  a  good  majority  and  took  his  seat  on 
the  bench  of  the  County  Court  and  Court  of  Sessions.  In  1853  he  was  again  a  can- 
didate and  was  re-elected.  His  judicial  term  extended  two  years,  and  was  very  ac- 
ceptable to  the  people  of  the  county.  Mr.  McKown  was  a  close,  industrious  and 
appreciative  legal  student,  but  he  did  not  apply  for  admission  to  the  bar  until  1853, 
when,  on  motion  of  that  distinguished  jurist,  Hon.  John  K.  Porter,  he  was  admitted 
to  practice  in  all  the  courts  of  this  State,  and  in  1865  he  was,  on  motion  of  Ira 
Harris,  admitted  to  the  United  States  Supreme  Court.  In  April,  1856,  Mr.  McKown 
made  the  city  of  Albany  his  residence,  where  he  has  continued  to  reside  from  that 
time  down  to  the  present.  His  judicial  mind  and  method  prepared  the  way  for  his 
election  to  the  office  of  surrogate  of  Albany  county.  This  event  took  place  in  the 
fall  of  1855.  The  duties  of  this  office  are  important  and  difficult.  No  judicial  posi- 
tion is  more  so  than  that  of  surrogate.  It  requires  a  peculiar  caste  of  mind  and 
much  depth  of  learning  to  successfully  discharge  the  duties  of  the  office.  We  can 
truly  say  that  Mr.  McKown  displayed  ability,  learning  and  industry  of  a  high  order. 
His  administration  was  therefore  very  successful  and  he  retired  from  the  office  with 
the  good  wishes  and  good  opinion  of  the  bar  and  the  public.  In  his  practice  he  has 
no  specialty,  but  has  conducted  a  general  legal  business  with  success,  and  has  al- 
ways surrounded  himself  with  a  respectable  and  profitable  clientage.  His  long 
identification  with  the  Albany  bar,  his  high  and  upright  character,  his  honorable 
course  as  a  practitioner,  have  given  him  an  eminent  place  in  his  profession.  Mr. 
McKown  belongs  to  the  Republican  party,  and  though  he  believes  most  thoroughly 
in  the  principles  of  that  party,  yet  he  is  not  bigoted.  He  is  not  nor  ever  has  been  a 
seeker  after  office  or  place.  He  favors  the  Baptist  church  and  is  a  member  of  Wads- 
worth  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.  In  1837  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Alida  Van 
Valkenburgh,  by  whom  he  has  one  daughter  living,  Mrs.  William  A.  Amsdell. 


AMASA   J.   PARkbR. 


143 

AMASA  J.   PARKER. 

1807—1890. 

Amasa  J.  Parker  was  born  at  Sharon,  parish  of  Ellsworth,  Litchfield  county,  Conn., 
on  the  2d  of  June,  1807,  and  died  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  May  13,  1890.  His  father,  the 
Rev.  Daniel  Parker,  was  a  Congregational  clergyman  settled  for  twenty  years  in 
Watertown  and  Ellsworth,  Conn.  The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  descended,  on 
both  sides,  from  families  distinguished  in  the  history  of  New  England,  that  had  been 
settled  there  since  the  earliest  days  of  pilgrim  immigration,  sharing  in  the  perils  of 
Indian  warfare  and,  at  a  later  day,  in  our  Revolutionary  struggle.  His  maternal 
grandfather,  Thomas  Fenn,  who  resided  at  Watertown,  Conn.,  was  for  more  than 
thirty  sessions  a  representative  in  the  Legislature  of  his  State. 

The  Rev.  Daniel  Parker  removed  into  this  State  with  his  family  when  the  son  was 
nine  years  of  age,  and  the  latter  continued  to  reside  in  State  of  New  York  afterwards 
during  his  whole  life. 

Great  pains  was  taken  by  his  father  with  his  education  and  under  the  care  of  his 
father  and  of  other  eminent  teachers,  and  with  very  close  study  on  his  part,  he  had, 
at  the  age  of  sixteen,  completed  with  great  thoroughness  a  full  collegiate  course  of 
study,  but  outside  the  walls  of  a  college. 

In  June,  1823,  when  but  sixteen  years  of  age,  though  having  the  personal  appear- 
ance of  more  advanced  age,  he  was  appointed  principal  of  the  Hudson  Academy, 
located  at  the  city  of  Hudson,  an  institution  chartered  by  the  Regents  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  this  State,  and  entered  immediately  upon  the  duties  of  the  position.  He  re- 
mained there  four  years,  and  on  the  1st  of  May,  1827,  resigned  his  place  to  prosecute 
the  study  of  the  law  and  lit  himself  for  admission  to  the  bar.  During  the  last  year 
of  his  service  in  the  academy,  he  had  entered  the  office  of  Hon.  John  W.  Edmunds, 
but  his  duties  elsewhere  gave  him  but  little  time  for  his  legal  studies. 

He  was  eminently  successful  in  his  labors  as  principal  of  the  academy.  Under  his 
charge  the  institution  rose  to  distinction  and  was  attended  by  students  from  different 
and  distant  parts  of  the  country,  many  of  whom  were  prepared  for  college  at  an  ad- 
vanced standing,  and  for  the  business  of  life  under  his  instruction.  He  resigned  his 
trust  with  the  various  departments  of  the  academy  full  of  students  and  in  the  height 
of  its  prosperity,  because  he  felt  that  the  time  had  come  for  him  to  devote  his  whole 
attention  to  the  necessary  preparation  for  his  intended  professon. 

An  incident  occurred  when  he  was  in  charge  of  the  academy  worthy  of  mention. 
A  rival  and  successful  institution  existed  in  a  distant  town  of  the  same  county,  to 
promote  the  interests  of  which  its  friends  urged  that  the  principal  of  the  Hudson 
Academy  was  not  himself  a  graduate  of  any  college.  To  put  such  an  objection  at 
rest  the  subject  of  our  notice  in  the  summer  of  1825  presented  himself  at  Union  Col- 
lege and  submitted  to  an  examination  for  the  whole  college  course  of  study,  and 
graduated  with  the  clas  of  1825.  The  singular  fact  occurred,  that  one  of  his  own 
former  students  graduated  with  him  in  the  same  class. 

Oil  resigning  his  place  at  the  academy  in  May,  1827,  Mr.  Parker  proceeded  at  once 
t<>  1  »clhi,  Delaware  county,  in  this  State,  and  entered  the  office  of  his  uncle,  Amasa 
Parker,  esq.,  an  eminent  lawyer,  who  had  been  established  there  many  years,  and 
continued  as  a  student  in  that  office  till  his  admission  to  the  bar  in  October,  L828. 


144 


He  then  entered  into  copartnership  with  his  uncle,  and  the  firm  of  A.  &  A.  J.  Parker 
became  well  known  to  the  profession  throughout  the  State,  and  was  not  dissolved 
till  Mr.  Parker  was  appointed  to  the  bench  in  March,  1844. 

During  all  that  time,  Mr.  Parker  was  engaged  in  a  large  professional  business, 
perhaps  more  extensive  and  varied  than  that  of  any  other  country  law  office  in  the 
State.  He  soon  acquired  a  professional  standing  that  secured  him  a  large  practice 
as  counsel  in  the  highest  courts  of  the  State.  He  attended  quite  regularly  the  Cir- 
cuits of  Delaware,  Greene,  Ulster  and  Schoharie  counties,  and  occasionally  those 
held  in  Broome,  Tioga  and  Tompkins  counties,  and  sometimes  in  other  counties 
more  distant,  as  well  as  the  stated  terms  of  Chancery  and  of  the  Supreme  Court, 
as  the  printed  reports  of  those  courts  show.  It  has  been  said,  by  those  acquainted 
with  the  subject,  that  at  the  time  of  his  appointment  to  the  bench  he  had  tried  more 
cases  at  the  Circuit  than  any  other  lawyer  of  his  age  in  the  State. 

Mr.  Parker  always  insisted  that  his  success  in  establishing  a  large  practice  as  at- 
torney and  counsel  was  owing  more  to  his  promptness,  system  and  method  than  to 
any  other  peculiar  talent.  It  was  the  rule  of  his  life  never  to  fail  to  answer  a  busi- 
ness letter  on  the  same  day  on  which  it  was  received — to  send  to  his  client  a  check 
for  money  collected  by  the  first  mail,  and  never  to  fail  to  keep  an  appointment  at  the 
precise  time  fixed  for  it;  and  this  latter  practice,  he  never  omitted  on  the  bench, 
having  never  failed  to  open  his  court  at  the  precise  hour  appointed.  In  this  way, 
he  enforced  the  most  punctual  attendance  of  counsel,  parties  and  witnesses,  and  by 
it  he  was  enabled  to  accomplish  much  more  business.  An  incident  is  related  as 
having  occurred,  which  illustrates  how  well  this  habit  was  understood  and  relied  on 
by  the  profession.  Judge  Parker  was  engaged  in  holding,  as  vice-chancellor,  a  Court 
of  Chancery  at  the  Capitol,  at  Albany.  The  hour  of  opening  was  ten  o'clock,  and 
many  counsel  were  assembled  in  the  court  room,  seated  round  the  circle  of  the  bar, 
some  minutes  before  the  appointed  time,  occasionally  looking  at  the  clock,  and  as 
the  hand  came  near  to  the  hour  of  ten,  watching  to  see  what  seemed  to  them  almost 
certain,  that  the  judge  would,  for  once,  be  late.  It  was  a  matter  of  discussion,  and 
as  there  was  but  a  minute  left,  a  bet  was  made  by  two  prominent  members  of  the 
bar,  of  whom  the  late  Judge  Peckham,  then  in  full  practice,  was  one,  that  the  judge 
would  be  late.  But  the  judge  entered  and  took  his  seat  as  the  clock  was  striking, 
and  Judge  Peckham  won  the  bottle  of  wine. 

During  the  fifteen  years  that  Judge  Parker  was  engaged  in  practice,  before  he  was 
appointed  to  the  bench,  he  mingled  somewhat  actively  in  the  political  contests  of 
the  day.  He  could  not  well  do  otherwise,  in  a  county  so  famed  as  Delaware  in  the 
history  of  politics,  and  in  which  the  people  had  been  so  long  trained  by  Gen.  Erastus 
Root,  who  was  always  an  active  partisan  and  leader.  In  the  fall  of  1833  he  was 
elected  by  the  Democratic  party  to  the  Assembly  without  any  opposition,  and 
served  in  1834.  In  1835  he  was  elected  by  the  Legislature  of  this  State  a  Regent  of 
the  University  of  the  State.  He  was  then  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  and  was  the 
youngest  person  ever  elected  to  that  distinguished  trust.  He  held  it  for  nearly  ten 
years,  and  resigned  it  when  appointed  to  the  bench.  In  November,  1836,  he  was 
elected  to  the  Twenty-fifth  Congress  to  represent  the  district  then  comprising  the 
counties  of  Delaware  and  Broome.  This  time  also  he  ran  without  opposition,  no 
candidate  being  nominated  by  the  opposite  party.  He  entered  upon  the  duties  of 
the  office  at  the  extra  session  held  in  September,  1837,  and  served  during  the  three 


145 

sessions  of  that  Congress.  These  were  exciting  and  sometimes  stormy  sessions. 
The  sub-treasury  measure  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Van  Buren  at  the  extra  session  of 
1837  and  was  warmly  advocated  by  Mr.  Parker  and  others,  but  it  did  not  secure  the 
support  of  all  the  Democratic  members.  Upon  it  Congress  was  very  nearly  divided 
and  questions  were  frequently  decided  by  the  casting  vote  of  the  speaker,  Mr.  Polk. 
It  was  not  till  at  a  later  Congress,  when  the  measure  had  become  better  understood, 
that  it  was  passed  into  a  law,  and  it  still  remains  in  force,  its  wisdom  being  now  ad- 
mitted by  all  parties. 

During  his  service  in  Congress  Mr.  Parker  was  actively  engaged  in  the  duties  it 
imposed,  on  committees  and  in  the  discussions  in  the  House.  His  speeches  on  the 
Mississippi  election  case,  on  the  sub  treasury  bill,  on  the  public  lands,  on  the  Cilley 
and  Graves  duel  and  on  other  subjects  are  reported  in  the  proceedings  of  that  Con- 
gress. Hiram  Gray,  Richard  P.  Marvin,  Henry  A.  Foster,  Arphaxad  Loomis,  John 
T.  Andrews  and  Amasa  J.  Parker  were  the  last  six  survivors  from  this  State  of  that 
memorable  Congress. 

Mr.  Parker  was  not  a  candidate  for  re-election,  and  at  the  close  of  his  term  re- 
turned to  the  practice  of  his  profession. 

In  the  autumn  of  1839  he  was  nominated  as  a  candidate  for  the  State  Senate  to 
represent  the  Senatorial  district  then  corresponding  nearly  in  boundary  to  the  Third 
Judicial  district  of  this  State.  There  were  two  vacancies  to  be  filled,  in  addition  to 
the  term  then  expiring.  There  were,  therefore,  three  senators  to  be  chosen.  The 
year  before,  Alonzo  C.  Paige  had  been  elected  by  less  than  fifty  majority.  But  on 
this  occasion  the  three  Democratic  candidates  were  all  defeated  by  a  majority  little 
more  than  normal. 

In  the  spring  of  1834  Mr.  Parker  was  appointed  district  attorney  of  Delaware 
county,  which  place  he  held  for  three  years  and  till  the  expiration  of  his  term,  and 
was  not  a  candidate  for  reappointment. 

The  later  incidents  of  Judge  Parker's  life  are  more  familiar  to  our  readers.  He 
was  appointed  by  Governor  Bouck  circuit  judge  and  vice-chancellor  of  the  Third 
Circuit,  on  the  6th  of  March,  1844,  and  immediately  removed  to  the  city  of  Albany, 
where  he  resided  till  his  death.  He  held  that  office  till  the  spring  of  1847,  when  it 
was  terminated  by  the  adoption  of  the  constitution  of  1846.  He  was  then  elected  in 
the  Third  Judicial  district  a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  this  State  for  a  term  of 
eight  years. 

At  no  time  in  the  history  of  this  State  have  the  judicial  labors  devolving  upon  a 
judge  been  more  difficult  and  responsible  than  those  he  was  called  on  to  discharge 
during  his  twelve  years  of  judicial  service.  It  was  during  this  time  that  the  anti- 
rent  excitement,  which  prevailed  throughout  a  large  portion  of  his  judicial  district, 
was  at  its  height.  It  crowded  the  civil  calendars  with  litigations  and  the  criminal 
courts  with  indictments  for  acts  of  violence  in  resisting  the  collection  of  rents. 

The  trial  of  "  Big  Thunder"  before  Judge  Parker  at  Hudson,  in  the  spring  of  1845, 
lasted  two  weeks,  and  the  jury  failed  to  agree.  When  the  next  Court  of  Oyer  and 
Terminer  was  held  in  that  county,  Judge  Parker  was  engaged  in  holding  the  court 
in  Delaware  county,  and  Judge  Edmonds  was  assigned  to  hold  the  Columbia  Oyer 
and  Terminer  in  his  place.  At  that  court  "  Big  Thunder"  was  again  tried  and  was 
convicted  and  sent  to  the  State  prison. 

In  the  summer  of  1845,  Osman  N.  Steele,  under  sherifl  of   Delaware  county,  while 
s 


146 

engaged  with  a  judge  in  his  official  duties  in  the  collection  of  rent  due  from  Moses 
Earle  at  Andes,  in  that  county,  was  violently  resisted  by  about  200  men,  armed  and 
disguised  as  Indians,  and  was  shot  and  killed  by  them.  Intense  excitement  pre- 
vailed in  the  county.  A  great  struggle  followed  between  those  who  resisted  and 
those  who  sought  to  enforce  the  laws.  On  the  25th  of  August,  1845,  Governor 
Wright  declared  the  county  of  Delaware  in  a  state  of  insurrection,  and  a  battalion 
of  light  infantry  was  detailed  to  aid  the  civil  authorities  in  the  preservation  of  order 
and  the  making  of  arrests.  At  the  inquest  held  on  the  body  of  Sheriff  Steele  and  at 
a  county  General  Sessions,  the  whole  subject  was  fully  investigated.  Some  indict- 
ments were  found  for  murder,  but  most  of  them  were  for  manslaughter  and  lesser 
offenses.  Over  two  hundred  and  forty  persons  were  indicted,  most  of  whom  were 
arrested  and  in  custody  awaiting  trial  at  the  then  approaching  Oyer  and  Terminer. 
The  regular  jail  and  two  log  jails,  temporarily  constructed  for  the  purpose,  were 
filled  with  prisoners.  Under  these  discouraging  circumstances  and  with  armed  men 
stationed  in  the  court  room  and  throughout  the  village  to  preserve  order,  Judge 
Parker  opened  the  Oyer  and  Terminer  at  Delhi  on  the  22d  of  September,  1845.  We 
find  a  brief  statement  of  these  proceedings  and  an  extract  from  the  charge  of  Judge 
Parker  to  the  grand  jury  in  the  history  of  Delaware  county,  by  Jay  Gould,  published 
in  1856,  and  dedicated  to  Judge  Parker. 

We  have  heard  Tudge  Parker  say  that,  as  the  time  for  that  court  was  approaching, 
he  hesitated  as  to  whether  he  should  hold  the  court  himself  in  the  county  with  the 
citizens  of  which  he  had  so  long  lived  and  been  so  intimately  associated,  or  whether 
he  should  not  rather  ask  the  governar  to  assign  some  other  judge  to  the  duty  who 
was  an  entire  stranger  to  all  concerned ;  and,  in  his  doubt,  he  wrote  for  advice  to  his 
former  student  and  life  long  friend,  the  Hon.  Lucius  Robinson.  In  answer,  he  was 
urged  by  all  means  to  hold  the  court  himself,  and  he  was  told  that  if  some  other 
judge  held  the  court  he  might,  perhaps,  adjourn  the  court  after  two  or  three  weeks 
of  trials,  leaving  most  of  the  cases  untried  and  the  jails  still  filled,  which  he  was  sure 
Judge  Parker  would  not  do.  Judge  Parker  hesitated  no  longer,  but  proceeded  at 
once  to  the  discharge  of  the  duty. 

After  charging  the  grand  jury,  he  gave  notice,  that,  whatever  time  it  might  take, 
he  should  continue  to  hold  the  court  till  every  case  was  tried  and  the  jails  were 
cleared. 

The  indictments  were  prosecuted  by  the  district  attorney  appointed  by  John  Van 
Buren,  then  attorney-general,  and  by  Samuel  Sherwood,  a  distinguished  member  of 
the  bar,  then  of  New  York,  but  who  formerly  resided  at  Delhi,  and  the  prisoners 
were  defended  by  able  counsel,  among  whom  were  Samuel  Gordon,  Mitchell  Sanford 
and  Samuel  S.  Bowne. 

John  Van  Steenbergh  was  first  tried  and  convicted  of  murder.  Edward  O'Connor 
was  next  tried  with  a  like  result.  Both  men  sentenced  to  be  executed  on  the  29th  of 
November  then  next.  Four  others  were  convicted  of  felony  and  sent  to  the  State 
prison  for  life,  and  thirteen  men  sent  to  the  State  prison  for  different  terms  of  years. 
A  large  number  who  had  been  engaged  in  resisting  the  sheriff,  but  who  had  not  been 
disguised,  pleaded  guilty  of  misdemeanors.  Some  of  these  were  fined,  but  as  to 
most  of  them,  and  as  to  some  who  pleaded  guilty  of  manslaughter,  sentence  was 
suspended  and  they  were  told  by  the  court  they  would  be  held  responsible  for  the 
future  preservation  of  the  peace  in  their  neighborhoods,  and  were  warned  that  if  any 


147 

other  instance  should  occur  of  resisting  an  officer,  or  of  a  violation  of  the  statute 
which  made  it  a  felony  to  appear  for  such  purpose,  armed  and  disguised,  they  would 
at  once  be  suspected  and  might  be  called  up  for  sentence.  Under  this  assurance, 
they  were  set  at  liberty,  and  it  is  but  justice  to  them  to  say  that  they  became  the 
best  possible  conservators  of  the  peace,  and  that  no  resistance  of  process  by  violence 
has  ever  since  occurred  in  that  county. 

At  the  close  of  the  third  week  of  the  court  all  the  cases  had  been  disposed  of.  No 
prisoners  were  left  in  jail,  except  those  awaiting  execution  or  transportation  to  the 
State  prisons.  The  military  were  soon  after  discharged  and  the  log  jails  taken  down, 
ami  peace  and  good  order  have  since  reigned  in  the  county. 

A  report  of  the  trial  of  Van  Steenbergh,  with  a  note  referring  to  the  business  of 
that  court,  will  be  found  in  1  Park.  Cr.  Rep.,  39. 

The  sentences  of  Van  Steenbergh  and  O'Connor  were  subsequently  commuted  by 
Governor  Wright  to  imprisonment  for  life,  and  about  a  year  later  all  those  in  the 
State  prison  were  pardoned  by  the  successor  of  Governor  Wright. 

Great  credit  was  awarded  to  Judge  Parker  for  his  successful  discharge  of  the 
delicate  and  difficult  duties  devolving  upon  him  at  the  Delaware  Oyer  and  Terminer, 
and  the  next  commencement  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws  was  conferred  on  him  by 
Geneva  College. 

As  has  been  stated,  Judge  Parker's  services  as  circuit  judge  and  vice-chancellor 
terminated  in  1847  by  the  adoption  of  the  new  State  Constitution  of  1846,  under 
which  an  elective  judiciary  succeeded  to  the  exercise  of  the  judicial  power  of  the 
State.  In  all  the  counties  of  the  Third  judicial  district  meetings  of  the  bar  were  held 
and  complimentary  addresses  to  Judge  Parker  were  signed,  approving  his  judicial 
course. 

Judge  Parker's  term  of  service  as  a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  expired  on  the 
Slst  of  December,  1855.  His  opinions  in  cases  pending  in  that  court  will  be  found 
in  the  first  twenty-one  volumes  of  Barbour's  Supreme  Court  Reports.  In  the  year 
1854  Judge  Parker  served  in  the  Court  of  Appeals  and  was  there  associated  with 
Judges  Gardner,  Denio,  Alexander  S.  Johnson,  Allen  and  others.  His  opinions  in 
that  court  are  reported  in  the  one  and  two  volumes  of  Kernan's  Reports.  Among 
those  most  worthy  of  reference  is  the  case  of  Snedeker  vs.  Warring,  reported  in  2 
Kernan,  170,  a  case  which  attracted  much  attention  at  the  time,  for  the  reason  that 
it  presented  a  very  nice  question  and  one  that  had  not  been  before  decided  either  in 
this  country  or  in  England.  It  was  finally  decided  on  the  authority  of  cases  adjudged 
under  the  civil  law  on  the  continent  of  Europe.  It  involved  the  question  whether  ;i 
statue,  colossal  in  size,  erected  as  an  ornament  on  the  grounds  in  front  of  a  country 
residence  and  securely  attached  to  the  earth  by  its  weight,  was  real  or  personal 
(property.  The  case  was  argued  by  very  able  counsel  and  it  happened,  by  the  prac- 
tice of  the  court  in  turn  to  fall  to  Judges  Johnson  and  Parker  to  write  opinions.  At 
the  close  of  the  argument,  as  the  judges  were  separating  for  the  day,  in  a  few  words 
of  consultation  that  took  place  between  the  judges  who  were  to  write,  Judge  Johnson 
said  he  had  an  impression  that  the  statue  was  real  property.  Judge  Parker  said 
his  impression  was  that  it  was  personal.  A  month  later,  after  both  the  judges  had 
spent  much  time  at  the  State  Library  in  examining  the  authorities,  but  without  hav- 
ing again  spoken  together  on  the  subject  and  after  each  had  written  his  opinion 
ready  to  be  read  and  discussed  at  the  next  meeting  of  all  the  judges,  Judge  Parker 


148 

met  Judge  Johnson  and  said  to  him,  "  I  have  changed  ray  opinion  and  have  come  to 
the  conlusion  that  the  statue  is  real  property ;"  and  Judge  Johnson  said  in  answer 
"and  I  have  changed  my  opinion  and  have  concluded  it  is  personal  property." 
When  the  meeting  of  the  judges  was  held  for  consultation  soon  afterwards  both 
opinions  were  read  and  after  discussion,  the  vote  stood  four  and  four,  and  thus  it  re- 
mained till  near  the  end  of  the  year  when  on  further  discussion  and  consideration, 
five  voted  with  Judge  Parker  and  two  with  Judge  Johnson,  and  the  case  was  decided. 

Judge  Parker  was  nominated  by  the  Democratic  convention  for  re-election  in  the 
autumn  of  1855.  Ambrose  L.  Jordan  was  the  candidate  of  the  Republican  party, 
then  newly  organized,  and  George  Gould  was  nominated  by  the  "  Know-Nothing"  or 
American  party.  Prominent  members  of  the  last  named  party  proposed  to  nominate 
Judge  Parker,  but  he  declined  being  a  candidate  for  a  nomination  by  that  party.  A 
very  small  vote  was  cast  for  Mr.  Jordan,  but  Judge  Gould  was  elected.  That  was  the 
year  when  the  American  or  "Know-Nothing"  party,  suddenly  springing  up,  swept 
the  State  by  large  majorities.  Judge  Parker  ran  very  largely  ahead  of  his  ticket, 
being  beaten  by  the  American  candidate  by  only  about  a  thousand  votes,  while  the 
State  officers  on  the  American  ticket  in  the  same  judicial  district  had  a  majority 
of  several  thousand. 

Judge  Parker  then  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Albany  and  he  con- 
tinued in  it.  He  was  repeatedly  offered  nominations  afterwards  for  the  Supreme 
Court  and  the  Court  of  Appeals,  when  the  Democratic  party,  to  which  he  belonged, 
was  in  the  majority  in  his  district  and  in  the  State,  but  he  always  declined,  saying  he 
had  done  his  share  of  judicial  service  and  preferred  thereafter  the  independent  prac- 
tice of  his  profession. 

In  the  fall  of  1856  Judge  Parker  was  nominated  by  the  Democratic  State  Conven- 
tion for  the  office  of  governor.  The  opposing  Republican  candidate  was  John  A. 
King.  Erastus  Brooks  was  the  "American"  candidate.  Though  Judge  Parker  re- 
ceived several  thousand  majority  in  the  judicial  district  where  he  was  beaten  the  year 
before  by  about  a  thousand  majority,  he  was  defeated  in  the  State  and  Governor 
King  was  elected  in  the  State  by  a  heavy  majority.  Mr.  Buchanan,  who  was  elected 
president  that  year  by  the  votes  of  the  other  States  and  against  whom  the  majority 
in  the  State  of  New  York  was  nearly  ten  thousand  votes  more  than  the  majority 
against  Judge  Parker,  who  ran  largely  ahead  of  his  ticket,  tendered  to  the  latter 
offices  of  distinction,  which  the  latter  declined,  and  later  in  his  administration  he 
nominated  him  for  United  States  district  attorney  for  the  Southern  District  of  New 
York,  and  the  nomination  was  confirmed  by  the  United  States  Senate,  without  refer- 
ence, but  Judge  Parker  refused  to  qualify,  preferring  his  own  private  professional 
practice. 

In  the  fall  of  1858  the  Democratic  State  convention  again  nominaied  Judge  Parker 
for  the  office  of  governor.  His  Republican  opponent  was  E.  D.  Morgan,  and  Gov- 
ernor Morgan  was  elected  by  about  17,000  majority,  though  Judge  Parker  was  again 
largely  in  advance  of  the  rest  of  the  ticket.  After  that  time  Judge  Parker  was  not  a 
candidate  for  any  office,  except  that  he  was  elected,  in  1867,  a  delegate  from  the 
county  of  Albany  to  the  State  Constitutional  Convention,  in  which  he  figured  in  the 
years  1867  and  1868  as  a  member  of  the  judiciary  and  other  committees.  The  judi- 
ciary article  framed  by  that  convention  was  the  only  portion  of  the  constitution  finally 
adopted  by  the  people. 


149 

On  Judge  Parker's  retirement  from  the  bench,  he  engaged  at  once  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession  at  Albany,  taking  into  partnership,  in  I860,  his  only  son,  Amasa  J. 
Parker,  jr.,  and  adding  to  the  firm,  in  1876,  ex-Judge  Edwin  Countryman,  under  the 
name  of  Parker  &  Countryman.  He  devoted  himself  with  great  industry  and  success 
to  his  professional  duties.  He  had  a  great  love  for  his  profession  and  for  the  princi- 
ples upon  which  the  law  and  its  administrations  are  founded.  He  was  engaged  in  a 
large  professional  practice  and  in  many  of  the  most  important  cases  that  have  come 
into  the  courts,  as  is  shown  by  the  State  and  Federal  Reports.  Among  the  most 
notable  litigations  in  civil  cases  was  the  question  of  the  right  to  tax  National  Banks, 
which  he  argued  before  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  on  the  employment 
of  the  city  of  New  York,  reported  in  4  Wallace  Rep.,  244,  and  in  this  State  the  title 
of  Trinity  church  to  property  in  the  city  of  New  York,  the  Levy  will  case,  reported 
in  23  N.  Y.,  97,  the  famous  controversy  between  the  Delaware  and  Hudson  Canal 
Company  and  the  Pennsylvania  Coal  Company,  and  that  of  the  boundary  line  be- 
tween the  States  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  reported  in  42,  N.  Y.  Rep.,  283.  He 
early  engaged  in  criminal  cases  and  his  defense  of  Cole  for  the  murder  of  Hiscock, 
and  his  acting  in  two  or  three  other  murder  cases  were  exceptional.  He  declined  a 
retainer  of  85,000,  offered  him  to  act  as  council  in  the  defense  of  Tweed. 

With  the  late  Judge  Ira  Harris  and  Amos  Dean,  he  engaged,  in  1851,  in  the  found- 
ing of  the  Albany  Law  School,  which  established  a  high  reputation  under  their 
government  and  care,  and  he  continued  for  about  twenty  years  one  of  the  professors 
of  that  institution,  and  resigned  only  because  of  the  pressure  of  his  professional 
practice.  He  had  found  time,  while  on  the  bench  and  afterwards,  for  preparing  for 
the  press  some  law  books,  which  he  thought  needed,  among  which  were  six  volumes 
of  Reports  of  Criminal  Cases.  He  also,  assisted  by  two  other  gentlemen  of  the  pro- 
fession, edited  the  fifth  edition  of  the  Revised  Statutes  of  the  State. 

He  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  reforms  inaugurated  in  the  State  Constitutional 
Convention  of  1847,  by  which  the  Court  of  Chancery  was  abolished  and  law  and 
equity  powers  were  vested  in  the  same  tribunal,  and  the  practice  of  the  courts  sim- 
plified. He  visited  Europe  in  1853,  while  similar  reforms  where  under  consideration 
in  England,  and  at  the  request  of  Lord  Brougham,  he  addressed  the  Law  Reform 
Club  of  England,  at  its  annual  meeting,  and  explained  to  its  members  the  results  of 
his  experience  on  the  bench  in  regard  to  the  changes  that  had  been  made  in  this 
State,  and  especially  as  to  the  administering  of  law  and  equity  in  the  same  court. 

In  politics  he  was,  throughout  his  whole  life,  a  Democrat,  and  before  he  went  on 
to  the  bench,  and  after  he  left  it,  an  active  member  of  the  party.  Believing  thor- 
oughly in  the  principles  of  that  party,  as  founded  by  Jefferson,  and  that  their  success 
was  indispensable  to  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  the  country,  he  advocated  them 
with  earnestness,  and  always  with  due  respect  for  the  judgment  of  those  who  din 
from  him. 

He  labored  strenuously  to  avert  the  catastrophy  of  civil  war,  and  presided  at  the 
famous  State  Democratic  Convention  held  at  Tweddle  Hall  in  Albany,  in  February, 
1861.  He  always  believed  afterwards,  as  he  believed  then,  that  with  temperate 
council  on  the  part  of  the  Republican  leaders,  then  about  entering  upon  the  control 
of  the  Federal  government,  civil  war  could  have  been  avoided;  but  when  the  first 
blow  was  struck  at  Fort  Sumter,  and  the  Rebellion  was  thus  inaugurated,  he  did  not 
hesitate  to  regard  the  die  as  cast  and  became  at  once  an  earnest  advocate  of  a  vig- 


150 

orous  prosecution  of  the  war  on  the  part  of  the  government,  and  freely  contributed 
his  own  money  and  time  to  the  raising  of  men  and  means  for  that  purpose. 

But  while  he  did  that  he  protested  earnestly  against  what  he  deemed  the  gross 
abuse  of  power  practiced  for  merely  partisan  purposes,  by  high  Federal  officials,  in 
the  making  of  unnecessary  arbitrary  arrests  of  northern  men,  whose  only  offense 
was  an  honest  and  independent  difference  of  opinions  and  a  free  expression  of  it  on 
subjects  of  mere  party  differences,  in  no  way  involved  in  the  prosecution  of  the  war 
to  put  down  the  Rebellion.  This  tyranical  exercise  of  power  and  gross  violations  of 
the  right  af  personal  liberty  he  stoutly  resisted  and  not  only  denounced  it  on  the 
stump,  at  the  hazard  of  his  own  personal  liberty,  but  he  freely  gave  his  own  profes- 
sional services  to  obtain  redress  for  such  wrongs. 

A  notable  instance  of  this  character  occurred  in  the  case  of  Patrie  vs.  Murray, 
tried  at  the  Greene  Circuit  in  June,  1864,  by  Judge  Parker  as  counsel  for  plaintiff,  in 
which  a  jury,  composed  of  men  of  both  political  parties,  gave  to  the  plaintiff  for 
such  an  arrest  and  false  imprisonment  a  verdict  of  $9,000  damages.  An  attempt 
was  made  to  remove  this  case,  after  verdict  and  judgment,  for  retrial  into  the  United 
States  Circuit  Court,  under  an  act  of  Congress  that  had  been  conveniently  passed 
for  the  purpose  of  defeating  such  recoveries.  Judge  Parker  insisted  that  the  act 
was  unconstitutional,  being  in  violation  of  the  seventh  article  of  the  amendments  of 
the  United  States  Constitution,  and  under  his  advice  the  State  authorities  refused  to 
make  a  return  to  the  writ  of  error.  Application  was  then  made  to  the  United  States 
Circuit  Court  to  compel  the  return,  and  on  demurrer  peremptory  mandamus 
was  adjudged.  To  review  that  judgment  a  writ  of  error  was  brought  by  Judge 
Parker  and  the  case  was  removed  into  the  United  States  Supreme  Court,  held  at 
Washington.  It  was  first  argued  in  that  court  in  February,  1869,  by  Judge  Parker 
for  the  plaintiff  in  error,  and  Mr.  Evarts,  then  attorney-general  of  the  United  States, 
for  the  defendant  in  error.  The  judges  were  divided  upon  the  question  and  ordered 
a  reargument,  which  took  place  in  February,  1870,  Attorney-General  Hoar  then  ap- 
pearing for  the  defendant  in  error.  The  judgment  of  the  United  States  Circuit 
Court  was  then  reversed  and  the  unconstitutionality  of  the  act  of  Congress  was 
established.     The  case  is  reported  in  9  Wallace,  U.  S.  Rep.,  "27-1. 

During  a  long  life  of  professional  labor  Judge  Parker  never  lost  the  tastes  ac- 
quired early  in  life  for  classical  study  and  literary  pursuits,  and  he  was  in  the  habit 
of  setting  apart  a  stated  portion  of  his  time  for  such  purposes  He  enjoyed  an  oc- 
casional return  to  the  reading  of  the  Greek  and  Roman  authors  and  those,  with  the 
attention  given  to  the  current  literature  of  the  day,  and  a  mingling  in  the  duties  of 
social  life,  afforded  him  an  agreeable  relaxation  from  the  severer  studies  and  a 
healthful  change  to  the  mind.  These  tastes  brought  him  into  connection  with  the 
educational  institutions  of  the  State,  in  several  of  which  he  served  for  many  years 
as  a  trustee. 

Among  other  duties  of  that  character  he  was  for  many  years  president  of  the  board 
of  trustees  of  the  Albany  Female  Academy,  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of 
the  Albany  Medical  College,  a  trustee  of  Cornell  University  and  one  of  the  gov- 
ernors of  Union  University. 

Judge  Parker  married,  in  1834,  Miss  Harriet  Langdon  Roberts,  of  Portsmouth, 
N.  H.,  and  of  a  large  family  of  children— Mrs.  John  V.  L.  Pruyn,  Amasa  J.  Parker, 


151 

jr.,  Mrs.  Erastus  Corning  and  Mrs.   Selden  E.   Marvin,  all  residents  of  Albany,  still 
survive. 

When  a  member  of  the  assembly  in  1834  Mr.  Parker,  as  chairman  of  a  select  com- 
mittee, made  an  elaborate  report  urging  the  establishment  of  a  State  hospital  for 
the  insane,  which  led  to  a  more  full  consideration  of  the  subject  by  the  people, 
though  it  was  not  until  several  years  afterwards  that  the  first  State  hospital  for  the 
insane  was  established.  Doubtless  it  was  owing  to  the  interest  Mr.  Parker  had 
taken  in  the  subject  that  he  was  afterward  appointed  by  Governor  Kenton  in  1867 
one  of  the  managers  of  the  Hudson  River  State  Hospital  for  the  Insane  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  a  trust  which  he  held  till  1881,  when  he  resigned,  and  Governor  Cornell  ap- 
pointed his  son,  Amasa  J.  Parker,  jr.,  in  his  place,  who  served  until  January  1,  1897, 
and  he  was  then  succeeded  by  his  second  son,  Lewis  R.  Parker. 


AMASA  J.   PARKER. 

Amasa  J.  Parker,  the  only  surviving  son  of  the  late  Judge  Amasa  J.  Parker  and 
Harriet  Langdon  Parker,  was  born  in  Delhi,  Delaware  county,  N.  Y.,  on  May  6, 
1843.  In  the  following  year,  Judge  Parker  having  been  appointed  Circuit  Judge 
and  Vice  Chancellor  of  the  Third  Circuit,  moved  to  Albany,  where  the  son  has 
ever  since  resided. 

His  early  education  was  pursued  in  the  schools  of  Miss  Margaret  Cassidy  and 
Messrs.  Wrightson,  and  later  at  the  Albany  Academy,  and  in  the  fall  of  1860  he  en- 
tered the  sophomore  class  at  Union  College,  graduating  in  July,  1863.  Mr.  Parker 
began  the  study  of  the  law  at  the  end  of  his  junior  year  at  college  and  in  September, 
1863,  he  entered,  as  a  student,  the  law  office  of  Cagger,  Porter  &  Hand  at  Albany, 
with  whom  he  remained  for  nearly  two  years. 

Mr.  Parker  graduated  from  the  Albany  Law  School  in  1864  and  in  the  latter  part 
of  the  same  year  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  became  the  law  partner  of  his  father 
on  the  first  day  of  May,  1865,  which  continued  until  the  death  of  Judge  Parker  on 
May  13, 1890,  in  all  a  period  of  over  twenty-five  years.  From  1876  until  1888,  ex-Judge 
Edwin  Countryman  of  Cooperstown,  N.  Y. ,  who  had  moved  to  Albany  for  that  pur- 
pose, was  associated  with  them  under  the  firm  name  of  Parker  &  Countryman. 

In  1891  Mr.  J.  Xewton  Fiero  of  Kingston,  N.  Y.,  came  to  Albany  and  became  the 
partner  of  Mr.  Parker,  continuing  as  such  until  1895.  Since  that  time  he  has  had 
associated  with  him  his  two  sons,  Amasa  J.  Parker,  jr.,  and  Lewis  R.  Parker,  though 
no  partnership  exists  between  them. 

Mr.  Parker  has  been  very  active  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  for  over  thirty 
years,  practicing  in  both  the  State  and  Federal  Courts  and  taking  part  in  numerous 
important  and  well  known  cases,  such  as  Jackson  vs.  Lake  Shore  and  Michigan  South- 
ern Railroad  Company,  Hooghkirk  vs.  the  I  >.  &  II..  Laning  vs.  the  New  York  Cen- 
tral,Conway  vs.  dale,  Dunlop  vs.  Dunlop  and  McChesney  vs.  the  Panama  Railroad 
Company. 

Mr.  Parker  was  one  of  the  organi/.ers  of  the  famous  Union  College  Zouaves,  at 
Schenectady  in  April,  1861,  and  served  in  same.  After  graduating  from  college  he 
was  enrolled  in  the  National  Guard  at  Albany  and  in  1866  was  commissioned  aide- 


152 

de-camp,  with  the  rank  of  major  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  John  Taylor  Cooper,  the  com- 
mandant of  the  Third  Division. 

In  1875  he  was  elected  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Tenth  Regimept  and  two  years 
later  was  unanimously  elected  its  colonel.  He  was  in  command  of  that  regiment 
during  the  railroad  riots  of  July,  1877,  and  the  regiment  under  him  reached  a  strength 
of  eight  hundred  and  fifty  men. 

Mr.  Parker  served  as  president  of  the  National  Guard  Association  of  this  State,  upon 
its  re-organization,  from  1878  to  1880  and  is  the  only  officer  who  has  filled  the  posi- 
tion for  more  than  one  year.  On  the  re-organization  of  the  National  Guard  in  Au- 
gust, 1886,  he  was  elected  brigadier-general  of  the  Third  Brigade  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y., 
with  headquarters  at  Albany,  and  served  in  that  capacity  until  the  end  of  December, 
1890,  when  he  resigned.  During  the  period  of  his  command  the  Third  Brigade  took 
part  in  the  Washington  Centennial  celebration  in  New  York  City,  April  29,  1889,  and 
in  that  great  parade  of  nearly  fifty  thousand  troops,  the  Third  Brigade  was  awarded 
the  highest  credit  mark  for  its  appearance  and  discipline  by  the  U.  S.  Army  Board 
sent  to  New  York  by  the  Federal  Government.  The  brigade  on  this  occasion  num- 
bered nearly  two  thousand  eight  hundred  men. 

Mr.  Parker  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  in  1882,  receiving  a  majority  larger  than 
the  number  of  votes  cast  for  his  opponent,  and  in  1886  and  1887  served  in  the  State 
Senate,  and  has  since  then  been  twice  re-elected  to  that  body,  serving  in  the  sessions 
of  that  body  continuously  from  1892  to  1895  inclusive,  and  subsequently  declined  a 
renomination.  When  he  entered  the  Senate  in  January,  1886,  he  instituted  public 
hearings  in  the  City  Hall,  Albany,  on  all  local  measures  in  the  Legislature  before  the 
Senator  and  four  Assemblymen  from  Albany  county.  This  plan  enabled  every  citizen 
to  attend  and  learn  all  about  the  measures  affecting  Albany  county  or  any  portion  of 
the  same  and  to  discuss  their  merits  or  demerits. 

Naturally,  Mr.  Parker,  during  his  legislative  services  of  seven  years  in  Assembly 
and  Senate  had  much  to  do  with  military  and  local  matters,  as  well  as  with  general 
legislation. 

In  the  Assembly  of  1882  he  was  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Military  Affairs. 
and  with  the  aid  of  the  principal  National  Guard  officers  of  the  State  revised  and 
greatly  simplified  and  strengthened  the  Military  Code. 

The  same  year  he  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  obtaining  of  appropriations,  build- 
ing of  State  Armories,  the  adoption  of  the  State  service  uniform  and  the  establish- 
ment of  the  State  Camp  at  Peekskill.  Later  on  in  the  Senate,  during  his  six  years 
of  service  there,  he  did  much  for  the  National  Guard  in  the  way  of  general  appro- 
priations, equipment,  building  and  repairing  of  State  Armories,  and  rifle  ranges,  im- 
proving the  Military  Code  and  in  strengthening  the  military  force  in  many  ways. 

He  was,  in  1887,  the  originator  and  principal  projector  of  the  new  State  Armory, 
at  Albany,  obtaining  an  official  condemnation  and  sale  of  the  old  State  Arsenal, 
procuring  the  first  appropriation  from  the  State  for  the  building  as  well  as  a  most 
liberal  sum  from  the  county  of  Albany  for  the  site  for  said  Armory,'and  on  his  return 
to  the  Senate  in  1892,  during  that  and  the  three  subsequent  years,  he  obtained  further 
large  State  appropriations  for  its  extension,  completion  and  equipment. 

In  regard  to  local  legislation  for  his  district,  Mr.  Parker  was  always  active,  and 
during  his  service  in  the  Legislature,  never  failed  to  give  these  matters  his  best 
efforts. 


153 

In  1882,  in  the  Assembly,  he  introduced  the  first  bill  for  the  construction  of  the 
Hawk  street  viaduct.  He  introduced  later  in  the  Senate  the  bill  for  the  construction 
of  the  Northern  Boulevard  and  with  others  succeeded  in  passing  the  bill,  and  later 
the  amended  Northern  Boulevard  law,  which  obviated  the  objections  of  several 
elements,  which  had  been  hostile  to  this  great  project. 

The  Albany  Basin  bill  and  many  other  bills  affecting  the  health  and  welfare  of 
Albany  county  and  the  cities  of  Albany  and  Cohoes,  received  Mr.  Parker's  close 
attention   and  became  laws. 

Mr.  Barker  is  president  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Albany  Law  School  and  as 
such  one  of  the  governors  of  Union  University;  a  trustee  of  the  Albany  Medical  Col- 
lege and  also  of  St.  Agnes  School ;  a  trustee  of  the  Union  Trust  Company  of  New 
York  and  a  director  of  the  Albany  City  National  Bank.  He  succeeded  his  father, 
who  had  served  since  1867  as  a  manager  and  was  made  president  of  the  Board  of 
Managers  of  the  Hudson  River  State  Hospital  (for  the  insane)  at  Poughkeepsie  in 
1881,  and  remained  such  until  January,  1897,  when  he  insisted  upon  retiring. 

Mr.  Parker  has  been  prominently  connected  with  the  Young  Men's  Association  for 
many  years,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Life  Trustees  and  was  one  of  the  most 
active  Albanians  in  projecting  the  plan  and  in  procuring  funds  to  build  Harmanus 
Bleeker  Hall,  and  is  the  chairman  of  the  Hall  Committee  of  that  Board  of  Trustees. 

Mr.  Parker  married  in  1868,  Cornelia  Kane  Strong,  of  New  Orleans,  La.,  who  died 
December  17,  1883,  leaving  surviving  six  children,  two  sons  and  four  daughters,  of 
whom  a  son  and  daughter  are  married. 


ALBERT  VANDER  VEER,   M.    D. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Dr.  Albert  Yander  Yeer,  has  attained  a  prominence  in 
his  profession  which  places  him  far  along  in  the  ranks  of  its  recognized  leaders.  He 
was  born  in  the  village  of  Leatherville,  town  of  Root,  Montgomery  county,  N.  Y., 
July  10.  1841.  His  father  was  an  energetic  and  successful  business  man,  whose  tan- 
neries gave  the  name  to  the  place. 

Dr.  Vander  Veer's  early  education  was  received  at  the  public  schools  of  Canajo- 
harie  and  Palatine,  and  at  the  Canajoharie  Academy.  When  eighteen  years  of  age 
he  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  the  late  Dr.  Simeon  Snow,  of  Curry  town,  N.  Y. 
After  a  year's  work  on  the  rudiments  he  came  to  Albany  and  entered  the  office  of  the 
late  Dr.  John  Swinburne.  During  the  years  1801  and  186-  he  attended  the  lectures 
of  the  Albany  Medical  College,  from  which  so  many  physicians  of  prominence  have 
been  graduated.  In  the  spring  ol  1862  he  became  one  of  the  original  "  one  hundred," 
was  commissioned  as  a  United  States  Medical  Cadet,  and  ordered  to  report  for  duty 
at  Columbia  College  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C.  While  at  this  post  he  attended  a 
course  of  lectures  at  the  National  Medical  College,  from  which  institution  he  received 
the  degree  of  doctor  of  medicine  in  December,  1862,  afterward  receiving  the  same 
degree  from  the  Albany  Medical  College.  After  graduation  Dr.  Vander  Veer  was 
commissioned  assistant  surgeon  of  the  Sixty  sixth  Regiment,  New  York  State  Vol- 
unteers, and  joined  his  regiment  at  Falmouth,  Ya. ,  just  after  the  first  battle  of  Fred- 
T 


154 


ericksburg.  During  and  after  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  he  was  detailed  as  one 
of  the  surgeons  in  charge  of  an  operating  table  at  the  1st  Division,  Second  Army 
Corps  Hospital,  having  as  his  assistants  men  much  older  than  himself,  but  who  were 
not  accustomed  to  surgical  work.  In  June,  1864,  Dr.  Vander  Veer  was  promoted 
surgeon  with  the  rank  of  major.  He  served  with  his  regiment  until  the  close  of  the 
war  and  was  mustered  out  September,  1865.  Undoubtedly  the' extensive  practice  in 
surgery  he  obtained  during  this  period  largely  influenced  him  to  make  that  his  life 
work. 

Upon  returning  to  New  York  he  attended  a  full  course  of  lectures  at  the  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons,  and  in  the  spring  of  1866  established  himself  in  Albany  as 
a  general  practitioner.  In  July,  1869,  he  was  called  to  the  chair  of  general  and 
special  anatomy  in  the  Albany  Medical  College,  and  was  also  appointed  attending 
surgeon  Albany  Hospital.  At  this  time  he  became  attending  surgeon  to  St.  Peter's 
Hospital.  Several  of  our  leading  literary  institutions  now  gracefully  recognized  his 
intellectual  qualities  by  the  bestowment  of  their  honors.  In  1882  Williams  College 
gave  him  the  degree  of  A.  M.,  and  in  1883  Hamilton  and  Union  Colleges  that  of  Ph.D. 

In  January,  1882,  he  was  appointed  professor  of  surgery  in  the  Albany  Medical 
College  and  at  the  present  time  is  professor  of  Didactic,  Abdominal  and  Clinical 
Surgery.  He  has  given  much  time  and  study  to  the  advancement  of  this  institution, 
in  which  he  has  a  keen  interest.  On  the  death  of  Dr.  Thomas  Hun,  in  1896,  Dr. 
Vander  Veer  was  appointed  Dean  of  the  Faculty  of  the  Albany  Medical  College,  an 
honor  worthily  bestowed. 

He  has  spent  several  months,  at  various  times,  in  earnest  study  abroad,  visiting 
the  great  centres  of  medical  instruction,  where  he  watched  with  absorbing  interest 
the  brilliant  operations  of  renowned  surgeons  and  specialists.  Duringhislast  sojourn 
in  Europe  he  was  accompanied  by  his  wife,  formerly  Miss  Margaret  E.  Snow,  daugh- 
ter of  his  old  preceptor,  and  his  eldest  son  Edgar.  While  in  England  he  was  enter 
tained  by  Mr.  Lawson  Tait,  whose  fame  as  a  surgical  specialist  is  known  all  over  the 
world.  During  this  trip  he  also  read  a  paper  before  the  International  Medical  Con- 
gress at  Copenhagen. 

In  addition  to  being  a  very  active  working  member,  and  ex-president  of  both  the 
County  and  State  Medical  Societies,  Dr.  Vander  Veer  is  also  a  member  of  the  Boston 
Gynecological  Society,  the  British  Medical  Association,  the  Southern  Surgical  and 
Gynecological  Association,  an  active  member  of  the  American  Association  of  Obstet- 
ricians and  Gynecologists,  an  ex-president,  one  of  the  executive  officers  of  the  Pan- 
American  Medical  Congress,  having  attended  the  recent  meeting  in  Mexico  and 
presented  a  paper.  He  is  also  vice-president  of  the  Holland  Society  of  New  York, 
Albany  Branch,  and  has  had  conferred  upon  him  the  order  of  "  Oranje-Nassau  " 
by  the  Queen  of  Holland.  Dr.  Vander  Veer  is  also  a  member  of  the  Military  Order 
of  the  Legion  of  the  United  States.  He  has  recently  been  appointed  a  delegate 
to  the  Loyal  British  Medical  Association  at  Montreal. 

As  the  power  to  grant  certificates  to  physicians  and  surgeons  educated  in  New 
York  State  is  entirely  in  the  bands  of  the  Board  of  Regents  of  the  University  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  the  medical  profession  were  naturally  interested  in  having  a  proper 
representative  of  their  profession  in  the  board;  therefore,  the  election  of  Dr.  Vau- 
der  Veer  as  a  Regent  of  the  University  in  1895  was  hailed  with  great  pleasure  by  his 
many  friends,  not  only  in  this  locality  but  in   the  neighboring  counties.     Since  his 


DR.   CHAKLhS   t.   JUNES. 


155 

election  he  has  still  continued  to  be,  as  he  was  previously,  an  earnest  advocate  of 
higher  education  in  each  and  every  profession. 

To  all  of  these  duties  hegives  some  portion  of  his  time  systematically  divided.  In 
addition  he  is  busily  at  work  every  possible  moment  upon  his  college  lectures  or 
gathering  in  writing  the  results  of  his  varied  surgical  experiences  for  the  benefit  of 
his  professional  brethren. 

Among  the  subjects  upon  which  Dr.  Vander  Veer  has  lectured  or  written  are  the 
following,  most  prominent  and  recent: — "  Some  Personal  Observations  on  the  Work 
of  Lawson  Tait,"  "The  Use  of  the  Curette  in  Uterine  Surgery,"  "  Uterine  Hemor- 
rhage, Puerperal  and  Non-Puerperal,"  "  Managementof  Cancer  in  the  Uterus,  Com- 
plicated with  Pregnancy,  with  Repcrt  of  a  Case,"  "  Hystero-Epilepsy,  with  Report 
of  Cases,"  "  Retro-Peritoneal  Tumors;  Their  Anatomical  Relations,  Pathology, 
Diagnosis  and  Treatment,"  "Tubercular  Peritonitis,"  "Report  of  Cases  of  Cho- 
lecystotomy  with  Special  Reference  to  the  Treatment  of  Calculus  Lodging  in  the 
Common  Duct,"  "  The  Relation  of  the  Board  of  Health  to  the  Public,"  "  Appendi- 
citis, the  Relation  of  the  Physician  and  Surgeon  in  the  Care  of  Cases,"  "  Comparison 
Between  Perineal  and  Suprapubic  Cystotomy,"  "The  Medico-Legal  Aspect  of  Ab- 
dominal Section,"  "  Extra-Uterine  Pregnancy,"  "  Fifty  Years  in  the  History  of  the 
Albany  Medical  College,"  "Concealed  Pregnancy,  Its  Relations  to  Abdominal  Sur- 
gery," "  The  Relation  of  the  Abdominal  Surgeon  to  the  Obstetrician  and  Gynecolo- 
gist," "  Intestinal  Obstruction,"  "  Report  of  Cases  of  Coeliotomy  Performed  at  the 
Albany  Hospital  from  July  15,  1893,  to  November  1,  1895,"  "  Report  in  Abdominal 
Surgery,  Being  an  Analysis  of  1-45  Operations  not  Previously  Reported,  Done  Upon 
the  Ovaries,  and  Uterine  Appendages,  with  Special  Remarks  as  to  Preparation  of 
Patient,  Place  of  Operation,  Use  of  Drainage,  Treatment  and  Results,"  "  Report  of 
Seven  Cases  of  Abdominal  Surgery  in  which  the  Murphy  Button  was  Applied," 
"  Tuberculosis  of  the  Female  Genital  Organs  (Including  Tuberculosis  of  the  Kidney),'' 
"  Uterine  Fibroids  Complicated  with  Pregnancy,"  etc.,  etc. 

The  pressure  of  increasing  professional  duties  does  not  prevent  Dr.  Vander  Veer 
from  taking  an  active  interest  in  municipal  affairs,  and  the  value  of  his  services  as  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Health,  the  Historical  and  Art  Society,  etc.,  is  fully  recog- 
nized.    He  is  also  an  elder  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church. 

Whatever  of  eminence  Dr.  Vander  Veer  has  attained  has  been  secured  by  close 
application,  unremitting  labor,  and  a  determined  following  of  those  inclinations 
which  in  his  youth  led  him  to  choose  for  his  own  the  responsibilities  of  the  silent 
profession. 

Honored  by  his  associates,  beloved  and  respected  by  his  patients,  Dr.  Vander  Veer's 
career  may  well  be  emulated  by  all  young  men  who  are  ambitious  to  secure  for  them- 
selves the  approval  of  their  fellows  and  the  emoluments  which  come,  of  necessity,  to 
the  leaders  in  any  profession. 


CHARLES  EDMUND  JONES,  A.  M.,  M.  I). 

Charles  Edmund  Jones,  A.  M..  M.  I).,  is  a  son  of  the  late  Dr.  E.   Darwin   [ones, 
and  was  horn  in  Albany  on  February  15,  1849.     After  graduating   from   tin-  Albany 


15G 

Academy  in  1866  he  entered  Hope  College  at  Holland  City,  Mich.,  and  was  graduated 
from  that  institution  in  1870  and  also  took  the  degree  of  M.  A.  in  course  in  1873, 
when  he  delivered  the  master's  oration.  He  read  medicine  with  his  father,  was 
graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  College  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  in  December. 

1872,  and  subsequently  attended  one  course  of  lectures  at  the  New  York  Homeo- 
pathic Medical  College,  graduating  therefrom  in  March,  1873.  He  went  abroad  in 
the  summer  of  1875  and  remained  one  year,  spending  the  greater  part  of  that  time 
in  attendance  at  the  Vienna  General  Hospital,  where  he  pursued  special  courses  of 
study.  He  visited  Europe  again  in  1878,  being  absent  six  months,  attending  the 
World's  Exposition  at  Paris,  and  acting  as  special  correspondent  of  the  New  York 
Evening  Express. 

For  many  years  Dr.  Jones  has  been  a  greater  part  of  the  time  officially  or  semi- 
officially connected  with  various  positions  of  public  trust  and  responsibility,  the 
duties  of  which  he  has  uniformly  discharged  with  fidelity,  zeal,  and  marked  effective- 
ness.    He  became  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Homeopathic  Medical  Society  in 

1873,  was  elected  its  secretary  in  1874,  and  served  as  its  president  in  1885, 1888,  and  1889. 
He  was  elected  a  delegate  from  the  county  society  to  the  New  York  State  Homeopathic 
Medical  Society  in  1874,  1875,  1876,  and  1877.  Prior  to  his  last  visit  to  Europe  he  was 
delegated  by  special  resolution  to  represent  the  Albany  County  Homeopathic  Medical 
Society  at  the  World's  Homeopathic  Congress  held  in  Paris  in  August,  1878,  and  also  to 
meetings  of  other  homeopathic  medical  societies  which  he  might  have  opportunity  to 
attend.  Since  beginning  the  practice  of  his  profession  m  Albany  in  1873  Dr.  Jones 
has  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  City  Dispensary  and  Homeopathic  Hospital,  and 
has  devoted  to  its  work  and  service  a  large  share  of  his  time,  money,  and  influence. 
He  has  ably  assisted  in  its  management,  has  supported  all  measures  designed  to 
promote  its  financial  prosperity,  and  has  been  a  member  of  its  medical  staff  since 
1873,  and  a  member  of  its  executive  and  supervising  committee  since  1884.  Since 
November,  1876,  he  has  had  charge  of  the  department  of  diseases  of  the  throat  and 
respiratory  organs. 

Dr.  Jones  has  been  a  permanent  member  of  the  Homeopathic  Medical  Society  of 
the  State  of  New  York  since  1878,  and  was  elected  its  president  in  February,  1895. 
He  has  been  for  several  years  chairman  of  its  bureau  on  throat  and  lung  diseases, 
and  has  presented  reports  embodying  a  vast  amount  of  important  data  gathered  as 
a  result  of  months  of  original  investigation  and  painstaking  research.  He  became 
a  member  of  the  American  Institute  of  Homeopathy  in  1874  and  of  the  Albany  In- 
stitute in  1876.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  City  Board  of  School  Commission- 
ers for  a  term  of  three  years,  and  during  this  service  secured  the  appointment  of  a 
permanent  committee  on  hygiene,  which  became  a  very  influential  branch  of  the  ex- 
ecutive department  of  public  instruction.  He  was  a  foundation  member  of  the  Fort 
Orange  Club,  and  for  a  number  of  years  has  been  a  member  of  its  Board  of  Trus- 
tees. In  1886  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Bi-Centennial  Committee  of 
Albany,  which  was  required  to  perfect  and  conduct  arrangements  for  celebrat- 
ing the  200th  anniversary  of  the  incorporation  of  the  city.  Following  this  he  was 
appointed  a  member  of  the  committee  having  in  charge  the  preparation,  loca- 
tion, and  permanent  preservation  of  more  than  twenty  bronze  tablets  designed  to 
identify  and  describe  the  history  of  certain  localities  and  important  events.  These 
tablets  were  placed  on  various  buildings,  and  perpetuate  those  historic  names  and 


157 

incidents  which  mark  the  growth  of  Albany  as  a  burgh  and  citv.  In  1880  Dr.  Jones 
was  made  a  member  of  the  citizens  committee  appointed  to  commemorate  the  open- 
ing of  the  new  capitol  building,  and  in  1893  he  was  appointed  by  the  Civil  Service 
Commission  a  member  of  a  Homeopathic  Examining  Board  to  examine  and  deter- 
mine the  fitness  of  candidates  for  the  position  of  assistant  physicians  at  homeopathic 
hospitals  for  the  insane.  He  was  appointed  by  Governor  Flower  in  June,  1894,  a 
member  of  the  first  board  of  managers  of  the  Craig  Colony  for  Epileptics  and  reap- 
pointed by  Governor  Morton  in  1895.  He  has  been  a  member  of  Masters  Lodge  No. 
5,  F.  cv  A.  M.,  since  1872,  and  is  also  a  member  of  Capital  City  Chapter  No.  242, 
R.  A.  M.,and  an  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish  Rite  mason,  32d  degree. 

Among  the  many  notable  papers  and  essays  which  Dr.  Jones  has  contributed  to 
the  medical  literature  of  his  time,  the  following  titles  are  selected  as  showing  the 
breadth  of  scope,  research,  and  versatility  of  his  work:  "  Pathology  and  Treatment 
of  Diabetes,"  to  which  the  McNaughton  prize  of  §100  was  awarded  by  the  faculty  of 
the  Albany  Medical  College;  "The  Throat  in  Song  and  Speech,"  illustrated  by 
photographic  slides;  "The  Differential  Diagnosis  of  Diphtheria  and  Membranous 
Croup;"  "Tubercular  Laryngitis  and  Cancer  of  the  Throat;"  "The  Climatic 
Treatment  of  Pulmonary  Consumption  and  Chronic  Bronchitis;  "  "  The  Treatment 
of  Laryngeal  Tuberculosis;"  and  "New  York's  Leadership  in  Medical  Education," 
the  latter  being  delivered  by  him  as  the  president's  annual  address  before  the  New 
York  State  Homeopathic  Medical  Society  in  1896. 

Dr.  Jones  has  won  distinction  in  his  profession  because  of  an  inflexible  purpose, 
persistently  carried  out  through  years  of  effort,  to  acquire  an  exact  and  thorough 
knowledge  of  all  the  practical  details  of  applied  medicine.  With  industry  and  en- 
thusiasm he  has  never  failed  to  avail  himself  of  all  the  resources  of  standard  litera- 
ture, and  the  best  appliances  for  the  diagnosis  and  treatment  of  disease,  more  par- 
ticularly the  diseases  of  the  throat  and  chest,  of  which  he  makes  a  specialty.  He  is 
unmarried. 


JOHN   PALMER. 

Hon.  John  Palmer,  secretary  of  state,  is  a  son  of  John,  who  died  in  the  Civil  war 
in  1863.  He  was  born  of  English  parentage  in  Staple  ton,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y., 
March  22,  18-12,  and  in  1843  went  with  his  parents  to  England,  where  he  lived  ten 
years,  two  of  which  were  spent  with  his  grandfather  on  the  Black  Sea,  where  he  wit- 
nessed the  siege  of  Sebastopol.  He  spent  three  years  in  a  semi-military  school  neat- 
Liverpool  and  in  18.">:i  returned  with  the  family  to  America  and  learned  the  trade  of 
fresco  painting,  meanwhile  finishing  his  education  at  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Business 
College  in  Albany  September  10,  1801,  he  enlisted  as  private  in  Co.  B,  91st  N.  Y. 
Vols.,  was  commissioned  captain  March  1,  180.").  and  was  mustered  out  witli  the  reg- 
iment July  3,  1865,  being  brevetted  captain  N.  Y.  Y.  His  first  service  was  in  the 
department  of  the  Gulf,  where  lie  displayed  great  bravery  at  Port  Hudson  in  the 
Red  River  campaign.  He  was  afterward  transferred  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
and  at  Five  Forks  received  injuries  from  a  falling  horse  from  which  he  has  never 
recovered.     In  1865  he  resumed  his  trade  as  painter  and  frescoer,   in  Albany,  which 


158 

he  has  since  followed.  In  1866  he  became  a  charter  member  of  Lew  Benedict  Post 
No.  5,  G.  A.  R.,  and  in  1884-85  was  department  commander.  He  was  elected  com- 
mander in  chief  of  the  National  Commandery  of  the  G.  A.  R.  in  1891,  when  he  led 
a  column  of  60,000  veterans  through  the  streets  of  Washington.  He  was  prominent 
in  the  erection  of  the  Soldiers'  Home  at  Bath,  N.  Y.,  and  is  president  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  and  has  been  indefatigable  in  promoting  the  interests  of  veterans  of  the 
war.  He  has  always  been  an  active  Republican,  casting  his  first  vote  for  Lincoln  in 
1860,  and  in  1893  was  unanimously  nominated  by  his  party  for  secretary  of  state  and 
elected  over  Cord  Meyer,  Democrat,  by  24,484  plurality.  In  1895  he  was  re-elected 
to  this  high  office  over  Horatio  C.  King  by  a  majority  of  90,146. 

In  1867  Mr.  Palmer  married  Maggie  Moore  of  Albany  and  they  have  one  daughter 
and  three  sons. 


JOSEPH  W.   TILLINGHAST. 

Joseph  Wilbee  Tillinghast,  son  of  William  Tillinghast,  was  born  in  Albany, 
January,  1835,  and  descends  from  an  old  New  England  family.  William  Tillinghast, 
a  native  of  Wickford,  R.  I.,  was  for  many  years  a  well  known  business  man  of 
Albany,  where  he  died  in  1881.  As  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Wickes  &  Tillinghast, 
he  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  sperm  oils,  and  individually  he  was  a  director 
in  the  National  Commercial  Bank.  J.  W.  Tillinghast  was  educated  in  the  Albany 
Academy,  was  a  clerk  for  Wickes  &  Tillinghast  from  1852  to  1870,  and  from  time 
until  1886  was  engaged  in  the  malting  business,  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Tweddle 
&  Co.  On  June  24,  1868,  he  became  a  director  in  the  Merchants  National  Bank  of 
Albany;  on  April  17,  1875,  he  was  chosen  vice-president;  and  on  May  1,  1880,  he  was 
elected  president,  which  office  he  still  holds.  He  is  also  a  trustee  of  the  Albany 
Savings  Bank,  a  foundation  member  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club,  and  prominently  con- 
nected with  several  other  corporations  and  institutions.  He  is  in  every  sense  of  the 
word  a  representative  business  man.  In  1859  he  married  Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of 
the  late  John  Tweddle,  one  of  Albany's  most  enterprising  citizens.  They  have  three 
children:   Frederick,  William  and  a  daughter. 


GEORGE  N.   BEST. 

George  N.  Best,  son  of  Thomas  and  Magdalene  (Rosenberger)  Best,  was  born  in 
the  province  of  Ouebec,  Canada,  June  13,  1845.  His  parents  were  natives  of  the 
United  States  and  moved  to  Canada  to  engage  in  farming.  Mr.  Best  attended  the 
public  schools  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  moved  to  New  York  State,  settling  at 
Saratoga  Springs.  He  worked  on  a  farm  one  year  and  desiring  to  enter  commercial 
life  he  availed  himself  of  an  opportunity  to  go  into  the  lumber  business.  He  made  his 
home  with  his  brother  and  engaged  in  transporting  lumber  from  the  western  part  of 
New  York  State  to  New  York  city.  His  abilities  were  soon  recognized  and  war- 
ranted his  Idling,  for  several  years,   the   position  of  foreman  for  C.  D.  &  R.  English, 


GEORGE    N.    BEST. 


THURLOW  WHhD   BARNHS. 


1  :.0 

timber  dealers  and  lumber  forwarders.  Subsequently,  Mr.  C.  D.  English  died  and 
Mr.  Best  entered  into  partnership  with  Mr.  R.  English.  The  name  of  the  firm  re- 
mained the  same  as  it  was  before  Mr.  English's  death.  This  firm  carried  on  an  ex- 
tensive business,  doing  government  contract  work  on  Lake  Champlain  and  also  en- 
gaging in  the  ice  business.  While  connected  with  this  work,  Mr.  Best  made  his  home 
in  Schuylerville  for  five  years.  In  1878  he  moved  to  Castleton,  N.  Y. ,  and  English, 
Best,  and  a  Mr.  Washburn  bought  Campbell  Island  in  the  Hudson  River  opposite 
Cedar  Hill.  Here  ice  houses  were  erected  and  a  large  ice  business  was  carried  on. 
In  1881,  English  and  Best  bought  the  property  on  which  Mr.  Best  now  lives  ami 
erected  a  mammoth  ice  house  on  the  bank  of  the  Hudson.  In  1884  Mr.  Washburn 
sold  out  his  interest  in  the  island  to  English  and  Best,  who  thereupon  formed  a  co- 
partnership. In  1887  this  firm  commenced  doing  business  in  New  York  city  under 
the  name  of  the  Cedar  Hill  Ice  Company.  In  1890  Mr.  English  sold  his  interest  in 
the  ice  business  to  a  Mr.  Sherman  and  a  Mr.  Carmen,  who  became  partners  with  Mr. 
Best.  In  1894  Mr.  Best  bought  them  out  and  continued  the  business  alone.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1896,  he  discontinued  the  New  York  business,  having  sold  it  to  the  Consolidated 
Ice  Company,  who  contracted  with  him  to  purchase  his  ice  for  a  term  of  years.  Mr.  Best 
is  now  enjoying  a  large,  well  paying  business  and  lives  in  a  palatial  residence  over- 
looking the  Hudson  River  at  Cedar  Hill.  He  has  twenty-five  acres  of  land,  used  for 
gardening,  and  also  owns  considerable  property  in  Saratoga  county.  He  is  president 
of  the  Albany  and  Castleton  Ferry  Company,  and  is  an  elder  in  the  Reformed  church 
of  Bethlehem.  October  15,  1867,  he  married  Ursula  Lockrow  of  Saratoga.  They 
had  one  son,  Harvey  A.,  who  managed  the  New  York  office  and  who  died  in  1894 
in  his  twenty-sixth  year. 


GEORGE  S.    HASWELL,   M.  D. 

Dr.  George  S.  Haswell  was  born  in  1868  and  is  a  son  of  Isaac  M.  Haswell,  who 

is  a  farmer.  Dr.  Haswell  was  graduated  from  the  Troy  High  School  in  1889,  and 
then  from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  1892.  lie  began  his  practice  in  New  York 
and  then  settled  in  Watervliet,  where  he  has  won  the  confidence  of  a  large  circle  of 
people  of  his  native  town.  Dr.  Haswell,  although  so  young,  is  a  Mason  of  the  <  >rder 
of  the  Mystic  Shrine  and  the  Knights  of  the  Ancient  Essenic  Order.  lie  was 
elected  coroner  of  Albany  county  in  November,  1896.  In  189;!  he  married  Alice, 
daughter  of  Edward  II.  Wiswall,  of  Colonic,  by  whom  lie  lias  one  daughter,  Mil- 
dred. 


THURLOW  WEED   BARNES. 

Tin  ui.ow    Wii.D   Barms  is  a  lineal  descendant   in    the  seventh    generation    from 
Thomas  Barnes,  who  came  from  England  and  distinguished  himself  in  the  Indian 
wars  around    Hartford,    Conn.,    about    1630.      On   Ids  mother's   side   he  is 
from  Nathan  Weed,  a  Revolutionary  soldier  of  Stamford,   Conn.,  and  the  grand- 


160 

father  of  Thurlow  Weed,  a  soldier  of  the  War  of  1812.  Mr.  Weed  was  distinguished 
as  the  great  Whig  and  Republican  leader  of  New  York  and  the  life-long  friend  of 
William  H.  Seward.  His  services  are  well  remembered  as  a  member  of  the  so-called 
political  firm  of  Seward,  Weed,  and  Greeley,  and  also  in  connection  with  the  admin- 
istration of  President  Lincoln,  who  sent  him  to  France  and  England  in  1861  to  avert 
the  recognition  by  those  countries  of  the  Southern  Confederacy. 

Mr.  Barnes  is  a  son  of  William  Barnes,  sr.,  and  Emily  Weed,  his  wife,  and  was 
born  in  Albany,  June  28,  1853.  On  graduating  from  Harvard  University  in  1876  he 
took  an  editorial  position  on  the  Albany  Evening  Journal,  and  soon  afterward  was 
elected  president  of  the  Young  Men's  Association  of  that  city  and  also  of  the  Albany 
County  Republican  Committee.  He  held  the  latter  position  two  terms,  and  took  an 
active  part  in  politics  and  in  the  management  of  the  newspaper,  which  was  founded 
by  his  grandfather  as  a  political  organ  in  1830.  Mr.  Barnes  was  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  Fort  Orange  Club,  in  which  he  still  retains  his  membership.  He  was  active 
in  the  National  Guard  as  a  member  of  the  10th  Regiment,  and  held  the  position  of 
first  lieutenant  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Amasa  J.  Parker  In  1886  Mr.  Barnes  took  up 
his  residence  in  Boston,  Mass.,  where  he  lived  for  five  years  as  a  member  of  the 
well  known  publishing  firm  of  Houghton,  Mifflin  &  Co.,  his  work  in  the  firm  being  in 
the  department  of  literary  criticism. 

Mr.  Barnes  has  made  extensive  journeys,  including  a  trip  around  the  world,  and 
has  spent  two  winters  in  India.  Soon  after  the  death  of  his  grandfather  he  wrote  a 
Memoir  of  Thurlow  Weed,  which  was  published  by  Houghton,  Mifflin  &  Co.  He  is 
the  owner  of  the  published  works  of  William  H.  Seward  that  were  originally  edited 
by  George  E.  Baker.  Of  late  years  Mr.  Barnes  has  been  a  resident  of  New  York 
city,  where  he  is  a  member  of  the  Republican  County  Committee  and  of  the  Harvard, 
Metropolitan,  and  other  prominent  social  organizations.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the 
Republican  National  Convention  at  St.  Louis  in  1896. 


HENRY  LUEKE. 

There  are  few  residents  of  the  city  of  Albany  of  German  birth  and  parentage 
who  have  done  more  for  this  city  and  whose  name  and  memory  will  live  longer  than 
that  of  Henry  Liieke.  He  was  born  in  Brakel,  Westphalia,  Prussia,  February  1, 
1808,  and  is  a  son  of  George  and  Margaret  Liieke.  George  Liieke  was  a  custom  tailor 
by  trade  and  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  trade  of  his  choice  in  those  days  de- 
manded more  care  and  study  and  closer  application  than  the  same  trade  does  to  day. 
In  the  making  of  fine  habits  and  uniforms  George  Liieke  was  looked  upon  as  the 
leader  in  the  town  of  Brakel.  The  first  eleven  years  of  Henry  Liieke's  life  were  not 
very  promising.  He  was  a  sick  boy  during  that  time,  but  the  tenderest  care  of  his 
loving  parents  and  the  best  medical  attention  overcame  the  ravishes  of  disease. 
When  he  became  sufficiently  strong  he  began  his  studies  at  the  public  school  and  con- 
tinued them  until  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age.  During  those  few  years  he  was 
very  attentive  and  ranked  with  the  highest  in  his  class,  displaying  both  docility  and 
ability,  characteristics  which  went  a  great  way  toward  forming  a  suitable  founda- 


HENRY    LUEKE. 


161 

tion  for  his  later  years.  It  was  contrary  at  that  time  for  those  learning  a  trade  in 
Europe  to  travel  about  from  one  country  to  another.  Henry  Lueke  chose  his  father's 
trade  and  in  accordance  with  the  custom  above  mentioned,  he  started  at  the  early 
age  of  fifteen  to  thoroughly  acquit  himself  for  his  trade.  He  traveled  through  Ger- 
many, Austria,  Hungary  and  Poland,  apprenticing  himself  to  the  best  custom  tailors, 
and  then  went  to  London  to  put  the  finishing  touches  on  his  education.  While 
at  London  he  learned  how  to  make  the  most  exquisite  habits  then  in  vogue, 
and  the  dazzling  uniforms  then  used  in  the  army  and  navy.  But  while  preparing 
to  earn  a  livelihood  he  did  not  forget  to  educate  the  other  sides  of  his  nature.  He 
learned  the  English  language  and  studied  the  customs  of  the  people  and  in  every 
way  sought  to  ennoble  his  character.  The  styles  of  England  were  not  the  only  ones 
he  studied.  During  the  three  years  spent  in  London  he  visited  Paris  and  acquired 
the  language  and  styles  of  dress  there.  He  therefore  had  visited  the  three  greatest 
cities  for  setting  the  style  to  the  world — Berlin,  London  and  Paris.  With  the  knowl- 
edge of  his  business  thus  acquired  Mr.  Lueke  felt  competent  to  carry  it  on  anywhere. 
America,  to  which  many  of  his  fellow-countrymen  had  gone  and  succeeded,  appealed 
to  Mr.  Lueke  as  being  the  most  desirable  place  to  start  in  business.  Consequently 
in  1837,  he  left  London  and  sailed  for  the  New  World.  He  arrived  at  New  York  city 
and  spent  six  years  there  following  his  favorite  vocation.  He  did  a  magnificent 
business  making  uniforms  for  the  army  and  navy  officers  and  ladies'  riding  habits. 
In  those  days  a  New  Yorker  was  not  considered  well  dressed  unless  his  suit  was  from 
Liieke's.  In  1843  Mr.  Liieke  removed  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  located  on  Liberty 
street  as  a  custom  tailor.  Subsequently  he  moved  to  South  Pearl  street  shortly  be- 
fore the  war  broke  out.  In  1848,  at  the  time  of  the  great  fire,  he  lost  almost  every- 
hing,  and  again  in  the  panic  of  1857  he  had  considerable  trouble,  but  despite  these  disas- 
ters his  fine  work  brought  him  custom  and  he  was  able  to  recover  his  losses.  April  7, 
1871,  he  retired  from  business  at  the  age  of  sixty-three  with  a  substantial  competence. 
He  had  friends  by  the  score  He  was  very  saving,  yet  at  the  same  time  liberal  in  his 
gifts  to  the  worthy  distressed.  He  invested  largely  in  real  estate  in  Albany,  the  in- 
come from  which  now  supports  him.  He  is  temperate  in  his  habits,  yet  withal  en- 
joys the  good  things  of  life  which  he  has  so  hard  earned.  So  strict  was  he  in  his  business 
that  when  asked  to  go  out  for  a  few  moments'  enjoyment  during  business  hours  his 
answer  always  was,  "  No,  I  am  expecting  a  customer."  Mr.  Liieke  possesses  a  very 
strong  constitution,  and  even  to-day  reads  the  daily  paper  by  gaslight  without 
glasses.  He  is  actively  identified  with  Holy  Cross  church  and  was  its  treasurer  for 
thirty-four  years.  He  has  never  meddled  in  politics,  but  has  always  voted  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket  and  has  been  a  subscriber  to  the  Argus  ever  since  he  came  to  the  city. 
Me  is  at  present  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  St.  Agnes  Cemetery  and  is  the 
only  surviving  member  of  the  original  board  which  was  composed  of  sixteen  mem- 
bers. In  1837,  in  New  York  city,  Mr.  Liieke  married  Miss  Catharine  W.  Rodemeir, 
who  was  a  schoolmate  of  his.  In  ( >ctober,  1887,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Liieke  had  the 
pleasure  of  celebrating  their  golden  wedding.  Mrs.  Liieke  died  in  December,  1890. 
Two  daughters  survive  her,  Adelaide,  the  wife  of  Rupert  Spang  of  Syracuse,  N.  V., 
and  ('.ertrude,  who  ably  manages  her  father's  property.  Mr.  Liieke  prefers  his  home 
and  church  to  any  club  life  and  derives  most  of  his  enjoyment  from  reading  history. 
lie  is  a  very  fluent  speaker  on  this,  his  favorite  topic.  He  knows  the  history  of 
U 


162 

Europe  thoroughly  for  the  past  two  hundred  years  and  prides  himself  on  being  able 
to  trace  the  relationship  between  all  the  royal  families. 


SIMON  W.   ROSENDALE. 

Simon  W.  Rosendale  was  born  in  Albany  in  1841,  coming  of  a  German  family, 
and  reads  and  speaks  German  fluently.  His  father,  Sampson  Rosendale,  was  a 
native  of  Bavaria,  and  his  mother  of  Saxony.  His  parents  came  to  this  country  in 
1837,  and  made  Albany  their  home.  Mr.  Rosendale  was  educated  in  one  of  the 
public  schools  and  became  a  student  of  the  Albany  Academy  and  by  his  aptness  for 
learning  and  geniality  of  his  disposition  and  his  successful  application  he  gained  the 
highest  esteem  of  his  teachers  and  classmates.  In  1857  he  entered  the  law  office  of 
Courtney  &  Cassidy,  then  an  important  legal  firm,  suspending  his  law  studies  to 
finish hisgeneral  education  in  the  halls  of  the  Barre.Vt.,  Academy,  from  which  he  grad- 
uated in  1861,  and  on  his  return  to  Albany  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1862.  Within 
a  year  he  was  appointed  assistant  district  attorney  of  Albany,  and  rendered  valuable 
aid  to  that  office.  In  1868  he  was  elected  recorder  by  a  large  majority.  He  was  ap- 
pointed by  Mayor  Nolan  corporation  counsel,  resigning  the  office  in  1882  on  account 
of  his  extensive  law  practice.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  law  firm  of  Peckham, 
Rosendale  &  Hessberg,  which  upon  the  election  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  Hon.  Rufus 
W.  Peckham  became  and  now  remains  the  well  known  firm  of  Rosendale  &  Hess- 
berg. In  1884  he  was  again  appointed  corporation  counsel  by  Mayor  Banks.  He  is 
prominently  identified  with  the  legal  and  commercial  interests  of  the  State  and  with 
many  local  organizations,  being  a  director  of  the  National  Commercial  Bank,  the 
National  Savings  Bank,  the  Albany  Railway  Company,  the  Albany  Hospital,  and 
was  for  years  treasurer  of  the  New  York  State  Bar  Association.  He  is  also  a  trustee 
of  the  Albany  Medical  College  (Union  University).  He  has  long  been  a  representa- 
tive of  his  people,  willing  to  give  his  time,  talents  and  money  in  aid  of  Jewish  char- 
itable and  religious  interests,  and  has  been  identified  with  many  movements  in 
prominent  organizations  connected  with  Judaism.  He  was  for  many  years  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  order  of  Benai  Berith,  and  for  ten  years  the  president  of  its 
National  Court  of  Appeals.  He  has  presided  over  the  convention  of  the  United  He- 
brew Congregations  of  America,  and  is  a  member  of  its  National  Executive  Com- 
mittee. He  is  a  member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  Jewish  Publication  Soci- 
ety of  America,  and  presided  at  its  initial  meeting  in  Philadelphia.  He  is  also  vice- 
president  of  the  recently  organized  American  Jewish  Historical  Society. 

In  1891  he  was  nominated  by  the  Democratic  State  Convention  for  attorney  gen- 
eral of  the  State  of  New  York,  on  the  same  ticket  with  Governor  Flower,  and  was 
elected  by  a  very  flattering  majority.  He  is  now  engaged  in  the  practice  of  the  law. 
In  the  discharge  of  the  manifold  and  arduous  duties  of  attorney-general,  it  may 
at  least  be  said  that  Mr.  Rosendale's  administration  was  successful  and  met  with 
public  approval. 


GEORGE  A.  HOUSE. 


163 
GEORGE  A.   HOUSE. 

George  A.  House,  well  known  in  both  business  and  political  circles,  is  one  of  the 
most  enterprising  men  of  Cohoes,  his  native  city.  After  graduating  from  the  High 
School  in  1870,  he  at  once  accepted  a  position  with  H.  R.  Grant  &  Co.,  in  the  hard- 
ware trade.  In  connection  with  his  duties  in  the  store  he  acquired  a  knowledge  of 
telegraphy.  On  the  dissolution  of  this  firm  he  was  appointed  manager  of  the  West- 
ern Union  Telegraph  office  at  Cohoes,  which  position  he  held  until  1883.  In  that 
year  he  resigned  and  became  the  Cohoes  representative  of  Samuel  Blaisdell,  jr.,  & 
Co.,  cotton  and  wool  dealers,  Chicopee,  Mass.  Almost  immediately  perceiving  the 
necessity  of  a  warehouse  in  Cohoes  he  perfected  his  plans  and  then  forming  a  co- 
partnership with  C.  M.  Blaisdell,  a  member  of  the  firm  of  S.  Blaisdell,  jr.,  &  Co., 
carried  the  new  venture  to  a  successful  issue.  In  1894  C.  M.  Blaisdell  disposed  of  his 
interest  to  his  wife,  Mr.  House  retaining  his  equal  position.  In  1895  Mr.  House 
individually  built  the  Younglove  Avenue  Warehouse.  Mr.  House  is  a  very  influential 
political  leader,  standing  unswervingly  in  the  Republican  party.  He  has  served  as 
fire  commissioner,  filling  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  the  Hon.  D.  J.  John- 
ston, general  superintendent  of  the  Harmony  Mills.  He  is  a  member  of  Cohoes 
Lodge  No.  116,  F.  &  A.  M.,  life  member  of  Cohoes  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.,  life  member 
of  Bloss  Council  of  Troy.  R.  and  S.  M.,  past  orator  of  Royal  Arcanum,  past  grand 
Cohoes  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  member  of  Cohoes  Business  Men's  Association,  member 
of  Cohoes  City  Club,  and  Pafraets  Dael  Club  of  Troy. 

He  was  born  in  1853  of  Holland  ancestry  and  was  the  son  of  Moses  House,  who 
came  here  as  early  as  1850,  a  shoemaker  by  trade.  He  was  also  a  private  banker 
and  real  estate  dealer. 


WINFIELD  S.   HEVENOR. 

Winfield  S.  Hkvenor  (of  the  firm  of  Van  Alstyne  &  Hevenor)  is  the  eldest  son  of 
Robert  D.  Hevenor  and  Eliza  C.  Folger,  his  wife,  and  was  born  at  Rhinebeck,  X.V., 
June  24,  1831.  On  his  father's  side  he  is  a  lineal  descendant  from  some  of  the 
earliest  German  settlers  of  Dutchess,  Columbia  and  Ulster  counties,  and  of  the 
mountainous  regions  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia;  on  the  side  of  his  mother  he  is 
a  descendant  from  Peter  Folger,  the  brother  of  the  mother  of  Benjamin  Franklin, 
and  also  from  one  of  the  original  Van  Loons,  who  were  among  the  earliest  and  most 
prominent  settlers  of  Greene  county,  N.  Y.,  and  from  whom  the  present  village  of 
Athens  took  its  ancient  name  of  Loonenberg.  Mr.  Hevenor  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  the  town,  and  at  Rhinebeck  Academy,  under  the  instruction  of 
Professors  Bell,  Marcy,  Dow,  Schuyler,  Smith  and  Covert,  all  foremost,  in  their 
time,  among  the  educators  of  Dutchess  county.  No  academy  in  the  State,  in  those 
days,  turned  out  better  scholars  than  did  Rhinebeck  Academy;  and  many  of  the 
young  men  educated  there  have  become  prominent  in  professional  and  business  life, 
and  in  the  military  service  of  the  country.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  Mr.  Hevenor  had 
been    fitted   in     the   ordinary  English   branches,    in    higher   mathematics   and    the 


164 

sciences  as  then  taught,  as  well  as  in  Latin  and  Greek,  to  compete  creditably  with 
many  graduates  of  the  colleges  of  the  day,  and  under  the  tuition  of  Mr.  Covert 
especially,  had  acquired  a  taste  for,  and  a  knowledge  of,  the  rules  of  composition 
and  declamation,  which  have  since  proven  of  great  value  and  assistance  to  him. 
Thus  equipped,  and  determining  to  waive  the  opportunity  offered  him  by  his  father 
and  friends  to  proceed  with  an  advanced  college  education,  he  commenced,  and  for 
two  years  was  engaged  in,  teaching  common  schools  in  the  neighborhood  of  his 
birthplace;  and  then,  in  September,  1849,  upon  the  urgent  solicitation  of  his  old 
schoolmate,  Hon.  George  Wolford  (formerly  county  judge  of  Albany  county,  and 
afterwards  deputy  superintendent  of  insurance),  he  came  to  Albany  and  took  up  the 
study  of  law  with  Messrs.  Tabor  &  Joyce,  and  continued  his  studies  with  them,  and 
with  Messrs.  Learned  &  Wilson,  until  he  was  admitted  to  practice  in  September, 
1852.  During  his  studentship  with  the  latter  firm  he  was  also  an  attentive  member 
of  the  first  class  of  the  Albany  Law  School  (now  merged  in  the  Law  Department  o;' 
the  University  of  Albany),  under  the  instructions  of  Hon.  Ira  Harris,  Hon.  Amasa 
J.  Parker  and  Amos  Dean,  esq.,  the  founders  and  first  professors  of  that  now  noted 
school ;  and  he  refers  with  conscious  pride  to  the  fact  that  the  recommendation  for 
his  admission  to  practice  as  a  lawyer  bears  the  signatures  of  those  eminent  men. 
Mr.  Hevenor's  life,  since  his  admission  to  practice,  has  been  an  active  and  busy  one, 
professionally  and  otherwise.  He  served  as  assistant  district  attorney  of  Albany 
county  under  Hon.  Andrew  J.  Colvin  and  Hon.  Samuel  G.  Courtney  during  their 
respective  terms  as  district  attorney;  afterwards  filled  one  term  as  justice  of  the 
peace  of  the  town  of  North  Greenbush ;  was  three  years  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Education  of  Union  Free  School  District  No.  6  of  that  town,  serving  one  year  each 
as  clerk  and  president  of  the  board;  was  afterwards  for  two  years  president  of  Bath- 
on-the-Hudson,  and  for  several  years  served  as  attorney  for  the.  village  of  Green- 
bush.  This  constitutes  his  official  life.  In  each  position  he  was  faithful,  energetic 
and  competent,  and  met  the  approval  of  the  public.  In  the  spring  of  1858  Mr. 
Hevenor,  after  having  been  a  partner  of  Mr.  Colvin  for  several  years,  entered  into 
copartnership  with  Hon.  Thomas  J.  Van  Alstyne  (afterwards  county  judge  of  Albany 
county,  and  later  a  member  of  congress  from  the  Albany  district),  under  the  firm 
name  of  Van  Alstyne  &  Hevenor.  The  firm  located  in  Douw's  building,  in  Albany, 
and  has  ever  since  continued,  as  a  firm,  in  the  practice  of  law  in  the  same  building. 
It  is  now  the  oldest  unbroken  law  or  business  firm  in  the  city  of  Albany,  and  prob- 
ably the  oldest  in  the  State.  Messrs.  Van  Alstyne  and  Hevenor  are  the  oldest  sur- 
viving tenants  of  the  building.  Their  practice  has  been  large,  varied  and  usually 
successful.  In  1878  Mr.  Hevenor  married  Christina  Pottenburgh,  eldest  daughter  of 
Capt.  Henry  Pottenburgh,  who  for  many  years  was  connected  with  the  Old  Night 
Watch,  and  afterwards  with  the  uniformed  police  of  the  city  of  Albany.  Four 
daughters  are  living,  born  of  this  marriage,  to  wit:  Mrs.  Maria  Folger  Colman, 
wife  of  Rev.  Charles  Colman,  Baptist  clergyman,  of  Germantown,  Pa. ;  Mrs.  Nancy 
Eliza,  wife  of  Dr.  J.  Wilton  Barlow,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  Ina  Van  Alstyne,  unmar- 
ried; and  Mrs.  Robertina  L.  Leech,  artist,  widow  of  the  late  Samuel  D.  Leech, 
journalist;  the- latter  two  children  are  now  residing  with  their  parents.  The  only 
son  of  the  marriage,  Robert  Henry  Hevenor,  who  died  in  early  childhood,  had  he 
lived  till  this  time,  would  have  been  about  thirty-three  years  of  age.     Although  Mr. 


ELIAS  SWEET,  JR. 


165 

Hevenor  received  his  first  Sabbath  school  instruction  from  the  noble  daughter  of  the 
pioneer  Methodist  minister,  Rev.  Freeborn  Garretson,  he  early  in  life,  after  investi- 
gation, adopted  the  creed  of  his  paternal  ancestry,  that  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and 
still  holds  the  same  religious  views.  In  politics  he  has  been  for  many  years,  and  still 
is,  an  active  and  unswerving  Democrat,  and  has  many  times  advocated  the  principles 
of  his  party  with  tongue  and  pen.  During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  he  was  a  "  War 
Democrat,"  and  was  often  called  upon  and  found  ready  to  address  large  gatherings 
of  people  in  favor  of  "  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war."  In  family  and  social  life 
he  is  genial,  social  and  kindly  hearted,  and  has  many  friends.  As  a  public  speaker 
he  is  plain,  argumentative  and  forcible,  rather  than  ornate  or  sophomoric.  Among 
his  published  addresses  several  orations  delivered  by  him  in  his  younger  days,  at 
different  times,  and  a  few  memorial  addresses  delivered  at  meetings  of  the  bar  of 
Albany,  have  received  great  commendation;  and  his  eulogy  upon  General  Grant, 
pronounced  at  Round  Lake,  N,  Y  ,  shortly  after  the  death  of  the  general  at  Mount 
McGregor,  was  said  to  be  among  the  finest  and  best  addresses  delivered  in  memory  of 
the  great  chieftain.  As  a  writer,  Mr.  Hevenor  wields  a  facile  pen,  and  his  many 
contributions  (political,  historical  and  literary)  to  newspapers  of  Albany  and  other 
counties,  have  been  warmly  welcomed  by  the  publishers,  and  read  with  pleasure 
and  approval  by  their  readers.  Mr.  Hevenor's  present  residence  is  at  Bath-on-the- 
Hudson,  N.  Y. 


ELIAS  W.   SWEET. 

Elias  W.  Sweet,  son  of  Albrow  and  Mary  (Wickham)  Sweet,  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Coeymans,  Albany  county,  X.  Y.,  September  16,  1830.  Mr.  Sweet  enjoyed  the 
limited  education  of  the  public  school  of  his  day  and  took  up  farming  as  his  life  work. 
He  lived  at  Baltimore,  X.  Y.,  for  fifteen  years  on  a  farm  of  sixty  acres  and  subse- 
quently purchased  a  farm  at  Stanton  Hill,  where  he  resided  two  years,  In  1*07  he 
moved  to  a  farm  adjoining  the  one  where  he  now  lives  in  Aquetuck,  town  of  I 
mans.  In  1869  he  purchased  the  farm  on  which  his  residence  stands  and  since  that 
time  lias  worked  the  two  farms,  comprising  163  acres.  September  30,  1852,  Mr. 
Sweet  married  Eliza  Ann  Armstrong  of  the  town  of  Coeymans.  She  died  January 
3,  1888,  leaving  four  children:  Elias,  jr.,  Phoebe,  Maria  and  Charles.  Mr.  Sweet  is 
a  Methodist  by  profession. 


JOHX   BOYD  THACHER. 

John  Boyd  Thacher,  mayor  of  the  city  of  Albany,  was  born  on  September  11, 
1847,  at  Ballston  Springs,  X.  Y.,  and  is  the  eldest  son  of  George  II.  Thacher.  who 
was  for  many  years  mayor  of  Albany. 

John  B.  Thacher,  was  educated  under  private  instruction,  and  in  1865  entered 
Williams  College,  and  was  graduated  therefrom  with  honors  in  1869.  He  then  en- 
tered his  father's  foundry  at  Albany  and  learned  the  trade  of  moulder.  He  also 
learned  bookkeeping  in  Folsom's  Business  College.  Mr.  Thacher,  in  company  with 
his  brother,  George  II.  Thacher,  still  continues  to  operate  the  extensive  foundry, 
known  as  the  Thacher  Car  Works,  being  one  of  Albany's  leading  industries. 


166 

Mr.  Thacher  began  his  public  career  in  1883,  when  he  was  elected  to  the  State 
Senate  from  Albany  county,  and  during  his  term  of  office  was  an  active  supporter  of 
all  labor  measures.  Since  that  time  Mr.  Thacher  has  been  constantly  in  the  public 
eye  as  a  politician,  having  taken  the  stump  during  both  of  the  Cleveland  campaigns. 
He  conducted  the  Albany  bi-centennial  with  great  success,  and  in  1895  became 
mayor  of  the  city  of  Albany,  of  which  office  he  is  now  the  incumbent. 

Mr.  Thacher  was  united  in  marriage  in  1872  with  Emma,  daughter  of  George  C. 
Treadwell,  esq.,  of  Albany. 

Mr.  Thacher  holds  high  rank  in  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  is  one  of  the  few  men 
in  Albany  who  have  attained  the  thirty-third  degree.  He  is  past  master  of  Masters 
Lodge  No.  5,  and  has  held  exalted  positions  in  the  other  Masonic  bodies  of  Albanv, 
and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Democratic  Phalanx.  Mr.  Thacher  gained  considerable 
prominence  during  1893  as  a  commissioner  of  awards  at  the  World's  Fair  at  Chicago. 
He  is  also  the  author  of  "  Charlecote/'  a  work  treating  on  Shakespeare  and  the 
drama,  and  several  other  works  of  merit. 


BAREXT  T.    E.    BRONK. 

Barent  T.  E.  Bronk  was  born  in  the  town  of  Coeymans,  Albany  county,  N.  Y., 
June  1,  1834.  He  is  a  son  of  John  Bronk  and  Gerritie  Vanderzee,  and  comes  from 
two  of  the  oldest  families  in  Albany  county,  the  Ten  Eycks  and  the  Coeymans,  after 
whom  the  place  Coeymans  is  named.  Mr.  Bronk's  paternal  grandmother  and  great- 
grandmother  were  Ten  Eycks,  and  his  great-great-grandmother  was  a  Coeymans. 
On  the  maternal  side  the  line  of  descent  is  also  through  the  families  of  Ten  Eyck 
and  Coeymans.  The  records  of  the  town  show  that  Andres  Ten  Eyck  married  Ann 
Margreta  Coeymans,  whose  daughter  Charlotte  married  Conrad  Ten  Eyck,  whose 
daughter  Maria  married  Jonas  Bronk,  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  In 
1636  Barent  Pieterse  Koyemans  (Coeymans)  entered  the  service  of  the  first  patroon, 
and  from  this  Koyemans  Mr.  Bronk  is  descended  in  the  way  above  shown.  The 
founders  of  this  republic  always  strove  to  perfect  methods  for  educating  the  young, 
and  when  practicable  every  son  was  sent  to  the  best  school  that  could  be  found. 
Inasmuch  as  the  facilities  were  so  meagre  at  the  place  of  his  birth,  young  Bronk 
was  sent  away  to  school.  He  attended  the  academies  at  "Westfield  and  Lenox,  Mass., 
and  there  obtained  a  magnificent  preliminary  education  that  was  to  fit  him  to  acquire 
the  position  he  later  attained  in  the  business  and  social  world.  After  leaving  school 
he  returned  to  his  father's  farm  opposite  where  the  Pulver  House  is  now  located  at 
Ravena,  N.  Y.,  and  here  he  conducted  the  farm  with  his  brothers  Jonas,  Noble  H., 
and  Eugene.  Eugene,  rilled  with  an  ardent  desire  to  serve  his  country,  enlisted  in 
the  Northern  army  during  the  Rebellion  and  his  life  paid  the  penalty.  There  is  now 
a  G.  A.  R.  Post  in  Coeymans  named  after  him.  In  1860  Mr.  B.  T.  E.  Bronk  moved  to 
his  present  farm  about  one  mile  north  of  Coeymans.  This  farm,  .consisting  of 
four  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres,  he  subsequently  inherited  from  his  great-uncle, 
Barent  Ten  Eyck.  Since  1860  Mr.  Bronk  has  lived  on  this  farm  enjoying  a  true, 
simple  life.  He  is  a  home-loving  man  and  divides  his  time  between  his  home  and 
his  church,  the  Reformed  church  of  Coeymans,  of  which  he  is  an  elder.  January  is, 
1865,  he  married  Sarah  Ann   Mull,  who  died  leaving  one  daughter,  Elizabeth,  the 


BARENT   T.   E.   BRONK. 


' 


F.  H.  FISK,  M.  D. 


167 

wife  of  Dr.  Powell  of  Coeymatis.     February  12,  1880,  Mr.  Bronk  married  his  present 
wife,  Melissa  Van  Vliet. 


D.   CADY  HERRICK. 

The  Hon.  D.  Cadv  Herrjck  was  born  in  April,  1847,  at  Esperance,  Schoharie 
county,  N.  Y. ,  and  is  a  son  of  Jonathan  R.  Herrick. 

D.  Cady  Herrick  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Albany,  N.  \\,  whither  his 
parents  had  removed  in  1853.  He  was  later  sent  to  boarding  school,  and  finished  his 
studies  at  Anthony's  Classical  Institute.  He  then  studied  law  with  Gen.  Lyman  Tre- 
main,  and  the  elder  Peckham,  at  Albany,  then  took  a  course  in  the  Albany  Law 
School,  from  which  he  was  duly  graduated,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  State 
of  New  York  in  1868. 

From  that  year  until  1870  he  was  engaged  in  the  offices  of  Hungerford  &  Ilotaling 
in  the  further  prosecution  of  his  studies  of  the  law.  In  the  latter  year  (1870)  he  en- 
tered upon  an  active  career  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Albany.  lie  first 
became  prominent  in  his  defense  of  the  murderer,  Emil  Lowenstein,  receiving  the 
highest  of  praises  for  his  powerful  and  eloquent  appeal  to  the  jury,  from  the  judge, 
jury  and  the  public.  Although  the  prisoner  was  convicted,  Mr.  Herrick  gained 
through  this  case  a  reputation  which  brought  him  clients  in  numbers  and  laid  the 
foundation  of  what  promised  to  be  a  successful  practice. 

In  1880  Mr.  Herrick  entered  politics  and  was  nominated  for  and  elected  district 
attorney,  and  renominated  and  re-elected  to  that  office  in  1883.  In  1886  Mr.  Herrick 
resigned  his  position  as  district  attorney  to  accept  the  appointment  of  justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  State  of  New  York  to  fill  a  vacancy  and  is  still  serving  in  that 
capacity,  his  term  of  office  expiring  in  1905.  Mr.  Herrick  has  held  prominent  posi- 
tions in  the  Democratic  party  ever  since  his  entrance  into  politics  in  1880. 

In  1873  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Salisbury. 


FRANK  H.   FISK,   M.  D. 

Frank  H.  Fi.sk,  M.  D.,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in  Salisbury,  Conn.,  August  6, 
1854,  and  when  young  removed  with  his  parents  to  Bridgeport,  in  the  same  State. 
He  descends  from  an  old  Massachusetts  family,  and  on  his  mother's  side  isdeso 
from  the  Chambers  of  Greenfield,  Mass.  He  attended  and  was  graduated  from  the 
public  schools  of  Bridgeport,  and  then  entered  and  was  also  graduated  from  Barnum's 
Academy,  a  celebrated  institution  for  higher  learning  in  that  city.  Later  he  was  a 
student  for  a  time  in  the  academy  at  Wilbraham,  Mass.  Deciding  upon  medicine 
as  a  profession  he  went,  while  yet  a  youth,  to  Springfield,  Mass.,  and  entered  the 
office  of  a  leading  practitioner.  He  subsequently  studied  with  physicians  in  New 
Haven,  Boston,  and  Albany,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  College 
with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  in  1 881,  since  which  time  he  has  been  in  active  practice  in 
this  city.  As  a  surgeon  he  has  won  a  reputation,  and  has  performed  many  difficult 
and  dangerous  operations.      Dr.  Fisk   is  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical 


168 

Society  and  of   the  several  Masonic  and  Odd   Fellow  fraternal   organizations  of 
Albany. 


GEORGE  STORY. 

George  Story  is  the  son  of  Richard  J.  and  Elizabeth  (Rix)  Story,  both  natives  of 
England,  and  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  December  15,  1854.  His  father  came  to 
Albany  about  1835  and  early  engaged  in  the  grain  trade;  eventually  he  established 
himself  in  the  malting  business,  and  died  in  1892  at  the  age  of  eighty-six.  His 
mother  also  died  in  1892,  aged  eighty. 

Mr.  Story  was  educated  in  School  No.  14,  on  what  is  known  as  Trinity  place, 
Albany,  and  commenced  to  earn  his  own  livelihood  at  the  age  of  fifteen.  Since  then 
his  career  has  been  one  of  almost  unceasing  activity  and  constant  effort.  With 
indomitable  perseverance,  combined  with  good  judgment,  sound  common  sense,  and 
excellent  business  ability,  lie  rose  step  by  step  in  responsible  capacities  and  event- 
ually achieved  a  high  place  as  an  enterprising  and  successful  citizen.  He  overcame 
difficulties  with  remarkable  adroitness,  filled  important  positions  with  great  credit 
and  satisfaction,  and  won  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he  came  in 
contact.  His  independent  disposition,  his  great  firmness  and  directness  of  purpose, 
his  executive  ability,  and  his  energy  and  force  of  character  enabled  him  to  surmount 
all  obstacles  and  attain  distinction  in  financial  and  business  affairs. 

In  1869  he  entered  the  employ  of  Churchill  &  Dennison,  photographers,  and  after- 
ward of  Frank  Chamberlain,  commission  merchant,  in  Albany.  In  1872  he  entered 
the  Merchants'  National  Bank  of  Albany,  where  he  remained  until  1885,  being  ad- 
vanced through  the  various  positions  to  that  of  paying  teller.  He  then  engaged  in 
the  brewing  and  malting  business  in  his  native  city  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Granger  &  Story,  from  which  he  withdrew  in  1891  to  accept  the  position,  in  New 
York,  of  first  assistant  national  bank  examiner,  which  he  held  until  1893,  when  he 
was  made  assistant  cashier  of  the  National  Hank  of  Deposit  of  that  city.  Soon  after, 
this  institution  succumbed  to  the  financial  depression  of  that  year  and  went  into  the 
hands  of  a  receiver,  with  whom  Mr.  Story  remained  until  the  business  was  wound 
up  and  every  depositor  paid  in  full,  with  interest.  He  then  became  chief  clerk  of 
the  Third  National  Bank  of  New  York  city,  but  resigned  that  position  July  1,  1894, 
to  accept  a  responsible  post  in  the  State  Banking  Department  at  Albany.  His  ex- 
perience in  banking  affairs,  and  his  thorough  knowledge  of  finance,  enabled  him  to 
meet  and  discharge  every  demand  upon  his  services  with  unusual  satisfaction, 
especially  in  the  examination  of  savings  banks,  to  which  he  was  assigned.  In  the 
fall  of  1895  he  again  went  to  New  York  city  and  established  himself  in  the  manufac- 
turing business,  at  62  Reade  street,  as  president  and  treasurer  of  the  firm  of  Story, 
Barber  &  Co.,  manufacturers  of  bicycle  lamps,  in  which  he  has  since  continued, 
maintaining  his  residence,  however,  in  Albany. 

Mr.  Story,  in  connection  with  Dr.  M.  J.  Lewi  and  Frank  Sabold,  founded,  in  about 
1893,  the  Albany  Club  of  New  York  city,  composed  of  Albanians,  and  now  one  of  the 
prominent  social  organizations  of  the  metropolis.  In  1896  he  met  with  a  serious 
affliction  in  the  loss  of  his  eyesight,  caused  no  doubt  by  his  eonscieniious  devotion  to 
work  in  the  banking  department  and  its  action  upon  his  naturally  nervous  temper- 
ament, and  since  then  he  has  been  obliged  to  relinquish  active  business. 


GEORGH  STORY 


169 
EUGENE  BURLINGAME. 

Nothing  in  the  catalogue  of  "civic  virtues"  has,  perhaps,  so  largely  contributed 
to  the  high  municipal  reputation  of  the  city  of  Albany  and  enabled  her  to  conserve 
her  status,  in  a  moral  as  well  as  in  a  geographical  sense,  as  Capital  of  the  Empire 
State,  as  the  recognized  ability  and  exemplary  character  of  its  legal  fraternity.  No 
higher  standard  of  forensic  excellence  is  anywhere  exhibited,  and  nowhere  else  are 
the  hands  of  counsel  cleaner  or  freer  from  taint.  No  suspicion  of  shadiness  or 
questionable  methods  in  the  practice  of  the  profession  is  here  permitted  and  nothing 
in  the  nature  of  the  shyster's  business  is  allowed  to  hamper  the  proceedings  of  court. 
Here  the  annual  reunion  of  the  State  Bar  Association  occurs  and  here  the  Albany 
lawyer  is  justly  presented  as  the  exemplar  and  ideal  of  all  that  is  admirable  and 
imitable  in  the  profession.  The  leaders  of  the  bar  in  Albany  have  erected  this 
standard  in  themselves  and  the  names  of  many  of  national  reputation  may  be  found 
upon  the  guidons  that  mark  off  the  avenues  of  fame  and  fortune  in  this  free  republic. 

Among  them,  occupying  an  honored  position  in  the  working  and  active  ranks  of 
the  body  as  well  as  in  the  counsels  of  the  leaders  is  found  the  name  of  Eugene, 
Burlingame. 

With  as  much  the  force  of  fact  as  that  of  incidence  it  was  observed  by  a  reputable 
journal  of  Albany  in  reference  to  his  nomination  for  the  position  of  district  attorney 
at  the  last  State  election:  "  The  election  of  Mr.  Burlingame  means  for  Albany  city 
and  county  honest  elections  and  the  capable  and  efficient  administration  of  the  duties 
of  the  office."  The  moral  of  this  significant  utterance  is  found  in  the  fact  that 
Eugene  Burlingame  is  now  (in  1897)  serving  the  third  year  of  his  term  of  district 
attorney.  This  expression  of  public  opinion  might  serve  as  the  epigraph  of  his 
memoir,  though  it  would  not  cover  or  include  all  his  higher  characteristics.  It  is 
not  as  the  prosecuting  attorney  of  a  district  or  the  representative  in  that  capacity 
of  a  political  party  that  he  is  best  known,  but  as  the  conscientious  advocate,  the 
able  counsel  and  the  scholarly  gentleman.  In  many  other  ways  is  he  known  in 
social  and  domestic  life  and  all  redounding  to  his  credit,  but  they  do  not  come  within 
the  scope  or  necessary  limitations  of  this  article. 

Eugene  Burlingame  was  born  in  Willett,  Cortland  county,  N.Y.,  January  24,  1847, 
and  is  the  son  of  Westcott  and  Melinda  (Eaton)  Burlingame,  and  is  descended  of 
good  New  England  stock  both  on  the  paternal  and  maternal  side.  The  genealogical 
tree  is  of  no  fanciful  growth,  for  its  roots  "spread  deep  and  wide  through  pilgrim 
soil."  His  earliest  American  ancestor  of  the  male  line  was  Roger  Burlingame,  who 
came  from  England  some  time  prior  to  1650  and  was  known  to  be  a  resident  of 
Stonington,  Conn.,  as  early  as  1654.  He  resided  at  Warwick,  R.  I.,  in  1660,  and 
later  at  Providence,  in  the  same  State.  The  line  is  followed  from  Roger  Bur- 
lingame through  Thomas,  Joshua,  Eleazer  and  Altitius  to  his  father,  Westcott,  and 
himself,  while  the  history  of  his  grandmother's  ancestry  in  the  same  line  runs  back 
into  many  of  the  old  and  prominent  Rhode  Island  families.  She  was  the  daughter 
of  Augustus  Ellis  and  Desire  Slocum,  and  was  the  sixth  in  descent  from  the  family 
of  the  latter  name.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  also  traces  his  descent  through  his 
grandmother  on  the  paternal  side,  through  the  Hull  and  Dyer  families  to  Mary 
Dyer,  who  suffered  martyrdom  at  Boston  "  for  conscience  sake  "  in  1660.  Thomas 
V 


170 

Burlingame,  the  son  of  Roger,  married  Martha  Lippitt,  daughter  of  Moses  and  Mary 
(Knowles)  Lippitt,  and  Eleazar,  Mr.  Burlingame's  great-great-grandfather,  married 
Rhoda  Briggs,  of  an  old  Rhode  Island  family.  His  mother  was  Melinda  Eaton,  a 
descendant  of  William  and  Jane  Eaton,  of  Dover,  England.  Nicholas,  the  son  of 
William,  who  was  born  in  1573,  was  warden  of  St.  Mary's  church,  Dover,  and  mayor 
of  his  native  city.  His  son  John,  Mr.  Burlingame's  first  ancestor  on  the  maternal 
line  who  came  to  this  country,  was  born  at  Dover  in  1611  and  with  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren came  to  America  in  1635,  settled  in  Dedham,  Mass.,  and  became  the  founder 
of  the  "  Dedham  Eatons."  The  descent  in  this  line  is  continued  through  John  to 
his  son  Thomas,  who  married  Lydia  Gay  in  1697,  settling  in  Woodstock,  Conn.,  to 
Nathaniel,  who  married  Esther,  daughter  of  Capt.  John  Parry,  in  1704,  to  Elijah,  to 
John,  who  married  Lydia  Preston,  to  Melinda,  the  mother  of  our  district  attorney. 

In  a  single  maternal  line  the  ancestry  of  this  distinguished  Albanian  is  traceable 
to  George  Bunker,  after  whom  Bunker  Hill  was  named,  for  he  was  the  owner  of  the 
top  of  that  historic  mound  one  hundred  years  before  it  had  been  made  memorable 
by  the  famous  battle  of  the  Revolution.  This  is  history  to  be  proud  of.  The  lineage 
in  this  direction  is  followed  from  George  to  Martha  Bunker,  who  married  John 
Starr,  to  Lydia  Starr,  who  married  Nathaniel  Gay,  to  Lydia  Gay,  who  was  married 
to  Thomas  Eaton.  The  late  Prof.  Amos  Eaton  of  Troy,  N.  Y. ,  identified  with  the 
earlier  history  of  Rensselaer  Polytechnic  Institute,  his  son,  the  late  Gen.  Amos  B. 
Eaton,  U.  S.  A.,  his  grandson,  the  late  Prof.  Daniel  C.  Eaton,  of  Yale  College, 
Hon.  Dorman  B.  Eaton,  of  New  York,  and  Gen.  William  Eaton,  distinguished  for 
services  at  Tunis,  were  all  descended  from  this  stainless  stock. 

Coming  to  his  immediate,  ancestors  it  will  be  of  interest  to  state  that  his  grand- 
father, Altitius  Burlingame,  was  born  at  West  Greenwich,  Rhode  Island,  September 
27,  1790,  and  with  his  great-uncle,  Arnold  Thomas  and  their  families,  removed  from 
their  native  place  to  Willett  in  the  State  of  New  York  in  1809.  They  were  among 
the  earliest  settlers  of  that  town.  Mr.  Burlingame's  father,  born  in  1806,  was,  con- 
sequently, only  three  years  old  at  the  time.  Grandfather  John  Eaton — the  other 
side — and  great-uncles  Peter  Eaton  and  Robert  Tennant  with  their  families  removed 
to  Willett  from  Cherry  Valley,  N.  Y.,  about  1814.  His  mother,  Melinda  Eaton,  was 
born  at  Cherry  Valley,  November  6,  1812.  The  locality  where  they  settled  has  since 
been  known  as  "  Eaton  Hill."  The  marriage  of  Melinda  Eaton  and  Westcott  Bur- 
lingame took  place  at  Willett,  N.  Y.,  March  27,  1836,  and  the  issue  included  five 
children:  Miles  Eaton,  Ogden,  Lydia,  Lucy  Agnes  and  Eugene  (all  now  living, 
June,  1897.)     The  late  Anson  Burlingame  was  descended  from  the  same  stock. 

Although  the  early  training  and  subsequent  career  up  to  the  time  of  his  entrance 
into  public  life,  of  Eugene  Burlingame,  had  not  been  unusually  eventful,  they  were 
not  unmarked  by  circumstances  that  were,  in  a  measure,  in  the  nature  of  events  that 
"  cast  their  shadows  before."  In  all  were  evinced  the  "  mens  propositi tenax" — the 
quiet  determination  to  prove  worthy  of  the  best  traditions  of  family  and  race.  His 
early  education  was  received  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town,  followed  by  a. 
two  years  course  at  the  Cincinnatus  Academy  in  Cortland  county.  In  1866  he  en- 
tered the  State  Normal  College  at  Albany  and  was  graduated  with  honor  in  July, 
1868.  It  is  worthy  of  record  that  at  the  close  of  his  studies  in  this  institution  he 
accepted  the  position  of  principal  of  the  Athens  Union  School,  and  though  hardly 
yet  having  attained  the  years  of  manhood  conducted  it  so  successfully  for  a  period 


171 

of  two  years  tb at  his  resignation  at  the  end  of  that  time  was  a  source  of  general 
public  regret  in  that  section. 

But  the  ambition  of  the  young  teacher  soared  beyond  the  contracted  limits  of  the 
class  hall,  and  within  the  vast  domain  of  the  legal  profession  he  discerned  a  broader 
view  for  his  aspirations  and  a  wider  field  for  his  talents.  In  the  general  scope  of 
hisearlies  studies  the  literature  of  the  law  had  for  him  a  peculiar  fascination,  and  it 
was  not  as  a  callow  or  uninformed  neophyte  that  he  entered  the  Albany  Law  School 
in  1870,  being  then  in  the  twenty-third  year  of  his  age.  As  it  always  happens  with 
the  adventurous  soldier  of  fortune  in  any  field,  he  found  competent  helps  at  hand. 
Among  them  was  the  eminent  Isaac  Edwards,  then  dean  of  the  college,  and  Judge 
Ira  Harris,  a  famous  lecturer  on  constitutional  law.  Among  the  existing  faculty 
also  were  numbered  Judge  Amasa  J.  Parker  and  Judge  William  F.  Allen  of  the 
Court  of  Appeals.  Under  such  distinguished  instructors  the  earnestness  and  apti- 
tude of  young  Burlingame  were  brought  into  play  and  so  rapidly  responded  to  their 
broad  and  liberal  treatment  that  in  a  little  over  a  year  he  obtained  the  degree  of 
LL.B.,  and  was  ready  for  practice.  But  with  the  wisdom  so  rare  at  his  years  he 
realized  the  importance  of  the  most  thorough  preparation  before  entering  upon  his 
professional  work,  and  entered  the  law  office  of  Newkirk  &  Chase  at  Hudson,  N.  V.. 
an  admirable  school  for  a  young  lawyer,  where  he  thoroughly  familiarized  himself 
with  the  business  features  of  his  calling.  By  his  ready  intelligence  and  willingness 
to  work  he  won  the  confidence  of  his  associates  and  was  intrusted  with  much  im- 
portant business  of  the  concern.  Thus,  fully  equipped  for  the  forensic  arena,  he 
entered,  in  1872,  on  the  full  and  formal  practice  of  the  profession,  in  partnership 
with  Charles  W.  Mead  of  this  city.  After  five  years  of  legal  collaboration,  during 
which  he  performed  very  important  professional  work,  he  opened  an  office  for  him- 
self at  No.  452  Broadway.  It  may  be  noticed  in  this  connection  that  while  he  is 
frequently  consulted  and  as  counsel  tries  many  cases  for  other  attorneys,  he  has 
made  it  a  custom  to  try  and  argue  his  own  cases  and  generally  with  pronounced 
success.  He  enjoys  at  present  one  of  the  largest  and  most  lucrative  practices  in  this 
part  of  the  State,  being  engaged  on  one  side  or  the  other  in  most  of  the  important 
causes  tried  in  our  courts. 

March  29,  1875,  he  married  Emma  Patten  Watson,  the  accomplished  daughter  of 
the  late  Hon.  Rufus  W.  Watson,  a  prominent  lawyer  of  Catskill,  N.  Y.  They  have 
four  children  living:  Eugene  Watson,  Elizabeth  Jenkins,  Francis  and  Westcott. 
A  fifth,  Harriette  Sylvia,  died  in  infancy. 

There  is  little  room  to  touch  upon  the  manners  or  methods  by  which  Mr.  Burlin- 
game has  attained  his  remarkable  eminence  at  the  bar,  but  through  each  and  all  of 
them  is  discerned  the  dominant  note  of  carefulness  and  the  abiding  sense  of  respon- 
sibility. "  For  conscience  sake  "  appears  to  be  his  motto  as  well  as  that  of  his  mar- 
tyred ancestor  and  he  is  prompt  to  apply  it  to  the  light  as  to  the  weightiest  case  with 
which  he  may  be  entrusted.  In  direct  and  cross  examination  his  questions  are  form- 
ulated with  scholarly  precision.  Impressed  with  the  conviction  that  truth  and  accu- 
racy are  one  and  indivisible  and  that  the  gravest  issues  often  hang  upon  apparently 
the  most  trivial  questions,  he  is  wont  to  weigh  his  words  with  the  greatest  delibera- 
tion and  insist  upon  the  most  direct  and  definite  answers.  Although  a  master  of 
technique  he  treats  the  witnesses  with  the  utmost  fairness.  His  end  and  aim  is  to 
get  at  the  truth  and  elicit  it  in  the  interests  of  justice.     Even  in  his  capacity  of  Dis- 


172 

trict  Attorney  he  has  been  known  to  turn  the  search  light  of  truth  upon  the  case  of 
the  people  and  by  interposing  on  behalf  of  the  accused,  but  with  no  diminution  of 
the  dignity  of  the  office,  has  often  stopped  an  expensive  and  unjust  prosecution.  In 
the  less  restricted  sense  of  speaker  and  advocate  his  language  is  refined  and  elegant 
but  always  within  the  comprehension  of  his  hearers.  His  reasoning  is  logical 
and  incisive,  but  he  has  never  recourse  to  glittering  sophisms  to  compass  the  end  of 
the  public  prosecutor.  His  eloquence  is  the  eloquence  of  truth ;  his  force  the  force 
of  conviction.  In  bearing  he  is  calm,  dignified  and  impressive  and  entirely  free 
from  any  of  the  ad  captandum  methods  sometimes  known  to  the  profession.  He  is 
the  type  of  the  classical  orator  cast  in  the  practical  mold  of  the  modern  lawyer.  His 
oratory  is  aided  by  a  charming  personality,  graceful  action  and  quietly  fervid  man- 
ner. He  is,  altogether,  an  attractive  and  commanding  figure  in  the  front  rank  of  his 
profession. 

Mr.  Burlingame's  position  in  politics  is  somewhat  unique.  While  distinct  in  char- 
acter from  the  hustling  partisan,  he  is  looked  upon  by  his  party  as  the  ideal  repre- 
sentative of  Republican  polititics  and  is  highly  trusted  and  esteemed  in  that  capacity. 
This  is  exemplified  by  the  fact  that  in  1884  he  was  chosen  chairman  of  the  Albany 
County  Republican  Committee  and  in  1887  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Republican 
State  Committee.  In  1891  he  was  one  of  the  Republican  counsel  in  the  celebrated 
election  cases  of  that  year,  involving  as  they  did  the  election  of  four  State  senators 
and  the  consequent  control  of  the  State  Senate,  and  rendered  valuable  and  efficient 
service  in  the  interest  of  honest  elections  and  good  government.  "  Certainly,"  said 
Mr.  Burlingame,  in  the  course  of  an  able  argument  during  these  remarkable  trials, 
"as  citizens,  not  as  partisans,  we  are  all  interested  in  keeping  those  avenues  that 
lead  up  to  the  exercise  of  the  greatest  right  and  duty  of  an  American  citizen  pure 
and  undefiled." 

As  an  evidence  of  his  influence  in  literary,  social  and  religioi"  circles  it  goes  in 
the  record  that  he  was  President  of  the  Young  Men's  Association  of  Albany  in  1884 
which  is  justly  regarded  as  a  great  honor,  inasmuch  as  the  society  with  its  library 
and  hall,  has,  for  many  years,  been  intimately  associated  with  the  literary  life  of 
Albany.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Albany  Historical  and  Art  Society,  President 
of  the  Burns  Club  and  member  of  the  Fort  Orange  and  Press  Clubs  and  member  of 
the  State  Bar  Association.  He  is  Past  Master  of  Masters  Lodge  No.  5,  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  also  trustee  of  that  Lodge.  He  is  a  director  and  counsel  for  Fairview  Home  for 
Friendless  Children,  a  director  of  the  Charity  Organization  Society  of  Albany,  and 
Vestryman  of  St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church  of  Albany.  He  is  a  Curator  of  the  Albany 
Institute,  the  leading  literary  and  scientific  society  of  Albany,  and  member  of  the 
faculty  of  the  Albany  Law  School,  lecturing  on  Real  Property  and  Criminal  Law. 

Physically  Mr.  Burlingame  is  slightly  above  the  middle  size,  of  a  compact  and  well- 
knit  frame  and  with  clean  cut  regular  features.  His  bright  blue  eyes  have  a  direct 
and  searching  light  in  them  that  seek  first  to  know  you  and  being  satisfied  beam 
kindly  upon  you  His  manner  is  courteous  and  cordial  with  a  very  nice  sense  of 
situation  and  a  blending  of  dignity  and  benevolence  that  impresses  the  stranger  and 
endears  him  to  his  friends.  Albany  is  justly  proud  of  Mr.  Burlingame,  as  a  citizen, 
lawyer  and  public  official. 


PART  III. 


FAMILY  SKETCHES 


FAMILY  SKETCHES 


Stark,  Moses,  son  of  Myer  and  Barbette  (Nussbaum)  Stark,  was  born  in  Albany, 
February  11,  1851.  His  parents  came  from  Germany  in  1840  and  first  settled  in 
North  Adams,  Mass.,  whence  they  moved  about  1842  to  Albany,  where  the  father 
died  in  1889.  Myer  Stark  was  for  many  years  a  dry  goods  merchant.  Of  his  seven 
children  four  sons  are  living:  Bernard,  born  January  1,  1846,  now  a  manufacturer  of 
ladies'  wrappers;  Moses,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Leopold,  born  in  October,  1854, 
a  bookkeeper  for  his  brother  Moses ;  and  Louis,  born  May  24,  1856,  a  member  of  the 
New  York  Tailoring  Company.  All  reside  in  Albany.  Moses  Stark  was  educated 
in  the  public  and  German  schools  of  Albany,  was  for  three  years  a  clerk  for  Mann, 
Waldman  &  Co.,  and  in  April,  1868,  formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother  Bernard, 
under  the  firm  name  of  B.  Stark  &  Co.,  and  engaged  in  the  fancy  dry  goods  business 
in  the  old  Tweddle  Hall  building.  In  1882  they  removed  to  No.  13  North  Pearl 
street,  where  they  made  extensive  improvements,  putting  in  a  large  millinery  de- 
partment, and  where  they  were  burned  out  in  the  fall  of  1895.  The  business  was 
then  divided,  Moses  Stark  continuing  the  millinery  branch,  which  is  located  in  the 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  building  at  the  corner  of  North  Pearl  and  Steuben  streets.  It  is  one  of 
the  best  known  establishments  of  the  kind  in  Albany.  He  is  a  member  of  Wash- 
ington Lodge  No.  85,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Gideon  Lodge  No.  140,  I.  O.  B.  B.,  and  a 
charter  member  of  the  Adelphia  Literary  Club.  March  22,  1874,  he  married  Minnie, 
daughter  of  Morris  Herman  of  Albany,  who  died  August  26,  1889,  leaving  three 
children:  Herbert  M.,  Mae  and  Hattie. 

Seelmann,  Andrew  G.,  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  May  6,  1861.  His  parents  were 
George  and  Rosa  (Drach)  Seelmann,  natives  of  Germany.  Mr.  Seelmann  was  edu- 
cated in  the  Holy  Cross  School  and  Christian  Brothers'  Academy  of  Albany  and 
took  an  evening  course  at  the  Albany  Business  College.  After  finishing  his  educa- 
tion he  entered  the  law  office  of  Wickes  &  Gutmann  and  while  there  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1882.  June  8,  1885,  he  was  appointed  superintendent  of  the  money  order 
department  at  the  Albany  post-office  and  held  the  position  until  March  1,  1890.  He 
then  opened  a  law  office  at  No.  93  State  street  and  later  moved  to  No.  69  State 
street,  where  he  is  now  located.  In  1891  Mr.  Seelmann  was  clerk  to  the  Assembly 
Committee  on  Judiciary  and  Codes,  and  in  1892  was  clerk  to  the  Committee  on 
Judiciary  and  Railroads.  He  was  president  of  the  German  Lyceum  during  its  ex- 
istence and  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  is  now  president  of  the  German  Young 
Men's  Democratic  Club.  He  is  a  member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic Association  of  Albany  county  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Democratic  Pha- 


lanx,  the  Catholic  Union  and  the  C.  B.  A.  Alumni.    His  business  is  chiefly  real  estate 
law,  and  Surrogate's  Court  practice. 

Brewster,  Frederick  C,  son  of  Cortland  and  Rachel  (Mors)  Brewster,  was  born  in 
Waterford,  Saratoga  county,  N.  Y.,  August  11,  1860.  He  was  educated  in  private 
schools  and  was  graduated  from  Claverack  College  in  1879  and  from  the  Troy  Busi- 
ness College  in  1880.  He  then  went  as  bookkeeper  to  the  office  of  his  uncle  and 
grandfather,  lumber  dealers,  West  Troy,  where  he  rapidly  rose  to  the  position  of 
confidential  clerk.  In  January,  1894,  he  opened  a  real  estate  office  at  No.  1595 
Broadway,  West  Troy,  and  purchased  the  insurance  agency  of  Clute  &  McAllaster. 
Mr.  Brewster  has  been  a  member  of  the  Troy  Citizens  Corps  for  fifteen  years,  having 
served  ten  years  as  an  active  member  in  the  National  Guard  and  five  years  as  a 
member  of  the  Old  Guard.  July  20,  1887,  Mr.  Brewster  married  Eliza,  daughter  of 
John  H.  Crocker  of  West  Troy. 

Armstrong,  Rev.  J.  B.,  was  born  at  Johnsburg,  N.  Y.,  in  1854,  and  a  son  of 
J.  W.  Armstrong,  who  was  a  farmer  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry.  He  was  twenty  years 
of  age  when  he  decided  to  enter  the  ministry,  and  was  graduated  in  1876  from 
Fort  Edward  Institute.  He  taught  several  years  in  the  public  schools,  and  then 
natural  science  at  the  Troy  Conference  Academy,  and  also  taught  higher  mathe- 
matics. In  1883  he  took  his  first  charge  at  Ames,  Montgomery  county,  where  he  re- 
mained for  three  years.  Thence  he  proceeded  to  East  Greenbush,  then  to  Johnson- 
ville  and  to  West  Troy  in  1891,  where  he  is  pastor  of  the  Third  Avenue  M.  E.  church. 
He  is  a  man  of  rare  attainments,  of  liberal  views,  and  is  an  eloquent  speaker.  Dur- 
ing his  sojourn  here  he  has  labored  faithfully  and  effectually  for  the  upbuilding  of 
the  church  of  God.  Among  the  fruits  of  his  pastorate  may  be  noticed  a  vigorous 
growth  in  all  departments  of  the  church  work,  largely  increased  membership  and  a 
new  and  modernized  temple  of  worship. 

Toner,  J.  Seymour,  was  born  in  Green  Island,  Albany  county,  in  1860,  and  has 
always  been  a  resident  of  that  village.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  there 
and  at  an  early  age  became  a  member  of  the  village  fire  department,  of  which  he 
has  filled  all  the  positions  connected  with  same  and  for  one  year  was  chief  engineer. 
He  served  four  terms  (eight  years)  as  village  trustee,  the  longest  term  served  by  any 
man,  although  a  Democrat  in  a  village  having  a  large  Republican  majority,  he  re- 
ceived flattering  majorities  at  each  election.  He  has  been  connected  with  the  account 
department  of  Cluett,  Coon  &  Co.,  of  Troy,  for  sixteen  years,  and  is  now  occupying 
the  position  of  paymaster  for  that  concern. 

Dayton,  Lewis  W.,  son  of  Jesse  C.  and  Carrie  L.  (Weed)  Dayton,  was  born  in 
New  York  city,  March  24,  1866,  and  is  of  English  descent,  his  original  paternal  an- 
cestor in  this  country,  Ralph  Dayton,  having  come  from  Bradfordshire,  England,  in 
the  seventeenth  century  and  settled  at  East  Hampton,  L.  I.  Major  Nathan  Dayton 
moved  from  Long  Island  in  1800,  and  settled  on  a  farm  near  Rensselaerville,  Albany 
county.  Lewis  W.  Dayton's  grandfather,  Samuel,  lived  at  Rensselareville  until 
1850,  when  he  moved  to  Watervliet,  now  the  town  of  Colonie,  and  established  the 
old  homestead  where  Lewis  W.  Dayton  now  lives.  His  son,  Jesse  C,  was  engaged 
in  business  in  New  York  city  when  Lewis  W.  was  born  and  moved  to  Watervliet, 
Albany  county,   in  1870.      He  was  a  staunch    Democrat  and  represented  Albany 


county  as  State  senator  for  one  term  and  was  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Watervliet 
from  1872  to  1878.  Lewis  W.  Dayton  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Academy  in 
1884  and  spent  one  year  as  clerk  in  the  Anchor  Iron  and  Steel  Works  in  Kentucky. 
He  returned  to  Albany  county  and  engaged  in  farming  in  the  town  of  Watervliet 
until  1895,  when  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  of  the  town  of  Colonic.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Citizens  Corps  of  Troy  and  also  a  member  of  the  Sixth  Separate  Com- 
pany, N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.,  and  is  an  active  member  of  the  Farmers'  League  and  was  its 
corresponding  secretary  for  two  years.  Mr.  Dayton  was  very  active  in  the  dividing 
of  the  town  of  Watervliet  into  the  town  of  Colonie  and  has  always  been  an  earnest 
worker  in  the  Republican  party. 

Carroll,  George  H.,  owns  and  conducts  a  grocery  at  No.  74  Oneida  street,  which 
his  father,  the  late  William  C.  Carroll,  established  in  1850.  The  latter,  a  pioneer 
here,  came  from  New  Hampshire,  and  was  the  leading  grocer  of  his  day.  He  was 
also  a  central  figure  in  the  development  of  the  city  of  Cohoes,  and  an  advocate  of  all 
matters  pertaining  to  the  advancement  of  his  fellowmen.  His  death  occurred  in 
1884,  aged  seventy-four  years.  George  H.  is  a  native  of  Cohoes,  born  in  1851,  and 
was  associated  with  his  father  in  the  grocery  business,  and  since  his  death  has  con- 
tinued in  the  mercantile  business.  His  wife  was  Sarah  Harwood  of  Schaghti- 
coke,  N.  Y. 

Reavy,  Frank  C,  has  been  one  of  the  leading  undertakers  of  Cohoes  since  1870. 
His  father  was  John  Reavy,  a  merchant  who  went  from  Montreal  when  Frank  was 
born  in  1843,  to  Chicopee,  Mass.,  in  1844,  coming  here  in  1858.  Mr.  Reavy  began 
business  life  at  fifteen  years  of  age.  After  remaining  in  the  cotton  mills  for  a  few 
years  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  spending  three  years  in  New  York  at  the 
business  before  establishing  for  himself.  He  served  as  school  commissioner,  super- 
visor, city  hall  commissioner,  and  many  minor  offices.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Busi- 
ness Men's  Association,  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  the  A.  O.  H.,  and  K.  of  C. 

Courchaine,  William,  was  born  in  St.  George,  P.  V.,  in  1856,  and  is  a  son  of  Will- 
iam Courchaine,  coming  here  in  1863.  In  1865  he  entered  Harmony  Mills,  remain- 
ing until  twenty-two  years  of  age  as  a  weaver,  later  he  peddled  vegetables,  and  in 
1880  established  his  present  grocery.  He  served  his  first  public  office  as  hospital 
commissioner.  Mr.  Courchaine  is  president  of  St.  Jean  Baptist  Society;  it  is  a 
social  and  benevolent  organization.  He  has  for  nine  years  been  trustee  of  the 
Church  of  Sacre  Coeur.  He  is  supervisor  of  the  Sixth  ward  of  the  city  of  Coin  its, 
and  proves  a  very  efficient  and  popular  official. 

Conway,  Cornelius,  is  the  elder  son  of  the  late  Hugh  Conway,  a  life-long  resident 
of  Cohoes.  The  latter  at  the  time  of  his  death,  January  14,  1896,  was  operating  in 
the  partnership  of  Mr.  Hugh  Graham,  the  largest  and  finest  grocer)'  in  the  city. 
They  came  to  the  present  location,  13  and  15  Willow  street,  in  1884,  and  erected  the 
large  and  commodious  double  store.  Mr.  Conway  began  business  as  a  humble  clerk 
for  Graham  &  Stanton,  but  in  1871  he  purchased  Mr.  William  Stanton's  interests. 
Mr.  Graham  retired  soon  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Conway  andthe  firm  is  now  known 
as  Conway  &  Co. 

Heney,  William  H.,  was  born  in  Oldham,  England  January  31,  1863.  Two  years 
later  he  came  with  his  parents  to  this  country ;  after  a  two  years'  residence  in  Water- 


6 

ford,  N.  Y.,  they  removed  to  Troy,  N.  Y.,  remaining  there  about  five  years.  They 
then  took  up  their  residence  in  Cohoes,  which  has  since  been  the  home  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch.  At  the  age  of  nine  years  he  entered  the  Harmony  Cotton  Mills  as  an 
apprentice,  continuing  his  education  in  the  night  schools.  Mr.  Heney  has  since  been 
employed  in  various  mills  in  various  capacities,  and  since  1893  has  been  superintend- 
ent of  The  Hudson  Valley  Knitting  Co.,  of  Waterford,  N.  Y.  He  was  inspector  of 
election  of  the  Fourth  ward  for  two  years,  and  in  1893  was  elected  supervisor,  being 
re-elected  in  1895.  Mr.  Heney  is  a  member  of  Egberts  Lodge  No.  50,  Knights  of 
Pythias,  having  served  as  chancellor  commander,  also  as  district  deputy  of  the 
Twenty-eighth  District  in  1894.  He  joined  the  Seventh  Separate  Co.,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y., 
in  1882;  after  serving  five  years  as  quartermaster-sergeant  and  the  same  length  of 
time  as  first  sergeant,  he  applied  for  and  received  an  honorable  discharge  in  1892. 
In  1888  Mr.  Henry  won  the  Woodward  competitive  drill  medal,  the  presentation 
speech  being  made  by  Hon.  D.  B.  Hill,  then  governor  of  the  State. 

Sessions,  Charles  E.,  and  Lewis  E.  Sessions,  are  residents  of  Cohoes  for  half  a 
century  and  are  sons  of  the  late  John  B.  Sessions,  who  by  trade  was  a  mason  and 
who  came  here  in  1847.  Charles  E.  was  born  in  Troy  in  1842,  and  in  his  early  years 
worked  in  the  Harmony  Mills.  Lewis  E.  was  born  in  1846  in  Troy,  and  in  his  early 
years  was  a  butcher.  In  1859  Philip,  an  elder  brother,  established  the  business  at 
the  present  location. 

Canton,  Charles  N.,  late  postmaster  of  the  city  of  Cohoes,  and  for  twenty  years 
past  a  prominent  citizen  of  that  city,  was  born  at  West  Troy,  February  10,  1853. 
His  first  American  ancestor  was  Albert  Canton,  who  emigrated  from  Bordeaux, 
France,  about  1811,  and  settled  at  Brattleboro,  Vt.  He  was  a  soldier  of  1812.  Mr. 
Canton  is  one  of  five  sons  of  the  late  Louis  Canton,  a  contractor,  who  located  at 
West  Troy  about  1836.  He,  himself,  lived  at  West  Troy  until  about  twenty-one, 
having  learned  the  builder's  trade.  In  1875  he  married  Miss  Mary  F.  Carpenter,  of 
Cohoes,  lately  deceased.  In  1884  he  was  appointed  sealer  of  weights  and  measures, 
and  was  postmaster  of  the  city  from  1890  to  1894,  being  succeeded  by  James  B.  Mc- 
Kee,  the  present  incumbent.  Mr.  Canton  is  largely  interested  in  the  wholesale  trade 
of  ice.  In  1895  he  purchased  the  Peltier  hotel  property  in  Colonie,  on  the  beautiful 
and  historic  Loudon ville  road,  transforming  it  into  the  "  Cottage  Lawn,"  a  pictur- 
esque and  popular  summer  resort. 

Smith,  Oscar,  Capt.,  was  born  in  Howard,  Steuben  county,  N.  Y.,  June  15,  1840. 
He  received  a  public  school  and  academical  education.  In  1801,  when  only  fifteen, 
he  enlisted  in  Co.  G,  13th  N.Y.Yol.  Inf.,  and  served  eighteen  months;  he  re-enlisted 
in  January,  1804,  in  Co.  H,  13th  N.  Y.  H.  A.,  as  sergeant  and  served  until  the  close 
of  the  war  in  June,  1805.  He  was  in  many  engagements  of  the  armies  of  the 
Potomac  and  the  James;  wounded  at  the  first  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  December 
13,  1802.  Returning  from  the  war,  then  but  nineteen  years  of  age,  he  engaged  in 
the  sewing  machine  business  in  New  York  city,  but  removed  to  Albany  in  1808. 
Here  he  continued  a  large  wholesale  sewing  machine  and  lumber  business  until 
June,  1892;  since  then,  he  with  his  son,  under  the  firm  name  of  Oscar  Smith  &  Son, 
have  carried  on  a  successful  wholesale  wood,  baled  shavings,  excelsior,  sawdust  and 
charcoal  trade.  Mr.  Smith  is  connected  with  several  of  Albany's  business,  political 
and  social  organizations;  is  president  of  the  Novelty  Knitting  Co.,  a  trustee  of  the 


Tennessee  Land  Company,  a  member  of  Temple  Lodge  No.  14,  F.  &  A.  M.,  a  char- 
ter member  of  Chancellors  Lodge,  K.  P.,  a  charter  member  of  the  Albany  Club,  a 
past  commander  of  Post  No.  5,  G.  A.  R.,  ex-president  and  member  of  the  Albany 
Unconditional  Republican  Club;  a  member  of  the  Press  Club;  also  for  about  eight 
years  commander  and  now  a  life  member  of  the  Albany  Burgesses  Corps. 

Harris,  Melville  A.,  is  a  native  of  Albany,  born  January  16,  1857,  and  a  sun  of 
Samuel  C.  Harris,  who  came  to  Albany  from  New  York  city  in  1833,  and  for  many 
years  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  woodenware.  His  father  was  alderman  of 
the  Thirteenth  ward  for  six  years  and  president  of  the  Common  Council.  His  mother 
was  Sarah,  daughter  of  Abram  Staley  of  Albany.  Mr.  Harris  was  educated  at  the 
public  schools  and  Free  Academy,  now  known  as  the  High  School,  and  first  asso- 
ciated himself  with  his  father  as  a  manufacturer  of  and  dealer  in  woodenware.  In 
1880  he  accepted  a  clerkship  in  the  street  commissioner's  office  and  shortly  afterward 
in  the  corporation  counsel's  office  and  so  continued  until  May  1,  1894.  In  June  fol- 
lowing he  was  appointed  by  Louis  W.  Pratt  to  his  present  position  of  United  States 
gauger.  He  is  an  active  Democrat  and  a  member  and  for  several  years  financial 
secretary  of  Fireman's  Lodge  No.  343,  A.  O.  U.  W.  In  1878  he  married  Louisa  E., 
daughter  of  Henry  Launsbach  of  Albany,  and  their  children  are  Annie  Louise, 
Frederick  Staley  and  Sarah. 

Muhlfelder,  Isidor,  was  born  in  Albany,  December  24,  1858.  His  father,  Louis 
Muhlfelder,  who  was  a  native  of  Bauerbach,  Germany,  came  to  Albany  about  1850; 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  and  subsequently  removed  to  Ballston  Spa,  N.  Y., 
where  he  was  a  merchant  and  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Ballston  Spa  tannery. 
Later  on  he  again  removed  to  Albany  and  became  a  member  of  the  wholesale  millin- 
ery firm  of  S.  Nusbaum  &  Co.,  and  in  February,  1884,  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
present  wholesale  dry  goods  firm  of  Heiser,  Muhlfelder  &  Co.  He  died  February  23, 
1893,  leaving  him  surviving  four  children,  namely:  Joseph  Muhlfelder,  who  is  con- 
nected with  the  above  firm ;  David  Muhlfelder,  a  well  known  attorney  of  Albany ; 
Bell  Pareira,  wife  of  Aaron  Pareira;  and  Isidor  Muhlfelder,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  Isidor  Muhlfelder  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  New  York  city  and 
Albany,  and  was  in  1874  engaged  as  a  salesman  with  S.  M.  Yalkenburgh  &  Co.,  of 
Albany,  with  which  firm  he  remained  for  ten  years  and  in  1884  he,  together  with 
Solomon  A.  Heiser  and  Louis  Muhfelder,  founded  the  present  firm  of  Heiser,  Muhl- 
felder &  Co.,  of  which  he  is  one  of  the  two  surviving  members.  In  March,  1889,  he 
married  Pina  Fleischman,  and  they  have  two  children,  Leo  and  Elsa,  and  he  resides 
with  his  family  at  126  Lancaster  street  in  Albany.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of 
several  clubs,  lodges  and  societies  and  is  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  the  city 
of  Albany. 

Williams,  George  A.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Columbia,  Conn.,  March  13, 
1861.  His  parents  were  George  and  Jerusha  (Cohn)  Williams,  and  both  were  the 
youngest  of  seven  children,  respectively.  Dr.  Williams  is  descended  from  a  long 
line  of  ancestors,  among  whom  was  Roger  Williams.  Dr.  Williams  spent  many 
years  in  preparation  for  his  profession  and  studied  at  Yale  University,  New  Haven, 
and  Columbia  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons.  He  also  received  instruction 
under  Dr.  Kingsley,  the  fonnder  of  the  New  York  Dental  College,  and  he  has  two 
dental   diplomas,  one  from  the  New  York  Dental  College,  conferring  upon  him  the 


degree  oi  D.  D.  S.,  and  the  other  of  Master  of  Dental  Surgery,  from  the  New  York 
State  Censors.  In  1890  Dr.  Williams  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  Col- 
lege, receiving  the  degree  of  M.  D.,  and  since  then  he  has  practiced  in  Albany.  He 
is  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason  and  has  all  of  both  the  York  and  Scottish  Rite  de- 
grees. He  is  also  a  member  of  the  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.  and  is  a  member  of  all  the 
Odd  Fellow  orders,  having  passed  all  the  chairs.  For  two  years  he  was  instructor  on 
the  heart  and  lungs  at  the  Albany  Medical  College  and  also  instructor  in  materia 
medica  in  that  institution.  Dr.  Williams  is  also  a  member  of  the  Phi  Sigma  Kappa 
Society  and  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society. 

Tibbitts,  Lorenzo  B.,  son  of  William  and  Abigail  (Seaman)  Tibbitts,  was  born  in 
Ballston,  Saratoga  county,  N.  Y.,  November  12,  1847,  was  educated  in  the  Jonesville 
Academy  and  came  to  Albany  in  1866  as  superintendent  of  the  gardens  and  grounds 
of  Moore  &  Furgeson.  In  1867  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Albany  police 
force  and  served  for  fifteen  years.  In  1882  he  engaged  in  the  milk  and  dairy  produce 
business  on  the  corner  of  Green  and  Division  streets,  where  he  has  since  continued. 
In  1891  he  started  his  present  livery  and  boarding  stable  on  Liberty  street,  succeed- 
ing M.  H.  Teater,  and  since  July,  1893,  has  also  had  a  contract  with  the  United 
States  Government  for  the  transfer  of  mails  between  the  Albany  post-office  and  the 
various  stations.  He  has  been  an  active  Republican,  was  for  a  time  vice-president 
of  the  Consumers'  Ice  Company,  and  is  a  member  of  Wadsworth  Lodge  F.  &  A.  M., 
Capital  City  Chapter  R.  A.  M.,  Temple  Commandery  No.  2,  K.  T.,  and  Cyprus  Tem- 
ple N.  O.  M.  S.  In  1869  he  married  Matilda  A.,  daughter  of  Sylvester  Van  Home, 
of  Oneida,  N.  Y. ,  and  their  children  are  William  S.,  Cora  B.,  Lorenzo  J.,  Arthur 
and  Lotta. 

Shaw,  Andrew,  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Moore)  Shaw,  was  born  in  Albany,  N. 
Y. ,  October  12,  1846.  He  is  of  Scotch  ancestry,  his  father  having  come  from  Scot- 
land to  America  in  1836.  Mr.  Shaw  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  and 
in  Prof.  Lawson's  Classical  Institute,  after  which  he  started  to  learn  the  plumber's 
trade  with  Edward  Kearney,  with  whom  he  remained  one  year.  In  1864  he  enlisted 
in  Co.  A,  91st  N.  Y.  Regt.  N.  Y.  Vols.  March  31,  1865,  he  lost  an  arm  at  the  battle 
of  Gravelly  Run,  Va. ,  which  necessitated  his  returning  to  Albany,  where  he  remained 
in  Harris  Hospital  three  months.  In  1868  Mr.  Shaw  was  made  tallyman  at  the 
building  of  the  stock  yards  at  West  Albany.  After  a  short  time  he  obained  a  situa- 
tion as  gate  keeper  at  the  Capitol  building,  then  just  commenced.  From  there  he 
went  into  the  employ  of  the  Albany  Gas  Light  Company,  where  he  served  as  valve- 
man  for  twenty  years.  In  March,  1888,  he  resigned  that  position  and  formed  a 
partnership  for  carrying  on  the  coal  business,  with  William  L.  Dresser,  of  Lee,  Mass. 
They  located  at  No.  150  Grand  street.  Subsequently  Mr.  Dresser  sold  his  share  to 
William  McArdle,  and  for  two  years  the  firm  was  Shaw  &  McArdle.  In  1894  Mr. 
McArdle  withdrew  and  since  that  time  Mr.  Shaw  has  conducted  the  business.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Unconditional  Club,  Lew  Benedict  Post  No.  5  G.  A.  R.,  and  the 
Jackson  Corps.  He  was  married  in  1886,  his  wife  being  Maude  C.  Chamberlain,  of 
Morris,  Otsego  county,  N.  Y.     They  have  one  son,  William  Reid  Shaw. 

Pratt,  Louis  W.,  a  brilliant  young  lawyer  and  collector  of  internal  revenue,  is  a 
son  of  Daniel  J.,  and  A.  Eliza  (Whipple)  Pratt,  was  born  in  Fredonia,  Chautauqua 
county,  N.  Y.,  August  14,   1862,   and  moved  with  his  parents  to  Albany  in    1865, 


Daniel  J.  Pratt  was  assistant  secretary  of  the  Board  of  Regents  of  the  University  of 
the  State  of  New  York  from  1864,  until  his  death  September  12,  1884.  He  was  the 
founder  and  developer  of  the  present  system  of  regents  examinations  and  was  the 
author  of  "Annals  of  Public  Education  of  the  State  of  New  York"  and  "Bound- 
aries of  the  State  of  New  York,"  two  works  of  wide  importance  and  usefulness.  He 
was  secretary  of  the  New  York  State  Boundary  Commission  and  the  Albany  Insti- 
tute, the  first  secretary  of  the  New  Capitol  Commission,  and  the  secretary  of  the 
Commissioners  of  the  New  York  State  Survey  from  its  organization  until  his  death. 
He  was  graduated  from  Hamilton  College  in  1851  as  valedictorian  of  his  class,  and 
the  prizes  on  that  occasion  were  divided  between  him  and  Charles  Dudley  Warner. 
Louis  W.  Pratt  was  educated  in  the  Albany  public  and  high  schools  and  was  gradu- 
ated from  Williams  College,  of  Williamstown,  Mass.,  with  honors  in  1883.  He  be- 
came a  student  in  the  law  offices  of  Parker  &  Countryman,  took  a  course  of  lectures 
at  the  Albany  Law  School,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  1885.  In  1888  he  formed  a  law  partnership  with  Gaylord  Logan,  with 
whom  he  is  still  associated.  Mr.  Pratt  is  one  of  the  editors  of  the  revision  of  the 
New  York  Court  of  Appeals  Reports.  In  1888  he  was  elected  alderman  at  large  and 
in  1890  was  re-elected.  In  November,  1898,  he  was  appointed  by  President  Cleve- 
land collector  of  internal  revenue,  which  office  he  now  holds.  During  the  last  few- 
years  he  has  made  more  political  speeches  than  any  other  local  politician.  He  is  a 
lover  of  good  books  in  all  departments  of  literature  and  science,  a  thoughtful  student 
and  an  accomplished  scholar,  and  well  versed  in  all  the  intricacies  of  the  law.  Mr. 
Pratt  is  a  member  of  the  Fort  Orange  and  Orange  Clubs,  of  Masters  Lodge  No,  5, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  Capital  City  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.  and  the  Albany  Lodge  of  Elks. 
November  5,  1885,  he  married  Geraldine  F.,  youngest  daughter  of  the  late  Thomas 
Schuyler,  president  of  the  First  National  Bank  and  a  prominent  citizen  of  Albany. 
They  have  four  children  :     Marion,  Helen,  Schuyler  and  Geraldine. 

Bayard,  Andrew  Herbert,  M.  D.,  only  son  of  Augustus  Willard  and  Isabella 
(Browne)  Bayard,  was  born  at  Leeds,  Greene  county,  N.  Y.,  October  11,  1867.  The 
Bayards  came  to  America  about  1620  and  are  direct  descendants  of  the  renowned 
French  warrior  De  Chevalier  Bayard.  When  an  infant  his  parents  removed  to 
Cohoes,  N.  Y.,  and  his  home  was  there  until  1880,  when  he  moved  to  Albany,  N.  Y. 
He  was  educated  in  the  Albany  Academy,  was  lieutenant  in  the  military  department 
and  received  the  principal's  prize  for  English  composition,  three  consecutive  years, 
and  graduated  in  the  class  of  1886 ;  he  then  took  up  the  study  of  medicine  in  the 
Albany  Medical  College,  receiving  the  degree  of  M.  D.  in  1889,  was  president  of  his 
class  in  1886-7  and  is  now  historian.  Dr.  Bayard  subsequently  took  a  post-graduate 
course  at  the  New  York  Polyclinic  and  was  assistant  to  Dr.  R.  C.  M.  Page,  professor 
of  the  practice  of  medicine,  and  other  special  training  under  prominent  teachers, 
served  as  assistant  surgeon  in  the  old  Chambers  Hospital,  N.  Y.,  since  then  he  has 
practiced  in  Poughkeepsie  and  Bath-on-the-Hudson,  N.  Y.  In  1892  he  returned  to 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  at  present  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  young  practition- 
ers in  the  city,  enjoying  a  lucrative  practice  and  was  elected  county  physician  in 
May,  1896.  Dr.  Bayard  is  a  member  of  the  Phi  Sigma  Kappa  fraternity  of  Union 
University,  Wadsworth  Lodge  No.  417,  F.  &-  A.  M.,  Albany  Council  No.  1,560,  Royal 
Arcanum,  surgeon  of  the  Albany  Burgesses  Corps,  Capital  City  Republican  Club 
b 


10 

and  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society.  October  15,  1890,  he  married  Orlena  A. 
Hunting,  eldest  daughter  of  Dr.  Nelson  Hunting  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have 
one  son,  Roy  Hunting. 

Ainsworth,  Danforth  E.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  at  Clayton,  Jefferson 
county,  N.  Y.,  November  29,  1848.  He  was  educated  at  Pulaski  Academy  and  Fal- 
ley  Seminary,  and  in  the  early  years  of  his  life  was  a  teacher  in  the  common  schools 
of  the  State.  He  read  law  with  the  Hon.  Henry  L.  Howe,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1873.  He  then  resided  at  Sandy  Creek,  Oswego  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  con- 
tinued in  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  as  a  partner  of  Hon.  Henry  L.  Howe 
until  1878  when  the  partnership  was  dissolved.  Mr.  Ainsworth  continued  the  prac- 
tice of  law  at  Sandy  Creek  until  the  year  1885  when  he  was  elected  to  the  Legisla- 
ture, representing  the  second  district  of  the  county  of  Oswego.  He  represented 
that  district  in  the  Legislature  during  the  years  '86,  '87,  '88  and  '89,  during  the  two 
latter  years  serving  as  chairman  of  the  Committee  upon  Appropriations  in  that  body. 
He  was  again  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1892,  and  served  during  the  years  of  '93, 
'94  and  '95,  the  two  latter  years  being  chairman  of  the  Ways  and  Means  Committee 
and  Republican  leader  of  the  House;  also  serving  upon  the  Committee  of  Judiciary, 
where  his  experience  as  a  lawyer  made  him  a  strong  man  upon  the  committee.  He 
was  always  a  forcible  and  ready  speaker,  taking  an  active  part  in  all  debates  of  the 
House.  It  was  largely  owing  to  his  support  and  advocacy  that  the  reform  legisla- 
tion of  the  city  of  New  York  passed  the  Legislature  in  the  session  of  1894.  The 
policy  of  the  two  parties  as  represented  by  the  passage  of  this  legislation  and  its 
veto  by  Governor  Flower  contributed  in  no  small  degree  to  the  Republican  tidal 
wave  of  1895.  Upon  the  election  of  Hon.  Charles  R.  Skinner  as  State  Superintend- 
ent of  Public  Instruction,  Mr.  Ainsworth  was  selected  as  his  deputy,  and  is  at  pres- 
ent serving  in  that  capacity. 

Victorin,  Anthony,  was  born  in  Vienna,  Austria,  in  1850,  of  French  parentage. 
His  early  education  was  obtained  in  Vienna  and  later  he  completed  a  course  in  the 
Polytechnic  of  Vienna,  in  the  mean  time  devoted  two  years  to  practical  work.  After 
leaving  the  Polytechnic  he  was  engaged  in  an  extensive  establishment  at  Gratz, 
Austria,  for  the  manufacture  and  repair  of  locomotives,  railroad  cars,  etc. ,  as 
draughtsman,  foreman  and  superintending  engineer;  later  he  was  in  the  employ  of 
the  Austrian  government  as  inspector  of  railway  material.  The  last  few  years  of 
his  residence  in  Europe  were  devoted  to  the  construction  and  equipment  of  industrial 
establishments  in  Austria  and  France.  In  1880  he  came  to  the  United  States  where 
he  has  been  eminently  successful.  His  first  engagement  here  was  as  civil  and  me- 
chanical engineer  in  the  construction  of  the  buildings  for  the  Chicago  Sugar  Refin- 
ing Company.  In  1884  he  accepted  the  position  as  mechanical  engineer  at  the  West 
Point  Foundry,  where  his  duties  were  the  designing  and  constructing  of  factories  for 
the  production  of  machinery  and  heavy  ordnance,  and  in  the  early  part  of  1886  he 
was  engaged  as  mechanical  engineer  of  the  Army  Ordnance  Bureau  in  Washington. 
In  the  fall  of  1887  Mr.  Victorin  was  transferred  to  Watervliet  Arsenal,  where  his 
knowledge  and  skill  have  been  devoted  to  the  building  and  development  of  the  pres- 
ent great  gun  factory,  and  designing,  constructing  and  perfecting  the  gigantic  ma- 
chinery for  the  manufacture  of  heavy  ordnance.  His  well  known  work  here  ranks 
him  as  second  to  none  in  the  engineering  fraternity.     Mr.  Victorin  is  a  member  of 


11 

the  American  Society  of  Civil  Engineers,  the  American  Society  of  Mechanical  Engi- 
neers, the  Franklin  Institute  of  Philadelphia,  the  Engineers  Club  of  New  York,  the 
Pafraets  Dael  Club  and  Laureate  Boat  Club  of  Troy,  and  the  Fort  Orange  Club  of 
Albany;  he  is  also  an  honorary  member  of  the  Troy  Citizens  Corps.  Socially  he  is 
a  man  of  great  popularity,  a  gentleman  of  pleasant  manners  and  an  entertaining 
conversationalist.  He  is  proud  of  his  allegiance  to  his  adopted  country  and  is  a 
thorough  American  in  his  citizenship. 

Gartland,  John  L.,  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  Gartland,  was  born  in  Manchester, 
England,  July  4,  1853,  and  was  graduated  from  Kneller  Hall,  a  military  school  of 
music  in  Hounslow,  in  1872.  Meanwhile  he  was  for  ten  years  a  member  of  the  3d 
Battalion,  15th  Regiment  of  Foot,  English  army,  which  he  entered  in  1863  and  in 
which  he  served  a  part  of  the  time  as  musician,  being  stationed  at  Gibralter,  Malta, 
Jersey  (Channel  Islands),  Aldershot  and  Gosport.  In  1873  he  came  to  Portland,  Me., 
where  he  followed  his  profession  as  a  band  musician.  In  1874  he  removed  to  Johns- 
town, N.  Y.,  and  became  leader  of  the  Johnstown  Band  and  a  dealer  in  books  and 
stationery.  He  came  to  Albany  in  1881  as  a  member  of  the  old  Austin  Band  and  in 
1884  was  elected  leader  of  the  10th  Regt.  Band,  a  position  he  held  ten  years.  In 
1894  he  organized  Gartland' s  Military  Band  of  twenty  five  pieces  and  has  since  been 
its  leader  and  conductor.  January  1,  1896,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Joseph 
Gioscia  and  organized  Gioscia  &  Gartland's  orchestra  of  twenty-five  members. 
These  two  bodies  are  the  leaders  in  military  band  and  orchestral  circles  in  Eastern 
New  York  and  have  filled  many  noted  engagements.  Mr.  Gartland  is  also  musical 
director  of  the  First  Lutheran  church,  and  a  member  of  Wadsworth  Lodge,  Temple 
Chapter,  De  Witt  Clinton  Council,  Temple  Commandery  and  Cyprus  Temple  of 
Masons.  In  1879  he  married  Josephine,  daughter  of  Charles  E.  Peckham,  of  Johns- 
town, N.  Y.,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Elizabeth  Peckham  Gartland. 

Payn,  Edgar  M.,  son  of  Samuel  N.  and  Margaret  (Mernfield)  Payn,  was  born  in 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  in  December,  1838.  Mr.  Payn's  ancestors  were  English  and  settled 
near  Lake  George,  N.  Y.,  before  the  Revolution  and  took  a  very  active  part  in  the 
war.  He  was  educated  at  Professor  Anthony's  Classical  Institute  in  Albany,  and 
before  completing  the  course,  left  the  institution  and  went  South,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed as  an  assistant  laying  out  and  superintending  the  dredges  improving  the 
James  and  Appomattox  Rivers,  in  Virginia.  When  the  Rebellion  broke  out  he  was 
obliged  to  return  North  and  entered  the  employ  of  his  father,  a  contractor  for  river 
and  harbor  improvements.  Mr.  Payn  was  also  in  the  employ  of  the  State  of  New 
York  superintending  the  building  of  dykes  and  dredging  on  the  Hudson  River.  In 
1871  he  formed  a  partnership  with  William  Bruce,  the  firm  name  since  that  time 
being  E.  M.  Payn  &  Co.  They  have  improved  many  harbors  and  rivers  in  the  east 
as  far  as  the  Capes  and  in  the  South  more  extensively.  In  1871  Mr.  Payn  married 
Ida  Schermerhorn  of  New  Baltimore,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have  three  daughters:  Edna, 
Cora  and  Florence. 

Hallenbeck,  William  Henry,  son  of  John  Henry  and  Mary  (Beebe)  Hallenbeck, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Knox,  Albany  county,  July  30,  1859,  and  is  of  Holland 
Dutch  descent.  His  great-grandparents  were  early  settlers  of  Albany  county  and 
his  father,  a  son  of  Abraham,  was  born  in  Guilderland;  all  were  farmers.  Mr.  Hal- 
lenbeck finished  his  education  in  School  No.  8,  Albany,  whither  his  parents  moved 


12 

in  1868,  and  where  they  still  reside.  He  clerked  in  a  grocery  store  for  about  five 
years  and  on  August  15,  1876,  became  a  clerk  for  J.  &  J.  Doran,  woodenware  dealers, 
with  whom  he  remained  until  February,  1889.  In  March,  1889,  he  established  his 
present  wholesale  and  retail  millinery  business  at  No.  92  South  Pearl  street.  He  is 
a  member  of  Peabody  Lodge  No.  32,  K.  P.,  Albany  Division  No.  2,  Uniform  Rank, 
K.  P.,  Wadsworth  Lodge  No.  417,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Mountaineer  Lodge  No.  321,  I.O.O.F. ; 
he  is  also  a  member  and  was  formerly  trustee  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  Mutual  Aid  and 
Accident  Association  of  Piqua,  Ohio.  February  24,  1880,  he  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  John  William  Schweiker  of  Albany  and  they  have  two  children:  Sadie 
Louise  and  Robert  William. 

McDonough,  Joseph,  so  widely  known  throughout  the  country  by  antiquarians  and 
lovers  of  valuable  books  as  "  ye  old  booke  man"  of  Albany,  was  born  in  1834  in  Kil- 
kenny, Ireland.  His  rare  taste  for  books  was  inherited  from  his  father,  James  Mc- 
Donough, a  man  of  vigorous  intellectual  powers,  who  after  extensive  travels  abroad, 
became  a  school  teacher  and  finally  drifted  into  the  second-hand  book  trade.  About 
1845  he  opened  a  book  stand  in  Liverpool,  England,  and  continued  there  until  his 
death  in  1860.  The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  Joseph  McDonough  was  Mary 
Hawthorne,  a  descendant  of  one  of  Cromwell's  soldiers  who  had  become  proprietor 
of  some  land  in  the  vicinity  of  Kilkenny,  where  young  McDonough  was  early  in- 
structed in  the  elementary  branches  of  knowledge  by  his  father.  He  first  entered 
his  father's  bookstore  and  when  about  nineteen  started  out  with  a  book  stall  for  him- 
self in  Liverpool.  His  financial  success  was  assured  from  the  first  and  in  a  few 
years  he  accumulated  a  large  stock  of  books.  When  Henry  G.  Bohn,  the  eminent 
old  bookseller  and  publisher  of  London  visited  Liverpool  in  1858  he  complimented 
Mr.  McDonough  by  saying  that  he  had  the  best  store  of  the  kind  in  England.  In 
1870  he  came  to  America  and  soon  settled  in  Albany,  where  he  began  business  with 
a  small  book  stall  on  State  street.  He  moved  several  times  from  small  stores  to 
larger  ones,  and  was  very  successful.  In  1886  he  started  a  branch  in  New  York  city 
and  issued  catalogues  of  old  books  regularly.  In  1890  he  returned  to  Albany  and 
established  himself  in  his  present  elegant  quarters  at  Nos.  53  and  55  State  street. 
Much  of  Mr.  McDonough's  stock  of  books  is  secured  by  his  attendance  at  auction 
sales  of  private  libraries  in  New  York,  Boston  and  Philadelphia,  and  the  regular 
book  trade  sales  in  those  cities.  He  deals  extensively  in  general  literature,  making 
a  specialty  of  books  relating  to  America,  and  has  a  large  trade  with  the  numerous 
public  libraries  and  historical  societies  in  the  West  and  South.  One  of  the  grand 
secrets  of  his  success  as  an  accomplished  bookseller  is  his  wide  knowledge  of  bibli- 
ography, a  science  which  he  carefully  studied  in  England  as  early  as  1860.  Perhaps 
there  is  no  man  in  Albany  better  acquainted  with  this  subject  than  he.  With  the 
date  of  publication,  the  best  editions  and  real  value  of  the  vast  collections  of  literary 
treasures  from  the  earliest  periods  down  to  the  present  time,  he  is  perfectly 
familiar. 

Courtney,  Dickinson,  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Gray)  Courtney,  who  came  to  Al- 
bany from  Ireland  about  1830,  was  born  in  the  capital  city,  August  10,  1850.  His 
father,  who  died  in  1854,  was  a  prominent  Democrat,  served  as  alderman  of  the 
Second  (now  the  Fourth)  ward  and  several  terms  as  city  assessor  and  was  engaged 
in  the  grocery  and  building  stone  business.     His  mother  died  in  1882.     Mr.  Courtney 


13 

attended  the  public  schools  and  the  Albany  Academy  and  in  1865  entered  the  attor- 
ney-general's office,  where  he  remained  seven  years,  becoming  chief  clerk.  In 
February,  1872,  he  entered  the  employ  of  Hiram  E.  Sickels  (who  died  in  July,  1895), 
State  reporter,  and  has  ever  since  been  connected  with  that  office.  In  1877  he  mar- 
ried Louise  A.  Weaver  of  Albany,  and  they  have  one  son  living:  Dickinson  Court- 
ney, jr. 

Gutmann,  John,  a  native  of  Albany,  born  December  14, 1853,  is  the  son  of  John  L., 
who  was  born  in  Doerbach,  Prussia,  Germany,  came  to  Albany  in  1851  and  died  here 
in  July,  1889;  he  was  a  moulder,  superintendent  and  director  of  the  Albany  Stove 
Company  and  president  of  St.  Joseph's  Benevolent  Association ;  his  wife,  Elizabeth 
Hensel,  died  March  8,  1870.  John  Gutmann  was  educated  in  German  private 
schools  and  the  Christian  Brothers'  Academy,  graduating  in  1869,  and  also  attended 
the  Albany  Business  College.  He  read  law  with  Henry  N.  Wickes,  was  graduated 
from  the  Albany  Law  School  and  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1874,  and  practiced  in 
partnership  with  Mr.  Wickes  until  1882.  Since  then  he  has  followed  the  profession 
alone.  He  was  justice  of  the  Justice's  Court  about  four  and  a  half  years,  police  jus- 
tice from  1884  to  1894,  has  been  delegate  to  several  Democratic  conventions  and  is  a 
member  of  various  German  organizations.  In  January,  1876,  he  married  Theresa 
Kresser  af  Albany,  who  died  in  1880,  leaving  two  children:  John  H.  and  Julia  T. 
He  married  second,  in  1883,  Christine  E.  Weber,  a  native  of  Kingston,  N.  Y.,  and 
their  children  are:     Loretta  C,  Anna  M.  and  Elizabeth  C. 

Oppenheim,  Leo,  born  in  Albany,  July  4, 1856,  is  a  son  of  Gerson  Oppenheim,  who 
died  in  1886,  highly  respected  by  his  fellow-townsmen  and  deeply  mourned  by  his 
appreciative  children,  who  have  since  been  singularly  fortunate  in  carving  out  for 
themselves  enviable  names  in  their  respective  lines  of  endeavor.  Gerson  Oppenheim 
was  a  successful  merchant,  a  well  known  Odd  Fellow  and  occupied  many  positions 
of  trust  in  the  community  and  in  the  synagogue  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  helpful 
pillars.  During  the  panic  of  1857  many  of  the  senior  Mr.  Oppenheim's  co-religion- 
ists withdrew  their  money  from  the  banks  and  placed  it  in  his  hands  for  safe  keep- 
ing; that  he  was  scrupulously  faithful  to  the  trust  thus  forced  upon  him  was  one  of 
the  reasons  for  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held.  Leo  Oppenheim  is  up  to  date, 
fin  de  siecle,  as  a  merchant  and  as  an  artictic  designer  of  men's  wear;  his  store  is 
said  to  be  the  most  tastefully  arranged,  luxuriously  fitted  up  and  bountifully  stocked 
tailoring  establishment  north  of  New  York  city.  With  other  environments,  Leo 
Oppenheim  might  have  made  name  and  fame  as  an  artist;  as  it  is,  his  love  of  the 
beautiful  as  the  highest  principle  and  the  highest  aim  of  art,  expends  itself  in  en- 
deavoring, artistically,  to  clothe  his  fellow  men,  in  hiding  their  deformities  and  in 
bringing  out  their  silent  good  points.  His  ambition  is  to  dress  people  well  in  har- 
mony with  their  form  aud  build ;  that  he  succeeds  is  evidenced  by  the  increasing 
number  of  his  fastidious  patrons. 

Rogers,  W.  Seymour,  son  of  Samuel  and  Gertrude  A.  (Snyder)  Rogers,  was  born 
in  Hudson,  N.  Y.,  July  12,  1854.  He  is  of  Holland-Dutch  descent  on  his  mother's 
side  and  English  on  his  father's  side,  being  a  descendant  of  the  original  Rhode  Island 
Rogers,  who  came  to  America  early  in  the  fifteenth  century.  He  received  his  educa- 
tion at  the  Hudson  River  Institute  and  Claverack  College  aud  subsequently  worked 
three  years  in  a  paper  mill  owned  by  his  uncle,   Harper  W.   Rogers,  at  one  time 


14 

mayor  of  Hudson  and  member  of  assembly.  Mr.  Rogers  moved  to  Albany  in  1876 
and  engaged  in  the  poultry  and  game  business,  which  he  has  since  followed.  In 
1876  he  married  Maggie  Miller,  daughter  of  W.  Ellsworth  Miller,  of  Claveraek,  Co- 
lumbia county,  and  they  have  two  children:   Elsie  D.  and  Lola. 

True,  George  M.,  is  a  descendant  of  Puritan  ancestors  and  was  born  in  Holderness, 
N.  H.,  Augusts,  1856.  His  parents  were  Joseph  F.  and  Mary  B.  (Watson)  True. 
He  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools  and  at  the  New  Hampton  Literary 
Institution,  after  leaving  which  he  was  superintendent  of  schools  in  the  town  of 
Holderness,  at  the  same  time  studying  law  with  James  L.  Wilson  of  Ashland,  N.  H. 
He  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Law  School  in  May,  1881,  and  has  since  prac- 
ticed law  at  No.  82  State  street,  Albany.  He  was  married  August  29,  1881,  to  Mary 
A,  Wood,  of  Albany.  He  is  a  member  of  Ancient  City  Lodge  No.  452,  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  Albany  Senate  No.  641,  Knights  of  the  Ancient  Essenic  Order.  He  is  one  of 
the  attorneys  for  the  State  Department  of  Agriculture. 

.Stern,  Henry  E.,  son  of  Emanuel  and  Clara  (Kaufman)  Stern,  natives  of  Germany, 
was  born  in  Albany,  April  8,  1857.  His  father,  a  shoemaker  and  later  a  real  estate 
dealer,  who  died  in  1877,  settled  in  Albany  about  1842  and  became  a  prominent  Re- 
publican, being  a  member  of  the  general  committee  of  the  old  Whig  party.  Mr. 
Stern  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  Free  Academy,  was  graduated  from 
the  Albany  Business  College  in  1873,  read  law  with  I.  &  J.  M.  Lawson  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  at  Saratoga  in  September,  1878.  Since  then  he  has  been  in  the 
active  practice  of  his  profession.  In  1878  he  became  a  member  of  Mount  Carmel 
Lodge  No.  76,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  rapidly  rose  in  the  order  to  vice-grand  in  January, 
1879,  and  noble  grand  in  June  following,  being  the  youngest  man  ever  elected  to  the 
latter  post  in  Albany.  He  has  represented  his  lodge  in  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the 
State  since  1880.  He  is  a  past  master  of  Washington  Lodge  No.  85,  F.  &  A.  M., 
past  president  of  Gideon  Lodge  No.  140,  I.  O.  B.  B.,  and  Albanian  Lodge  No.  102, 
I.  O.  S.  B.,  a  member  of  the  Adelphi  Club,  a  manager  of  the  Jewish  Home  Society, 
and  was  for  several  years  a  member  of  the  finance  committee  of  congregation  Beth 
Emeth.  In  1888  he  was  nominated  by  the  Republicans  for  justice  of  the  city  court, 
but  was  defeated  by  a  small  majority.  October  30,  1883,  he  married  Fannie  Kas- 
tanienbaum,  of  Albany,  and  they  have  one  son,  Manning  Nathan  Stern,  born  De- 
cember 18,  1884. 

Kimmey,  Edson,  manager  of  the  Postal  Telegraph  Company  at  Albany,  is  of  Hol- 
land Dutch  descent  and  was  born  March  15,  1867,  being  the  son  of  Philip  and  Jane 
A.  (Hotaling)  Kimmey.  His  father,  an  eminent  citizen  of  Albany,  was  born  in  1810 
and  died  in  1893;  he  was  State  boiler  inspector  under  Gov.  John  A.  Dix  and  in  the 
fifties  was  a  large  property  holder  at  Kimmey's  Corners,  in  South  Bethlehem,  where 
he  built  the  first  saw  and  grist  mill,  the  tall  chimney  of  which,  recently  blown  up  by 
dynamite,  was  a  landmark  for  many  years.  Edson  Kimmey  was  graduated  from 
the  Albany  High  School  in  1885  and  shortly  after  took  up  telegraphy  being  first  em- 
ployed by  the  Commercial  Union  Telegraph  Company,  under  whose  direction  he 
opened  several  branch  offices  in  Northern  New  York.  Later  he  accepted  the  man- 
agership of  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Telegraph  office  at  Long  Branch  and  soon  after* 
ward  became  operator  and  clerk  for  the  district  superintendent  of  the  same  company, 
in  New  York  city.     Later  he  and  several  others  incorporated   the  New  York  and 


15 

Long  Island  Telegraph  Company,  which  was  the  first  extension  of  telegraph  facili- 
ties ever  put  on  Long  Island  in  opposition  to  the  Western  Union.  He  was  shortly 
afterwards  chosen  a  director  and  still  holds  his  interest  in  this  capacity.  He  soon 
accepted  a  position  as  chief  operator  and  was  made  district  manager  of  various  pos- 
tal offices  in  New  York  city.  When  the  latter  company  absorbed  the  Commercial 
Union,  he  was  selected  as  manager  of  the  Albany  office,  which  position  he  now  holds. 
Mr.  Kimmey  was  married  in  1892.  He  has  been  prominently  connected  with  the 
political  interests  of  Albany.  He  is  a  member  of  Masters  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  is 
identified  with  the  business  affairs  of  the  city. 

Butler,  Walter  Burdett,  was  born  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  November  17,  1857,  and  is  a 
son  of  Benjamin  Francis  Burdett  Butler,  who  was  born  in  Stroud,  Gloucestershire, 
England,  in  1810,  came  to  America  in  1840,  and  died  in  Brooklyn  June  16,  1874. 
The  latter  was  professor  of  languages  in  the  Brooklyn  Female  Academy,  Flatbush 
Institute,  and  the  author  of  Butler's  Spanish  Teacher,  French  Speaker  and  several 
other  educational  works.  Mr.  Butler  was  educated  in  the  grammar  and  private 
schools  of  Brooklyn,  came  to  Albany  October  1,  1872,  and  was  graduated  from  the 
Albany  Business  College  in  1875.  He  was  bookkeeper  for  W.  F.  Hurcomb  &  Co.  for 
six  years.  In  1879  he  went  to  Colorado  and  spent  one  year  in  mining,  being  assist- 
ant secretary  of  a  mining  company  in  the  Ward  district.  In  1880  he  returned  to 
New  York  city  as  bookkeeper  for  D.  W.  Richards  &  Co.,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year 
came  to  Albany,  where  he  was  made  cashier  of  the  old  Commercial  Telephone  Com- 
pany. In  1883  this  company  was  merged  into  the  Hudson  River  Telephone  Com- 
pany and  Mr.  Butler  was  continued  as  cashier  until  1893,  when  he  was  made  the 
secretary  and  auditor.  He  is  secretary  of  the  Albany  District  Telegraph  Company 
and  a  member  of  Temple  Lodge  No.  14,  F.  &  A.  M. ,  Capital  City  Chapter  No.  252, 
R.  A.  M.,  De  Witt  Clinton  Council,  R.  &  S.  M..  Temple  Commandery  No.  2,  K.  T., 
and  Cypress  Temple  N.  of  S.  M. ;  he  is  also  a  member  of  Co.  A  of  the  Old  Guard, 
Albany  Zouave  Cadets,  the  Young  Men's  Democratic  Club  and  the  Albany  Masonic 
Relief  Association.  He  has  often  appeared  as  expert  accountant  before  courts  and 
in  other  capacities.  In  October,  1882,  he  married  Adda  May,  daughter  of  John 
Kennedy,  jr.,  of  Albany. 

Fitzsimmons,  James  J.,  is  the  son  of  James,  a  native  of  Ireland  and  was  born  De- 
cember 6,  1852,  in  Albany,  where  his  father,  a  blacksmith,  settled  in  1826.  The 
latter  died  here  in  1882.  Mr.  Fitzsimmons  attended  the  public  schools,  and  also  the 
Christian  Brothers,  was  for  two  years  employed  in  a  leather  store,  and  in  1870  was 
graduated  from  the  Albany  Business  College.  After  teaching  for  a  time  he  entered, 
in  1872,  the  employ  of  the  Howe  Sewing  Machine  Company,  with  whom  he  remained 
until  1885,  as  cashier  of  the  Albany  and  later  of  the  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  offices.  He 
was  then  engaged  in  the  retail  shoe  business  in  Albany  three  years.  In  1890  he  be- 
came cashier  of  the  Westchester  Telephone  Company  and  in  1893  was  elected  treas- 
urer of  the  Hudson  River  Telephone  Company,  which  position  he  still  holds.  He 
has  also  been  treasurer  of  the  Albany  District  Telegraph  Company  since  its  organ- 
ization. He  was  school  commissioner  from  1889  to  1892;  is  a  member  and  vice- 
president  of  the  Catholic  Union;  and  is  financial  secretary  of  Cathedral  Council, 
No.  55,  C.  B.  L.,  and  a  deputy  state  chancellor  of  that  order,  and  a  director  in  the 
Safety  Loan  and  Building  Association.  November  30,  1876,  he  married  Margaret 
T.,  daughter  of  John  Lamb,  of  Albany  and  they  have  six  children  living. 


16 

Wagner,  John,  son  of  J.  George  and  Nancy  Wagner,  was  born  in  Rochester,  N. 
Y.,  Jan.  31,  1858.  He  received  a  public  school  education  and  became  a  clerk  in  a  hat 
store  in  his  native  city,  and  later  was  made  manager  of  the  hat  and  cap  department 
of  the  Bronner  Clothing  Company,  of  Buffalo,  where  he  remained  five  years.  In 
January,  1884,  he  came  to  Albany  and  formed  a  partnership  with  Joseph  Belser,  sr., 
as  Belser  &  Wagner,  and  engaged  in  the  retail  dry  goods  business.  Five  years  later 
he  withdrew  and  bought  out  John  M.  Foil,  furniture  dealer  at  No.  308-310  South 
Pearl  street,  which  he  has  since  continued.  In  1890  he  started  a  branch  furniture 
store  under  the  style  of  the  Albany  Furniture  Company;  in  1895  he  also  opened  a 
furniture  store  in  Troy.  He  is  president  of  the  Commercial  Co-operative  Union  Bank 
of  Albany,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  founders,  and  the  first  vice-president.  He  is 
a  Republican  and  was  alderman  of  the  5th  ward  one  term.  He  is  member  of  Gut- 
tenberg  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.  and  Temple  Chapter,  R.  &  M.  In  1882  he  married 
Catherine,  daughter  of  Joseph  Belser,  sr. ,  of  Albany. 

Hartnett,  Daniel  J.,  son  of  William,  was  born  in  Albany,  November  7,  1845.  His 
father  came  from  Ireland  to  Albany  in  1825  and  was  engaged  in  the  meat  business 
until  shortly  before  his  death  in  1876,  owning  at  one  time  the  Fishslip  Market  at  the 
foot  of  Columbia  street  and  was  burned  out  in  the  big  fire  in  1848.  When  fourteen 
Mr.  Hartnett  associated  himself  with  his  father  and  continued  thus  most  of  the  time, 
until  1870,  when  he  engaged  in  the  meat  business  alone.  In  1878  he  moved  to  the 
corner  of  Chapel  and  Canal  streets  and  in  1890  to  No.  95  North  Pearl  street,  where 
he  carries  on  a  large  retail  business.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Retail 
Merchants  Association  and  served  as  its  vice-president  and  secretary;  he  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Retail  Butchers  Association,  was  president  during  its  existence, 
and  was  one  of  the  principal  organizers  of  the  reorganized  association ;  he  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  and  is  well  and  favorably  known  to  or  by  cit- 
izens of  the  city,  has  repeatedly  refused  political  positions  preferring  to  devote  his 
entire  time  to  the  furthering  of  his  business. 

North,  Charles  F.,  of  the  firm  of  North  &  Doyle,  proprietors  of  the  well-known 
Anchor  Hosiery  Mills.  The  family  is  of  English  origin.  In  1640  two  brothers  first 
settled  in  Connecticut,  where  Mr.  North  was  born  in  1844,  at  Collinsville,  a  son  of 
Morris  North.  He  never  entered  school  after  seven  years  of  age,  the  time  when  he 
came  to  Cohoes,  but  worked  in  a  mill  until  twenty  years  of  age.  He  then  sold  ma- 
chinery to  the  mills,  in  exchange  for  knit  goods,  which  he  again  sold.  As  a  demand 
for  paper  boxes  in  which  to  ship  knit  goods  increased,  he  began  the  manufacture  of 
them,  conducting  an  extensive  factory.  Later  he  became  a  partner  of  the  Anchor 
Hosiery  Mills,  and  with  Charles  F.  Doyle  built  mill  No.  1  in  1881,  and  in  1887  mill 
No.  2,  and  in  1890  mill  No.  3.  Mr.  North  also  carries  on  a  stone  and  sewer  pipe 
yard,  building  a  large  store  house  in  1884  and  another  in  1894.  He  has  also  served 
officially  in  county  affairs,  and  was  the  first  alderman  under  city  government  in 
1869.  He  later  officiated  as  alderman  for  two  years,  and  in  1874  as  city  chamberlain 
for  four  years.  In  1879  he  was  appointed  fire  commissioner,  which  appointment  he 
has  since  held.     He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Reform  church  since  1869. 

Weidman,  Reuben  L. ,  is  a  descendant  of  Jacob  Weidman  of  Switzerland,  who 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Berne,  Albany  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  built  the  first 
house,   the  town  being  named  after  his  native  city,   Berne,  Switzerland.     He  also 


17 

built  a  saw  and  flouring  mill  at  what  was  long  known  as  Weidman's  Mills.  Jacob 
Weidman  was  the  father  of  one  son  Felix,  who  was  the  father  of  Daniel,  Jacob, 
Paul  and  Felix.  All  these  four  generations  lived  in  Berne.  Daniel  Weidman  when 
fifteen  became  clerk  in  a  general  store  in  West  Berne,  and  when  sixteen  came  to  Al- 
bany as  clerk  for  Peter  Van  Wormer,  and  later  for  F.  W.  Ford  &  Son.  Afterwards 
he  attended  the  Knoxville  and  Gallupville  Academies,  was  clerk  in  a  dry  goods  store 
in  New  York  city,  joined  his  uncle  in  mercantile  business  in  Gallupville  for  six  years 
and  thence  came  to  Albany  in  1845  and  was  the  founder  of  the  present  house  of 
Weidman  &  Co.  He  remained  in  the  wholesale  grocery  business  until  his  death, 
May  13,  1886.  His  son  George  D.  was  born  June  29,  1842,  entered  the  army  in  1861 
as  orderly  sergeant,  became  brevet  major  of  volunteers  and  captain  of  Co.  F,  10th 
Regt.,  X.  G.  S.  X.  Y.  He  died  March  17,  1883.  Reuben  L.  Weidman  is  a  son  of 
Felix  Weidman,  a  physician  and  surgeon  whose  practice  extended  over  a  period  cov- 
ering about  forty-five  years.  He  was  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  successful 
practitioners  in  his  section  of  the  county.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  at 
Central  Bridge,  X.  Y. ,  October  1,  1848.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was  engaged  in 
the  grocery  business  in  Gallupville,  X.  Y.,  and  was  also  for  a  time  in  the  employ  of 
D.  Weidman,  Sons  &  Co.,  as  traveling  salesman.  A  short  time  previous  to  the  death 
of  his  uncle,  Daniel  Weidman,  he  became  a  member  of  the  firm.  October  5,  1888, 
Mrs.  E.  Eugenia  Daw,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Weidman,  was  admitted  under  the 
present  firm  name  of  Weidman  &  Co.  Thomas  R.  Ward,  jr.,  was  admitted  March 
1,  1894.  Mr.  Weidman  enlisted  August  17,  1864,  in  Co.  I,  loth  X.  Y.  Cav.,  and  did 
special  duty  until  discharged  May  8,  1865.  He  is  a  member  of  George  Dawson  Post 
Xo.  63,  G.  A.  R.,  and  also  of  Mt.  Vernon  Lodge  Xo.  3,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  was  married 
October  4,  1870,  to  Miss  Helena  Hunting.  They  have  one  daughter,  Miss  Caroline 
Weidman. 

Menand,  Louis,  has  been  a  commanding  figure  in  horticultural  circles  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  He  has  been  named  "The  Grand  Old  Man"  of  the  gardener's  craft 
in  this  county.  He  is  now  in  his  eighty-ninth  year.  He  came  to  America  in  1837 
and  enjoys  a  retrospective  view  of  American  horticulture,  extending  over  a  period  of 
sixty  years.  Mr.  Menand  continued  to  reside  among  his  beloved  flowers  at  Albany. 
He  is  mentally  alert  and  active  as  ever.  His  personal  recollections  as  originally 
published  in  the  American  Florist,  from  which  we  quote,  are  overflowing  with  a 
personality  which  is  both  charming  and  unique.  Mr.  Phelps  says  well  of  Mr.  Me- 
nand's  autobiography  that  contains  "  the  natural  philosophy  of  one  who  was  always 
a  lover  of  liberty,  and  a  student  alike  of  books  and  nature."  His  life  has  shed  fra- 
grance and  beauty  that  will  endure  as  long  as  flowers  grow  and  gardens  bloom. 

McElveney,  Daniel,  was  born  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry  in  the  province  of  Ulster, 
north  of  Ireland,  in  1839,  came  to  Quebec,  Canada,  with  his  parents  in  June,  1841, 
and  when  thirteen  was  apprenticed  to  the  confectionery  trade  in  that  city.  After 
serving  three  yearsof  his  seven  years  as  apprentice,  he  came  in  August,  1855,  to 
Albany,  where  he  entered  the  confectionery  establishment  of  Benjamin  M.  Briar e, 
the  famous  caterer.  In  1858  he  entered  the  employ  of  S.  De  Lagrange,  confectioner 
and  fancy  cake  baker,  with  whom  he  remained  fifteen  years.  In  the  spring  of  1874 
he  purchased  the  old  John  Martin  bakery  on  the  corner  of  South  Pearl  and  Herki- 
mer streets  and  six  years  later  bought  the  property  No.  97  South  Pearl  street,  where 


18 

qe  has  since  conducted  a  fancy  bakery,  confectionery  and  catering  establishment 
with  marked  success.  A  few  years  later,  having  associated  with  him  his  two  sons, 
he  purchased  the  property  No.  105  North  Pearl  street  and  opened  a  branch  store. 
Mr.  McElveney  has  been  for  forty-four  years  connected  with  the  various  branches  of 
the  catering  business  and  throughout  his  active  career  has  been  uniformly  suc- 
cessful. 

Laventall,  Julius,  born  in  March,  1832,  in  Bovendon,  Hanover,  Germany,  came  to 
America  in  August,  1854,  settling  in  Albany  and  opened  a  small  jewelry  store  on 
South  Pearl  street,  in  1857.  In  June,  1865,  having  sold  this  business,  he  bought  of 
S.  M.  Valkenburgh  the  Ladies'  Bazaar,  on  the  corner  of  South  Pearl  street  and 
Hudson  avenue.  In  1857  he  also  purchased  the  property;  and  in  1876,  built  the 
present  building,  where  he  carries  an  extensive  line  of  ladies  and  children's  furnish- 
ings and  shoes.  He  is  a  member  and  ex-president  of  Shiloh  Lodge,  I.  O.  of  B.  B. 
and  of  Arnon  Lodge,  I.  O.  of  F.  S.  and  has  represented  both  in  their  respective 
Grand  Lodges  of  the  United  States.  He  is  a  member  and  past  noble  grand  of  Mt. 
Carmel  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  member  of  Washington  Lodge,  No.  85,  F.  &  A.  M.,  was 
manager  of  the  Jewish  Home  and  has  been  a  trustee  of  the  Congregation  of  Temple 
Beth  Emeth  since  1873,  and  was1  its  vice-president  for  eight  years,  its  president  in 
1883,  and  chairman  of  the  building  committee  during  the  erection  of  the  present 
temple,  on  the  corner  of  Lancaster  and  Swan  streets.  He  was  also  one  of  the 
organizers  and  for  the  first  two  years  a  director  of  the  South  End  Bank.  In  1858  he 
married  Miss  Sarah  Swartz  of  Albany,  who  died,  leaving  two  daughters:  Mrs.  H.  W. 
Foreman  of  Albany,  and  Mrs.  Daniel  Stern  of  Brooklyn.  In  1863  he  married 
second,  Hannah,  daughter  of  M.  Hydeman  of  Albany,  and  they  have  two  sons: 
Louis  Julius,  born  January  28,  1866,  and  Edward  Simon,  born  June  13,  1874,  both  of 
whom  are  associated  in  business  with  their  father. 

Romeyn,  Theodore  F.,  born  in  Amsterdam,  N.  Y.,  is  a  son  of  Henry  S.  and  Agnes 
(Van  Epps)  Romeyn,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  academy  of  his 
native  town.  He  spent  two  years  in  Canada  and  nine  years  in  Wisconsin,  as  a  bridge 
builder.  In  1865  he  came  to  Albany  and  engaged  in  box  manufacturing  at  No.  214 
Hudson  avenue;  he  manufactured  all  kinds  of  wooden  boxes,  cases,  etc.  He  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  The  Pure  Baking  Powder  Company  and  its  secretary.  He 
married  Mary  Conde,  of  Glenville,  Schenectady  county. 

Star  Knitting  Company,  The,  was  established  in  1866,  and  its  products  have  at- 
tained the  highest  reputation  for  superiority  of  material,  fashion  and  finish.  The 
Star  Mills  are  comprised  in  a  group  of  substantially  constructed  brick  buildings,  ar- 
ranged with  special  reference  to  convenience  and  dispatch  of  work  and  economy  of 
production.  The  main  building  is  four  stories  high  and  65x105  feet  in  dimensions, 
and  the  other  buildings  adjoin  the  main  structure.  Water  power  is  used  to  drive  the 
machinery  and  an  auxiliary  steam  engine  is  also  employed.  The  mechanical  equip- 
ment includes  nine  sets  of  cards,  2,160  spindles,  38  knitting  cylinders,  and  forty 
sewing  machines,  and  all  the  appliances  in  use  are  of  the  latest  improved  character, 
employment  being  given  to  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  skilled  operatives.  The 
products  consist  of  fine  wool,  worsted  and  merino  knit  underwear  of  the  best  grades 
for  both  ladies  and  gentlemen,  and  the  output  averaging  about  40,000  dozen  per 
annum,  is  distributed  direct  to  the  trade  through  the  United  States.     Medals  and 


19 

diplomas  were  awarded  this  company  for  superiority  of  knit  underwear  exhibition. 
The  officers  of  the  company  are  Messrs.  Andrew  M.  Church,  president;  Thomas 
Dickson,  treasurer;  A.  I.  Whithouse,  secretary,  and  Charles  T.  Boughton,  general 
manager.     An  office  is  maintained  at  No.  43  Leonard  street,  New  York  city. 

Swatling,  James  H.,  the  well  known  wholesale  and  retail  dealer  in  paints,  wall- 
paper, and  decorations,  located  at  No.  50  Oneida  street,  Cohoes,  established  the 
business  here  in  1868.  He  is  of  English  descent,  born  in  the  town  of  Watervliet  in 
1848.  His  early  manhood  was  spent  on  a  farm,  but  he  acquired  the  painter's  trade 
at  Saratoga  Springs,  where  he  resided  four  years.  In  1890  in  association  with  A.  G. 
Tanner,  he  erected  the  "Excelsior  Knitting  Mill,"  devoted  to  the  manufacture  of 
ladies'  and  children's  ribbed  underwear.  He  has  been  on  the  Board  of  Health  and 
served  in  many  minor  offices. 

Fletcher,  Jones  A.,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Polly  (Kidder)  Fletcher*;  was  born  April 
2,  1835,  in  Woodstock,  Vt.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  seminary  of 
Woodstock  and  learned  the  trade  of  painter,  which  he  followed  until  1861,  when  he 
enlisted  in  the  8th  Conn.  Regt.,  in  which  he  was  a  sergeant.  After  the  war  he  set- 
tled in  Troy,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  followed  his  trade  until  1873,  when  he  moved  to  Green 
Island,  Albany  county,  and  opened  a  grocery  store  nearly  opposite  where  he  is  now 
located.  In  1886  he  erected  the  building  in  which  he  is  now  doing  business.  Mr. 
Fletcher  is  a  member  of  Post  Tibbitts  G.  A.  R. ,  of  Troy,  and  Green  Island  Lodge 
No.  360,  I.  O.  O.  F.  In  1860  he  married  Rachel  Van  Leuvan,  of  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and 
they  have  one  son,  Fred. 

Hickey,  William  F.,  the  well  known  attorney,  was  born  at  Moriah,  N.  Y.,  in  1857. 
He  was  the  son  of  Thomas  Hickey,  a  contractor,  who  was  largely  interested  in  local 
mining.  William  was  educated  in  the  Sherman  Academy,  at  Moriah,  and  about  the 
time  of  attaining  legal  majority  began  the  study  of  law  with  B.  B.  Bishop,  at  Moriah, 
forming  a  law  partnership  with  him  three  years  later  which  existed  for  three  years. 
Then  Mr.  Hickey  practiced  his  profession  at  Port  Henry  until  1889  when  he  located 
in  Troy.  Mr.  Hickey  resides  in  Green  Island  and  has  taken  an  active  interest  in 
local  affairs,  especially  in  opposing  the  recent  threatened  annexation  of  Green  Island 
to  Troy,  and  in  the  erection  of  the  new  town  of  Green  Island.  Mr.  Hickey  is  now 
village  attorney  for  the  village  of  Green  Island,  having  held  that  office  for  ten  terms. 

McGrath,  Michael,  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1825.  His  father  was  Thomas  McGrath, 
by  trade  a  blacksmith.  Michael  learned  the  same  trade  in  the  old  country,  and  when 
a  young  man  emigrated  to  America.  He  settled  in  Green  Island,  where  for  the  past 
fifty  years  he  has  been  a  prosperous  man  in  the  grocery  business  and  at  his  trade, 
and  has  been  a  familiar  figure.  He  has  served  his  town  as  trustee  and  was  treas- 
urer of  the  Board  of  Education,  and  has  for  many  years  been  a  pillar  of  St.  Patrick's 
church,  and  a  lifelong  Democrat. 

Becker,  De  Witt  E.,  son  of  Francis  and  Almira  (Torrey)  Becker,  was  born  in  Gal- 
lupville,  Schoharie  county,  August  6,  1863,  and  finished  his  education  at  Hartwick 
Seminary  in  1881.  Coming  to  Albany  in  that  year  he  was  employed  by  Burhans 
&  Sutherland  and  two  years  later  by  Burhans,  Sutherland  &  Co.  In  1883  Mr. 
Burhans  severed  his  connection  with  the  above  firm  and  started  in  business  again 
with  Mr.  Becker  as  partner.     In  1887  the  firms  of  David  Bradt  &  Co.    and    Burhans 


20 

&  Becker  consolidated,  making  the  firm  of  David  Bradt,  Becker  &  Co.,  carrying  on 
a  general  produce  commission  business,  dealing  specially  in  poultry,  eggs  and  butter. 
Mr.  Becker  came  to  Albany  without  any  capital  and  with  the  combined  efforts  of  his 
partners,  David  Bradt  and  William  J.  Skillicorn,  a  very  large  and  lucrative  business 
was  built  up  at  their  present  place  of  business,  386  Broadway.  The  building  is  a  four 
story  brick  and  contains  the  latest  improved  cold  storage  and  freezing  rooms.  In 
addition  to  their  cold  storage  plant  the  firm  rent  cold  storage  rooms  in  Chicago,  Buf- 
falo and  New  York,  the  building  in  which  they  are  located  not  being  large  enough 
to  accommodate  their  business.  The  firm  is  considered  by  all  who  know  them  to  be 
the  largest  wholesale  dealers  in  poultry  in  Albany.  Mr.  Becker  was  elected  two 
terms  in  succession  president  of  the  Albany  County  Wheelmen  without  opposition. 
He  ie  also  director  and  secretary  of  the  Consumers  Ice  Company.  In  1887  he  mar- 
ried Emma  E.  A.,  daughter  of  David  Bradt,  of  Albany,  who  died  in  1890.  In  1893 
he  married  her  sister,  Harriet  Myers  Bradt.  Mr.  Becker  has  just  finished  a  hand- 
some residence  on  Western  avenue,  corner  of  Allen  street  where  he  now  resides. 

A'an  Meter,  Archibald,  son  of  Edmund  and  Jennett  (Loyd)  Van  Meter,  was  born 
in  New  Scotland,  Albany  county,  March  13,  1825,  and  about  1828  moved  with  his 
parents  to  the  city  of  Albany,  where  his  father  died  soon  afterward.  The  family 
originally  came  from  New  Jersey  ;  the  father  of  Holland  and  Scotch  descent,  and  the 
mother  of  Scotch  descent.  Mr.  Van  Meter  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Albany  and  as  a  youth,  first  engaged  in  gardening.  In  1844  he  engaged  in  the  meat 
business,  in  which  he  has  ever  since  continued,  being  located  at  No.  278  Hudson 
avenue,  since  1877.  For  several  years  he  has  had  a  large  wholesale  trade,  but  now 
carries  on  a  retail  business  exclusively.  He  is  member  of  Wadsworth  Lodge,  No. 
417,  F.  &  A.  M. 

Palmer,  Frank  Rockwell,  son  of  Amos  P.  and  Martha  E.  (Newton)  Palmer,  was 
born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  November  21,  1868.  He  is  descended  from  a  long  line  of  New 
England  ancestors,  the  first  of  whom  came  to  America  early  in  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury, and  all  of  whom  served  most  gallantly  in  the  Colonial  and  Revolutionary  wars. 
He  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Academy  in  1888  and  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Albany  City  Savings  Institution,  where  he  rapidly  rose  to  his  present  position  of 
teller.  Mr.  Palmer  inherits  a  great  liking  for  the  military,  as  his  record  shows.  In 
the  Albany  Academy  he  was  first  sergeant  of  Co.  A,  later  captain  of  Co.  A,  and 
upon  graduation  was  major  of  the  battalion  of  Albany  Academy  Cadets.  In  No- 
vember, 1888,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  N.  G.  N.  Y.,  in  1889  was  promoted  to  sergeant, 
in  1893  to  lieutenant  and  in  1896  was  elected  captain.  Mr.  Palmer  is  a  member  of 
Masters  Lodge,  No.  5,  F.  &  A.  M. 

Hendrie,  James  H.,  born  in  Albany.  October  19,  1855,  is  a  son  of  George  and 
Margaret  (Haddow)  Hendrie,  the  former  of  whom  came  to  Albany  from  Scotland 
about  1853  and  died  here  in  1892,  being  for  many  years  foreman  with  Smith  &  Covert, 
leather  dressers.  When  fourteen  Mr.  Hendrie  began  learning  the  trade  of  book- 
binder and  blankbook  manufacturer  of  his  uncle,  Robert  G.  Hendrie,  who  had  es- 
tablished business  on  the  corner  of  Broadway  and  Hudson  avenue  in  1867.  He  re- 
mained there  until  1879,  when  he  went  to  Cape  Colony,  South  Africa,  and  engaged 
in  gold  and  diamond  mining.  Returning  to  Albany  in  1887  he  bought  out  his  uncle, 
gradually  increased  the  manufacturing  capacity  fourfold  and  now  carries  on  a  large 


21 

business  as  a  bookbinder  and  stationer  and  blankbook  manufacturer.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Albany  Caledonian  Club  and  was  its  secretary  three  terms.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1889,  he  married  Emily  E.,  daughter  of  Henry  Miller  of  Albany,  and  they  have 
one  daughter:  Emalie  Miller  Hendrie. 

Cook,  John  B.,  was  born  in  Troy  in  1856,  and  was  a  son  of  Robert  Cook,  who 
came  from  Scotland  in  1854  and  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Burden  Iron  Company, 
then  H.  Burden  &  Sons,  in  the  capacity  of  foreman  until  his  death  in  1873.  Mr. 
Cook  served  an  apprenticeship  to  the  machinist  trade  with  that  company.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Troy,  and  later  took  private  lessons  in 
mathematics,  mechanical  engineering  and  drawing.  Mr.  Cook  has  been  associated 
with  the  Watervliet  Arsenal  for  twelve  years  as  foreman  of  the  metal  work  carried 
onm  the  shops  east  of  the  canal,  and  has  had  charge  of  the  construction  of  the 
plant  at  the  gun  shop  under  the  supervision  of  the  constructing  engineer. 

McNab,  Dr.  Duncan,  son  of  Duncan  and  Sarah  (Osborne)  McNab,  was  born  June 
(!,  1870,  in  Troy,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  was  educated  in  the  High  School.  He  was  grad- 
uated from  the  Albany  Medical  College  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  in  1892,  and  then 
took  an  eight  months'  course  in  the  New  York  Polyclinic  Hospital  and  Medical  Col- 
lege. In  1893  he  began  his  practice  in  Green  Island,  Albany  county,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Troy  and  Vicinity  Medical  Society,  King  Sol- 
omon's Primitive  Lodge  No.  91,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Watervliet  Lodge,  Knights  of 
Pythias.  April  20,  1896,  Dr.  McNab  married  Millie,  daughter  of  John  B.  Groat,  of 
Green  Island. 

Soderstrom,  Charles  E.,  came  from  Sweden  to  America  in  1881,  then  about  thirty- 
three  years  of  age.  In  his  native  country  he  had  learned  the  trade  of  machinist, 
and  soon  secured  a  position  with  the  Albany  Iron  Works,  with  whom  he  remained 
for  three  years.  In  1884  he  went  to  Watervliet  as  a  machinist.  He  was  a  a  member  of 
the  Free  church  of  Sweden,  and  here  in  America  belonging  to  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  which  granted  him  the  freedom  of  speaking  for  his  country-people. 

Lenway,  W.  A.,  was  born  in  West  Troy,  December  11,  1849.  The  late  Alexander 
Lenway,  his  father,  came  to  West  Troy  about  1835.  The  paternal  grandfather  of 
W.  A.  Lenway  came  from  France.  Mr.  Lenway  was  carefully  educated  at  select 
schools  and  at  the  Troy  Business  College.  He  has  been  officially  connected  with 
canal  administrations  since  1880,  at  which  date  he  was  appointed  chief  clerk  to 
John  H.  Hulsapple,  then  a  canal  collector.  Before  his  association  with  the  canal 
departments  he  was  associated  in  a  clerical  capacity  with  F.  B.  Durant  and  William 
Hollands  in  the  fire  insurance  line.  He  spent  five  years  in  the  D.  &•  H.  freight  office 
as  clerk  and  was  for  a  time  mate  of  a  river  steamer  plying  between  Trov  and  New 
York. 

Pickett,  Robert,  youngest  son  of  William  and  Mary  (Egan)  Pickett,  both  natives 
of  Ireland,  immigrating  to  America  about  1823  and  1820  respectively,  was  born  in 
West  Troy,  Albany  county,  March  9,  1850,  and  received  his  education  at  the  parochial 
school  of  St.  Bridget's  church.  His  father  died  in  West  Troy  in  1853,  aged  fifty- 
three,  and  his  mother  in  April,  1889,  aged  eighty-seven.  They  had  six  sons  and 
three  daughters.  When  nine  years  old  Mr.  Pickett  entered  the  factory  of  Roy  & 
Co.,  and  in  1868  began  making  cartridges  in  the  Watervliet  Arsenal.     In  1*65  he  re- 


22 

turned  to  the  employ  gf  Roy  &  Co.  ;  in  1869  he  was  employed  on  a  Hudson  River 
dredge;  in  1870  he  entered  what  is  now  the  Troy  and  Rensselaer  Iron  Works; 
in  1873  he  found  employment  in  the  machine  shop  of  the  Arsenal;  in  1874  he  re- 
turned to  the  steel  works;  and  in  1876  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in 
West  Troy.  In  1882  he  became  a  State  patrolman  under  James  Shanwahan,  and  six 
years  later  again  opened  a  restaurant,  a  business  he  had  followed  in  1881-82.  No- 
vember 18,  1894,  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  position  as  inspector  of  customs 
under  John  P.  Masterson.  October  11,  1878,  he  married  Katie,  daughter  of  John 
Shaffer  of  Troy. 

Visscher,  Edward  W.,  was  born  in  Albany,  April  5,  1870,  and  is  descended  from 
one  of  the  oldest  families  in  this  section.  Bastiaen  Visscher  came  from  Hoorn,  Hol- 
land, to  America,  prior  to  1644  and  settled  in  what  was  then  Rensselaerwyak,  now 
Albany.  His  son,  Harmen  B.,  was  born  there  and  had  a  son,  Manning  Visscher, 
whose  son  Barent  J.  was  baptized  in  Albany,  March  13,  1737.  Johannes  B.  Visscher, 
son  of  Barent  J.  was  born  here  September  4,  1769  and  died  April  15,  1825.  His  son, 
John  B.  Visscher,  was  born  here  August  31,  1825,  and  married  first,  Ann,  daughter 
of  Abraham  R.  and  Annetje  (Visscher)  Ten  Eyck,  and  second,  Alida,  daughter  of 
Douw  and  Jane  Ann  (Lieverse)  Lansing.  He  died  January  31,  1890.  and  was 
survived  by  Edward  W.  Visscher  and  William  L.  Visscher.  Edward  W.  Visscher 
was  educated  in  the  Albany  Academy  and  in  1887  entered  the  Mechanics'  and 
Farmers'  Bank,  with  which  he  has  since  been  connected.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Holland  Society  of  New  York  and  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club.  In  January.  1895,  he 
married  Miss  Mame  E.,  daughter  of  Eugene  P.  Palmer  of  Chicago,  111. 

Colburn,  E.  S.,  &  Son. — Edwin  S.  Colburn,  son  of  Jonathan  Colburn,  was  born  in 
Jewett  City,  Conn.,  Jannary  5.  1829,  and  for  about  thirty  years  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing at  New  Baltimore,  N.  Y.,  where  he  still  resides.  In  1884  he  was  engaged  in  the 
commission  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Colburn  &  Smith;  in  1886  he  purchased 
part  of  the  present  confectionery  and  ice  cream  business  in  Albany,  and  a  partner- 
ship was  formed  under  the  firm  name  of  Rawson  &  Colburn,  which  in  1888,  became 
Rawson,  Colburn  &  Co.  In  1888  this  firm  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Colburn  as  sole  owner 
and  in  1894  he  admitted  his  son,  Edwin  E.  to  partnership,  under  the  present  style  of 
E.  S.  Colburn  cl-  Son. 

Hills,  James  W.,  was  born  in  Watervliet,  now  Colonie,  in  1841.  He  is  the  son  of 
the  late  John  Hills,  of  English  descent.  He  has  always  been  engaged  in  farming 
and  gardening,  and  in  1875  purchased  the  farm  of  Newton,  known  as  the  Newton 
place,  from  whom  the  hamlet  of  Newtonville  took  its  name.  Mr.  Hills  is  an  up-to- 
date  and  enterprising  farmer,  finding  market  for  his  product  chiefly  at  Troy.  Mrs. 
Hills  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  James  McDonald  of  Delhi,  Delaware  county,  brother- 
in-law  of  the  late  Assemblyman  John  McDonald  of  Delaware  county.  Mrs.  and  Mrs. 
Hills  have  two  sons,  Goldsmith  and  Donald  E.  Hills.  They  were  educated  at  the 
Troy  Academy,  State  Normal  and  Albany  Business  College. 

Heidrich,  Charles  A.,  born  November  18,  1856,  in  Albany,  is  the  son  of  John 
Heidrich,  a  native  of  Germany,  who  came  to  Albany  about  1854  and  died  here 
in  1886,  being  a  mason  by  trade  and  a  prominent  contractor  and  builder.  After 
finishing  his  education  at  the  Albany  Academy,  Mr.  Heidrich  entered  the  architect- 


23 

ural  office  of  John  Cornelius  and  remained  there  five  years.  Meanwhile  in  L880  he 
had  associated  himself  with  his  father  under  the  firm  name  of  Heidrich  &  Son  and 
continued  as  a  contractor  until  the  latter's  death  in  1886,  when  he  opened  an 
architectural  office.  Since  then  he  devoted  his  whole  time  to  architecture  and 
building  and  since  1882  has  done  a  large  amount  of  contracting,  numbering  among 
his  chief  efforts  the  Fourth  Reformed  and  St.  Matthew's  churches.  He  is  a  member 
of  Gnttenberg  Lodge  No.  737,  F.  &  A.  M,  Temple  Chapter  No.  5,  R.  A.  M.  and 
De  Witt  Clinton  Council  No.  22  R.  &  S.  M.  July  19.  1882,  he  married  Elizabeth 
Herzog  of  Albany  and  their  children  are  Dora  Elizabeth  and  Victor  Carl. 

Waters,  M.  B. ,  was  born  in  Duxbury,  Plymouth  county,  Mass.,  in  October,  1831, 
and  is  a  descendant  of  good  old  Puritan  stock.  He  had  none  of  the  advantages  of 
education  so  liberal  in  this  day,  but  he  was  a  great  reader  and  seeker  after  knowl- 
edge and  always  had  a  book  with  him,  to  which  he  applied  himself  during  leisure 
moments.  His  mind  therefore  became  stored  with  very  useful  information,  for  he 
read  only  those  books  from  which  he  could  derive  practical  knowledge  and  which 
tended  to  strengthen  his  mind.  He  began  railroading  in  1851  on  what  was  then  the 
Hudson  River  Road,  now  the  N.  Y.  C.  &  H.  R.  R.  R.,  and  leaving  there  he  went  to 
the  Troy  &  Boston  Railroad,  now  the  Fitchburg  Railroad,  where  he  filled  such  posi- 
tions as  baggagemaster,  ticket  agent  and  freight  and  passenger  train  conductor. 
He  was  also  the  first  passenger  agent  and  during  the  war  was  stationed  in  New 
York  with  an  office  on  Broadway.  That  office  was  abolished  after  the  war  and  he 
became  connected  with  the  N.  Y.  C.  &  H.  R.  R.  R.  as  passenger  train  conductor.  The 
genial  disposition  and  courteous  manners  which  he  showed  in  that  capacity,  emi- 
nently qualified  him  for  advancement  and  to-day  he  holds  the  position  of  general 
passenger  agent  of  the  People's  Line  Steamers  on  the  Hudson  River.  He  has 
traveled  extensively  throughout  the  United  States,  Mexico  and  the  West  Indies.  Mr. 
Waters  is  also  a  very  interesting  correspondent  and  has  many  times  favored  the 
general  public  with  letters  to  newspapers  describing  his  travels.  He  was  formerly 
president  of  the  Railroad  Conductors'  Insurance  Company  of  the  United  States  and 
Canada  and  is  now  an  active  member  of  that  body.  He  is  also  a  life  member  of  the 
various  Masonic  bodies,  from  the  Blue  Lodge  to  the  Mystic  Shrine,  and  is  also  a 
member  of  the  International  Association  of  Ticket  Agents,  also  a  member  of  the 
American  Association  of  General  Passenger  Agents.  He  is  a  very  public  spirited 
citizen  and  nothing  which  will  improve  his  home  city,  Troy,  escapes  his  notice;  and 
he  has  written  many  articles  setting  forth  his  views  on  public  matters  which  have 
always  carried  great  weight.  Mr.  Waters  was  married  October  15,  1866,  at  North 
Dorset,  Vt.,  to  a  daughter  of  the  Hon.  Welcome  Allen. 

Gleason,  James  M.,  was  born  in  Troy,  N.  Y. ,  August  25,  1860,  and  removed  to 
West  Troy  and  Watervliet  in  1865,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools,  Troy  Christian  Brothers'  Academy  and  Troy  Business  College.  At 
an  early  age  he  became  an  active  member  of  the  West  Troy  I  >ld  Volunteer  Fire  De- 
partment and  served  as  foreman  of  the  J.  C.  Dayton  Hose  Company,  and  as  assist- 
ant chief  of  the  department  until  its  disbandment  in  1883,  and  is  an  exempt  fireman. 
Before  and  since  attaining  his  majority  he  has  taken  an  active  part  in  politics  as  an 
enthusiastic  Democrat  and  is  prominent  in  his  party  organization  in  city  and  county. 
At  the  Watervliet  town  election  in  1885  he  was  nominated  and  elected  to  the  re- 


24 

sponsible  office  of  collector  of  taxes  and  was  re-elected  in  April,  1886.     On  January 

1,  1887,  he  was  appointed  deputy  court  clerk  by  Hon.  Robert  H.  Moore,  county  clerk, 
and  served  for  three  years  to  January  1,  1890,  when  he  was  promoted  and  appointed 
by  Hon.  A.  C.  Requa,  county  clerk  elect,  to  the  position  of  deputy  county  clerk, 
which  he  held  until  the  expiration  of  Mr.  Requa's  term  of  office  December  31,  1892. 
On  December  4,  1893,  he  was  appointed  by  Hon.  Frank  Campbell,  State  comptroller, 
a  commissioner  to  make  an  examination  of  the  papers,  books,  records  and  docu- 
ments in  the  office  of  the  surrogate  of  Kings  county,  N.  Y.,  relating  to  the  enforce- 
ment of  the  inheritance  tax  laws  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  at  the  expiration  of 
his  commission  he  retired  to  private  life  and  engaged  in  business  in  Albany,  N.  Y., 
where  he  is  still  located.  Mr.  Gleason  was  married  February  16,  1886,  and  resides 
with  his  wife,  two  sons  and  three  daughters,  on  Sixth  avenue,  in  Watervliet,  N.  Y. 

Godfrey,  James  H.,  was  born  on  the  site  of  his  beautiful  home,  in  1841.  He  spent 
his  whole  life  with  his  father,  the  late  George  A.  Godfrey,  one  of  the  first  settlers. 
Mr.  Godfrey  is  a  farmer  and  a  dairyman,  and  his  home  is  located  so  as  to  command 
extended  views  of  the  lovely  landscape,  of  which  the  Mohawk  Valley  is  widely  famed. 

Baldwin,  H.  W. ,  the  shoe  dealer  of  29  North  Pearl  street,  is,  like  a  large  propor- 
tion of  Albany's  prominent  merchants,  a  self-made  man.  His  business  career  com- 
menced in  New  York  city,  where,  when  quite  a  young  man,  he  laid  the  foundation 
for  the  knowledge  which  was  to  be  of  great  benefit  to  him  in  conducting  an  estab- 
lishment of  his  own.  He  came  here  from  New  York  in  1888  and  started  in  business 
at  his  present  location,  succeeding  Sherman  &  Green.  By  close  application  and 
acuteness  in  buying  goods,  he  built  up  his  trade  to  such  an  extent  that  up  to  the 
present  time  he  has  had  to  enlarge  his  store  three  times,  until  now  he  occupies  com- 
modious quarters  fitted  up  in  the  most  modern  style.  Mr.  Baldwin's  last  improve- 
ment was  made  about  a  year  ago  when  he  nearly  doubled  the  space  of  his  main 
floor.  Mr.  Baldwin's  business  acumen  is  hereditary.  His  father  was  one  of  the 
largest  lumber  dealers  in  Buffalo  and  built  one  of  the  first  houses  on  the  famous 
Delaware  avenue  of  that  city.  Mr.  Baldwin  was  born  in  Buffalo  in  1855,  and  spent 
his  boyhood  there. 

McNeil,  Thomas  J.,  was  born  in  Ireland,  of  Scotch  ancestry,  in  1860.  He  is  the 
son  of  John  McNeil,  a  linen  manufacturer,  who  came  to  America  with  his  family 
in  1866,  and  located  in  the  city  of  Albany,  N.  Y.  In  1872  they  moved  to  Cohoes, 
N.  Y.  McNeil,  the  elder,  was  employed  by  the  Harmony  Company  as  an  overseer 
and  cloth  expert ;  he  remained  with  that  company  for  twelve  years,  when  he  re- 
signed. After  that  time,  and  until  his  death  in  September,  1894,  he  was  employed 
by  the  Tivoli  Knitting  Mill  Company.  Thomas  J.  enlisted  in  the  7th  Separate  Com- 
pany, State  Militia,  in  1880,  being  that  time  twenty  years  of  age.  His  record  in 
that  company  is  as  follows:  Private,  May  15,  1880;  sergeant,  April  18,  1883;  first 
sergeant,  June  18,  1884;  second  lieutenant,  June  20,  1884;  first  lieutenant,  March  15, 
1889;  resigned  (honorable  discharge),  December  30,  1890;  re-enlisted,  January  12, 
1891 ;  corporal,  February  16,  1891 ;  sergeant,  November  9,  1891 ;  first  sergeant,   May 

2,  1892.  At  the  present  time  he  is  first  sergeant  of  the  company  and  also  drill, 
master.  His  rating  as  drillmaster  and  tactician  is  of  the  highest.  He  received  the 
appointment  as  armorer  of  the  above  named  company  in  1883,  which  position  he 


25 

now  so  capably  and  acceptably  fills.     He  was  married  January  21,  1885.  to  Elizabeth 
Fisher  Hume,  a  daughter  of  George  Hume  of  Cohoes,  N.  Y. 

Targett,  Alfred  E.,  is  a  pioneer  in  the  laundry  business  of  Cohoes.  his  establish- 
ment being  the  first  of  its  kind  here.  It  was  first  an  adjunct  to  his  hat  and  furnish- 
ing goods  business  organized  in  1873,  and  the  washing  was  done  by  hand.  Now  the 
extensive  establishment  contains  all  the  modern  machinery  of  an  up-to-date  laundry. 
Mr.  Targett  was  born  in  England  in  1842  and  was  the  son  of  Charles  Targett.  He 
came  to  this  country  in  1846  and  with  his  parents  settled  in  Danbury,  Conn.  In 
1853  he  moved  to  Wisconsin,  where  he  worked  on  a  farm  about  two  years,  when  he 
returned  to  Danbury,  Conn.,  and  worked  for  a  while  in  a  fur  factory;  then  went  to 
Bethel,  Conn.,  and  learned  the  trade  of  hat  finishing,  after  which  he  returned  to 
Danbury  and  attended  the  academy  and  prepared  for  college,  which  he  entered  in 
1862  and  graduated  from  the  University  of  Rochester  in  1866  with  the  degree  of 
A.  B.,  being  a  classmate  of  Hon.  George  Raines  of  Rochester.  After  graduation  he 
returned  to  Danbury,  Conn.,  went  into  the  music  business  and  also  taught  singing 
in  the  public  schools,  an  accomplishment  he  had  acquired  with  his  other  studies. 
He  came  to  Cohoes  in  1872,  where  he  has  ever  been  highly  esteemed  as  a  man,  and 
appreciated  for  his  musical  talent.  He  is  an  accomplished  tenor  singer,  and  sings 
in  various  churches.     He  served  for  several  years  as  alderman  of  the  Third  ward. 

Wheeler,  Frederick  F.,  son  of  John  C.  and  Adaline  (Freeman)  Wheeler,  was  born 
in  Oshkosh,  Wis..  February  25,  1859,  and  was  educated  at  the  Vineland,  N.  J., 
Academy,  where  the  family  settled  in  1864.  In  1882  he  came  to  Albany  and  the 
same  year  established  his  present  furniture  business.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  Albany  Chamber  of  Commerce  in  1890,  and  has  since  been  a  director  and  the 
secretary.  He  organized  the  South  End  Bank,  was  continuously  one  of  its  directors 
and  during  the  first  five  years  was  its  first  vice-president.  He  is  an  associate  director 
of  the  National  Life  Association  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  was  one  of  the  founders  and  is 
vice-president  and  director  of  the  West  End  Savings  and  Loan  Association  of  Albany 
and  was  an  originator  and  officer  of  the  West  End  Association,  designed  to  effect 
improvements  in  the  western  part  of  the  city.  In  politics  he  has  been  from  youth  up 
a  Prohibitionist,  casting  his  first  vote  (the  only  Prohibition  vote  cast  in  Cumberland 
county,  N.  J.)  for  Neal  Dow  for  president  in  1880.  He  has  never  voted  any  other 
ticket.  In  1884  he  was  elected  chairman  of  the  State  General  and  State  Executive 
Prohibition  Committees  and  served  five  years,  declining  further  service  in  this 
capacity.  During  that  period  the  Prohibition  ticket  received  the  highest  vote  ever 
given  it  in  this  State.  He  is  still  a  member  of  the  Prohibition  State  Executive 
Committee  and  in  1896  was  elected  a  member  of  the  National  Prohibition  Commit- 
tee. December  24,  1879,  he  married  Alice  Amsden  of  North  Walden,  Vt.,  who  died 
July  22,  1891,  leaving  four  children :  Herbert  A.,  Fannie  A.,  Alice  A.,  and  Effie  A. 
June  (i,  1893,  he  married,  second,  Hattie  Hall  of  Leslie,  Mich. 

Long  &  Silsby. — The  carriage  manufacturing  firm  of  Long  &•  Silsby  was  founded 
in  1847,  by  James  Long  and  Henry  W.  Silsby,  who  successfully  carried  on  an  exten- 
sive business  until  1888,  when  Mr.  Long  purchased  his  partner's  interest  and  became 
sole  owner.  Mr.  Silsby  was  a  blacksmith  and  was  born  at  sea  about  1815.  Mr.  Long, 
a  native  of  Ireland,  came  to  America  in  1824  and  spent  his  active  life  in  Albany.     He 


36 

was  a  practical  wagonmaker  and  after  the  retirement  of  his  partner,  carried  on  the 
business  alone  until  February,  1892,  when  his  sons,  Le  Roy  Y.  and  John  S.,  were 
admitted.  He  died  in  November,  following,  and  since  then  his  two  sons  have  con- 
ducted the  establishment,  which  is  one  of  the  oldest  of  the  kind  in  this  city.  The 
original  firm  name  has  always  been  retained.  This  concern  is  widely  known,  has 
continuallv  enjoyed  an  extensive  trade  of  the  best  class  and  makes  a  specialty  of  the 
finer  work. 

Keeler,  John,  sou  of  Daniel  and  Margaret  (Murphy)  Keeler,  was  born  in  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  January  7,  1843.  He  received  a  common  school  education  and  in  1865  went 
to  work  in  the  restaurant  of  his  brother  William,  on  Green  street.  In  1871  he  suc- 
ceeded his  brother  in  the  management  of  the  Green  street  restaurant  and  remained 
there  until  July,  1884,  when  he  and  his  brother  formed  a  partnership  and  opened  a 
restaurant  at  No.  56  State  street.  In  1890  Mr.  Keeler  again  assumed  management 
of  the  Green  street  restaurant  and  since  then  his  sons,  William  H.  and  John,  have 
been  the  proprietors  of  the  State  street  restaurant. 

Harris,  Julius  F.,  son  of  Marvin  C.  and  Huldah  (Dickinson)  Harris,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Queensbury,  Warren  county,  N.  Y.,  January  3,  1839.  Thomas  Harris, 
born  in  1576,  came  from  England  and  ran  the  ferry  from  Boston  to  Winnisimmet  and 
Charlestown.  Joseph  Harris,  who  was  directly  descended  from  said  Thomas  Harris, 
the  great  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  lived  in  the  town  of  Queensbury, 
served  in  the  Revolution  and  originally  came  from  Dutchess  county.  William  D. 
Harris,  the  grandfather  of  Julius  F.,  was  a  prosperous  farmer  living  in  the  town  of 
Queensbury.  Julius  F.  Harris  was  educated  at  the  Fort  Edward  Collegiate  Institute, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1863.  Soon  after  he  removed  to  Albany,  N.  Y., 
studied  law  with  Col.  William  H.  King,  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Law  School 
in  1882  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  same  year.  He  has  since  practiced  law 
in  Albany.  He  is  a  member  of  Temple  Lodge  No.  14,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  is  a  class 
leader  in  the  Ash  Grove  M.  E.  church. 

Dreis,  L.  Theodore  A.,  son  of  Anthony  and  Catherine (Geimer)  Dreis,  was  born  in 
Albany,  N.  Y. ,  January  24,  1868.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  and  private 
schools  and  at  the  age  of  eleven  years  was  apprenticed  to  W.  H.  Slingerland  &  Sons, 
civil  engineers,  with  whom  he  remained  eighteen  years  and  in  addition  carried  on 
quite  extensively  the  real  estate  and  insurance  business.  Augnst  1,  1896,  he  went 
with  the  Albany,  Helderberg  and  Schoharie  Railroad,  with  whom  he  is  at  present. 
He  is  secretary  of  Co.  D,  10th  Battalion,  N.  G.  N.  Y.,  and  was  for  three  years 
financial  and  corresponding  secretary  of  the  Capital  City  Club  and  is  at  present.  In 
1895  he  represented  the  Capital  City  Club  at  the  convention  of  the  National  League 
of  Republican  Clubs  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  as  delegate.  He  is  at  present  orator 
of  Germania  Council  No.  110,  C.  B.  L.,  recording  secretary  of  the  City  Club  and 
president  of  the  Young  Men's  Society  of  the  Holy  Cross  church  and  was  the  organ- 
izer of  that  body.  He  has  been  for  four  years  the  Republican  president  of  the  Third 
district  of  the  Second  ward,  and  at  the  last  primary  was  re-elected  by  a  vote  of  64  to 
25.  He  is  also  a  prominent  member  of  the  Republican  League.  That  he  is  prom- 
inent among  the  young  men  is  assured  by  the  great  esteem  he  is  held  in  and  in 
society  he  is  a  prominent  figure.  Invitations  are  refused  owing  to  the  surplus  of 
meetings. 


27 

Burdick  G.  Dudley,  son  of  G.  W.  and  Mary  Elizabeth  (Van  Antwerp)  Burdick,  was 
born  in  Albany,  July  19,  1842.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  learned 
the  trade  of  mason,  which  he  followed  until  1878,  when  he  engaged  in  his  present 
business  of  contractor  and  builder.  He  built  the  Tweddle  Building,  the  Dudley  Ob- 
servatory, the  Albany  Safe  Deposit  and  Storage  Building,  the  Madison  Avenue 
Presbyterian  church  and  Wolfert's  Roost  and  many  other  notable  structures.  Mr. 
Burdick  is  a  member  of  Wadsworth  Lodge  No.  417,  F.  &  A.  M.  and  of  the  board  of 
deacons  of  the  State  Street  Presbyterian  church.  He  served  seven  years  in  the  old 
volunteer  fire  department  and  in  Co.  B,  10th  Regiment,  N.  Y.  N.  G.  December  26, 
1876,  he  married  Emma  Havard,  daughter  of  John  Havard  of  Brooklyn,  N.  V.,  who 
died  November  24,  1881,  leaving  a  son  and  daughter,  Clarke  Havard  and  Mary 
Louise.  Clarke  Havard  died  March  6,  1883.  October  10,  1884,  he  married  Juliette, 
daughter  of  Epraim  Hotaling,  of  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Wands,  John  B.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland,  X.  Y.,  June  13,  1833.  The 
first  of  the  Wands  to  come  to  America  were  two  cousins,  James  and  John  Wands; 
they  were  Scotch  Highlanders,  and  were  weavers  by  trade.  They  enlisted  in  the 
English  army  and  came  to  Canada  to  take  part  in  the  French  and  English  war 
(1754  to  176£),  having  enlisted  as  volunteers  for  three  months;  they  served  their 
time,  and  upon  their  discharge  started  as  pioneers  through  the  woods  of  New  York 
State,  toward  Albany,  and  finally  located  in  what  is  now  New  Scotland;  their  settle- 
ment dates  about  1762.  Ebenezer  Wands,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
another  of  these  hardy  Scotch  pioneers;  he  was  born  in  Glasgow,  Scotland,  and  was 
also  a  weaver  by  trade;  he  was  a  cousin  of  James  and  John,  who  had  preceded  him 
a  few  years  to  America;  he  married  Mary  Ann  Miller  and  came  to  America  imme- 
diately after,  probably  about  1780,  and  settled  on  a  tract  of  land,  about  400  acres, 
which  he  purchased  for  two  dollars  per  acre,  and  began  clearing  him  a  home,  and 
plied  his  trade  winters.  He  reared  eight  sons  and  three  daughters;  the  sons  all  be- 
came tradesmen,  some  blacksmiths,  wagonmakers,  carpenters,  weavers,  etc.,  and 
among  them  they  grew  and  manufactured  everything  needed  on  the  farm.  He  died 
when  eighty  eight  years  of  age.  Benjamin  Wands,  father  of  our  subject  and  the 
fourth  son  of  his  father's  -children,  was  born  in  New  Scotland  in  1797.  He  learned 
the  weaver's  trade  from  his  father;  he  afterward  became  a  farmer,  owning  a  farm  of 
sixty  acres,  which  he  operated,  and  plied  his  trade  winters.  In  politics  he  was  first 
a  Whig,  later  a  Republican,  and,  though  not  an  aspirant  to  public  office,  he  mani- 
fested an  active  interest  in  the  electing  of  his  party  ticket.  His  wife  was  Margaret 
Wands,  who  was  born  in  New  Scotland  in  1797,  daughter  of  James  2,  who  was  the 
son  of  James  1,  the  pioneer;  they  reared  live  sons  and  five  daughters.  He  died  in 
1865  and  his  wife  in  187:;.  John  B.  Wands  worked  on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was 
seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  Albany  and  engaged  as  cartman,  which 
position  he  occupied  for  five  years;  he  then  accepted  a  position  as  porter  in  a  whole- 
sale grocery  store,  where  he  remained  six  years,  and  in  1864  engaged  with  Mather 
Bros.,  as  shipper  in  their  wholesale  grocery;  he  remained  with  them  over  twenty- 
four  years,  when,  on  account  of  failing  health,  he  was  obliged  to  resign  his  position. 
In  1888  he  moved  to  Voorheesville,  where  he  engaged  in  the  retail  general  mercantile 
business,  and  where  he  has  since  remained.  Mr.  Wands  is  a  Republican  in  politics. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  Wadsworth  Lodge,  Albany,  in  which  he 


28 

often  officiated.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  fraternity,  American  Lodge, 
No.  32,  of  which  he  is  past  noble  grand,  and  was  also  on  the  district  grand  commit- 
tee for  years.  In  addition  to  his  other  interests  Mr.  Wands  has  been  for  a  number 
of  years  interested  in  the  manufacture  of  soap  in  Kingston,  N.  Y.  In  1855  he  mar- 
ried Sarah  J.  Drew,  of  Albany,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Sarah  Drew,  natives  of 
London,  England,  by  whom  he  had  three  children:  Emma,  wife  of  Slater  Swift,  of 
New  Scotland ;  Grace,  wife  of  Carey  Martin ;  and  Robert  B.  Wands. 

Lord,  Edmund  J.,  was  born  in  Lancashire,  England,  in  1820.  At  an  early  age  he 
came  to  America  and  settled  in  Albany,  where  he  engaged  as  a  clerk  in  a  grocery 
store,  winning  the  respect  of  his  employer  by  constant  attention  to  business  and 
those  traits  which  foretold  his  later  success.  After  years  of  hard  work,  in  which 
pluck,  perseverance  and  rigid  economy  played  active  parts,  he  succeeded  in  saving 
sufficient  money  to  start  the  business  with  which  he  has  been  identified,  and  in  1841 
established  a  grocery  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Washington  avenue  and  Hawk 
street,  opposite  where  the  capitol  now  stands.  Possessed  of  unusual  business  qual- 
ifications, it  was  not  surprising  that  the  work  which  he  had  begun  on  a  small  scale, 
should,  in  the  course  of  a  comparatively  few  years,  increase  to  such  a  degree  as  to 
prove  highly  profitable  and  remunerative.  In  1870  he  moved  to  larger  and  more 
commodious  quarters  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Washington  avenue  and  Hawk 
street,  where  he  continued  in  business  until  his  death,  September  22,  1895.  The 
business  since  then  has  been  conducted  by  his  son,  Edmund  W.  Lord,  who  inherits 
much  of  his  father's  business  ability.  In  the  constant  rush  and  excitement  attend- 
ant upon  a  business  life,  Mr.  Lord  never  forgot  the  important  duties  to  be  performed 
in  his  home,  and  it  was  there  the  amiable  disposition  and  kind  heart  were  ever  mani- 
fest. He  was  a  devoted  Presbyterian  and  while  he  loved  his  Creator  and  served 
Him  as  best  he  could,  he  did  not  neglect  to  practice  that  charity  without  which  there 
can  be  little  religious  sincerity.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  St.  George  Benev- 
olent Society  and  several  fraternal  organizations.  As  a  citizen,  Mr.  Lord  was 
highly  esteemed  and  respected.  A  Republican  in  principle,  he  stood  ever  ready  to 
give  his  undivided  and  active  support  to  his  party  when  the  exigencies  of  the  hour 
demanded. 

Hendrickson,  Howard,  was  born  in  Albany,  November  20,  1859,  and  is  the  son  of 
the  late  Jacob  Hendrickson,  who  for  many  years  kept  a  large  wholesale  grocery  on 
the  dock  and  died  in  July,  1879.  Mr.  Hendrickson  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Albany  and  subsequently  entered  a  job  printing  office,  where  he  worked 
for  three  years.  He  then  entered  the  law  office  of  S.  W.  Whitmore,  meantime  tak- 
ing a  course  of  lectures  at  the  Albany  Law  School,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
May  25,  1882,  being  immediately  admitted  to  the  bar  by  the  General  Term  of  the 
Supreme  Court.  Opening  a  law  office  he  commenced  the  active  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession, which  is  varied  and  extensive.  In  1895  he  was  elected  alderman  of  the  Six- 
teenth ward  and  during  that  year  served  as  president  of  the  Common  Council, 
receiving  the  largest  majority  ever  given  a  candidate  in  that  ward.  In  politics  he  is 
an  influential  Republican.  He  was  the  organizer  of  the  Commercial  Union  Co- 
operative Bank  and  at  present  is  its  attorney  and  a  member  "of  the  board  of  man- 
agers. He  is  the  owner  of  considerable  Albany  real  estate.  He  is  a  member  of 
Wadsworth  Lodge  No.  417,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  has  passed  through  all  its  chairs.     He  is 


29 

a  member  of  Capital  City  Chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Masons,  De  Witt  Clinton  Council 
of  Royal  Select  Masons,  Temple  Commandery  No.  2,  K.  T. ,  and  of  Cypress  Temple, 
Ancient  Arabic  Order  of  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine;  he  is  also  a  member  of  Will- 
iam Lacy  Lodge  No.  93,  I.  O.  O.  F. 

Geer,  Robert,  son  of  James  L.  and  Prudence  Almira  (Gallup)  Geer,  was  born  in 
Norwich,  Conn.,  March  23,  1837.  His  mother  died  in  1847.  His  father  was  a 
cabinetmaker,  a  builder,  and  later  was  engaged  in  the  auction  and  commission  busi- 
ness. About  1873  he  retired  and  now  lives  in  Norwich.  Mr.  Geer  received  a  public 
school  education ;  when  fifteen  he  became  a  clerk  in  a  drug  store  in  Norwich,  and 
three  years  later  its  owner.  In  1861  he  removed  the  stock  to  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  and 
in  1864  sold  out.  April  20,  1864,  he  came  to  Albany  as  the  local  representative  of  the 
Salt  Company  of  Onondaga,  whose  business  he  has  managed  ever  since,  becoming 
proprietor  in  1871.  In  1879  he  also  engaged  in  the  flour  and  feed  trade  with  Chester 
F.  Bouton,  as  Bouton  &  Geer,  and  continued  until  Mr.  Bouton's  death  in  1886.  Thr%e 
years  later  he  discontinued  this  business.  In  1892  he  formed  the  Robert  Geer  Salt 
company,  incorporated,  and  has  since  carried  on  the  old  salt  business  under  that 
name  as  vice-president  and  manager.  Mr.  Geer  has  been  prominently  identified 
with  several  enterprises.  He  has  been  a  trustee  of  the  Home  Savings  Bank  since 
1884  and  president  of  the  Homestead  Savings  and  Loan  Association  since  its  organ- 
ization in  1888.  A  Republican  in  politics,  he  was  supervisor  of  the  Fourteenth  ward 
of  Albany  from  1880  to  1886,  was  candidate  for  member  of  assembly  in  1885,  but 
withdrew  because  of  a  split  in  the  party,  and  was  candidate  for  senator  in 
1886,  but  was  defeated  by  Hon.  Amasa  J.  Parker,  although  he  ran  ahead  of 
his  ticket.  He  is  a  member  of  Temple  Lodge  No.  14,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Capital  City 
Chapter  No.  242,  R.  A.  M.,  De  Witt  Clinton  Council  No.  22,  R.  &  S.  M.,  Tem- 
ple Commandery  No.  2,  K.  T.,  Cypress  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  and  all  the  Scot- 
tish Rite  bodies  32°.  He  is  a  trustee  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  a  member  and  for  four 
years  master  workman  of  Capital  City  Lodge,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  senior  vestryman  of 
St.  Paul's  church,  for  fifteen  years  treasurer  and  trustee  of  the  Albany  Hospital  for 
Incurables,  and  for  the  past  ten  years  secretary  of  the  Board  of  Albany  Pier  Pro- 
prietors. In  October,  1860,  he  married  Mary  Sophia,  daughter  of  William  Gere  of 
Syracuse,  who  died  in  1886,  leaving  two  children:  Frederick  Lewis  and  Clara  Lovisa. 
In  October,  1869,  he  married,  second,  Rhoda  Kellogg  Shedd,  daughter  of  Ephraim 
Shedd  of  Jordan,  N,  Y.  She  died  in  December,  1882,  leaving  one  son,  Arthur  Ham- 
ilton. In  April.  1884,  Mr.  Geer  married,  third,  Julia,  daughter  of  Henry  Richmond 
of  Albany. 

Flanders,  George  Lovell,  son  of  Arthur  and  Mary  (Lovell)  Flanders,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Parishville,  St.  Lawrence  county,  February  29,  1856.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  Potsdam  Normal  School  and  during  the  years  of  1881  and  1882  he 
was  a  teacher  in  the  Madrid  Union  School.  He  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Parker  & 
Mclntyre  in  Potsdam,  and  later  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Law  School  and 
admitted  to  the  bar  and  to  practice  in  the  United  States  Circuit  Court.  In  the  fall 
of  1883  he  removed  to  Albany  and  in  May,  1884,  was  appointed  assistant  state  dairy 
commissioner,  at  the  time  of  the  creation  of  the  department.  The  title  of  his  office 
has  since  been  changed  to  that  of  assistant  commissioner  of  agriculture,  an  office 
which  he  has  retained  under  every  commissioner  appointed.     Mr.  Flanders  was  one 


30 

of  the  first  to  advocate  the  creation  of  the  department.  He  is  a  member  of  Ancient 
City  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  the  Royal  Arcanum.  In  April,  1885,  he  married 
Catharine  South  wick,  daughter  of  William  Keeler,  of  Albany,  and  they  have  two 
daughters:    Lillian  Lovell  and  Marian  Southwick. 

Friend,  Charles  M.,  was  born  in  Albany,  November  10,  1869,  and  is  a  son  of 
Meyer  and  Caroline  (Goodman)  Friend.  Meyer  Friend,  born  in  Saxemeinegen, 
Saxony,  Germany,  December  4,  1809,  came  to  Albany  about  1838,  among  the  first 
Jewish  settlers  and  died  here  in  1890.  He  was  a  jeweler,  one  of  the  organizers,  vice- 
president  and  trustee  of  the  old  Jewish  synagogue  and  a  prominent  citizen  among 
his  race.  He  had  eight  children,  the  younger  being  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
Charles  M.  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  High  School  in  1888,  read  law  with  and 
became  managing  clerk  for  Eaton  &  Kirchwey,  attended  the  Albany  Law  School 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Saratoga  in  1891.  He  remained  with  his  preceptors 
until  January,  1892,  when  he  was  made  assistant  to  the  second  deputy  under  Attor- 
ney-General Simon  W.  Rosendale,  a  position  he  held  until  December  31,  1893.  He 
was  then  associated  with  Hon.  James  M.  Eaton,  district  attorney  of  Albany  county, 
until  March,  1895,  when  he  opened  an  office  for  himself.  He  is  an  active  Democrat, 
a  member  of  the  Albany  Democratic  club,  secretary  of  the  Adelphi  Club,  president 
of  Gideon  Lodge,  No.  140,  I.  O.  B.  B.,  a  member  of  Capital  City  Lodge,  No.  440,  I. 
(  ).  <  ).  F.,  and  treasurer  of  Beth  Emeth  Sunday  School.  In  1896  he  was  appointed 
special  law  examiner  in  the  civil  service  department  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

North,  Howard  C,  has  been  a  railroad  man  since  he  was  twenty-four  years  old, 
and  has  steadily  climbed  the  ladder  of  advancement.  He  entered  the  service  of  the 
New  York  &  <  >swego  Midland, now  the  Ontario  &  Western,  as  clerk  and  telegrapher 
in  1874,  and  in  1875  came  to  Green  Island  as  an  operator  for  the  Delaware  &  Hud- 
son Canal  Company.  In  1880  he  was  appointed  assistant  train  dispatcher,  and  in 
1883  chief  dispatcher.  In  1887,  after  acting  as  agent  in  Green  Island  for  about  a 
year,  he  was  appointed  assistant  superintendent  of  Saratoga  &  Champlain  division, 
the  important  position  he  now  so  acceptably  fills  after  a  quarter  of  a  century  asso- 
ciation with  the  company.  He  was  born  at  Guilford,  N.  Y. ,  July  4,  1852.  He  was 
the  son  of  Erastus  B.  North,  of  old  English  ancestry. 

Wiswall. — Among  the  old  families  of  the  town  of  Colonie,  few  have  been  longer 
or  more  favorably  known,  or  more  associated  with  the  business  and  social  life  of  the 
locality  than  Ebenezer  Wiswall  si\,  and  his  sons  Ebenezer  Wiswall,  jr.,  and  John 
Parker  Wiswall.  Of  puritan  stock  Ebenezer  Wiswall,  sr.,  came  from  Boston  about 
1810  and  became  a  member  of  the  Farm  Companies  of  South  Troy,  West  Troy,  and 
Cohoes;  his  connection  with  which  for  nearly  fifty  years  gave  him  the  wide  ac- 
quaintance with  the  business  men  of  his  time  which  his  descendants  still  enjoy. 
John  Parker  Wiswall,  who  died  in  1875,  the  father  of  Edward  H.  Wiswall  of  the 
present  time,  married  Sarah  Mark,  a  member  of  another  old  English  family  in 
Watervliet.     His  widow  is  still  living  with  a  married  daughter  at  the  old  homestead. 

Tupper,  Horace  D.,  one  of  the  most  estimable,  enterprising  and  public  spirited 
citizens  of  the  town  of  Colonie.  Mr.  Tupper's  surroundings  at  his  place  of  business, 
at  the  junction  of  the  two  canals  above  West  Troy,  attest  something  of  his  energy 
and  originality.     He  was  born  at  Glens  Falls,  September  20,  1S44,  and  by  the  death 


31 

of  his  father,  when  yet  a  little  boy,  was  thrown  very  early  upon  his  own  resources,  to 
which  event  perhaps  must  be  ascribed  some  of  his  rugged  and  indomitable  charac- 
ter. In  his  early  years  of  manhood,  he  followed  boating  on  the  canals,  and  is  still 
largely  interested  in  that  line  of  business,  but  his  interests  are  multiplied.  He 
operates  two  saw-mills,  two  large  farms,  a  brick  yard,  and  the  "  Crescent"  drydock, 
beside  timbered  lands  near  Lake  George  and  a  line  of  boats,  employing  10")  men, 
also  two  large  wholesale  ice  houses,  one  on  Mohawk  Basin  and  one  at  Crescent.  In 
the  midst  of  all  these  bustling,  exacting  interests,  Mr.  Tupper  has  found  time  fin- 
much  in  the  way  of  practical  benevolence. 

Mills,  Charles  H.,  son  of  Borden  H.  and  Harriet  N.  (Hood)  Mills,  was  born  in 
Knowlesville,  Orleans  county,  N.  Y.,  June  21,  1851,  and  moved  with  his  parents  to 
Albany  in  1857.  Borden  H.  Mills  was  a  member  of  the  wholesale  Hour  firm  of  Mills 
\-  McMartin,  on  Broadway,  and  died  here  in  1873.  He  was  a  prominent  Republican 
leader  and  alderman  of  the  Tenth  ward.  Charles  H.  Mills  attended  the  Albany  High 
School,  was  graduated  from  Union  College  in  1872,  and  read  law  with  John  M. 
Carroll,  of  Johnstown,  N.  Y.,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Law  School  and 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1873.  He  practiced  in  Johnstown  until  1875,  and  since  then 
in  Albany,  being  since  1889  senior  member  of  the  law  firm  of  Mills  &  Bridge  (Charles 
F.  Bridge).  He  is  a  Republican,  was  president  of  the  Albany  Board  of  Excise  in 
1895.  This  board  raised  the  license  from  sixty  dollars  to  §200,  and  thereby  increased 
the  city's  income  from  licenses  from  847,000  to  §114,000.  He  was  president  of  the 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  two  terms,  1883-84,  when  funds  were  raised  for  the  present  building, 
and  during  this  period  was  interested  in  liquidating  the  old  debt  and  in  creating  a 
large  surplus  for  the  association,  which  he  has  served  as  a  director  since  1882,  being 
now  the  oldest  member  of  the  board.  He  is  the  editor  and  author  of  several  law 
books,  a  member  of  the  Temple  Lodge  Xo.  14,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Capital  City  Chapter, 
No.  242,  R.  A.  M.,  and  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution,  through  his  great- 
grandfather, George  Mills,  who  served  under  Arnold,  was  captured  at  Quebec  and 
after  six  months  a  prisoner  was  exchanged,  was  one  of  the  guard  at  the  execution 
of  Major  Andre,  and  was  with  Sullivan  through  the  New  Jersey  campaign  and  for 
two  years  United  States  pensioner. 

Macfarlaue,  William  I).,  son  of  Robert,  was  born  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Junes,  is."):; 
Robert  Macfarlane,  born  in  Rutherglen,  Scotland,  came  to  America  in  1835  and  died 
in  Brooklyn,  December  20,  1883.  He  was  originally  a  dyer,  but  later  was  senior 
editor  of  the  Scientific  American  for  over  seventeen  years.  In  1864  he  came  to  Al- 
bany and  bought  of  Mrs.  John  McDuffy,  the  old  Albany  Dye  Works,  which  he  con- 
tinued until  1874,  when  he  returned  to  Brooklyn.  He  was  prominent  in  Albany  as 
a  Scotchman,  was  president  of  the  Burns  Club  and  St.  Andrews  Society,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  Albany  Institute.  William  D.  Macfarlane  was  graduated 
from  the  Albany  Boys'  Academy  in  1872,  afterwards  learned  the  business  of  dyer 
with  his  father,  and  in  1S74.  with  his  brother,  Robert  F.,  succeeded  to  the  proprietor- 
ship of  the  old  Albany  Dye  Works  at  No.  24  Norton  street.  This  was  the  first  dye 
house  in  Albany,  being  established  by  Peter  Martin  in  1823.  Robert  F.  Macfarlane 
withdrew  in  1891  and  since  then  William  has  continued  the  business  alone.  He  has 
about  twenty-three  branches,  of  which  all  but  three  are  located  outside  the  city.  He 
is  a  member  of  St.  Andrews  Society,  the  Burns  Club,  and  was  for  seventeen  years  a 


32 

member  of  the  Albany  Burgesses  Corps,  is  now  and  has  been  a  director  of  the  Albany 
Musical  Association  since  its  reorganization  in  1891,  also  a  member  of  the  Uncon- 
ditional Club.  He  is  married  and  has  a  family  of  three  children  two  sons  and  one 
daughter. 

Lundergan,  John,  is  one  of  the  most  respected  and  oldest  residents  of  the  locality. 
The  trite  saying,  "that  he  is  a  self  made  man,"  became  invested  with  fresh  signifi- 
cance, when  applied  to  Mr.  Lundergan.  He  was  born  in  Ireland,  March  16,  1821, 
and  came  to  America  when  four  years  of  age.  In  1832,  after  the  death  of  his  mother, 
at  Montreal,  he  came  to  the  vicinity  of  Albany,  and  has  lived  here  for  sixty-four 
years.  He  began  life  in  the  most  humble  way  as  a  farm  hand,  but  was  very  frugal 
and  had  no  bad  habits.  He  was  enabled  to  rent  a  small  tract  of  land  and  became 
his  own  master  in  1845.  In  1848  he  went  to  California  via  Cape  Horn,  and  returned 
via  the  isthmus.  Here  he  obtained  the  nucleus  of  his  present  considerable  fortune, 
and  soon  began  to  purchase  additionals  to  his  original  homestead.  His  most  recent 
acquisition  was  the  extensive  fair  grounds  situated  opposite  his  home,  on  the  Troy 
road.  Mr.  Lundergan  devoted  his  time  to  the  business,  which  has  occupied  most  of 
his  long  and  useful  life,  that  of  extensive  market  gardening.  His  youngest  son, 
Frank,  is  a  dry  goods  merchant,  at  New  York  city.  His  oldest  son.  Adrian,  man- 
ages home  affairs.  Mr.  Lundergan  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem  wherever  he  is 
known. 

Hobbs,  Edward  A.,  son  of  David  and  Abigail  (Pratt)  Hobbs,  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Charlton,  Mass.,  August  15,  1838.  Mr.  Hobbs's  ancestors  came  to  America  from 
England  in  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century  and  located  in  Massachusetts. 
His  grandfather,  Joseph  Pratt,  was  the  captain  of  a  Massachusetts  company  in  the 
war  of  1812.  Mr.  Hobbs  attended  the  Troy  Conference  Academy  at  Poultney,  Vt., 
in  the  winter  of  1857,  and  afterward  attended  the  State  Normal  School  for  one  term. 
For  three  winters  he  taught  school  in  Columbia  county,  and  in  May,  1861,  removed 
to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  for  nine  years  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  at 
No.  5  Clinton  avenue,  the  firm  name  being  Hobbs  &sBedell.  He  then  moved  to  No. 
7  Clinton  avenue,  where  he  was  also  located  nine  years,  from  1870  to  1879.  For  four 
years  he  was  in  partnership  with  Frank  Van  Salisbury.  Since  1874  Mr.  Hobbs  has 
been  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  alone.  In  the  fall  of  1878  Mr.  Hobbs  bought 
the  property  on  the  corner  of  North  Pearl  street  and  Clinton  avenue  and  in  1879  he 
occupied  it  and  has  ever  since  been  located  there.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Fourth  Presbyterian  church  and  on  May  13,  1889,  was  elected  an  elder  and  has  held 
the  office  ever  since.  He  was  elected  a  trustee  in  1884,  1887,  1890,  1893  and  1896. 
October  21,  1862,  he  married  Celestia  A.,  daughter  of  Palmer  Miller  of  Schodack, 
N.  Y. 

Grady,  Thomas  G.,  is  one  of  the  leading  merchants  of  West  Troy.  In  1881  he 
first  began  the  merchant  tailor  business  here,  where  he  has  since  carried  on  a  large 
enterprise.  In  1886  he  opened  a  new  store,  which  has  advanced  his  interest  in  a 
most  satisfactory  manner.  He  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  O. ,  in  1859,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  A.  Grady,  a  hotel  keeper,  now  of  Toronto.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  learned 
the  tailor's  trade  at  Xenia,  O.  Mr.  Grady  is  collector  of  the  Society  of  Royal  Arca- 
num and  enjoys  wide  popularity  among  his  fellowmen. 


33 

Gallien,  Henry,  son  of  Henry  and  Eliza  M.  (George)  Gallien,  was  born  in  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  December  2,  1861.  His  father  was  born  on  the  Isle  of  Guernsey  and  when 
sixteen  years  of  age  came  to  America  and  located  in  Albany,  where  for  thirty  years 
he  was  in  the  canal  department  and  State  comptroller's  office,  and  for  the  last  fifteen 
years  that  he  was  there  held  the  offices  of  second  deputy  and  deputy,  holding  the 
latter  office  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1883.  Henry  Gallien  was  educated  in  the 
Boys'  Academy,  State  Normal  School,  Public  School  No.  11  and  the  Albany  High 
School,  after  which  he  was  for  a  time  in  C.  H.  Van  Benthuysen's  paper  warehouse. 
Subsequently  he  went  to  the  Albany  County  Bank  and  the  National  Commercial  Bank, 
where  he  remained  eight  years,  and  later  was  teller  at  the  Park  Bank  of  Albany  for 
two  years.  From  the  Park  Bank  he  went  to  the  Exchange  Bank,  where  he  held  the 
position  of  teller  for  three  years,  and  left  in  1894,  to  engage  in  business  with  his 
brother,  E.  J.  Gallien,  dealing  in  investment  securities,  with  whom  he  remained  one 
year.  Then  after  a  few  months'  experience  as  an  expert  accountant  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Commissioner  Lyman,  in  April,  1896,  auditor  of  the  State  Excise  De- 
partment. Mr.  Gallien  is  a  member  of  Ridgefield  Athletic  Club,  of  which  he  is  a 
trustee,  and  has  held  the  office  of  secretary  for  three  years.  He  was  for  one  term 
financial  secretary  of  the  Albany  Bicycle  Club  and  organized  the  Albany  Count}' 
Wheelmen.  He  held  the  office  of  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  organization  and 
subsequently  held  the  offices  of  president  and  captain.  He  represented  the  Albany 
Bicycle  Club  and  the  Albany  County  Wheelmen  for  several  years  in  the  National 
Assembly,  L.  A.  W.,  and  is  a  member  of  the  auditing  committee  of  that  body.  For 
two  years  he  has  been  treasurer  of  the  Albany  Press  Club  and  is  a  director  and 
member  of  the  Albany  Musical  Association.  Mr.  Gallien  is  also  a  Mason,  being  a 
member  of  Masters  Lodge  No.  5,  F.  &  A,  M. 

Blair,  Elmer,  son  of  Robert  S.  and  Jane  E.  (Steen)  Blair,  was  born  in  Fort  Hun- 
ter, N.  Y.,  May  13,  1862.  He  was  graduated  from  the  Cobleskill  Academy  in  1881, 
when  he  removed  to  Albany  to  continue  his  studies,  where  he  became  an  expert 
stenographer.  After  a  short  time  spent  in  the  office  of  M.  V.  B.  Bull,  he  entered 
the  service  of  the  Delaware  and  Hudson  Canal  Company  as  stenographer,  and  sub- 
sequently became  confidential  clerk  to  Dudley  Farlin  and  H.  S.  Marcy,  general 
freight  agent  and  traffic  manager,  respectively,  of  that  company.  He  held  this 
position  for  five  years,  when  he  became  the  private  secretary  of  Dudley  Farlin,  hav- 
ing charge  of  the  private  interests  of  that  gentleman,  which  embraced  operations 
on  a  large  scale  in  the  Lima,  O.,  oil  fields,  and  the  developing  of  the  electric  light- 
ing business  in  various  parts  of  this  State.  During  this  time  Mr.  Blair  personally 
established  and  installed  the  electric  lighting  plants  of  Norwich  and  Cooperstown, 
N.  Y.,  and  became  the  treasurer  and  general  manager  of  the  corporation  in  each  of 
those  places  which  controlled  its  gas  and  electric  lighting  facilities.  Upon  the  re- 
tirement of  Mr.  Farlin  from  active  business,  Mr.  Blair  accepted  a  position,  in  1892, 
with  the  Adirondack  and  St.  Lawrence  Railroad  Company,  having  charge,  under 
Chief  Engineer  William  N.  Roberts,  of  the  business  department  of  the  construction 
force  of  that  road,  and  upon  its  completion  he  became  the  private  secretary  to  Ed- 
ward M.  Burns,  its  general  manager,  and  later  his  confidential  agent,  having 
charge  of  Dr.  William  Seward  Webb's  Adirondack  camp  site  properties,  until  Jan- 
uary 1,  1895.     Mr.  Blair  then  turned  his  attention  to  the  study  of  law  and  removed 


34 

to  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  where  he  read  law  in  the  office  of  Harris  &  Harris  and  prac- 
ticed stenography  in  the  courts  until  the  following  September,  when  he  returned  to 
Albany  and  became  the  private  secrerary  of  Col.  William  Cary  Sanger,  member  of 
assembly  from  the  Second  Oneida  district.  He  continued  in  Colonel  Sanger's  em- 
ploy during  the  legislative  session  of  1896,  and  after  the  passage  of  the  liquor  tax 
law  was  appointed  chief  stenographer  to  the  State  Department  of  Excise.  Mr. 
Blair  was  treasurer  of  the  Young  Men's  Association  of  Albany  in  1888,  collecting 
during  his  incumbency  the  .?100,000  building  fund  for  Harmanus  Bleecker  Hall.  On 
the  expiration  of  his  term  as  treasurer  he  was  elected  manager  of  the  association 
for  three  years.  He  is  a  member  of  Wadsworth  Lodge  No.  417,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Tem- 
ple Chapter,  R.  A.  M.  ;  De  Witt  Clinton  Council,  R.  &  S.  M. ;  Little  Falls  Com- 
mandery;  Ziyara  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S. ,  of  Utica;  and  Mount  Herman  Lodge, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Albany.  On  October  22,  1895,  he  married  Ella  L.  Holliday  of 
Oneida,  N.  Y. 

Jewett,  Frederick  G.,  son  of  Harry  and  Loraine  (Goodsell)  Jewett,  was  born  in 
Owego,  Tioga  county,  New  York,  in  1846.  His  ancestors  on  both  sides  were  from 
New  England,  though  his  father  was  born  in  Putnam  county,  and  his  grandfather 
and  great-grandfather  in  Dutchess  county,  New  York,  the  latter  (John)  having  been 
a  Revolutionary  soldier.  Frederick  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  at  the 
Owego  Academy.  His  first  employment  after  leaving  school  was  in  the  Owego 
post-office,  which  position  he  left  to  accept  one  on  the  United  States  Military  Rail- 
roads in  1864.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  accepted  service  with  what  was  then  the 
Atlantic  and  Great  Western  Railway,  now  a  part  of  the  Erie  system,  where  he  re- 
mained in  various  capacities  until  1883 ;  residing  the  greater  portion  of  the  time  at 
Jamestown,  N.  Y.  Having  been  engaged  in  railroad  work  in  Ohio  in  the  mean 
time,  he  went  to  Syracuse,  N.  Y. ,  in  1890  as  manager  of  the  Central  New  York  Car 
Service  Association  which  was  organized  by  the  railroads  of  the  State  at  that  time, 
and  in  1893  came  to  Albany,  the  offices  of  the  association  having  been  removed  here 
in  September  of  that  year.  He  is  a  member  of  various  Masonic  bodies ;  the  A.  A. 
O.  M.  S.,  and  of  other  fraternal  organizations.  Mr.  Jewett  married  Lucy,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Doctor  David  and  Louisa  (Ransom)  E aril  of  Tioga  county,  New  York,  Mrs. 
Jewett  being  a  descendant  of  Samuel  Ransom,  a  captain  in  the  Continental  Army, 
who  was  killed  at  the  massacre  of  Wyoming,  Pa.,  July  3,  1778. 

Sanders,  Eugene,  son  of  David  B.  and  Elizabeth  (Bennis)  Sanders,  was  born  in 
Fort  Edward,  N.  Y.,  February  3,  1864,  and  received  his  education  in  his  native  vil- 
lage. In  1889  he  came  to  Albany  as  traveling  salesman  for  Rogers  &  Ruso,  dealers 
in  typewriters  and  supplies,  and  two  years  later  engaged  in  that  business  for  him- 
self, continuing  until  the  spring  of  1894.  In  1893  he  also  engaged  in  the  bicycle  and 
supply  trade,  and  since  1894  has  given  this  his  whole  attention,  handling  a  number 
of  high  grade  wheels.  He  is  a  member  of  Temple  Lodge,  No.  14,  F.  &  A.  M.,  the 
Ridgefield  Athletic  Club  and  the  Albany  County  Wheelmen.  In  October,  1890,  he 
married  Clara  E.,  daughter  of  Oramel  E.  Bostwick  of  Stillwater,  N.  Y. 

McHench,  David  B.,  born  September  21,  1826,  in  Albany,  is  the  only  son  of  Will- 
iam McHench,  born  in  Hudson,  N.  Y.,  in  1789,  died  in  Albany  in  1873.  William 
and  his  brother  ran  a  grist  mill  for  some  years  at  Kenwood,  afterward  was  connected 
with  the  Mechanics'  &  Farmers'   Bank  for  forty-two  years.     He  married  Margaret 


35 

Boyd  of  Schenectady,  daughter  of  David  Boyd,  the  first  president  of  the  Mohawk 
Bank  and  was  president  until  his  death  in  1834.  Four  children  are  now  living. 
David  B.  McHench,  attended  the  Albany  Academy,  and  when  nineteen  became  a 
clerk  in  a  wholesale  dry  goods  house  in  his  native  city.  Ten  years  later  he  entered 
the  office  of  a  stove  foundry  and  remained  about  nine  years,  and  for  fourteen  years 
afterward  was  bookkeeper  for  a  charcoal  blast  furnace  at  Richmond,  Mass.  In 
1877  he  returned  to  Albany  and  shortly  afterward  established  his  present  business, 
paper  box  manufacturing.  He  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  known  paper  box  man- 
ufacturers in  the  city.  In  1857  he  married  Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  the  late  Charles 
Dillon  of  Albany,  the  first  manufacturer  of  fire  brick  in  the  State,  and  they  have  had 
two  daughters,  Laura  (Mrs.  Franklin  H.  Jones  also  of  Albany)  and  Margaret  Boyd, 
deceased. 

Ellis,  Joseph,  Whitcomb,  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Hannah  (Whitcomb)  Ellis,  was  born 
in  Springfield,  Vt.,  September  18,  1829.  His  ancestors  were  English  and  lived  in  the 
vicinity  of  Boston,  Mass.  He  began  his  school  education  early  and  at  four  years  of 
age  was  a  pupil  in  a  family  boarding  school  in  Perkinsville,  Vt.  He  completed  his 
preparation  for  college  at  the  Wesleyan  Seminary  in  Springfield,  Vt.,  and  was  gradu- 
ated from  Wesleyan  University,  Middletown,  Conn.,  in  1858,  ranking  first  in  mathe- 
matics. He  was  a  member  of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  Society  and  three  years  later  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  M.  A.  After  his  graduation  he  engaged  in  teaching  and  soon 
acquired  a  reputation  as  a  superior  teacher  of  mathematics.  For  thirty-five  years  he 
has  been  teaching  continuously  in  the  educational  institutions  of  the  State  of  New 
York.  He  taught  in  the  seminaries  at  Fairfield,  Oneida,  Whitestown  and  in  Cook 
Academy  at  Havana,  N.  Y.  (now  Montour  Falls).  While  at  the  latter  place  he  was 
appointed  examiner  of  mathematics  and  science  in  the  New  York  State  Board 
of  Regents  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  which  position  he  still  holds.  Professor  Ellis  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Alpha  Delta  Phi  Fraternity.  February  5,  1863,  he  married  Philena  J. 
Knox  of  Knoxboro,  Oneida  county,  N.  Y.  They  have  had  three  children,  Mary,  now 
on  the  staff  of  the  New  York  State  Library,  J.  William,  a  lawyer  in  Buffalo,  and 
Clara. 

Dvvight,  Harvey  Lyman,  son  of  Harvey  A.  and  Mary  I.  (Burton)  Dwight,  was 
born  in  Albany.  N.  V.,  September  14,  1871.  He  is  descended  from  an  old  line  of 
ancestors,  the  first  of  whom  in  this  country  being  one  of  the  settlers  of  Dedham, 
Mass.,  in  1634.  Mr.  Dwight  received  his  education  in  the  Albany  Academy  and  was 
graduated  from  that  institution  in  1888.  He  then  entered  into  business  with  his 
father  at  No.  117  Pier,  Albany,  where  he  is  now  employed.  December  5,  1889,  he 
enlisted  in  Co.  A,  10th  Batt,  N.  G.  N.  Y.,  and  so  well  did  he  acquit  himself  as  a 
soldier,  that  he  was  very  rapidly  promoted.  December  2,  1891,  he  was  appointed  a 
a  corporal;  January  25,  1892,  a  sergeant;  and  on  June  5,  1893,  he  was  appointed  ad- 
jutant of  the  Tenth  Battalion. 

Van  Antwerp,  Daniel  Lewis,  son  of  William  and  Sarah  (Meadon)  Van  Antwerp 
(see  sketch  of  John  Henry  Van  Antwerp  for  genealogy),  was  born  in  Albany,  Octo- 
ber 6,  1826,  and  received  a  public  school  and  academic  education.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  bookbinder  with  A.  L.  Harrison,  who  had  established  himself  in  Albany 
about  1843,  and  whom  Mr.  Van  Antwerp  succeeded  in  1852.  This  is  one  of  the  old- 
est, as  well  as  one  of  the  best  equipped  bookbinding  and  blank  book  manufacturing 


36 

establishments  in  the  city,  and  under  Mr.  Van  Antwerp's  able  management  has  en- 
joyed a  prosperous  career.  The  business  for  many  years  has  been  located  at  No.  16 
James  street,  where  a  large  trade  in  all  kinds  of  mercantile  and  other  stationery  is 
conducted  and  where  printing  and  engraving  are  also  done. 

Angus,  Charles  H.,  son  of  Charles  and  Mary  (Pearl)  Angus,  was  born  in  Albany, 
N.  Y. ,  in  1868.  He  attended  the  Albany  public  and  High  Schools  and  learned  the 
carpenter  trade  with  the  firm  of  Gick  &  Sayles,  with  whom  he  remained  five  years. 
In  1888  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Albany  Venetian  Blind  Co.  as  superintendent  and 
manager,  and  soon  after  became  a  stockholder.  In  1889,  however,  owing  to  the 
pressure  of  personal  business,  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  latter  business  and  confined 
his  attention  to  overhauling  property  at  Castleton,  N.  Y.  In  October,  1890,  Mr. 
Angus  bought  from  the  estate  of  E.  S,  Foster,  the  nickel  plating  works  established 
in  1884  by  George  F.  Dodge,  and  located  on  Pleasant  street.  In  1894  Mr.  Angus 
moved  the  plant  to  Nos.  317  and  319,  North  Pearl  street  and  changed  the  name  to 
the  Albany  Nickel  Plating  and  Manufacturing  Works,  where  he  does  a  general 
foundry,  machine  and  plating  business,  and  manufacturing  hardware  specialties. 
August  26,  1889,  he  married  Phoebe  M.  Vose  of  Albany,  and  they  have  one  daughter, 
Helen. 

Sabin,  Charles  H.,  was  born  in  Williamstown,  Mass.,  August  24,  1868.  His  father 
was  Thomas  Sabin,  and  his  mother,  Cordelia  Eldridge,  was  the  daughter  of  Col.  Reu- 
ben E.  Eldridge.  The  Sabins  were  early  settlers  in  America,  the  first  coming  to  America 
early  in  the  seventeenth  century.  Charles  H.  Sabin  received  his  education  at  Grey- 
lock  Institute  in  South  Williamstown,  Mass.,  and  in  1886  removed  to  Albany, 
N.  Y.  For  two  and  one-half  years  he  was  employed  in  the  office  of  Henry  Russell, 
flour  merchant,  and  for  the  two  years  and  one-half  following,  held  a  clerkship  in  the 
National  Commercial  Bank.  He  left  the  latter  institution  to  accept  the  position  of 
teller  in  the  Park  Bank  of  Albany,  which  place  he  filled  for  five  years,  and  on 
February  1,  1895,  he  was  appointed  cashier  of  the  bank.  At  the  time  of  his  appoint- 
ment he  was  the  youngest  cashier  in  New  York  State.  Mr.  Sabin  has  been  prom- 
inently identified  with  the  Ridgefield  Athletic  Club  as  treasurer  for  four  years  and  as 
captain  of  the  foot  ball  eleven.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Young  Men's  Association 
and  has  been  its  treasurer  for  three  years ;  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  Fort  Orange 
Club  and  of  the  Old  Guard,  Co.  A,  10th  Bat.,  N.  G.  N.  Y. 

Allen,  Gen.  D.  Frank,  is  the  son  of  William  and  Catharine  (Wadleigh)  Allen,  and 
was  born  in  Boston,  Mass.,  December  25,  1843.  He  is  a  descendant  of  English  an- 
cestors who  took  part  in  the  founding  of  the  government  of  the  United  States.  He 
lived  and  worked  on  a  farm  until  1860,  when  he  moved  to  New  York  and  obtained 
employment  in  the  house  of  Elias  Howe,  the  first  manufacturer  of  the  sewing  ma- 
chine, where  he  was  second  operator  at  the  time  of  the  breaking  out  of  the  war. 
General  Allen  enlisted  in  New  York  city  and  on  April  27,  1861,  was  mustered  for 
two  years  as  a  private  in  Co.  G,  10th  Regt.  National  Zouaves.  He  served  his  time 
and  was  discharged  May  6,  1863,  disabled  by  a  broken  down  constitution.  He  was 
in  the  engagement  at  Big  Bethel  and  took  part  in  the  defence  of  Fortress  Monroe, 
during  the  battle  of  the  Merrimac  and  Monitor.  He  was  on  the  expedition  from 
Fortress  Monroe  to  Norfolk,  Va.,  took  an  active  part  in  the  famous  Seven  Days' 
battle  in  Porter's  Corps  to  the  final  battle  at  Malvern  Hill,  and  fought  at  the  battles 


37 

of  Gaines  Mill,  White  Oak  Swamp,  Second  Bull  Run,  Antietam  and  Fredericksburg. 
In  1863  he  removed  to  Albany  and  entered  the  pharmacy  of  Dr.  Aaron  Griffin  and 
subsequently  acquired  the  possession  of  it.  He  remained  there  twelve  years,  when 
having  sold  out,  he  went  into  the  employ  of  Judson,  Parsons  &  Haskell,  dealers  in 
spices,  and  was  with  them  five  years,  when  the  company  went  out  of  existence,  suc- 
ceeded by  StephenxH.  Parsons.  After  two  years  spent  in  the  packing  department 
of  Maurice  E.  Viele's  hardware  store,  Mr.  Allen  went  back  to  the  employ  of  Stephen 
H.  Parsons,  with  whom  he  remained  until  May,  1895,  when  he  was  appointed  as- 
sistant adjutant-general  of  the  department  of  G.  A.  R.,  and  in  May,  1896,  he  was 
appointed  acting  assistant  quartermaster-general  of  the  department  of  N.  Y.  G.  A. 
R.  During  Albert  C.  Judson's  incumbency  of  the  office  of  county  clerk,  Mr.  Allen 
was  a  clerk  in  his  office.  He  has  been  a  member  of  Lew  Benedict  Post,  No.  5,  G. 
A.  R.,  since  1884  and  has  passed  all  the  chairs,  being  now  past  commander.  He  is 
a  member  and  past  grand  of  Mt.  Hermon  Lodge  No.  38,  I.  O.  O.  F.  In  1864  he 
married  Mary  E.  Reynolds  and  they  have  nine  children. 

Daring,  Stephen  J.,  son  of  Henry  and  Catharine  M.  (Beller)  Daring,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Wright,  Schoharie  county,  September  15, 1862.  He  is  of  German  descent, 
his  great-grandfather  having  settled  in  Schoharie  county  shortly  after  the  Revolu- 
tion. He  attended  the  public  schools  and  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Normal 
School  in  1883.  After  graduation  he  taught  school  for  two  years  at  his  native  place 
and  was  for  four  years  the  principal  of  public  schools  at  Stuyvesant,  Columbia 
county.  In  1890  he  began  the  study  of  law  with  Thorne  &  Beekman,  at  Middle- 
burg,  Schoharie  county.  Subsequently  he  took  the  course  at  the  Albany  Law 
School  and  was  graduated  from  that  institution  in  1893.  Since  then  he  has  prac- 
ticed law  in  Albany  and  has  his  residence  at  Yoorheesville,  Albany  county.  In 
1895  he  formed  a  copartnership  with  N.  B.  Spalding,  the  firm  name  being  Spalding 
&  Daring.  Mr.  Daring  is  a  member  of  Vorheesville  Lodge  No.  668,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
June  IS,  1893,  he  married  M.  May,  daughter  of  Charles  G.  Clow,  of  Stuyvesant,  and 
they  have  one  son. 

Garvin,  Martin  L.  R.,  son  of  Martin  and  Mary  (Harvey)  Garvin,  was  born  in 
Charlton,  Saratoga  county,  December  26,  1856.  His  father  was  of  Irish  descent 
and  his  mother  of  New  England  ancestry.  Mr.  Garvin  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  worked  on  a  farm  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he 
moved  to  Schenectady,  N.  V.,  and  took  a  course  in  Professor  Bennett's  Business  In- 
stitute, afterward  becoming  associated  with  Professor  Bennett  in  conducting  the 
Institute,  having  charge  of  the  bookkeeping  department.  In  1881  he  removed  to 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  he  obtained  a  position  with  E.  J.  Larrabee  &  Co.,  bakers,  oc- 
cupying successively  the  positions  of  shipping  clerk,  foreman  and  salesman,  re- 
maining with  them  nine  years.  Subsequently  he  was  salesman  for  Squire,  Sherry 
&  Galushaof  Troy,  N.,Y.,  and  later  had  the  State  agency  for  Barlow  Brothers,  print- 
ers and  publishers,  of  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.  In  1894  Mr.  Garvin  was  made  assistant 
manager  of  the  Albany  Terminal  Warehouse  Company  and  recently  he  was  elected 
manager.  He  is  an  elder  and  deacon  in  the  Sixth  Presbyterian  church  of  Albany 
and  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  managers  of  the  Albany  City  Tract  and  Missionary 
Society.  March  16,  1881,  he  married  Rebecca  Hogan  of  Troy  and  they  have  one 
son,  Elmer  B. 


38 

Swett,  Dr.  Joseph  B.,  jr.,  son  of  Joseph  B.  and  Emily  C.  (Gilson)  Swett,  was  born  in 
Brookline,  N.  H.,  March  5,  1865.  He  is  descended  from  John  Swett,  who  in  1642 
came  from  Oxton,  Devonshire  county,  England,  and  settled  in  Newbury,  Mass.,  and 
who  was  also  a  grantee  of  the  town  of  Newbury.  Captain  Benjamin,  son  of  John, 
was  killed  in  1677,  in  the  French  and  Indian  war  at  Scarborough,  Maine.  Joseph 
Swett,  grandson  of  Benjamin,  settled  in  Marblehead,  Mass.,  and  was  the  first  to  en- 
gage in  foreign  trade  and  laid  the  foundation  of  the  great  commercial  prosperity 
which  Marblehead  enjoyed  before  the  Revolution.  His  son  Samuel  married  Anna 
Woodbury,  niece  and  adopted  daughter  of  Rev.  John  Barnard  in  1716,  and  their  son 
Samuel  was  also  engaged  in  foreign  trade.  His  son,  Henry  Jackson  Swett,  a  ven- 
erable citizen  of  Marblehead,  was  the  grandfather  of  Dr.  Joseph  B.  Swett,  jr. 
The  doctor  attended  Cushing  Academy  at  Ashburnham,  Mass.,  and  graduated 
from  there  in  1890.  He  then  attended  the  Albany  Medical  College  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1893,  receiving  the  degree  of  M.  D.  Since  then  he  has  practiced  in 
Albany.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society,  Masters  Lodge 
No.  5,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Co.  B,  10th  Batt.,  N.  G.  N.  Y.  He  is  also  instructor  in 
Obstetrics  at  the  Albany  Medical  College  and  attending  physician  at  the  Albany 
City  Hospital  Dispensary  and  to  the  Dispensary  of  the  Albany  City  Mission. 

Blessing,  Adam  J.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  McKownsville,  Albany  county,  N.  Y. , 
vSeptember  5,  1864.  He  is  a  son  of  Martin  M.  Blessing  and  Elizabeth  McKown, 
daughter  of  John  McKown,  who  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  McKownsville.  The 
place  was  named  McKownsville  in  his  honor.  Dr.  Blessing  passed  through  the 
public  schools  of  Albany  and  attended  the  Albany  High  School  for  three  years.  He 
thereupon  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Yander  Veer  and  in  1886 
received  his  diploma  from  the  Albany  Medical  College,  together  with  an  appoint- 
ment to  St.  Peter's  Hospital.  He  served  one  year  at  the  hospital  and  immediately 
commenced  the  practice  of  medicine,  with  office  at  No.  114  Grand  street,  where  he 
is  now  located.  Dr.  Blessing  is  a  member  of  the  Phi  Sigma  Kappa  fraternity,  the 
Albany  County  Medical  Society,  Clinton  Lodge  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Ancient  City  Lodge  F. 
&  A.  M.,  and  Temple  Chapter  R.  A.  M.  April  5,  1893,  he  married  Lillian  R., 
daughter  of  John  L.  Staats,  and  they  have  one  son,  A.  Yander  Veer. 

Wadsworth,  Paul,  was  born  in  Auburn,  N.  Y. ,  June  13,  1854.  His  parents  came 
from  New  England  and  he  is  descended  from  Christopher  Wadsworth  who  landed 
at  Duxburv,  Mass.,  in  1630  and  to  whom  was  given  by  Miles  Standish  one  of  the  first 
deeds  executed  by  him,  which  now  hangs  in  Plymouth  Hall.  The  Wadsworth  fam- 
ily is  very  prominent  in  New  England  history  and  Paul  Wadsworth,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  is  a  direct  descendant  of  Captain  Samuel  Wadsworth,  who  with  his  com- 
pany of  one  hundred  men,  was  massacred  by  Indians  at  Sudbury,  Mass.  Mr.  Wads- 
worth received  an  academic  education  at  the  Auburn  Academy  and  Geneva  High 
School  and  in  1868  he  entered  the  telegraph  service  at  Saratoga,  N.  Y.  He  held  the 
positions  of  operator  and  manager  at  different  places  in  the  State  until  the  fall  of 
1871,  when  he  entered  the  service  of  the  D.  &  H.  C.  Co.,  as  operator  at  Cooperstown 
Junction,  N.  Y.,  from  which  point  he  was  transferred  to  Binghamton,  N.  Y. ,  as  op- 
erator and  ticket  agent,  and  when  the  division  superintendent's  office  was  moved  to 
Oneonta  in  1873,  Mr.  Wadsworth  was  given  the  position  of  train  dispatcher.  He 
was  made  local  freight  agent  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  in  1877  and  remained  at  this  post  for 


39 

thirteen  years  when  he  was  appointed  assistant  general  freight  agent  and  a  few 
years  later  general  freight  agent,  which  position  he  now  holds.  In  point  of  service 
Mr.  Wadsworth  is  one  of  the  oldest  employees  in  the  railroad  department  of  the 
company.  He  held  the  position  of  president  of  the  General  Freight  Agents  Associa- 
tion of  New  England  for  one  year  and  was  also  secretary  for  the  same  term.  He  is 
a  member  of  a  number  of  traffic  organizations  and  his  name  appears  upon  important 
committees  of  same.  Mr.  Wadsworth  is  also  a  member  and  trustee  of  the  Fourth 
Presbyterian  church  of  Albany  and  is  actively  identified  in  church  and  Sunday  school 
work.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  Club,  the  Transportation  Club  of  New  York, 
and  Ancient  City  Lodge  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Albany.  In  1876  he  married  Susie  Walker 
of  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  and  they  have  one  son  and  two  daughters. 

Phisterer,  Frederick,  was  born  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  October  11,  1830.  He 
enjoyed  a  liberal  education  in  the  high  schools  of  his  native  country  and  while  pre- 
paring for  a  course  of  law  study  at  the  University  in  Tubingen,  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  in  May,  1855.  He  joined  Co.  A,  3d  U.  S.  Artillery,  as  a  private  on 
December  6,  1855;  was  promoted  corporal  October  12,  1858;  sergeant,  July  10,  1860, 
and  was  honorably  discharged  December  6,  1860.  He  was  appointed  sergeant  major 
Eighteenth  United  States  Infantry,  July  31,  1861;  promoted  second  lieutenant 
October  30, 1861 ;  first  lieutenant  February  27,  1862  ;  captain  February  15,  1866 ;  trans- 
ferred to  36th  U.  S.  Infantry  July  28,  1866;  transferred  to  7th  U.  S.  Infantry  March 
3,  1869,  and  was  honorably  discharged  at  his  own  request.  August  4,  1870,  received 
the  Congressional  Medal  of  Honor  for  special  service  at  the  battle  of  Stone  River, 
Tenn.,  December  31,  1862,  received  brevets  for  the  battles  of  Chattanooga,  Tenn., 
and  Resaca,  Ga.  His  service  in  the  National  Guard  began  as  captain  of  the  Gov- 
ernor's Guard  Ohio  National  Guard,  August  27,  1817,  from  which  position  he  re- 
signed January  27,  1879.  He  was  appointed  acting  assistant  adjutant-general  of 
New  York  January  1,  1880,  and  assistant  adjutant-general  November  22,  1892. 

Norton,  David  J.,  son  of  David  and  Catharine  (Putnam)  Norton,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Buel,  Montgomery  county,  August  12,  1832.  The  first  Norton  who  came  to 
America,  landed  at  Martha's  Vineyard  during  the  early  settlements  in  the  sixteenth 
century.  He  subsequently  moved  into  Connecticut,  where  he  became  a  large  land 
owner.  Some  of  his  descendants  are  now  living  in  the  town  of  Hebron,  Conn.  The 
grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  a  sharpshooter  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians  and  later  was  imprisoned  by  the  British. 
Toward  the  latter  part  of  the  war  he  was  exchanged.  For  eight  or  ten  consecutive 
terms  he  was  a  member  of  the  Connecticut  Assembly.  David  J.  Norton  was  educated 
at  the  district  schools  and  completed  the  course  at  the  Cherry  Valley  Academy,  after 
which  he  taught  school  in  Schoharie  county,  N.  Y.,  and  in  Illinois.  He  returned 
East  and  after  practicing  law  for  a  few  years,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  February, 
1866,  while  residing  at  Sharon  Springs.  Soon  after  he  moved  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and 
practiced  law  with  ex-judge  Voorhees.  This  partnership  was  dissolved  after  a  time 
and  another  formed  with  William  F.  Beutlcr,  which  continued  until  Mr.  Beutler  was 
appointed  assistant  district  attorney  of  Albany  county.  Since  then  Mr.  Norton  has 
practiced  alone.  He  has  traveled  extensively  and  is  a  writer  of  great  merit.  He  is 
the  author  of  "  Enid,"  an  opera  given  in  Albany  by  the  Albany  Opera  Company. 
He    has    also    written    many    very  entertaining    stories    for    Frank    Leslie's    and 


40 

other  papers  and  magazines.  He  represented  the  Sixteenth  ward  on  the  board  of 
supervisors  for  one  term  and  was  alderman  from  the  Fourteenth  ward  for  two  terms, 
and  while  serving  as  alderman  was  chosen  one  of  the  members  of  the  Committee  of 
Albany's  bi-centennial  celebration  in  1887.  He  was  also  a  member  of  Beverwyck 
Lodge  I.  O.  O.  F.  November  10,  1863,  he  married  Almira  Voorhees  and  they  have 
two  daughters:  May  and  Margaret B. 

Walters,  Charles,  was  born  at  the  Watervliet  Arsenal,  Watervliet,  Albany  county, 
in  1845.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  William  Walters,  captain  and  ordnance  storekeeper, 
U.  S.  A.,  who  died  at  New  York  Arsenal,  Governor's  Island,  New  York  harbor,  in 
1864,  whilst  on  duty  at  that  station.  Mr.  Walters  now  occupies  the  position  of  chief 
clerk  at  the  Arsenal;  he  is  an  unpretentious  citizen,  taking  no  active  part  in  the 
affairs  of  the  city  of  Watervliet,  where  he  now  resides.  He  entered  the  service  of 
the  government  in  1861,  and  in  1870  came  to  Watervliet  Arsenal  to  his  present  posi- 
tion, succeeding  Isaac  I.  Fonda,  deceased,  late  of  Watervliet. 

Wight,  Edward,  was  born  in  Belfast,  Me.,  in  1835,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel 
Wight,  a  captain  of  merchant  ships,  who  died  at  sea.  Mr.  Wight  was  twenty-one 
years  of  age  when  he  became  a  resident  of  West  Troy.  He  has'  been  one  of  the 
leading  grocery  dealers  of  West  Troy  for  nearly  half  a  century.  His  first  grocery 
and  market  was  located  on  Canal  street,  and  is  now  at  Twenty-third  street,  dealing 
in  hay,  grain  and  cordage,  besides  the  grocery  business,  and  is  very  successful. 

Reiley,  Patrick,  came  to  West  Troy  when  twelve  years  of  age,  and  is  one  of  the 
older  citizens  of  this  city.  He  has  always  resided  in  the  same  block,  and  has  conducted 
a  grocery  store  here  for  forty-nine  years.  He  has  led  an  active  political  life  and  is 
now  postmaster.  Among  the  many  public  offices  he  has  held  are  school  trustee, 
village  trustee,  supervisor,  overseer  of  the  poor,  and  many  others.  Mr.  Reiley  was 
born  in  Limerick,  Ireland,  in  1822,  coming  to  America  when  seven  years  of  age,  and 
settling  in  Troy.  He  has  served  thirty-six  years  as  treasurer  of  St.  Patrick's  church, 
and  forty-two  years  as  trustee. 

Hart,  John  W.,  has  been  lifelong  resident  of  West  Troy,  coming  here  in  1849 from 
County  Tipperary,  Ireland,  where  he  was  born  in  1842.  His  father,  Patrick  Hart, 
now  dead,  was  street  commissioner  here  from_  1869-70.  Mr.  Hart  was  educated  at 
St.  Patrick's  parochial  school,  and  first  peddled  papers,  learning  the  cooper's  trade  later, 
at  which  he  worked  for  fifteen  years.  He  entered  the  baking  business,  in  which  he 
is  so  successfully  engaged,  in  1892.  Mr.  Hart  has  always  been  interested  in  the 
local  affairs  of  West  Troy,  and  served  his  fellowmen  in  many  offices  of  trust  and 
honor.  His  first  office  was  that  of  village  trustee  from  the  Fourth  ward  in  1867-70. 
He  was  village  collector  in  1878,  and  chambertain  in  1879,  being  the  first  one  to  hold 
that  office,  as  the  office  of  treasurer  was  abolished.  He  held  that  office  from  1879  to 
1885  inclusive,  then  resigned  to  take  that  of  county  sheriff  for  three  years. 

Haswell,  John  L.,  is  the  only  son  of  the  late  Joseph  M.  Haswell,  who  died  Janu- 
ary 6,  1872.  J.  M.  Haswell  came  to  West  Troy  from  Waterford,  Saratoga  county, 
and  took  a  prominent  place  in  business.  He  was  largely  interested  in  lumber,  being 
the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Haswell  &  Mosher,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was 
president  of  the  West  Troy  National  Bank.  J.  L.  Haswell  was  born  at  West  Troy, 
January  1,  1866.  He  is  not  at  present  engaged  in  any  active  business,  but  has  large 
real  estate  interests  in  the  West. 


11 

Hudson,  Charles  D.,  born  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  August  26,  1853,  is  a  son  of  Daniel 
Hudson,  who  married  Mary  A.  Henry,  of  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  and  who  moved  in 
1837  from  Schoharie  county  to  Troy,  where  he  lived  to  the  time  of  his  death.  Mr. 
Hudson  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Troy,  but  when  a  young  man  went 
to  work  in  his  father's  box  factory  and  afterwards  in  the  Manufacturers'  National 
Bank.  He  subsequently  accepted  a  position  as  shipper  in  a  collar  factory,  keeping 
up  his  studies  as  best  he  could.  In  1868  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Smith,  Welling- 
ton &  Black  of  Troy,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1881.  He  at  once  commenced 
practice  in  the  village  of  West  Troy  (now  the  city  of  Watervliet),  Albany  county, 
where  he  has  been  ever  since,  occupying  the  same  office.  He  has  been  reasonably 
successful,  having  in  both  Rensselaer  and  Albany  counties  been  engaged  in  some 
important  litigations  involving  large  amounts  of  property.  He  has  conducted  a 
general  law  business  but  has  given  special  attention  to  the  preparation  and  trial  of 
causes.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  but  never  held  office.  Having  a  taste  for 
literature,  he  has  written  and  published  articles  on  historical  and  other  subjects. 
He  was  married  in  Troy  to  Ruth  M.  Hudson  and  has  one  daughter,  Mabel  R.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Watervliet  Club  and  an  attendant  of  the  First  Avenue  M.  E.  church. 

Scott,  Jacob  C.  E.,  is  of  Scotch  and  Holland  Dutch  descent,  his  great-great-grand- 
father, John  Scott,  of  New  York,  being  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  John, 
son  of  the  latter,  1762-1817,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  married  Deborah, 
daughter  of  Jacob  Klock  and  settled  in  Coeymans.  Jacob  Scott,  son  of  the  last 
John,  was  a  resident  of  Albany,  born  1793,  died  1877,  and  served  in  the  war  of 
1812.  He  married  Susan  Yarian  Smith,  cousin  of  Isaac  L.  Yarian,  mayor  of  New 
York  and  State  senator.  William  J.  Scott,  son  of  Jacob,  was  born  in  New  Balti- 
more, N.  Y.,  in  1817,  and  has  spent  his  active  life  in  Albany  as  a  gun  manufac- 
turer and  dealer,  of  the  old  firm  of  W.  J.  &  R.  H.  Scott.  He  was  for  many  years 
prominent  in  Democratic  politics  and  was  foreman  of  Steamer  No.  11.  of  the  Volun- 
teer Fire  Department.  He  married  Martha  Jane  Waters,  who  died  in  1880,  leaving 
six  children  who  survive  her.  Jacob  C.  E.  Scott,  son  of  William  J.,  born  in  Albany, 
January  13,  1865,  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  High  School  in  1884,  spent  some 
time  at  Cornell  University  and  finally  entered  the  employ  of  the  Morning  Express, 
becoming  successively  reporter,  exchange  editior,  editor  of  the  Sunday  edition  and 
assistant  associate  editor.  While  discharging  these  duties  he  attended  the  Albany 
Law  School,  registering  as  a  law  student  with  Hon.  John  C.  Nott,  and  received  the 
degree  of  LL.  B.  in  1889.  He  spent  one  year  as  law  reporter  on  the  Albany  Argus 
and  in  1890  became  private  secretary  and  chief  clerk  to  Mayor  Manning,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  four  years.  In  1892  he  also  began  the  practice  of  law  and  since  1894  has 
given  his  whole  time  to  his  profession.  In  1894  he  was  appointed  a  police  commis- 
sioner and  has  since  been  the  secretary  of  the  Board  of  Police.  He  was  president  of 
the  Albany  High  School  Alumni  Association  in  1805-96.  In  1891  he  married  Irene, 
(laughter  of  John  Weller  Embler,  of  Walden,  Orange  county. 

Hessberg,  Albert,  was  born  December  13,  1856,  in  Albany,  where  his  parents, 
Simon  and  Hannah  Hessberg,  settled  in  1845,  coming  here  from  Germany.  His 
father,  a  retired  shoe  merchant,  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  seventy-three.  Mr.  I  Ice- 
berg on  finishing  his  academical  course  at  the  High  School,  entered  the  law  office  of 
Peckham  &  Tremain,  the  firm  consisting  of  Hon.  Rufus  W.  Peckham,  Hon.   Lyman 


42 

Tremam  and  his  son  Grenville.  He  remained  several  years  with  this  firm,  acting  as 
its  managing  clerk.  In  January,  1878,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  the  General 
Term  in  Albany,  at  the  first  written  examination  under  the  new  Code  of  Civil  Pro- 
cedure. During  1878  death  closed  the  career  of  both  the  Tremains,  when  Rufus  W. 
Peckham  associated  himself  with  S.  W.  Rosendale  and  Mr.  Hessberg,  and  the  firm 
of  Peckham,  Rosendale  &  Hessberg  maintained  a  high  reputation.  In  1883  Rufus 
W.  Peckham  was  elevated  to  the  Supreme  Court  bench,  when  the  firm  dissolved,  and 
that  of  Rosendale  &  Hessberg  formed,  which  has  continued  a  successful  law  prac- 
tice. In  April,  1881,  Mr.  Hessberg  was  appointed  assistant  corporation  counsel  of 
the  city  of  Albany  and  served  during  the  terms  of  Mayors  Nolan  and  Banks.  In 
the  winter  of  1884  he  was  named  by  the  Common  Council  one  of  the  commissioners 
to  draft  new  laws  and  ordinances  for  the  city.  In  the  spring  of  1888  he  was  elected 
recorder  by  a  majority  of  3,000  and  served  until  1892,  when  he  was  re-elected  by  a 
majority  of  6,000  and  served  until  May,  1896.  He  is  public  spirited  and  proud  of 
the  advancement,  development  and  beauty  of  his  native  city.  He  was  one  who  ren- 
dered valuable  assistance  in  raising  funds  for  the  construction  of  Harmanus  Bleecker 
Hall.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Park  Bank  of  Albany ;  trustee  of  the  Albany  City 
Savings  Institution ;  manager  of  the  society  for  providing  a  home  for  aged  and  des- 
titute Israelites ;  treasurer  of  the  New  York  State  Bar  Association ;  a  director  in  the 
Cohoes  City  Railway ;  vice-president  of  the  United  Charities  Organization  of  Al- 
bany; president  of  the  Watervliet  Turnpike  and  Railroad  Company;  one  of  the 
managers  of  the  University  Centre;  member  of  all  the  leading  Albany  clubs  and 
ex-president  of  the  Bena  Berith  organization.  On  the  19th  of  June,  1889,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Frederika  Cohn  of  Albany  and  they  have  two  children:  Rufus  R.,  and 
Ruth  C. 

Oothout,  Volkert  J.,  born  in  West  Troy,  N.  Y.,  July  6,  1855,  is  a  son  of  Jonas  V. 
and  Helen  M.  (Lobdell)  Oothout.  Mr.  Oothout  entered  the  law  office,  as  a  student, 
of  Elias  Van  Olinda,  counselor  at  law,  of  West  Troy,  and  also  attended  the  Albany 
Law  School,  from  which  he  was  graduated  on  May  27,  1881.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  on  May  28,  1881,  and  ever  since  that  time  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  law  at  West  Troy,  now  the  city  of  Watervliet.  June  30,  1896,  he  was  married  to 
Sarah  E.  Blunn.  Mr.  Oothout  is  a  descendant  of  Hendrick  Oothout,  who  came  from 
Holland  and  settled  in  Albany,  and  in  1713  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Mohawk  River  and  settled  there.  A  greater  part  of  the  land  has 
been  sold  and  is  now  populated  with  residences  and  manufactories,  and  includes  the 
lands  now  comprising  the  village  of  Green  Island,  also  a  portion  of  the  lands  lying 
between  the  cities  of  Cohoes  and  Watervliet. 

Fennelly,  P.  E.,  M.  D.,  a  well  known  and  prominent  physician  of  West  Troy,  be- 
gan the  study  of  medicine  in  his  native  country,  Ireland,  where  he  was  born  in  1848. 
He  was  educated  at  St.  Kyran's  College,  Kilkenny;  in  1867  he  came  to  America  and  en- 
tered the  Albany  Medical  College,  graduating  in  1869.  He  began  his  successful 
career  as  general  practitioner  here  in  1870,  and  early  reached  the  front  rank  of 
the  profession.  He  is  a  valued  member  of  the  various  medical  societies  and  has 
been  health  officer  here  many  years. 

Tracey,  James  F. ,  son  of  John,  was  born  in  Albany,  May  30,  <1854.  John  Tracey, 
a  native  of  Ireland,  settled  in  Canada  when  he  was  fourteen  years  old.     During  the 


t3 

Canadian  rebellion,  or  "  Patriot  War,"  of  1837  he  removed  to  Albany,  where  he  died 
July  12,  1875,  in  his  sixty-sixth  year.  He  was  a  successful  merchant  and  a  leading, 
respected  citizen,  and  served  as  a  member  of  the  Common  Council,  the  Board  of 
Education,  the  Board  of  Police  Commissioners,  a  governor  of  the  Albany  City  Hos- 
pital and  a  trustee  of  the  Cathedral  of  the  Immaculate  Conception,  St.  Agnes  Ceme- 
tery, St.  Vincent's  Orphan  Asylum,  and  the  Albany  Savings  Bank.  He  was  also  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Trade.  James  F.  Tracey  was  educated  partly  in  the  Albany 
Academy  and  partly  abroad,  and  was  graduated  from  Georgetown  University  at 
Washington,  D.  C,  in  1874.  He  read  law  with  M.  T.  &  L.  G.  Hun  and  at  the 
Albany  Law  School,  class  of  1875,  and  upon  his  admission  to  the  bar  began  active 
practice  in  Albany.  In  1877  he  formed  a  copartnership  with  James  Fenimore  Cooper 
and  his  father,  Paul  Fenimore  Cooper,  which  continued  until  1893,  when  Albert 
Rathbone  was  admitted  under  the  present  firm  name  of  Tracey  &  Cooper.  Paul  F. 
Cooper  died  in  April,  1895,  leaving  the  three  surviving  partners  to  continue  the  firm's 
large  law  practice.  This  firm  is  a  continuance  of  the  old  law  firm  of  Charles  M. 
Jenkins  and  Paul  F.  Cooper,  which  at  the  time  of  the  latter's  death  was  believed  to 
be  the  oldest  law  partnership  that  had  continued  without  change  of  name  in  the 
United  States,  it  having  existed  without  the  admission  of  new  members  for  about 
forty  years.  Mr.  Tracey  has  conducted  a  general  law  practice  with  a  specialty  of 
business  for  banks  and  estates.  He  is  an  active  Demcorat  and  during  the  first 
Cleveland  campaign  was  president  of  the  Young  Men's  Democratic  Club  of  Albany. 
He  was  president  of  the  Catholic  Union  two  terms  and  is  a  trustee  of  various  charita- 
ble and  other  societies.  May  10,  1893,  he  married  Lucianne  Bosse,  of  Quebec,  Can- 
ada, and  they  have  one  son,  Walter. 

Robinson,  Walter  Foote,  M.  D. ,  son  of  Albert  David  and  Helen  (Fay)  Robinson, 
was  born  in  Albany  October  13,  I860.  His  father  was  appointed  paymaster  in  the 
army  and  moved  the  family  to  Washington,  D.  C,  where  Dr.  Robinson  prepared 
for  Princeton  College  in  Mr.  Young's  Academy.  After  graduating  from  Princeton 
with  the  degree  of  B.  S. ,  he  entered  the  Albany  Medical  College  and  was  graduated 
therefrom  in  1884  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  He  spent  one  year  in  the  Albany  Home- 
opathic Hospital  and  two  years  in  general  practice  and  then  for  three  years  made  a 
specialty  of  the  study  of  mental  and  nervous  diseases,  attending  lectures  in  all  the 
principal  hospitals  of  Paris,  Vienna,  Berlin  and  Heidelberg.  In  October,  1890,  he 
returned  to  Albany,  where  he  has  since  practiced  his  specialty  of  mental  and  ner- 
vous diseases.  Dr.  Robinson  has  perfected  a  number  of  electrical  appliances  of 
value  to  the  medical  profession.  He  is  a  member  of  the  American  Electro-Thera- 
peutic Association,  the  Albany  Medical  Society  and  the  Albany  Country  Club. 

Stillman,  Dr.  William  O.,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  son  of  Rev.  Stephen  Lewis  and 
Lucretia  (Miller)  Stillman,  and  grandson  of  Ethan  Stillman,  was  born  September  9, 
1856,  at  Normansville,  a  suburb  of  Albany.  Dr.  Stillman's  paternal  ancestry  were 
Puritans,  having  come  to  this  country  in  1686  from  England,  and  early  took  an  active 
part  in  colonial  life  in  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island.  His  mother's  family  came 
from  Holland  a  little  later  and  were  numbered  among  the  Dutch  settlers  of  the  Hudson 
River  valley.  During  and  subsequent  to  the  Revolutionary  war,  Eihan  Stillman, 
who  owned  a  gun  factory,  manufactured  large  quantities  of  rifles  for  the  Continental 
arm  v.  and  a  number  of  members  of  the  family  on   both  sides  served   in   its  ranks. 


44 

Dr.  Stillman  was  educated  in  his  native  city  and  received  the  honorary  degree  of  A. 
M.  from  Union  College  in  1880.  He  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  in  1874,  his 
medical  preceptors  being  Drs.  James  H.  Armsby,  Samuel  B.  Ward  and  John  P.  Gray. 
He  attended  four  courses  of  lectures  at  the  Albany  Medical  College  and  received  his 
degree  February  3,  1878,  taking  the  highest  honors  of  his  class  and  several  prizes. 
Dr.  Stillman  was  associated  with  the  Drs.  Strong  in  the  management  of  their  sani- 
tarium at  Saratoga  Springs  from  1878  to  1883:  at  the  end  of  that  period  he  visited 
Europe  and  spent  a  year  and  a  half  in  study  in  the  universities  of  Berlin,  Vienna 
and  Paris  and  in  the  London  hospitals.  Returning  to  the  United  States  in  the  autumn 
of  1884,  he  began  the  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery  in  Albany,  which  city  has 
since  been  his  residence.  The  project  of  a  loan  exhibition  in  1886  to  celebrate  the 
bi-centennial  of  Albany's  city  charter,  was  first  proposed  by  Dr.  Stillman  and  he  was 
most  active  in  making  it  a  success,  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  and  chair- 
man of  the  building  committee.  From  this  exhibition  he  conceived  the  idea  of  a 
permanent  museum,  and  mainly  owing  to  his  initiative,  the  Albany  Historical  and 
Art  Association  was  incorporated,  which  institution  will  soon  have  a  fine  building 
of  its  own.  As  president  of  the  Mohawk  and  Hudson  River  Humane  Society,  his 
philanthropic  instincts  have  found  full  play,  and  much  needed  legislation  has  been 
secured  throgh  his  efforts  to  promote  humane  work  in  the  State.  He  is  also  a  vice- 
president  of  both  the  State  and  National  Humane  Associations..  Dr.  Stillman  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society,  the  Albany  Academy  of  Med- 
icine, the'  Medical  Society  of  the  State  of  New  York,  the  Association  of  American 
Anatomists,  the  American  Society  for  the  Advancement  of  Science,  the  American 
Sociological  Society  and  the  Albany  Institute ;  trustee  of  the  Albany  Historical  and 
Art  Society;  director  of  the  Fairview  Home  since  1888;  president  of  the  Mohawk  and 
Hudson  River  Humane  Society  since  1892;  an  officer  of  the  Vigilance  and  Civic 
Leagues  of  Albany;  a  member  of  various  social  and  political  clubs;  and  of  the  order 
of  Masons  and  Odd  Fellows.  He  was  physician  to  the  Open  Door  Mission  and  Hos- 
pital for  Incurables  in  1887  and  1888 ;  to  the  Babies'  Nursery  and  Bathrop  Memorial 
from  1888  to  1892;  to  the  Home  for  Christian  Workers  since  1892;  and  to  the  Do- 
minican Monastery  since  1887.  He  has  delivered  several  courses  of  medical  lectures 
before  various  bodies  and  is  the  author  of  many  contributions  to  medical  literature, 
notably  on  "Neurasthenia,"  "Cholera,"  "The  Mineral  Springs  of  Saratoga,"  and 
many  others.  Dr.  Stillman  married  Miss  Frances  M.  Rice,  of  Boston,  in  1880,  but 
has  no  other  family.  He  is  still  engaged  in  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Albany. 

Walker,  William  J.,  is  a  son  of  John  and  Frances  (Ginn)  Walker,  natives  of  the 
north  of  Ireland,  who  came  to  Albany  about  1843.  John  was  engaged  in  the  cattle 
business  and  died  in  1876,  aged  forty-nine.  William  J.  Walker,  born  in  Albany  Feb- 
retary  13,  1853,  attended  public  school  No.  11  and  when  fourteen  entered  the  law 
office  of  S.  W.  Rosendale  and  in  1869  the  store  of  A.  McClure  &  Co.,  wholesale  drug- 
gists. In  1882  he  was  admitted  a  partner  in  this  firm,  the  name  of  which  was  changed 
in  1889  to  McClure,  Walker  &  Gibson,  and  in  1893  to  Walker  &  Gibson,  which  it  still 
bear3.  Theirs  is  strictly  a  wholesale  drug  business,  covering  the  territory  within  a 
radius  of  about  200  miles  of  Albany.  Mr.  Walker  has  been  police  commissioner  since 
1894,  was  the  Republican  candidate  for  mayor  in  1895,  was  a  delegate  to  the  Repub- 


45 

lican  National  Convention  at  St.  Louis  in  June,  1896,  and  has  frequently  been  a 
delegate  to  local  and  State  political  conventions.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Fort  Orange 
Club,  one  of  the  governers  of  the  Albany  City  Hospital,  a  director  in  the  National 
Commercial  Bank  and  a  trustee  of  the  Mechanics'  and  Farmers'  Savings  Bank,  the 
Madison  Avenue  Reformed  church  and  the  Albany  College  of  Pharmacy.  In  1882 
he  married  Ada,  daughter  of  John  Craig  of  Fultonville,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have  four 
children:  William  J.,  jr.,  Esther,  Francis  and  Helen. 

Culver,  Charles'M./ M.  D.,  son  of  Cyrus  L.rand;Mary  (Bullock)  Culver,  was  born 
in  West  Troy,  N.  Y.,  September  28,  1856.  His  father,  a  lumber  merchant,  was  born 
in  Sandy  Hill,  Washington  county,  March  29,  1824,  came  to  West  Troy  in  1850  and 
now  lives  in  Albany.  Dr.  Culver  was  educated  in  the  public  and  high  schools  of 
Troy,  and  was  graduated  as  B.  A.  from  Union  College  in  1878;  while  there  he  was 
prominent  in  athletics  and  won  several  prizes.  He  received  the  degree  of  A.  M. 
from  Union  College  in  1881,  read  medicine  in  Schenectady  and  Albany  with  Dr. 
Thomas  Featherstonhaugh  (now  medical  referee  in  the  Pension  Department  at 
Washington.tjD.  C),  and  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  1881. 
He  then  went  to  Europe  and  studied  ophthalmology  with  Dr.  Schweigger,  general 
medicine  with  Dr.  Frerichs,  and  general  surgery  with  Dr.  Langenbeck,  in  Friedrich 
Wilhelm  University,  Berlin.  In  1882  he  went  to  Paris  and  studied  ophthalmology 
with  Drs.  Galezowski  and  Landolt,  and  later  pursued  the  same  study  in  London,  re- 
turning to  America  in  1883.  He  began  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  in  Al- 
bany, where  he  has  since  resided.  His  translations  of  Dr.  E.  Landolt's  "  Refrac- 
tion and  Accommodation  of  the  Eye  and  Their  Anomalies"  was  published  in  Edin- 
burgh in  1886;  of  Landolt's  "Cataract-Operation,  in  Our  Time"  in  Nashville,  Tenn., 
in  1892;  and  of  Landolt's  work  on  Strabismus  is  in  course  of  publication  in  Phila- 
delphia, in  the  System  of  Ophthalmology  to  be  edited  by  Drs.  Norrisand  Oliver.  Dr. 
Culver  has  written  several  articles  which  have  been  published  in  leading  medical 
journals.  He  is  ophthalmic  surgeon  to  the  Albany  Orphan  Asylum,  member  of  the 
American  Ophthalmological  Society,  the  Medical  Society  of  New  York  State  and 
the  Albany  County  Medical  Society,  historian  of  Philip  Livingston  Chapter,  Sons  of 
the  Revolution,  and  a  member  through  three  ancestors,  and  a  member  of  the  So- 
ciety of  the  Colonial  Wars  through  four  ancestors.  May  10.  1887,  he  married  Jessie, 
daughter  of  the  late  Joel  Munsell  of  Albany,  and  they  have  two  children:  Cyrus  L. 
2d,  and  Mary. 

Crawford,  Charles  H.,  M.  D.,  son  of  Isaac  and  Hannah  (French)  Crawford,  the 
former  a  native  of  Scotland  and  the  latter  of  Massachusetts  and  a  descendant  of 
John  French  of  Revolutionary  fame,  was  born  March  17,  1851,  and  was  graduated 
with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  from  the  Maryland  University  at  Baltimore  in  187:!.  He 
read  medicine  with  the  late  Dr.  Frank  Hamilton  in  New  York  city  for  four  years, 
taking  lectures  in  the  mean  time  at  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons.  He 
came  to  Albany  in  1879  and  entered  the  office  of  Drs.  Swinburne  and  Balch,  and 
graduated  from  the  AlbanyiMedical  College  in  1881 ;  since  then  he  has  practiced  his 
profession  in  Albany,  giving  special  attention  to  diseases  of"  women  and  children; 
his  office  is  located  at  218  Hudson  avenue.  He  is  energetic  and  a  hard  worker  and 
enjoys  a  wide  practice  among  the  best  people  of  the  city  and  vicinity,  and  whose 
judgment   is  considered  equal  to  any  in  his  profession.      He  is  a  member  of  the  Al- 


46 

bany  County  Medical  Society,  Temple  Lodge  No.  14,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Clinton  Lodge 
No.  7,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Chancellor  Lodge  No.  58,  K.  P.,  and  Clan  Macfarlane  No.  22, 
O.  S.  C. 

Curtis,  Frederic  C,  M.  D.,  born  at  Unionville,  S.  C,  October  19,  1843,  is  of  New- 
England  parentage  and  a  descendant  in  the  seventh  generation  of  Henry  Curtis, 
who  was  born  at  Stratford-on-Avon,  England,  in  1621  and  came  to  America  in  1643, 
settling  in  Wethersfield,  Conn.  For  three  generations  the  family  resided  in  Connec- 
ticut and  subsequently  removed  to  Stockbridge,  Mass.,  where  they  have  since  lived. 
Rev.  L.  W.  Curtis,  father  of  Dr.  Curtis,  went  South  on  account  of  his  health  when 
he  was  a  young  man  and  soon  after  settling  in  South  Carolina  was  married  to  Eliza- 
beth Colton,  of  Lenox,  Mass.  Two  sons  were  born  to  them :  The  eldest,  Frederic 
C.  Curtis,  passed  his  early  days  in  South  Carolina,  but  while  a  lad  removed  to 
Canaan,  N.  Y.,  and  subsequently  entered  Beloit  College,  Wisconsin,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1866,  and  in  1860  was  awarded  the  degree  of  M.  A.  In  1864  he 
entered  the  U.  S.  army  as  a  private  in  the  41st  Wisconsin  Regiment,  Co.  B,  which 
was  chiefly  composed  of  Beloit  College  students.  After  completing  his  college 
course,  Dr.  Curtis  began  the  study  of  medicine  at  the  University  of  Michigan  and 
finished  it  at  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  New  York  city,  from  which 
institution  he  received  his  degree  of  M.  D.  in  1870.  He  subsequently  pursued  his 
medical  studies  for  a  year  in  Vienna.  In  1872  Dr.  Curtis  began  the  active  practice 
of  his  profession  in  Albany,  in  partnership  with  Dr.  W.  A.  Bailey.  He  also,  the 
same  year,  became  a  member  of  the  Medical  Society  of  the  County  of  Albany  and 
was  its  secretary  from  1872  to  1874  and  its  president  in  1878.  In  1888  he  was  elected 
by  the  County  Society  a  delegate  to  the  Medical  Society  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
of  which  he  became  a  permanent  member  in  1882.  He  was  made  its  secretary  in 
1889  and  still  retains  the  office.  In  1883  he  became  a  member  of  the  American  Pub- 
lic Health  Association.  He  was  appointed  physician  to  the  Albany  Hospital  Dis- 
pensarv  in  1N72,  a  member  of  the  medical  staff  of  St.  Peter's  Hospital  in  1874, 
of  the  medical  staff  of  Albany  Hospital  in  1876,  lecturer  in  the  summer  course  of  the 
Albany  Medical  College  in  1877  and  professor  of  dermatology  in  the  college  in  1880. 
He  is  a  trustee  of  the  Albany  Female  Academy  and  of  the  Albany  County  Savings 
Bank,  and  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution.  In  1884  he  married  Charlotte 
E.,  daughter  of  Royal  Bancroft  of  Albany.  He  has  made  a  number  of  valuable 
contributions  to  current  medical  literature. 

Davenport,  Samuel  J.,  son  of  Valentine  and  Maria  (Palmatier)  Davenport,  was 
born  in  Schoharie,  N.  Y.,  June  3,  1834,  and  is  a  grandson  of  Samuel  Davenport,  who 
was  master  mechanic  at  the  Greenbush  barracks  during  the  war  of  1812.  The  fam- 
ily came  from  England  very  early  and  settled  originally  on  Long  Island.  Mr.  Dav- 
enport received  a  public  school  education  and  remained  on  the  paternal  farm  in 
Schoharie  county  until  he  reached  the  age  of  eighteen,  when  he  came  to  Albany  and 
was  employed  in  the  lumber  district  until  1870,  being  lumber  inspector  for  about 
eighteen  years.  He  then  engaged  in  paving  streets,  as  a  member  of  the  Scrimshaw 
Paving  Company,  which  in  1876  became  S.  J.  Davenport  &  Company.  In  1880  this 
firm  was  dissolved  and  continued  by  S.  J.  Davenport  until  1892,  when  it  was 
reorganized  by  Mr.  Davenport  and  his  brother,  George  W. ,  of  Altamont,  under 
the   old   firm    name   of    S.   J.    Davenport    &    Company,   which    still   continues.     In 


47 

1872  he  began  street  sprinkling  on  contract,  and  the  firm  now  carries  on  a  large 
business  in  both  lines  and  also  in  general  contracting.  He  had  the  contract  for 
improving  the  capitol  park  in  October,  1888,  and  the  following  year  took  up  the 
business  of  transplanting  large  trees.  He  occupied  the  "Old  Elm  Tree  Corner" 
building  at  the  junction  of  North  Pearl  and  State  streets  when  it  burned  and 
was  the  first  to  occupy  the  new  Tweddle  building  after  its  completion.  Pie  was 
one  of  the  principal  founders  of  Grace  M.  E.  church,  has  been  a  trustee  since  its 
organization  and  president  of  the  board  since  1876,  and  was  chiefly  instrumental 
in  erecting  the  present  edifice.  He  is  an  active  Republican  and  a  veteran  member 
of  Temple  Lodge  No.  14,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  has  a  fine  and  valuable  collection  of  geo- 
logical specimens  from  all  parts  of  the  world.  In  1858  he  married  Eliza  A.  Bur- 
banks,  who  died  in  1871,  leaving  one  son,  Frank  R.,  who  died  in  1894,  aged  thirty- 
five.     Mr.  Davenport  married  again  in  1872  Isabella  Wayne,  of  Iowa. 

Davis,  Charles  Edmond,  M.  I).,  son  of  Thomas  D.  Davis,  was  born  near  Montreal. 
Canada,  November  10,  1867,  and  when  young  moved  with  his  parents  to  Waterford, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  was  graduated  from  the  Waterford  High  School.  He  then  engaged 
in  the  drug  business,  receiving  a  State  drug  license  in  1889.  He  read  medicine  with 
Dr.  Zeh  of  Waterford  and  the  late  Dr.  Swinburne  of  Albany,  and  was  graduated 
from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  1891.  In  1889  and  1890  he  was  resident  physi- 
cian to  the  Albany  Homoeopathic  Hospital  and  in  1891  he  began  the  active  practice 
of  his  profession  in  Albany.  Dr.  Davis  is  secretary  of  the  Albany  Board  of  Pension 
Surgeons,  instructor  in  the  Albany  Medical  College,  and  a  member  of  the  City  Board 
of  Health.  He  served  a  membership  in  Co.  A,  10th  Battalion,  N.  G.  N.  V. ,  and  is 
now  a  member  of  the  Old  Guard  of  Co.  A,  and  Hospital  Steward  of  the  Battalion. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society,  a  delegate  elect  to  the  New 
York  State  Medical  Society,  a  member  of  Masters  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Temple 
Chapter,  R.  A.  M.,  Flower  Lodge,  K.  P.,  and  the  Fort  Orange  and  Albany  Camera 
Clubs,  and  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  last  named  club. 

Boardman  &  Gray. — This  well  known  piano  firm  was  founded  in  Albany  in  1837 
by  William  G.  Boardman  and  James  A.  Gray.  Mr.  Gray  was  the  practical  member 
of  the  concern  and  was  born  in  New  York  city  in  1814.  After  serving  a  regular  ap- 
prenticeship in  piano  forte  making,  he  worked  for  several  years  as  a  journeyman 
and  finally  joined  Mr.  Boardman,  who,  as  a  business  man,  had  begun  the  manufac- 
ture of  pianos  on  a  small  scale.  They  established  a  factory,  over  which  Mr.  Gray 
had  the  practical  supervision,  until  shortly  before  his  death  in  1889,  Mr.  Boardman 
retiring  about  1866,  and  died  in  1880.  Mr.  Gray  was  among  the  leaders  in  develop- 
ing the  American  piano  and  bringing  it  to  its  present  high  standard  of  perfection.  He 
probably  contributed  more  improvements  than  any  other  maker  in  the  United  States, 
and  the  firm  has  always  made  every  part  of  the  instrument.  The  original  name  of 
Boardman  &  Gray  has  been  continued  unchanged  and  the  business  is  now  carried 
on  by  Janus  S.  and  William  J.  Gray  (sons  of  James  A.  |  and  William  II.  Currier,  of 
Toledo,  Ohio.  From  1S77  to  1885  the  firm  was  composed  of  James  A.  Gray  and  his 
eldest  son,  William  J.  Gray;  at  the  death  of  the  father  in  1889  the  present  partner- 
ship was  formed.  Their  pianos  have  from  the  first  taken  a  foremost  rank  among  the 
best  instruments  of  the  kind  in  the  world  and  are  found  in  almost  every  civilized 
country  on  the  globe. 


48 

Bacon,  Allen  H.,  is  a  member  of  the  wholesale  coffee,  spice  and  tea  firm  of  Bacon, 
Stickney  &  Co.,  whose  business  was  started  at  Nos.  7  and  9  Exchange  street  in 
1835  by  William  Froment  and  William  Prentiss,  under  the  firm  name  of  Froment  & 
Co.  In  1838  they  sold  out  to  George  L.  Crocker,  who  was  succeeded  in  1845  by 
Luther  A.  Chase  and  Moses  W.  Stickney.  The  firm  of  L.  A.  Chase  &  Co.  continued 
the  business  until  1851,  when  Mr.  Stickney  retired  and  Samuel  N.  Bacon  and  Leander 
Stickney  (brother  of  Moses  W.)  were  admitted,  the  name  remaining  unchanged. 
March  21,  1857,  S.  N.  Bacon,  M.  W.  Stickney  and  L.  Stickney  became  sole  proprie- 
tors under  the  firm  name  of  Bacon  &  Stickneys,  and  in  1861  they  erected  a  new 
building,  forming  a  part  of  the  firm's  present  quarters  on  Dean  street.  On  the 
admission  of  James  Ten  Eyck,  March  1,  1865,  the  name  of  Bacon,  Stickneys  &  Co. 
was  adopted.  Moses  W.  Stickney  died  in  February,  1879,  and  his  brother,  Lean- 
der, in  January,  1883.  In  1883  a  five  story  building  was  added  to  their  plant  on 
Dean  street,  where  a  large  wholesale  trade  in  coffees,  spices  and  teas  is  conducted, 
being  one  of  the  oldest  of  its  kind  in  the  State.  The  same  year  Herbert  W.  Stick- 
ney, son  of  Leander,  was  admitted.  Milton  W.  Stickney,  son  of  Moses  W.,  was  a 
member  of  the  firm  from  March,  1879,  to  March,  1882,  and  on  March  1,  1888,  Allen 
H.  Bacon  (son  of  Samuel  N.)  and  Samuel  W.  Brown  became  partners.  Samuel  N. 
Bacon  died  September  11,  1889;  on  October  1,  following,  the  firm  was  reorganized 
and  now  consists  of  James  Ten  Eyck,  Herbert  W.  Stickney,  Allen  H.  Bacon  and 
Samuel  W.  Brown. 

Cohn,  Mark,  born  in  New  York  city,  November  20,  1852,  removed  with  his  parents 
about  1861  to  Albany,  where  his  father,  Louis  Cohn,  was  engaged  in  the  wholesale 
and  retail  clothing  business  until  his  death  in  1877.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  Levi  Cass's  private  school  of  Albany,  read  law  in  the  office  of  Hand  & 
Hale,  Hon.  Jacob  H.  Clute  and  Peckham  &  Tremain.  He  attended  the  Columbia 
Law  School  and  received  the  degree  of  LL.  B.  from  the  Albany  Law  School  in  1873 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1874.  Since  them  he  has  been  in  the  active  practice 
of  his  profession.  He  is  a  Democrat,  a  member  of  the  Albany  Press  Club  and  in 
1892  was  appointed  assistant  district  attorney.  In  1878  he  married  Sara  Oppenheim 
of  Albany,  and  they  have  two  daughters,  Olma  and  Therese. 

Foster,  Henry  S.,  is  a  son  of  John  Newton  Foster,  who  was  born  in  Utica,  N.  Y. , 
June  28,  1836,  and  came  to  Albany  about  1838,  his  parents  having  died  while  he  was 
an  infant.  John  X.  was  apprenticed  to  the  gilding  trade  in  the  family  of  Lawson 
Annesley,  and  later  engaged  in  the  picture  frame  business  under  the  firm  name  of 
Chapin  &  Foster.  From  about  1873  he  was  connected  with  the  fire  insurance  patrol, 
as  superintendent.  He  was  member  of  assembly  in  1878,  superintendent  of  the 
poor  two  years,  member  of  Co  A,  of  the  Old  Guard,  and  during  the  panic  of  1873 
conducted  a  store  for  the  relief  of  distressed  families.  He  died  April  13,  1895.  He 
married  Mary  A.  Snyder,  who  survives,  and  of  their  six  children  Fred  H.  died  De- 
cember 27,  1895.  Henry  S.  Foster,  born  in  Albany,  July  16,  1865,  became  a  clerk  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  in  the  office  of  the  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  of  Albany 
(incorporated  1836),  with  which  he  has  ever  since  been  connected,  serving  as  book- 
keeper, cashier,  etc.  On  the  death  of  George  Cuyler  in  November,  1893,  he  was 
elected  secretary  and  general  manager.  He  also  represents  a  number  of  other  large 
American  and  foreign  fire  insurance  companies  as  well  as  life  and  accident  insur- 


49 

ance.  He  is  a  local  director  of  the  New  York  Mutual  Savings  and  Loan  Associa- 
tion, a  charter  member  (1886)  of  the  Empire  Curling  Club,  and  has  been  secretary  of 
the  latter  since  its  incorporation  in  1891.  He  has  been  prominently  identified  with, 
and  a  subordinate  officer  in,  the  Grand  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  is  a  member  of  Temple 
Lodge  No.  14,  F.  &  A.  M.,  the  Albany  Club,  and  other  local  institutions.  The  fol- 
lowing in  relation  to  the  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  of  Albany  is  quoted  from 
"  The  Industries  of  Albany  "  : 

For  sixty  years  the  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  of  this  city  has  ably  demonstrated  the 
beneficence  and  usefulness  of  its  policy  of  fire  insurance,  which  being  divested  of  the  purest 
commercial  element  that  attaches  to  that  of  the  great  majority  of  insurance  companies,  results 
in  a  great  saving  to  its  patrons,  while  at  the  same  time  affords  them  equal  safety  and  positive  in- 
demnity in  case  of  loss  and  damage  by  fire.  This  company  was  organized  in  1836,  and  its  busi- 
ness is  a  purely  mutual  one,  every  policy-holder  being  a  beneficiary  in  the  profits  arising  from 
the  business.     What  the  savings  bank  is  in  banking,  the  Miitual  Fire  Insurance  Company  is  in 

lire  insurance,  and  during  its  long  and  honorable  career  it  has  saved  to  its  customers  over  $£ ,- 

000,  while  it  has  paid  all  just  claims  for  losses  that  have  been  incurred.  The  company  insures  all 
desirable  property  for  one  or  three  years  on  the  cash  or  note  plan,  and  all  its  risks  are  carefully 
placed,  the  business  being  conducted  with  the  greatest  caution.  From  the  last  public  statement 
(dated  January  1,  1897,  we  note  that  the  net  cash  assets  of  the  company  were  $183,118.21,  which 
amount  would  be  entirely  used  for  the  payment  of  claims  before  the  premium  notes  of  $319,- 
068.81  would  be  resorted  to.  The  gross  available  assets  are  $502,182.02.)  The  company's  rates  are  as 
Low  as  any  other  first-class  fire  insurance  company,  and  as  the  profits  are  divided  among  the 
policy-holders,  are  in  fact  much  lower  than  those  obtainable  elsewhere.  The  company's  line  of 
business  under  the  able  management  of  the  executive  committee  and  of  Mr.  H.  S.  Foster,  secre- 
tary and  general  manager,  has  been  very  desirable. 

Mullenneaux,  Marcus  H.,  of  French  Huguenot  and  English  stock,  son  of  Tunis  T. 
and  Mary  Wright,  was  born  near  Newburgh,  N.  Y.,  January  5,  1852;  passed  his 
boyhood  on  the  the  farm  until  fifteen  years  of  age,  then  taught  school  several  years; 
was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Normal  School  in  the  spring  of  1873.  He  taught 
natural  science  and  mathematics  in  Claverack  College  and  Hudson  River  Insti- 
tute until  1877;  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of  LL.B.  from  the  Albany  Law  School 
in  1878,  read  law  with  Newkirk  &  Chase  of  Hudson,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
the  fall  of  that  year  at  the  General  Term  of  the  Supreme  Court  in  Brooklyn.  He  prac- 
ticed law  in  Newburgh  until  1885,  when  he  accepted  the  general  agency  for  Eastern 
New  York  of  the  National  Life  Insurance  Company  of  Montpelier,  Vt. ,  which  posi- 
tion he  has  since  held.  He  is  a  member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  Life  Un- 
derwriters' Association  of  Eastern  New  York  and  a  director  of  the  Albany  Musical 
Association.  Mr.  Mullenneaux  has  built  up  a  large  and  satisfied  constituency  for 
his  company  in  the  Hudson  River  valley,  notwithstanding  the  company  had  not 
before  been  represented  by  a  general  agency  in  this  part  of  the  State.  In  the  spring 
of  L893  he  moved  his  general  office  from  Newburgh  to  Albany.  In  1880  he  married 
Ella,  daughter  of  Elbert  Verity  of  Brooklyn,  and  they  have  two  sons:  Elbert  V. 
and  Marcus  H.,  jr. 

Hollands,  William,  was  born  November  4,  1837,  in  the  town  of  Watervliet,  Albany 
county,  and  is  the  son  of  William  and  Mary  (Palmer)  Hollands.  He  was  educated 
in  the  public  and  private  schools  of  West  Troy  and  was  graduated  from  the  Albany 
Law  .School  in  18(>2.  After  the  death  of  his  father  in  1853  he  assumed  the  con- 
trol of  the  West  Troy  Advocate,  which  his  father  had  successfully  conducted 
prior  to  his  death,  and  continued  the  publication  until  its  abandonment  in  L864. 
8 


50 

He  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  of  the  town  of  Watervliet  for  an  unexpired 
term  1863  to  1865,  and  from  1865  to  1873  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  business  with 
Thomas  and  James  Scarborough.  Mr.  Hollands  was  postmaster  of  West  Troy  from 
September,  1865,  to  March,  1878.  In  1873  he  began  the  practice  of  law,  which  he  has 
since  continued,  and  is  also  engaged  in  the  fire  insurance  business.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Watervliet  Social  Club  and  warden  of  Trinity  Episcopal  church.  October 
3,  1867,  he  married  Harriet  N. ,  daughter  of  Thomas  S.  Truair,  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

Hickey,  Dennis,  jr.,  is  the  representative  of  one  of  the  oldest  families  of  the  south 
end  of  Albany,  is  a  son  of  Dennis  Hickey,  for  forty  years  a  wholesale  liquor  dealer  here, 
and  who  died  in  1893.  Mr.  Hickey  was  born  in  Albany  in  1867,  and  was  educated  at 
the  Christian  Brothers'  School.  He  first  entered  the  grocery  business,  the  manage- 
ment of  which  in  1889  he  gave  over  to  a  younger  brother.  In  1890  he  opened  a  large 
store  in  Gloversville,  then  retured  to  Albany,  locating  at  the  corner  of  Elm  and  Swan 
streets ;  after  one  year  he  came  to  West  Troy,  and  is  now  proprietor  of  the  United 
States  Grocery  and  Provision  Co.,  situated  on  Broadway  and  Nineteenth  streets. 
The  success  of  this  establishment  attests  the  energetic  capabilities  and  shrewd  busi- 
ness policy  of  its  manager. 

Hessberg,  Samuel,  son  of  Simon  and  brother  of  Albert  Hessberg,  was  born  in  Al- 
bany, June  13,  1859,  was  educated  in  the  public  and  high  schools  and  in  1876  entered 
the  telegraph  department  of  the  N.  Y.  C.  &  H.  R.  R.  R.  under  Henry  R.  Pierson, 
who  was  the  resident  director  of  the  road  at  that  time.  In  1879  he  became  superin- 
tendent of  the  telegraph  lines  between  Albany  and  Buffalo,  a  position  he  resigned 
in  1881  to  enter  the  employ  of  Mr.  Pierson,  who  had  engaged  in  the  banking  and 
brokerage  business.  In  September,  1889,  as  manager,  he  opened  a  banking  and 
brokerage  office  in  Albany  for  J.  S.  Bache  &  Co.,  and  in  April,  1893,  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm.  As  a  business  man  Mr.  Hessberg's  career  is  one  of  uninterrupted 
success.  In  financial  matters  his  opinion  is  often  sought  and  highly  valued.  He 
was  especially  active  in  reorganizing  the  Distillers  and  Cattle  Feeding  Company  in 
March  and  April,  1895.  He  has  been  for  a  number  of  years  a  manager  of  the  Young 
Men's  Association,  a  member  and  ex-president  of  the  Adelphi  Club,  and  a  member 
of  the  Albany  Club.  He  is  prominently  connected  with  several  charitable  organiza- 
tions. February  5,  1896,  he  married  Rose  G.,  daughter  of  Isaac  Brilleman,  one  of 
the  leading  jewelers  of  Albany. 

Viele,  Maurice  Edward,  is  descended  from  Cornelius  Cornelison  Viele,  who  fled 
from  France  to  Holland  to  escape  persecution,  came  to  Fort  Orange,  now  Albany, 
and  subsequently  removed  to  Schenectady,  where  he  resided  when  that  place  was 
destroyed  by  the  Indians,  and  whence  he  returned  to  Albany  in  1670.  His  son, 
Ludovickus  Viele,  born  1709,  married  Maria  Frear;  their  son,  Jacob,  married  Eva 
Le  Fort;  and  their  son,  Ludovickus,  married  Effie  Toll.  Hon.  John  L.  Viele,  son  of 
the  latter,  1788-1832,  married  Cathalina,  daughter  of  John  and  granddaughter  of 
Col.  John  Knickerbocker,  of  Schaghticoke,  where  Col.  John  raised  and  commanded 
a  regiment  in  the  Revolution,  participating  in  the  battle  of  Saratoga.  She  died  in 
1837.  Hon.  John  L.  Viele  was  assemblyman  from  Saratoga  county,  senator  from  the 
Fourth  district,  two  terms  each,  and  was  a  Regent  of  the  University  of  New  York  at 
the  time  of  his  death.  Maurice  E.  Viele,  his  son,  born  in  Waterford,  N.  Y.,  May  17, 
1823,  attended  the  academy  at  Lansingburgh  and  in  1837  came  to  Albany  to  finish 


51 

his  education  in  the  academy  here.  After  clerking  in  Albany  and  New  York,  lat- 
terly for  Boorman,  Johnston,  Avers  &  Co.,  iron  merchants,  he  formed  in  November, 
1845,  a  partnership  with  Alexander  Davidson,  and  as  Davidson  &  Viele  purchased 
the  hardware  store  in  Albany  of  M.  Van  Alstyne  &  Co.  Mr.  Davidson  died  in  1859 
and  Mr.  Viele  continued  the  business  with  other  parties  until  1864,  when  he  became 
sole  owner.  In  1891  he  transferred  the  stock  to  the  Albany  Hardware  and  Iron 
Company  and  retired  from  active  life,  being  at  that  time  the  oldest  hardware  mer- 
chant in  the  capital  city.  During  his  career  he  bought  out  six  different  hardware 
concerns.  He  was  an  organizer  and  long  a  director  of  the  Merchants  Bank  of  Albany, 
was  for  several  years  a  director  in  the  Commercial  National  Bank,  was  an  organizer 
and  president  of  the  old  Albany  Agricultural  and  Art  Association,  and  has  been  a 
trustee  of  Rutgers  College  since  1853,  being  the  second  oldest  member  of  that  board. 
He  has  been  a  trustee  of  the  Albany  Orphan  Asylum  since  about  1850  and  of  the 
Albany  Academy  since  1872,  was  president  of  the  Albany  County  Bible  Society,  and 
Albany  City  Tract  and  Missionary  Society  several  years,  and  was  an  incorporator 
in  1876  and  since  1892  president  of  the  Home  for  Aged  Men.  For  eight  years  he  has 
been  a  trustee  of  the  Berkshire  Industrial  Farm  at  Canaan  Four  Corners,  Columbia 
county,  and  in  politics  has  been  a  Republican  since  the  formation  of  that  party.  In 
1850  he  married  Maria,  daughter  of  Charles  De  Kay  Townsend,  M.  D.,  of  Albany. 
She  died  in  1889. 

Wing,  Albert  J.,  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  September  18,  1859.  He  was  gradu- 
ated from  Cornell  University  in  1880,  and  subsequently  entered  business  life  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Albert  Wing,  Sons  &  Co.,  wholesale  grocers.  He  was  for 
several  years  actively  connected  with  the  N.  G.  S.  N.Y.,  being  a  captain  in  the  10th 
Battalion,  when  he  received  his  honorable  discharge  in  1889.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Fort  Orange  Club,  of  which  he  has  been  a  trustee,  and  is  a  trustee  of  the  Albany 
City  Homeopathic  Hospital.  Albert  Wing,  his  father,  born  in  Dutchess  county 
in  1815,  came  to  Albany  about  1836  and  in  1841  founded  on  Quay  street  the  pres- 
ent wholesale  grocery  business  of  Wing  Brothers  &  Hartt.  His  first  partner  was 
William  Cook,  the  firm  being  Cook  &  Wing.  They  were  followed  successively 
by  Cook,  Wing  &  Wooster,  Cook  &  Wing  again  and  Wing  &  Wooster.  On  Mr. 
Wooster's  death  in  1871,  Mr.  Wing  became  sole  owner.  In  1873  his  son,  James 
C,  was  admitted  under  the  firm  name  of  Albert  Wing  &  Son,  which  in  1876 
became  Albert  Wing,  Son  &  Co.,  and  in  1881  Albert  Wing,  Sons  &  Co.,  by 
admitting  Albert  J.  into  the  firm.  Mr.  Wing  died  in  May,  1887,  and  the  present 
firm  name  of  Wing  Brothers  &  llartt  was  adopted.  Albert  Wing  was  a  director  in 
the  First  National  Bank  and  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  Albany.  He  mar- 
ried Maria  Carle  of  Charleston,  Montgomery  county,  N.  Y.,  who  died  November 
18  1895.  They  had  three  children:  Kate  A.,  James  C.  (who  died  in  March,  1893) 
and  Albert  J. 

Goold,  James,  was  born  in  Granby,  Hartford  county,  Conn.,  in  the  year  1789. 
When  he  was  four  years  of  age  his  parents  removed  to  Stephentown,  Rensse- 
laer county,  where  he  remained  until  he  was  ten  or  twelve  years  of  age.  In  the 
winter  of  1804  he  went  to  Troy,  N.  Y.,  as  an  apprentice  in  the  bookbinding  es- 
tablishment of  Obadiah  L.  Penniman  &  Co.  He  left  Troy  shortly  after  and  removed 
to  1'ittsfield,  Mass.,   where   he  entered  the  carriage  factory  of   William   Clark  and 


52 

commenced  to  learn  the  trade  that  was  to  be  his  life  work.  After  eighteen  months' 
service,  Mr.  Clark  failed  and  Mr.  Goold  engaged  himself  to  Jason  Clapp  and  com- 
pleted his  trade.  In  August,  1809,  he  went  to  Coxsackie,  N.  Y.,  where  he  worked 
for  John  R.  Vandenburgh.  The  following  winter  he  attended  school  at  Lebanon, 
N.  Y.,  and  in  May,  1810,  after  visiting  New  York,  Newark  and  other  places,  in  search 
of  employment,  he  reached  New  Haven  and  worked  with  various  firms  until  the 
following  December.  After  a  brief  visit  to  his  home  in  Stephentown,  he  worked  for 
L.  Thrall  in  Troy.  April  15.  1813,  he  moved  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  commenced 
business  on  the  corner  of  Maiden  Lane  and  Dean  street,  on  ground  now  occupied  by 
Stanwix  Hall.  The  building  was  leased  from  the  late  Peter  Gansevoort;  two  years 
afterward,  owing  to  increased  business,  Mr.  Goold  leased  premises  on  Division 
street,  below  Broadway,  then  known  as  South  Market  street.  In  1823  he  moved  part 
of  his  business  to  new  buildings  on  Union  street  and  in  1836,  after  having  erected  a 
sufficient  number  of  buildings,  he  moved  the  entire  plant  thither.  May  25,  1838, 
the  works  on  Union  street  were  totally  destroyed  by  fire,  and  such  was  the  feeling 
of  sympathy  that  a  meeting  of  citizens  was  called,  at  which  meeting  a  committee 
was  appointed  which  tendered  to  Mr.  Goold  a  loan  of  a  large  amount,  without  in- 
terest, to  enable  him  to  re-establish  his  business;-  needless  to  say,  all  this  money  was 
duly  paid  back  in  the  required  time.  Since  the  rebuilding  at  that  time  the  business 
has  been  continued  uninterruptedly,  with  the  exception  that  after  Mr.  Goold's death, 
the  plant  was  moved  from  Union  street  to  lower  Broadway,  where  it  is  now  located 
and  doing  business  under  the  name  of  the  James  Goold  Company,  William  D.  Goold 
being  president.  In  1814  Mr.  James  Goold  was  married  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Vail.  They  lived  together  to  celebrate  not  only  their  golden  wedding,  but 
the  sixtieth  anniversary  as  well.  Such  was  the  feeling  existing  between  Mr.  Goold 
and  his  employees,  that  when  he  celebrated  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  establish- 
ment of  the  business,  they  presented  him  with  a  silver  service.  He  was  one  of  the 
oldest  members  of  the  Young  Men's  Association  and  served  one  term  in  the  Common 
Council  as  alderman,  having  been  elected  by  the  Whigs.  He  was  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  church.  He  died  October  1,  1879,  in  his  ninetieth 
year,  having  won  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  met  him,  and  man}'  were  the 
hearts  saddened  by  his  demise. 

Jones,  Andrew  B.,  son  of  Benjamin  G.  and  Almira  E.  (Morhouse)  Jones,  was  born 
in  Whallonsburg,  Essex  county,  N.  Y.,  May  19,  1840,  and  when  very  young  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Clintonville,  Clinton  county,  where  he  received  a  district  school 
education.  When  thirteen  he  entered  a  general  store  as  clerk,  and  when  sixteen 
spent  about  six  months  at  the  Keeseville  Academy.  In  1858  he  became  a  clerk  in  a 
general  store  in  Shushan,  Washington  county,  and  later  was  a  clerk  for  George  Bristol 
&  Co.,  dry  goods  dealers  in  Troy,  where  in  1862  he  became  bookkeeper  and  cashier 
for  Moore  &  Nims,  booksellers,  with  whom  he  remained  eight  years.  In  the  spring 
of  1870  he  engaged  in  the  wholesale  millinery  business  in  Albany,  as  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Heller  &  Jones,  but  five  years  later  sold  out  and  became  a  partner  in  the 
Hudson  Valley  Paper  Company,  wholesale  paper  dealers.  In  the  year  1862  Mr. 
Jones  enlisted  as  a  member  of  Co.  G,  24th  Regt.  N.  G.  N.  Y.,  and  was  later  appoint- 
ed successively  quartermaster-sergeant,  commissary  of  subsistence,  and  quarter- 
master of  the  regiment.     He  is  a  vestryman  of  St.    Paul's  P.    E.  church  of  Albany. 


53 

In  1871  he  married  Alice  Louise,  daughter  of  Pomeroy  Tucker  of  Palmyra,  N.  V. ; 
she  died  June  10,  1891,  leaving  four  children:  Lucy  Elizabeth,  Alice  Frances,  Flor- 
ence Juliette  and  Sydney  Tucker. 

Johnson,  James  C,  is  of  English  and  Dutch  descent  and  a  son  of  Peter  and  Abigail 
(Verplank)  Johnson,  and  was  born  in  Greene,  Chenango  county,  N.Y.,  August  28,  18:50. 
His  grandfather,  Isaac  I.  Johnson,  was  a  farmer  in  New  Scotland.  His  mother  was 
a  daughter  of  David  I.  and  granddaughter  of  Isaac  Verplank  and  a  cousin  of  Hon. 
C.  J.  Colvin,  the  father  of  Verplank  Colvin,  the  present  State  surveyor.  Mr.  Johnson 
was  educated  in  the  common  schoolsof  New  Scotland,  Albany  county;  where  the  family 
settled  about  1837,  and  in  Albany,  whither  they  moved  in  1843.  His  father  died  at 
Schodack  Landing  in  February,  1881.  Pursuing  his  studies  at  the  Albany  Academy  he 
finished  his  education  at  a  private  school  kept  by  Mr.  Helm.  He  read  law  with  Craw- 
ford &  Phelps  of  Cohoes,  and  with  Cole  &  Geissenheimer  of  New  York  city,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1853,  in  the  same  class  with  Chester  A.  Arthur.  He  practiced 
law  in  New  York  and  Cohoes  until  1856,  when  he  came  to  Albany,  where  he  has  since 
resided,  being  associated  at  different  times  with  W.  C.  McHaig  and  Hon.  Galen  R. 
Hitt.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  In  October,  1857,  he  married  Lydia  A.  Palmer- 
ton  of  Ballston,  N.  Y.,  who  died  in  1866,  leaving  one  child,  since  deceased.  He 
married,  second,  in  January,  1871,  Loretta  C.  Markle,  of  New  Salem,  Albany  county, 
and  they  have  two  children :  James  Howard  and  Mary  Loretta. 

Lawyer,  George,  is  a  descendant  of  Johannes  Lawyer,  who  came  from  Holland  to 
Schoharie,  N.  Y.,  about  1700  on  a  surveying  expedition,  and  whose  son,  Johannes 
H.,  was  granted  36,000  acres  of  land  in  what  is  now  Schoharie  county,  by  King 
George  II.  The  latter  was  commissioned  by  Governor  Tryon  in  1772  ensiy.ii  in 
Shaffer's  Company  of  Foot  and  by  Sir  Henry  Moore,  Bart.,  ensign  of  Grenadiers. 
He  served  as  lieutenant  in  the  15th  N.  Y.  Regt.  through  the  Revolutionary  war,  as 
did  also  his  son  Jacob,  who  was  an  ensign.  Jacob  I.  Lawyer,  son  of  Jacob,  suc- 
ceeded his  ancestors  as  a  large  land  owner  in  Schoharie,  and  married  Nancy  Spraker, 
who  died  in  1884,  aged  101.  Their  son,  George,  who  is  living  at  Schoharie  Court 
House  at  the  age  of  ninety,  owns  much  of  the  ancestral  grant.  Dr.  James  Lawyer, 
son  of  George,  practiced  medicine  in  New  York  city  and  at  Middleburgh,  N.  Y.,  and 
was  for  six  years  treasurer  of  Schoharie  county,  where  he  died  November  26,  1890. 
During  the  Rebellion  he  was  assistant  surgeon  in  Bellevue  Hospital.  He  married, 
first,  Eliza  J.  Irwin,  who  died  in  1880,  leaving  an  only  sou.  George,  of  Albany.  He 
married,  second,  her  sister,  Mrs.  Marion  K.  Case,  who  survives.  George  Lawyer, 
born  in  New  York  city,  September  24,  L864,  attended  Schoharie  Academy,  was 
graduated  from  Hamilton  College  in  iss,"i,  with  membership  in  Phi  Beta  Kappa,  ami 
read  law  with  Judge  S.  L.  Mayham,  of  Schoharie  Court  House.  He  was  graduated 
from  the  Albany  Law  School  and  admitted  to  the  bar  in  May,  L887,  spent  two  years 
in  the  office  of  Clark  Bell  in  New  York  city,  and  in  L890  began  the  practice  of  law  in 
Albany  as  partner  of  F.  E.  Wadhams.  Since  1802  he  lias  practiced  alone.  He  is  a 
foundation  member  of  Philip  Livingston  Chapter,  Sons  of  the  Revolution,  and  has 
been  its  secretary  since  1895.  He  is  one  of  the  first  members  of  the  Military  (  >rder 
of  Foreign  Wars  of  the  United  States  and  of  Troop  A,  Cavalry  of  New  York  (in 
which  he  served  two  years),  and  of  Temple  Lodge  No.  1  1.  F.  &  A.  M.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice  in  the   United  States  courts  in  is'Jn.     in  1892  he  married  Agnes 


54 

Estelle,  daughter  of  David  B.  Pershall,  of  New  York  city.     Their  children  are  James 
Pershall  and  George  Irwin. 

Moore,  Charles  H.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Albany  December  7,  1857,  and  on  his 
father's  side  is  of  Quaker  descent.  His  great-grandfather,  James  Moore,  was  born 
in  Albany  county  in  1750;  his  grandfather  was  Joseph  Moore,  also  a  native  of  this 
county.  His  father,  Dr.  Levi  Moore,  was  born  in  the  village  of  Quaker  Street  in  Al- 
bany county,  January,  1827,  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  1851  and 
practiced  medicine  in  Albany  until  his  death,  June  30, 1880.  He  married  Georgenia, 
daughter  of  Adam  Todd,  the  builder  of  Geological  Hall  and  a  prominent  Albanian  of 
Scotch  descent.  Dr.  Levi  Moore  was  one  of  the  best  known  physicians  of  his  day, 
and  was  presideut  of  the  Albany  County  and  a  member  of  the  New  York  State  Med- 
ical Societies.  Dr.  Charles  H.  Moore  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  High 
School  at  Albany,  read  medicine  with  his  father,  and  later  with  Drs.  William  H.  and 
Theodore  P.  Bailey,  and  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  1887.  He  be- 
gan practice  in  Albany  and  since  June,  1889,  has  been  associated  with  Dr.  C.  S.  Merrill. 
In  1888-89  he  took  a  post-graduate  course  in  the  New  York  Polyclinic,  and  was  also 
connected  with  the  Manhattan  Eye  and  Ear  Hospital,  where  he  spent  much  of  his 
time.  Since  then  he  has  made  a  specialty  of  diseases  of  the  eye  and  ear.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society  and  was  made  its  secretary  in  1896; 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  Camera  Club,  is  assistant  eye  and  ear  surgeon  to  the 
Albany  City  Hospital  and  the  Child's  Hospital,  and  eye  and  ear  surgeon  to  the  Troy 
Hospital,  also  instructor  in  ophthalmology  in  the  Albany  Medical  College.  In  1892 
he  married  Emma  A. ,  daughter  of  Walter  Gaige,  of  Albany ;  they  had  one  son,  Walter 
Gaige  Moore,  who  died  in  August,  1896. 

Wackerhagen,  William  B.,  is  a  grandson  of  Augustus  Gunther  George  Wacker- 
hagen,  a  Lutheran  clergyman,  who  came  to  this  country  from  Hanover,  Germany, 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century.  The  latter's  son  Edward,  born  in  Clermont, 
N.  Y.,  in  1825,  was  a  merchant  and  manufacturer  in  Greenville  and  later  a  manu- 
facturer of  agricultural  implements  in  Albany  and  in  Racine,  Wis.,  and  died  in 
Albany  in  1890.  Of  his  seven  children,  six  are  living:  Charles  Edward  of  Canaan 
Four  Corners,  N.  Y.,  Charlotte  Antoinette  of  Chicago,  William  Burroughs  of  Albany, 
Philip  Mayer  of  Racine,  Wis.,  Henrietta  Litell  of  Albany,  Kate  King  of  Elyria, 
Ohio;  Susan  Elizabeth,  deceased.  William  B.  came  to  Albany  with  his  parents  and 
with  them  removed  to  Racine,  Wis.,  where  he  graduated  from  the  high  school  in 
1873,  returning  in  the  same  year  to  Albany  with  the  family.  After  a  course  in  the 
Albany  Business  College  he  entered  in  1874  the  employ  of  Maurice  E.  Viele,  a  whole- 
sale hardware  dealer.  Rising  rapidly,  he  was  promoted  in  1878  to  position  of  buyer, 
remaining  with  Mr.  Yiele  till  June,  1891,  when  with  his  present  associates  he  helped 
organize  and  incorporate  the  Albany  Hardware  and  Iron  Company,  who  purchased 
the  stock  and  fixtures  and  succeeded  to  a  business  which  had  been  carried  on  with- 
out interruption  for  over  one  hundred  years.  Of  this  company  Mr.  Wackerhagen 
has  since  been  secretarv,  the  other  officers  being  Charles  H.  Turner,  president,  and 
James  K.  Dunscomb,  treasurer.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club,  the  Mo- 
hican Canoe,  the  Albany  Whist  &  Chess,  the  Empire  Curling  and  Albany  County 
Wheelmen's  Clubs,  the  Ridgerield  Athletic  and  American  Canoe  Associations  of 
which  he  was  secretary  and  treasurer  in  1893,  and  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Man- 
agers of  the  Young  Men's  Association. 


55 

Bedell,  Edwin  A.,  who  comes  of  Huguenot  stock  on  his  paternal  and  of  English 
and  Dutch  stock  on  his  maternal  side,  is  a  son  of  Edwin  T.  and  Rachel  A.  Bedell, 
both  of  whom  died  while  he  was  very  young.  He  was  born  in  Albany,  October!), 
1853,  and  was  reared  in  the  home  of  his  grandfather  and  the  late  Philip  Phelps,  for 
more  than  fifty  years  the  deputy  comptroller  of  the  State  and  well  known  in  financial 
and  religious  circles  throughout  the  country.  Mr.  Bedell's  school  life  was  commenced 
under  Professor  Anthony,  continued  at  the  Boys'  Academy  and  completed  at  the 
Western  College  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  Michigan,  of  which  his  uncle,  Rev. 
Philip  Phelps,  jr.,  was  president.  His  preparation  for  college  was  under  the  private 
tutorage  of  Professor  Swan.  Graduating  in  1873  as  the  salutatorian  of  his  class,  he 
entered  the  Albany  Law  School  and  also  the  law  office  of  Peckham  &  Tremain,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  spring  of  1874.  After  spending  some  time  in  travel, 
he  began  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  served  five  years  as  one  of  the  assist- 
ants to  the  attorney-general  of  the  State,  leaving  in  1889  to  become  one  of  the  assist- 
ants reporters  of  the  Court  of  Appeals.  He  has  had  a  large  experience  in  the  law 
and  is  an  expert  in  the  law  of  copyright  and  trade  marks  In  1883  he  married  Car- 
oline E.,  eldest  daughter  of  Hon.  Hiram  E.  Sickels,  the  late  reporter  of  the  Court  of 
Appeals.  He  has  had  two  children,  one  of  whom  survives.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Fort  Orange  Club  and  is  a  man  of  rare  literary  ability.  When  twenty  years  old,  he 
began  to  devote  his  leisure  time  to  the  study  of  sacred  music  in  all  its  branches,  and 
later  he  began  the  study  of  hymnology.  For  many  years  he  has  been  an  active 
member  of  the  Madison  Reformed  church  and  for  twenty-three  years  has  had  charge 
of  its  music  and  been  its  organist.  Some  years  ago  he  compiled  a  hymnary  for  the 
exclusive  use  of  his  Sunday  school.  This  was  so  great  a  success  that  he  prepared  in 
1891  the  "Church  Hymnary,"  for  the  church  at  large,  which  has  met  with  warm 
approval  throughout  the  religious  world,  its  sales  running  up  into  the  thousands. 

Bridge,  Charles  F.,  son  of  Charles  and  Lucy  M.  (Tinker)  Bridge,  was  born  in 
Albany,  February  26,  1865.  His  great-grandfather,  Col.  Ebenezer  Bridge,  born 
February  3,  1742,  died  February  13,  1823,  served  at  Lexington  as  captain  of  the 
Fitchburg  Minutemen,  and  is  mentioned  by  Bancroft  as  a  general  at  Bunker  Hill. 
He  served  through  the  Revolution  and  in  the  Massachusetts  Legislature,  and  was 
the  grandson  of  Matthew  Bridge,  a  soldier  in  King  Philip's  war.  A  monument  to 
Ebenezer  Bridge  stands  at  Fitchburg,  Mass.  The  first  American  ancestor  was  John 
Bridge,  of  England,  who  settled  in  Cambridge,  Mass.,  in  1632,  and  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  Harvard  College,  where  a  monument  stands  to  his  memory.  Charles 
Bridge  settled  in  Albany  about  1859  and  in  1860  became  one  of  the  wholesale  beef 
and  pork  firm  of  Hawkins  Van  Antwerp  &  Co.,  which  was  later  changed  to  Van 
Antwerp,  Bridge  &  Co.,  and  still  later  Bridge  &  Davis,  from  which  Mi.  Bridge  re- 
tired in  1S84.  Charles  F.  Bridge  was  educated  at  the  Boys'  Academy,  received  the 
degree  of  A.  B.  from  Union  College  in  1887,  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Law 
School  with  the  degree  of  LL  B.  in  1889,  read  law  with  I.  &  J.  M.  Lawson,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  September,  1889.  In  December  following  lie  formed  the 
present  copartnership  of  Mills  v  Bridge  (Charles  II.  Mills).  He  is  a  Republican,  and 
a  member  of  the  I.  O.  <  >.  F.,  K.  A.  E.  <>.,  and  B.  P.  O.  K  .  the  Sons  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, the  Order  of  Founders  and  Patriots,  the  Psi  Upsilon  fraternity,  and  the  legal 
fraternity  of  I'hi  Delta  Phi.  October  14,  1891,  he  married  Elizabeth  B.,  daughter 
of  Franklin  D.  Tower,  of  Albany. 


56 

Whipple,  Walter,  was  born  in  the  village  of  Berne  in  1846.  Malachi  Whipple,  his 
grandfather,  was  a  representative  man  who  came  from  Stonington,  Conn.,  in  1793, 
settling  in  what  is  now  the  town  of  Knox,  and  purchased  what  has  ever  since  been 
known  as  the  Whipple  farm.  His  farm  in  1820  took  the  premium  as  the  model  farm 
in  Albany  county ;  the  premium  consisted  of  two  solid  silver  pitchers,  silver  tea- 
spoons, and  five  silver  cups,  which  are  still  in  possession  of  different  members  of  the 
family;  he  afterwards  received  premiums  on  his  sheep  and  wool  and  on  cloth  of  his 
own  manufacture.  In  1825  he  removed  to  the  village  of  Berne,  purchased  a  mill 
privilege  and  erected  a  grist  mill.  While  residing  in  the  town  of  Knox  he  repre- 
sented that  town  in  the  board  of  supervisors  and  subsequently  represented  Berne  in 
the  same  capacity.  He  was  also  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Reformed  (Dutch)  church 
of  Berne.  His  wife  was  Percilla  Brown  and  they  had  thirteen  children:  Amos, 
Polly,  William,  Diana,  Lois,  Ann,  Ethan,  Abel,  Sarah,  Lucy,  Parmelia,  Allen  and 
Esli.  Esli,  the  father  of  Walter  Whipple,  was  born  in  Knox  in  1820.  He  learned 
the  harnessmaker's  trade  and  followed  it  throughout  his  enter  life.  He  was  five 
years  old  when  his  father  moved  to  the  village  of  Berne  and  he  spent  his  life  there, 
with  the  exception  of  live  years  spent  in  Cohoes.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican 
and  was  often  proffered  nominations  for  public  offices,  but  always  declined  the  honor. 
His  wife  was  Angelica  Rosekrans,  daughter  of  Dr.  Holmes  Rosekrans,  of  Berne, 
and  they  had  one  child,  Walter.  Esli  Whipple  died  in  February,  1892,  and  his  wife 
in  October,  1887.  They  were  both  members  of  the  Reformed  church,  in  which  Mr. 
Whipple  had  been  an  officer  for  many  years,  and  was  an  elder  in  the  church  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  Walter  Whipple  attended  the  common  schools  of  the  village  and 
finished  his  education  by  attending  select  schools  for  several  terms.  When  sixteen 
he  entered  a  store  at  Rensselaerville  as  clerk,  where  he  remained  three  years;  the 
next  two  years  were  spent  in  Albany  as  a  clerk.  He  then  returned  home  and  engaged 
in  harness-making  with  his  father,  with  whom  he  remained  until  the  latter's  death; 
since  the  death  of  his  father  he  has  continued  the  business  alone.  Mr.  Whipple  is  a 
Republican  and  like  his  father  always  refused  all  public  offices.  In  1871  he  married 
Miss  Josephine  Ball  of  Berne,  daughter  of  Paul  and  Maria  (Moore)  Ball.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Whipple  are  both  members  of  the  Reformed  church,  of  which  Mr.  Whipple  is  at 
the  present  time  an  officer. 

Selkirk,  William,  was  born  in  1828  and  is  the  son  of  Robert  and  grandson  of  James 
Selkirk,  who  came  from  Scotland  and  settled  at  what  is  now  Selkirk  Station,  where 
he  died  leaving  six  sons :  Robert,  Charles,  Francis,  James,  William  and  John.  Robert 
Selkirk  remained  on  the  homestead  as  a  farmer,  and  was  for  twenty  years  one  of  the 
assessors  of  the  town.  He  died  in  1870  leaving  four  sons:  James,  John,  Jacob  and 
William,  who  has  been  assessor  for  eighteen  years  and  still  holds  that  office. 

Rundell,  Darius,  born  in  Westerlo,  September  3,  1832,  is  a  son  of  Jeremiah  and 
Eliza  (Lockwood)  Rundell,  both  natives  of  Westerlo,  where  she  died  in  1849.  He 
removed  to  Columbia  county,  where  he  died  in  1892.  He  was  a  Republican  and  a 
member  of  the  Masons  in  Columbia  county.  The  grandparents  of  Darius,  Isaac 
and  Hannah  (Scott)  Rundell,  came  to  Westerlo  from  Dutchess  county  and  settled  on 
the  farm  now  owned  by  Darius  Rundell.  Darius  Rundell  was  educated  at  Charlott- 
ville  Seminary,  and  farming  has  been  his  principal  business.  He  has  two  farms, 
one  of  126  acres  and  one  of  128  acres,  and  a  gravel  bank  at  South  Westerlo.     He  is 


57 

a  Republican  and  held  the  office  of  justice  for  eight  years,  was  elected  supervisor  in 
1886  and  has  been  elected  at  each  succeeding  election  since  (was  president  of  the 
board  in  1894),  having  held  the  office  longer  than  any  one  man  ever  did  in  Albany 
county.  He  is  president  of  Greene  County  Mutual  Insurance  Company,  director  of 
Farmers  Mutual  Insurance  Company  of  four  counties,  also  director  in  the  Village 
Fire  Insurance  Company  and  a  notary  public.  Mr.  Rundell  is  a  member  of  James 
M.  Austin  Lodge  No.  557,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  Chapter  No.  283,  R.  A.  M.,  and  has 
been  master  of  lodge  ten  years.  In  1853  Mr.  Rundell  married  Ann  Eliza,  daughter 
of  Adam  and  Eliza  (Hunt)  St.  John,  farmers  of  Westerlo.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rundell 
attend  the  Christian  church  at  South  Westerlo. 

Zeller,  A.,  is  a  son  of  John  Zeller,  who  came  from  Germany  and  settled  at  Indian 
Fields  in  the  town  of  Coeymans  in  1853.  Mr.  A.  Zeller  married  Henrietta,  daughter 
of  Egbert  Stanton,  who  was  a  grandson  of  Reuben  Stanton,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Westerlo,  who  had  four  sons,  David,  Benjamin,  Joseph  and  Reuben.  Reuben 
Stanton,  jr.,  had  three  sons,  Egbert,  Luman  and  Reuben  W.  Egbert  Stanton  in 
early  life  came  to  Coeymans,  where  he  married  Jane,  daughter  of  Dr.  Moses  Clement ; 
and  after  carrying  on  a  store  for  some  years,  he  was  engaged  the  last  thirty  years  of 
his  life  as  bookkeeper  and  salesman  of  the  various  freighting  firms  of  Coeymans. 
He  died  in  1880,  leaving  a  widow,  one  daughter  and  a  large  circle  of  friends.  Mr. 
Stanton  was  a  representative  man  of  the  town. 

Conyes,  L.  E.,  was  born  in  Rensselaerville  in  1849.  He  is  the  son  of  Garret  and 
the  grandson  of  James  Conyes,  who  came  from  Germany.  Mr.  Conyes  followed 
farming  in  Rensselaerville  until  1886,  when,  after  spending  two  years  in  Florida  and 
California,  he  came  to  Ravena  and  opened  a  hotel  opposite  the  depot  which  he  now 
runs.  Since  1893  he  has  also  been  in  partnership  with  C.  L.  Diston  in  the  coal  busi- 
ness, and  also  handling  brick,  sewer  pipe  and  fertilizers.  He  is  a  member  of  Cas- 
cade Lodge  F.  &  A.  M. ,  and  of  the  Capital  City  Chapter  of  Albany. 

Baumes,  Mrs.  Mary  E.,  is  the  daughter  of  John,  and  the  grand-daughter  of  Am- 
brose Wiltsie,  who  was  among  the  first  settlers  of  Bethlehem,  and  had  nine  sons. 
John  settled  on  a  farm  near  his  father's  and  died  there  in  1860,  leaving  three  sons 
and  six  daughters,  one  of  whom,  Mary  E.,  married  Peter  H.  Baumes,  who  was  a 
farmer  of  Bethlehem  until  1888,  when  he  sold  his  farm  and  settled  at  Ravena,  where 
he  died  in  1891,  and  left  three  sons:  Howard,  Hiram  and  Omar,  and  two  daughters, 
Katie  and  Mary. 

Denison,  Edward  M. — John  Denison,  after  being  discharged  from  the  army  in  the 
war  of  1813,  came  to  Albany  county  from  Stonington,  Conn.,  and  settled  in  the  town 
of  Knox.  In  1818  he  married  Mary  Chesebro,  moved  to  Schoharie  county  near 
Cobleskill,  went  into  the  wool-carding  and  cloth-dressing  business,  and  raised  a 
family  of  six  children:  Gilbert  W.,  Julia  A.,  Mary  J.,  Charles  M.,  Eli  and  Andrew. 
In  1831  he  returned  to  Knox  and  went  on  a  farm;  in  1841  his  wife  died,  and  his 
death  occurred  in  1854.  In  1843  Gilbert  W.  Denison  came  to  Watervliet  to  work  at 
gardening;  in  1847  he  married  .Sarah  Swan  ;  then  had  no  children  ;  in  1869  lie  bought 
a  farm  near  Newtonville;  he  died  in  1895,  and  his  wife  in  1896.  Julia  never  married, 
but  lived  with  her  father,  Gilbert,  and  died  in  1892.  Mary  J.  married  Petet  Chick- 
man  and  died  in  1875,  leaving  a  family  of  four  children.  Charles  M.  went  west  in 
l) 


58 

1844,  returned  in  1858,  married  Sarah  M.  Chesebro  in  1864,  bought  a  farm  in  the 
town  of  Guilderland ;  had  three  children  :  L.  Augusta,  Edward  M.  and  William  C.  ; 
in  1880  he  sold  his  farm,  moved  to  Newtonville  to  work  his  brother's  farm;  in  1885  he 
bought  a  farm  adjoining  his  brother's  on  the  east  and  went  into  the  milk  business. 
Edward  M.  lived  with  his  uncle  until  the  latter's  death,  and  then  bought  the  farm ; 
in  1885  he  married  Miss  Ida,  daughter  of  Sylvester  Pitts  of  Colonie;by  her  he  has 
four  children.  L.  Augusta  and  William  C.  are  with  their  father.  In  October,  1896, 
William  C.  married  Jessie  Furgurson.  Eli  served  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  was 
taken  prisoner  and  died  on  Belle  Island.  Andrew  is  still  in  Knox  engaged  in 
farming. 

Fuller,  Aaron,  a  prominent  landmark,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Guilderland, 
within  a  mile  of  where  he  now  resides,  in  1832.  He  is  the  son  of  Major  John 
Fuller,  who  was  born  in  New  Scotland;  one  of  the  four  sons  and  two  daughters  born 
to  Aaron,  and  of  Scotch  ancestry.  He  was  a  farmer  in  New  Scotland  and  his  wife 
was  Margaret  McMillin.  Major  John  was  a  great  military  man  and  a  member  of 
the  State  militia.  By  vocation  he  was  a  farmer.  He  settled  in  the  town  of  Guilder- 
land  and  on  this  land  was  later  located  Fuller's  Station.  He  was  an  active  and  pub- 
lic spirited  man  and  was  interested  in  all  town  enterprises,  and  was  the  founder  of 
town  insurance,  and  through  his  efforts  were  established  the  first,  town  insurance 
organizations  in  the  State  of  New  York.  He  was  a  member  of  assembly  in  1847; 
his  wife  was  Harriet  Moak,  daughter  of  William  Moak  ;  she  was  born  in  New  Scot- 
land ;  they  reared  six  daughters  and  one  son.  Mr.  Fuller  died  in  1882,  aged  eighty 
and  his  wife  in  1861,  aged  fifty- eight.  Aaron  Fuller  attended  the  common  schools 
and  spent  two  years  at  the  Schoharie  Academy,  and  as  he  was  the  only  son,  he  re- 
mained with  his  father  for  many  years,  and  then  embarked  for  himself  by  purchas- 
ing his  present  farm,  and  for  the  past  thirty  years  has  been  engaged  extensively  in 
the  hay  and  straw  business  at  Fuller's  Station,  where  he  now  resides,  having  leased 
his  farm.  He  has  held  many  important  town  offices,  having  served  as  supervisor 
of  the  town  for  four  years,  and  one  term  as  commissioner.  In  the  fall  of  1881  he  was 
elected  to  represent  the  Second  Assembly  district  of  Albany  county  in  the  Assembly. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  Noah  Lodge,  No.  754,  and  was  formerly 
a  member  of  Temple  Lodge,  No.  14,  of  Albany,  and  has  been  a  member  for  forty 
years.  In  February,  1862,  he  married  Ada  Fitch,  who  was  born  in  New  Scotland, 
a  daughter  of  Ebenezer  A.  Fitch ;  she  died  in  August  of  the  same  year. 

Ryall  John. — This  honorable  gentleman  was  born  in  Wales,  August  3,  1839.  He 
is  the  son  of  James  and  Margaret  (Kerwick)  Ryall,  natives  of  the  county  of  Tipper- 
ary,  Ireland,  who  went  to  Wales  in  early  life  shortly  after  their  marriage,  and 
returned  to  Ireland  about  six  months  after  the  birth  of  the  son,  John.  James  was  a 
farmer  and  spent  his  early  life  as  a  farm  foreman.  He  was  one  of  four  sons,  George, 
Michael,  John  and  James.  George  went  to  Australia  and  the  others  came  to  America. 
In  1851  Margaret,  the  mother  Of  John,  left  her  home  in  Ireland  without  the  knowl- 
edge of  her  husband  and  came  to  America.  She  communicated  her  intentions  to 
her  husband  as  she  was  about  to  board  the  ship  in  Liverpool ;  after  arriving  in 
America  she  worked,  accumulated  money,  and  assisted  her  husband  and  family  to 
join  her,  which  they  did  in  1853.  They  spent  their  remaining  days  in  the  town  of 
New  Scotland   where  he  died  in  1857,  four  years  after  their  arrival  in  America.     His 


59 

wife  died  February  23,  1895,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six.  To  them  were  born  seven 
children:  John,  James,  Elizabeth,  Mary  Ann,  Thomas,  Edward  and  Margaret. 
Elizabeth  and  Mary  died  in  Ireland  at  the  residence  of  their  grandmother,  aged 
respectively  nine  and  eleven.  John  spent  his  early  life  at  farm  work  and  attended 
the  common  district  school  winters  for  a  limited  number  of  terms;  he  being  the 
eldest,  it  fell  upon  him  to  care  for  his  mother  and  younger  brothers  and  sisters.  In 
the  fall  of  1861  he  enlisted  in  Co.  D,  91st  N.  Y.  Vols.,  and  later  re-enlisted  in  the 
same  company  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  at  the  siege  of  Port 
Hudson,  Five  Forks,  Petersburg,  and  Appomattox.  His  brother  James  was  also  a 
soldier  in  the  army  from  the  beginning  until  the  close  of  the  war,  enlisting  as  a  private 
in  the  3d  N.  Y.  Vols.,  and  being  promoted  to  a  captain;  he  died  in  1881.  Mr.  Ryall 
again  engaged  in  farm  work,  which  he  has  followed  more  or  less  to  the  present  time. 
He  was  elected  and  re-elected  four  successive  terms  of  four  years  each  as  justice  of 
the  peace.  The  years  1893-94  he  was  justice  of  sessions;  he  is  a  United  States  loan 
commissioner  for  the  county  of  Albany.  He  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  Lew  Bene- 
dict Post  No.  5  of  Albany,  also  a  member  of  the  Veteran  League  of  Albany.  In  1864 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Stapleton,  daughter  of  John  Stapleton  of  New  Scot- 
land, by  whom  he  has  had  six  children:  Mina,  wife  of  Garret  Bradt,  Idella,  Mary, 
Lillie,  who  died  when  seventeen,  Estella  and  Gertrude. 

Strevell,  A.  M.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Berne  in  1830.  He  is  the  son  of  Harvey 
and  grandson  of  Mathias  Strevell.  who  came  from  Dutchess  county  to  Berne  about 
1800.  Harvey  Strevell  had  three  sons;  Jason  W.,  who  is  a  prominent  lawyer; 
Estus  H. ,  who  was  for  some  years  a  merchant  at  Ravena  and  died  there  May  22,  1896 ; 
and  A.  M.  Strevell  who,  in  1857  went  to  Albany  where  he  was  in  a  store  until  1873, 
when  he  returned  to  Berne  and  engaged  in  the  farming  business  until  1885  when  he 
moved  to  New  Scotland,  and  in  1889  came  to  Ravenna  and  opened  a  hardware  store, 
which  he  has  since  carried  on.  He  has  always  taken  a  keen  interest  in  the  affairs  of 
his  town,  and  for  nine  years  served  as  highway  commissioner,  and  was  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  State  Constitutional  Convention  in  18T  I. 

Slingerland,  Henry,  was  born  in  Albany  county  in  1830,  and  began  his  business, 
life  as  a  clerk  in  New  Baltimore,  Greene  county,  N.  Y.,  and  after  six  years  began 
business  for  himself  in  New  Baltimore,  which  he  carried  on  until  1867,  when  he  came 
to  Coeymans  where  he  has  since  conducted  business,  buying,  selling  and  shipping 
hay  and  other  farm  products.  In  1852  he  married  Charlotte  Houghtaling,  whose 
father  was  Anthony  C.  Houghtaling ;  her  paternal  grandfather  was  Conrad  and  great- 
grandfather Thomas  Houghtaling,  a  pioneer  of  Albany  county ;  and  her  maternal 
grandfather  was  Jasper  S.  Keeler.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Slingerland  have  had  five  chil- 
dren ;  two  died  in  infancy,  and  their  three  sons  are  now  associated  with  their  father 
in  business. 

Willis,  Mrs.  Alexander,  was  the  widow  of  A.  E.  Willis,  who  died  in  1895.  Mrs 
Willis  was  the  sister  of  Fletcher  Blaisdell  and  Dr.  Wesley  Blaisdell,  and  a  daughter 
of  Levi  Blaisdell  who  died  in  1833;  he  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and 
afterwards  came  and  settled  in  Coeymans;  he  was  a  ship  builder,  and  had  two  sons 
and  one  daughter:  Dr.  Wesley  Blaisdell,  and  Fletcher  Blaisdell,  the  daughter  being 
Mrs.  Willis,  who  was  married  in  1841  and  had  the  following  children:  David  B.,  of 
New  York;  Alexander  B. ,  who  died  in  1890;  Henrietta  and  Henry,  who  died  in  in- 


60 

fancy;  Charles,  who  died  in  1891;  Wilbor,  who  is  a  bachelor  of  Castleton;  Sarell, 
who  is  a  bachelor  and  lived  with  Mrs.  Willis,  and  two  daughters,  Harriet  and  Min- 
nie. Mr.  Willis  was  a  merchant  and  speculator  of  Coeymans.  Mrs.  Willis  died  No- 
vember 27,  1896. 

Martin,  Peter  W.,  was  born  in  New  Scotland  in  June,  1834.  John,  the  great- 
grandfather, was  born  in  Coxsackie;  he  was  left  an  orphan  when  quite  young;  he 
was  a  mason  by  trade  and  was  a  soldier  in  the  English  army  during  the  Revolution- 
ary war;  he  settled  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland,  before  the  war,  there  he  worked 
at  his  trade  and  died  in  New  Salem  in  about  1816;  his  wife  was  Maria  Fralick,  by 
whom  he  had  thirteen  children,  of  whom  four  were  boys.  Peter,  the  grandfather, 
was  born  in  this  town  in  December,  1781 ;  he  was  a  farmer,  and  a  soldier  in  the  war 
of  1812 ;  his  wife  was  Christiana  Allen,  daughter  of  William  and  Jennie  (Drummons) 
Allen,  both  born  in  Scotland;  they  had  seven  children:  Margaret,  Isabella,  Mary, 
Jennie,  William,  Avery,  and  John;  he  died  in  June,  1852,  and  his  wife  died  in  1839. 
William,  the  father,  was  born  in  New  Scotland,  October  18,  1806,  and  came  on  the 
farm  he  now  owns  with  his  parents  when  he  was  six  years  of  age ;  when  he  was 
thirty  years  of  age  he  purchased  half  of  his  father's  farm  of  ninety-four  acres,  and  in 
1851  purchased  the  other  half;  since  then  he  has  devoted  himself  to  farming ;  he 
erected  all  the  buildings  and  made  many  other  improvements;  in  October,  1829.  he 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  William  Moak  and  granddaughter  of  Robert  Taylor,  a 
native  of  Ireland,  and  their  children  were  Mary,  Jane,  Peter  W.,  William  M.,  Rob- 
ert, Harriet  A.,  Rachael,  and  Alden,  who  died  when  twenty-two  years  of  age;  his 
wife  died  April  19,  1880.  Peter  W.  remained  on  the  farm  with  his  father  until  he 
was  twenty-four  years  of  age,  when  he  engaged  in  farming  for  himself;  in  1855  he 
moved  to  Guilderland  and  bought  a  farm,  where  he  resided  until  1883;  he  then  sold 
the  farm  and  moved  to  Guilderland  Center  and  embarked  in  the  general  mercantile 
business  with  J.  H.  Oggsbury.  They  continued  for  several  years  until  the  store  was 
destroyed  by  fire  and  his  partner  went  to  Meriden,  Conn.  In  1893  he  opened  the 
store  where  he  is  now  located.  He  was  elected  inspector  and  is  now  filling  the  office 
of  town  clerk.  In  October,  1858,  he  married  Sarah  Ann  Perry,  daughter  of  Casper 
Perry,  of  New  Scotland,  by  whom  three  children  have  been  born:  Elveretta,  Emma 
J.,  who  died  when  ten  years  of  age,  and  Levi  W. 

Leonard,  Daniel,  was  born  October  3,  1839,  and  came  to  Albany  in  1854  from 
Springfield,  Mass.,  in  which  neighborhood  his  family  resided  from  the  settlement  of 
Springfield  in  1636,  and  where  John  Leonard,  his  ancestor,  was  killed  in  King 
Philip's  war  in  1676.  The  family  was  allied  to  many  of  the  early  Connecticut  and 
Massachusetts  families,  Mr.  Leonard  being  in  direct  descent  from  Governor  William 
Bradford  of  Plymouth.  On  coming  to  Albany  he  took  a  position  in  the  Mechanics' 
and  Farmers'  Bank,  in  the  building  then  standing  next  north  of  the  site  of  the  post- 
office,  and  was  made  teller  of  the  bank  before  reaching  his  majority.  In  1867  he 
entered  the  firm  of  J.  G.  Cotrell  &  Co.,  and  in  1878,  after  the  death  of  J.  G.  Cotrell, 
Edgar  Cotrell  and  Daniel  Leonard,  who  were  brothers-in-law,  formed  a  partnership 
and  continued  the  business  under  the  style  of  Cotrell  &  Leonard  until  Mr.  Cotrell's 
death  in  1890.  The  firm  now  consists  of  Mr.  Leonard  and  his  two  sons,  Edgar  C. 
and  Gardner  C.  Leonard  and  the  firm  name  is  retained  as  Cotrell  &  Leonard.  In 
1867  the  business  required  only  a  three  story  building  at  46  State  street  and  was 


61 

purely  local.  In  1870  the  firm  erected  a  five  story  building  on  the  same  lot,  made 
necessary  by  the  growth  of  its  wholesale  business.  Still  larger  quarters  being  neces- 
sary the  firm  purchased  and  removed  to. the  present  location,  472  and  474  Broadway, 
in  1884 ;  and  from  year  to  year  have  been  compelled  to  connect  upper  stories  in  the 
buildings  on  either  side  of  them  until  now  their  business  occupies  space  equal  to  ten 
stories  of  their  present  store.  Mr.  Leonard  is  president  of  the  Albanv  Safe  Deposit 
and  Storage  Co.  ;  vice  president  and  treasurer  of  the  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Co.  ; 
treasurer  of  the  State  Street  Presbyterian  church ;  a  charter  member  of  Fort  Orange 
Club;  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Colonial  Wars,  and  a  trustee  of  the  Mechanics' 
and  Farmers'  Savings  Bank.  He  is  a  man  of  quiet  and  reserved  manner  who  finds 
his  greatest  recreation  in  his  family  and  home  life. 

Harris,  Morris,  was  born  in  Albany  in  1857,  a  son  of  Alexander,  who  was  a  native 
of  Russia,  born  in  1820;  he  was  an  only  child  and  came  to  the  United  States  when  a 
young  man  and  settled  in  Albany.  He  soon  engaged  at  selling  goods  throughout 
the  county,  which  he  followed  with  success  until  his  death  in  1877.  His  wife  was  a 
native  of  the  same  place ;  they  reared  six  children  ;  his  wife  now  resides  in  New  York 
city.  Morris,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the  fourth  of  his  father's  children.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  in  Albany  until  fourteen,  when  he  engaged  in  the  ton- 
sorial  business,  and  four  years  later  in  partnership  with  a  younger  brother,  under  the 
firm  name  of  M.  Harris  &  Co.,  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cigars,  Mr.  Harris 
acting  as  traveling  salesman,  while  his  brother  superintended  the  manufacturing. 
Their  business  increased  in  small  proportions  until  they  employed  from  twenty  to 
thirty  makers.  This  business  they  followed  successfully  for  seven  years.  In  1884 
he  purchased  a  hotel  interest  in  Voorheesville,  closed  his  cigar  business,  and  since 
that  time  has  spent  his  time  catering  to  the  public  as  hotel  proprietor.  In  1889  he 
purchased  his  present  building,  which  he  converted  into  the  hotel  he  now  conducts. 
His  house  is  well  known  to  public  travelers,  from  which  he  enjoys  a  most  liberal 
patronage.  His  hotel  hall  has  always  been  used  as  a  court  house  in  that  village, 
and  is  noted  for  the  many  political  conventions  held  in  it  since  his  proprietorship. 
In  the  spring  of  1896  Mr.  Harris  was  one  of  the  promoters  of  the  shirt  factory  in  his 
village,  the  capital  being  subscribed  by  the  resideats;  he  readily  became  one  of  the 
stockholders,  and  was  elected  treasurer  of  the  company ;  also  a  stockholder  in  the 
Voorheesville  Canning  and  Preserving  Co.  He  is  one  of  the  five  charter  members 
who  organized  the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge  in  Voorheesville.  He  was  the  first  represen- 
tative of  the  lodge  in  the  Grand  Lodge  in  October,  1886;  also  a  member  of  Noah 
Lodge  F,  &  A.  M.,Altamont,  N.  V.  He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Mendelson,  who 
was  born  in  Ulster  county,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Mendelson. 

Emery,  John  W.,  son  of  John  P.  and  Betsy  (Thing)  Emery,  was  born  in  Kennebunk, 
Me.,  October  29,  1856.  He  is  a  descendant  of  English  ancestors  who  settled  in  York 
county,  Me.,  early  in  the  seventeenth  century.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  in  1874  completed  the  course  of  instruction  at  the  Boston  Business  College. 
For  the  two  years  following  he  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  at  Hyde  Park, 
Mass.,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  he  entered  the  establishment  of  S.  B.  Thing  \-  Co.. 
shoe  dealers  of  New  York  city.  He  was  subsequently  sent  to  branch  stores  at  Syr- 
acuse, Auburn  and  Binghamton.  In  the  latter  city  be  was  given  the  management 
of  the  store  and  was  also  manager  of  the  Elmira  store  for  five  years,  from  which  city 


62 

he  moved  to  Troy,  N.  Y., where  he  entered  the  partnership  of  S.  B.  Thing  &  Co., 
and  had  at  that  time  the  supervision  of  fifteen  retail  stores.  While  at  Troy  Mr. 
Emery  resided  in  Lansingburgh,  and  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of  School 
Trustees  of  that  village.  August  1,  1896,  he  retired  from  the  firm  of  S.  B.  Thing  & 
Co.,  and  purchased  the  Albany  and  Schenectady  branches,  which  are  now  conducted 
in  his  name.  July  20,  1881,  he  married  Bessie  Linaberry  of  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  and 
they  have  three  children:  Wesley  M.,  Samuel  B.  and  Angie  E. 

Ogsbury,  Junius  D.,  and  John  D..  comprise  the  Enterprise  Company,  editors  and 
proprietors  of  the  Altamont  Enterprise,  and  are  kinsmen.  Junius  D.,  the  senior 
member  of  the  company,  was  born  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland,  February  14,  1857. 
James,  the  father  of  Junius  D.,  was  born  in  Guilderland  in  1882;  his  wife  was 
Almira  Wands  and  their  children  were  Junius  D.,  Maggie,  Stanley,  William,  Ella, 
George  and  Jennie.  He  died  in  1890  and  his  wife  survives  him  and  resides  in  Alta- 
mont, where  thev  were  both  members  of  the  Lutheran  church.  Junius  D.  was  reared 
in  the  village  of  Altamont,  attended  the  village  school,  and  when  eighteen  spent  a 
year  in  Michigan  with  an  uncle  who  conducted  a  printing  office,  where  he  acquired 
his  first  practical  knowledge  of  the  art  of  printing.  Upon  his  return  he  engaged  in 
school  teaching  and  clerking  for  a  few  years,  and  in  1885  purchased  the  Enterprise, 
which  was  then  but  sixteen  months  old  and  known  as  the  Knowerviile  Enterprise. 
A  year  later  he  associated  with  him  his  present  partner,  a  cousin,  John  D.  He  is  an 
Odd  Fellow  and  one  of  the  consistory  of  the  Lutheran  church.  In  1880  he  married 
Anna,  daughter  of  James  Ostrander  of  Guilderland,  and  they  have  five  children: 
James,  Nettie,  William,  Junius,  jr.,  and  Charles.  His  wife  died  in  November,  1893, 
In  August,  1S96,  he  married  Margaret  J.  Bell,  a  daughter  of  the  late  Chauncey  Bell, 
of  Rensselaerville.  John  D.  Ogsbury  was  born  in  the  town  of  Guilderland,  August 
31,  1856.  His  father,  John  P.,  was  born  in  Guilderland,  November  7,  1818.  In  1839 
he  married  Margaret  J.  Van  Yalkenburgh,  a  daughter  of  Johoicam  Yan  Yalken- 
burgh,  and  their  children  were  Charles  A.  (who  died  when  two  years  old).  Peter  J., 
Mary  C.  (who  died  when  twelve  years  old),  David  Clayton  (who  went  west  and  be- 
came city  marshal  of  Silverton,  Col.  ;  he  was  called  upon  in  August.  1881,  to  make 
an  arrest  of  a  party  of  ruffians  and  was  fired  upon  by  one  of  the  party  and  killed; 
his  body  was  brought  back  for  interment  and  now  lies  in  the  family  cemetery  in  the 
old  Helderberg  Cemetery),  Ella  (wife  of  Peter  Yanderpool),  and  John  D.  John  D. 
received  a  common  school  education  and  his  life  was  spent  on  the  farm  until  twenty- 
six  years  of  age,  when  he  went  on  a  canvassing  tour  through  the  South  and  West. 
Id  1885  he  engaged  in  the  furniture  and  undertaking  business  in  Altamont,  and  in 
December,  1886,  he  purchased  a  half  interest  in  the  Enterprise.  He  is  a  Republican 
and  filled  the  office  of  the  first  village  tax  collector.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  the  Altamont  Reformed  church,  in  which  he  is  deacon.  June  1, 
1885,  he  married  Mary  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Francis  Brunk  of  Guilderland,  and 
their  children  are  Bessie  Margaret,  De  Witt  Clayton,  Milton  J.,  Merlin  L.,  John  P., 
and  Howard  F. 

Haswell,  Leah  E.,  is  the  widow  of  John  B.  Haswell  and  daughter  of  Albert  I. 
Slingerland,  who  was  one  of  the  builders  and  promoters  of  the  growth  of  Slinger- 
lands,  where  he  was  a  farmer  and  large  real  estate  owner.  He  was  for  some  years 
engaged  in   the  lumber  business  in   Albany,    but  returned  to   Slingerlands  in  1ST.">. 


63 

where  he  remained  until  his  death,  in  June,  1896.  He  left  two  daughters:  Catherine 
(Mrs.  Dr.  Frasier  of  Amsterdam),  and  Leah  E.  (Mrs.  John  E.  Haswell),  who  has  re- 
mained on  the  old  homestead  since  the  death  of  her  husband  in  1880.  Mr.  Haswed 
was  a  son  of  Joseph  and  grandson  of  Edward  Haswell,  who  was  among  the  early 
settlers  of  Albany  county, 

Mann,  Benjamin  A.,  born  in  Albany  June  7,  1854,  entered  in  the  employ  of  Mann. 
Waldman  &  Co.  in  1868.  The  firm  then  consisted  of  Aaron  Mann,  Isaac  Waldman 
and  Joseph  Mann,  who  founded  the  business  in  1851.  In  1884  Benjamin  A.  Mann 
was  admitted  to  the  firm.  The  business  originally  comprised  both  dry  goods  and 
millinery;  about  1857  the  latter  department  was  discontinued,  and  in  1860  the  manu- 
facture of  cloaks  was  commenced,  and  the  business  was  placed  upon  broader  lines, 
a  wholesale  branch  being  added  and  the  retail  and  wholesale  business  was  continued 
to  January,  1896,  with  unvarying  success.  In  the  spring  of  1896  the  stock  was  com- 
pletely sold  and  was  marked  by  the  retirement  from  active  business  of  the  three 
original  members  of  the  firm,  Aaron  Mann,  Isaac  Waldman  and  Joseph  Mann.  The 
retail  business  of  the  firm  was  given  up  and  the  wholesale  only  is  to  be  carried  on 
by  Benjamin  A.  Mann,  under  the  old  style  and  firm  name  of  Mann,  Waldman  & 
Co.  The  business  will  make  a  specialty  of  hosiery  and  underwear  of  all  kinds, 
domestic  and  foreign  ;  Mr.  Mann's  connection  with  mills  for  the  many  past  years  giv- 
ing him  exceedingly  favorable  opportunities  to  make  satisfactory  arrangements.  Mi. 
Mann  is  a  director  of  the  Alpha  Knitting  Co.,  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  and  is  secretary 
of  the  Hudson  River  Aniline  Color  Works  of  Greenbush,  Mass.  .Mann,  Waldman  & 
Co.  will  occupy  the  old  quarters  of  the  wholesale  department,  namely  the  third  and 
fourth  lofts  over  54,  56  and  58  South  Pearl  street,  which  are  connected  by  a  passen- 
ger elevator  with  their  sample  room,  75  Hudson  avenue. 

Slingerland,  Hon.  William  H.,  of  Slingerlands,  Albany  county,  is  descended  from 
Tunis  Cornelius  Slingerland,  who  came  from  Amsterdam,  Holland,  to  what  is  now 
Bethlehem  in  1650,  (see  sketch  of  the  late  Hon.  John  I.  Slingerland  in  this  volume), 
is  a  son  of  John  A.  and  Leah  (Brett)  Slingerland,  and  was  born  November  13  1820, 
and  has  always  lived  in  his  native  town,  Bethlehem.  His  chief  occupation  has  been 
that  of  an  expert  civil  engineer  and  surveyor.  He  was  member  of  assembly  in  1880 
and  originated  and  successfully  carried  through  several  local  and  general  laws  of 
great  benefit  to  the  people.  He  was  subsequently  three  times  unanimously  nomina- 
ted for  the  assembly,  but  declined  the  nomination  each  year,  preferring  to  follow  his 
profession  to  entering  the  field  of  politics.  He  was  civil  engineer  of  the  United 
States  government  building  in  Albany,  and  when  the  stability  and  permanency  of 
the  beautiful  assembly  ceiling  was  in  question  in  1881-82  and  1887,  he  was  appointed 
by  the  Legislature  to  take  measurements  of  the  new  Capitol,  make  examinations 
and  report  upon  any  possible  defects  in  the  structure.  In  each  of  his  reports  he 
challenged  the  stability  of  the  assembly  ceiling,  and  in  the  last  one  warned  the  as- 
sembly of  its  dangerous  condition  and  requested  its  removal,  while  other  experts 
claimed  its  permanency.  These  reports  were  afterward  verified,  the  ceiling  was  n  - 
moved  and  a  new  one  as  recommended  by  him  was  substituted.  Mr.  Slingerland 
was  also,  in  1890,  appointed  and  authorized  by  the  War  Department  of  the  United 
States  government  to  negotiate  for  the  purchase  by  optional  contracts  of  the  farmers 
for   one  year,  of   a   territory   of   about   3,500  acres,  being  one  mile  in  width  by  ten 


64 

miles  long,  comprising  parts  of  the  towns  of  Watervliet  and  Guilderland,  to  be  used 
by  the  ordnance  department  for  a  proving  ground  in  connection  with  the  Watervliet 
Arsenal,  and  his  report  and  map  of  the  territory  as  selected  by  him,  and  options 
taken  for  the  same,  were  unanimously  adopted  by  the  War  and  Ordnance  Depart- 
ments of  the  United  States  government,  and  Major  Scofield  of  the  army,  and  unan- 
imously recommended  by  them  to  Congress  and  for  an  appropriation  to  pay  for  the 
land  so  taken  by  him;  but  Congress  at  that  time  failed  to  make  the  appropriation, 
yet  it  is  still  thought  by  the  authorities  that  these  lands  will  yet  be  taken  for  that 
purpose  in  connection  with  Watervliet  Arsenal  in  place  of  Sandy  Hook.  He  was 
one  of  the  chief  originators  and  founders  in  1850  of  the  village  of  Slingerlands, 
named  after  the  family,  and  secured  a  post-office  and  other  improvements  there. 
During  the  historical  pageant  of  1894  in  Albany,  he  represented  the  great  ancestor 
of  the  Slingerlands  in  the  reproduction  of  the  installation  of  the  first  mayor  of  that 
city.  In  1842  he  married,  first,  Elizabeth  Wayne,  and  had  five  children:  John  H., 
assistant  engineer  on  the  New  York  Croton  Aqueduct,  who  married  Alice  Preston  ; 
George  W.,  superintendent  and  assistant  general  manager  of  the  National  Express 
Company  of  New  York,  who  married  Rosalia  Mattice ;  Helene,  who  married  Hiram 
Bender  in  1882  and  died  in  December,  1884;  Lizzie  W. ,  who  married  William  H. 
Coughtry  in  1895,  and  William  H.,  jr.,  a  civil  engineer  and  surveyor,  who  married 
Alice  Bullock  in  1896.  Mr.  Slingerland  married,  second,  in  1868,  Maria,  daughter  of 
Andrew  Whitbeck. 

Cary  William  M.,  is  a  native  of  West  Troy,  and  was  born  May  28,  1866.  He  is  the 
son  of  Joseph  C.  Cary,  who  served  in  the  Rebellion  in  the  104th  N.  Y.  Vols.,  and  has 
been  a  compositor  on  the  Times  for  thirty  years.  William  M.  Cary  began  the  up- 
holstering business  in  1890,  which  he  continued  for  two  years,  when  he  engaged  in 
undertaking  in  which  he  has  been  successful.  He  received  his  education  in  West 
Troy,  and  is  an  exempt  fireman,  and  is  held  in  high  repute  both  in  social  and  busi- 
ness circles,  as  a  man  worthy  of  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

Tompkins,  Charles  M.,  is  the  son  of  Alva  C,  grandson  of  Abraham  W.,  and  great- 
grandson  of  William  Tompkins,  who  came  from  Dutchess  county  to  Albany  county 
about  April,  1788.  Mr.  Tompkins,  after  graduating  from  the  Normal  School  in  1879, 
entered  the  law  office  of  Newcomb  &  Bailey,  January,  1881,  where  he  read  law  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1884.  He  then  came  to  the  village  of  Coeymans  and  entered  into 
a  law  partnership  with  Stephen  Springstead,  and  since  the  death  of  Mr.  Springstead, 
in  1891,  has  continued  the  business  alone.  He  married  Margaretta,  daughter  of 
Francis  Nodine,  and  has  two  children:  Alva  M.  and  Frances  J. 

Thayer,  Hon.  Lewis  V.,  was  born  at  Glens  Falls,  N.  Y.,  April  28,  1862.  His 
father  was  Lewis  Thayer,  born  in  Luzerne,  Warren  county,  N.  Y.,  and  is  now  en- 
gaged in  active  business  in  the  city  of  Troy.  His  mother  was  Catherine  Van  Huesen, 
a  native  of  Rensselaer  county,  who  died  at  the  age  of  forty-four.  Lewis  V.  Thayer 
was  a  studious  boy;  he  first  attended  the  public  schools  of  Troy  and  afterward  the 
Business  College  in  that  city.  After  completing  a  practical  education  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  National  Express  Company  as  a  messenger  boy  in  the  cashier's  office, 
from  which  humble  position  he  rose  to  higher  positions,  finally  establishing  and 
managing  express  agencies  at  Plattsburg  and  Glens  Falls,  handling  large  amounts 
of  money,  of  which  he  never  lost  a  dollar.     In  this  capacity  he  served  several  years, 


65 

when,  in  1887,  he  was  seriously  injured  in  a  railroad  accident,  which  confined  him  to 
his  bed  for  two  years  and  nine  months.  His  recovery,  through  the  aid  of  the  noted 
Dr.  Sayre,  was  complete,  and  was  considered  almost  miraculous,  so  severe  was  the 
injury  to  his  spine.  He  ascribes  much  of  the  success  of  his  cure  to  the  tender  and 
faithful  care  of  his  devoted  wife.  After  his  recovery  he  engaged  with  his  father  in 
the  livery  business,  in  which  he  is  still  interested,  with  stables  and  offices  in  Troy- 
Mr.  Thayer  has  always  been  a  firm  Republican,  though  not  a  politician.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1894,  he  was  nominated  for  sheriff  of  Albany  county,  and  was  elected  by  a 
plurality  of  5,784,  and  entered  upon  his  duties  January  1,  1895.  Sheriff  Thayer 
possesses  excellent  executive  ability,  and  is  endowed  with  the  best  traits  of  character 
as  displayed  in  the  various  walks  of  a  useful,  honorable  life.  He  is  a  member  of  all 
the  Masonic  bodies,  the  Elks,  the  Red  Men,  the  Troy  Yacht  Club,  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  of 
West  Troy  and  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  the  latter  place.  He  married  on  April 
30,  1884.  Miss  Elizabeth  A.,  daughter  of  Robert  Hunter,  an  influential  citizen  of 
West  Troy.  They  have  one  daughter,  and  reside  at  Twenty-fourth  street  and 
Eleventh  avenue,  West  Troy. 

Gleason,  John  H.,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Troy,  February  25,  1857,  and  was  edu- 
cated at  the  Academy  of  the  Christian  Brothers,  supplemented  by  a  course  at  Troy 
Business  College.  When  about  nineteen  he  began  the  study  of  law  with  A.  D.  Lyon, 
of  Troy,  afterward  entering  the  office  of  Judge  Landon  in  that  city.  After  three 
years'  association  with  Hon.  Galen  R.  Hitt,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  early  in 
1880,  and  opened  an  office  at  West  Troy,  where  his  manifest  abilities  received  early 
recognition  by  an  appointment  to  the  position  of  corporation  attorney  of  West  Troy, 
which  he  filled  for  three  years  with  much  credit.  Joining  the  ranks  of  the  Albanian 
legal  fraternity  in  January,  1892,  he  continues  the  active  practice  of  his  profession 
in  the  capital  city  and  is  now  the  city  attorney  of  the  new  city  of  Watervliet,  where 
he  resides. 

Graham,  Hugh,  one  of  Cohoes's  most  prominent  business  men,  began  life  without 
a  dollar.  He  was  born  in  Belfast,  Ireland,  in  1844.  He  was  brought  up  to  the 
hardware,  seed  and  grocery  business,  a  son  of  a  farmer  in  his  native  county,  and 
upon  coming  to  Cohoes  in  1864  he  accepted  a  confidential  clerkship  in  a  wholesale 
grocery.  In  1868  he  began  business  for  himself  on  Willow  street,  as  Stanton  &  Gra- 
ham. The  grocery  business  became  so  extensive  that  a  large,  handsome  store  was 
erected.  Later  his  partner  sold  out  to  Mr.  Conway,  who  died  in  1896  when  Mr. 
Graham  also  left  the  business.  In  1888  he  purchased  the  plant  of  the  American 
Soap  Company,  and  with  Mr.  Andrae  the  industry  has  become  an  extensive  one, 
now  known  as  the  "American  Soap  &  Washoline  Company,"  of  which  Mr.  Graham 
is  president.  He  is  a  trustee  of  the  Manufacturers  Bank,  a  member  of  the  City  Hall 
Commission,  one  of  the  first  commissioners  of  the  Hospital  Commission,  an  organ- 
izer and  director  of  the  Cohoes  City  Railway,  president  of  the  New  York  State  Re- 
tail Business  Men's  Association,  1888,  and  was  re  elected  again  in  1892,  and  presi- 
dent of  the  Cohoes  Business  Men's  Association  tour  years,  1888  to  1892. 

De  Freest,  Charles  R.,  was  born  in  Troy,  X.  V.,  July  24,  1*52,  and  is  a  son  of 
David  De  Freest  of  North  Greenbush,  Rensselaer  county,  X.  Y.  He  attended  the 
public  schools  of  North  Greenbush  and   Troy,  and   graduated   from  the   Troy   High 


66 

School  in  1869.  He  first  engaged  as  a  reporter  on  the  Troy  Daily  Press,  where  he 
he  remained  two  years,  resigning  to  accept  a  similar  position  on  the  Troy  Daily 
Times.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was  the  city  editor  of  the  same  paper.  Subse- 
quently he  became  editor  of  the  Troy  Northern  Budget.  When  the  Hon.  Edward 
Murphy,  jr.,  was  elected  mayor  of  Troy,  in  1875,  Mr.  De  Freest  was  appointed  city 
clerk.  He  was  afterward  made  deputy  comptroller  and  was  connected  with  the  Troy 
city  government  during  Mr.  Murphy's  mayoralty.  For  eighteen  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Democratic  Central  Committee  from  the  Third  ward  in  Troy.  In 
1887  he  was  made  clerk  of  the  Democratic  State  Committee,  which  position  he  re- 
signed in  1896.  In  1891,  '92  and  '93,  he  held  the  Assembly  clerkship.  On  January 
1,  1894,  Mr.  De  Freest  was  elected  secretary  of  the  Board  of  Railroad  Commissioners 
and  has  since  held  the  position  with  ability  and  success.  He  is  a  vice-president  of 
the  Holland  Society  of  New  York  city,  a  life  trustee  of  the  Young  Men's  Association 
of  Troy  and  an  active  member  of  a  number  of  social  organizations. 

Flagler,  Peter  H.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Westerlo,  in  1840.  John,  his  grand- 
father, came  from  Dutchess  county  to  Albany  county  and  settled  in  Westerlo  on  a 
farm  about  1800.  He  reared  seven  children:  Peter,  Daniel,  John,  Eli,  Julia,  Kate, 
and  Elizabeth.  Peter,  the  father  of  Peter  H.,  grew  to  maturity  in  the  town  of 
Westerlo  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  In  1840  he  represented  his  district  in  the 
Legislature.  He  died  in  1866;  his  wife  was  Letta  Lawrence,  daughter  of  William 
Lawrence  of  Westerlo.  Their  children  were  Chester,  Morgan,  John,  William.  Julia- 
ette,  Peter  H.,  and  Almira.  The  mother  died  in  1893  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine. 
Peter  H.  spent  his  early  life  on  his  father's  farm,  and  attended  common  schools  and 
Fort  Edward  Collegiate  Institute.  He  began  for  himself  as  a  farmer,  which  he  fol- 
lowed until  1882;  in  1866  he  came  to  the  town  of  New  Scotland,  and  removed  from 
his  farm  to  the  village  of  Clarksville  in  1882,  where  he  has  since  resided.  For  a  num- 
ber of  years  he  was  a  dealer  in  agricultural  implements,  and  for  five  years  manu- 
factured shirts  by  contract,  in  the  village  of  Clarksville.  By  profession  he  is  an  auc- 
tioneer of  about  thirty  years'  experience.  During  President  Harrison's  administra- 
tion he  received  his  appointment  as  postmaster  at  Clarksville,  which  came  as  a  surprise 
to  him  as  he  had  not  applied  for  it.  He  takes  great  interest  in  educational  matters 
and  is  school  trustee  of  his  district.  He  is  one  of  the  most  active  workers  on  the 
proposed  Albany,  Helderberg,  and  Schoharie  Electric  Railroad,  and  is  also  one  of 
the  promoters  and  stockholders  of  the  Canadian  Pacific  Railroad,  from  New  York  to 
Ogdensburg.  In  1860  he  married  Miss  Julia  A.,  daughter  of  Elsbree  Jones  of  New 
Scotland,  by  whom  one  child  has  been  born,  Millie,  wife  of  R.  Clinton  Bagley,  who 
is  a  merchant  of  Clarksville.  Mr.  Flagler  has  been  superintendent  of  the  M.  E. 
Sunday  school  for  over  twenty  years,  and  is  also  president  of  the  town  of  New  Scot- 
land Sunday  School  Association.  In  1895  he  received  the  appointment  of  deputy 
sheriff  and  court  officer  of  his  town  for  a  term  of  three  years,  which  duties  he  per- 
formed to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all.  Mrs.  Flagler  is  a  member  of  the  Ladies' 
Aid  Society. 

•  Hallenbeck,  John  E.,  was  born  in  1845.  He  was  the  son  of  Abraham  and  the 
grandson  of  Ephraim  Hallenbeck,  who  came  from  Holland  and  settled  in  Bethlehem, 
and  died  leaving  three  sons:  John,  Charles,  and  Abraham,  who  came  to  Coeymans 
in  1857,  and  settled  on  the  farm  that  J.  E.  Hallenbeck  now  owns.     Mr.  Hallenbeck 


67 

remained  on  the  homestead  and  farmed  it  until  1882  when  he  moved  to  Coeymans 
Landing,  where  he  has  since  carried  on  a  delivery  and  express  business.  Mr.  Hal- 
lenbeck  has  been  deputy  sheriff  of  the  town  for  nine  years,  and  is  also  special  trans- 
fer officer  for  the  West  Shore  Railroad.  He  has  one  son,  G.  W.  Hallenbeck,  who 
is  associated  with  him  in  business. 

Lockwood,  Leander  S.,  born  in  the  town  of  Westerlo,  November  4,  1833,  is  the 
son  of  Samuel  and  Margaret  (Swope)  Lockwood,  both  natives  of  Westerlo.  The 
parents  of  Samuel,  Ira  and  Betsey  (Utter)  Lockwood,  came  from  Connecticut  and 
were  pioneers  of  South  Westerlo.  He  was  a  farmer  and  wheelwright.  The  mater- 
nal grandparents  were  Frederick  and  Adria  (Whitmarsh)  Swope,  who  lived  in 
Westerlo  and  removed  to  Oneida  county,  where  Mrs.  Swope  died,  when  he  moved 
to  Herkimer,  then  to  Oneida  county,  where  he  died.  The  parents  of  Frederick, 
John  and  Katie  (Teeter)  Swope,  came  from  Germany  when  young  and  settled  in 
Eastern  New  York.  Samuel  Lockwood  was  a  farmer  of  Westerlo,  born  in  1800  and 
died  May  31,  1875.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig,  then  a  Republican,  and  a  member  of 
the  Christian  church.  Mrs.  Lockwood  was  born  in  1803  and  died  in  1897.  Leander 
S.  Lockwood  was  educated  at  Troy  Academy  and  in  1860  married  Hannah,  daughter 
of  Benjamin  and  Avis  (Hunt)  Green,  of  Westerlo;  they  have  five  children:  Marga- 
ret, Ella,  Alida,  Lillian,  and  Anna,  who  died  aged  nine  years.  Mr.  Lockwood  com- 
menced his  business  career  as  a  clerk  for  S.  I.  Peabody  &  Co.  of  Troy,  where  he  re- 
mained four  years,  then  one  year  for  T.  Saxton  of  South  Westerlo.  He  then,  in 
partnership  with  Robert  S.  Cryne,  bought  out  Mr.  Saxton  in  1859.  In  1860  his  part- 
ner died,  and  he  was  then  five  years  associated  with  J.  B.  Taetsin  the  same  business. 
In  1865  he  bought  out  Mr.  Taets  and  has  since  conducted  the  business  at  the  old 
stand,  where  he  carries  a  general  line  of  goods  found  in  country  stores.  He  owns 
the  old  Lockwood  homestead  of  106  acres,  which  he  carries  on.  He  is  a  Republican 
and  a  member  of  J.  M.  Austin  Lodge,  No.  557,  F.  &  A.  M. 

Relyea,  Abram,  was  born  in  Guilderland,  November  19,  1835.  David  D.,  his 
grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Guiiderland  and  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He  reared 
five  sons  and  six  daughters,  all  of  whom  he  provided  liberally  for.  Peter  D.,  his 
father,  was  also  a  native  of  Guilderland,  born  in  1808.  He  came  in  possession  of 
his  father's  homestead,  where  he  spent  most  of  his  life.  His  wife  was  Magdalen 
Mann,  and  their  children  were  Mrs.  Sarah  Miller,  Abram,  Mrs.  Adeline  Van  Patten, 
Mrs.  Mary  Jane  Schermerhorn  of  Schenectady,  Mrs.  Catherine  Van  Buren,  and 
Emma.  He  died  in  1848  and  his  wife  died  in  1882.  Abram  attended  the  common 
schools,  and  at  his  father's  death  he  was  twelve  years  of  age,  and  was  obliged  to 
care  for  himself.  He  then  went  to  Cato,  Cayuga  county,  and  engaged  at  farm  work, 
and  also  lived  in  Onondaga  county.  He  later  worked  at  blacksmithing  for  a  short 
time  and  spent  five  years  in  Schenectady,  and  in  1862  came  to  New  Scotland,  where 
he  was  on  a  farm  until  1864.  He  then  enlisted  in  the  11th  New  York  Independent 
Battery  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Upon  his  return  to  Voorheesville  he 
engaged  in  the  meat  business  and  later  engaged  in  carpentry  and  followed  contract- 
ing and  building  until  1H92.  He  erected  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Voorheesville, 
several  of  the  prominent  residences,  and  some  of  the  stores.  He  was  elected  justice 
of  the  peace  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland  in  1880,  being  the  first  Democratic  justice 
elected  in  thirty  years.     He  was  constable  for  some  time  and  was  deputy  sheriff  for 


(IS 

nine  years,  and  was  also  court  crier  in  1895.  He  has  often  been  chosen  delegate  to 
County  and  Assembly  Conventions,  and  was  chairman  of  the  Democratic  town  or- 
ganization, and  is  now  a  member  of  the  general  Democratic  county  organization. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  Noah  Lodge  No.  754  of  Altamont,  and  is 
also  a  member  of  Temple  Chapter  No.  5,  Commandery  No.  2,  and  the  Shrine  of 
Albany.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  fraternity,  No.  668  of  Voorhees- 
ville,  in  which  he  has  passed  through  several  of  the  chairs  and  is  now  trustee  and 
treasurer,  and  at  one  time  was  treasurer  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  also  of  the 
Driving  Association.  In  1868  he  married  Amelia  M.  Earl,  born  in  New  Scotland 
and  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Margaret  (Stalker)  Earl.  Their  children  are  Charlie 
A.  and  Grace.  The  Relyeas  were  originally  French  Huguenots,  who  fled  from 
France  to  Holland,  whence  they  came  to  America. 

Huested,  Dr.  Alfred  B.,  son  of  Reuben  (died  1841)  and  Mahala  (Birch)  Huested, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Clifton  Park,  Saratoga  county,  May  15,  1840,  and  came 
with  his  mother  in  1852  to  Albany,  where  he  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and 
Boys'  Academy.  He  read  medicine  with  Drs.  Armsby  and  Pomfret  and  in  1862  be- 
came hospital  steward  of  the  113th  N.  Y.  Inf.  (afterward  the  7th  N.  Y.  Heavy  Art.), 
with  which  he  remained  until  1863,  when  he  returned  home,  resumed  his  studies  and 
was  graduated  as  M.  D.  from  the  Albany  Medical  College.  He  then  passed  his  ex- 
amination before  the  State  Military  Examining  Board,  returned  to  his  regiment 
(the  7th  H.  A.)  and  in  March,  1864,  was  commissioned  assistant  surgeon,  a  position 
he  held  until  he  was  mustered  out  in  Denver,  Col.,  in  1866.  Returning  to  Albany 
he  entered  upon  the  active  practice  of  his  profession,  but  in  1867  engaged  in  the 
retail  drug  business  on  the  corner  of  Hudson  avenue  and  Eagle  street,  whence  he 
moved  in  December,  1886,  to  his  present  location  on  the  corner  of  State  and  Eagle 
streets,  admitting  at  the  same  time  Garrett  V.  Dillenback  as  a  partner  under  the 
firm  name  of  A.  B.  Huested  &  Co.  He  has  been  president  of  the  State  Board  of 
Pharmacy  since  1884,  is  a  member  of  the  American  and  New  York  State  Pharmaceu- 
tical Associations,  was  president  of  the  latter  two  years,  and  is  a  member  of  Temple 
Lodge  No.  14,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  was  appointed  professor  of  botany  and  materia 
medica  in  the  Albany  College  of  Pharmacy  in  1883,  and  still  holds  that  position.  In 
1867  he  married  Margaret  A.,  daughter  of  Dr.  James  E.  Pomfret  of  Albany,  and 
they  have  three  sons:  Frank  P.,  James  E.  and  Alfred  B. 

Witbeck,  Andrew  H.,  was  born  in  1824,  and  is  the  son  of  John  W.  Witbeck  and 
grandson  of  Walter  Witbeck,  who  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  the  northern  part 
of  Coeymans,  in  Manhattan  Hook.  John  W.  Witbeck  was  born  April  10,  1773,  at 
Manhattan  Hook,  a  little  valley  in  the  northern  part  of  Coeymans,  about  four  miles 
from  where  Andrew  H.  now  lives.  On  the  20th  of  May,  1795,  in  company  with  his 
father  (grandfather  of  Andrew  H.)  he  purchased  the  farm,  now  the  homestead  of  his 
son,  Andrew  H.  The  latter  lives  on  the  farm  where  he  was  born,  and  where  his 
father  settled,  when  married,  and  lived  until  his  death  in  1853.  He  left  five  sons: 
Walter,  John,  Jasper,  Peter  and  Andrew  H.,  as  above,  who  married  Lidia  E., 
daughter  of  Frederick  and  granddaughter  of  John  E.  Powell.  They  have  one  son, 
John  W.,  and  three  daughters,  Hannah  E.,  (Mrs.  Clifton  Bedell)  Sarah  E.  and  Jen- 
nie, (Mrs.  A.  C.  Koonz. ) 

Baker,   George  Comstock,   was  born  in  Comstock   N.  Y,,  April  29,  1868.     He  is  a 


69 

son  of  Isaac  V.  and  Laura  D.  (Clark)  Baker,  and  is  a  descendant  of  John  Baker,  who 
was  a  soldier  in  King  Philip's  war  and  who  lived  in  Swanzey,  Mass.  George  C. 
Baker  is  the  seventh  in  direct  descent  from  John  Baker,  the  names  of  those  inter- 
vening being  John  (2),  John  (3),  Reuben  (1),  Reuben  (2),  Isaac  V.  (1),  Isaac  \ 
Mr.  Baker  received  his  preparatory  education  in  private  schools  and  was  graduated 
from  the  Granville  Military  Academy  in  1885.  The  year  of  1886  he  spent  at  "Will- 
iams College  and  the  years  of  1887  and  1888  at  Union,  taking  a  partial  course  in 
the  arts  and  literature.  While  at  Union  he  was  class  poet  and  a  member  of  the 
Psi  Upsilon  fraternity.  He  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Law  School  in  1889,  and 
in  1891  was  graduated  and  received  the  degree  of  LL.  M.  from  Cornell  University. 
During  1892  and  1893  Mr.  Baker  was  in  the  law  department  at  the  attorney-general's 
office.  He  is  vice-president  of  the  Society  of  the  War  of  1812  in  the  State  of  New- 
York  ;  registrar  of  Philip  Livingston  Chapter,  Sons  of  the  Revolution  ;  treasurer  of 
the  Albany  Chapter  Society  of  the  Colonial  Wars;  member  of  the  Sons  of  the  Amer- 
ican Revolution  ;  member  of  the  Society  of  the  Old  Guard,  and  a  member  of  the 
Fort  Orange  and  Albany  Camera  Clubs.  Mr.  Baker  is  also  a  thirty-second  degree 
Mason  and  holds  office  in  several  Masonic  bodies.  In  1895  he  married  Mary  Louise, 
daughter  of  Jasper  Van  Wormer  of  Albany. 

Ball,  David,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Berne  in  December,  1817.  His  grandfather 
was  a  native  of  Berne  and  his  parents  were  immigrants  to  America  from  Switzer- 
land. John  Peter  Ball,  the  father,  was  also  a  native  of  Berne,  born  in  1788,  and 
spent  his  life  as  a  farmer.  Once  while  plowing  in  his  field,  during  the  war  of  1812, 
he  was  suddenly  confronted  by  Indians  and  taken  prisoner  on  his  own  horse;  after 
being  gone  some  time  he  persuaded  the  Indians  to  release  him  and  he  returned 
home  with  his  horse  unharmed.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Ephraim  Bo- 
gardus,  and  their  children  were  Robert,  Ephraim  and  David.  He  died  in  1865  and 
his  wife  survived  him  several  years  and  died  when  seventy-eight  years  of  age. 
Mr.  Ball  is  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  the  town  of  Berne.  He  received  a  very 
limited  district  school  education  and  when  a  lad  of  but  fifteen,  began  life  for  him- 
self. Having  a  natural  mechanical  turn  of  mind,  he  engaged  to  learn  the  carpenter's 
trade;  this  he  followed  as  a  journeyman  until  twenty-five  years  of  age,  when  by  the 
financial  failure  of  others,  he  lost  what  he  had  earned.  He  then  married  and  be- 
gan life  anew,  this  time  as  boss  or  contractor  of  carpentry  jobs,  which  he  succeeded 
in  and  followed  the  business  over  forty  years.  In  connection  with  this  business  he 
also  conducted  a  farm,  and  during  forty  years  (from  the  time  he  was  thirty-live 
years  of  age)  by  hard  and  industrious  work  and  practice  of  strict  economy,  he 
amassed  a  fortune  of  over  840,000;  from  time  to  time  he  has  added  to  his  real  estate 
possessions,  until  he  now  owns  some  590  acres,  his  homestead  containing  200  a<  res. 
For  many  years  he  was  an  extensive  sheep  grower,  turning  off  large  wool  clips.  Mr. 
Ball  was  elected  commissioner  of  highways  and  filled  the  office  for  nine  consecu- 
tive years.  His  wife  was  Louise  M.,  daughter  of  Peter  Reinhart,  and  they  had 
five  children:  Caroline  (wife  of  Hiram  Wilsey),  Christana  (wife  of  Luzene  Deitz), 
Catharine  (wife  of  John  D.  White),  Ephraim,  and  Theodora  (wife  of  Dr.  Wallace  E. 
Deitz  of  Berne);  Ephraim  resides  on  the  home  farm  and  assists  in  its  management. 
His  wife  was  Esterloa  Delemarter,  and  they  have  two  children:  Louisa  and   Mertie. 

Albright,  Peter  S.,  was  born  in   New  Scotland,   near  New  Salem,  on  the  Albright 


70 

homestead,  February  8,  1821.  Hendrick  Albright  (or  Albrecht),  his  great-grand- 
father, was  born  in  Germany  in  1716  and  came  to  America  in  1740  and  settled  on  a 
farm  of  400  acres,  which  he  afterward  divided  between  his  four  sons.  One  of  the 
farms  (the  homestead),  now  owned  by  Jacob  Albright,  brother  of  Peter  S.,  has 
ever  since  been  in  possession  of  the  Albright  family.  He  (Hendrick)  married  Han- 
nah Foland  in  1742,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children.  As  an  instance  of  his  aversion 
to  the  Tory  element  of  his  time,  it  is  related  that  a  son-in-law  named  Strauss  joined 
the  British  army  during  the  Revolution.  At  the  close  of  the  war  on  his  return  to  his 
family  he  was  emphatically  ordered  by  his  father-in-law  to  quit  America,  and 
evidently  considering  discretion  the  better  part  of  valor,  he  withdrew  to  Canada  for 
the  remainder  of  his  days.  Hendrick  erected  a  large  store  house  on  the  homestead 
in  1788,  which  stood  for  over  a  hundred  years  and  was  finally  destroyed  by  fire  in 
1894.  He  died  in  1783,  and  was  succeeded  on  the  homestead  by  his  son  Jacob,  who 
was  born  there  in  1762,  and  where  he  spent  his  whole  life.  Jacob  was  twice  married, 
first  to  Hannah  Arnold,  by  whom  he  had  three  children.  His  second  wife  was 
Elizabeth  Wheeler,  by  whom  he  had  fourteen  children.  He  died  in  1829.  Isaac,  his 
son,  was  born  in  the  old  stone  house  June  11,  1797,  and  was  married  in  1820  to  Sicily 
Simmons,  daughter  of  Peter  Simmons  of  Clarksville,  by  whom  seven  children  have 
been  born:  Peter  S.,  Jacob,  Harriet,  Sarah,  Emeline,  Mary  and  Isaac.  Isaac 
Albright,  sr.,  in  early  life  united  with  the  Reformed  church  of  New  Salem  and  was 
a  faithful  attendant  until  a  few  weeks  before  his  death.  Although  a  firm  adherent 
of  the  doctrine  of  his  own  church,  he  was  free  from  the  bigotry  common  in  churches 
years  ago,  and  was  a  firm  friend  of  the  persecuted  Methodists  of  the  early  days. 
Following  his  father  and  grandfather,  he  allied  himself  with  the  Democrats  and  was 
a  firm  adherent  to  the  party  of  his  choice,  casting  his  last  vote  with  them.  He  gave 
to  each  of  his  sons  a  farm,  and  after  a  long  and  honorable  career  died  January  21,  1888. 
Peter  S.  remained  on  his  father's  farm  until  twenty-five  years  of  age,  when  he  and 
his  brother  Jacob  took  the  homestead  farm  to  work,  and  were  later  given  each  a  farm 
by  their  father.  In  1854  Mr.  Albright  purchased  another  farm  of  ninety  acres  ad- 
joining the  homestead,  on  which  he  erected  fine  and  large  buildings,  where  he  has 
ever  since  made  his  home  and  conducted  a  successful  mixed  husbandry.  His  son  is 
now  occupying  one  of  his  farms.  In  March,  1846,  he  married  Catherine  Ellen  Hal- 
lenbeck,  who  was  born  in  Bethlehem  in  1828,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Ephraim  G. 
and  Mary  Magdelene  (Bartlett)  Hallenbeck.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Albright  have  eight 
children  living:  Mary  M.  Moak,  born  in  May,  1848;  Sarah  M.  Jones,  born  in  Novem- 
ber, 1849;  Isaac  S.,  born  in  July,  1852;  Emeline  Fowler,  born  in  March,  1858;  Rocelia 
Hurst,  born  in  February,  I860;  George  H.,  born  in  February,  1862,  died  November, 
1882;  Catherine,  born  in  March,  1864;  Adelbert,  born  in  March,  1871;  and  Cordelia 
Finch,  born  in  September.  1*7:!. 

Boardman,  George,  born  August  10, 1834,  in  Albany,  isthe  son  of  William  Boardman, 
a  native  of  Wethersfield,  Conn.,  who  was  supervisor  of  the  Fourth  ward  of  Albany  for 
several  years.  George  Boardman  was  educated  at  the  Boys'  Academy  under  Dr. 
Beck,  and  at  Prof.  Anthony's  Classical  Institute,  and  immediately  after  leaving 
school  he  became  a  clerk  in  a  hardware  store  in  New  York  city.  After  two  years  he 
returned  to  Albany  and  entered  the  employ  of  N.  B.  Miles,  a  hardware  dealer,  and 
three  years  later  became  bookkeeper  for  Warner  Brothers  &  Co.,  manufacturers  of 


lime  and  cement  in  Troy  and  Albany.  Later  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  business 
in  Buffalo  and  subsequently  in  Troy  until  1877.  Meantime  he  had  established,  with 
his  brother  Albert,  a  successful  wholesale  tea  and  coffee  business  in  Albany, 
and  in  1877  removed  hither  to  give  it  his  whole  attention.  Afterward  another 
brother,  Frank,  was  admitted  under  the  firm  name  of  George  Boardman  &  Brothers, 
which  is  now  styled  George  Boardman  &  Brother,  the  junior  partner,  Albert,  having 
died  in  1890.  They  employ  a  number  of  traveling  salesmen  and  have  a  large  trade 
in  the  city  and  vicinity. 

Blodgett,  William,  was  born  in  Coeymans  and  is  the  son  of  Wolsey  Blodgett, 
whose  father  settled  in  Coeymans  at  an  early  day  and  was  a  farmer.  Wolsey  Blod- 
gett had  five  sons,  and  died  on  the  homestead  in'  1887.  William  Blodgett  married 
in  1874  and  in  1877  settled  at  Bethlehem  Center,  where  he  is  a  farmer  and  has  always 
been  prominently  identified  with  the  town  affairs,  being  elected  assessor  in  1885, 
which  office  he  held  for  three  years.  In  1886  he  was  appointed  justice  and  at  the 
following  election  was  re-elected  and  held  that  office  until  he  resigned  in  1896  to 
take  the  office  of  supervisor  of  the  town,  which  office  he  now  holds;  he  was  also  as- 
sociate judge.  His  wife  is  Emma,  daughter  of  Frederick  Hungerford,  and  they 
have  six  sons:  Burton  E.,  Frederick,  Samuel,  Charles,  Mosher  and  Arthur.  Mr. 
Blodgett  is  master  of  the  Bethlehem  Grange  No.  137,  P.  of  H. 

Classen,  Frederick  Luke,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  July  7,  1857.  He  is 
of  Holland-Dutch  and  English  descent.  His  grandfather,  Hermann  Classen,  was  a 
distinguished  soldier  in  the  German  army,  and  after  the  battle  of  Waterloo,  was  bv 
the  Emperor  Frederic  decorated  with  the  Iron  Cross,  a  mark  of  the  greatest  honor. 
This  cross  descends  to  the  oldest  son  of  each  generation  and  is  now  in  the  possession 
of  Dr.  Classen.  Dr.  Classen  received  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  and 
the  Albany  High  School,  after  leaving  which  he  entered  the  drug  store  of  Dexter  & 
Nelligar,  and  while  learning  pharmacy  there  attended  the  Albany  Medical  College, 
from  which  he  was  graduated,  receiving  his  degree  in  1881.  He  immediately  opened 
an  office  and  began  the  practice  of  medicine.  In  November,  1883,  he  was  appointed 
coroner's  physician  and  held  the  place  for  three  consecutive  terms.  Dr.  Classen  is  a 
member  of  the  New  York  State  Medical  Society  and  the  Albany  County  Medical 
Society.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  order,  being  a  32y  Mason.  lit- 
is also  a  trustee  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church.  In  July,  1891,  he  made  an  ex- 
tended tour  through  Europe.  Dr.  Classen  married  Ella  J.  McCracken,  and  has  one 
son,  Philip  Luke  Classen. 

Felter,  James,  was  born  in  Rensselaerville,  August  3,  1840,  and  is  a  son  of  Andrew. 
born  April  27,  1808,  and  Jemima  Felter,  he  born  in  Rensselaerville  and  she  in  West- 
erlo,  Albany  county.  The  grandfather  was  William,  a  son  of  Jacob  Felter,  a  native 
of  Holland  who  came  to  America  before  the  French  and  Indian  war  and  fought  in 
that  war;  he  died  in  Kingston,  Ulster  county.  The  grandfather  of  Mr.  Felter  came 
to  Rensselaerville  and  took  up  land  and  there  died;  his  wife  was  Jane  Joy,  of  Eng- 
lish descent,  a  daughter  of  John  Joy  of  England,  and  died  in  Ulster  county.  The 
father  was  a  farmer  and  lived  in  Rensselaerville.  He  sold  his  first  farm  and  about 
1853  bought  the  farm  now  owned  by  Mr.  Felter,  and  died  in  the  village  of  Rensse- 
laerville in  1894,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six,  and  his  widow  now  lives  at  Rensselaer- 
ville, aged  eighty-two.     He  was  supervisor  for  two  terms,  1858  and   1859,  and  was 


;.• 

also  commissioner  of  highways  and  assessor.  Mr.  Felter  was  reared  on  a  farm  and 
educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  is  a  farmer  on  the  old  homestead  of  160  acres. 
In  1868  he  married  Mary  Eckerson  of  Seward,  Schoharie  county,  by  whom  he  has 
one  son,  Charles  H.,  born  July  29,  1869,  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  is  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  and  also  an  engineer.  February  6,  1892,  he  married  Mary 
Brown  of  Albany,  and  has  one  son,  Frank,  born  August  18,  1893.  Mrs.  Felter  is  a 
daughter  of  William  Eckerson  and  Jenette  Miller,  who  lived  and  died  in  Schoharie 
county. 

Gove,  Ralph  A.,  son  of  Aurelius  Gove,  the  oldest  resident  of  Loudonville,  and  one 
of  the  oldest  residents  of  the  old  town  of  Watervliet,  was  born  at  Loudonville,  July 

27,  1849.  His  boyhood  days  were  spent  on  his  father's  farm;  he  attended  district 
school  No.  11  from  six  years  of  age  until  old  enough  to  work.  He  worked  on  the 
farm  in  the  summer  and  attended  school  in  the  winter  until  1867,  when  he  attended 
the  Literary  and  Scientific  Institution  of  New  London,  N.  H.  In  1868  he  entered 
the  grocery  store  of  James  Seamans  of  Brookline,  Mass.,  as  clerk  and  worked  for 
$100  a  year.  In  1869  he  attended  Fulsom's  Business  College  of  Albany.  In  1871 
he  opened  a  grocery  store  at  Loudonville.  In  1873  he  was  appointed  postmaster  and 
has  held  the  office  until  the  present  date.  In  1882  he  was  elected  commissioner  of  high- 
ways for  the  town  of  Watervliet ;  for  three  years  he  was  elected  supervisor,  and 
again  in  1889,  but  prevented  from  holding  office  by  a  fraudulent  vote.  In  1876  he 
married  Miss  Matilda  Van  Vranken  of  Watervliet,  by  whom  he  has  had  two  chil- 
dren :  Florence  M.,  born  in  1877,  and  Ralph,  born  in  1888.  Aurelius  Gove,  the 
oldest  resident  of  Loudonville,  was  born  of  Quaker  parents  at  Montpe'lier,  Vt,  March 

28,  1820.  His  parents  moved  to  Watervliet  in  1823  and  three  years  later  to  Albany, 
where  his  father  engaged  in  the  stoneware  business.  In  1832  they  moved  to  Duane, 
Franklin  county;  returning  in  1832  they  moved  to  Watervliet,  of  which  town  Mr. 
Gove  is  still  a  resident.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  in  Albany  and  was 
married  in  1843  to  Hannah  S.  Everett,  and  has  lived  on  the  farm  for  fifty-two  years 
which  he  purchased  shortly  after  his  marriage.  Mr.  Gove  has  taken  an  active  part 
in  the  affairs  of  the  town  and  has  been  for  several  years  president  of  the  Colonie 
Farmers'  League,  an  organization  which  was  largely  instrumental  in  the  division  of 
the  town  of  Watervliet,  and  which  has  done  much  for  the  good  government  of  the 
new  town.  Mr.  Gove  is  also  well  known  among  boatmen  on  the  Hudson,  having 
been  for  many  years  engaged  in  buying  produce  for  the  New  York  markets,  also  in 
bringing  glucose  meal  from  Long  Island  to  Albany  and  Troy. 

Hartman,  Christian,  was  born  in  Hessen-Darmstadt,  Germany,  in  1830.  He  was 
a  son  of  Peter  Hartman,  who  was  one  of  three  sons  born  to  Peter  Hartman.  He 
was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  his  children  were  Christian,  Peter  and  Henry,  the 
two  former  coming  to  America.  Peter  came  over  in  1851  and  Christian  came  in 
1857.  Mrs.  Hartman  died  when  Christian  was  three  weeks  old,  and  his  father  lived 
to  be  sixty-seven  years  of  age.  Mr.  Hartman  learned  and  worked  at  the  blacksmith 
trade  with  his  father  until  he  came  to  America.  He  came  direct  to  Albany  county, 
where  he  worked  for  three  years  at  his  trade  in  the  railroad  shops.  In  1860  he  re- 
moved to  the  village  of  Guilderland,  where  he  established  in  his  present  location  a 
blacksmith  shop,  in  connection  with  which  he  later  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
wagons  and  sleighs.     He  began  life  in  a  strange  land  with  nothing  but  the  knowl- 


73 

edge  of  his  trade ;  he  has  been  more  than  ordinarily  successful.  He  owns  two  fine 
residences  and  has  other  property.  In  1857  he  married  Elizabeth  Miller,  born  in 
1831,  and  daughter  of  Adam  Miller,  by  whom  two  children  have  been  born:  Louis 
and  John,  who  now  conduct  the  business  with  their  father.  Louis  is  married  and 
has  one  child,  Delia.  Mr.  Hartman  has  been  trustee  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in 
Guilderland  and  is  now  filling  the  office  of  trustee  of  the  Prospect  Hill  Cemetery. 

Deitz,  Charles  E.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Berne,  July  13,  1840,  the  son  of  Isaac 
and  Maria  (Shufeldt)  Deitz,  son  of  Johan  Jost  A.,  son  of  Adam,  who  was  a  son  of 
Han  Henrich,  a  native  of  Switzerland.  Charles  E.  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  Schoharie  Academy  and  taught  school  when  he  was  sixteen  years  old. 
After  leaving  the  academy  in  1857  he  was  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  his  brother-in-law, 
H.  Willsey  in  Berne.  Six  years  after,  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Willsey,  he  and  his 
father  purchased  the  store  and  stock  and  continued  the  business  under  the  name  of 
Deitz  &  Son.  In  1873  Charles  E.  purchased  his  father's  interest  and  has  continued 
the  business  to  the  present  time.  In  1867  he  married  Laura  J.  Ludden,  a  native  of 
Virginia,  daughter  of  Rev.  A.  P.  and  Marion  Caroline  (Grove)  Ludden  and  grand- 
daughter of  Col.  John  W.  Grove  of  Virginia.  They  have  had  seven  children :  Stan- 
ton L. ,  Rev.  Archibald  E.,  Bertha,  wife  of  Everett  L.  Hevenor,  Grace,  Leona,  Ray- 
mond and  Marion.  Stanton  L.  married  Isabel,  daughter  of  Jacob  S.  Haverly  of 
Berne  in  1895.  Archibald  E.  married,  in  1893,  Carrie  Secor  of  Rhinebeck  and  has 
one  son,  Vernon  I.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Deitz  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and 
he  is  a  Republican.  He  has  been  postmaster  during  every  Republican  administra- 
tion from  Lincoln's  time  to  the  present. 

Weaver,  George  B  ,  was  born  in  New  Vork  city  in  1848,  and  was  a  son  of  Hamil- 
ton Weaver,  a  merchant  of  that  city  and  a  native  of  Oneida  county.  His  boyhood 
was  passed  on  a  farm  near  Deerfield,  Oneida  county.  His  education  was  completed 
at  a  private  school  in  Utica ;  so  rapid  was  his  progress  and  so  complete  his  grasp  of 
knowledge  in  detail,  that  immediately  upon  attaining  legal  majority  he  received 
an  appointment  in  the  State  Department  of  Public  Instruction  and  continued  for 
twenty-five  years  in  that  line  of  work.  His  duties  were  largely  classical  in  connec- 
tion with  the  department,  and  he  has  become  very  prominent  and  efficient  in  edu- 
cational matters  in  the  town  of  Colonie  where  his  home  is  situated.  He  has  been 
very  active  in  public  life  and  recently  served  as  assessor  and  upon  the  town  Board 
of  Education. 

Baker  Albert  W.,  was  born  in  Greene  county.  He  is  the  sun  of  John  S.  ami 
grandson  of  Schuyler  Baker,  Mr.  Baker's  father.  John  moved  to  Westerlo  in  1*44 
He  was  a  farmer  and  died  in  1N77,  leaving  four  sons:  Albert,  Edward,  John  and 
William.  Albert,  who  is  a  miller,  married  Adelaide,  daughter  of  T.  S.  Robbins  of 
Westerlo,  and  after  being  a  miller  there  for  years  he  came  to  Alcove  where  he  is  in 
company  with  B.  T.  Briggs  and  carries  on  a  general  milling  business. 

Bradt,  John  Van  Der  Heyden,  is  an  old  and  prominent  landmark  of  Albany 
county,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Bethlehem,  now  New  Scotland,  December  26, 
L821,  The  first  Bradt  dates  back  in  America  to  1632,  and  tin-  first  one  in  the  town 
of  New  Scotland  was  Adam,  the  great-grandfather  of  John  V.  D.  11.  Bradt.  He 
with  a  man  named  Sager  walked  from  Albany  through  the  woods  in  search  of  a 
i 


74 

location  on  which  to  build  them  a  home;  they  found  it  in  Bethlehem  and  Mr.  Bradt 
staked  off  500  acres  near  where  now  stands  the  village  of  Jerusalem,  erected  him 
a  log  house  and  began  to  clear  the  land  to  make  him  a  home.  He  was  a  typical 
pioneer,  a  soldier  in  the  French  and  Indian  war,  and  reared  two  sons:  Peter  A.  and 
Stoltes,  between  whom  he  divided  his  farm.  Capt.  Peter  A.,  the  grandfather  of 
John  Bradt,  was  born  on  his  father's  homestead  in  Bethlehem.  When  the  war  for 
independence  broke  out  he  offered  his  services  and  was  captain  of  a  train  of  team- 
sters. He  afterward  journeyed  to  New  York  winters  during  the  Revolutionery  war 
to  haul  government  supplies  to  Albany;  it  later  came  upon  him  to  transfer  the 
Oneida  Indians  from  Albany  to  Oneida,  having  under  his  charge  a  large  number 
of  teams  and  wagons  loaded  with  Indians  and  supplies.  He  gave  the  land  for  the 
site  of  the  first  church  built  in  Albany  Co. ,  called  the  Jerusalem  church.  He  was  twice 
married,  his  first  wife  was  a  Miss  Weidman,  by  whom  two  sons  were  born:  Adam 
and  Garrett.  His  second  wife  was  Mrs.  Jane  Hunderman,  the  widow  of  a  Revolu- 
tionary soldier,  who  lost  his  life  in  the  war,  and  they  had  one  son:  Henry  P.  He 
divided  his  farm  of  250  acres  between  his  two  oldest  sons,  then  purchased  another 
farm  of  100  acres  in  1802,  on  which  he  moved  the  next  year  and  there  spent  his  re- 
maining days  with  his  son  Henry.  He  died  in  1826  and  his  wife  lived  to  be  ninety- 
six  years  of  age.  Henry  P.,  the  father  of  John  Bradt,  was  born  in  Bethlehem,  Jan- 
uary, 1796,  and  was  a  lifelong  and  successful  farmer  and  property  owner.  He  pro- 
vided each  of  his  three  sons  with  a  good  farm  and  in  1843  purchased  the  Union- 
ville  Hotel  and  thirty  acres  and  placed  his  oldest  son  there.  He  acquired  much 
other  valuable  property  and  was  a  strong  and  influential  Democrat,  but  not  an  aspi- 
rant to  office.  He  was  drafted  in  the  war  of  1812  and  served  several  months.  His 
wife  was  Magdalene,  daughter  of  John  Van  Der  Heyden  of  Bethlehem,  and  their 
children  were:  Peter  H..  Maria,  John  V.  D.  H.,  Jane  Ann,  Magdalene,  William  H. 
and  Louisa  K.  He  died  in  1872  and  his  wife  in  1863.  John  Bradt,  grew  to  man- 
hood on  his  father's  farm,  and  when  twenty-six  years  of  age,  in  1847,  began  for 
himself  on  his  Grandfather  Van  Der  Heyden's  farm,  it  being  the  will  of  that  grand- 
parent that  the  first  of  his  posterity  to  bear  the  name  of  Van  Der  Heyden  was  to 
have  the  farm.  In  1845  Mr.  Bradt  married  Miss  Mary  Ann,  daughter  of  Albert  V. 
D.  Z.  Slingerland,  and  in  1867,  on  account  of  the  ill  health  of  his  wife,  Mr.  Bradt 
left  the  homestead  and  purchased  his  present  farm  at  Unionville,  where  he  has 
ever  since  resided.  In  politics  Mr.  Bradt  has  always  been  a  strong  and  active 
Democrat  and  filled  the  office  of  assessor  for  years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  N.  Y. 
State  Militia,  was  drummer  and  later  drum  major.  His  brother  Peter  was  captain 
in  the  State  militia  and  later  general ;  likewise  was  justice  of  the  peace  twelve 
years  and  justice  of  sessions  three  terms.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bradt  adopted  a  daughter, 
Lilly  B.,  now  wife  of  Cornelius  Vanderzee  of  New  Scotland.  Mrs.  Bradt  was  born 
October  29,  1820,  and  died  on  her  birthday  in  1890.  Since  the  death  of  his  wife 
Mr.  Bradt  has  had  his  daughter  and  her  husband  live  with  him  to  keep  house  and 
take  charge  of  the  farm. 

Bailey,  Asa,  was  born  in  Bethlehem  in  1825  and  is  the  son  of  James  and  grandson 
of  Ephraim  Bailey,  who  came  from  Connecticnt  to  Bethlehem  in  1783  and  settled  at 
Becker's  Corners,  where  he  died  in  1828  and  left  eight  sons:  Solomon,  Amos,  Reuben, 
James,  Edmond,  Smith,  Ephraim  and  John.     James  had  four  sons:  Charles,  Will- 


75 

iam,  Rensselaer  and  Asa,  who  still  lives  on  the  homestead  where  his  father  settled 
in  1836  and  died  in  1851.  Asa  Bailey  has  one  son,  Richard  K.,  who  now  carries  on 
the  farm. 

Brink,  Levi  L.,  was  born  in  Wyoming  county,  Pa.,  January  11,  1845.  In  1856  his 
parents  removed  to  Susquehanna  county  where  he  was  inured  to  the  life  of  a  farm 
lad  on  his  father's  farm  until  August,  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  151st  Pa. 
Vols.  This  being  a  short  term  regiment  he  was  discharged  in  July,  1863,  but  re-en- 
listed in  September  in  Co.  H,  11th  Pa.  Vols.,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  Re 
bellion  as  second  sergeant.  Returning  to  the  place  of  his  birth  he  took  up  the  trade 
of  a  general  mechanic,  and  mastered  the  duties  so  well  that  in  less  than  five  years 
he  was  employed  by  a  prominent  contracting  firm  as  foreman.  Tiring  of  the  roam- 
ing life  of  contractors,  on  March  1,  1883,  he  engaged  with  the  motive  power  depart- 
ment of  the  W.  S.  Railroad,  and  on  January  1,  1885,  was  assigned  to  Coeymans 
Junction  yard  as  foreman  of  inspection  and  repairs,  which  position  he  still  holds. 
He  is  a  member  of  seversl  fraternal  orders  and  a  liberal  contributor  to  charitable  in- 
stitutions, owns  a  fine  home  and  is  considered  well  to  do. 

Conger,  Hon.  Frederick  W. ,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Berne,  July  16,  1838.  His 
grandfather,  William  Conger,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Bethlehem  in  1770;  he  was  a 
lifelong  farmer,  spending  most  of  his  life  in  the  town  of  Berne,  having  gone  thither 
with  his  parents;  his  wife  was  Margaret  McKnab  of  New  Scotland,  a  daughter  of  a 
Revolutionary  soldier,  by  whom  he  had  eleven  children ;  he  died  in  1840,  his  wife  in 
1855.  Hugh  Conger,  the  father  of  Frederick,  was  born  on  the  homestead  in  Berne 
in  1804;  he  was  a  farmer  and  also  engaged  in  the  stone  industry,  owning  and  oper- 
ating his  own  quarries;  he  was  prominently  identified  with  the  Republican  party, 
filling  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  several  terms  and  justice  of  sessions;  in 
1867  and  1869  he  represented  his  district  in  the  State  Legislature;  his  wife  was  Han- 
nah Ward,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Berne,  on  the  farm  now  owned  and  occupied 
by  Frederick  W.  Conger.  Her  father  was  Frederick  Ward,  who  came  from  West- 
chester county,  and  their  children  were  Cordelia,  Jane,  Mariette,  Eunice,  Frederick 
W.,  Manley  W.  and  Frances  M.  Mr.  Conger  was  for  many  years  a  member  of  the 
Odd  Fellows  fraternity.  Frederick  W.  Conger  attended  the  common  schools  and 
remained  with  his  parents  until  he  was  twenty-two,  when  he  began  for  himself  on 
his  Grandfather  Ward's  farm.  Here  he  remained  and  cared  for  his  grandparents 
in  their  declining  years  to  the  time  of  their  deaths,  and  on  this  farm  he  has  ever 
since  resided;  he  not  only  owns  this  farm,  but  in  1891  he  purchased  the  original 
Conger  homestead  of  112  acres;  he  also  owns  a  one-third  interest  in  his  father's 
homestead  and  quarry  of  117  acres.  He  is  an  extensive  dealer  in  flagstone,  known 
as  the  Helderberg  blue  stone;  he  is  also  one  of  the  Albany  County  Blue  Stone  Com- 
pany, doing  an  extensive  quarrying  and  shipping  business.  Mr.  Conger  is  a  staunch 
and  leading  Democrat  and  for  five  consecutive  years  was  elected  to  represent  the 
town  on  the  Board  of  Supervisors.  In  1868  and  '88  he  represented  his  district  in  the 
State  Legislature,  in  1894  he  received  the  nomination  on  his  party  ticket  for  sheriff 
of  Albany  county,  and  the  times  are  numerous  that  he  has  been  chosen  delegate  to 
town,  Assembly  and  State  conventions.  In  1869  he  married  Orsavill  Cole,  who  was 
born  in  Berne,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Abigail  (Fisher)  Cole,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren, Hugh  and  Frank,  the  former  being  inspector  of  election. 


Hotaling,  John  S. ,  was  born  in  Greene  county  in  1856  and  is  the  son  of  William  J. 
and  grandson  of  Garret,  who  came  from  Holland.  Mr.  Hotaling  began  life  working 
by  the  month  on  a  farm  and  by  economy  and  hard  work,  is  now  the  owner  of  a  fine 
farm  near  Bethlehem  Center.  Mr.  Hotaling' s  wife  was  Viola,  daughter  of  Henry 
Kulmer,  of  Bethlehem,  and  they  have  three  sons  and  three  daughters:  J.  Walter, 
Henry,  William,  Jessie,  Caroline  and  Mary. 

Littlefield,  Edgar,  jr.,  is  a  son  of  Edgar  and  and  grandson  of  Abijah  Littlefield, 
who  came  from  Connecticut  to  Rensselaer  county  and  engaged  in  farming.  He  had 
three  sons,  Alvin,  Sanford  and  Edgar,  who  settled  at  West  Troy,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  ice  business  and  in  1889  came  to  Bethlehem  where  he  is  now  engaged  in  the 
ice  trade  and  farming,  being  assisted  by  his  son,  Edgar,  jr.,  who  is  foreman  for  Tilly 
&  Littlefield.     They  have  the  largest  single  ice  house  on  the  river. 

Main,  James  R.,  was  born  in  Guilderland,  where  he  now  lives,  September  15,  1845. 
He  is  a  son  of  Dewitt  C.  Main,  born  in  Guilderland,  July  23,  181.8,  one  of  five  sons 
and  four  daughters  born  to  John  B. ,  who  was  born  August,  1790,  in  Stonington, 
Conn.;  his  father  was  Reuben  P.,  who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  John  B.,  the 
grandfather,  lived  for  a  time  in  Petersburgh,  Rensselaer  county,  and  in  1804  removed 
with  his  father  to  Plainfield,  Otsego  county,  where  they  settled  and  worked  at  team- 
ing between  that  place  and  Albany ;  he  later  settled  in  the  town  of  Guilderland 
where  he  became  prosperous ;  he  farmed  on  a  large  scale;  he  was  an  exceedingly 
liberal  man  and  gave  largely  to  those  who  needed  his  assistance;  his  house  was  al- 
ways open  to  travelers,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  grand  good  people  and  noted 
widely  for  their  hospitality ;  he  finally  died  a  poor  man  through  his  generosity  to 
others,  signing  papers  for  others,  the  payment  of  which  eventually  fell  upon  him ; 
he  always  concerned  himself  deeply  in  public  matters  and  was  often  chosen  as  dele- 
gate to  county  and  assembly  conventions ;  his  wife  was  Elizabeth  Lloyd ;  he  died 
when  eighty -three,  she  three  weeks  later  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine.  Dewitt  C, 
the  father  of  James,  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  though  devoted  most  of  his  life  to 
farming  and  lived  in  the  town  of  Guilderland;  he  was  a  good  neighbor,  an  upright 
and  honest  citizen  ;  his  first  wife  was  Marie  Riggles,  born  in  the  town  of  Guilderland, 
and  daughter  of  Giles  Riggles;  their  children  were  Charles  W. ,  James  R.,  Shel- 
miar  D. ,  and  Mary  E.  ;  they  were  both  members  of  the  M.  E.  church ;  his  second 
wife  was  Katurah  Warner  by  whom  one  child  was  born,  Ida.  James  R.,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  worked  on  the  farm  of  his  father  and  attended  the  common  district 
school  winters  until  fourteen  years  of  age ;  from  that  time  until  twenty-five  he  worked 
at  home  or  by  the  month  for  others.  He  lather  purchased  the  farm  of  fifty-two 
acres  on  which  he  was  born  and  where  he  now  resides.  Having  an  active  desire  to 
acquire  knowledge  he  let  few  opportunities  pass;  he  early  identified  himself  with  the 
Democratic  party  and  took  keen  interest  in  public  matters;  when  twenty-six  he  was 
elected  tax  collector  for  the  town  of  Guilderland,  and  was  later  elected  justice,  and 
was  justice  of  sessions  of  Albany  county  during  the  years  1877  and  1878;  in  1890  was 
elected  school  commissioner  in  the  third  district  of  Albany  county  and  was  re-elected 
in  1893  and  is  now  filling  that  office.  In  1880  he  became  a  law  clerk  and  student.  He 
registered  under  J.  H.  Clute,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1887;  since  that  time, 
in  addition  to  his  official  duties  and  the  superintending  of  his  farm,  he  carries  on  an 
active  law  practice.     Mr.  Main  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,   Wadsworth 


Lodge,  Albany.  In  January,  1872,  he  married  Miss  Alvira  E.  Reinhart,  who  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Berne,  a  daughter  of  Alexander  Reinhart,  by  whom  he  has  had 
two  children:  Mrs.  Yuba  Carhart  and  Dewitt  C.  Mr.  Main  has  been  one  of  the  trus- 
tees of  Prospect  Hill  Cemetery  and  its  secretary  and  treasurer  for  many  years,  and 
to  whose  untiring  efforts  and  influence  many  reforms  and  improvements  have  been 
brought  about,  and  the  cemetery  attained  to  its  high  standing.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  Iosca  Tribe  No.  341  Improved  Order  of  Men,  and  its  treasurer.  Is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  an  officer  therein. 

Springsted,  William  C,  is  the  son  of  Henry  and  great-grandson  of  Jeremiah 
Springsted,  who  came  from  England  and  settled  on  the  farm  where  the  Springsteds 
now  live  in  17!»0,  and  was  a  farmer.  He  died  in  1813  and  left  one  son,  Stephen,  who 
died  in  1837,  and  left  five  sons  and  four  daughters;  Jeremiah,  Oliver,  John,  Stephen, 
Henry,  Lydia,  Jane,  Sally  Ann  and  Mary.  Henry  remained  on  the  homestead  and 
is  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  the  town.  He  has  one  son,  William  C,  who  carries 
on  the  farm  with  his  father,  Henry  Springsted.  He  married  Elvira  Carroll  and  had 
one  son  and  one  daughter,  William  C.  and  Jane,  now  Mrs.  William  D.  Fuller. 
William  C.  married  Carrie  A.,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  Dean,  and  has  one  son  and  one 
daughter,  Dean  and  Jennie  F. 

Haswell,  Dr.  George  S.,  was  born  in  1868  and  is  a  son  of  Isaac  M.  Haswell,  who 
is  a  farmer.  Dr.  Haswell  was  graduated  from  the  Troy  High  School  in  1889,  and 
from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  1892.  He  began  his  practice  in  New  York  and 
then  settled  in  West  Troy,  where  he  has  won  the  confidence  of  a  large  circle  of 
people  of  his  native  town.  Dr.  Haswell,  although  so  young,  is  a  Mason  of  the  order 
of  the  Mystic  Shrine  and  the  Knights  of  the  Ancient  Essenic  Order.  He  was  elected 
coroner  of  Albany  county  in  November,  1896.  In  1893  he  married  Alice,  daughter  of 
Edward  H.  Wiswall  of  Colonie,  by  whom  he  has  one  daughter,  Mildred. 

Saxton,  Thomas,  born  at  Saratoga  Springs,  November  18,  1801,  son  of  Nathaniel 
and  Susan  (Smith)  Saxton.  Nathaniel  Saxton  came  from  Long  Island  to  Saratoga 
Springs,  where  he  was  a  farmer.  He  spent  his  last  days  with  his  son,  Reuben, 
in  Port  Byron,  Cayuga  county,  where  he  died,  aged  eighty-nine  years  and  eleven 
months.  At  fourteen  years  of  age  Thomas  Saxton  came  to  South  Westerlo  to  live 
with  an  uncle,  Thomas  Smith,  and  was  a  clerk  in  his  store.  He  remained  with  his 
uncle  until  he  was  twenty-three  years  of  age,  when  he  bought  property  in  the  vil- 
lage, erected  a  dwelling  and  engaged  in  mercantile  business,  which  he  followed  until 
1869,  when  he  sold  to  R  .S.  Cryneand  Mr.  Lockwood.  After  retiring  from  mercantile 
business  he  turned  his  attention  to  farming,  which  he  followed  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1890  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight.  He  was  a  Republican  and  a  very  strong 
temperance  man  and  was  for  two  years  supervisor  of  Westerlo  and  justice  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  In  1826  he  married  Sally  Baker,  who  died  February  21,  1860,  and  he 
married  again,  April  7,  1862,  Sarah  V.  Cryne,  who  still  survives  him,  and  gives  this 
information.  Mr.  Saxton  was  a  liberal  contributor  to  all  churches,  and  was  a  member 
of  Masonic  order.  Mrs.  Saxton's  parents  were  John  and  Sarah  (Van  Vorihas)  Cryne, 
of  Dutchess  county.  He  was  a  farmer  and  shoemaker.  He  came  to  Sohodack 
where  he  married,  and  his  wife  died  1838;  he  then  removed  to  Westerlo,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  shoe  and  tanning  business.      He  went  u<  Wisconsin  and  engaged  in 


78 

farming,   where  he  died  1876  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight.     He  was  a  Republican  in 
politics  and  a  Presbyterian  in  religion. 

Trager,  Christopher,  was  born  in  Germany  and  came  to  America  in  1854.  In  1859 
he  came  to  Bethlehem  Center,  where  he  has  since  carried  on  a  wagon  and  black- 
smith shop;  he  also  bought  a  farm  in  1874,  which  he  still  owns.  He  has  three  sons 
and  six  daughters:  John  M.  (who  carries  on  the  farm),  Augustus,  George,  Anna, 
Agnes,  Minnie,  Louisa,  Elizabeth  and  Maggie.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth  Lash  of 
Rensselaer  county,  N.  Y. 

Trego,  Thomas  Markley,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  is  the  only  surviving  son  of  James  and 
Maria  Trego.  He  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York,  August  31,  1847.  His  ances- 
try can  be  traced  back  nearly  250  years.  His  father,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania 
on  January  1,  1815,  is  of  the  seventh  generation  and  descends  in  a  direct  line  from 
his  ancestor,  James  Trego,  who  was  one  and  the  oldest  of  three  brothers  and  sons  of 
Peter  and  Judith  Trego,  who  were  born  in  France  about  the  year  1650.  Being 
Huguenots  and  of  French  extraction,  they  escaped  to  England  in  1685  during  the 
persecution  and  there  formed  part  of  the  colony  of  William  Penn,  emigrating  with 
him  to  this  country  and  finally  settled  in  Chester  county,  Pa.  The  maiden  name  of 
the  doctor's  mother  was  Maria  Honghtaling  oldest  daughter  of  Thomas  C.  Hough- 
taling  of  Albany  county,  N.  Y.,  who  is  a  descendant  of  a  genuine  Holland-Dutch 
family.  His  mother,  Kathrine  Van  Bergen,  was  a  descendant  of  General  Salisbury 
of  Catskill,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Houghtailing's  ancestors  were  amongst  the  earliest  settlers 
of  that  county.  The  same  may  be  said  of  the  ancestry  on  Mr.  Houghtaling's 
mother's  side,  who  were  of  the  Van  Derzees.  The  earliest  ancestor  of  this  name 
occurs  as  grantee  in  a  conveyance  bearing  the  date  April  23,  1652.  In  the  spring  of 
1852  the  parents  of  Dr.  Trego  removed  to  the  village  of  New  Baltimore,  Greene 
county,  where  he  attended  the  common  school.  When  he  was  about  fifteen  years 
old  his  parents  sent  him  to  the  Brooklyn  Boys'  Academy,  where  he  remained  a  year, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1865  he  was  placed  in  the  Grammar  School  connected  with  Rutgers 
College,  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.  After  a  year's  study  he  was  prepared  to  enter  the 
freshman  class  of  the  college,  and  in  1870  was  graduated  with  honor  in  the  class 
which  celebrated  the  college  centennial.  In  the  autumn  of  1870  he  commenced  the 
study  of  medicine  in  the  office  of  the  late  Dr.  S.  Oakley  Van  Der  Poel  of  Albany. 
When  Dr.  Van  Der  Poel  was  appointed  health  officer  at  Quarantine,  New  York,  Dr. 
Trego  continued  his  studies  with  Drs.  Thomas  and  Edward  R.  Hun  of  Albany. 
Upon  leaving  the  office  of  the  latter  after  nearly  a  year  and  a  half  of  study,  he  en- 
tered that  of  Dr.  Thomas  M.  Markoe  of  New  York,  meanwhile  attending  lectures  in 
the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  graduating  in  1874.  After  graduation  he 
returned  to  Albany,  having  been  appointed  resident  physician  in  St.  Peter's  Hos- 
pital. In  the  fall  of  1875  he  resigned  this  position  and  opened  an  office  for  the  gen. 
eral  practice  of  medicine  in  Albany.  Dr.  Trego  has  greatly  excelled  in  the  treat- 
ment of  the  diseases  of  children  and  is  on  the  staff  of  the  Child's  Hospital,  Albany 
Orphan  Asylum,  Babies'  Nursery,  and  St.  Margaret's  Home.  He  is  also  an  attend- 
ing physician  at  the  Home  for  Aged  Men.  In  1881  he  was  appointed  physician  to  St. 
Agnes's  School  for  Young  Ladies.  In  addition  to  his  great  and  deserved  prominence 
in  the  medical  profession  he  also  holds  a  desirable  reputation  for  accomplishments 
and  broad  cultivation  in  the  field  of  literature.     In  the  summer  of  1878  Dr.  Trego, 


TO 

with  his  father,  crossed  the  Atlantic  and  visited  London,  Edinburgh,  Paris,  Ant- 
werp, Belgium,  Dublin,  Berlin  and  other  famous  places.  In  1878  he  was  appointed 
one  of  the  district  physicians,  and  in  1887  was  appointed  coroner's  physician  for  the 
city  and  county  of  Albany  and  held  the  office  for  three  years.  In  1881  he  married 
Jessie,  the  youngest  daughter  of  George  W.  Carpenter  of  Albany.  Mrs.  Trego  died 
after  fourteen  months  of  married  life. 

Weeber,  Christian,  one  of  the  self-made  men  of  property  at  Loudonville,  is  of 
German  birth,  having  been  born  at  Wuertemburgh  in  1839.  He  was  about  twenty- 
five  years  of  age  when  he  turned  his  face  toward  this  land  of  promise,  and  having 
a  predilection  for  the  butchering  trade,  soon  found  employment  in  that  line  in  Al- 
bany. A  business  venture  in  New  York  resulted  in  illness  and  financial  disaster, 
and  he  returned  to  Albany,  January  1,  1865,  and  established  himself  in  business  in 
a  small  way.  During  the  succeeding  fifteen  years  he  steadily  enlarged  his  trade 
and  in  1879  was  enabled  to  purchase  the  handsome  place  at  Loudonville,  where  he  is 
now  so  eligibly  situated,  with  forty-five  acres  of  garden  land  adjacent.  Mr.  Weeber 
is  a  citizen  of  much  natural  ability  and  has  taught  himself  to  read  and  write  Eng- 
lish. He  has  one  son  in  Denver,  Col.,  and  one  at  Schenectady,  both  in  the  market 
business,  and  another  son  in  the  bicycle  trade  at  Albany;  also  two  sons  and  one 
daughter  at  home. 

Janes,  Franklin  H.,  born  in  Albany,  July  19,  1854,  is  a  direct  descendant  of  Guido 
de  Jeanes,  a  general  of  the  F'rench  Confederation,  who  accompanied  Henry  II 
when  he  left  France  to  assume  the  English  throne,  1154,  and  who  was  rewarded  by  the 
grant  of  the  manor  of  Kirtland,  Cambridgeshire,  England.  William  Jeanes  or  Janes, 
a  descendant  of  Gen.  Guido  de  Jeanes,  was  born  in  England,  1610,  came  to  America 
and  arrived  at  Boston,  June,  1637.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  New  Haven,  the 
covenant  bearing  his  signature;  also  of  Northampton  in  1656;  died  September  20, 
1690.  One  of  his  granddaughters  was  the  grandmother  of  Samuel  J.  Tilden.  Will- 
iam Janes,  the  father  of  William  G.,  Charles  H.,  James  E.  and  Franklin  H.  was 
born  at  Janes  Corners,  1806;  married  Mary  A.  Hawley;  was  the  founder  of  Janes- 
ville,  Wis.,  and  a  captain  of  New  York  militia  under  Governor  Throop.  Franklin 
H.  Janes  graduated  at  the  Albany  Free  Academy,  1872.  He  studied  architecture  in 
Boston  and  Paris,  and  succeeded  to  the  business  of  William  L.  and  William  M. 
Woollett  in  1881.  He  was  made  a  member  of  the  American  Institute  of  Architects 
in  1886.  Mr.  Janes  has  designed  many  notable  buildings  throughout  the  United 
States,  and  has  sent  plans  to  several  cities  in  Europe.  His  was  one  of  a  dozen 
names  mentioned  by  the  Century  Magazine  as  producing  the  representative  tvpes 
of  modern  American  architecture.  In  1881  he  married  Laura,  daughter  of  David 
Boyd  McHench  of  Albany.  N.  V..  and  they  have  one  son,  David  McHench  Janes, 
born  October  10,  1882. 

Cole,  Ashley  W.,  was  born  November  22,  1841,  in  the  Forest  of  Bere,  Hampshire. 
England.  His  father  died  in  1848  and  in  1849  his  mother  came  with  her  family 
to  the  United  Slates.  Mr.  Cole  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  soon  after- 
ward worked  at  the  business  of  manufacturing  blacking  and  ink,  and  later  worked 
two  years  in  a  brick  yard.  During  the  war  he  enlisted  in  the  10th  Regiment  of 
New  Jersey  Yolunteers  and  at  the  close  of  the  war,  in  August,  1865,  went  into  the 
oil  region  of  Pennsylvania,  obtaining  employment  at  Oil  City  in   running  a  steam 


so 

engine  pumping  an  oil  well.  While  so  engaged  he  completed  his  studies  in  short- 
hand writing,  which  he  had  begun  in  the  army.  In  1866  he  came  to  New  York 
seeking  employment  in  journalism,  and  in  August  of  that  year  was  appointed  on 
the  staff  of  the  New  York  Herald.  Three  years  later  he  became  city  editor  and 
held  that  position  until  his  health  became  impaired.  Mr.  Bennett  then  sent  him  to 
the  West  Indies  and  South  America  on  a  tour  which  occupied  sixteen  months.  This 
journey  required  him  to  visit  nearly  every  West  India  Island  and  was  extended 
down  the  west  coast  of  South  America,  through  the  Straits  of  Magellan  -and  up  the 
east  coast.  Mr.  Cole  crossed  the  Andes  twice  and  experienced  various  adventures 
in  the  form  of  earthquake,  yellow  fever  and  revolution.  While  at  Rio  Janeiro  he  in- 
terviewed the  Emperor  Don  Pedro,  particularly  on  the  subject  of  the  abolition  of 
slavery  in  the  empire,  the  bill  providing  for  which  had  just  been  passed  by  the  Bra- 
zilian Parliament.  Returning  to  New  York  he  rejoined  the  Herald  staff,  and  soon 
afterward  became  managing  editor  of  the  Evening  Telegram.  In  1874  he  left  the 
service  of  the  Herald  and  joined  the  staff  of  the  New  York  Times,  soon  after- 
ward becoming  financial  editor  of  that  paper,  and  later  its  Albany  correspondent. 
In  1882  he  became  private  secretary  to  the  late  Rufus  Hatch,  and  was  identified  with 
that  gentleman  in  the  Yellow  Stone  National  Park  enterprise,  which,  however, 
collapsed  in  1884,  when  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  went  into  the  hands  of  a  re- 
ceiver. Mr.  Cole  then  returned  to  journalism  on  the  staff  of  the  New  York  Herald, 
and  remained  there  until  the  fall  of  1887,  when  he  resigned  to  organize  the  city 
staff  of  the  Press  and  became  the  first  city  editor  of  that  paper.  In  1888  he  went 
into  Wall  street  as  general  manager  of  the  Kiernan  News  Company,  a  concern 
whose  specialty  was  the  furnishing  by  ticker  and  bulletins  of  information  to  bankers 
and  railway  and  financial  corporations.  In  the  fall  of  1894,  shortly  after  Governor 
Morton  was  nominated  for  the  governorship,  Mr.  Cole  was  invited  to  be- 
come his  private  secretary,  and  has  continued  with  him  in  that  capacity 
until  the  present  time.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  New  York  Press  Club 
for  over  twenty  years  and  was  twice  elected  vice-president.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  23d  Regiment,  N.  G.,  N.  Y.,  of  Brooklyn  and  is  now  assistant  chief  of 
Artillery,  State  of  New  York,  with  the  rank  of  colonel.  He  has  contributed  to 
various  magazines  sketches  of  the  civil  war,  of  foreign  travel  and  of  the  Yellowstone 
country. 

Carroll,  James  H.,  son  of  John  and  Jane  (Ballard)  Carroll,  was  born  in  Albany  on 
the  19th  day  of  September,  1828.  His  parents  were  born  in  Ireland.  His  father 
arrived  in  this  country  in  1824,  came  to  Albany  the  next  year,  and  commencing  busi- 
ness in  a  small  way,  soon  followed  his  brother  in  the  manufacture  of  burr  mill  stones, 
on  Broadway.  He  also  held  several  positions  of  trust,  and  was  highly  respected. 
His  death  occurred  from  an  accident  in  1851.  James  H.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  educated  in  the  public  and  select  schools  of  the  city,  and  in  1844,  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  entered  the  printing  office  of  Joel  Munsell  and  learned  the  trade,  which  he 
followed  for  nineteen  years.  Being  of  an  active  political  mind,  in  1862  he  was 
elected  supervisor  of  the  old  Seventh  ward,  and  afterwards  a  police  commissioner  of 
the  city.  In  1863  he  was  appointed  to  a  position  in  the  post  office  under  Postmaster 
George  Dawson,  and  on  the  passage  of  the  capital  police  law,  accepted  the  captaincy 
of  the  third  police  precinct,  which  he  held   for  nearly  two  years,  resigning  in  1867, 


si 

purchasing  an  interest  in  the  coal  business  with  his  brother-in-law,  T.  C.  Rafferty. 
He  also  became  interested  in  the  Albany  Stove  Company,  and  held  the  position  of 
its  president  and  treasurer  for  several  years,  and  is  now  one  of  the  executive  com- 
mittee of  St.  Peter's  Hospital.  In  1894  Mr.  Rafferty  died,  when  he  assumed  sole 
charge,  and  has  the  most  complete  shed  or  pockets  for  coal  now  in  the  city.  He  is 
one  of  the  five  living  members  of  the  original  Republican  County  Committee,  and 
•is  in  the  enjoyment  of  good  health.  On  the  28th  of  August,  1851,  he  married  Jane 
Rafferty,  daughter  of  the  late  Charles  Rafferty  of  the  city,  by  whom  he  had  seven 
children,  three  now  living:  J.  Ballard,  Dr.  Terence  L.  and  Mary  Ann. 

Pitkin,  Wolcott  H.,  son  of  John  R.  and  Sophia  M.  (Thrall)  Pitkin,  was  born  in 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  December  22,  1838.  Both  parents  were  from  Litchfield  county, 
Conn.  Mr.  Pitkin's  childhood  was  spent  on  his  father's  farm  in  Jamaica  township, 
Queens  county,  N.  Y.  In  1849  his  mother  died  and  the  family  was  broken  up.  His 
father  then  made  the  farm  into  building  lots  and  incorporated  the  village  of  Wood- 
ville,  later  known  as  Woodhaven,  and  he  had  previously  incorporated  the  village  of 
East  New  York,  now  the  Twenty-sixth  ward  of  Brooklyn.  Soon  after  the  death  of 
his  mother,  Mr.  Pitkin  was  sent  to  live  with  his  uncle  who  owned  a  dairy  farm  in 
Torrington,  Conn.  Here  under  the  good  discipline  and  instruction  of  his  uncle  he 
learned  to  do  all  kinds  of  farm  work  and  inculcated  habits  of  industry.  Schools 
were  open  during  the  winter  months  only  and  inasmuch  as  the  facilities  for  obtain- 
ing an  education  were  so  limited,  Mr.  Pitkin,  after  a  year  or  two  of  this  farm  life, 
was  sent  to  Marlboro,  Mass.,  where  his  father  had  arranged  for  him  to  attend  the 
public  schools  and  work  an  hour  or  two  each  schoolday  and  a  part  of  each  Saturday 
in  the  large  shoe  factory  of  C.  D.  Bigelow  &  Bro.  In  this  way  he  acquired  a  knowl- 
edge of  books  and  of  business,  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  with  the  advice  and  as- 
sistance of  his  elder  brother,  a  wholesale  dry  goods  merchant  of  New  York  city,  he 
obtained  employment  with  the  wholesale  boot  and  shoe  jobbing  house  of  William 
Smith,  Brown  &  Co.,  as  junior  stock  clerk.  He  remained  with  this  firm  until  the 
war  of  the  Rebellion  crippled  industries,  and  stranded  his  employers'  business.  He 
soon  engaged  and  became  interested  in  the  business  of  the  East  New  York  Boot, 
Shoe  &  Leather  Manufacturing  Co.,  which  was  founded  in  1858  by  his  father  at  East 
New  York,  L,  I.,  with  sales  department  in  New  York  city.  Levi  B.  Howe,  repre- 
senting his  own  and  the  Bigelow  and  Trask  interests,  was  president,  F.  Eugene 
Pitkin  secretary  and  treasurer,  and  John  R.  Pitkin,  the  father  of  Wolcott  H..  was 
vice-president  of  the  company.  At  this  time  the  company  held  contracts  for  the 
labor  of  some  one  hundred  and  fifty  convicts  in  the  Albany  County  Penitentiary  and 
for  the  labor  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  boys  in  the  Providence,  R.  I..  Reform  School. 
Mr.  Pitkin  was  sent  to  take  charge  of  the  work  at  the  latter  institution  in  the  latter 
part  of  1859  and  was  very  successful  in  his  management.  He  also  added  another 
contract  for  the  labor  of  the  prisoners  in  the  Rhode  Island  State  Prison  and  estab- 
lished another  factory  in  the  city  of  Providence.  Early  in  1865  the  company  was 
offered  inducements  to  move  its  plant  to  Albany,  N.  Y.  The  labor  of  some  three 
hundred  Albany  county  prisoners,  then  employed  by  C.  D.  Bigelow  &  Co.,  was 
offered,  with  additional  increase  as  to  the  force  as  required.  In  l*'Wi  Mr.  Pitkin 
closed  the  works  in  Providence  and  organized  six  (afterwards  ten)  work  shops  in  the 
Albany  County  Penitentiary.  Later  it  became  necessary  to  again  enlarge  and  an- 
ts 


82 

other  factory  was  leased  in  South  Broadway.  In  1870  it  again  became  evident  that 
more  room  could  be  used  to  advantage.  At  this  time  Mr.  Pitkin's  brother,  George 
D.,  became  interested  in  the  company.  W.  H.  resigned  his  office  as  president  in 
favor  of  his  brother,  who  managed  the  finance  and  credit  department  until  his  death 
in  1886.  The  property  on  Hamilton  street  from  No.  222  to  No.  236  was  purchased 
in  1870,  and  the  factory  was  fitted  up  and  equipped  with  the  latest  mechanical  de- 
vices used  in  shoe  manufacture  This  business  continued  until  the  spring  of  1889, 
when  the  contracts  for  penal  labor  were  closed  through  adverse  State  legislation. 
This  depression  caused  a  reorganization  of  the  company  when  the  following  direct- 
ors were  elected:  F.  E.  Pitkin,  W.  H.  Pitkin,  E.  D.  Allyn,  Charles  T.  Whitman  and 
A.  R.  Sewall.  Success  attended  the  efforts  of  the  new  company  until  the  spring  of 
1890  when  difficulties  arose  with  the  labor  unions.  These  were  partly  settled  in 
1891,  but  the  financial  depression  beginning  in  1893  made  itself  felt  in  the  business. 
In  1894  and  1895  the  business  was  wound  up  and  all  obligations  honorably  liquidated. 
October  20,  1868,  Mr.  Pitkin  married  Mary  Wood,  daughter  of  Henry  C.  Southwick 
of  Albany,  N.  Y. ,  and  they  have  two  children,  Edith  Winifred  and  Wolcott  Homer, 
jr.,  now  living. 

Warner,  Jacob  A.,  a  well  known  citizen  and  landmark,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Berne,  March  16,  1828.  Christopher  Warner,  his  great-grandfather,  was  a  native 
of  Germany,  came  to  America  with  his  two  brothers,  and  settled  in  the  town  of 
Berne,  taking  up  land  around  what  is  now  known  as  Warner's  Lake.  Christopher 
Warner,  the  grandfather,  was  born  in  Berne  and  was  a  farmer.  In  1765  he  and  his 
brother  Johannes  erected  a  saw  and  grist  mill  in  East  Berne,  it  being  the  second 
mill  in  the  town.  He  reared  three  sons  and  four  daughters.  Henry  C. ,  the  father 
of  John  A.  Warner,  was  born  in  Berne  on  the  homestead  near  Warner's  Lake, 
November  14,  1793.  In  earlv  life  he  was  a  farmer,  but  the  greater  part  of  his  life 
was  spent  at  coopering,  residing  all  his  life  at  Berne.  His  first  wife  was  Lena, 
daughter  of  Andrew  Batcher  of  Knox,  and  they  had  seven  children :  Rebecca, 
Samuel,  Mary  Ann,  Elizabeth  (who  died  when  three  years  of  age),  Hannah,  Chris- 
topher and  Jacob  A.  His  wife  died  in  1834  and  he  married  Mrs.  Lane  Cole.  He 
died  in  1854.  Jacob  A.  Warner  received  a  limited  common  school  education,  and 
when  a  lad  of  twelve  years  of  age  began  work  on  a  farm  for  others ;  when  fourteen 
he  went  to  live  with  an  uncle,  with  whom  he  remained  until  eighteen.  He  then 
learned  the  mason's  trade  and  followed  this  for  nine  years,  when  he  purchased  a 
small  farm  in  Berne  and  engaged  in  farming.  After  selling  this  farm  he  lived  two 
years  in  Knox  on  a  rented  farm  and  in  1865  he  purchased  a  farm  in  the  town  of  New 
Scotland.  He  sold  this  farm  and  in  1867  purchased  his  present  farm  of  127  acres, 
where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  He  has  been  the  breeder  of  many  fine  horses  and 
also  a  dealer  in  horses,  and  is  an  excellent  judge  of  oxen,  as  he  found  it  profitable  for 
many  years  when  ox  teams  were  much  in  use  to  deal  in  those  animals,  buying  and 
selling  many  yokes  of  cattle;  later  years  he  has  devoted  more  attention  to  the  breed- 
ing of  Jersey  cattle.  In  politics  Mr.  Warner  is  a  Republican  and  has  filled  the  office 
of  assessor  in  his  town  for  fifteen  years,  and  is  now  filling  that  office.  He  has  often 
been  drawn  as  juryman,  having  sat  on  the  Grand  Jury  and  United  States  Grand 
Jury.  In  1851  he  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Lawrence  Clyckman,  and  their  chil- 
dren were  Henrietta  (who  died  when  twenty-one),  Lawrence  and  Mary  (wife  of  Charles 


83 

Fares  of  Guilderland).  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warner  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church 
in  Knox,  where  Mr.  Warner  is  elder.  Lawrence,  his  son,  now  has  the  management 
of  the  farm  and  is  interested  in  the  breeding  of  Jersey  cattle  and  fine  draft  horses. 
His  first  wife  was  Mary  Kipp,  second  wife,  Minnie,  daughter  of  Calvin  Beebe  of 
Knox,  and  they  have  one  child,  Earl.  He  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the 
Patrons  of  Husbandry. 

Higgins,  John  H.,  was  born  in  New  Scotland,  February  7,  1844.  His  father,  John 
Higgins,  was  born  in  England,  July  27,  1809.  When  seventeen  years  of  age  he 
came  to  America  on  account  of  his  health,  first  settling  in  Dutchess  county,  where 
he  lived  two  years,  then  in  1828  came  to  New  Scotland  and  engaged  in  farm 
work,  which  he  followed  many  years.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth  Schermerhorn  of 
Knox,  daughter  of  Abram  Schermerhorn,  by  whom  he  had  two  children:  Thomas, 
who  enlisted  in  Co.  D,  91st  N.  Y.  Vols.,  and  died  in  Pensacola  Hospital  in  1862;  and 
John  H.  ;  John  Higgins  died  in  October,  1890,  and  his  wife  in  November,  1866. 
John  H.  Higgins  attended  the  common  district  school  and  remained  on  the  farm 
with  his  father  until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he  began  for  himself  by  assuming 
charge  of  a  farm  for  another  party  and  later  rented  farms  for  some  years.  In  1877 
he  bought  his  present  farm  consisting  of  102  acres,  where  he  makes  a  specialty  of 
dairying  and  fruit  growing,  having  the  finest  plum  orchard  in  his  vicinity.  He  has 
also  devoted  much  time  to  breeding  thoroughbred  Jersey  cattle  and  fast  horses.  In 
1863  Mr.  Higgins  married  Mary  Ann,  daughter  of  Alex,  and  Sarah  Ann  Patterson 
of  New  Scotland,  by  whom  he  had  two  children:  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Bennett  of  New 
Scotland,  and  William.  His  wife  died  April  25,  1873.  His  second  wife  was  Emily 
Albright,  daughter  of  Mrs.  Margaret  (Hotaling)  Albright,  and  they  had  one  child, 
Lulu.  Mrs.  Higgins  died  July  12,  1894.  William  Higgins  married  Nellie  Warner, 
daughter  of  Franklin  Warner,  of  New  Salem. 

Martin,  Robert,  was  born  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland  in  1838.  John,  his  great- 
grandfather, was  born  in  Coxsackie,  and  was  left  an  orphan  when  quite  young.  He 
was  a  mason  by  trade,  and  was  a  soldier  in  the  English  army  during  the  Revolution- 
ary war.  He  settled  in  New  Scotland  before  the  war,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade, 
and  later  died  in  New  Salem  about  1816.  His  wife  was  Maria  i  ralick  by  whom  he 
had  thirteen  children.  Peter,  the  grandfather,  was  born  in  this  town  in  December, 
1781.  He  was  a  farmer  and  became  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  wife  was 
Christiana  Allen,  daughter  of  William  and  Jennie  (Dremmons)  Allen,  both  of  Scot- 
land and  pioneers  in  New  Scotland.  They  had  seven  children:  Margaret,  Isabella, 
Mary,  Jennie,  William,  Avery  and  John.  He  died  in  June  1852  and  his  wife  in  1839. 
William,  the  father,  was  born  in  New  Scotland,  October  18,  1806,  and  came  on  the 
farm  he  now  owns  with  his  parents  when  he  was  six  years  of  age.  When  he  was 
thirty  years  of  age  he  purchased  a  half  of  his  father's  farm  of  ninety-four  acres,  and 
in  1851  purchased  the  other  half  and  has  since  devoted  his  time  to  general  farming. 
He  erected  all  of  the  buildings  and  made  other  improvements  on  the  place.  In  Oc- 
tober, 1829,  he  married  Mary  Moak,  daughter  of  William  Moak  and  granddaughter 
of  Robert  Taylor,  a  native  of  Ireland.  Their  children  were  Mary,  Jane,  Peter  \\\, 
William  M.,  Robert,  Harriet  A.,  Rachael,  and  Alden,  who.  died  when  twenty-two 
years  of  age.  His  wife  died  April  19,  1880.  Robert  has  always  resided  on  the  home- 
stead;   for  the  past  twenty-five  years  he  had  charge  of  the  farm,  his  father  residing 


84 

with  him.  In  December,  1809,  he  married  Amelia  Wood,  daughter  of  Arnold  Wood 
They  have  two  children :  Arvilla  H.,  wife  of  Clarence  Harkey  of  Guilderland,  and 
Frank  W. 

Stewart,  L.  D.,  born  April  10,  1851,  is  a  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Catherine  (Carpenter) 
Stewart,  both  natives  of  Westerlo.  The  parents  of  Ebenezer  were  Andrew  and 
Lydia  (Seaman)  Stewart,  of  Albany  county,  but  spent  their  last  days  in  Greenville, 
Greene  pounty.  Ebenezer  Stewart  has  been  a  farmer,  speculator  in  stock  and  wool 
buyer;  his  business  is  now  dealing  in  wool  at  South  Westerlo,  which  business  he  has 
followed  twenty-five  years.  He  has  two  children :  L.  D.  Stewart,  as  above,  Susan 
S.,  wife  of  Clarence  S.  Gage,  proprietor  of  the  Ravena  House,  Ravena,  N.  Y.  The 
parents  of  Catherine  (Carpenter)  Stewart  were  Thomas  G.  and  Janett  (Green)  Car- 
penter, he  a  native  of  Stephentown  and  she  of  Westerlo.  He  was  a  boot  and  shoe 
dealer  at  Coxsackie,  and  grocer  and  farmer  in  Westerlo.  The  parents  of  Janett 
Green  were  Capt.  John  and  Mary  (Llewellyn)  Green,  he  of  England  and  she  of  France. 
He  was  a  drummer  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  owned  a  large  estate  and  kept 
slaves.  The  parents  of  Thomas  G.  Carpenter  were  Samuel  and  Homar  (Arnold) 
Carpenter ;  she  was  a  cousin  to  Stephen  A.  Douglass  and  relative  of  Benedict  Arnold. 
In  1888  L.  D.  Stewart  married  Josephine,  daughter  of  George  W.  and  Lucy  (Rey- 
nolds) Robbins  of  South  Westerlo.  Mrs.  Stewart  died  April  12,  1893.  She  was  a 
teacher  of  music  and  educated  in  Albany.  Mr.  Stewart  has  been  in  the  wool  busi- 
ness with  his  father,  and  in  1888  he  engaged  in  general  mercantile  business  at  South 
Westerlo  and  carries  a  complete  line  as  needed  in  country  stores.  He  is  a  Republi- 
can and  has  been  county  committeeman  five  or  six  years;  he  also  has  been  post- 
master at  South  Westerlo. 

Waggoner,  William  S. ,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Guilderland,  November  16,  1855. 
The  Waggoner  name  dates  back  to  the  early  settling  of  Albany  county.  Michael 
Waggoner,  the  founder  of  the  name  in  America,  was  a  native  of  Germany;  he  set- 
tled in  what  is  now  Guilderland,  where  he  took  up  a  tract  of  some  700  acres  of  land. 
George,  the  next  in  line,  was  born  in  Guilderland  on  the  homestead  near  Dunnsville. 
Peter,  the  great-grandfather,  was  born  on  the  homestead  about  1770;  his  wife  was 
Hannah  Walker,  and  their  children  were  George,  Israel,  Nancy,  Fulatta,  Betsey, 
John  and  Susan.  George,  the  grandfather,  was  born  on  the  homestead  in  1801,  and 
devoted  his  life  to  farming;  his  wife  was  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Winnie,  and 
their  children  were  Peter  G.,  Jo'hn  W.,  Amanda,  Susan  M.,  William,  Sarah,  Louisa, 
Elizabeth  and  Mary  Ann;  he  died  in  1848  and  his  wife  died  in  1867.  Peter  G.,  the 
father,  was  also  born  on  the  Waggoner  homestead  in  1823;  he  attended  district 
schools  until  sixteen  years  of  age,  when,  his  father  becoming  an  invalid,  he  took 
charge  of  affairs;  after  some  twelve  years  he  gave  the  farm  to  his  brother  William, 
the  latter  to  care  for  the  mother  and  sisters;  he  then  bought  another  farm,  but  later 
moved  to  the  town  of  Bethlehem,  where  he  resided  for  twelve  years;  in  1882  he 
removed  to  Guilderland  and  purchased  his  present  farm  of  ninety-three  acres,  near 
Guilderland  Center,  on  which  he  has  erected  fine  and  eommodious  buildings;  he  has 
served  his  town  for  several  years  as  commissioner  of  highways,  and  was  twice 
appointed  to  take  the  govornment  census  of  his  town;  in  1853  he  married  Evaline,  a 
native  of  Guilderland  and  a  daughter  of  John  P.  Livingston.  Their  children  are 
are  Magdalen  V.,  William  S. ,  Rolin,  Anna  B.,  deceased,  Elon  M.  and  Grace.     Will- 


85 

iam  S.  received  a  common  school  education  and  when  twenty-three  years  old  began 
farming  on  his  own  account  in  the  town  of  Guilderland.  On  this  farm  he  lived  for 
nine  years,  when  in  1890  he  removed  to  his  father's  farm  which  he  has  since  had 
charge  of.  He  is  now  serving  his  second  four  years'  term  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
is  president  of  the  Guilderland  Mutual  Insurance  Association.  In  1878  he  married 
Emma  C,  born  in  Guilderland  and  daughter  of  John  F.  and  Ann  Eliza  (Crounse) 
Fryer. 

Kibbee,  William  Backus,  son  of  Austin  S.  and  Anna  (Meeker)  Kibbee,  was  born  in 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  February  1,  1852,  and  was  educated  at  the  Albany  Academy  and 
Oberhn  College.  He  is  in  direct  line  from  Edward  Kibbee,  who,  with  his  wife  Deb- 
orah, were  living  in  Exeter,  England,  in  1611.  Their  son  Edward,  with  his  wife, 
Mary  Partridge,  came  to  New  England  in  1040;  in  1643  Elisha,  the  third  child  of 
Edward,  lived  in  Salem,  Mass.,  and  in  1682  removed  to  Enfield,  Conn.,  and  was  one 
of  the  founders  of  that  town  and  a  large  land  owner.  His  son  Isaac  was  the  first 
male  child  born  in  Enfield.  He  married  Rachel  Cook,  and  his  son  Edward  with  his 
wife,  Dorothy  Phelps,  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Somers,  Conn.  Thus  it  will 
be  seen  that  the  ancestors  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  played  no  small  part  in  the 
early  settlement  of  the  country.  The  following  names  of  ancestors,  with  dates  of 
birth,  show  the  line  of  descent:  Edward,  born  May  11,  1611;  Elisha,  September  !», 
1648;  Edward,  February  2,  1670;  Elisha,  February  25,  1697;  Charles,  May  11,  17:17  ; 
Joel,  September  15,  1764;  Joel,  March  1,  1786;  Austin  S.,  November  22,  1822;  and 
William  B.,  February  1,  1852.  About  1875  there  was  a  remarkable  gathering  at  the 
old  homestead  of  Horatio  Kibbee  at  Ellington,  when  ninety  children,  grandchildren 
and  great-grandchildren  sat  down  together  to  celebrate  the  ninetieth  birthday  of 
Mrs.  Valorous  Kibbee,  who  was  the  daughter  of  Allerton  Cushman,  and  so  a  direct 
descendant  of  Thomas  Cushman  and  Mary  Allerton  of  Mayflower  and  Pilgrim  fame. 
Mr.  Kibbee  is  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  with  his  father,  Austin  S.,  and  they 
have  one  of  the  largest  yards  and  businesses  in  the  State.  Mr.  Kibbee  married  Carrie 
Staats,  who  is  a  descendant  of  Abraham  Staats,  a  surgeon,  who  went  to  Rensselaer- 
wyck  in  1642  and  who  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Albany  city.  They  have  three 
children:   Fanny  Abbott,  Austin  Staats  and  William  Bertram. 

Filkins,  Edward  Vincent. — The  late  Edward  Vincent  Filkins  was  born  in  East 
Berne,  on  the  Filkins  homestead,  in  1821  of  Scotch '  ancestry.  His  father,  Richard 
Filkins,  was  a  native  of  Vermont  and  came  to  Berne  with  his  parents  about  1792, 
and  later  settled  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town  on  a  farm  of  200  acres.  He  also 
owned  and  operated  a  saw  mill,  and  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  filling  the 
office  of  sergeant.  He  was  twice  married,  and  by  his  first  wife  six  children  were 
born.  His  second  wife  was  Catharine  Angle;  to  this  union  were  born  fourteen  chil- 
dren, eight  sons  growing  to  maturity.  Edward  V.  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm 
and  attended  the  Rensselaerville  and  Knoxville  Academies,  teaching  school  to  pro- 
cure means  to  pay  his  way.  He  read  law  in  Delhi  and  settled  in  Berne  in  1854, 
where  he  spent  his  life  practicing  his  profession  with  success  and  distinction.  Pre- 
vious to  his  entering  actively  into  the  law  practice,  he  filled  the  office  of  school  com- 
missioner. His  law  practice  was  extensive,  often  being  retained  on  cases  which  car- 
ried him  before  the  higher  courts  in  Albany.  His  wife  was  Emma  E..  daughter  of 
Rev.  Thomas   L.  Shat'er  and   they  had  three  children :  Carrie   E.,    Thomas  Richard 


86 

and  May  S.  He  died  February  13,  1887,  and  his  wife  September  23,  1894.  The  sur- 
viving children,  Carrie  and  Thomas,  still  reside  on  their  father's  homestead  in  the 
village  of  Berne,  and  they  own  a  farm  of  400  acres  in  Iowa.  Miss  Filkins  is  a  grad- 
uate of  Temple  Grove  Seminary  of  Saratoga,  and  for  some  years  afterward  devoted 
her  attention  to  teaching. 

Gise,  Peter,  was  born  in  Rensselaer  county  in  1858,  and  is  the  son  of  Peter  Gise 
(deceased)  who  came  to  Bethlehem  in  1859  and  settled  on  the  farm  where  Peter  Gise 
now  lives,  where  he  is  a  successful  farmer  and  dairyman,  running  a  large  milk  route 
in  Albany.  He  married  Anna  Dorothy,  daughter  of  George  Smith,  a  gardener  of 
Kenwood,  and  they  have  one  son  and  two  daughters:   Peter,   jr.,  Carolyn  and  Lulu. 

Grey,  W.  W.,  son  of  William  C.  and  Mary  (Burrows)  Grey,  was  born  in  Bedford, 
England,  in  1851.  He  received  his  early  education  in  the  Bedford  schools  and  was 
apprenticed  when  very  young  as  office  assistant  to  the  Howards  of  Bedford,  Eng- 
land, manufacturers  of  agricultural  implements  and  the  inventors  of  the  iron  plow. 
He  remained  there  until  1871,  when  he  came  to  America,  having  been  preceded  by 
his  parents.  Before  leaving  England  Mr.  Grey  had  been  importuned  to  accept  the 
position  of  bookkeeper  in  the  office  of  Coolidge,  Pratt  &  Co.,  brewers,  of  Albany. 
In  1872  the  business,  which  is  one  of  the  oldest  breweries  in  America,  having  been 
started  in  1797,  was  incorporated  under  the  name  of  the  Albany  Brewing  Company. 
Subsequently  Mr.  Grey  became  a  member  of  the  company,  and  in  1890  he  was 
elected  assistant  manager,  which  office  he  now  fills.  Mr.  Grey  is  a  32°  Mason  and  is 
the  potentate  of  Cyprus  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.  He  has  been  president  of  St. 
George's  Society  of  Albany  for  two  years  and  was  its  secretary  seventeen  years. 
He  was  commodore  of  the  Albany  Yacht  Club  for  three  years  and  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  first  fencing  class  in  Albany.  He  is  also  president  of  the  Erwin 
Manufacturing  Company  of  Greenbush,  N.  Y.,  and  was  a  director  of  the  South  End 
Bank.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Press,  Acacia  and  Albany  Clubs,  and  also  a  member 
of  the  Albany  Masonic  Veteran  Association. 

Jolley,  Hugh,  who  was  born  in  Galway,  Scotland,  in  1721,  came  to  this  country  in 
1772.  He  kept  the  Abbey  Hotel  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  had  three  sons: 
Samuel,  James  and  Hugh,  who  was  born  in  Scotland  in  1770  and  came  to  this  coun- 
try with  his  father  and  was  a  minister.  He  had  three  sons:  Henry  S.,  Hugh  B. 
and  James  W.  Henry  S.  was  born  in  1807;  he  married  Elizabeth  Ten  Eyck  and 
settled  the  place  known  as  the  Crystal  Hill  farm  in  Bethlehem;  he  died  in  1845, 
leaving  three  sons:  Samuel,  Hugh  R.  and  James  H.  Samuel  was  born  in  1833;  he 
married  Caroline  V. ,  daughter  of  Frederick  Rosekrans.  He  still  remains  on  the 
farm.  He  has  two  sons:  Orville  H.  and  Harry  S.,  who  is  on  the  farm  with  his 
father.  Orville  H.  was  born  in  1862  and  resides  in  New  York  city;  he  has  one  son: 
Orville  Blaine  Jolley. 

Graham,  Edward  J.,  son  of  John  and  Margaret  (Kirwin)  Graham,  was  born  in  Al- 
bany, July  25,  1857,  attended  the  public  and  high  schools,  graduating  in  1874  and 
read  law  with  Hand,  Hale,  Schwartz  &  Fairchild  and  with  Attorney-General 
Charles  S.  Fairchild,  being  also  a  clerk  in  the  attorney-general's  office.  He  com- 
pleted his  law  studies  in  the  office  of  Hon.  Sidney  T.  Fairchild.  counsel  for  the  N.  Y. 
C.  &  H.  R.  R.  R.  and  treasurer  of  the  Hudson  River  Bridge  Company,  and   was  ad- 


mitted  to  the  bar  in  1878.  In  May,  1885,  he  went  to  Washington  as  private  secre- 
tary to  Hon.  Charles  S.  Fairchild,  assistant  secretary  of  the  treasury,  and  remained 
with  him  in  the  same  capacity  while  he  was  secretary  of  the  treasury,  resigning 
in  April.  1889.  Returning  to  Albany,  Mr.  Graham  has  since  been  in  the  active 
practice  of  his  profession.  In  1883  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Albany  Board 
of  Public  Instruction  and  served  until  he  went  to  Washington.  He  was  appointed 
a  civil  service  commissioner  by  Mayor  Manning  and  held  the  office  about  one  year, 
when  he  resigned.  In  May,  1893,  he  was  appointed  by  Comptroller  James  H. 
Eckels  national  bank  examiner  for  the  Northern  District  of  New  York,  and  still 
holds  that  position.  He  is  a  member  and  trustee  of  the  Catholic  Union  and  is  un- 
married. 

Hull,  Samuel  T.,  son  of  Henry  G.  and  Rhoda  A.  (Corbin)  Hull,  was  born  in  Rox- 
bury,  Delaware  county,  N.  Y. ,  October  20,  1851.  His  father's  ancestors  were  mem- 
bers of  an  old  Connecticut  family  that  served  in  the  Revolution ;  one  of  them  hav. 
ing  been  Captain  Hull,  who  commanded  the  U.  S.  S.  Constitution  at  the  time  of  her 
engagement  with  the  Guerriere.  His  mother's  ancestors,  the  Corbins,  belonged  to  a 
prosperous  family  in  Delaware  county  and  they  fought  in  the  Revolution.  Mr. 
Hull's  father  was  a  stock  dealer  and  farmer  and  died  in  1853.  Samuel  T.  Hull  was 
educated  at  the  Roxbury  Academy  and  at  Stamford  Seminary,  Stamford,  N.  Y., 
and  was  graduated  from  that  institution  in  1871.  He  then  went  to  Cobleskill,  Scho- 
harie county,  and  studied  law  with  County  Judge  William  C.  Lamont,  teaching 
school  during  the  winters.  He  left  there  in  November,  1872,  and  taught  school  at 
Arkville,  Delaware  county,  during  that  winter,  and  in  March,  1873,  he  went  to 
Kingston,  N.  Y.,  and  entered  the  law  office  of  ex-Attorney-General  Schoonmaker  as 
managing  clerk.  Mr.  Hull  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  January,  1875,  and  practiced 
law  at  Kingston  until  April  1,  1890,  when  he  was  appointed  bookkeeper  of  the  State 
Banking  Department  at  Albany.  Subsequently  he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of 
chief  clerk  and  remained  there  until  May  1,  1896,  some  months  after  the  resigna- 
tion of  Hon.  Charles  M.  Preston,  superintendent.  He  then  formed  a  copartnership 
with  the  Hon.  Galen  R.  Hitt,  with  whom  he  has  since  practiced  law  in  Albany.  He 
was  for  eight  years  city  judge  of  Kingston  and  for  four  years  justice  of  sessions 
of  Ulster  county.  He  is  Past  Grand  Chanceller  of  the  order  of  Knights  of  Pythias 
of  New  York  State;  isa  member  of  Kingston  Division  No.  18,  U.  R.  K.  P..  Endow- 
ment Section  No.  185,  K.  P.,  Franklin  Lodge  No.  37,  K.  P.,  and  is  now  Chief  Tri- 
bune, the  head  of  the  judicial  branch  of  the  order.  Mr.  Hull  is  a  Past  Grand  of 
Kosciusko  Lodge  No.  86,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  a  member  of  Kingston  Encampment  No. 
125,  I.  O.  O.  F.  He  is  at  present  Past  Regent  of  Albany  Council  No.  1560,  Royal 
Arcanum,  and  Senior  Seneschal  of  Albany  Senate  No.  641,  K.  A.  E.  O.  He  was 
superintendent  of  the  engrossing  room  of  the  Assembly  during  the  winter  of  INS;;, 
and  has  several  times  been  a  delegate  to  Democratic  State  and  county  conventions. 
October  2,  1873,  he  married  Saphronia  R.  Jones  of  Kingston,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have 
one  daughter:  Vira  R. 

Jacobson,  Peter,  wasbornouhisgrandfather'shomrsuad,  September24, 1842.  facob, 
the  founder  of  the  family  in  America,  came  from  Holland  before  the  Revolutionary 
war  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Bethlehem,  where  he  engaged  in  farming.  His  wife 
was  Maria  Veeder,  whom  he  married  in  his  native  place.     They  reared  six  children; 


ss 

Volkert,  John,  Henry  and  Simon  (twins),  Maria,  and  Jane.  Henry,  the  grandfather, 
was  born  in  Bethlehem  in  1773.  He  was  a  lifelong  farmer  and  from  the  time  he  was 
eighteen  he  lived  in  Guilderland,  where  he  was  fairly  prosperous.  His  wife  was 
Eve,  daughter  of  Henry  Apple,  who  came  to  America  from  Germany,  and  their 
children  were  Maria,  Jacob  L.,  Harriet,  Nancy,  Eve,  Henry,  Simon,  Margaret  and 
Jane.  He  died  in  August,  1853,  and  his  wife,  in  1865.  Henry,  the  father,  was  born 
in  Guilderland  (on  the  homestead)  in  1810,  where  he  spent  his  entire  life.  He  also 
purchased  another  farm  where  Peter  Jacobson  now  resides.  His  wife  was  Susan, 
daughter  of  Peter  Wormer  of  Guilderland,  and  their  children  were  Peter  W.  and 
Susan  M.  His  wife  died  in  1846.  His  second  wife  was  Catherine  Beebe,  by  whom 
he  had  one  child,  William  H.  Henry  Jacobson  died  in  1885,  and  his  wife  in  1891. 
Peter  W.  attended  the  common  schools  and  remained  on  the  farm,  working  for  his 
father  until  his  death,  when  the  property  was  divided  and  he  took  his  present  farm 
upon  which  he  has  since  lived,  doing  general  farming  and  devoting  much  attention 
to  the  breeding  of  Jersey  and  other  high  grade  cattle.  In  1868  he  married  Harriet, 
daughter  of  Philip  Ogsbury  of  Guilderland,  and  their  children  are  Charles,  Anna, 
Henry.  Susan,  and  Hattie  Rolena.  Mr.  Jacobson  has  been  treasurer  of  the  Re- 
formed church  for  eleven  years,  also  has  acted  as  deacon  and  elder,  and  has  been 
secretary  of  the  Guilderland  Cemetery  Association  for  several  years.  His  wife  has 
been  treasurer  of  the  Missionary  Society  for  seven  years. 

Kimmey,  John  B.,  is  the  son  of  Richard  Kimmey,  who  was  for  many  years  en- 
gaged in  the  produce  shipping  business  at  Cedar  Hill,  and  was  twice  member  of  the 
Legislature.  He  died  in  1879  and  left  two  sons:  William  of  New  York  and  John  B., 
who  remained  on  the  homestead  and  is  a  farmer  and  gardener,  and  is  also  postmas- 
ter. He  has  two  sons,  Myndart  V. ,  and  Clarence.  Mr.  Kimmey' s  grandfather  was 
Frederick,  whose  father,  John  Kimmey,  came  from  Holland  and  settled  in  Bethle- 
hem, j 

Lodge,  Barrington,  was  born  October  13,  1828,  in  Dublin.  Ireland.  Thomas  Pip- 
piet  Lodge,  his  father,  a  native  of  Carlow,  Ireland,  was  of  French  extraction  and  at 
an  early  age  enlisted  in  the  English  army,  with  which  he  participated  with  Welling- 
ton in  the  battles  of  Waterloo,  Salamanca  and  Victoria.  After  Waterloo  he  married 
Adelaide  Le  Dou,  of  Gaillefontaine,  France,  and  later  went  to  Newfoundlrnd,  where 
he  received  the  appointment  of  ordnance  storekeeper  under  the  British  government 
and  there  Barrington  obtained  his  education  iu  private  schools.  In  1852  Barrington 
Lodge  came  to  Albany,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  was  a  clerk  in  the  dry  goods 
jobbing  house  of  Sheldons  &  Co.  in  1852.  In  1861  he  formed  a  copartnership  with 
Henry  B.,  son  of  Alexander  Marvin  Gregory,  and  engaged  in  the  knit  goods  busi- 
ness under  the  firm  name  of  Lodge,  Gregory  &  Co.  In  1882  the  firm  became  Lodge, 
Wilkins  &  Co.,  and  in  1887  it  was  changed  to  B.  Lodge  &  Co.,  which  still  continues, 
Mr.  Lodge's  two  sons,  William  S.  and  Charles  V.  D.,  becoming  members  in  1893. 
Mr.  Lodge  is  a  great  lover  of  literature,  well  versed  in  history,  political  economy,  - 
biography  and  science,  and  from  the  age  of  fifteen  has  written  much  for  the  press. 
For  poetry  and  versification  he  possesses  unusual  talent  and  has  gained  a  high  repu- 
tation in  this  respect.  Such  poems  as  "  The  Perquisition,"  "Fate,"  "Altruistic," 
"Charity,"  "  It  might  have  been,"  "Chadidja,"  "  The  Boulders  of  Blue  Mountains," 
"Normandie,"    "The   Blue  Bell,"    "A   Reverie."    "  Mary  March,"  and  many  others 


89 

exhibit  high  poetical  instinct  and  the  wide  scope  of  his  genius.  In  1854  he  married 
Annie,  daughter  of  John  B.  Scott  and  niece  of  William  B.  Scott  of  Albany.  She 
died  in  1886,  leaving  the  two  sons  previously  mentioned.  In  1888  he  married  Chris- 
tina, daughter  of  Alexander  Graham  of  Newfoundland,  whom  he  had  not  seen  in 
thirty  years,  her  home  being  at  Balarat,  Australia,  during  that  time. 

Lawson,  Joseph  A.,  son  of  Isaac  and  Elizabeth  L.  (Steere)  Lawson,  was  born  in 
Albany,  December  13,  1859.  The  family  have  lived  in  Albany  county  for  more 
than  one  hundred  years,  the  old  homestead  in  Watervliet,  now  Colonie,  having  been 
purchased  by  his  great-grandfather,  Peter  Lawrence  Lawson,  from  the  French 
refugee,  Marquis  La  Tour ;  it  has  always  remained  in  the  name  and  is  now  owned 
by  a  cousin,  Joseph  C.  Lawson.  His  ancestors  fought  in  the  Revolutionary  war  and 
were  with  the  detachment  that  captured  Major  Andre.  Isaac  Lawson,  for  many 
years  a  prominent  lawyer  in  Albany,  was  the  Republican  nominee  for  justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  in  1887.  His  wife  came  from  an  old  Rhode  Island  family  of  Eng- 
lish descent.  Joseph  A.  Lawson  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Academy  in  1878, 
with  the  highest  honors.  He  read  law  in  New  York  with  Marsh,  Wilson  &  Wallis 
and  in  Albany  with  I.  &  J.  M.  Lawson,  and  took  a  course  of  lectures  at  the  Albany 
Law  School  and  was  graduated  from  Columbia  Law  School  in  New  York  city  in 
May,  1882,  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.,  and  in  September  of  the  same  year  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  by  the  General  Term  of  the  Supreme  Court.  He  began  practice  in 
New  York  city,  associating  himself  with  the  firm  of  Marsh,  Wilson  &  Wallis.  In 
1884  he  returned  to  Albany  and  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  I.  &  J.  M.  Lawson 
until  the  fall  of  1891,  when  he  withdrew  and  opened  his  present  office.  While  a 
student  at  law  Mr.  Lawson  indulged  in  some  newspaper  and  magazine  work,  being 
connected  as  editor  and  proprietor  with  the  Fort  Orange  Monthly,  and  later  assum- 
ing the  duties  of  editor  of  the  Sunday  edition  of  the  Albany  Morning  Express.  As 
a  lawyer,  he  has  been  successful  and  is  possessed  of  sound  judgment  and  forensic 
ability.  He  is  a  Democrat  and  has  been  active  as  a  stump  speaker  throughout  the 
State,  and  from  January  to  October,  1896,  served  as  Mayor  Thacher's  first  clerk. 
He  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Albany  Press  Club;  a  member  of  the  Fort  Orange 
Club,  the  Albany  Camera,  Burns,  Whist  and  Chess,  and  Young  Men's  Demccratic 
Clubs,  the  Albany  Institute  and  the  Albany  County  Wheelmen;  a  sustaining  mem- 
ber of  the  Y.M.C.A.  ;  a  member  and  past  master  of  Masters  Lodge,  No.  5,  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  a  member  of  the  American  Bar  Association,  and  a  member  and  formerly  secre- 
tary of  the  New  York  State  Bar  Association.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Faculty 
of  the  Albany  Law  School  since  1895.  Among  his  most  significant  achievements 
have  been  his  successes  as  a  postprandial  orator  and  campaign  speaker  of  originality 
and  force.  In  June,  1885,  he  married  Ilarriette  C,  daughter  of  William  E.  and 
Helen  S.  Morgan,  of  Syracuse,  and  their  children  are  Helen  E.  and  Florence  M. 

Mears,  Edward  Norris  Kirk,  A.  B.,  M.  I).,  was  born  in  Cambridge,  Mass..  July  1, 
1870,  and  is  a  son  of  the  Rev.  D.  O.  Mears,  D.  D. ,  the  pastor  of  the  Fourth  Presby- 
terian church  of  Albany,  X.  V.  Dr.  Mears  attended  the  public  schools  a!  Worces- 
ter, Mass.,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Worcester  Academy  in  1888.  He  then 
attended  Williams  College  and  was  graduated  in  1892.  Wildcat  Williams  College 
he  studied  medicine  under  Dr.  L.  D.  Woodbridge,  and  after  leaving  there  he  spent 
one  year  at  Columbia  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  New  York  city,  under 
1 


90 


the  preceptorship  of  Dr.  Robert  F.  Weir.  He  then  came  to  Albany  and  studied 
with  Drs.  J.  M.  Bigelow  and  A.  Vander  Veer,  and  in  1895  was  graduated  from  the 
Albany  Medical  College  and  received  the  degree  of  M.  D.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Alpha  Delta  Phi  fraternity  and  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society.  He  is  also 
climical  assistant  in  the  Albany  Medical  College  and  assistant  in  the  genito-urinary 
department  of  the  Albany  Hospital.  June  1,  1893,  he  married  Elizabeth  Cooper  of 
Bennington,  Vt. 

Marshall,  Mrs.  P.,  is  the  widow  of  the  late  Philip  E.  Marshall,  whose  death  oc- 
curred in  1891,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years.  Mr.  Marshall  was  one  of  the  earliest 
business  men  of  Cohoes,  taking  up  a  residence  there  in  1859.  He  established  a  dry 
goods  business  there  in  partnership  with  Rodney  Wilcox.  Later  he  went  into  the 
lumber  trade,  which  is  still  owned  and  operated  by  his  widow.  Mr.  Marshall  was 
born  at  Victory  Mills,  Saratoga  county,  in  1830,  and  spent  four  years  in  California 
before  making  his  home  here,  where  he  became  a  leading  citizen,  honored  by  all 
who  knew  him.  He  was  survived  by  his  widow  and  three  sons:  Harry  A.  (deceased), 
Charles  E.,  practicing  medicine  at  Lead,  South  Dakota,  and  Frederick  W.,  at  home. 

Oliver,  George,  is  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  of  Cohoes,  inheriting  with  his  six 
brothers  and  sisters  a  large  farm  property,  which  they  have  sold.  He  has  interests 
in  many  parts  of  the  United  States,  among  which  are  the  Oliver  Bros.  Grist  Mill, 
flour  and  feed  at  297  Ontario  street,  brass  and  iron  bedstead  manufacturer  at  Lock- 
port,  N.  Y.,  Green  Island  Knitting  Mill,  phosphate  and  fertilizers  and  oil  works  in 
North  Carolina,  and  the  oil  business  at  Atlanta,  Ga.  He  was  born  at  Argyle,  N.  Y. 
in  1839,  and  was  the  son  of  John  Oliver,  a  farmer  of  Cambridge,  who  died  in  1861. 
Mr.  Oliver  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Washington  county,  came  to  Waterford  in  1839 
and  to  Cohoes  in  1860,  building  a  cider  mill  in  1862.  His  wife  was  Isabella  Frink, 
who  bore  him  three  children:   Harrison  G.,  Grace,  and  Marion  Ruth. 

Pearse,  Harry  Seymour,  M.  D.,  son  of  Charles  W.  and  Nellie  (Skinner)  Pearse, 
was  born  in  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  November  2,  1870.  His  father  was  a  native  of  England 
and  his  mother  a  descendant  af  the  Puritans.  He  was  educated  in  the  Elmira  Free 
Academy  and  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  1892.  He  then 
completed  a  three  years'  course  on  the  staff  of  Bellevue  Hospital,  New  York  city. 
Dr.  Pearse  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society  and  of  the  Society  of 
Alumni  of  Bellevue  Hospital,  New  York.  June  10,  1896,  he  married  Cornelia  Smith, 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Battershall,  rector  of  St.  Peter's  church. 

Goldring,  Samuel,  son  of  William,  was  born  December  29,  1864,  in  West  Dean, 
Sussex,  England,  and  came  to  America  in  1886.  He  was  for  two  years  foreman  of 
the  gardening  department  for  W.  C.  Wilson,  on  Long  Island,  and  in  1888  he  came 
to  Albany  and  first  engaged  in  the  flower  business  on  Western  avenue,  and  six  months 
later  formed  a  partnership  with  H.  G.  Eyres  as  Eyres  &  Co.  The)'  carried  on  a  large 
floral  business  until  February,  1895,  when  Mr.  Goldring  withdrew  and  formed  a  co- 
partnership with  his  brother,  Frederick,  under  the  style  ol  Goldring  Brothers. 
They  have  a  retail  store  at  No.  30  North  Pearl  street,  and  also  run  the  old  Font 
Grove  green-houses  at  Slingerlands,  where  they  have  over  77,000  square  feet  covered 
with  glass;  they  do  both  a  wholesale  and  retail  business.  Frederick  Goldring  came 
to  America  in   1878  and  settled  in  Albany,  where  he  was  for  eleven  years  orchid 


91 

grower  for  Erastus  Corning.  Both  brothers  are  members  of  the  Society  of  American 
Florists  and  of  the  Royal  Arcanum.  Samuel  Goldring  is  district  deputy  grand 
regent  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  a  member  of  Wadsworth  Lodge  No.  417,  F.  &  A. 
M.,  Temple  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.,  De  Witt  Clinton  Council,  R  &  S.  M.,  Temple  Com- 
mandery,  K.  T.,  the  Elks  and  the  Albany  Press  Club.  In  1888  he  married  Miss 
Etta,  daughter  of  William  Potkora,  one  of  the  oldest  florists  in  Albany,  and  their 
children  are  Edith  Frederica  and  Jessica  Louisa. 

Stedman,  Francis  W.,  son  of  George  L.  (see  sketch)  and  Adda  (Woolverton)  Sted- 
man,  was  born  in  Albany,  December  7,  1867,  attended  the  Albany  Academy,  and  in 
1884  became  connected  with  the  People's  Gas  Company,  of  which  George  A.  Wool- 
verton was  president,  and  George  L.  Stedman  was  vice-president.  When  they  sold 
out  he  became  shipping  clerk  for  Tracey  &  Wilson,  wholesale  grocers,  and  in  April, 
1891,  he  entered  the  firm  of  T.  M.  Hackett  &  Stedman,  coal  dealers,  whom  he  suc- 
ceeded in  1892.  Since  1893  he  has  conducted  exclusively  a  wholesale  business,  cov- 
ering New  York  and  the  New  England  States.  He  is  sales  agent  for  the  coal  mined 
by  David  E.  Williams  &  Co.,  a  firm  composed  of  the  brother-in-law  and  son  of 
George  B.  Roberts,  president  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company.  Mr.  Stedman 
is  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution  through  Amos  Hooker,  whose  son,  John 
Parker  Hooker,  was  the  maternal  grandfather  of  George  L.  Stedman,  above  named. 
Amos  Hooker  was  a  corporal  in  the  Revolution,  and  was  killed  in  service.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1893,  Francis  W.  Stedman  married  Clara  H.,  daughter  of  Ralph  W.  Thacher 
of  Albany,  and  they  have  one  son,  Woolverton  Thacher  Stedman.  In  November, 
1896,  he  became  a  director  and  officer  of  the  Albany  Art  Union  of  Albany,  N.Y. 

Nellis,  William  J.,  M.  D.,  son  of  Jacob  and  Julia  A.  (Wright)  Nellis,  was  born  at 
Schoharie  Court  House,  N.  Y.,  September  3,  1855.  He  was  graduated  from  Scho- 
harie Academy  in  1873  and  then  engaged  in  the  jewelry  business  in  Schoharie  for 
one  year.  In  1874  he  came  to  Albany  as  a  partner  in  the  drug  firm  of  J.  Nellis  & 
Sons,  from  which  he  withdrew  in  1876.  While  there  he  read  medicine  with  Dr. 
John  M.  Bigelow  and  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  18" 9;  since 
then  he  has  been  in  active  practice  in  Albany.  He  took  post-graduate  courses  in  the 
New  York  Polyclinic  Hospital  and  College,  in  laryngology  and  rhiuology  and  in  the 
New  York  Post-Graduate  School  in  clinical  medicine,  pathology  and  diseases  of  the 
nose  and  throat.  He  is  a  member  and  ex-secretary  of  the  Albany  County  Medical 
Society,  a  member  of  the  New  York  State  Medical  Society  and  chairman  of  its  com- 
mittee of  arrangements.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution,  through 
his  great-grandfather,  Peter  Nellis,  who  served  in  the  2d  Regiment  Tryon  county 
militia,  from  1779  to  the  close  of  the  war;  a  member  of  Masters  Lodge  No.  5,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  the  Phi  Sigma  Kappa,  the  Fort  Orange,  Albany  Camera,  and  Albany  Coun- 
try Clubs,  the  Mohican  Camera  Club,  and  served  for  three  years  as  Meet  surgeon  of 
the  American  Canoe  Association. 

Bell,  E.  M.,  M.  D.,  has  been  a  general  practitioner  at  Cohoes  since  1893,  when  he 
graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  College.  He  is  of  French  ancestry  and  son  of 
Louis  Bell,  and  was  born  at  Ellenburg,  N.  Y . ,  in  1866.  He  had  taken  an  academic 
course  before  entering  the  medical  college,  and  is  thoroughly  prepared  for  his  chosen 
life  work  in  the  healing  art.  By  his  untiring  devotion  to  his  calling,  which  he  gives, 
he  has  a  brilliant  future  before  him.     He  is  at  present  located  at  97  Ontario  street. 


His  wife  was  Lottie   Bennett  of  Troy,  by  whom  he  has  one  daughter,  Edith,   three 
years  of  age,  and  had  one  son,  Clarence,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Ford,  Charles  R.,  is  a  son  of  the  late  George  F.  Ford  of  Cohoes,  a  well  known  in- 
surance and  real  estate  agent,  a  man  well  known  for  his  benevolence  and  a  good 
citizen.  Mr.  Ford  was  born  about  thirty  years  ago,  and  as  a  boy  attended  the 
public  schools  of  the  city,  from  which  he  left  to  accept  a  position  with  Joseph 
Stevens,  the  newsdealer,  where  he  became  a  clerk  and  acted  'as  a  newsboy.  It 
was  not  long  before  he  received  an  appointment  as  general  delivery  clerk  at  the 
post-office  under  James  H.  Masten,  the  postmaster.  Here  he  served  faithfully 
for  two  years  until  called  to  a  position  as  messenger  in  the  National  Bank  in 
1884.  Mr,  Ford  served  as  discount  clerk  and  individual  bookkeeper  through  ad- 
vancement until  February  1,  1896,  when  he  received  the  appointment  as  treasurer 
of  the  Cohoes  Savings  Institution,  one  of  the  most  honored  positions  that  can  come 
to  a  man,  especially  one  as  young  as  Mr.  Ford.  It  is  a  position  of  trust,  as  the  4,800 
depositors,  representing  nearly  82,000,000  of  the  people's  money,  is  under  his  direct 
charge.  Mr.  Ford,  while  not  holding  any  political  position,  takes  a  deep  interest  in 
all  public  affairs,  and  is  usually  found  battling  for  good  government.  He  is  record- 
ing secretary  and  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association  and  is  one  of  its  charter  members.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Business 
Men's  Association.  As  an  active  member  of  St.  John's  church,  he  has  always 
taken  a  prominent  part  in  its  advancement,  and  is  connected  with  many  of  its 
societies.  Mr.  Ford  is  also  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Ford  &  Sons,  real  estate  and  in- 
surance agents,  28  Main  street,  one  of  the  leading  agencies  of  the  city,  he  having 
charge  of  the  real  estate  department. 

Foster,  E.  H.,  identified  with  the  most  successful  printing  establishment  of  Albany 
county,  the  well  known  Foster  &  Co.  printing,  engraving  and  binding,  of  Cohoes, 
Remsen  and  Factory  streets,  is  a  native  of  Cohoes.  He  was  born  in  1849,  and  is  the 
son  of  Samuel  H.  Foster,  a  lawyer  who  came  here  in  1846  from  Albany.  The  latter' 
was  for  many  years  president  of  the  Board  of  Education  here,  holding  the  position 
at  the  time  of  his  death.  E.  H.  Foster  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  here,  and 
acquired  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  printing  business.  He  served  an  apprentice- 
ship on  the  Cohoes  Cataract  and  afterwards  became  foreman  of  the  composing  room 
of  the  Cohoes  Democrat.  Later  he  went  in  business  with  R.  S.  Clark  of  Cohoes; 
however,  the  firm  was  dissolved  and  Mr.  Foster  has  controlled  the  establishment 
himself  since  1889.  Being  a  man  of  unusual  enterprise,  the  house  stands  second  to 
none  in  amount  or  quality  of  work  accomplished.  As  a  citizen  Mr.  Foster  commands 
the  highest  respect  and  is  honored  by  a  host  of  friends.  In  1867  he  married  Mary 
MacKerlie  of  Amsterdam,  N.  Y.  They  are  the  parents  of  seven  children,  three  of 
whom  are  living — Fred  C,  Samuel  H.  and  Eugene  A.  For  four  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Hospital  Commissioners  of  the  city  of  Cohoes. 

Hayes,  Edward,  a  civil  engineer,  is  also  associated  with  a  fire  insurance  business. 
He  graduated  from  Cornell  University,  Ithaca,  N.  Y,,  with  the  degree  of  C.  E.  He 
began  practicing  in  1878  and  held  the  position  of  city  engineer  of  Cohoes,  N.  Y. ,  for 
eight  years.  He  is  now  (1895-1896)  the  engineer  for  the  Public  Improvement  Com- 
mission of  the  City  of  Cohoes,  N.  Y.  He  was  born  in  Blossburg,  Pa,,  in  1S5-J,  and 
has  been  a  resident  of  Cohoes  since  1856. 


93 

Hay,  Miller,  city  chamberlain,  is  a  lifelong  resident  of  the  city,  with  whose  munic- 
ipal government  his  father,  the  late  James  Hay,  was  also  closely  identified.  Mr. 
Hay  was  born  in  Cohoes  in  1849,  and  after  acquiring  a  good  business  education,  was 
for  a  short  time  an  employee  of  a  sash  and  blind  factory.  In  186!*  he  joined  the  fire 
department,  became  foreman,  afterward  assistant  chief  and  then  chief  for  two  years; 
he  then  learned  the  knitting  trade  and  was  engaged  in  the  leading  mills  of  Cohoes; 
for  one  year  he  was  engaged  in  the  county  clerk's  office  under  Albert  Judson  in  1871. 
In  1872  he  was  appointed  messenger  for  Senator  Charles  H.  Adams,  with  whom  he 
remained  two  years  and  for  two  years  was  with  William  B.  Woodin  of  Auburn,  in 
intimate  contact  with  the  State  Legislature,  and  was  of  great  service  as  an  educa- 
tional factor  afterward.  He  conducted  a  confectionery  in  Cohoes.  In  1878  he  was 
appointed  jailer  and  served  four  years,  and  in  1883  was  appointed  an  inspector  of 
customs  at  Albany.  He  returned  to  Cohoes  in  1886  and  engaged  in  the  fruit  trade, 
but  on  account  of  ill  health  he  disposed  of  his  business  and  went  to  Europe.  In 
1890  Mr.  Hay  was  appointed  to  the  responsible  office  of  chamberlain  for  two  years, 
and  was  reappointed,  and  is  on  his  fourth  term,  making  eight  years  and  is  the 
present  incombent;  his  duties  he  has  discharged  with  great  credit.  He  is  a 
member  of  Cohoes  Lodge  No.  116,  also  president  of  the  Second  Ward  Republican 
Organization,  and  has  been  on  the  city  committee  for  twenty-one  years,  of  which 
time  he  was  treasurer  eight  years.  He  was  married  in  1875  to  Anna  L.  Greene  of 
Cohoes,  and  has  had  four  children;  those  living  are  Laura  C,  Leslie  M.  and  Ruth 
Eberly. 

Lamb,  James,  whose  death  in  1885  was  so  sorely  felt  in  the  city  of  Cohoes,  was 
one  of  its  most  public  spirited  and  benevolent  citizens.  He  was  a  native  of  Scot- 
land, and  came  to  America  in  early  manhood  and  located  in  Mechanicville,  working 
in  a  tailor  establishment,  which  he  afterwards  purchased.  He  later  engaged  in  the 
same  business  in  Troy,  aud  in  1855  came  to  Cohoes  and  entered  the  employ  of  R. 
G.  -Smith.  In  1857  he  associated  with  Mr.  Leroy,  continuing  the  business  for  eight 
years,  and  was  alone  until  1872,  when  the  present  Globe  Knitting  Mill  was  estab- 
lished, under  the  firm  name  of  Leroy,  Lamb  &  Co.  Mr.  Lamb  was  an  active  poli- 
tician, as  well  as  a  prominent  manufacturer,  and  was  serving  his  sixth  term  as 
alderman  of  the  Third  ward.  In  the  Common  Council  he  was  a  man  of  marked 
ability  and  an  earnest  advocate  of  all  that  pertained  to  the  advancement  of  local 
affairs.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  Scotia,  and  was  past  grand  in  Egberts 
Lodge,  K.  of  P.,  and  also  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.      He  left  a  wife  and  three  children. 

McDowell,  George  H.,  of  the  firm  of  G.  H.  McDowell  <y  Co.,  who  built  in  1891  the 
Cascade  Mills  on  Van  Schaick  s  Island,  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  manufacturers 
in  Cohoes,  where  he  came  with  his  mother  when  only  three  years  old,  his  father, 
David  McDowell,  having  died  when  he  was  an  infant.  He  is  of  Scotch-Irish  descent 
and  was  born  at  Lansingburgh  in  1853.  He  began  business  with  nothing  but  his 
indomitable  courage  and  presevering  efforts  with  which  he  surmounted  every  diffi 
culty  until  he  has  become  one  of  the  most  esteemed  men  of  his  city.  Mr.  McDowell 
first  began  as  a  clerk  in  the  National  Bank  in  1870,  then  as  bookkeeper  until  1881, 
when  he  went  into  the  Egberts  Woolen  Mills  as  superintendent.  In  1882,  with 
Rodney  Wilcox,  he  bought  the  business  and  continued  the  manufacture  of  under- 
wear, etc.,  until  1884,  when  Mr.  Wilcox  sold  out  to  Mr.   George  Neil,  who  was   again 


94 

succeeded  by  H.  S.  Greene  in  1889.  He  was  married  in  1878  to  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Clute.  They  have  five  children.  He  is  treasurer  of  the  board  of  trustees 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  and  a  trustee  of  the  Cohoes  Savings  Institution. 

Smalling,  L.  K.,  has  been  a  resident  of  Cohoes  since  the  1st  of  April,  1866.  He 
was  born  in  Windham,  Greene  county,  in  1840;  his  boyhood  was  spent  at  Ashland; 
he  enlisted  in  Co.  F,  120th  Regiment,  N.  Y.  Vols.,  at  Hunter,  N.  Y.,  in  1862  serving 
throughout  the  war.  He  was  a  corporal  and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Freder- 
icksburg, Chancellorsville,  where  he  was  wounded.  His  first  two  years  here  were 
spent  as  bookkeeper  in  the  office  of  O.  C.  Finney,  then  with  Bogue  &  Wager,  and 
was  afterward  bookkeeper  for  Hilton  &  Co.  He  established  the  present  business 
for  himself  in  1883.  For  one  year  he  was  president  of  the  Merchants'  Association 
and  was  commander  of  the  G.  A.  R.  Post  for  one  year.  Mr.  Smalling  has  been 
notary  public  for  fifteen  years.      His  father  was  Cyrus  Smalling,  a  contractor. 

Smith,  M.  B.,  chief  of  police  of  the  city  of  Cohoes,  is  a  native  of  Troy,  born  in  1843, 
but  has  been  a  resident  here  since  two  years  of  age.  He  went  on  the  capital  police 
force  in  1869,  remaining  on  the  force  most  of  the  time  since.  In  1892  he  reached  his 
present  position,  and  is  regarded  as  a  very  capable  officer,  having  the  esteem  of  the 
force  and  the  citizens.  His  first  relations  with  the  mills  was  that  of  spinner,  soon  be- 
coming foreman  of  that  department.  He  was  also  foreman  of  the  Mohawk  Engine 
Company  No.  2  of  the  Volunteer  Fire  Department,  and  is  a  member  of  Cohoes 
Lodge  No.  116,  F.  &  A.  M. 

Weidman,  Malachi,  though  a  native  of  Berne,  \T.  Y.,  has  been  a  resident  of  Co- 
hoes for  over  sixty  years.  He  was  born  in  1828,  and  was  the  son  of  Abram  Weid- 
man, who  was  for  years  associated  with  the  Silliman's  Axe  Works.  Here  he  was 
first  employed  after  the  acquisition  of  a  good  business  education.  Later  he  con- 
ducted a  retail  meat  market  and  was  for  some  years  engaged  in  the  lime  and  cement 
trade.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  22d  Regiment,  N.  V.  Vols.,  as  a  private  and 
after  two  years  in  service  came  home  an  adjutant.  He  participated  in  thirteen 
battles  and  engagements  without  a  wound,  though  a  horse  was  once  wounded  under 
him.  After  the  war  he  was  for  eight  years  engaged  in  the  wool  trade,  and  for  the 
same  length  of  time  served  as  chief  of  police.  In  1885  he  entered  his  present  busi- 
ness, wholesale  and  retail  dealer  in  lime,  cement  and  sewer  pipe.  In  December, 
1863,  he  married  Sarah  MaeWha. 

Wait,  A.  IX,  who  has  been  reappointed  a  member  of  the  National  Racing  Board  of 
the  L.  A.  W.,  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  and  business  men  of  Cohoes. 
He  has  been  a  resident  here  for  the  past  quarter  of  a  century  and  for  fifteen  years 
has  been  in  the  employ  of  John  Leggett  &  Son,  paper  box  manufacturers,  for  the  past 
live  years  having  managed  their  large  establishment.  Mr.  Wait  is  a  veteran  wheelman, 
having  ridden  since  1883.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Cohoes  Wheelmen,  a  most  flour- 
ishing organization.  He  is  well  known  as  a  successful  race  meet  promoter  and  takes 
a  lively  interest  in  wheeling  and  everything  pertaining  thereto  and  enjoys  well  de- 
served popularity.  He  was  last  year  a  member  of  the  State  Racing  Board  of  the  L. 
A.  W.  and  is  now  chairman  of  that  body,  having  recently  been  appointed  to  that 
position  by  thief  Consul  Potter.  In  politics  Mr.  Wait  is  an  active  worker  and  al- 
though he  has  never  looked   for  political  fame  by  seeking  office  he  has  nevertheless 


95 

been  a  faithful  worker  for  the  party  to  which  he  adheres.  Mr.  Wait  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Cohoes  Lodge  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  an  active  member  of  the  Hiram  Chapter, 
R.  A.  M. 

Gregory,  Hon.  Clifford  D.,  judge  of  the  County  Court,  was  born  in  the  city  of 
New  York  and  liberally  educated  at  La  Fayette  Institute  and  Columbia  College.  He 
became  an  Albanian  in  1875  and  a  student  of  the  Albany  Law  School,  graduating  from 
that  institution  two  years  later.  He  was  for  seven  years  associated  with  the  firm  of 
Parker  &  Countryman,  and  in  1894  formed  a  copartnership  with  his  late  brother, 
George  Stewart  Grego.iv,  which  continued  until  the  death  of  the  latter  in  1888.  He 
is  a  Republican  in  politics,  but  a  politician  of  broad  guage  ;  his  popularity  is  universal. 
His  ability  as  a  debater  and  his  forcible  and  fearless  advocacy  of  commendable  meas- 
ures, made  him  an  acknowledged  leader  in  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  to  which  he  was 
first  elected  in  1888  and  again  elected  without  opposition.  Judge  Gregory  is  a  life 
member  of  the  Society  of  Colonial  Wars,  and  vice-president  of  the  Albany  Chapter; 
a  life  member  and  president  of  the  Albany  Club ;  a  life  member  of  the  Fort  Orange 
Club ;  director  of  the  Albany  County  Bank ;  from  1890  to  1894  was  president  of  the 
Republican  Executive  Committee  of  Albany  County;  and  a  life  member  and  presi- 
dent of  the  Ridgefield  Athletic  Club.  He  is  honored  alike  in  political,  professioual 
and  social  life. 

Masterson,  Gen.  John  Philip,  is  the  eldest  son  of  Philip  and  Mary  (Dolan)  Master- 
son,  natives  of  Longford,  Ireland,  who  resided  in  Albany  over  fifty  years,  dying,  the 
father  on  April  29,  1877,  and  the  mother  September  30,  1877.  He  was  born  in  Al- 
bany, May  6,  1849,  was  educated  in  the  public  and  private  schools  and  in  1864  en- 
tered the  establishment  of  Taylor  &  Waterman  carpet  dealers.  In  1867  he  became  li- 
brarian of  the  Young  Men's  Association,  which  post  he  most  creditably  filled  for  five 
years,  when  he  was  made  chief  managing  clerk  in  Bradstreet's  Mercantile  Agency, 
then  under  Samuel  Moffat.  In  the  spring  of  1874  he  was  elected  a  member  and  secre- 
tary of  the  Democratic  General  Committee  and  occupied  that  position  until  June, 
1896.  In  1875  he  was  appointed  clerk  in  the  adjutant  general's  office  under  Gen. 
Frederick  Townsend  and  held  that  position  four  years,  receiving  while  there  the  title 
of  '•  General,"  by  which  he  has  since  been  popularly  known.  In  1879  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  Board  of  Supervisors  clerk  of  the  committee  on  coroners  and  physi- 
cians, and  later  as  clerk  to  all  the  committees  of  the  board,  and  in  1884  became  con- 
fidential and  chief  clerk  to  the  state  engineer,  a  position  he  held  until  November  28, 
1892.  In  1893  and  again  in  1894  he  was  appointed  police  commissioner,  but  resigned 
in  the  latter  year  to  accept,  in  September,  at  the  hands  of  President  Cleveland,  the 
appointment  of  surveyor  of  customs  of  the  port  of  Albany,  to  succeed  Hon.  John 
M.  Bailey,  which  office  he  still  holds.  Since  leaving  the  Young  Men's  Association 
in  1S74,  he  has  been  an  active,  influential  leader  in  the  Democratic  party.  He  is  a 
life  member  of  the  Catholic  Union,  vice-president  of  the  Democratic  Phalanx,  a  great 
lover  and  collector  of  books,  and  resides  in  the  homestead  in  which  lie  was  born  at 
No.  5  Chestnut  street. 

Milne,  William  James,  Ph.  D.,  LL.D.,  was  horn  in  the  village  of  Forres  in 
the  north  of  Scotland.  His  father,  Charles  Milne,  was  a  Scotchman  by  birth  and 
a  miller  by  occupation.  His  mother  was  Jean  Black,  distantly  related  to  John 
Black,  tlie  distinguished   Scottish  journalist.      William  J.  Milne  spent  the  first  nine 


96 

years  of  his  life  studying  in  the  parochial  school  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at 
his  birth  place.  In  the  autumn  of  1852  Charles  Milne  with  his  family  came  to 
America,  and  after  a  time  settled  in  the  village  of  Holley,  Orleans  county.  Here 
William  J.  Milne  attended  the  academy;  he  also  spent  four  years  as  a  clerk  in  a  vil- 
lage store  and  taught  school  two  terms  to  enable  him  to  prepare  for  college  at  the 
Brockport  Collegiate  Institute.  In  1863  he  entered  the  University  of  Rochester  and 
was  graduated  in  1868.  During  his  course  at  college  he  taught  some  in  the  Roch- 
ester Collegiate  Institute  and  by  his  teaching  earned  more  than  enough  to 
meet  his  expenses  at  college.  During  his  college  course  the  Brockport  Collegiate  In- 
stitute became  a  normal  school  and  Dr.  Milne  was  elected  professor  of  ancient  lan- 
guages. He  occupied  that  position  until  1871,  when  he  organized  the  State  Normal 
and  Training  School  at  Geneseo,  N.  Y. ,  and  became  its  principal.  There  he  re- 
mained eighteen  years  and  made  the  school  one  of  the  best  of  its  kind  in  the  coun- 
try. In  the  autumn  of  1889  Dr.  Milne  succeeded  the  late  Dr.  Waterbury  as  president 
of  the  State  Normal  School  at  Albany,  N.  Y. ,  and  in  the  following  spring  this  institu- 
tion was  chartered  as  a  college  to  train  none  but  teachers.  Dr.  Milne  has  brought 
the  college  into  the  front  rank  of  the  educational  institutions  of  the  State.  He  is  the 
author  of  a  series  of  mathematical  text  books  and  in  addition  has  contributed  many 
articles  to  magazines  and  educational  publications.  He  has  also  delivered  many  lec- 
tures on  the  educational  methods  of  the  day.  He  received  the  degree  of  Ph.  I), 
from  the  University  of  Rochester  and  that  of  LL.D.  from  the  Indiana  Asbury  Uni- 
versity. He  is  an  elder  in  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Albany.  In  1871  he 
married  Eliza  Jeanet  Gates,  sister  of  President  Gates  of  Amherst  College,  and  they 
have  two  children,  a  son  and  a  daughter. 

Ten  Eyck,  James,  was  born  in  Albauy,  N.  Y.,  February  16,  1840.  He  is  a  son  of 
Yisscher  Ten  Eyck,  who  for  a  long  time  was  cashier  of  the  Commercial  Bank.  He 
is  a  descendant  of  an  old  and  historical  family  that  came  from  Holland  to  America 
240  years  ago.  About  the  year  1800  Mr.  Ten  Eyck's  grandfather,  Abraham  R.  Ten 
Eyck,  removed  to  Albany  and  for  a  great  many  years  he  was  prominently  identified 
with  Albany's  interests.  Mr.  Ten  Eyck  attended  the  Albany  Academy  and  was 
graduated  from  Burlington  College,  N.  J.,  in  1855.  He  passed  the  examinations 
and  was  admitted  as  junior  at  Yale  College,  but  owing  to  ill  health  he  was  compelled 
to  change  his  plans.  He  then  started  in  mercantile  life  as  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  the 
Central  Railroad.  In  September,  1857,  he  left  the  railroad  and  entered  the  employ 
of  Bacon  &  Stickney,  dealers  in  coffee  and  spices.  March  1,  1865,  he  was  taken  into 
partnership  and  on  the  death  of  Mr.  Bacon  he  became  senior  partner  of  the  firm. 
In  1864  he  married  the  daughter  of  Mrs.  Margaret  T.  Yan  Vechten  of  Albany,  but 
his  wife  lived  only  eight  months.  Mr.  Ten  Eyck  never  married  again.  He  has 
done  much  for  the  city  of  his  birth  and  has  been  connected  with  all  important  organ- 
izations. He  is  a  member  of  St.  Peter's  church  and  the  Fort  Orange  and  Albany 
Clubs.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Albany  Institute  and  the  only  honorary  member 
of  the  Acacia  Club.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican  and  has  been  chairman  of 
the  General  County  Committee.  He  was  at  the  head  of  the  Citizens  Committee 
that  had  in  charge  the  reception  to  President  Harrison  in  1891.  Mr.  Ten  Eyck  offi- 
ciated at  the  laying  of  the  corner  stones  of  the  State  Armory,  Harmanus  Bleecker 
Hall   and  the  Albany   Masonic  Burial  lot,  also  of  the  Burns  Monument.     April  04, 


97 

1889,  he  presided  at  the  jubilee  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  in  celebrating  the  final 
payment  of  debt  on  the  Masonic  Temple  of  New  York  city.  Mr.  Ten  Eyck  is  the  oldest 
33  Mason  in  Albany  and  has  been  actively  identified  with  the  fraternity  since  his 
initiation  in  Masters  Lodge  No.  5,  November  23,  1863.  He  was  master  from  1873  to 
1877,  having  passed  all  the  chairs.  June  8,  1892,  he  was  elected  grand  master  of 
Masons  in  the  State  of  New  York.  He  was  also  re-elected  unanimously  but  de- 
clined. Only  one  man  in  the  world  has  a  larger  jurisdiction  over  Masons  than  Mr. 
Ten  Eyck  and  that  man  is  Prince  of  Wales.  When  he  was  grand  master  Mr.  Ten 
Eyck  presided  over  80,000  Masons.  The  Prince  of  Wales,  as  grand  master  of  Great 
Britain  has  jurisdiction  over  about  150,000.  It  is  needless  to  add  that  in  capitular, 
cryptic  and  chivalrous  Masonry,  Mr.  Ten  Eyck  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem. 

Paris,  Dr.  Russel  C,  son  of  Urias  G.  and  Cordelia  E.  (Rogers)  Paris,  was  born 
August  4,  1859,  in  Sandy  Hill,  Washington  county,  N.  Y.  His  father  was  an  eminent 
member  of  the  bar,  and  for  eight  years  was  surrogate  of  Washington  county.  Dr. 
Paris  was  one  of  a  large  family  of  children.  He  attended  the  Sandy  Hill  public 
schools  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  was  appointed  cadet  midshipman,  at  the  Uuited 
States  Naval  Academy,  by  Hon.  James  S.  Smart,  M.  C.  He  was  graduated  in  1877 
with  a  high  standing  and  completed  the  extended  course  two  years  later.  He  stud- 
ied medicine  one  year  with  the  surgeon  on  the  United  States  ship  Constitution,  and 
in  1880  resigned  from  the  navy  and  continued  his  medical  studies  with  his  great- 
uncle,  Dr.  E.  G.  Clark  of  Sandy  Hill  for  one  year.  He  then  came  to  Albany  and 
studied  with  the  late  Dr.  John  Swinburne,  attending  lectures  at  the  Albany  Medical 
College.  He  passed  the  Regents'  medical  examination  in  1883,  and  has  since  prac- 
ticed in  Albany.  He  is  commander  of  Admiral  Farragut  Garrison,  No.  135,  of  the 
Regular  Army  and  Navy  Union,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Sandy  Hill.  In  1889  he  married  Jessie  Nichols  of  Albany,  and  they  have  one  daugh- 
ter, Grace. 

Russell,  George  H.,  was  born  in  Rochester,  Windsor  county,  Vt  ,  August  13,  1848, 
of  New  England  stock,  his  ancestors  having  gone  from  Northern  Massachusetts  into 
New  Hampshire  and  thence  into  Vermont,  in  the  days  when  that  State  was  first 
settled.  His  parents,  Horace  and  Abigail  S.  (Worcester)  Russell,  removed  to  Albany 
in  1849,  coming  by  their  own  conveyance,  an  uncle,  Dr.  Andrew  W.  Russell,  being 
in  practice  here  for  many  years  and  dying  in  1871.  Dr.  Russell's  wife  was  a  sister 
of  James  T.  Lenox  and  Lionel  U.  Lenox,  the  latter  colonel  of  the  10th  Regt.  in  the 
war  of  1861-65,  James  T.  being  one  of  the  firm  of  Ubsdell,  Pierson  &  Co.,  of  New 
York,  who  opened  the  New  York  store  (now  W.  M.  Whitney  &  Co.  I  May  7.  1859.  In 
this  store  on  the  first  day  of  its  opening,  George  H.  Russell  commenced  work  as  a 
cash  boy,  later  as  a  clerk,  continuing  until  the  spring  of  1863,  when  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  where  his  time  was  spent  at  the  high  school  and  in  the 
store  connected  with  the  woolen  mills  of  L.  Pomeroy's  Sons.  Thence  he  went  as 
superintendent  of  the  mills  run  by  Sarsfield  &  Whittlesey  and  then  was  for  a  time  in 
the  employ  of  the  American  Express  Company.  In  1n<>?  he  returned  to  Greenbush 
with  his  parents,  his  father  being  for  nearly  forty  years  in  the  employ  of  the  Boston 
&  Albany  Railroad,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1889  one  of  the  oldest  conductors 
connected  with  the  road.  Returning  from  Pittsfield  and  having  finished  a  course  at 
the  Albany  Business  College,  he  was  for  a  year  in  the  employ  of  Hinckley  &  Lewis, 


98 

shippers  and  forwarders.  He  was  next  employed  in  the  office  of  the  tobacco  factory 
of  Benjamin  Payn,  which  he  left  to  go  to  Westfield,  Mass.,  returning  to  Greenbush 
in  November,  1871,  where  he  entered  the  employ  of  Charles  R.  Knowles,  then,  as 
now,  a  large  fire  insurance  manager  of  several  companies  for  New  York  State  with 
headquarters  at  Albany.  In  1874,  after  eight  months  spent  in  travel  in  the  Western 
and  Southwestern  States,  he  associated  himself  with  E.  J.  Knowles,  who  had  been 
appointed  manager  for  the  State  for  the  Western  Assurance  Company  of  Canada. 
In  1878  the  firm  of  Knowles  &  Russell  was  formed  for  the  transaction  of  the  fire  in- 
surance business  locally  and  this  connection  continued  until  January  1,  1897,  when 
the  firm  dissolved  and  Mr.  Russell  took  over  the  entire  business.  He  has  represented 
a  large  number  of  companies  and  has  built  up  a  very  large  and  profitable  business. 
Mr.  Russell  is  also  connected  with  various  business  enterprises  in  Albany  and  Green- 
bush.  He  is  a  past  master  of  Greenbush  Lodge  No.  337,  F.  &A.  M.,  past  high  priest 
of  Greenbush  Chapter  No.  274,  R.  A.  M.,  companion  of  De  Witt  Council  No.  22,  R. 
&  S.  M.,  and  a  member  of  Temple  Commandery  No.  2,  K.  T.  He  is  a  trustee  of  the 
Albany  County  Savings  Bank,  the  Albany  Camera  Club  and  the  Greenbush  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  and  was  trustee  for  the  Fourth  ward  two  terms  and  president 
of  the  village  one  term,  declining  a  renomination.  In  1875  he  married  Phebe  A. 
Hermance,  a  descendant  of  the  old  Colurhbia  Dutch  settlers.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren: Mabel  A.  and  Clarence  H.  Mr.  Russell  has  resided  for  twenty-two  years  at 
No.  14  Third  street,  Greenbush;  he  has  also  a  summer  cottage  at  Vischer's  Ferry, 
on  the  Mohawk. 

Scherer,  Hon.  Robert  G.,  was  born  in  Albany,  March  20,  1861,  his  father  being 
George  Scherer,  a  prominent  merchant  well  known  for  his  extensive  influence  among 
his  German  fellow  citizens  and  his  activity  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  their  interests. 
Mr.  Scherer  entered  the  public  schools  and  was  also  for  some  time  under  the  instruc- 
tion of  Prof.  Carl  Meyer;  he  also  received  a  thorough  business  education.  He  en- 
tered the  law  office  of  Messrs.  Paddock,  Draper  &  Chester  (composed  of  Recorder 
William  S.  Paddock,  Andrew  S.  Draper,  now  president  of  the  Illinois  State  Univer- 
sity, and  Judge  Alden  Chester)  and  remained  as  a  clerk  during  the  existence  of  the 
firm.  After  taking  a  course  at  Cornell  University,  he  entered  Columbia  Law  School. 
On  his  admission  to  the  bar  he  formed  a  partnership  with  John  F.  Montignani,  which 
continued  several  years ;  he  is  now  senior  member  of  the  law  firm  of  Scherer  &  Downs. 
Mr.  Scherer  has  been  connected  with  many  important  litigations,  among  which  may 
be  mentioned  the  McPherson  Collateral  Tax  Matter  (104  N.  Y.,  306),  decided  ulti- 
mately by  the  Court  of  Appeals,  which  became  the  leading  case  on  the  subject;  he 
was  also  counsel  in  the  noted  case  People  vs.  Gilson  (109  N.  Y.,  389),  in  which  the 
Court  of  Appeals  unanimously  sustained  Mr.  Scherer's  views.  His  management  of 
the  Milwain  820,000  bond  robbery  and  his  conduct  of  the  Greer  Will  cases  to  a  suc- 
cessfull  issue  are  well  known.  The  Bender  Will  Case  and  the  extensive  assignments 
of  Ward  and  Byrnes,  Nelson,  Lyon,  and  Sullivan  &  Ehlers  are  among  others  of  im- 
portance ;  he  was  also  connected  with  the  Appell  impeachment  proceedings  before 
the  judiciary  committee  of  the  Assembly  in  1895  and  secured  the  acquittal  of  Judge 
Appell.  In  politics  Mr.  Scherer  has  always  been  a  Republican,  and  in  1889  made  a 
creditable  run  for  surrogate.  From  1885  to  1889  he  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Public  Instruction  and  introduced  many  reforms  in  the  school  system.     He  was  a 


'Ill 

member  of  the  State  Legislature  in  1896  and  1897;  in  1896  he  served  on  the  judiciary 
committee  and  the  committee  on  codes,  and  in  1897  was  chairman  of  the  judiciary 
committee.  Mr.  Scherer  is  a  member  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club  and  of  the  committee 
on  law  reform  of  the  State  Bar  Association.  In  1883  he  married  Anna,  daughter  of 
James  T.  Story  of  Albany,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Grace  M. 

Tucker,  Willis  G.,  M.  D.,  son  of  the  late  Luther  Tucker,  editor  and  agricultural 
writer,  was  born  in  Albany  October  31,  1849.  He  was  educated  at  the  Albany 
Academy,  graduating  in  1866  read  medicine  with  the  late  Prof.  James  H.  Armsby, 
and  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  1870.  During  this  period  he 
devoted  much  of  his  time  to  the  study  of  chemistry  and  other  natural  sciences.  In 
1871  he  was  appointed  assistant  professor  of  chemistry  in  the  Aibany  Medical  College, 
and  in  1874  and  1875  lectured  on  materia  medica  also.  When  the  faculty  was  re- 
organized in  1876  he  became  professor  of  inorganic  and  analytical  chemistry,  and  in 
1887  the  department  of  toxicology  was  also  assigned  to  him.  In  1882  he  was  made 
registrar  of  the  college,  which  position  he  still  holds.  Since  1874  Dr.  Tucker  has 
been  lecturer  on  chemistry  at  St.  Agnes  School,  and  at  different  times  professor  of 
chemistry  at  the  Albany  Academy,  the  Albany  Female  Academy,  and  from  1876  to 
1887  in  the  Albany  High  School.  In  1881  he  was  largely  instrumental  in  founding 
the  Albany  College  of  Pharmacy,  a  department  of  Union  University,  and  has  served 
it  as  professor  of  chemistry  and  as  secretary  and  president  of  its  faculty.  In  1881 
he  was  appointed  one  of  the  public  analysts  to  the  State  Board  of  Health,  and  since 
1891  has  been  director  of  the  laboratory  of  the  board.  He  was  one  of  the  originators 
of  the  Alumni  Association  of  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  1874  and  has  ever  since 
been  its  secretary.  He  is  a  fellow  of  the  Chemical  Society  of  London  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  various  scientific  societies  in  this  country. 

Whitbeck,  Dr.  Ansel  McK.,  was  born  in  Columbia  county,  N.  Y.,  February  16, 
1836.  His  father  was  Dr.  Volkert  Whitbeck,  for  sixty-two  years  a  physician  in  Hud- 
son, N.  Y.,  and  his  mother,  Caroline  Rockfeller.  Dr.  Whitbeck' s  ancestors  were 
Holland-Dutch,  who  came  to  America  during  the  early  colonization  and  who  played 
an  important  part  in  the  American  Revolution.  Dr.  Whitbeck  attended  the  Hudson 
Academy,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1854  and  then  went  to  Rochester,  X.  V., 
where  he  studied  medicine  for  a  year.  Upon  returning  to  Hudson  he  engaged  in 
the  drug  business  continuing  the  study  of  medicine  with  his  father,  and  subsequently 
after  attending  a  course  of  lectures  at  Bellevue  Hospital,  New  York  city,  he  received 
in  1859  a  practitioner's  certificate  from  the  Board  of  Censors  of  Columbia  county. 
He  practiced  in  Hudson  until  1881  when  he  removed  to  Albany,  where  he  has  since 
practiced  most  of  the  time,  still,  however,  retaining  an  office  in  Hudsoi.  He  was 
examining  surgeon  during  the  war  and  has  been  city  physician  and  jail  physician  at 
Hudson.  In  1855  he  married  Sarah  Edmonds  Frary,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Frary 
and  niece  of  Dr.  Frary  of  Hudson.  She  died  in  1860,  and  in  1863  he  married  Eme- 
line  Ellis  of  Coxsackie,  N.  Y.,  by  whom  he  had  two  children:  Ansel  E.  and  Emma 
Louise. 

Williams,  Chauncey  P.,  son  of  Josiah  and  Charity  (Shaler)  Williams,  was  born  in 
Upper  Middletown  (now  Cromwell),  Conn.,  March  5,  1817.  He  spent  his  boyhood 
days  on  his  father's  farm,  attending  school  only  in  the  winters,  and  showed  a  deci- 
ded liking  for  mathematics  and  astronomy.     At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  went  as  a 


100 

clerk  in  the  employ  of  his  brothers,  T.  S.  Williams  &  Bros.,  who  were  engaged  in 
commercial  business  at  Ithaca,  N.  Y.  In  1835  he  was  transferred  to  the  Albany 
house  of  the  firm,  then  under  the  direction  of  Josiah  B.  Williams.  In  1839,  with 
Henry  W.  Sage  as  his  partner,  he  succeeded  to  the  business  of  the  Albany  house, 
also  conducting  the  business  at  Ithaca  and  elsewhere.  This  partnership  continued 
through  a  long  term  of  years.  Mr.  Williams  was  a  student  along  lines  of  finance 
and  practical  economics  and  wrote  much  on  our  banking  systems  and  coinage.  In 
1861,  at  the  commencement  of  the  Civil  war,  he  was  asked  to  take  charge  of  the  Al- 
bany Exchange  Bank,  and  he  met  with  such  success  that  when  the  bank  closed  its 
corporate  existence  asa  State  institution  to  become  a  National  bank  in  1865,  the  entire 
capital  was  returned  to  the  shareholders  with  fifty-four  per  cent,  of  the  surplus  earn- 
ings. During  the  Civil  war  his  bank  was  made  the  agent  of  the  Treasury  in  dis- 
tributing the  loans  of  the  government  to  the  people.  He  continued  as  the  financial 
officer  of  the  National  Albany  Exchange  Bank,  first  as  cashier  and  later  as  president, 
during  its  entire  corporate  existence  of  twenty  years,  from  1865  to  1885.  When  the 
bank  closed  after  having  declared  regular  semi-annual  dividends,  its  whole  capital, 
with  ninety-seven  per  cent,  of  surplus  earnings  was  restored  to  its  shareholders.  In 
1885  the  bank  was  reorganized  as  the  National  Exchange  Bank  of  Albany  and  Mr. 
Williams  was  elected  its  president.  In  1887  he  withdrew  from  the  bank  and  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death  had  charge  of  the  business  of  the  Albany  Exchange  Savings 
Bank.  Mr.  Williams  was  elected  alderman  of  his  ward  in  1849.  The  winter  of 
1875-76  he  spent  in  England,  France  and  Italy,  studying  the  banking  system  of 
those  countries.  From  1842  to  1857  he  was  the  repeated  candidate  of  the  old  Liberal 
party  for  Congress  from  the  Albany  district.  In  1868  he  published  a  "Review  of 
the  Financial  Situation  of  Our  Country."  In  1875  he  read  a  paper  before  the  Albany 
Institute  on  "Money,  True  or  False,"  and  in  1886  another  paper  on  "Gold,  Silver 
and  the  Coinage  of  the  Silver  Dollar."  In  1878  he  contributed  to  the  Albany  Jour- 
nal a  series  of  papers  on  "The  Greenback  Question."  October  13,  1887,  he  deliv- 
ered before  the  American  Bankers'  Association  at  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  an  address  on 
the  National  Bank  and  State  Taxation.  In  1842  he  married  Martha  A.  Hough  of 
Whitestown,  N.  Y.,  and  they  had  two  sons:  Frederick  S.,  who  died  September  9,  1870, 
and  Chauncey  P.,  jr.,  who  married  Emma  McClure,  daughter  of  the  late  Archibald 
McClure  of  Albany,  and  three  daughters,  one  of  whom  died  in  March,  1877,  one  the 
wife  of  Robert  C.  Pruyn,  president  of  the  National  Commercial  Bank,  the  other  the 
wife  of  Timothy  S.  Williams,  formerly  private  secretary  to  ex-Governor  Flower. 
Mr.  C.  P.  Williams  died  May  30,  1894,  while  on  a  pleasure  excursion  in  the  North 
Woods. 

Wands,  James  M.,  was  born  on  the  farm  he  now  owns  in  1844.  The  first  of  the 
Wands  to  come  to  America  were  Ebenzer  and  John ;  they  were  Scotch  Highlanders, 
and  were  weavers  by  trade.  They  enlisted  in  the  English  army  and  came  to  Canada 
to  take  part  in  the  French  and  English  war,  having  enlisted  as  volunteers;  they 
served  their  time  and  upon  their  discharge  started  as  pioneers  through  the  woods 
of  New  York  to  Albany,  and  finally  located  in  New  Scotland  in  1762.  Robert,  the 
grandfather  of  the  subject,  was  the  son  of  John,  the  pioneer.  He  was  a  prosper- 
ous farmer  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland,  owning  the  farm  upon  which  James  Wands 
now  lives.     He  reared  a  large  family  and   lived   to  be   over  eighty   years  of  age. 


101 

Ebenezer,  the  father  of  Mr.  Wands,  is  now  a  resident  of  Chippewa  Falls,  Wis., 
and  was  born  on  his  father's  homestead  farm  in  New  Scotland  in  1811,  the  third  of 
six  children;  he  is  a  farmer;  in  1890  he  removed  to  Wisconsin  where  he  owned 
property,  and  has  since  resided  there ;  he  was  twice  married;  his  first  wife  was 
Nancy  McBride,  and  their  children  were  Robert,  who  died  March,  1896;  Sarah,  Alex, 
died  in  1888,  Ralph,  James  M.,  Albert  and  Alfred  (twins),  Jennie  and  Emma.  Of 
these  five  of  the  sons  were  soldiers  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  Mrs.  Wands  died 
in  1854  and  his  second  wife  was  Harriet,  daughter  of  Everett  Walley  of  New  Scot- 
land, by  whom  he  has  had  five  children:  Solomon,  who  died  when  a  young  man; 
Burnside,  who  died  when  he  was  ten  years  old;  Rufus  P.,  William  and  Kate  L. 
His  wife  died  in  1884.  James  M.  Wands  went  to  Voorheesville  when  eight  years 
old  to  live  with  an  uncle,  James  McElroy,  who  was  a  nursery  man.  When  eighteen 
he  enlisted  as  a  volunteer  in  Co.  D,  113th  N.  Y.  Infantry,  under  Captain  McCul- 
lough ;  the  regiment  was  later  changed  to  the  7th  Heavy  Artillery;  he  served  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  His  regiment  participated  in  the  battles  of  Spottsylvania, 
Wilderness  and  Seven  Days  Before  Richmond ;  the  first  year  he  was  stationed  near 
Washington  in  defense  of  that  city.  In  the  spring  of  1864  he  was  promoted  from 
non-commissioned  officer  to  second  lieutenant.  He  was  also  in  the  battle  of  Appo- 
mattox. He  returned  to  Albany  July  4,  1865,  and  was  engaged  for  ten  years  as  a 
foreman  for  Col.  James  Hendrick  on  his  farm.  In  1885  he  purchased  the  homestead 
of  his  father,  consisting  of  eighty-eight  acres  of  farm  land  upon  which  he  does  gen- 
eral farming.  He  pays  special  attention  to  fruit  culture,  and  also  takes  pride  in 
breeding  high  class  stock.  In  1867  he  married  Miss  Martha  Decker  of  Columbia 
county,  a  daughter  of  Francis  and  Lucinda  (Petri)  I  )ecker. 

.Stock,  Bernard,  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  September  1,  1844.  After  attend- 
ing the  public  schools  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  tailoring  trade  in  Frankfort-on- 
Maine.  In  1861  he  went  to  London,  Eng. ,  to  improve  himself  in  his  trade  until 
1871,  then  came  to  America,  and  after  spending  a  short  time  in  New  York  came  to 
Albany  and  took  a  position  as  cutter  for  Walter  F.  Hurcomb,  where  he  remained 
eight  years,  after  which  he  removed  to  Toronto,  Canada,  and  was  manager  and  cut- 
ter for  Score  &  Son,  King  street,  eighteen  months,  then  returned  to  Albany  to  suc- 
ceed W.  F.  Hurcomb  in  his  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Lyman  &  Stock.  Since 
the  death  of  Lyman  he  has  continued  the  business  at  65  North  Pearl  street  under  the 
name  of  Bernard  Stock. 

Wright,  Charles  W.,,was  born  in  the  town  of  Berne,  January  21,  1844.  Samuel 
Wright,  his  great-grandfather,  was  the  first  of  the  family  to  settle  in  Berne;  he  was 
born  in  1758  and  died  January  9,  1831.  Richard  Wright,  the  grandfather,  was  born 
in  Berne,  January  28,  1793,  where  he  was  a  lifelong  farmer.  His  wife  was  Lydia 
Vincent.  Joshua  B.,  the  father  of  Charles  Wright,  was  born  March  28,  1816,  where 
he  also  was  a  farmer,  coming  into  possession  of  his  father's  homestead  of  1(10  acres. 
He  filled  the  office  for  some  years  of  commissioner  of  highways,  etc.  His  wife, 
Lucretia  Wright,  was  born  in  Berne  in  1820,  and  was  a  daughter  of  James  Wright. 
Their  children  were  Wesley,  Charles  W.  and  Richard  (who  died  when  five  years  of 
age).  Joshua  R  died  in  1878  and  his  wife  in  1894.  Charles  W.  Wright  grew  to 
manhood  on  his  father's  farrp  and  attended  the  common  schools  of  his  district  and  a 
term  at  the  Knox   Academy,  and  made  such  progress   in    his  studies   that    before  he 


102 

was  seventeen  years  of  age  he  was  himself  a  teacher  of  a  school,  which  he  followed  " 
winters  until  August  25,  1864,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  L,  3d  N.  Y.  Cavalry,  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  in  several  skirmishes  and  raids  in  Vir- 
ginia and  North  Carolina,  and  the  winter  of  1864-65  he  was  detailed  as  orderly  at 
the  provost  marshal's  quarters.  Soon  after  his  return  home  he  purchased  a  farm 
and  followed  farming  summers  and  teaching  winters,  until  he  had  taught  in  all 
twenty-two  terms.  During  those  years  he  dealt  to  a  considerable  extent  in  clover 
seed  and  since  then  his  farming  has  occupied  most  of  his  attention,  his  farm  consist- 
ing of  seventy  acres.  Mr.  Wright  has  from  time  to  time  filled  the  office  of  inspector 
of  elections,  tax  collector  two  terms,  town  auditor,  and  is  now  filling  the  office  of 
deputy  sheriff.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  Berne  Lodge,  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  Post  Charles  McCullough  No.  645  of  West  Berne,  of  which  he 
was  one  of  the  charter  members  and  of  which  he  is  senior  vice-commander;  he  has 
also  rilled  the  office  of  adjutant  and  junior  vice.  In  1865  he  married  Elmira  Powell, 
a  native  of  Greene  count)',  N.  Y. ,  and  daughter  of  Peter  H.  and  Lucinda  (Crandall) 
Powell.  They  have  one  child,  Helen,  who  married  Melville  C.  Crocker,  and  has  two 
children:  Minnie  and  Stanley. 

Mackey,  Samuel,  son  of  William  J.  and  Eliza  (Park)  Mackey,  was  born  in  the 
North  of  Ireland,  December  14,  1846,  and  came  to  this  country  with  his  parents,  set- 
tling in  Albany,  where  he  attended  the  public  schools,  also  the  old  Lawson  School 
on  Clinton  avenue.  In  1861  he  became  a  clerk  in  the  grocery  store  owned  by  Samuel 
Pruyn  and  run  by  J.  M.  F.  Lightbody,  and  later  as  a  tally  boy  in  the  lumber  district; 
he  was  subsequently  employed  in  the  Winne  &  Northrup  planing  mill  until  Septem- 
ber, 1864,  when  he  left  and  settled  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  engaging  as  a  clerk  for  Smith  & 
Campbell  in  the  grocery  business.  April  3,  1865,  he  enlisted  in  Troy  in  Co.  H,  192d 
Regiment  N.  Y.  V.  ;  he  was  mustered  out  as  sergeant  at  Cumberland,  Md.,  October 
2,  1865,  and  returniug  home,  was  engaged  as  a  clerk  for  Smith  &  Campbell  of  Troy 
until  the  spring  of  1871,  when  he  engaged  in  the  retail  grocery  business  in  Troy, 
buying  the  store  of  Israel  Bickford ;  he  sold  out  his  grocery  business  in  1873  and  be- 
came a  member  of  the  wholesale  fruit  and  commission  firm  of  Bosworth,  Mackey  & 
Co.,  of  New  York  city,  and  in  1874  re-engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in  Troy,  ex- 
cept one  year  when  he  traveled  for  J.  T.  Wilson  &  Co.,  wholesale  grocers  of  New 
York  city.  In  October.  1877,  he  became  a  traveling  salesman  for  P.  V.  Fort,  Son  & 
Co.,  wholesale  dealers  in  fancy  groceries  and  fruits  of  Albany,  and  September  1,  1885, 
was  admitted  to  partnership,  the  firm  name  becoming  P.  V.  Fort,  Sons  &  Co.,  which  on 
September  1, 1889,  was  changed  to  C.  N.  Fort  &  Co.  August  24, 1895,  Mr.  Mackey  with- 
drew and  formed  a  copartnership  with  Mr.  Lewis  G.  Palmer  in  the  wholesale  grocery 
business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Mackey  &  Palmer.  He  is  a  32  Mason,  being  a  member 
of  the  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish  Rite  bodies  of  Albany — Apollo  Lodge  No.  13,  Apollo 
Chapter  No.  48,  Bloss  Council  No.  14  of  Troy,  and  Temple  Commandery  No.  2  and 
Cypress  Temple  of  Albany;  he  is  also  a  member  of  Lew  Benedict  Post  No.  121,  G. 
A.  R.  September  20,  1871,  he  married  Jennie  A.  Cary  of  Troy,  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  Elizabeth  A. 

Moak,  James  Nelson,  was  born  on  the  farm  he  now  owns  in  1843.  Col.  Joseph 
Moak,  his  grandfather,  was  a  native  of  New  Scotland,  and  was  born  probably  about 
the  year  1783;  he  was  a  farmer  by  vocation,  and  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812;  he 


1(13 

owned  the  farm  now  owned  by  James  N.  ;  his  wife  was  Arianna  Taylor,  daughter  of 
Robert  Taylor,  a  native  of  Ireland;  their  children  were  Robert,  Jane,  Frances 
Rachel,  Eve  Ann,  Catharine,  Harriet  and  John  T. ;  he  died  March  28,  1848,  aged 
about  sixty-five,  and  his  wife  died  in  1830.  Robert  Moak,  the  father,  spent  his  en- 
tire life  on  the  farm,  to  which  he  added  forty  acres;  his  wife  was  Mary  McMillen. 
daughter  of  Alex.  McMillen;  their  children  were  John  M. ,  Joseph  A.,  William  Henry 
(who  died  at  eighteen),  Harriet  and  James  N.  ;  he  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Mt.  Pleasant  Cemetery,  and  one  of  the  first  trustees;  he  died  in  1891,  and  his  wife 
in  1865.  James  N.  Moak  has  spent  his  life  thus  far  on  the  homestead  farm,  except- 
ing two  years  spent  in  Albany  in  the  shoe  business.  He  attended  the  common 
schools  and  the  Knox  and  Gallupville  Academies.  In  1868  he  went  to  Albany,  re- 
turning two  years  later  to  the  farm,  which  he  took  charge  of  and  worked  on  shares 
with  his  father,  who  deeded  him  the  farm  to  take  effect  .^n  the  latter's  death.  Mr. 
Moak  has  developed  a  fine  stone  quarry  of  excellent  building  stone.  In,  1865  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Gallup,  born  in  Gallupville,  N.  Y. ,  by  whom  he  has  had  two 
children :  Charles  G.  and  Kittie  L.  Charles  G.  is  married  and  in  the  employ  of  the 
National  Express  Company,  of  Jersey  City,  and  has  one  child,  Clara. 

Schultes,  J.  B.,  was  born  in  Albany  county,  March  16,  1840,  and  is  a  son  of  Paul 
and  Anna  E.  (Bogardus)  Schultes,  born  in  Berne  and  a  son  of  Adam,  a  son  of  one 
of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  town  of  Berne,  where  he  and  the  grandfather  of  J.  B. 
died.  The  father  has  been  a  farmer  and  a  saw  mill  man.  He  died  in  1886,  and  his 
wife  died  in  1890.  J.  B.  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  Berne.  He  located 
in  Rensselaerville  and  engaged  in  the  saw  and  cider  mill  business.  In  1866  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  E.  Snyder  of  Berne,  and  has  one  son,  Arthur,  who  was  educated 
in  Rensselaerville. 

Slausen,  Edwin. — Tryansel  Slausen,  born  in  Albany  countv,  N.  Y.,  1803,  was  a 
son  of  Eliphalet  Slauson,  who  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Westerlo  and  there 
died.  Tryansel  Slauson  was  a  farmer  and  spent  his  life  in  Westerlo  and  Rensselaer- 
ville, N.  Y.,  where  he  was  a  lifelong  Democrat.  He  married  Mary  Ten  Eyck  of 
Albany,  and  they  had  a  family  of  twelve  children,  five  now  living:  Caroline  B., 
widow  of  Martin  Bell,  lives  on  the  homestead;  Hannah  M.  Palmer  of  Greene  county, 
N.  V.,  William,  on  the  homestead,  who  married  Anna  Louisa  Haines  and  has  one 
daughter;  Mary  E.,  widow  of  William  Finch;  Lewis,  who  lives  in  Illinois,  who  mar- 
ried Wilhelmina  Houghton,  andhas  three  daughters;  Edwin,  born  in  Westerlo,  L841, 
and  educated  in  the  common  schools,  is  a  farmer,  and  he  and  his  brother  William 
own  the  homestead  of  100  acres.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  was  excise  com- 
missioner. 

Smith,  Charles  W. ,  son  of  Cornelius  and  Phebe  (Clute)  Smith,  was  born  in  Rock- 
wood,  Fulton  county,  March  4,  1849,  and  came  with  the  family  to  Albany  in  1856. 
I  lis  father  was  associated  with  Alfred  Yan  Santvoord  in  the  steamboat  business  for 
twenty  years,  and  from  1876  until  his  death,  in  1887,  was  a  heavy  dealer  in  ice.  1  It- 
was  one  of  the  original  directors  in  the  Albany  County  Bank  and  a  trustee  of  the 
First  Baptist  church  for  a  number  of  years.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  in  1879 
he  married  Helen  M.  Sherwood,  who  survives.  Charles  W.  Smith  was  educated  at 
public  school  No.  8,  the  Boys'  Academy.  Cass's  Grand  Street  Institute  and  the 
Albany  Business  College,  and  for  two  years  was  purser  on  the  steamer  Mary  Powell, 


mi 

from  Rondout  to  New  York.  After  three  years  as  bookkeeper  for  the  Albany 
County  Savings  Bank  he  became  associated  with  his  father  in  the  ice  business  and 
on  the  latter's  death  succeeded  him.  In  1892  he  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Hudson  Valley  Ice  Company;  he  became  its  president  in  1893,  but  resigned  in  1894 
in  order  to  take  the  office  of  secretary,  which  had  become  vacant,  and  at  the  last  an- 
nual election  held  January  5,  1897,  was  re-elected  to  the  office  of  president.  This 
company  was  incorporated  in  March,  1892,  with  a  a  capital  of  $50,000  and  is  three 
times  larger  than  any  similar  concern  in  Albany,  harvesting  about  40,000  tons  of 
ice  annually.  In  1880  Mr.  Smith  married  Rebecca  L.,  daughter  of  Shuball  Kelly  of 
Guilderland,  Albany  county.  He  has  a  summer  residence  about  five  miles  from  Al- 
bany on  the  Great  Western  Turnpike  where  he  resides  about  five  months  in  the  year. 
The  rest  of  the  year  he  spends  in  the  city. 

Stitt,  James  O.,  is  a  native  of  the  town  of  Rensselaerville,  Albany  county,  born  in 
1856.  Lovett,  the  grandfather,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Rensselaerville  about  1770. 
John  J.,  the  father,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Rensselaerville  in  1814.  He  always 
owned  and  conducted  a  farm,  but  was  an  architect  and  builder  by  trade,  to  which 
he  devoted  most  of  his  attention.  He  had  a  wide  reputation  as  a  church  builder, 
having  to  his  credit  twenty-eight  churches  and  numerous  other  buildings.  In  1860 
he  removed  to  the  town  of  Windham,  Greene  county,  where  he  was  prominently 
connected  with  the  political  affairs  of  his  town,  filling  the  offices  of  supervisor  and 
assessor  and  many  minor  offices.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
Lodge  No.  529.  His  first  wife  was  Miranda  Head,  by  whom  four  children  were 
born:  Rozella,  Ransom,  Sarah,  who  died  when  eight  years  of  age,  and  Salina.  His 
second  wife  was  Lodema  Head,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  and  their  children  were 
James  O.  and  Eunice.  He  died  August  19,  1886,  and  his  wife  died  February  13,  1895. 
Mr.  Stitt  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  his  town  and  worked  on 
his  father's  farm  until  fourteen  years  of  age,  when  his  father  took  him  and  taught 
him  the  builder's  trade.  He  worked  with  his  father  from  that  time,  except  one  year, 
until  he  was  twenty-three  years  of  age.  November  24,  1879,  he  was  married  to 
Annie  E.,  born  in  the  town  of  Windham,  Greene  county,  and  daughter  of  Patrick 
Murray.  In  1880  he  began  for  himself  by  engaging  in  the  hotel  business  at  Indian 
Fields,  in  the  town  of  Coeymans,  where  he  remained  for  eight  years.  In  1888  he 
rented  the  hotel  in  Altamont,  and  two  years  later  purchased  it.  Since  then  he  has 
made  many  essential  improvements  on  his  hotel.  Mr.  Stitt  is  a  man  especially 
adapted  for  the  hotel  business,  and  his  genial  disposition  and  years  of  experience 
have  taught  him  what  is  required  to  make  it  pleasant  for  the  patrons  of  his  house. 
In  1895  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  State  Democratic  Convention  held  in  Syracuse,  and 
of  the  sixteen  years  he  has  been  in  the  business  in  Albany  count}-,  thirteen  of  them 
he  has  been  delegate  to  the  county  conventions. 

Settle,  Theodore,  was  born  in  the  village  of  Berne,  February  24,  1846.  The  great- 
grandfather of  Theodore  Settle  migrated  to  America  from  Berne,  Switzerland,  and 
was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  in  the  town  of  Berne  (now  Knox).  Jacob  Settle,  the 
grandfather  of  Theodore,  was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Knox.  He  was  a  harness- 
maker  by  trade,  which  he  followed  throughout  his  active  life.  His  last  years  were 
spent  in  the  village  of  Berne.  He  married  a  Miss  Hochstrasser,  and  they  had  five 
children.     The  father  of  Theodore  Settle,  Jacob  Settle,  jr.,  was  born  in  the  town  of 


105 

Berne  in  1792.  His  parents  being  poor  his  education  was  very  limited,  and  when  a 
boy  he  was  apprenticed  to  a  Dr.  Hubbell  to  learn  the  mercantile  business  and  also 
was  to  study  medicine ;  the  failure  of  the  doctor  to  remain  in  business  left  him 
without  a  place,  but  he  found  other  employment  and  in  1811  was  taken  in  as  a  part- 
ner in  the  store  business  by  Col.  Johan  Jost  Deitz.  From  1811  to  1864  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business,  building  up  a  trade  second  to'none  in  the  town. 
He  represented  his  district  in  the  Assembly,  served  as  supervisor,  justice  and  town 
clerk,  was  for  thirty-five  years  postmaster,  and  several  years  commissioner  and  in- 
spector of  common  schools.  May  7,  1818,  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  De  Witt  Clin- 
ton cornetist  of  the  5th  Regt.  Cav.  of  the  State  of  New  York,  in  1821  was  commis- 
sioned as  captain,  in  1824  was  appointed  major  of  the  31st  Regt.  and  in  1825  was 
raised  to  the  position  of  lieutenant-colonel.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity. His  wife  was  Cornelia  R.,  daughter  of  Minor  Walden,  who  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  in  Berne,  coming  from  Vermont  about  1809.  Theodore  Settle  received  his 
education  in  the  common  schools  and  spent  his  early  life  in  assisting  m  his  father's 
store.  When  nineteen  years  old  he  engaged  as  clerk  for  his  brother  Charles,  who 
had  succeeded  the  father  in  business.  After  seven  years  he  succeeded  his  brother 
and  has  since  done  a  very  successful  business.  Mr.  Settle  has  served  as  town  clerk 
two  terms,  postmaster  eight  years,  and  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  an  Odd  Fel- 
lows' lodge  in  Berne,  which  after  twenty  years  was  abandoned.  He  is  treasurer  of 
the  Albany,  Helderberg  and  Schoharie  Railroad.  In  1890  Mr.  Settle  married  Kate 
L. ,  who  was  born  in  Guilderland  and  is  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Alida  (Hallen- 
beck)  Mann.     They  have  one  child,  Howard  E. 

Van  Heusen-Charles  Company,  The,  was  founded  in  1843  by  Theodore  V.  Van 
Heusen  and  Daniel  D.  T.  Charles,  both  natives  of  Albany,  and  succeeded  to  the 
crockery  business  of  Wardwell  &  Bordwell  at  No.  66  State  street.  In  1844  they 
moved  to  Nos.  62  and  64  State  street  and  in  1856  they  purchased  the  Mansion  House 
property  on  Broadway  and  built  the  store  since  occupied  by  the  establishment.  The 
original  firm  name  of  Van  Heusen  &  Charles  was  changed  in  1864  to  Van  Heusen, 
Charles  &  Co.  by  the  admission  of  George  W.  Pierce  as  a  partner.  Mr.  Charles  died 
August  1,  1892,  and  soon  afterward  the  firm  adopted  is  present  name  of  the  Van 
Heusen-Charles  Company.  This  is  the  oldest  and  largest  enterprise  of  the  kind  in 
Albany  or  Eastern  New  York  and  commands  an  extensive  wholesale  and  retail 
trade  in  fine  and  ordinary  china,  bric-a-brac,  silverware,  lamps,  gas  fixtures,  etc. 
Both  founders  were  representative  and  highly  respected  business  men,  and  took  a 
keen  interest  in  the  prosperity  of  their  city  and  its  institutions.  Mr.  Van  Heusen, 
born  in  1818,  became  somewhat  prominent  in  politics  and  in  1882  was  the  Republican 
nominee  for  Congress.  He  died  June  15,  1893.  The  officers  of  the  Van  Heusen- 
Charles  Company  are  Charles  M.  Van  Heusen,  president;  George  W.  Pierce,  vice- 
president  and  treasurer;  Leonard  Jones,  secretary. 

Weaver,  William  J.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Coeymans,  January  27,  1835,  and  in 
the  following  year  his  parents  removed  to  Albany.  His  parents  came  firm  Oneida 
to  Coeymans  and  were  also  natives  of  this  State.  Mr.  Weaver  received  his  early 
education  in  the  public  schools  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  following  the  example  oi 
his  brothers,  he  went  to  sea  on  a  whaler  for  a  three  years'  cruise.  This,  however, 
did  not  satisfy  his  longing  for  the  sea,   and  after  a  brief  visit  to  his  home  he  again 


106 

embarked  on  a  two  years'  cruise.  Returning  again  in  1854,  he  went  into  partner- 
ship with  his  father  and  established  a  steam  packing-box  manufactory  on  the  corner 
of  Cherry  street  and  Broadway,  continuing  in  it  from  that  date  down  to  1871.  In 
1868  he  was  elected  Democratic  supervisor  of  the  old  First  ward,  and  in  1869-70  and 
1871  he  was  chosen  to  represent  the  Third  ward  in  the  Board  of  Supervisors  and 
during  the  last  two  years  served  as  president  of  the  board.  In  1871  Mr.  Weaver 
was  appointed  city  assessor  by  Mayor  Thacher  and  has  held  the  position  continu- 
ously down  to  the  present  time.  He  was  once  nominated  for  the  Assembly  in  the 
First  district,  but  withdrew  in  favor  of  a  rival  Democratic  candidate  on  the  evening 
before  election.  In  the  year  1869  he  brought  to  the  notice  of  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors the  great  inequality  then  existing  in  the  State  equalization  as  it  affected  Al- 
bany county,  and  was  at  that  time  appointed  chairman  of  a  committee  on  State  equal- 
ization, which  position  he  held  continuously  until  1895.  Mr.  Weaver  was  married  in 
1856  to  Mary  A.  Allen,  by  whom  he  has  had  six  children,  four  of  whom  are  living. 

Miller,  Henry,  jr.,  is  a  son  of  an  old  and  representative  citizen,  and  was  born  at  the 
family  residence  in  Colonie,  Ma)'  11,  1871.  His  father,  Henry  Miller,  was  of  German 
birth,  and  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  here.  He  has  become  a  very  large  land 
owner  and  is  also  interested  in  ihe  sale  of  various  types  of  agricultural  machinerv. 
Mr.  Miller,  jr.,  now  conducts  the  dairy  business,  delivering  the  milk  from  about  fifty 
cows,  chiefly  in  the  village  of  Green  Island. 

Marshall  &  Wendell  Piano  Forte  Manufacturing  Company  (Ltd.),  The,  was 
founded  in  1853  by  John  V.  Marshall,  a  practical  pianomaker,  in  James  street.. 
Albany.  In  1856  he  was  succeeded  by  the  firm  of  Marshall,  James  &  Traver,  of 
which  he  was  the  principal  member.  This  firm  was  dissolved  and  he  formed  a  co- 
partnership with  Harvey  Wendell  in  1868,  under  the  style  of  Marshall  &  Wendell, 
and  this  continued  successfully  until  1882,  when  the  present  Marshall  &  Wendell 
Piano  Forte  Manufacturing  Company  (Ltd)  was  organized  and  incorporated  with  a 
paid  up  capital  of  8100,000,  the  officers  being  Henry  Russell,  president;  Harvey 
Wendell,  treasurer  and  manager;  and  John  Loughran,  secretary.  Mr.  Russell  sub- 
sequently resigned  and  Jacob  H.  Ten  Eyck  was  elected  president  and  still  holds  the 
position.  In  1892  Thomas  S.  Wiles  was  chosen  vice-president;  Edward  N.  McKin- 
ney.  treasurer  and  manager;  and  Mr.  Wendell,  secretary.  In  1896  the  latter  was 
succeeded  by  James  L.  Carpenter.  In  1872  the  present  building,  Nos.  911  and  923 
Broadway,  was  erected  and  occupied,  It  has  a  frontage  of  145  feet  and  a  depth  of 
175  feet.  At  this  time  the  business  was  materially  increased  and  the  new  plant 
afforded  an  enlarged  capacity  that  has  ever  since  been  successfully  utilized.  The 
firm  manufactures  pianos  in  all  kinds  of  fancy  woods,  warranting  them  for  five  years, 
and  maintains  a  large  trade  throughout  the  United  States  and  Canada.  They  make 
strictly  high  grade  instruments,  finer  than  were  ever  made  in  the  history  of  the  com- 
pany, and  among  their  agents  are  many  of  the  largest  and  most  prominent  piano 
houses  in  the  country.  The  members  are  all  well  known  business  men,  Mr.  Wiles 
being  a  director  in  the  Merchants'  National  Bank  and  Mr.  McKmney  a  director  of 
the  New  York  State  National  Bank. 

McDermott,  John,  superintendent  of  the  Champlain  Canal  north  from  Albany  fif- 
teen miles,  is  a  man  who  has  spent  his  whole  life  on  canal  works,  and  who  helped 
build  the  first  water  works  at   Montreal,  Canada.     The  death  of  his  father  caused 


107 

him  to  early  seek  his  own  maintenance,  and  he  began  work  for  contractors  on  the 
canal ;  he  worked  his  way  up  to  overseer  and  foreman  in  various  localities  and  has 
been  inspector  of  locks,  also  inspector  of  Champlain  Canal  repair  work.  For  some 
time  he  was  on  a  Pennsylvania  railroad,  and  during  the  war  had  the  contract  for  the 
reservoir  at  Washington,  D.  C.  ;  in  1865  he  was  sergeant  of  Capital  Police,  and  after- 
ward captain.  Mr.  McDermott  was  born  at  Kingston,  Ont  ,  in  1829,  leaving  his  na 
tive  city  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years.  His  education  was  acquired  at  Rochester, 
where  he  went  in  1850  to  reside  with  a  brother.  In  1854  he  came  to  Cohoes  and  be 
gan  contracting  in  the  dredging  business.  He  also  has  the  agency  of  the  Phoenix 
Insurance  Co.,  and  real  estate.  Officially  he  has  served  as  alderman  for  two  years, 
and  as  assessor  for  one  year. 

Johnson,  Edwin  S.,  military  storekeeper  at  Watervliet  Arsenal  since  1856,  was 
born  at  Hudson,  N.Y.,  in  1826.  His  father  was  William  G.  Johnson,  also  an  arsenal 
employee  for  twenty-five  years,  from  1840  to  1865.  The  early  life  sf  Edwin  S.  John- 
son was  one  of  considerable  adventure,  although  his  boyhood  was  passed  on  a  farm. 
He  was  a  sailor  on  the  deep  sea  for  several  years,  chiefly  on  coasting  vessels,  pi)  ing 
between  New  York,  Massachusetts  and  Virginia  ports.  He  first  went  into  the 
Arsenal  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Mexican  war  in  1846,  and  again  in  1860,  and  received 
his  appointment  as  assistant  military  storekeeper  on  the  10th  of  May,  1865,  and  has 
remained  in  the  same  place  until  the  present. 

Miller,  John  H.,  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Kelley)  Miller,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  New 
Baltimore,  Greene  county,  October  8,  1860,  and  received  his  education  in  his  native 
town.  He  engaged  in  various  occupations  till  about  1886,  when  he  came  to  Albany 
and  established  a  livery  and  boarding  stable  en  North  Pearl  street.  In  1890  he  pur- 
chased his  present  livery  and  boarding  stable  on  Hudson  avenue  of  John  Sanborn. 
In  1893  he  married  Hattie,  daughter  of  John  Saulsman,  of  Albany,  who  died  in 
March,  1894,  leaving  one  son,  Bhilip  J. 

Appleton,  Joseph  L. ,  M.  D.  S.,  son  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Garton)  Appleton, 
was  born  in  York,  Ontario,  Canada,  October  24,  1858.  His  father,  a  native  of  York- 
shire, England,  came  to  America  in  1836  and  died  December  25,  1882.  His  mother, 
who  was  born  in  Canada,  died  in  March  of  the  same  year.  Dr.  Appleton  received  a 
public  school  education,  came  to  Albany  in  1879,  studied  dentistry  with  Dr.  E.  C. 
Edmunds,  attended  the  New  York  Dental  College,  and  afterward  received  the  de- 
gree of  M.  D.  S.  from  the  State  Board  of  Dental  Censors  in  May,  1886.  He  re- 
mained with  Dr.  Edmunds  until  the  latter's  death  in  November,  1887,  when  he  suc- 
ceeded to  his  practice.  He  is  a  member  and  ex-president  of  the  Third  District 
Dental  Society,  has  been  a  delegate  to  the  New  York  State  Dental  Society  since  1888 
and  in  1895  was  a  delegate  to  the  American  Dental  Association.  He  is  a  member  of 
Temple  Lodge,  Capital  City  Chapter,  De  Witt  Clinton  Council  and  Temple  Com- 
mandery  of  Masons,  an  officer  of  Grace  M.  E.  church  and  superintendent  of  its  Sun- 
day school  since  1894.  In  1887  he  married  Margaret  E.,  daughter  of  John  Q. 
Graham  of  Albany,  and  they  have  two  sons:  Joseph  L. ,  jr  ,  and  Andrew  Graham. 

Brasure,  John  W.,  grandson  of  John  Brasure,  of  Nova  Scotia,  a  Frenchman,  and 
son  of  John  \V.  Brasure,  sr. ,  was  born  in  Albany,  June  22,  1859.  John  W.,  sr.,  only 
child  of  John,  was  born  in   Hoosick   Falls,  N.  Y.,   September  11,  1816,  came  to  Al- 


108 

bany  in  1826,  where  he  died  October  10,  1892.  Apprenticed  to  Nathaniel  Wright  he 
learned  the  trade  of  coach-lamp  making,  which  he  followed  several  years.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  police  force  under  Chief  Morgan  and  also  belonged  to  the  old  Vol- 
unteer Fire  Department.  In  June,  1857,  he  engaged  in  the  undertaking  business 
and  continued  until  his  death.  He  was  married  three  times  and  left  four  children. 
He  was  a  member  of  Ancient  City  Lodge  F.  &  A.  M.  John  W.  Brasure,  his  son, 
was  educated  in  the  Albany  public  and  High  Schools,  and  when  seventeen  associated 
himself  with  his  father  in  the  undertaking  businees,  to  which  he  succeeded  on  the 
latter's  death.  He  is  a  graduate  of  three  schools  of  embalming,  and  a  member  and 
past  noble  grand  of  Fireman's  Lodge  No.  19,  I.  O.  O.  F.  ;  a  member  of  the  New- 
York  Encampment  No.  1,  Canton  Nemo,  and  Woodbine  Rebekah,  I.  O.  O.  F.  ;  cor- 
poral of  the  Albany  Burgesses  Corps;  member  of  the  Albany  County  Wheelman ; 
charter  member  of  the  Capital  Lodge  Order  of  the  Chosen  Friends,  and  president 
of  the  Albany  County  Undertakers'  Association.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Nawadaha  Tribe  No.  297,  I.  O.  R.  M.,  which  was  organized  in  his  office  with  ten 
members,  which  now  has  four  tribes  numbering  about  400  members,  was  its  first 
sachem,  and  in  August,  1896,  represented  it  at  the  Grand  Council  in  Saratoga.  July 
1,  1896,  Mr.  Brasure  married  Helen,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  McCredie  of 
Albany,  and  of  Scotch  descent. 

Atkins,  John  R.,  is  one  of  the  most  energetic  and  progressive  business  men  of 
West  Troy,  and  since  1885  has  been  engaged  as  plumber,  gas  and  steam  pipe  fitter, 
and  is  agent  for  the  Boynton  steam  and  hot  water  heaters.  After  one  year  in  Roch- 
ester at  his  trade,  he  spent  seven  years  in  Philadelphia  as  an  employee  in  the 
plumbing  business.  Mr.  Atkins  was  born  at  Sing  Sing  in  1854,  and  is  a  son  of 
William  Atkins,  a  grocer.  When  twelve  years  of  age  he  removed  to  Rochester, 
where  he  was  educated.  In  1878  he  came  as  a  plumber  to  Troy,  making  his  home 
at  West  Troy. 

Bender,  Matthew,  was  born  in  Albany,  December  2,  1845,  and  is  a  son  of  Wendell 
M.,  a  grandson  of  Matthew,  and  a  great-grandson  of  Christian  Bender,  who  came 
from  Wurtemburg,  Germany,  and  settled  in  Bethlehem,  Albany  county,  in  1740,  and 
was  a  sergeant  in  the  Revolution  in  Slingerland's  Company,  Schuyler's  Regiment, 
3d  Rensselaer  Battalion.  He  married  Mary  Cramer,  and  had  five  sons  and  four 
daughters.  Matthew  Bender,  son  of  Christian,  was  born  in  Bethlehem,  March  13, 
1782,  married  Elizabeth  Ramsey  (born  March  7,  1789,  died  December  17,  1839),  and 
died  August  8,  1866.  Wendell  M.  Bender,  son  of  Matthew  Bender,  was  born  in 
Bethlehem,  October  17,  1812,  and  married,  August  11,  1842,  Mary  Brown  (born  Feb- 
ruary 27,  1823,  died  October  18,  1854),  and  died  January  10,  1882.  Their  son, 
Matthew  Bender,  was  educated  in  Professor  Anthony's  Classical  Institute  and  Pro- 
fessor Collins's  Private  School,  and  was  graduated  from  Union  College  in  1866.  He 
then  engaged  in  the  wholesale  lumber  business  in  Albany  with  his  father  until  1877, 
when  he  accepted  a  position  with  William  Gould  &  Son,  law  book  publishers,  which 
he  held  for  ten  years.  In  1887  he  engaged  in  business  for  himself  as  a  publisher 
of  law  books  and  has  since  continued  with  marked  success,  enjoying  a  trade  all 
over  the  United  States.  He  is  a  member  of  Masters  Lodge  No.  5,  F.  &  A.  M., 
Capital  City  Chapter  No.  242,  R.  A.  M..  and  Temple  Commandery  No.  2,  K.  T. 
July  17,    1867,  he  married  Hannah   Louisa,  daughter  of  the  late  John  Thomas,  jr., 


109 

proprietor  of  the  Premium  Mills  aud  a  prominent  coffee  and  spice  merchant  of  Al- 
bany. They  have  had  five  children:  Matthew,  jr.,  and  John  Thomas,  who  are 
associated  in  business  with  their  father;  Louisa  and  Bertha  (who  died  young),  and 
Melvin  Thomas,  a  student  at  Union  College,  class  of  1900. 

Glass,  Edwin  G.,  was  born  in  the  village  of  West  Troy,  Albany  county,  in  1861. 
He  received  his  early  education  at  the  Nassau  and  Mechanicville  Academies,  and 
also  completed  a  commercial  course  at  the  Troy  Business  College,  after  which  he 
became  a  partner  in  the  extensive  drug  and  paint  establishment  of  his  father,  whom 
he  succeeded  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1884.  Mr.  Glass  still  continues 
the  business,  and  by  careful  and  judicial  management  he  now  enjoys  the  distinction  of 
being  one  of  the  foremost  business  men  in  that  part  of  Albany  county.  At  the 
spring  election  in  the  town  of  Watervliet  in  189ft  he  was  solicited  by  his  party  to  take 
his  initial  step  in  politics,  by  accepting  the  Republican  nomination  for  supervisor,  and 
was  elected  in  a  Democratic  town  by  an  overwhelming  majority  over  his  opponent, 
Hon.  Terrence  Cummings.  In  1884 he  married  Miss  Sadie  Benedict,  the  accomplished 
daughter  of  an  old  and  respected  citizen. 

Nussbaum,  Hon.  Myer,  is  a  native  of  Albany,  and  received  a  common  school  edu- 
cation. He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1877  and  immediately  formed  a  copartnership 
with  George  H.  Stevens,  which  continued  for  four  years.  He  was  appointed  police 
magistrate  by  Mayor  Swinburne  in  1884  and  served  about  a  year,  and  in  189",'  was 
elected  member  of  assembly  from  the  Third  assembly  district  of  Albany  count  v.  In 
1895  he  elected  State  senator  to  represent  Albany  county  for  a  term  of  three  years. 
Mr.  Nussbaum  is  actively  identified  as  trustee,  or  member,  with  the  several  charita- 
ble institutions  and  social  clubs  of  Albany.  His  present  law  partner,  who  was  ad- 
mitted in  December,  1895,  is  Joseph  P.  Coughlin,  who  had  been  for  a  number  of 
years  his  managing  clerk. 

Chadwick,  P.  Remsen,  whose  death  in  1891  removed  from  the  city  of  Cohoes  one 
of  its  most  prominent  men,  was  a  native  of  New  York  city,  born  in  1831.  He  was 
a  resident  there  during  the  war  and  went  out  in  the  7th  N.  V.  Regiment  first,  then 
afterwards  in  the  100th  N.Y.  Regiment,  and  again  as  adjutant-general  on  the  staff  of 
General  Truman  Seymour,  serving  through  the  entire  war.  Mr.  Chadwick  was  a  de- 
scendant from  an  old  English  family;  his  grandfather,  Joseph,  came  from  England 
in  1799,  and  settled  in  New  York  city.  His  father,  William,  built  one  of  the  Har- 
mony Mills  of  Cohoes  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Cohoes  Company;  lie  him- 
self was  an  owner  of  the  Ontario  Mills  and  a  well  known  manufacturer.  He  was  the 
first  captain  of  the  Seventh  Separate  Company  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.  of  Cohoes,  which  he 
helped  to  organize.  He  left,  besides  his  widow,  one  son,  Robert  R.  Chadwick.  whjo 
is  engaged  in  an  insurance  agency  in  Albany. 

Le  Roy,  Hon.  William  B.,  since  his  graduation  in  1880,  at  Granville  Military 
Academy,  and  two  years' previous  work  at  the  Highland  Military  Academy,  Wor- 
cester, Mass.,  has  been  a  proprietor  of  the  Globe  Knitting  Mills,  conducted  by  the 
firm  of  Le  Roy  &  Lamb,  of  which  his  father,  Allied  Le  Roy,  was  the  senior  mem- 
ber. His  father  was  one  of  the  foremost  figures  in  the  management  of  the  munic- 
ipal affairs  of  the  city  of  Cohoes,  a  position  he  had  once  before  occupied.  He  was 
born    at    Mechanicville,    aud  is  of    French  ancestry.      He  came  to  this  place  in  1857 


110 

and  engaged  in  the  hardware  business,  establishing  the  first  telegraph  office  in  this 
city  in  his  store.  He  was  a  mason  by  trade  and  in  later  years  was  a  contractor. 
The  many  offices  in  which  he  served  his  county  as  trustee,  alderman,  mayor  and 
assemblyman  in  1877,  attest  the  honor  in  which  he  is  held.  William  B.  Le  Roy  is 
a  native  of  Cohoes,  born  in  1861.  He  inherits  the  sterling  qualities  of%  his  father, 
and  has  filled  acceptably  many  responsible  positions  among  his  fellowmen.  He  was 
a  member  of  assembly  in  1889  and  1890,  and  afterward  police  commissioner  in 
1892-93  and  in  1894.  He  is  also  prominent  in  the  order  of  K.  of  P.  and  holds  high 
rank  in  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

Montmarquet,  J.  D.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Jersey  City,  April  22,  1860.  He  received 
his  primary  education  in  the  public  schools  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  after 
which  he  went  to  Canada  to  prosecute  his  classical  studies,  where  he  graduated  in 
1883;  returning  to  Jersey  City,  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  in  1886  at  Columbia 
College,  N.  V.,  graduating  in  1889.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  came  to  Cohoes  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  has  held  the  office  of  coroner's  phy- 
sician. He  is  a  member  of  the  New  York  State  Medical  Association,  the  Albany 
County  Medical  Society  and  the  Troy  and  Vicinity  Medical  Association.  He  is  en- 
joying a  lucrative  practice.  January  18,  1891,  he  was  married  to  Wilhelmina  Zecher 
of  Jersey  City;  he  has  three  children,  Marcelline,  Theresa  and  Joseph. 

Witbeck,  C.  E.,  M.  D.,  is  of  Dutch  ancestry,  the  family  name  being  originally  Van 
Witbeck.  The  first  American  ancestor,  John  Thomas  Witbeck,  settled  at  New  Am- 
sterdam, now  New  York.  Mr.  Witbeck  is  the  son  of  Abram  Witbeck,  formerly  su- 
perintendent in  the  painting  department  in  the  Watervliet  Arsenal,  and  was  born  at 
West  Troy  in  1844,  and  began  his  medical  study  at  the  Albany  Medical  College,  re- 
ceiving his  diploma  in  1866.  He  located  in  Cohoes  in  1867  where  he  still  practices 
his  profession.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  county  and  of  the  New  Yoak  State 
Medical  Societies,  and  American  Medical  Association,  and  was  president  of  the 
Cohoes  Medical  Association,  and  was  vice-president  of  the  Albany  County  Medical 
Society.  He  has  served  eight  terms  as  health  officer  in  Cohoes,  been  police  surgeon, 
and  also  city  physician. 

Cushman,  Col.  Harry  C,  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  Robert  Cushman  of  the  May- 
flower, in  whose  name  the  charter  for  Plymouth  Colony  was  granted.  Paul  Cush- 
man, sr. ,  who  came  to  Albany  from  Vermont,  was  one  of  the  first  in  America  to 
engage  in  the  potterv  business,  having  an  establishment  near  the  site  of  the  present 
Park  Bank.  He  married  Margaret  McDonald,  and  their  son,  Paul,  jr.,  born  in  Al- 
bany, December  25,  1822,  began  his  business  career  in  the  produce  and  commission 
business,  which  was  finally  discontinued.  From  1853  to  1869  he  was  in  partnership 
with  his  brother,  Robert  S.,  founding  the  present  wholesale  importing  wine  house, 
which  he  carried  on  until  his  death,  June  3,  1895.  He  was  a  director  in  the  Capital 
City  Insurance  Company,  a  trustee  of  the  National  Savings  Bank,  interested  in 
railroads  and  other  projects,  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  a  foundation 
member  of  the  Fort  Orange  and  old  Albany  Clubs.  He  married  in  1845,  Mary 
Jane,  daughter  of  Capt.  I.  I.  Taylor  of  Oswego,  N.  Y. ,  who  died  in  1854,  leaving 
two  children.  January  21,  1856,  he  married  Julia  A.  C.  Blackwell  of  Richmond, 
Va. ,  who  died  September  5,  1885,  leaving  three  children,  of  whom  Harry  C.  is  the 
eldest.      Harry  C.   Cushman,  born  in  Albany,  July  31,   1857,  was  educated  at  the 


Ill 

Albany  Academy,  and  St.  John's  Military  School  at  Sing  Sing;  he  intended  entering 
the  University  of  Virginia,  where  his  mother's  family  had  usually  attended,  but  the 
effects  of  an  attack  of  the  Roman  fever  prevented ;  after  three  years  passed  in  travel- 
ing, his  health  being  restored,  he  in  1881  organized  and  became  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Albany  Pharmaceutical  (now  the  Albany  Chemical)  Company.  Three 
years  later  he  withdrew  and  associated  himself  with  his  father,  in  1885  became  a 
partner  and  in  1895  succeeded  to  the  business.  He  joined  Co.  A.  10th  Regt.  N.  G. 
N.  V.,  February  10,  1879;  was  made  aide-de-camp  on  Gen.  R.  S.  Oliver's  stall,  5th 
Brigade,  January  31,1883,  and  was  promoted  assistant  adjutant-general,  3d  Brigade, 
January  8,  1891,  a  post  he  still  holds.  He  is  a  member  of  Masters  Lodge  No.  5,  F. 
&  A.  M.,  the  Albany  Institute,  the  Fort  Orange  Club,  Albany  Country  Club,  the 
Reform  Club  of  New  York  and  the  Order  of  Founders  and  Patriots  of  America,  and 
a  director  in  the  Park  Bank  and  trustee  of  the  National  Savings  Bank.  June  26, 
1890,  he  married  Celia  Eli  abeth,  daughter  of  Edward  Sanderson  of  Milwaukee,  Wis., 
and  their  children  are  Paul  and  Edward  Sanderson. 

Hurlbut,  Gansevoort  de  Wandelaer,  is  a  descendent  of  Thomas  Hurlbut,  who 
came  from  England  to  Wethersfield,  Conn.,  in  1036,  and  was  a  soldier  under  Lion 
Gardner,  receiving  10,000  acres  of  land  m  Wethersfield,  Conn.,  from  (Jueen  Anne 
for  conspicuous  bravery  in  border  warfare,  and  on  his  maternal  grandmother's 
side  from  Harmon  Harmense  Gansevoort,  of  Holland,  who  was  in  Albany  as  early 
as  1660  and  who  had  a  brewery  on  the  site  of  Stanwix  Hall,  which  property  has 
always  remained  in  the  Gansevoort  family.  Oldest  son  of  Harmon.  Harmense 
married  Catrina  de  Wandelaer.  Mr.  Hurlbut's  great-grandfather,  Leendert  Ganse- 
voort, 1753-1810,  was  prominent  during  the  Revolutionary  period,  serving  as  a 
member  of  the  provincial  Congress,  1775-1777;  delegate  and  president  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  1777;  assemblyman,  1778-1779;  member  of  the  Council  of  Ap- 
pointment, 1781;  appointed  by  Governor  Clinton,  county  judge,  1794-1797;  State 
senator  from  1798  to  1802;  probate  judge,  1799;  member  of  the  Constitutional  Conven- 
tion, 1801;  and  colonel  of  Light  Cavalry  during  the  Revolution;  he  received  his 
appointment  as  attorney-at  law  from  the  Earl  of  Dunmore  and  Governor  Tryon.  In 
1770  he  married  Hester  Cuyler,  and  his  daughter,  Catherine  Gansevoort,  married 
Tuenis  Van  Vechten,  the  late  mayor  of  Albany,  a  descendant  of  Tuenis  Dirkse  Van 
Vechten,  who  settled  in  Greenbush,  1636;  he  was  a  nephew  of  the  noted  lawyer, 
Abram  Van  Vechten,  to  whose  practice  he  succeeded.  A  daughter  of  this  marriage, 
Catherine  Cuyler,  was  the  wife  of  Elisha  P.  Hurlbut  and  mother  of  Gansevoort  de 
W.  Hurlbut.  Elisha  Powell  Hurlbut,  son  of  Judge  Daniel  Hurlbut,  of  Court  of 
Common  Pleas  of  Herkimer  county  and  member  of  assembly  in  1811-1812  of  Mont- 
gomery county,  was  born  October  15,  1807,  and  died  September  5,  1889.  He  became 
presiding  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  judge  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  and  a  writer 
of  considerable  note.  He  was  largely  instrumental  in  effecting  many  legal  reforms 
through  the  constitution  of  1846  and  was  deeply  interested  in  science.  Gansevoort 
de  W.  Hurlbut  was  born  in  Newport,  Herkimer  county,  November  8,  1S57,  received 
an  academic  education,  studied  medicine  at  the  Albany  Medical  College,  read  law 
in  Albany  with  Jenkins  &  Cooper,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Law  School 
and  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1880.  He  has  since  practiced  his  profession  in  Albany, 
and  in  1893  was  the  Republican  candidate  for  recorder  of  the  city.     July  6,  1881,  he 


112 

married  Kate,  daughter  of  the  late  Gerrit  Van  Sante  Bleecker,  of  Albany,  and  their 
children  are  Catherine  Gansevoort  and  Gansevoort  Bleecker.  Judge  E.  P.  Hurlbut 
had  threee  other  children:  Jeanette  Cuyler,  wife  of  Morris  S.  Miller,  esq.;  Bertha 
Van  Vechten  and  Ernest  Cole. 

Ball,  Dayton,  son  of  Dayton  and  Mary  (Phillips)  Ball,  was  born  in  Lancaster,  Pa., 
in  1832.  On  his  father's  side  he  is  of  English  descent  and  on  his  mother's  side  of 
Welsh  descent.  He  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools  and  then  entered 
the  office  of  the  Lancaster  Intelligencer,  President  Buchanan's  home  organ,  where 
he  remained  one  year.  He  then  was  employed  by  Jonathan  Russell  of  Philadelphia, 
who  was  a  last  mauufacturer.  In  1854  he  entered  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Mercantile 
College  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ,  from  which  he  graduated  and  in  1861  he  removed  to 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  he  obtained  the  situation  of  foreman  in  George  H.  Graves  & 
Co.'slast  manufactory.  In  1865  Mr.  Ball  was  made  a  partner  in  the  business  and 
the  name  of  the  firm  became  Graves,  Ball  &  Co.  In  1881  Mr.  Graves  died  and  the 
name  was  again  changed  to  that  of  Dayton  Ball  &  Co.,  the  present  firm  name.  Mr. 
Ball  is  a  32c  Mason  and  was  commander  of  Temple  Commandery  No.  2,  Albany,  in 
1876  and  1877.  He  has  been  treasurer  of  Temple  Lodge  and  is  a  member  of  the 
building  committee  of  the  new  Masonic  Hall.  Mr.  Ball  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Camera,  Albany,  Fort  Orange  and  Acacia  Clubs.  In  1862  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Catherine  A.  Forbes  of  New  York  city  and  they  had  three  children:  Kate  A.,  de- 
ceased, Henry  Dayton  and  Mabel  A. 

Treadwell,  George  Curtis,  son  of  Major  George  H.  and  Elizabeth  S.  Treadwell, 
was  born  in  Albany,  N.Y.,  August  24,  1872.  On  his  father's  side  he  is  a  descendant 
of  a  long  line  of  Puritan  ancestors,  the  first  of  whom,  Thomas  Treadwell,  came  to 
America  in  1636  and  settled  in  Ipswich,  Mass.  Mr.  Treadwell' s  great-grandfather 
was  Governor  Treadwell,  the  last  of  the  Puritan  governors  of  Connecticut  and  also 
the  last  person  serving  as  chief  magistrate,  who  combined  the  theologian  and  the 
statesman.  The  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  late  George 
Curtis  Treadwell.  well  known  as  one  of  the  most  eminent  of  the  men  that  have  ad- 
vanced the  welfare  of  Albany.  George  H.  Treadwell,  the  father  of  George  C,  was 
prominently  identified  with  the  commercial  interests  of  Albany  and  was  the  organ- 
izer of  the  George  C.  Treadwell  Company,  and  one  of  the  largest  stockholders. 
George  C.  Treadwell  was  educated  at  Farmington,  Conn.,  and  at  Sedgwick  Institute 
at  Great  Barrington,  Mass.,  where  he  prepared  for  Yale  University  and  was  grad- 
uated in  1893.  At  present  Mr.  Treadwell  is  a  trustee  and  agent  for  two  Treadwell 
estates,  and  is  a  great  lover  and  student  of  art.  For  two  years  he  was  secretary  and 
director  of  the  George  C.  Treadwell  Company.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  the 
Revolution,  Society  of  the  Colonial  Wars,  Military  Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion,  Uni- 
versity Glee  Club  of  New  York  city  and  of  the  Signal  Corps  of  the  3d  Brigade,  N.  G. 
N.  Y.,  from  which  he  has  been  recently  promoted  to  Colonel  on  the  Governor's  staff, 
having  been  appointed  military  secretary  to  Governor  Black,  January  9,  1897. 

Masten,  James  H.,  born  in  Owego,  Tioga  county,  N.  Y.,  May  13,  1828.  After  re- 
ceiving a  common  school  education  he  learned  the  printer's  trade  with  Andrew  H. 
Calhoun.  In  1851  he  obtained  a  situation  in  the  office  of  the  Albany  Evening 
Journal,  then  under  the  management  of  Thurlow  Weed  and  George  Dawson.  He 
was  also  for  a  time  employed  by  Joel  Munsell.     Later  he  bought  the  Cohoes  Cat- 


113 

aract,  then  owned  by  the  firm  of  Silliman  &  Miller,  and.  conducted  it  successfully  for 
twenty-five  years.  Mr.  Masten  edited  the  Cohoes  Daily  News  for  five  years,  after 
leaving  the  Cataract.  In  1887  he  was  appointed  paymaster  of  the  Victor  Knitting 
Mills  Company,  where  he  is  at  present.  Mr.  Masten  was  postmaster  of  Cohoes  from 
1865  to  1886  and  has  held  many  local  appointive  offices.  He  is  a  deacon  of  the  First 
Baptist  church  of  Cohoes.  In  1854  he  married  Almeda,  daughter  of  Rev.  William 
Arthur,  of  Newtonville,  Albany  county.  They  have  one  son,  Arthur  H.,  a  lawyer, 
residing  in  New  York  city. 

Mulcahy,  Bartholomew,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Cork,  Ireland,  in  1838.  His  father  was 
a  carpenter  and  died  when  he  was  but  two  years  old,  leaving  him  to  pave  his  own  way 
in  the  world.  In  1852  he  came  to  America  and  directly  to  Cohoes,  where  he  learned 
the  carriage-making  trade,  and  he  has  ever  since  been  a  resident.  He  has  been 
very  successful  manufacturing  wheels  for  New  York  city  trade,  and  during  the  war 
he  made  gun  carriage  wheels  for  the  United  States  government.  His  first  wheel 
factory,  destroyed  by  fire  in  1864,  was  located  where  the  Victor  Mills  stand.  He 
then  removed  to  the  corner  of  Congress  and  White.  He  has  been  a  water  commis- 
sioner for  twelve  years  and  was  one  of  the  first  aldermen  when  Cohoes  was  made  a 
city  in  1869. 

Travis,  William  C,  with  his  brother,  Charles  S.  Travis,  has  conducted  a  lumber 
business  at  No.  227  Saratoga  street,  Cohoes,  since  187~,  uuder  the  firm  name  of 
Jacob  Travis's  Sons.  Jacob  Travis,  the  father,  was  a  pioneer  here  in  the  lumber 
trade,  coming  to  Cohoes  in  1846,  and  the  establishment  has  been  of  long  standing. 
In  his  death,  January  8,  1894,  Cohoes  lost  one  of  its  oldest  and  most  honored  citizens. 
William  Travis  is  a  native  of  Waterford,  born  in  1833,  and  one  of  the  first  aldermen 
upon  the  organization  of  the  city  in  1869.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Education  for  two  terms.  January  18,  1855,  he  was  married  to  Sarah  E.,  daughter 
of  Alpha  White  of  Cohoes.  They  have  two  children:  Frances  E.,  wife  of  Dr.  George 
A.  Cox  of  Albany,  and  Matthew  S.,  who  married  Louisa  Molleur;  she  died  August 
3,  1895,  leaving  four  children  •  Osmond  C,  Matthew  S.,  jr.,  William  H.  and  Mary 
Louise,  deceased. 

Crounse,  Benjamin,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Guilderland,  in  1839.  He  was  a  sun 
of  Nicholas,  who  was  born  in  Guilderland  in  1789.  Nicholas  was  the  youngest  son 
of  his  father's  family  and  came  into  possession  of  his  father's  homestead.  His  wife 
was  Elizabeth  Severson,  and  they  had  three  sons  and  six  daughters.  Mr.  Crounse 
died  in  his  eighty-eighth  year.  His  wife  survived  him  about  seven  years  and  died 
in  her  eighty-fifth  year.  Mr.  Crounse  remained  on  the  farm  with  his  father  until  he 
was  twenty-four  years  of  age.  He  received  a  common  school  education,  and  in .1863 
engaged  as  clerk  in  a  store.  Three  years  later  he  engaged  for  himself  in  the  gen- 
eral mercantile  business,  which  he  followed  until  1883.  He  then  sold  out  his  busi- 
ness and  engaged  in  the  fire  insurance  business,  removing  to  Albany  where  he  lived 
for  five  years.  He  still  follows  the  fire  insurance  business,  in  connection  with  which 
he  superintends  his  farm  of  150  acres,  eighty-six  of  which  lies  in  the  village  corpora- 
tion, Altamont.  In  1890  he  engaged  as  traveling  salesman  for  the  clothing  house 
of  Babcock,  Shannon  &  Co.,  of  Albany,  with  whom  he  is  now.  During  the  years 
1885-87,   he  served  his  town  as  supervisor  and  was  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 


114 

Guilderland  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Co.  for  many  years.  In  1862  he  married  Miss 
Emma  Keenholts,  daughter  of  James  Keenholts,  and  they  have  had  six  children: 
Allen  J.,  died  in  1885  at  the  age  of  twenty-one;  Edgar,  who  is  a  teacher  in  the  Al- 
bany Business  College;  Mimetta,  wife  of  Dr.  McHarg,  of  Albany;  Eugene,  who  is 
employed  by  Babcock,  Shannon  &  Co..  as  head  bookkeeper ;  Milton,  who  is  assistant 
bookkeeper  and  stenographer  for  the  same  firm ;  and  Emma  Marion. 

Flansburgh,  Alexander,  was  born  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland,  November  28, 
1846.  He  received  a  limited  education  and  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm 
and  when  twenty-one  worked  for  his  father  by  the  month.  He  subsequently  began 
for  himself  on  one  of  his  father's  farms,  in  1881  purchasing  the  homestead  farm  of 
160  acres  on  the  Helderberg  Mountains,  on  which  he  lived  seven  years,  when  he  re- 
moved to  his  father's  farm,  which  he  has  since  managed.  He  has  devoted  much 
attention  successfully  to  fruit  culture.  In  1893  he  became  a  member  of  the  Patrons 
of  Husbandry,  Clarksville  Lodge  No.  781,  and  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  was 
elected  master  of  the  lodge,  which  office  he  now  holds.  He  is  the  only  man  in  Albany 
county  who  is  a  member  of  the  County,  State  and  National  Grange.  He  has  visited 
many  of  the  higher  lodges  throughout  the  country,  at  his  own  expense,  for  the  ben- 
efit of  his  home  lodge,  and  through  his  efforts  and  support,  the  Clarksville  lodge  in 
the  spring  of  1896  was  enabled  to  purchase  a  building  in  the  village  to  hold  their 
meetings  in.  In  June,  1896,  he  joined  the  Patrons  of  Industry  as  charter  member, 
was  elected  president  of  Clarksville  Association  No.  515.  When  Albany  County 
Association  P.  of  I.  was  organized  he  was  elected  treasurer  and  business  manager 
of  the  county,  and  has  made  it  a  success  for  the  patrons  of  the  county,  of  which  there 
are  about  1,200  at  this  writing.  Mr.  Flansburgh  is  a  Republican  and  has  served  one 
year  as  collector.  In  1872  he  married  Hattie  (a  native  of  New  Scotland)  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Rachel  M.  (Moak)  O' Bryan,  and  they  have  three  children  ;  Margaret  L. 
(wife  of  William  G.  Moak  of  Westerlo),  Clara  C.  and  Charles.  Mrs.  Flansburgh  is 
a  member  of  the  Clarksville  Lodge,  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  in  which  she  holds  the 
office  of  Ceres;  their  daughter  Clara  is  also  a  member  of  the  grange  and  fills  the 
office  of  Pomona.  His  wife,  Hattie,  and  children,  Clara  and  Charles,  are  also  mem- 
bers of  the  Patrons  of  Industry.  Matthew  Flansburgh,  his  father,  was  born  in  New 
Scotland  in  1818  and  has  been  a  lifelong  and  successful  farmer.  His  wife  was  Nancy 
M.  Dunbar  and  their  children  are:  Emeline,  Cordelia  and  Alexander.  John  P. 
Flansburgh,  the  grandfather  of  Alexander,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Bethlehem,  Sep- 
tember 23,  1784,  and  was  a  lifelong  and  successful  farmer.  He  lived  in  Sharon,  Al- 
bany county,  and  subsequently  settled'in  New  Scotland  on  the  Helderbergs  and  there 
spent  his  remaining  days.  The  last  forty-two  days  of  his  life  was  spent  fasting, 
partaking  of  nothing  but  water,  believing,  as  he  said,  his  Maker  had  commanded 
him  to  stop  eating  of  the  fruit  of  the  vine.  He  died  July  14,  1867.  In  April,  1803, 
he  married  Margaret  Kniver,  who  was  a  native  of  Bethlehem,  and  their  children 
were  Peter,  David,  Jacob,  Michael,  Maria,  Eva,  John,  William,  Elizabeth,  Martha, 
Catharine,  Cornelia  and  Garrett ;  by  his  second  wife  one  son  was  born,  James.  Jacob, 
the  great-grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Holland  and  spent  his  active  life  in  the  town 
of  Bethlehem  as  a  farmer.  The  second  great-grandfather  and  the  parent  tree  of  the 
family  of  Flansburgh  in  America,  was  a  native  of  Holland  and  settled  in  Bethlehem. 
He  was  a  farmer  and  was  murdered  for  his  money  by  the  tax  collector,  Schoonmaker, 


115 

who  seeing  Mr.  Flansburgh  had  money,  returned  in  the  night  with  an  accomplice 
aud  asked  for  cider;  while  Mrs.  Flansburgh  was  in  the  cellar  after  the  cider,  with 
an  ax,  he  killed  Mr.  Flansburgh,  secured  the  money  and  fled.  He  was  apprehended, 
tried  and  executed. 

Ireland,  Francis  Asbury,  is  a  member  of  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  respected 
families  of  the  town  of  Watervliet,  Albany  county,  where  he  was  born  May  6,  1824. 
He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  at  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  and  has  always 
been  a  farmer^and  resident  in  the  aforesaid  town  (now  called  Colonie)  where,  as  a  Re- 
publican, though  never  seeking,  he  has  held  minor  town  offices.  He  has  been  a  trus- 
tee of  the  M.  E.  church  of  Newtonville  since  1872,  and  its  treasurer  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  is  the  tenth  of  a  family  of  twelve  children  of  the  late  Rev.  Selah  Ire- 
land, who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Easton,  Washington  county,  N.  Y. ,  m  1785,  and 
who  settled  in  Watervliet,  N.  Y.,  in  1805.  Mr.  Ireland  is  a  descendant  of  Thomas 
Ireland,  his  great-grandfather,  who  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  who  founded  the 
first  English  settlement  in  Queens  county,  Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  in  1643.  Francis 
Asbury  Ireland  was  married  October  19,  1848,  to  Christina  C.  Ten  Broeck  of  Claver- 
ack,  Columbia  county.  Their  children  are  William  T.  B.  of  Lincoln,  Neb.,  F.  Jose- 
phine, James  M.,  Ulysses  Grant,  Cora  C.  and  Zilla  A.  of  Albany  county. 

Keneston,  George,  was  born  September  11,  1853,  in  Somersetshire,  England, 
where  he  was  educated,  and  in  1866  was  apprenticed  for  seven  years,  in  which 
he  learned  the  trades  of  plumber,  painter,  and  glazier;  he  came  to  America  and 
settled  in  Albany  in  1874  and  found  employment  with  the  firm  of  Cundall  &  Brint- 
nall,  then  located  at  47  Clinton  avenue.  In  1876  he  married  Bridget  Newcomb  of 
Ballston,  Spa,  N.  Y.,  and  their  children  are  seven  in  number:  Joseph  William, 
Albert  Daniel,  Frank  Leo,  Walter  James  Edward,  George,  jr.,  Anna  Clara  and 
Arthur.  He  started  in  business  in  1878,  at  77  North  Lark  street;  in  1880  he  moved 
to  780£  Broadway,  and  in  1881  to  161  North  Pearl  street;  in  1890  he  moved  to  677 
Broadway,  where  he  is  still  located  and  carrying  on  the  business  of  house  and  sign 
painting,  also  dealer  in  ready  mixed  paints,  oils,  glass,  etc.  In  politics  is  a  Repub- 
lican. 

Lynch,  Joseph  H.,  was  born  in  1845,  and  his  father  was  James  Lynch,  born  in 
Ireland,  and  was  a  central  figure  in  the  early  history  of  the  town  of  Watervliet. 
Mr.  Lynch  was  thirteen  years  steamboating  and  during  the  war  was  three  years  on 
the  tug  Tempest  in  government  employ,  where  he  rose  from  a  cabin  boy  to  a  captain. 
Since  the  war  he  ran  steamboats  about  Philadelphia  and  elsewhere,  until  he  settled 
permanently  at  West  Troy.  He  is  a  grocery  dealer  of  West  Troy  and  has  been 
located  on  the  corner  of  Broadway  and  Seventeenth  streets  for  twenty-one  years. 

Pratt,  Augustus  W.,  son  of  John  G.  and  Alida  (Walter)  Pratt,  was  born  on  Van 
Schaick's  Island,  Albany  county,  June  7,  1843.  He  is  of  English  and  French  descent. 
His  paternal  ancestors  (three  brothers)  came  to  America  from  England  in  ls-pj;  his 
merternal  ancestors  came  to  America  from  France  and  Germany  previous  to  the 
Revolution  and  did  Revolutionary  service.  His  father,  John  G.,  was  a  boatman 
on  the  Hudson  River  for  sixty-six  years.  Augustus  \V.  Pratt  was  educated  in  the 
Waterford,  N.  Y.,  public  schools  and  later  learned  the  trade  of  machinist.  In  1860 
he  went  to  New  York  city,   where  he   was  employed   by    Fletcher,   Harrison   &  Co. 


116 

After  a  few  years  spent  as  engineer  on  steamboats,  he  secured  the  position  of  re- 
tailer for  J.  B.  Enos  &  Co.,  with  whom  he  remained  four  years;  he  was  then  made 
engineer  of  Erastus  Coming's  iron  works  in  Troy  and  was  there  seven  years,  when 
he  secured  the  position  of  chief  engineer  at  the  Troy  City  Water  Works,  where  he 
remained  three  years.  April  8,  1892,  Mr.  Pratt  was  appointed  United  States  local 
inspector  of  steam  boilers  and  still  holds  that  position.  January  10,  1865,  he  married 
Kate  S.,  daughter  of  John  A.  Kittell  of  Hadley,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have  one  son: 
Frank  H.  On  June  1,  he  was  appointed  a  member  and  chairman  of  the  Board  of 
Civil  Service  Examiners  for  the  Custom  House  at  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Porter,  Robert,  is  a  self-made  man,  and  started  as  a  messenger  boy  twenty  years 
ago  for  the  company  with  which  he  is  now  connected.  He  was  born  at  Ballston,  N. 
Y.,  in  1860,  and  was  educated  in  the  High  School  at  that  place.  When  about  sixteen 
years  of  age  he  entered  the  local  office  of  the  Delaware  &  Hudson  Railroad.  While 
in  their  employ  he  picked  up  a  practical  knowledge  of  telegraphy  and  soon  after 
was  transferred  to  Sandy  Hill  as  operator,  and  was  for  five  years  clerk  and  operator 
at  Fort  Henry.  He  then  became  agent  and  traveling  auditor.  In  May,  1888,  he 
was  appointed  to  the  position  he  now  holds,  that  of  superintendent  of  the  freight 
office  at  Green  Island.  During  his  residence  at  Green  Island  Mr.  Porter  has  been 
active  in  local  affairs.  He  is  interested  in  educational  affairs  and  is  trustee  and 
president  of  the  School  Board.  He  has  developed  marked  ability  and  is  recognized 
as  a  potent  factor  in  that  most  worthy  cause. 

Swift,  William,  sr.,  was  born  in  the  city  of  York,  England,  in  1769.  He  married 
Esther  Staber  of  the  same  place,  and  they  had  three  children:  Elizabeth,  Jane  and 
William,  jr.  In  1822  Mr.  Swift  came  to  America  with  his  family,  settling  in  Al- 
bany, where  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business,  and  in  1824  he  purchased  a  farm 
in  the  town  of  New  Scotland,  Albany  county,  N.  Y.,  when  he  gave  up  his  business 
and  devoted  his  time  to  agricultural  pursuits.  His  wife  died  in  1833,  and  he  in 
1851.  After  the  death  of  his  father,  William  Swift,  jr.,  took  charge  of  the  farm, 
managing  it  with  great  success.  October  27,  1851,  he  married  Margaret  Ann 
Wands,  of  the  old  Scotch  family  of  Wands,  from  which  the  place  took  its  name, 
and  they  had  five  children:  William  Slater,  Mary  Ellen,  Charles  Henry  and  Esther 
Ann,  (one  dying  in  infancy).  Mr.  Swift  died  March  25,  1879,  in  his  sixty-eighth 
year.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  William  Slater  took  a  course  at  the  Albany  Business 
College  and  soon  after  engaged  in  mercantile  business  in  Albany.  December  17, 
1879,  he  married  Emma  L.  Wands,  and  June  10,  1880,  he  came  to  Voorheesville, 
N.  Y.,  and  engaged  in  general  store  trade,  which  he  conducted  for  seven  years, 
and  then  sold  the  business  on  account  of  failing  health.  April  1,  1888,  he  engaged 
in  the  retail  lumber  business  and  a  year  later  added  to  the  business  a  manufactur- 
ing plant,  which  he  operated  with  success  until  October  5,  1893,  when  his  mill  was 
destroyed  by  fire.  He  at  once  rebuilt  on  the  site  a  storehouse  and  continued  the 
retail  business  as  before  until  May  1,  1894,  when  he  sold  out,  and  since  that  time 
has  been  engaged  in  contracting  and  building.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swift  have  seven 
children  as  follows:  Mabel  Slater,  Grace  Wands,  Annie  Louis,  Sarah  Drew,  Cyrus 
Burgess,  Emma  May  and  William  Raymond  (Sarah  and  Cyrus  being  twins).  I  )e- 
cember  24,  1883,  Charles  Henry  Swift  married  Mary  Louisa  Pearl,  and  he  is  living 
on  the  old  homestead  in  New  Scotland.     Margaret  Ann   Swift,   the   mother,  is  still 


117 

living  at  the  age  of  seventy-six,  and  enjoys  good  health,  living  by  herself  and  look- 
ing after  her  household  duties. 

Shanks,  Charles  S.,  son  of  David  W.  and  Anna  R.  (Seath)  Shanks,  was  born  in 
Albany,  September  8,  1857.  David  W.  Shanks  was  born  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  in 
1825,  came  to  America  in  1846  and  settled  in  Albany,  where  he  conducted  an  uphol- 
stering business  till  his  death  in  1817.  He  was  captain  of  what  is  now  Co.  D,  10th 
Battalion,  a  member  of  the  old  Albany  Beverwyck  Club  and  a  Mason.  Charles  S. 
Shanks  was  educated  in  the  Albauy  public  schools,  became  a  clerk  for  Archibald 
McClure  &  Co.,  and  later  for  his  father,  and  in  1875  entered  the  employ  of  Benjamin 
Lodge,  merchant  tailor,  with  whom  he  remained  until  1889,  when  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  Charles  H.  Lathrop,  under  the  firm  name  of  Shanks  &  Lathrop;  they 
purchased  Mr.  Lodge's  business  and  now  carry  on  a  large  merchant  tailoring  trade. 
Mr.  Shanks  enlisted  in  Co.  B,  10th  Regiment,  in  1878,  was  promoted  by  gradation  to 
first  lieutenant  and  was  honorably  discharged  in  1885.  He  was  elected  treasurer  of 
the  Y.  M.  A.  in  1884  and  is  now  one  of  the  board  of  managers.  For  two  years  he 
was  president  of  the  Albany  Wheelmen,  which  is  now  the  A.  C.  W.  In  1884  he 
married  Frances  C.  E.,  daughter  of  William  Gemmell,  of  Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  and 
they  have  one  daughter,  Margaretta  G. 

Van  Olinda,  John  L.,  was  born  on  the  farm  he  now  owns  in  1832.  This  farm  was 
first  taken  up  by  Henry  Albright  in  1740.  John  L.  Hogeboom,  the  maternal  grand- 
father, came  from  the  town  of  Ghent,  Columbia  county,  and  purchased  this  farm 
from  Henry  Albright  about  1792.  John  L.  Hogeboorn  was  born  of  Holland  parents 
and  reared  three  children,  Lawrence,  John  and  Albertine.  Thev  were  born  in 
Ghent,  Columbia  county,  the  latter  being  born  in  1794,  and  was  the  mother  of  Mrs. 
Van  Olinda.  With  the  exception  of  four  years  spent  in  the  village  of  New  Salem, 
Mr.  Van  Olinda  has  spent  his  whole  life  on  this  farm,  he  having  bought  it  from  his 
father.  He  has  made  many  improvements,  erected  a  residence  and  other  buildings, 
cleared  some  of  the  land  of  the  timber,  and  has  devoted  considerable  time  to 
fruit  culture,  principally  to  peaches,  plums,  and  apples.  lie  keeps  a  fine  grade 
of  Jersey  cattle.  For  some  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  fraternity 
but  later  withdrew.  In  1850  he  was  married  to  Margaret  Wynkoop,  daughter  of 
Abram  and  Susan  (Albright)  Wynkoop.  John  T.  Van  Olinda,  the  grandfather  of 
the  subject,  was  born  of  Holland  parents  in  the  town  of  Watervliet,  Albany  county, 
N.  Y.,  about  1708.  He  was  a  farmer  and  reared  four  sons  and  three  daughters.  He 
later  removed  to  Brewerton,  Onondaga  county,  and  there  died  in  1848,  aged  eighty 
years.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  Jacob,  the  father,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Watervliet  in  1796;  he  became  a  farmer,  came  to  New  Scotland,  and  was 
employed  on  subject's  farm  by  John  L.  Hogeboom,  and  later  married  Albertine,  his 
employer's  daughter,  and  lived  there  until  after  the  death  of  his  father  in-law.  Ik- 
later  purchased  of  his  wife's  brothers  their  interest  in  the  farm,  and  here  spent  his 
remaining  days.  He  was  thrice  married;  his  first  wife  was  Lydia  Ver  Plank,  by 
whom  he  had  three  children :  Mariah,  Julian  and  Ann  Eliza.  His  second  wife  was 
Albertine  Hogeboon  ;  their  children  were  John  L.,  Lydia  Ann,  and  Albertine.  His 
third  wife  was  Mrs.  Sarah  Ann  Patterson.      He  died  in  L872, 

Green,  Archibald  S.,  born  in  Oneida  county,  N  Y..  October  1.  1835,  is  a  sou  of 
Jeremiah   and    Elizabeth  (Stephens)  Green.     The  maternal  grandfather,  Archibald 


IIS 

Stephens,  was  one  of  the  prominent  farmers  of  Coeymans,  and  was  a  magistrate  ap- 
pointed by  the  governor.  The  paternal  grandparents  of  Mr.  Green  were  Quakers 
in  faith  and  early  settlers  of  Coeymans,  coming  from  Westchester  county.  Jeremiah 
Green  was  a  merchant  at  Stephenville,  uow  Alcove,  N.  Y.,  whence  he  removed  in 
1831  to  Westerlo  and  purchased  the  Moses  Smith  store  and  there  carried  on  a  general 
mercantile  business  until  time  of  death  in  1849.  He  was  a  Democrat  and  was  justice 
of  the  peace  a  number  of  years.  He  was  also  a  Mason,  and  was  a  birthright  Quaker. 
Archibald  S.  Green  was  educated  at  Cazenovia  Seminary,  and  Knoxville  and  Gallup- 
ville  Academies.  He  was  appointed  recruiting  officer  in  the  Civil  war  and  enlisted 
a  number  of  soldiers  to  the  credit  of  Albany  county;  was  also  treasurer  for  the  club 
of  drafted  men  and  others  liable  to  be  drafted  from  the  town  of  Westerlo,  and  as- 
sisted in  disbursing  several  thousand  dollars  to  these  drafted  members  of  the  club. 
In  1852  he  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Charles  Cox  of  Orleans  county,  N.  Y.,  and 
they  had  three  children:  George  J.  and  Charles  G.,  who  are  in  business  with  their 
father  at  Westerlo,  and  William,  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Green  has  carried  on  a 
general  mercantile  business,  succeeding  his  father;  he  also  has  about  1,000  acres  of 
land  in  Westerlo,  which  he  has  to  look  after.  He  is  a  Democrat  and  was  postmaster 
under  Buchanan.     His  son  George  J.  is  at  present  postmaster  at  Westerlo. 

Harris,  Hubbard  C,  was  born  in  Grafton,  Windom  county,  Yt. ,  in  1835,  and  is  a 
a  son  of  Jasher  and  grandson  of  William,  whose  ancestors  came  from  England  and 
settled  in  Ipswich.  Mass.,  in  1636.  Mr.  Harris  came  to  Coeymans  in  1853,  since 
when  he  has  followed  his  trade,  that  of  a  mason  and  contractor,  successfully.  In 
18G0  he  married  Laura,  daughter  of  Elisha  and  Charlotte  Buckland,  by  whom  four 
children  have  been  born,  of  whom  Harry  R.  and  Laura  M.  are  now  living. 

Keller,  Robert  B.,  son  of  Jacob  and  Harriet  (Dibble)  Keller,  was  born  in  Hudson, 
N.  Y.,  January  7,  1846,  and  was  of  Holland  and  English  descent.  His  grandfather, 
Jacob  Keller,  was  born  in  Holland  and  came  to  America  in  the  eighteenth  century; 
his  mother  was  born  in  Vermont  and  descended  from  an  English  family.  Robert 
B.  Keller  was  educated  in  the  Hudson  public  schools  and  in  1857  commenced  steam- 
boating  as  a  deckhand  and  rapidly  rose  until  he  became  master  of  a  steam  vessel  at 
eighteen  years  of  age;  he  continued  as  such  until  1885,  when  he  was  appointed 
United  States  local  inspector  of  steam  vessels,  which  position  he  now  holds.  In  1872 
he  married  Emma  M  ,  daughter  of  James  M.  flurd,  of  Chicopee  Falls,  Mass.,  and 
they  have  one  son :  Robert  H. 

Livingston  &  Co.— The  business  of  this  well  known  firm  was  founded  in  1857  by 
Hiram  Livingston,  who  in  a  small  store  on  Green  street  built  up  a  large  wholesale 
wine  and  liquor  trade.  In  1876  he  removed  to  the  present  location.  No.  76  State 
street,  and  upon  his  death  in  1879  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  William  H.  (born  1839), 
who  in  September,  1895.  formed  a  copartnership  with  Jacob  H.  Smith  (born  1862), 
under  the  firm  name  of  Livingston  &  Co.  The  firm  carries  the  finest  grade  of  goods, 
caters  principally  to  the  drug  and  hotel  trade  and  is  one  of  the  heaviest  importers 
through  the  customs  warehouse  at  Albany.  Mr.  Livingston  was  deputy  collector  of 
internal  revenue  under  Theodore  Townsend,  during  the  Rebellion  held  a  position  in 
the  War  Department  and  was  a  Mason,  a  trustee  of  the  Albany  County  Savings 
Bank  and  a  member  of  the  Albany  Club.  Mr.  Smith,  son  of  Henry  Smith,  who  died 
in  December,  1891,  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  High  School  in  1881,  and  from 


119 

1884  to  1895  was  bookkeeper  for  W.  H.  Livingston.  He  was  an  organizer  and  the 
first  secretary  of  the  Lutheran  Church  of  the  Redeemer. 

Sutherland,  Charles  R.,  is  descended  from  Joseph  Sutherland,  who  came  from 
Scotland  and  settled  in  Hor.seneck,  Conn.,  where  his  son  Thomas  was  horn  in  L736. 
Thomas  married  Barsheba  Palmer  and  died  in  1807.  His  son  William,  born  I  >ecember 
31, 1791,  settled  in  Kinderhook,  N.  Y.,  and  died  December  31,  1811.  Rufus  Sutherland, 
son  of  William,  was  born  in  1799,  married  Sally  Nivar,  removed  to  Schoharie,  N.  Y., 
in  1840  and  died  in  1849.  His  sou  Michael,  born  in  1828,  married  Christina  Lawyer 
and  died  February  25,  1888;  his  wife  died  in  January,  1872.  Her  family  were  among 
the  early  Dutch  settlers  of  New  Amsterdam.  Charles  R.  Sutherland,  son  of  Michael, 
was  born  in  Schoharie,  January,  31,  1857,  and  after  attaining  his  majority  spent  four 
years  as  clerk  in  the  grocery  store  of  his  uncle.  Isaac  P.  Sutherland,  in  Albany.  In 
1882  he  engaged  in  the  produce  commission  business  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Burhans  &  Sutherland,  which  in  1883  was  succeeded  by  Burhans,  Sutherland  ..V-  Co., 
which  was  followed  in  1885  by  I.  P.. Sutherland  &  Co.  In  1838  his  brother  Willard 
J.  was  admitted  and  in  1890  the  two  brothers,  Charles  R.  and  Willard  J.,  withdrew 
and  formed  the  present  commission  firm  of  C.  R.  &  W.  J.  Sutherland,  which  also 
deals  in  real  estate.  Mr.  Southerland  was  a  director  of  the  South  End  Bank  and  is 
a  member  of  Mount  Yernon  Lodge  No.  3,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Capital  City  Chapter  R.  A.  M., 
Temple  Commandery  K.  T.,  and  the  Scottish  Rite  bodies.  October  14,  1892,  he  married 
Mary  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  William  H.  Righter  of  Albany,  and  their  children  are 
Charles,  jr.  (deceased),  Florence  and  Hellen. 

Sutherland,  Willard  J.,  son  of  Michael  and  brother  of  Charles  K.  Sutherland 
(see  above  sketch),  was  born  in  Schoharie,  N.  Y. ,  October  10,  1859,  and  when 
eighteen  came  to  Albany  as  clerk  for  Haskell  &  Gallup,  wholesale  spices,  etc.,  with 
whom  he  remained  about  three  years.  Later  he  was  employed  by  ].  E.  Moore, 
manufacturer  of  pills.  This  position  was  given  up  to  embark  in  the  retail  grocery 
business,    which  was  successfully  carried  on  for  nearly  six   years.      In  the  spring  of 

1885  he  sold  the  grocery  business  to  William  H.  Righter  and  became  partner  with  his 
uncle,  Isaac  P.  Sutherland  and  brother,  C.  R.  Sutherland,  in  the  produce  commis- 
sion business,  in  which  he  has  since  continued,  being  now  a  member  with  his  brother 
in  the  firm  of  C.  R.  &  W.  J.  Sutherland.  He  is  a  member  of  Temple  Lodge  No.  II, 
F.  &-  A.  M.  In  1884  he  married  Anua  Stacpole  of  Albany,  and  their  children  arc 
Mable,  Harry,  Libbie  (deceased),  Clara  and  Willard  J.,  jr. 

Schuyler,  Richard  P. — The  domicile  inhabited  by  this  gentleman  and  his  family  is 
one  of  the  historic  landmarks  of  Albany  county;  situated  at  Port  Schuyler,  near 
West  Troy,  it  stands  a  mute  reminder  of  the  generations  of  Schuylers  it  has  shel- 
tered. Partially  destroyed  by  lire,  it  has  been  rebuilt,  but  not  essentially  modern- 
ized and  retains  some  quaint  specimens  of  old  Dutch  handiwork.  Richard  P.  Schuy- 
ler, son  of  the  late  Stephen  R.  Schuyler,  was  born  here  in  1S47.  A  daughter,  Miss 
Jennie  D.  Schuyler,  an  able  writer,  who  values  high  the  traditions  of  her  family, 
will  contribute  to  this  work  some  notes  upon  their  genealogy.  From  a  moss-grown 
stone  in  the  Schuyler  Cemetery,  nearby,  we  quote  verbatim ;  "In  memory  of  Col. 
Philip  Schuyler,  a  gentleman  who  was  emproved  in  several  public  enployments,  in 
which  he   acted  with   integrity.      He    was  singularly   hospitable,    a  sincere   friend,   a 


120 

kind   master,  and  most  tender  husband.     He  lived  respected,  and  died  greatly  la- 
mented, February  16,  1758,  aged  sixty-two  years." 

Staats,  John  M.  was  born  in  Schodack,  Rensselaer  county,  in  1812  and  is  the  son 
of  Barrent  N.  and  grandson  of  Nicholas  Staats,  who,  with  two  brothers,  came  from 
Holland  among  the  early  settlers.  Nicholas  Staats  had  four  sons:  George,  Joachim 
P.,  William  and  Barrent  N.,  who  in  1832  settled  the  farm  where  John  M.  now  lives. 
He  died  in  1848  and  left  two  sons:  Garret  B.,  and  John  M.,  who  remained  on  the 
homestead  and  carried  on  the  farm.  John  M.  Staats  had  two  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters.   John  A.  now  runs  the  farm,  and  the  youngest  son,  Joachim  P.,  died  in  isx.*>. 

Secor,  Benjamin  M.,  of  Huguenot  descent,  was  born  October  27,  1834,  in  the  town 
of  Berne,  Albany  county,  where  his  father,  Daniel,  was  born  October  18,  1804. 
Daniel  Secor,  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  settled  in  Berne  about  1780  and  died  there; 
his  son  Cornelius  lived  and  died  there  and  was  a  colonel  in  the  State  militia.  Daniel, 
son  of  Cornelius,  married  -  Cornelia  Van  Zandt  and  died  June  22,  1879.  Benjamin 
M.  Secor  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  received  his  education  in  his  native  town  and 
Warnerville  Seminary.  He  remained  on  the  farm  and  clerked  in  country  stores 
until  1866,  when  he  came  to  Albany  and  engaged  in  the  retail  clothing  business 
with  L.  D.  Hutchins.  In  1870  he  became  a  clerk  for  R.  C.  Davis  &  Co.  and  so  con- 
tinued till  January,  1878,  when  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  late  C.  G.  Craft;  Janu- 
ary, 1890,  he  became  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  C.  G.  Craft  &  Co.  Mn  Craft  died 
March  13,  1890,  and  since  then  Mr.  Secor  and  Joseph  D.  Chapin  have  continued  the 
business  under  the  old  firm  name.  Mr.  Secor  is  vice-president  in  the  Albany,  Hel- 
derberg  and  Schoharie  Railway  Company,  member  of  Temple  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  has  lived  in  the  Thirteenth  ward  about  thirty  years.  In  1858  he  married  Arvilla 
Strevell  of  Berne,  and  they  have  five  children:  Effie  J.,  Elva,  Laura  M.,  Daniel  and 
Ida  A. 

Saul  Julius,  was  born  in  Prussia,  Germany,  March  29,  1836,  came  to  this  country 
in  October,  1856,  and  first  settled  in  Catskill,  N.  Y..  where  he  found  employment  at 
his  trade  of  clothing  cutting.  In  May,  185S,  he  engaged  in  the  merchant  tailoring 
and  ready-made  clothing  business,  which  he  sold  out  in  1869.  In  March,  1867,  he 
moved  to  Troy  and  engaged  in  the  same  business,  which  he  still  continues  in  that 
city.  He  removed  to  New  York  in  1883  and  began  the  manufacture  of  clothing  and 
while  there,  in  1884,  established  a  store  in  Albany,  where  he  settled  in  May,  1888. 
In  the  latter  year  he  purchased  and  extensively  remodeled  the  property,  Nos.  51-53 
North  Pearl  street,  where  he  has  since  built  up  a  prosperous  business,  carrying  in 
stock  every  article  in  clothing  used  from  head  to  foot,  by  man,  woman,  and  child. 
In  1893  his  sons,  Lester  J.  and  Philip  C. ,  were  admitted  to  partnership  and  the 
manufacturing  department  was  moved  from  New  York  to  Albany.  Mr.  Saul  is  an 
ex-member  of  the  National  Guard,  an  exempt  fireman,  a  member  of  King  Solomon's 
Primitive  Lodge  F.  <S:  A.  M.,  and  Trojan  Lodge  I.  O.  O.  F.  of  Troy.  In  September, 
1864,  he  married  Rachel  Cohn,  a  native  of  Prussia,  Germany.  Of  their  nine  chil- 
dren four  are  living:  Lester  J.,  Philip  C,  Rose  (wife  of  Dr.  M.  J.  Lewi  of  New  York 
city)  and  Elka. 

Sayles,  William,  for  twenty-three  years  one  of  the  leading  contractors  of  Albany, 
is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Jane  (Stephan)  Sayles,  and  was  born  on  the  Isle  of  Man,  May 


121 

25,  1848.  He  was  educated  in  private  schools  and  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter 
and  joiner  in  his  native  country,  noted  in  recent  years  as  the  scene  of  Hall  Caine's 
thrilling  romances.  Mr.  Sayles  came  to  America  in  1867,  arriving  in  New  York  city 
April  24,  and  the  following  day  reached  Albany,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He 
followed  his  trade  as  a  journeyman  until  January,  1873,  when  he  formed  a  copartner- 
ship with  William  H.  Gick,  under  the  firm  name  of  Gick  &  Sayles,  and  engaged  in 
contracting  and  building.  This  firm  has  steadily  increased  the  volume  of  its  opera- 
tions, until  now  it  is  one  of  the  leading  concerns  of  the  kind  in  the  city.  They  have 
erected  about  300  buildings  in  Albany,  among  them  the  Albany  County  Bank,  Dud- 
ley Observatory,  Albany  Safe  Deposit  and  Storage  Block,  the  Hope  Baptist  church, 
St.  Peter's  Rectory  and  the  residences  of  Messrs.  Wing,  Russell,  Rudd,  Murphy, 
Gregory,  Fuller,  Waldman,  Barber  and  Reynolds,  on  State  Street,  of  George  W. 
Van  Slyke,  Hon.  John  Palmer  and  Benjamin  Lodge  on  Madison  Avenue,  of  Mann, 
Waldman  and  Tracey  on  Willett  Street;  of  Mrs.  Craig  in  Englewood  Place;  of 
Ogden,  Kinnear  and  Rooker  on  Lake  Avenue;  the  brown  stone  row  on  Lancaster 
street  between  Lark  and  Willett,  and  a  great  many  other  dwellings,  public  build- 
ings, etc.,  of  equal  prominence.  They  have  also  built  a  large  number  of  handsome 
structures  outside  the  city  of  Albany  and  are  well  known  throughout  a  wide  terri- 
tory. Mr.  Sayles  is  a  staunch  Republican,  and  in  May,  1895,  was  appointed  by 
Mayor  O.  E.  Wilson  one  of  the  city  assessors  for  a  term  of  three  years.  He  is  a 
member  of  Ancient  City  Lodge,  No.  452,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  a  member  and  for  ten 
years  was  a  trustee  of  the  First  M.  E.  church.  November  27,  1878,  he  married  Ellen 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  the  late  William  W.  Pearl  of  Albany  county,  and  they  have 
three  children,  Arthur  Everett,  Agnes  Pearl  and  Mabel  Margaret. 

Ten  Eyck,  Jacob  H.,  is  a  descendant  of  Coenraedt  Ten  Eyck,  who  came  from  Am- 
sterdam, Holland,  to  New  York  city  about  1650  and  was  a  tanner.  The  words  Ten 
Eyck  mean  "from  the  oak,"  the  oak  being  the  family's  coat  of  arms.  Herman  Ten 
Eyck  of  Albany  (where  the  family  settled  about  1690)  was  born  here  in  1793  and  died 
May  17,  1861,  about  ten  years  after  he  retired  from  the  dry  goods  business,  in  which 
he  was  long  engaged  with  an  elder  brother  under  the  firm  name  of  Jacob  H.  Ten 
Eyck  &  Co.  Herman  Ten  Eyck  married,  in  1821,  Eliza  Bogart  of  Geneva,  N.  Y., 
who  died  in  1853,  leaving  two  daughters  and  an  only  son.  Jacob  H.  Ten  Eyck,  the 
son,  and  the  last  living  male  representative  of  this  branch  of  the  family,  was  born 
in  Albany,  August  17,  1833,  attended  the  Albany  Academy  and  for  a  few  years  was 
clerk  in  a  bank.  In  1856  he  went  to  Cuba  and  spent  three  years  in  railroading.  Re- 
turning to  Albany  he  raised  in  1861  Co.  G,  of  the  3d  N.  Y.  Vols.,  was  commissioned 
a  captain  in  the  State  militia  on  April  25,  and  in  May  was  mustered  into  U.  S.  ser- 
vice. He  served  nearly  two  years,  being  promoted  major  of  the  154th  X.  V.  Vols., 
and  stationed  in  Virginia  with  the  11th  Army  Corps.  He  resigned  in  1864  on  ac- 
count of  ill  health  and  since  the  war  has  had  charge  of  several  estates.  Ik-  lias  been 
a  trustee  of  the  Albany  Savings  Bank  and  a  director  in  the  Albany  Insurance  Com- 
pany for  about  twenty  years,  is  president  of  the  Great  Western  Turnpike  Company 
(the  oldest  corporation  of  the  kind  in  the  State),  and  is  connected  with  several  man- 
ufacturing companies  in  Albany  and  Troy.  He  was  alderman  of  the  old  Seventh 
ward  two  years,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club,  for  ten  years  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Volunteer  Fire  Department,  and  was  long  a  member  of  the  Albany 
P 


122 

Burgesses  Corps,  and  also  commissary  of  the  10th  Regt.  In  1867  he  married  Ma- 
tilda E.,  daughter  of  G.  V.  S.  Bleecker,  a  prominent  citizen  and  for  many  years 
alderman  of  the  Third  ward  of  Albany  and  the  father  of  Charles  E.  Bleecker,  at  one 
time  mayor. 

Veeder,  Hon.  William  Davis,  was  born  in  Guilderland,  Albany  county,  N.  Y., 
May  19,  1835,  a  descendant  of  an  old  Netherland  family.  He  received  a  common 
school  and  academic  education,  and  read  law  with  Peter  Cagger,  Nicholas 
Hill  and  John  K.  Porter.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Albany  bar  in  1858  and  entered 
the  office  of  Hon.  Henry  Smith  in  that  city,  where  he  remained  until  his  removal  to 
Brooklyn  later  in  the  same  year,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  soon  became  active 
in  politics  and  has  filled  with  enviable  distinction  many  positions  of  responsibility 
and  honor.  He  represented  the  First  district  of  Brooklyn  in  the  Assembly  in  1865 
and  1866.  lie  was  made  a  member  of  the  Democratic  State  Committee  in  1874, 
which  position  he  occupied  until  1882.  He  served  in  the  Constitutional  Convention 
of  1867-68,  and  also  in  that  of  1894  on  the  Committees  on  Preamble  and  on  Corpo- 
rations. In  the  fall  of  1866  he  was  elected  surrogate  of  Kings  county  over  two 
opponents  by  a  majority  of  4,500;  this  office  he  filled  for  ten  years,  or  until  1877,  and 
what  is  remarkable,  not  one  of  his  decisions  was  ever  reversed.  In  the  fall  of  1876 
he  was  elected  to  the  Forty-fifth  Congress  by  a  vote  of  17,916  against  10,630  for 
Colonel  Cavanagh,  Independent  Democrat  endorsed  by  the  Republicans.  At  the 
close  of  his  term  he  retired  from  active  political  work  and  resumed  his  law  prac- 
tice, which  had  become  extensive.  Mr.  Veeder  is  an  authority  on  constitutional 
law  and  a  specialist  in  the  statutes  which  relate  to  trusts,  corporations  and  wills. 
Ik-  was  a  member  of  the  Municipal  Consolidation  Inquiry  Commission  as  to  the 
Greater  New  York. 

Wirth,  Jacob,  jr.,  son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  Wirth,  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  Feb- 
ruary'-',  L869.  lie  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  at  the  Albany  Business 
College.  Subsequently  he  learned  the  tailor's  trade  with  his  father,  who  for  many 
years  was  in  business  in  Albany.  Jacob  Wirth,  jr.,  was  in  the  employ  of  William 
Illch,  as  a  cutter  from  1886  to  1891,  when  he  went  to  Europe  with  the  Knight  Temp- 
lars. Upon  his  return  he  commenced  business  at  No.  41  Beaver  street,  where  he  is 
now  located.  He  is  a  member  of  Guttenberg  Lodge  No.  737,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Temple 
Chapter  No.  5,  R.  A.  M..  1  >e  Witt  Clinton  Council  No.  22,  R.  &  S.  M.,  Temple  Com- 
manders No.  2,  K.  T.,  Cyprus  Temple  A.  .A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  and  the  Acacia  and  Un- 
conditional Clubs.  He  is  at  present  representing  the  First  ward  in  the  Board  of 
Aldermen.     In  June,  1894,  he  married  Katharine  Deiseroth. 

Winne,  Barent  S..  son  of  Barent  S.  and  Ann  A.  (Staats)  Winne,  was  born  in  Cedar 
Hill,  July  20,  1858.  The  Winne  family  are  of  Dutch  descent  and  date  their  ancestry 
back  in  Albany  county  to  1684,  the  line  of  descent  being  Barent  S.,  son  of  Barent  S., 
son  of  Peter  W.,  son  of  William,  son  of  Daniel,  son  of  Peter,  son  of  Daniel,  son  of 
Peter.  Mr.  Winne  is  the  seventh  generation  living  on  the  homestead  settled  by 
Daniel  Winne  in  1715.  Mr.  Winne  is  now  engaged  in  the  extensive  freighting  com- 
mission and  coal  business  established  by  his  father  in  1860. 

Andrews,  jr.,  Horace,  was  born  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  March  19,  1852.  His  an- 
cestry includes  several  of  the  most  prominent  founders  of  the  Connecticut  Colony, 


123 

and  the  Holland  settlers  of  Kinderhook,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Andrews's  parents  were  Horace 
Andrews  and  Julia  R.  Johnson,  both  of  Connecticut.  He  was  educated  at  private 
schools  in  New  York  city  and  New  Haven,  and  at  the  Sheffield  Scientific  School  of 
Yale  University,  where  he  received  his  first  and  second  degrees,  the  latter  (of  Civil 
Engineer)  in  1872.  Since  then  his  occupation  has  been  entirely  in  the  line  of  his 
profession.  He  was  engaged  on  hydrographic  work,  under  the  U.  S.  Coast  and  Geo- 
detic Survey,  in  1872  and  for  several  years  afterwards  was  connected  with  the  same 
government  bureau,  first  in  connection  with  the  survey  of  the  harbor  and  vicinity  of 
New  Haven,  Conn.,  and  afterwards  on  the  east  coast  of  Florida,  whence  he  was 
called  in  1*78  to  accept  the  position  of  assistant  on  the  New  York  State  Survey  which 
he  filled  till  the  conclusion  of  the  survey  in  1884.  Several  of  the  technical  papers  in 
the  reports  of  this  survey  were  communicated  by  Mr.  Andrews.  Sanitary  investiga- 
tions in  many  parts  of  the  State  were  next  undertaken  by  him,  under  the  New  York 
State  Board  of  Health,  until  his  appointment  by  Mayor  Thacher,  in  1886,  as  city 
engineer  of  Albany,  which  office  has  been  filled  by  him  since  his  first  appointment 
up  to  the  present  time.  Mr.  Andrews  has  been  a  member  of  the  American  Society 
of  Civil  Engineers  since  1887  and  of  the  Geometer  Yerein  of  Germany  since  1881; 
for  several  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club  and  he  is  a  member 
of  St.  Peter's  Protestant  Episcopal  church.  In  1881  he  married  Adeleine  Louise 
Downer,  of  Hamden,  Conn.,  who  died  in  December  1893.  Of  his  three  children,  all 
of  whom  were  born  in  Albany,  the  two  now  living  are  Theodore  and  Bertha  A. 

Aspinwall,  William  F.,  whose  charming  home  near  Loudonville,  surrounded  by 
grounds  evincing  the  care  and  skill  of  a  landscape  gardener,  cannot  fail  to  attract 
the  admiration  of  travelers  along  the  Loudonville  road,  is  the  son  of  the  late  Lewis 
E.  Aspinwall,  who  came  to  Watervliet  in  1848.  lie  was  a  brass  founder  by  trade 
and  noted  for  inventive  genius  and  skill;  but  ill  health  led  him  to  retire  to  the  coun- 
try. He  died  here  in  1888,  aged  seventy  years.  W.  F.  Aspinwall  was  born  at 
Hastings-on  the,  Hudson  in  1843.  He  was  about  years  old  when  his  family  moved  to 
Watervliet;  since  then  he  has  resided  here,  chiefly  engaged  in  gardening.  Mr, 
Aspinwall  is  a  musician,  chiefly  as  an  amateur  violinist,  and  it  is  his  own  tasteful 
labors  which  have  beautified  the  surroundings  of  his  home.  A  daughter,  Miss  Mar- 
garet, evinces  much  of  the  same  artistic  proclivity;  and  a  sou,  William  D.  Aspin- 
wall, a  recent  graduate  of  Harvard  College,  is  now  occupying  a  position  with  a  Bos- 
ton publishing  house.  Mr.  Aspinwall  is  a  gentleman  of  quiet  and  studious  tastes, 
with  no  political  ambitions.  He  feels  a  just  pride  in  the  fact  that  one  of  his  paternal 
ancestors  was  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  it  is  interesting  to 
note  that  the  Aspinwall  Potato  Planter,  known  the  world  over,  was  invented  by  his 
elder  brother,  L.  Augustus  Aspinwall. 

Bentley,  W. — Dr.  Richard  Bentley,  English  critic,  was  born  in  Culton,  England, 
in  1(102  and  died  in  1742.  He  had  two  brothers,  Thomas  and  James,  who  emigrated 
to  Rhode  Island  in  1720.     James,  not  liking  America,  i  to  England;  Tl 

remained  in  America  and  was  the  progenitor  of  a  very  numerous  and  respected  line 
of  descendants.  Thomas  Bentley  had  three  sons:  William,  Benjamin  and  Caleb. 
Rev.  Charles  E.  Bentley,  Baptist  minister  of  Lincoln,  Neb.,  and  chairman  of  the 
Nebraska  State  Prohibition  Committee,  is  a  descendant  of  Benjamin.  Thomas 
Bentley's  son,  William,  had  four  sons:  Tillinghast,  William,    jr.,  Taber  and  Pardon, 


124 

Pardon  Bentley  was  the  father  of  eleven  children:  Margaret,  Pardon,  jr.,  Thomas, 
William,  John,  Charles,  Augustus,  Samuel,  Stephen,  Elizabeth  and  Susan.  Pardon 
Bentley's  third  son,  William,  was  born  in  Rhode  Island  in  1767  and  died  at  Chester- 
ville,  N.  Y.,  in  1820.  He  was  twice  married;  by  his  first  marriage  he  had  three 
children:  Jerusha,  Olive  and  William,  jr.  His  daughter  Olive  married  Peter  Cap- 
well;  their  son,  Albert  C.  Capwell,  was  for  many  years  a  prominent  lawyer  in 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  William,  jr.,  was  a  resident  many  years  of  Westerlo,  N.  Y.  ;  he 
was  supervisor  of  the  town  in  1837  and  1838,  and  moved  to  Onondaga  county,  N.Y., 
in  1840,  where  some  of  his  descendants  still  reside.  But  one  of  his  sons,  George,  is 
living,  who  resides  at  Colorado  Springs,  Col. ;  a  grandson,  Floyd  F.  Bentley,  is 
agent  for  the  D.,  L.  &  W.  R.  R.  at  Baldwinsville,  N.Y.  William  Bentley,  sr.'s,  sec- 
ond marriage  was  to  Abigail,  daughter  of  Elisha  Smith  of  North  East,  Dutchess 
county,  N.  Y.,  whence  they  moved  to  Chesterville,  Albany  county,  in  1800.  Their 
children  were  Amanda,  wife  of  John  Winston ;  Alva ;  Abigail,  wife  of  Reuben 
Winston,  M.  D.  ;  Harriet,  George  H.,  Edward  S.,  Edwin  S.  and  Alexander,  all  dead 
except  Alexander,  who  resides  at  Greenville,  N.  Y.  Alva  Bentley  had  one  son,  Jas- 
per Bentley,  who  is  a  lawyer  and  resides  at  Lansing,  Mich.,  and  whose  daughter  is 
the  wife  of  J.  B.  Moore,  Supreme  Court  judge  of  Michigan.  George  H.  Bentley, 
born  March  1,  1806,  in  Chesterville,  N.  Y.,  died  July  16,  1863.  He  married  Almira 
Lawrence,  January  30,  1828,  and  in  1832,  in  company  with  his  brother  Alexander, 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Chesterville,  which  was  dissolved  in  1837. 
George  H.  Bentley  then  purchased  the  old  homestead,  where  he  resided  the  rest  of 
his  life.  He  represented  the  town  in  the  Board  of  Supervisors  in  the  years  1854  and 
1855.  He  was  the  father  of  Charles  Bentley,  who  was  born  in  Westerlo,  N.  Y., 
August  22,  1831,  and  lived  on  the  old  homestead  until  1883,  when  he  sold  it  and 
moved  to  Hastings,  Neb. ;  he  now  resides  at  Cambridge,  Neb.  He  married  Pris- 
cilia,  daughter  of  Samuel  G.  Baker  of  Westerlo,  N.  Y.,  October  14,  1851,  and  they 
had  one  daughter  and  three  sons:  Fanny  Ada,  George,  Edward  W.  and  Willis. 
Charles  Bentley  was  supervisor  in  Westerlo  in  1866-67.  Edward  W.  died  June  28, 
1866,  Fanny  Ada  died  July  19,  1866,  and  Mrs.  Charles  Bentley  died  December  21, 
1879.  George  married  Rosella,  daughter  of  Henry  L.  Tallmadge  of  Westerlo,  and 
moved  to  Cambridge,  Neb.,  in  1883,  where  he  now  resides.  They  have  two  sons: 
Fred  E.  and  Charles  L.  Willis  Bentley  was  born  May  12,  1868,  and  in  1883  entered 
the  employment  of  Ferris  Swartout  of  Chesterville  as  clerk,  in  1887  came  to  Raveiia 
(then  Coeymans  Junction)  and  clerked  it  for  James  M.  Borthwick  (now  county  clerk) 
until  1890,  when  he  and  an  associate  clerk,  Elvin  C.  Shults,  succeeded  Mr.  Borth 
wick  in  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Shultes  &  Bentley,  until  March  18,  1895, 
when  Mr.  Shultes  retired  from  the  firm  and  the  business  has  since  been  conducted 
by  Mr.  Bentley.  Willis  Bentley  married  Cora  B.,  daughter  of  William  H.  Winegard 
of  Westerlo,  N.  Y.,  February  4,  1891,  and  their  union  has  been  blessed  with  one 
daughter,  Inez  C,  born  March  19,  1892. 

Belser,  Joseph,  jr.,  son  of  Joseph  and  Barbara  (Klett)  Belser,  was  born  in  Albany, 
May  4,  1866.  Joseph  Belser,  sr.,  was  born  in  Messingen,  Germany,  March  13,  1836. 
He  came  to  America  in  1852  and  settled  first  in  New  York  city,  then  in  1854  he  re- 
moved to  Albany  and  in  November,  1857,  engaged  in  the  retail  dry  goods  business, 
at  what   is  now  No.  352   South  Pearl   street.     He  gradually  increased  his  scope  of 


125 

operations  until  1884,  when  he  took  in  his  son-in-law,  John  Wagner,  as  a  partner 
under  the  firm  name  of  Belser  &  Wagner.  This  firm  continued  until  1888,  when 
Mr.  Belser's  son,  Joseph,  jr.,  became  a  partner.  In  1889  Mr.  Wagner  withdrew  and 
engaged  in  the  furniture  business  and  Joseph  Belser,  sr.,  Joseph  Belser,  jr.,  and 
Miss  Barbara  Belser  constituted  the  firm.  In  1890  Joseph,  sr.,  retired  and  since 
then  the  brother  and  sister,  as  Belser  &  Co.,  have  continued  the  business.  Joseph, 
sr.,  is  a  member  of  the  Eintracht  Singing  Society  and  was  for  several  years  its 
treasurer.  The  firm  of  Belser  &  Co.  now  occupy  for  retail  purposes  three  stores  at 
Nos.  348,  350  and  352  South  Pearl  street;  they  also  have  three  stores  for  their 
wholesale  business,  which  has  gradually  been  built  up  within  the  last  few  years. 

Brennan,  Edward  J.,  is  a  grandson  of  James  Brennan,  sr.,  a  maltster  who  came 
to  Albany  from  Ireland  and  died  here  in  1880,  aged  eighty-two.  James  Brennan,  jr., 
has  been  connected  with  the  Albany  police  force  since  about  1870.  He  is  a  native 
of  the  capital  city,  as  is  also  his  wife,  Mary  Murtaugh.  Edward  J.,  their  son,  was 
born  August  17,  1860,  in  Albany,  was  graduated  from  the  Christian  Brothers'  Acad- 
emy in  1876  and  in  1877  entered  the  law  office  of  Smith,  Bancroft  &  Moak,  being  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1881.  He  remained  with  his  preceptors  as  managing  clerk  until 
1886,  when  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  City  Court  for  a  term  of  three  years.  Since 
1889  he  has  been  in  active  practice  of  his  profession,  making  a  specialty  of  criminal 
law,  in  which  he  has  been  very  successful,  having  freed  many  well  known  criminals. 
He  is  a  prominent  Democrat,  has  served  as  delegate  to  several  political  conventions 
and  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  January  22,  1896,  he  married  Mary,  daughter 
of  George  Schwartz,  a  well  known  pork  packer  and  dealer  of  Albany. 

Cummings  Brothers. — James  and  John  Cummings  were  bora  in  the  town  of  Berne, 
June  25,  1857,  and  May  20,  1859,  respectively.  They  are  sons  of  John  Cummings, 
who  was  bora  in  the  city  of  Clonmell,  Ireland,  in  1829.  He  was  one  of  four  children 
of  Patrick  Cummings.  John,  the  father,  was  a  miller  in  his  native  place.  He  came 
to  America  and  direct  to  the  town  of  Berne,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  which  he 
continued  until  recent  years,  when  he  retired  to  the  village  of  Reidsville  and  leased 
his  farm.  In  1864  he  enlisted  in  Co.  B,  81st  Regiment  N.  Y.  Vols.,  and  served  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  participating  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  where  he  received 
a  wound  and  lost  part  of  his  hand.  He  was  under  General  Butler  in  five  active  en- 
gagements. His  wife  was  Ellen  Shea,  a  native  of  the  city  of  Clonmell,  Ireland,  and 
daughter  of  Thomas  Shea;  to  them  were  born  five  children:  James,  born  June  25, 
1857;  John,  born  May  20,  1859;  George,  born  June  1,  1861,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
nineteen;  Ellen,  born  in  October,  1862;  and  Thomas,  born  in  December,  1866,  and 
died  at  the  age  of  sixteen.  James  and  John  were  reared  to  farm  life  and  attended 
the  common  schools  and  remained  at  home  until  they  were  twenty-four  years  of  age. 
when  they  embarked  in  business  for  themselves,  their  first  enterprise  being  farming 
and  quarrying,  which  they  followed  for  seven  years.  They  dissolved  partnership, 
James  remaining  at  the  quarry  and  John  repaired  to  Albany  and  engaged  in  the 
stone  business  from  1891  to  1895.  They  then  moved  to  Voorheesville  and  established 
themselves  in  the  feed,  grain  and  produce  business,  and  in  connection  with  tin's  they 
carried  on  an  extensive  stone  business.  James  married  Ella  Van  Deusen  of  Berne, 
and  daughter  of  Robert  A.  Van  Deusen.  Their  children  are  Carrie  and  George. 
John  married  Mary  C.  Ecker  of  the  town  of  Knox,  and  daughter  of  Allen  Ecker,  by 


126 

whom  three  children  were  born :  Thomas,  who  died  when  ten  years  of  age ;  Edward 
and  Mary.  John  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  of  Chancellors 
Lodge  of  Albany.  The  brothers  are  both  stockholders  in  the  Clarksville  Telephone 
line.  John  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Altamont  Driving  Park  and  Fair  Association; 
the  brothers  are  also  stockholders  in  the  Yoorheesville  Canning  and  Preserving  Co. 

De  Witt,  Abraham  Van  Dyck,  descends  from  a  distinguished  line  of  Holland  an- 
cestry. Among  his  earliest  ancestors  were  John  L.  De  Witt,  a  captain  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary war,  and  Lucas  De  Witt.  Tjerck  Claassen  De  Witt  of  Zunderland,  Holland, 
born  1020,  was  the  first  of  the  family  to  come  to  this  country.  He  stopped  at  New 
Amsterdam,  X.  Y.,  in  1656,  settled  for  a  time  in  Albany  and  thence  removed  to 
Kingston,  where  he  died  February  7.  1700.  Mr.  De  Witt's  paternal  grandfather, 
Rev.  John  De  Witt,  was  born  in  Catskill,  N.  Y.,  August,  1789,  studied  at  Union 
College,  and  graduated  at  Princeton  in  1809.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1811; 
married  Sarah  Schoonmaker.  and  was  pastor  of  the  old  collegiate  Dutch  church  of 
Albany  from  1813  to  1815  and  of  the  Second  Reformed  Dutch  church  from  1815  to 
1823.  He  was  then  chosen  professor  of  ecclesiastical  history  in  the  theological  semi- 
nary at  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  having  in  1825  also  assumed  the  professorship  of 
belles  lettres,  criticism  and  logic  in  Rutgers  College.  He  died  at  New  Brunswick 
October  11,  1831.  The  great-grandfather  of  A.  V.  De  Witt  was  John  I.  De  Witt  of 
Catskill  and  Saugerties,  N.  Y.,  who  was  born  in  1762.  He  married  Mary,  daughter 
of  Peter  Breasted,  in  1782,  and  died  in  1816.  Mr.  De  Witt's  father,  Clinton  De  Witt, 
born  in  Albany  in  1*14,  became  a  brilliant  lawyer  and  orator  and  died  in  New  York 
city  in  1845.  He  married  in  1835  Elsie,  (laughter  of  Abraham  Yan  Dyck,  a  leading 
lawyer  of  Coxsackie,  N.  Y.  She  was  an  accomplished  student,  read  Greek  and 
Hebrew,  and  died  August  1,  1885.  Abraham  V.  D.  De  Witt,  born  in  Coxsackie,  Au- 
gust 11,  1836,  was  educated  in  the  village  academy,  and  read  law  with  James  B. 
Sanders  of  Albany  for  seven  years,  being  admitted  to  the  bar  when  twenty-one.  He 
was  then  in  partnership  with  his  preceptor  until  1871,  when  Mr.  Sanders  retired.  In 
1 872  he  became  a  partner  of  Charles  F.  T.  Spoor,  and  since  the  latter's  death  in 
1891  has  practiced  alone.  Mr.  De  Witt  has  not  only  conducted  a  general  law  prac- 
tice, but  has  also  had  the  settlement  of  many  large  estates.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Fort  Orange  Club  and  the  Holland  Society  of  New  York.  In  June,  1894,  he  was 
elected  treasurer  of  the  Albany  Exchange  Savings  Bank  and  since  then  has  had  the 
active  management  of  that  institution,  devoting  much  of  his  time  to  its  affairs.  In 
January,  1896,  he  married  Grace  Hallam  Learned  of  New  London,  Conn.,  daughter 
of  the  late  Rev.  Robert  Coit  Leonard.  A  daughter,  born  to  them  November  22, 
1896,  is  named  Elsie  Van  Dyck. 

Moak  John  T.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland,  on  the  Moak  homestead, 
April  27,  1827.  He  is  a  son  of  Col.  Joseph  Moak,  a  native  of  New  Scotland  and  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  His  wife  was  Arianna  Taylor,  daughter  of  Robert  Taylor, 
and  their  children  were  Robert,  Joseph,  Jane,  Frances,  Eve  Ann,  Catherine,  Har- 
riet, Rachael  and  John  T.  The  father,  Col.  Joseph  Moak,  died  March  28,  1848,  the 
wife  dying  previously  in  1830.  John  T.  spent  his  early  life  on  the  homestead,  re- 
ceiving a  common  school  education.  When  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age  he  be- 
gan working  at  the  cabinet  trade,  which  he  followed  one  year;  then  he  worked  for  a 
time  at  farming  and  returned  to  the  cabinet_shop  again.     In  1851  he  purchased  his 


127 

present  farm,  consisting  of  ninety  acres,  where  he  is  at  present  residing.  To  this  he 
has  added  another  farm  of  seventy  acres  and  made  many  improvements  in  the  prop- 
erty. In  1850  he  married  Margaret  Sager,  who  was  born  in  New  Scotland,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Conrad  and  Margaret  (Bradt)  Sager.  Their  children  were  Arianna,  wife  of 
Jeremiah  Winne,  Melville  S.  (deceased),  Ida  L.,  wife  of  Edgar  B.  Ruso.  The  pater- 
nal grandfather  of  John  T.  Moak  was  Jacob  Moak,  who  came  from  Switzerland 
with  his  two  brothers,  Francis  and  Henry,  about  1730. 

Schubert,  Theodore,  a  popular  and  well-known  citizen  of  West  Troy,  was  born  in 
Saxony,  Germany,  in  1855.  He  was  a  son  of  a  weaver,  Charles  G.  Schubert.  They 
came  to  America  in  1864  and  settled  at  Holyoke,  Mass.,  where  Theodore  learned 
the  woolsorting  trade,  and  in  1878  came  here  as  a  weaver  in  the  Roy  Mills,  and 
later  as  a  loom  adjuster.  In  1885  he  opened  a  cafe  and  retail  saloon  at  1,299  Broad- 
way. Mr.  Schubert  is  prominently  connected  with  numerous  local  societies,  the 
West  Troy  Fire  Department,  president  of  the  local  board  of  Wine  and  Liquor  Deal- 
ers' Association  and  member  of  Laurel  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F. 

Munson,  George  S.,  M.  D.,  son  of  Stephen  and  Eunice  A.  Munson,  was  born  in 
Waterford,  N.  Y. ,  April  4,  1856,  and  moved  with  his  parents  to  Albany  in  1858.  II is 
mother,  a  native  of  Westerfield,  Mass  ,  who  died  in  March,  1886,  was  a  descendant 
of  Rev.  Jonathan  Edwards,  the  theologian  and  metaphysician  of  Northampton, 
Mass.,  and  afterwards  president  of  Princeton  College.  His  father  became  an  exten- 
sive shoe  manufacturer  in  Albany.  Dr.  Munson  was  graduated  from  public  school 
No.  2  in  1868  and  from  the  Albany  High  School  in  1872,  and  in  1874  entered  Princeton 
College,  where  he  took  several  prizes  for  oratory,  study,  etc.,  and  where  he  was 
graduated  with  honor  in  1878.  He  read  medicine  with  Drs.  VanderVeer  and  Snow, 
and  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  1880,  took  a  special  course  in 
Dr.  Knapp's  ophthalmic  and  aural  institute  in  New  York,  where  he  remained  as  first 
assistant  for  two  years,  and  also  pursued  special  courses  under  Drs.  Noyes  and 
Agnew  of  that  city.  In  1882  he  began  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  in  Al- 
bany. He  has  served  as  ophthalmic  surgeon  to  St.  Peter's  Hospital,  Albany, 
ophthalmic  and  aural  surgeon  to  the  Schenectady  Hospital  and  Dispensary,  and  Al- 
bany City  Hospital,  and  is  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason  and  a  member  of  the  Fort 
Orange  Club  and  Albany  Medical  Library  and  Journal  Association.  He  has  con- 
tributed many  valuable  papers  to  medical  literature,  especially  on  the  treatment  of 
diseases  of  eye  the  and  ear.  In  1884  he  married  May  S.,  daughter  of  George  S. 
Downing  of  Albany,  and  they  have  one  son,  born  March  31;   1888,  and  a  daughter. 

Bloss,  Dr.  F.  S.  of  West  Troy,  is  a  descendant  of  prominent  ancestors  in  the  pro- 
fession of  medicine,  as  he  is  a  son  of  J.  P.  Bloss,  a  noted  physician  of  Troy,  and 
grandson  of  Richard  Bloss,  who  was  a  pioneer  homeopathist  of  Troy,  and  who  died 
there  after  twenty-five  years  of  practice.  He  is  also  a  nephew  of  Richard  1  >.  Bloss, 
an  active  practitioner,  now  of  Troy.  Dr.  F.  S.  left  Burlington,  Iowa,  where  he  was 
born  in  1857  and  came  to  Troy  in  1859.  He  went  to  Schenectady,  graduating  from 
the  I  nion  Classical  Institute,  and  entered  Union  College,  graduating  in  1881,  after 
which  he  entered  the  Albany  Medical  College.  He  first  practiced  at  Troy  with  his 
father,  and  came  to  West  Troy  in  1896.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Medical  Society  of 
Northern  New  York. 


128 

Patterson,  jr.,  John,  is  the  son  of  John  and  grandson  of  Archibald  Patterson,  who 
settled  in  Bethlehem  in  1810  and  died  in  1876,  leaving  six  sons:  Robert,  Andrew, 
James,  Alexander,  William  and  John,  who  settled  on  the  homestead.  He  had  one 
son,  John,  jr.,  as  above",  who  has  been,  and  still  is,  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the 
town,  having  served  as  supervervisor  from  1889  until  1895.  Mr.  Patterson,  besides 
carrying  on  the  farm,  has  for  some  time  carried  on  a  coal  and  ice  business  in  Long 
Island  city,  and  still  has  an  ice  house  in  Bethlehem  that  he  built  in  1878. 

Vloebergh,  Louis,  was  born  in  Belgium,  Province  of  Antwerp,  in  1823,  where  he 
learned  the  wheelwright's  trade,  which  he  followed  until  1857,  when  he  came  to  Al- 
bany where  he  worked  for  some  time,  when  he  came  to  Bethlehem  Center  in  1861, 
and  has  since  carried  on  a  shop.  He  has  three  sons:  Livine,  who  is  in  business  in 
Albany,  Augustus  and  Joseph,  who  are  business  with  their  father,  and  two  daugh- 
ters, Mathilda  and  Cristina. 

Moore,  William,  was  born  in  Ireland,  March,  1827.  He  received  a  common  school 
education  and  in  1846  came  to  America.  He  remained  for  a  time  in  New  York  city 
and  then  went  east  and  worked  in  the  cloth  mills  in  New  Hampshire,  Vermont  and 
Rhode  Island.  In  1852  he  went  to  Cohoes  and  worked  three  years  for  Egberts  & 
Bailey,  the  first  knit  goods  manufacturers  in  America.  Then  after  learning  the 
machinist's  trade  with  the  Harmony  Company,  he  was  for  thirteen  years  machinist 
and  foreman  of  the  Mohawk  River  Knitting  Mills  company,  which  was  an  enlarge- 
ment of  the  business  of  Egberts  &  Bailey.  In  1859  Mr.  Moore  accepted  the  manage- 
ment of  William  Mansfield's  knitting  mills  and  in  1860  established  a  mill  of  his  own 
on  Erie  street,  known  as  the  Erie  Knitting  Mill.  In  1882  he  built  the  Granite  Mill, 
on  the  corner  of  Ontario  and  Saratoga  streets,  to  which  he  gives  most  of  his  atten- 
tion, but  he  still  retains  an  interest  in  the  Erie  Mill,  which  is  owned  by  the  firm, 
Moore  &  Tierney.  Mr.  Moore  has  been  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  fraternity  for 
forty  years  and  was  for  one  term  alderman  of  the  Third  ward.  In  1892  he  married 
Sarah  A.,  daughter  of  James  Tierney  of  Waterford  and  they  have  one  son,  William  J. 

McHinch,  Robert,  a  prominent  and  successful  farmer  and  fruit  grower  of  the  town 
of  New  Scotland,  was  born  near  Belfast,  Ireland,  September  23,  1847.  Alexander, 
the  grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Scotland  and  spent  his  lifetime  there  as  a  farmer. 
His  brother  James  came  to  America  and  settled  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland,  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Robert  McHinch.  James,  the  father,  was  born  in  Scotland,  in 
August,  1804,  and  died  in  August,  1889.  He  was  a  successful  farmer  and  left  con- 
siderable property,  which  he  accumulated  near  Belfast,  Ireland,  where  he  had  gone 
when  a  young  man  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  gas,  in  connection  with  which 
he  owned  a  farm,  which  he  sublet  to  tenants.  His  wife  was  Mary  Lowry,  of  Ireland, 
and  their  children  were  Anthony,  Robert,  Agnes,  Jane,  and  Andrew.  His  wife  died 
in  1867,  and  after  some  years  his  sons  Anthony  and  Andrew  died.  He  lived  alone 
then  until  1884,  when  he  converted  his  property  into  cash  and  came  to  America, 
where  he  spent  his  remaining  days  with  his  son  Robert  and  his  daughter  Agnes.  He 
died  August  6,  1889.  Robert  remained  with  his  father  and  attended  school  until 
nineteen  years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  the  United  States  direct  to  his  granduncle, 
Andrew  McHinch,  for  whom  he  worked  at  farm  work  for  one  year,  and  then  worked 
for  other  parties  for  several  years,  when  he  went  to  Illinois  and  Iowa  and  remained 
for  one  year,  and  by  the  request  of  his  uncle  returned  to  New  Scotland  and  worked 


129 

hard,  and  when  he  had  been  here  ten  yeais  he  had  saved  82,000  in  cash.  In  1876  he 
purchased  his  uncle's  farm,  the  price  being  $6,000,  for  which  he  has  paid,  and  upon 
which  he  has  since  lived  doing  general  farming,  but  paying  special  attention  to  the 
fruit  culture.  He  has  since  added  land  and  made  other  improvements,  and  is  now 
the  possessor  of  a  fine  farm  and  good  buildings.  In  March,  1876,  he  married  Sarah 
Jane,  born  in  Bath-on-the-Hudson,  and  daugeter  of  Jacob  P.  and  Mary  Elizabeth 
(Snyder)  Elmendorf,  by  whom  one  child  has  been  born,  Jennie  May.  Mrs.  McHinch 
is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  church.  Mr.  McHinch  was  elected  and  le-elected  ex- 
cise commissioner  for  three  terms,  and  is  now  filling  the  office  of  assessor. 

Kimmey,  William,  was  born  in  Bethlehem  in  1829  and  is  the  son  of  Daniel,  and 
grandson  of  Jacob.  His  great  grandfather  came  from  Germany  in  1755  and  settled 
in  Bethlehem,  where  he  was  the  founder  of  the  family  which  has  always  occupied  a 
prominent  position  in  the  town  and  county.  William  Kimmey  was  supervisor  of  his 
town  for  five  years,  also  town  clerk,  and  was  a  member  of  the  constitutional  conven- 
tion in  1894.  December  27,  1854,  he  married  a  daughter  of  Frederick  Hillebrant, 
and  they  have  one  son,  William  R.,  and  two  daughters,  having  lost  two  sons,  John 
and  Albert. 

Frederick,  Stephen  V.,  was  born  in  Guilderland  on  the  farm  he  now  owns,  March 
17,  1831.  Christopher,  his  father,  was  born  in  the  same  place  in  1793.  He  was  one 
of  three  sons:  Stephen,  Christopher  and  Jacob,  and  three  daughters:  Elizabeth, 
Mary  and  Esther,  born  to  Michael,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  who  was  also  born  on 
the  same  farm.  He  was  a  son  of  Stephen,  born  in  Guilderland.  His  father, 
Michael,  came  from  Germany  in  about  1750  and  took  up  a  tract  of  land  of  about  900 
acres  in  the  town  of  Guilderland.  Christopher,  the  father  of  Mr.  Frederick,  was  a 
successful  farmer  and  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  wife  was  Appolonia  Hilton, 
daughter  of  James  Hilton.  They  reared  three  sons  and  four  daughters.  He  lived 
to  be  eighty-seven  years  old  and  his  wife  lived  to  be  seventy-eight.  Mr.  Frederick 
received  a  good  common  school  education,  and  when  twenty-six  years  of  age  began 
to  teach  school,  which  he  followed  for  nine  years.  In  1861  he  was  elected  supervisor 
and  was  re-elected  for  five  consecutive  years.  In  the  fall  of  1866  he  was  elected 
county  treasurer,  which  office  he  filled  for  three  years.  He  has  also  filled  many 
minor  offices  in  his  town  and  was  often  called  upon  to  draw  up  wills  and  settle 
estates.  He  has  added  to  the  original  homestead  until  he  now  owns  600  acres,  and 
also  owns  property  in  Albany,  and  is  an  enterprising  and  successful  man.  January 
14,  1863,  he  was  married  to  Annie  Reid,  of  Xew  Scotland,  and  daughter  of  Alexan- 
der Reid.  Their  children  are  Margaret,  Ada  and  Lona.  Mr.  Frederick  was  taught 
the  Holland  language  by  his  mother  and  still  retains  a  knowledge  of  that  tongue. 

Whitbeck,  William  J.,  was  born  in  1838.  lie  is  a  sou  of  John  T.,  and  a  grandson 
of  Thomas,  who  had  four  sons:  William,  Stephen,  Daniel  and  John  T.,  who  had 
four  sons:  Thomas,  John  A.,  Jasper  and  William  J.  He  is  a  farmer  and  lives  on  a 
part  of  the  old  homestead.      He  married  Hannah  J.  Smith. 

Couse,  David,  was  born  in  Bethlehem  in  1827  and  is  the  son  of  David,  born  in 
1808,  and  grandson  of  Adam  Couse,  who  came  from  Germany  in  1784  and  settled  in 
Bethlehem  and  had  six  sons:  John.  Matthew,  William,  Peter,  Jacob  and  David, 
father  of  the  subject.     Mr.  Couse  came  to  Slingerlands  in  1839,  where  he  has  since 


130 

been  a  farmer.  He  was  elected  justice  in  1872,  which  office  he  has  held  continuously 
ever  since ;  he  has  also  been  town  clerk  and  collector  and  was  for  some  years 
assistant  assessor  for  the  revenue  department.  He  has  four  sons:  Andrew,  David, 
Frank  and  Robert. 

Hill  &  Son. — James  Hill,  a  native  of  England,  settled  in  Albany  about  1827  and 
died  there  in  1838.  He  was  foreman  in  a  large  blacksmith  shop  which  stood  on  the 
site  of  the  D.  &  H.  depot,  at  the  foot  of  Maiden  Lane.  Cornelius  Hill,  his  son,  born 
December  18,  1833,  in  Albany,  received  a  public  school  education,  and  has  always 
been  in  the  fruit  and  vegetable  business.  In  1845  he  became  a  clerk  in  the  old 
Columbia  Street  Market  and  later  held  a  similar  position  on  Van  Rensselaer  Island. 
In  1854  he  established  business  for  himself  and  since  1889  has  been  located  on  the 
corner  of  Hudson  avenue  and  Grand  street,  the  site  on  which  Thurlow  Weed's  man- 
sion once  stood.  In  1884  the  firm  of  Hill  &  Son  was  formed  by  the  admission  of  his 
son,  James  H.  Mr.  Hill  was  alderman  two  years,  and  is  a  member  of  Temple 
Lodge  F.  &  A.  M.,  Capital  City  Chapter  R.  A.  M.,  and  Temple  Commandery  No.  2, 
K.  T.  In  January,  1854,  he  married  Mary  Mcintosh,  and  they  have  nine  children 
living:  James  H.,  Erastus  C,  William  M.,  George  C.  (all  members  of  Temple  Lodge 
F.  &  A.  M.),  Isabella,  Ida,  Elizabeth,  Etta  E.  and  Minnie. 

Southworth,  Dr.  Julius  B.,  dates  his  lineage  to  the  Mayflower  Pilgrims  of  1020. 
His'father,  Alden  Southworth,  who  married  Betsey  Barker,  was  a  prominent  manu- 
facturer of  ( )riskany  Falls,  Oneida  county,  a  captain  in  the  old  State  militia  and  for 
twelve  years  a  justice  of  the  peace.  Dr.  Southworth,  born  in  Oriskany  Falls,  N.  Y., 
February  6,  1849,  was  educated  at  Cazenovia  Seminary  and  at  Madison  University 
in  Hamilton,  and  from  1871  to  1876  was  a  teacher  in  the  former  institution  and  from 
the  latter  date  to  1881  was  president  of  the  Vermont  Methodist  Seminary  and  Female 
College  at  Montpelier.  He  read  medicine  with  Dr.  J.  D.  Munn  of  Herkimer  county, 
was  graduated  from  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of  Vermont  at  Bur- 
lington in  1882,  and  began  the  practice  of  his  profeseion  in  Albany,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  From  1885  to  1895  he  was  literary  editor  of  the  Albany  Evening 
Tournal  and  since  then  has  held  a  similar  position  on  the  staff  of  the  Albany  Argus, 
and  also  done  considerable  literary  work  for  magazines  and  other  periodicals.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society  and  a  charter  member  of  the  Al- 
bany Press  Club.  August  22,  1872,  he  was  married  at  Schuyler's  Lake,  N.  Y.,  to 
Arzelia,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Reuben  S.  Southworth.  She  died  July  30,  1873,  and 
he  married,  second,  November  28,  1876,  Eleanor  H.,  daughter  of  Dr.  J.  Dayton 
Munn  of  Van  Hornesville,  Herkimer  county.  They  have  one  son,  Hamilton  Munn 
Southworth,  born  February  11,  1881.  Dr.  Southworth  is  an  elder  in  the  First 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  has  been  superintendent  of  its  Sunday  school  at  in- 
tervals for  the  last  ten  years. 

Jones,  John  H.,  was  born  in  1854  and  first  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  as.an 
employee  of  a  planing  mill,  but  is  now  an  agent  for  the  Rusches  Brewing  Company 
of  Troy.  Mr.  Jones  is  a  local  leader  in  politics  and  has  held  various  offices.  He 
was  alderman  of  the  Third  ward  from  1883  to  1890.  His  younger  brother,  Thomas 
R.,  who  died  in  1885,  was  also  a  prominent  man.  John  H.  was  the  elder  son  of 
Robert  Jones,  who,  before  his  death,  was  the  leading  shoe  dealer  of  West  Troy,  and 
had  for  fifteen  years  been  an  honored  citizen  of  that  place. 


131 

Herrick,  Avery,  the  widely  know  blank  publisher,  is  a  son  of  John  Jay  and  Mary 
Herrick,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Florida,  now  Fifth  ward  of  the  city  of  Amster- 
dam, N.  Y.,  November  9,  1822,  and  first  became  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  Duncan 
McDonald  of  Schenectady,  where  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  printing  business  in 
1838  with  Isaac  Riggs.  Coming  to  Albany  in  1840,  hecompleted  his  apprenticeship  with 
Joel  Munsell,  at  Old  Gable  Hall,  No.  58  State  street.  In  1848  he  married  Harriet 
Anna  Wetsell  of  Greene  county.  Commenced  the  printing  business  in  1861  at 
No.  496  Broadway,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  he  has  ever  since  continued,  and  in  1872 
succeeded  W.  C.  Little  &  Co.  in  the  publication  of  blanks.  His  present  wife  is  Spedy, 
daughter  of  the  late  Avery  Herrick  Belding,  of  Montgomery  county,  N.  Y. 

Harriott,  Marvin  B.,  son  of  John  V.  and  Harriet  R.  (Colfax)  Harriott,  was  born 
in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  September  6,  1860.  His  father's  ancestors  were  Scotch  and 
English  and  first  settled  in  New  York  city  in  1783.  The  great  hospital  at  Edinburgh, 
Scotland,  known  as  the  Heriot  Hospital,  was  founded  and  endowed  by  Sir  George 
Heriot,  an  ancestor  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Mr.  Harriott's  mother's  family 
came  to  America  from  England  in  1740,  and  his  maternal  great-grandfather  was 
Gen.  William  Colfax,  who  was  the  first  commander  of  General  Washington's  Lite 
Guards  and  afterwards  was  quartermaster-general  on  Washington's  staff.  Through 
this  line  Mr.  Harriott  is  related  to  the  late  Schuyler  Colfax,  vice-president  of  the 
United  States,  1869-1873.  John  V.  Harriott  was  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  the 
City  of  New  York,  and  was  president  of  the  Firemen's  Fire  Insurance  Company  of 
New  York  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1874.  Marvin  B.  Harriott  was  educated  in  the 
Brooklyn  private  and  public  schools  and  at  the  Brooklyn  Polytechnic  Institute.  After 
the  completion  of  his  education  he  accepted  a  clerkship  in  a  cotton  house  and  subse- 
quently took  a  three  years'  course  in  a  sugar  refinery.  For  the  past  seventeen  years 
he  has  been  a  sugar  broker,  and  now  represents  L.  W.  Minford  &  Co.,  New  York, 
Swift  &  Co.,  Chicago,  and  the  Armour  Packing  Company,  Kansas  City,  for  Albany, 
Troy  and  Northern  New  York.  Mr.  Harriott  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Schubert 
Club.  He  served  two  years  in  Co.  A,  10th  Bat.,  N.  G.  N.  Y.,  and  held  all  offices  up 
to  and  including  that  of  first  lieutenant  and  resigned  as  such  in  April,  1896.  Dur- 
ing his  term  as  first  lieutenant  he  served  detail  as  quartermaster  of  the  battalion  and 
as  commissary  of  twelve  hundred  men  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  during  the  great  railroad 
strike  in  1892. 

Goewey,  Dr.  W.  Irving,  son  of  William  J.  and  Eudora  (Lewis)  Goewev.  was 
born  in  Defreestville,  Rensselaer  county,  November  10,  1859,  and  when  fifteen  years 
of  age  moved  with  his  parents  to  his  mother's  farm  at  East  Schodack,  N.  Y.  He 
attended  Hartwick  Seminary  and  the  academical  department  of  Beloit  College  in 
Wisconsin,  and  was  graduated  with  honor  from  Fort  Edward  Collegiate  Institute 
in  this  State  in  1888.  He  taught  school  at  Poestenkill,  N.  Y.,  for  two  terms;  two 
years  and  a  half  at  East  Schodack,  N.  Y.,  and  was  principal  of  the  Hartford  public 
school  in  Washington  county  for  one  year,  showing  exceptional  abilitv  as  a  teachei 
in  all  positions.  He  read  medicine  with  Dr.  Arlington  Boyce  of  East  Schodack, 
N.  Y.,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  1892,  and  in  March, 
1893,  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Albany  at  225  Hamilton  street,  where 
he  now  resides.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society,  the  Al- 
bany  Medical  College  Alumni  Association  and  the  First  M.  E.  church  of  Albany. 


132 

February  8,  1893,  he  married  Mrs.  Jennie  E.   Earing,  daughter  of  Mason  I.  Crocker 
of  Albany,  and  they  have  one  son:  W.  Irving,  2d. 

Milwain,  James,  was  born  in  Bethlehem,  Albany  county,  May  8,  1817,  and  was 
reared  on  a  farm.  When  sixteen  he  came  to  Albany  and  secured  a  position  as 
clerk  in  the  store  of  Robinson  &  Douty,  dealers  in  drugs  and  paints  on  the  site  of 
the  present  Milwain  building.  In  1838  he  entered  into  business  for  himself,  open- 
ing a  retail  hat  store  at  No.  2  South  Pearl  street,  and  later  on  State  street,  near 
Pearl  street.  In  business  he  was  a  man  of  the  strictest  integrity,  well  liked  by  all 
who  knew  him  for  his  sterling  qualities.  After  a  quarter  of  a  century  as  a  suc- 
cessful retail  dealer,  he  formed  a  copartnership  with  Henry  Richmond  as  a  whole- 
sale dealer  in  hats  and  caps  at  No.  391  Broadway  and  still  later  at  No.  416  Broad- 
way. W.  H.  Boyce  of  the  present  firm  entered  into  the  partnership  in  1870  and 
the  firm  became  Richmond,  Milwain  &  Co.  On  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Richmond 
the  firm  name  was  changed  to  Boyce  &  Milwain,  which  still  continues,  the  junior 
member  being  James  Milwain,  jr.,  Mr.  Milwain,  sr.,  retiring  about  1887.  When  a 
young  man  Mr.  Milwain  took  an  active  interest  in  politics  and  affiliated  with  the 
Republican  party.  He  was  supervisor  of  the  old  Tenth  ward  two  terms,  which 
was  the  only  political  office  he  ever  held.  He  was  also  a  director  in  the  Commerce 
Insurance  Co.,  owned  considerable  real  estate  and  built  the  Milwain  building  on 
State  street,  where  the  business  of  the  firm  has  been  conducted  since  January,  1892. 
He  died  March  10,  1892,  and  was  survived  by  a  wife  and  two  daughters  (Mrs. 
William  H.  Boyce  and  Mrs.  William  A.  Smith)  and  one  son,  James  Milwain.  jr. 
The  latter  was  born  in  Albany,  educated  in  the  Albany  Academy  and  later  became 
a  partner  with  his  father,  to  whose  interest  in  the  business  he  succeeded;  also  is  a 
director  in  the  Commerce  Insurance  Company. 

Murphey,  Elijah  W.  (son  of  Coolidge  Bliss  Murphey  and  Mary  A.  Atkins  and  grand- 
son of  Elijah  and  Elizabeth  (Bliss)  Murphey)  was  born  at  Sandy  Hill,  Washington 
comnty,  N.  Y.,  February  10,  1840.  He  was  educated  at  Fort  Edward  Institute  as  a 
civil  engineer.  He  joined  the  N.  Y.  State  engineering  corps,  serving  on  the  Cham- 
plain  Canal  enlargement  seven  years,  becoming  first  assistant  engineer ;  afterward 
he  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  oil  business  for  two  years.  Iu 
1866  he  came  to  Albany  and  established  himself  as  a  manufacturer  and  dealer  in 
lubricating  oils,  which  business  he  still  continues.  In  1873  he  formed  with  Orlando 
P.  Liscomb,  the  present  firm  of  Murphey  &  Liscomb,  and  they  have  branch  stores 
in  Hudson,  N.  Y.,  and  Springfield,  Mass.  Mr.  Murphey  is  a  trustee  and  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Albany  Homeopathic  Hospital,  a  director  of  the  Albany  Exchange  Bank 
and  treasurer  of  the  First  Congregational  church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Fort 
Orange  Club,  Albany  Unconditionals  and  a  member  of  the  Society  of  the  Colonial 
Wars  through  Vice-Admiral  Thomas  Gilbert  from  whom  he  is  seventh  in  descent; 
he  is  also  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution  through  his  great-grandfather, 
Daniel  Murphey,  of  Springfield,  Mass.,  who  served  under  Colonel  afterward  Gen. 
Rufus  Putnam,  at  Bunker  Hill  and  the  siege  of  Boston,  and  who  married  Eliza- 
beth Knowlton  of  Springfield,  Mass.,  and  of  the  Society  of  the  War  of  1812  through 
his  grandfather,  Elijah  Murphey,  who  served  at  the  battle  of  Plattsburgh.  In  1865 
he  married  Helen  A.,  daughter  of  Chauncey  Hulburt  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  they 
have  four  children:  Harriet  (Mrs.  Henry  Otis  Chapman)  of  New  York  city,  Martha, 
Virginia  Hulburt  and  Chauncey  Hulburt. 


133 

Battershall,  Walton  W.,  D.  D.,  was  born  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  January  8,  1840,  and  is 
of  English  descent.  The  name  was  originally  spelled  Battishill  and  is  probably  of 
French  derivation.  His  father,  Ludlow  A.  Battershall,  was  the  senior  member  of  a 
wholesale  grocery  house  in  Troy  from  1832  to  1866,  when  he  removed  to  New  York 
city.  For  many  years  he  was  president  of  the  Union  Bank  of  Troy  and  prominently 
interested  in  financial  and  educational  enterprises.  His  mother,  Eustatia  Ward, 
belonged  to  a  large  and  respected  family  which  settled  in  Westchester  county.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was,  at  an  early  age,  convinced  of  his  duty  to  prepare  himself 
for  the  ministry  and  to  this  end  directed  his  training,  He  was  graduated  from  Kim- 
ball Union  Academy,  Meriden,  N.  H.,  in  1858,  and  continued  his  studies  in  Yale 
College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1864.  While  at  the  college  he  took  the 
Vale  literary  prize  medal,  one  of  the  Townsend  premiums  of  the  senior  class,  and 
delivered  the  class  poem  on  commencement  week.  He  studied  theology  under  Rev. 
Henry  C.  Potter,  M.  D.,  present  bishop  of  New  York,  at  the  time  rector  of  St.  John's 
church,  Troy;  in  which  Dr.  Battershall  was  ordained  deacon.  He  subsequently  en- 
tered the  senior  class  of  the  General  Theological  Seminary  in  New  York,  from  which 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1866.  In  the  same  year  he  was  ordained  priest  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  church  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Horatio  Potter,  bishop  of  New  York. 
After  serving  for  two  years  as  assistant  minister  at  Zion  church,  Madison  avenue. 
New  York,  he  held  the  rectorship  of  St.  Thomas's  church  at  Ravenswood,  N.  Y. 
from  which  he  was  called  to  Christ  church,  Rochester  N.  Y.,  in  ISO!),  of  which 
parish  he  was  rector  five  years  and  a  member  of  the  standing  committee  of 
the  Diocese  of  Western  New  York.  In  1874  he  was  called  to  the  rectorship 
of  St.  Peter's  church,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  which  position  he  now  occupies.  He  received 
the  degree  of  D.  D.  from  Union  College  in  1876.  Dr.  Battershall  has  been  for  sev- 
eral years  trustee  of  Hobart  College,  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  a  member  of  the  Diocesan 
Board  of  Missions  and  a  delegate  from  the  Diocese  of  Albany  to  the  Triennial  Con- 
ventions of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church.  St.  Peter's  church  is  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  important  in  the  country,  rich  in  historic  associations  and  the  number  of 
eminent  men  which  have  been  included  in  its  membership.  During  the  rectorship 
of  Dr.  Battershall  the  magnificent  church  edifice  has  been  greatly  enriched  and 
beautified  and  the  parish  has  shown  increased  activity  as  a  moral  and  spiritual 
power  in  the  community.  October  13,  1864,  in  .St.  Mark's  church,  Newark,  N.  Y.. 
Dr.  Battershall  married  Anna  Davidson  Williams,  who  died  in  Christ  church  rectory 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  September  25,  1872.  Dr.  Battershall  has  three  children:  Fletcher 
W.,  Cornelia  Smith  and  Anna  Davidson. 

Gaus,  Major  Charles  H.,  son  of  John  II.  and  Agnes  (Boehm)  Gaus,  was  born  in 
Zanesville,  Ohio,  September  1.  1840,  and  removed  with  his  parents  in  1842  to  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y.,  where  he  attended  the  public  schools  and  also  received  private  tuition. 
In  1857  he  came  to  Albany  and  engaged  in  the  retail  drug  business,  which  he  has 
practically  followed  ever  since.  He  was  first  associated  with  his  uncle,  Louis  Saut- 
ter, with  whom  he  was  a  partner  from  1868  to  1872,  when  he  purchased  the  property 
on  the  corner  of  Washington  avenue  and  Lake  street,  where  he  built  his  present 
block  in  1874.  His  military  record  begins  with  the  years  1864  and  1805,  when  he 
was  detailed,  with  rank  of  hospital  steward,  in  charge  of  the  medical  stores  on  Hart's 
Island  in  New  York  harbor.     In    1880  he  enlisted  in  Co,  K,  10th   Regt,  X.  G.  X.  Y., 


134 

and  in  October,  1884,  was  appointed  inspector  of  rifle  practice,  10th  Batt,  by  Col.  W. 
E.  Fitch;  was  appointed  inspector  of  rifle  practice  of  the  Third  Brigade  October, 
1886  by  General  Parker,  and  still  holds  this  position,  ranking  as  major,  having  been 
reappointed  by  General  Oliver.  He  won  in  1889,  '90,  '91  and  '92  the  Wimbledon 
Cup,  an  international  trophy  originally  presented  by  the  National  Rifle  Association 
of  Great  Britain  to  the  National  Rifle  Association  of  America,  to  be  shot  for  annu- 
ally and  to  be  held  by  the  winner  one  year.  This  cup  was  first  won  by  Major  Fulton 
in  1876,  and  has  been  held  by  American  riflemen  ever  since.  In  1890  Major  Gaus 
won  the  military  championship  of  the  United  States  for  rifle  practice  at  Creedmoor, 
L.  I.  He  is  a  Republican,  was  supervisor  of  the  Thirteenth  ward  in  1874-75,  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Public  Instruction  five  years,  being  president  of  the  same 
one  year,  and  on  August  20,  1894,  was  appointed  by  Mayor  Wilson,  street  commis- 
sioner of  Albany.  He  is  a  32°  Mason,  a  member  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club,  a  charter 
member  of  the  Albany  Club,  a  founder  and  director  of  the  Park  Bank,  a  director  of 
the  Albany  Exchange  Savings  Bank,  and  a  director  of  the  Albany  Mutual  Fire  In- 
surance Company.  In  1869  he  married  a  daughter  of  Leo  Kirchner,  of  Troy,  N.  Y., 
and  their  children  are  Edward  Leo  and  Edith  Agnes. 

Haskell,  William  Hervey,  is  a  son  of  Simeon  Parsons  and  Mary  Huntington  (May) 
Haskell,  and  comes  from  good  old  Puritan  stock,  being  on  his  maternal  side  a  direct 
descendant  of  William  Bradford,  the  first  governor  of  the  colony  of  Massachusetts. 
His  ancestors  on  his  paternal  side  came  to  this  country  about  1632,  settling  at  Bev- 
erley, Mass.  Simeon  P.,  a  native  of  Western  Massachusetts,  came  to  Albany  about 
1820,  was  a  school  teacher,  merchant  and  elder  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  died 
in  1839.  His  father.  Simeon,  was  one  of  seven  brothers  who  were  Revolutionary 
soldiers.  William  Hervey  was  born  in  Albany,  February  14,  1832,  was  graduated 
from  the  Albany  Academy  in  1849  and  first  became  a  clerk  in  the  bookstore  of  E.  H. 
Bender.  He  was  for  three  years  a  clerk  in  the  Canal  Department,  and  for  more 
than  thirteen  years  bookkeeper  and  teller  for  the  Mechanics'  and  Farmers'  Bank.  In 
December,  1865,  he  went  to  New  York  as  paying  teller  in  the  First  National  Bank, 
but  the  next  summer  returned  to  Albany  and  engaged  in  the  wholesale  coffee  and 
spice  business,  which  he  continued  until  1880.  He  was  then  the  general  manager  of 
the  Albany  agency  of  the  Equitable  Life  Insurance  Company  of  New  York,  till 
August,  1894,  when  he  was  appointed  by  Mayor  Wilson,  chamberlain,  which  posi- 
tion he  still  holds.  He  has  been  chairman  of  the  Republican  County  Committee,  is 
president  of  the  Permanent  Savings  and  Loan  Association,  and  one  of  its  incorpo- 
rators, is  a  32  Mason,  being  past  master  and  treasurer  of  Masters  Lodge  No.  5,  and 
has  for  several  years  a  trustee  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  church.  During  the  Re- 
bellion he  was  a  member  of  the  war  committee  and  was  active  in  raising  troops.  In 
January,  1855,  he  married  Jane  Strong,  daughter  of  George  Davidson  of  Albany 
and  of  their  seven  children,  five  are  living:  George  Davidson,  Mary  Huntington, 
Grace  Grant,  Harriet  Reed  and  William  Hervey,  jr. 

Horrocks,  John,  a  retired  manufacturer  and  well  known  resident  of  Cohoes,  is  the 
son  of  Samuel  Horrocks,  who  came  to  America  from  England  in  1849  and  to  Cohoes 
in  1854.  The  latter  was  a  man  of  upright  character,  much  beloved  by  his  fellow- 
citizens,  and  was  for  many  years  a  vestryman  of  St.  John's  church.  His  death  oc- 
curred February  12,  1892.     Mr.  Horrocks  was  born   in  Hyde,  Cheshire,  England,  in 


135 

1841,  but  was  educated  here.  Since  entering  business  life  he  has  been  closely  iden- 
tified with  municipal  affairs,  and  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  church,  Masonic  and 
educational  matters.  He  was  for  many  years  a  manufacturer  of  knit  underwear,  of 
the  firm  of  George  Warhurst  &  Co.,  then  Horrocks  &  Van  Benthuysen,  and  later 
known  as  the  Atlantic  Knitting  Company. 

Houghton,  George  H.,  M.  I).,  son  of  Thomas  and  Hannah  (Harrison)  Houghton, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Vernon,  Oneida  county,  November  6,  1852.  He  is  a  de- 
scendant of  General  Houghton,  who  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Albura  in  the  Penin- 
sular war.  Dr.  Houghton  attended  the  district  schools  until  he  wasseventeen,  when 
he  ran  away  from  home  to  the  lumber  regions  of  Michigan,  where  he  spent  four 
years  in  Michigan,  Minnesota  and  Manitoba  and  traveled  over  most  of  the  Western 
States,  returning  east  in  1873.  He  attended  the  Utica  Business  College  and  Whites- 
town  (N.  Y.)  Seminary,  where  he  was  graduated.  He  then  taught  school  two  years 
and  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  William  M.  James  of  Whitestown,  N.  Y.  In  1879  he 
entered  the  Albany  Medical  College  and  graduated  in  1882,  after  which  he  studied 
three  years  in  the  Swinburne  Hospital,  Albany,  N.  Y. ,  since  when  he  has  practiced 
in  Albany.  He  is  surgeon  for  the  D.  &  H.  and  N.  Y.  C.  R.  R.  Cos.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Mt.  Vernon  Lodge  No.  3,  F.  &  A.  M.  In  1884  he  married  Catharine,  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.  J.  E.  Bowen  and  they  have  two  children,  Guy  and  Oscar  E. 

Armatage,  Hon.  Charles  H.,  son  of  Jared  H.,_born  in  Saratoga  county  in  1832,  and 
Rachel  Martin,  his  wife,  of  New  Braintree,  Mass.,  both  living  in  Albanv,  was  born 
in  Albany  January  30,  1849,  and  descends  from  New  England  ancestry  dating  back 
200  years.  His  grandfather  and  great-grandfather  were  residents  of  Dartmouth, 
Mass.  He  was  educated  at  the  Albany  Boys'  Academy,  and  for  several  years  was 
assistant  superintendent  of  the  Buffalo  division  of  the  West  Shore  line,  but  resigned 
this  position  to  take  charge  of  his  father's  grocery  business  and  soon  became  an 
active  factor  in  politics.  In  1892  he  was  elected  alderman  at  large  and  in  1892-9:!, 
was  president  of  the  Common  Council.  August  21,  1894,  he  was  was  appointed  bv 
Mayor  Wilson  superintendent  of  the  almshouse  and  overseer  of  the  poor,  which  po- 
sitions he  has  since  held.  He  is  a  prominent  Mason,  being  a  member  of  Temple 
Lodge,  De  Witt  Clinton  Council,  Temple  Chapter,  Temple  Commandery  (of  which 
he  is  past  eminent  commander),  and  the  Scottish  Rite  bodies,  thirty-third  degree, 
receiving  the  latter  at  Boston,  September  18,  1894;  a  trustee  of  the  Scottish  Rites, 
illustrious  potentate  of  Cyprus  Temple,  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  first  lieutenant 
commander  of  Albany  Sovereign  Consistory,  sovereign  grand  inspector-general  of 
the  thirty-third  and  last  degree,  and  a  trustee  of  the  Masonic  Hall  Association. 
September  12,  1893,  he  was  elected  eminent  grand  warden  of  the  Grand  Command- 
ery, K.  T  ,  of  the  State  of  New  York.  While  eminent  commander  of  Temple  Com- 
mandery No.  2  he  inaugurated  the  annual  pilgrimage  on  Christmas  day  to  the  Albany 
Orphan  Asylum,  which  has  been  observed  every  year  since.  In  1891  he  also  inaug- 
urated the  trip  of  Temple  Commandery  to  Europe,  and  there  he  was  made  a  member 
of  Ouator  Coranota  Lodge  of  London.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Craftsman  Club 
of  New  York  city,  vice-president  of  the  Albany  Bicycle  Club,  a  manager  of  the 
Acacia  Club  of  Albany,  member  of  the  Empire  Curling  Association,  president  of  the 
local  branch  of  the  Mercantile  Co-operative  Bank,  a  founder  of  the  Albany  Mutual 
Boat  Club  in  18G8  and  in  1870  won  several  trophies  for  rowing  on   the  Hudson.      He 


13G 

is  also  president  of  the  New  Democracy.  In  1870  he  married  Susan  Denison  of  Al- 
bany- whose  grandfather  donated  the  site  on  which  stands  the  Leland  Opera  House. 
Their  children  are  Carrie  G.  and  Elmer  E. 

Downs,  Michael  B.,  one  of  the  leading  politicians  of  Cohoes,  represents  the  Fourth 
ward  in  the  Albany  County  General  Committee.  He  is  a  Democrat,  and  his  first 
public  office  was  that  of  commissioner  of  police  in  1888,  which  he  filled  with  efficiency 
four  years.  In  1895  he  was  elected  one  of  the  four  coroners  of  Albany  county,  which 
position  he  at  present  occupies.  Mr.  Downs  was  born  at  West  Troy  in  1854.  When 
two  years  of  age-he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Lock  No.  8  Erie  Canal,  in  the  town 
of  Watervliet.  He  received  his  education  at  St.  Bernard's  Parochial  School  and 
St.  Patrick's  School.  West  Troy.  He  also  attended  St.  Joseph's  Academy  of  Troy 
for  a  short  time.  In  1870  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Cohoes,  where  he  engaged  in 
business  as  clerk  for  his  father,  who  opened  a  canal  grocery  and  provision  store  at 
Lock  No.  9,  Erie  Canal,  which  he  conducted  for  nineteen  years.  He  is  a  member 
of  St.  Bernard's  church,  a  member  of  the  Young  Men's  Sodality,  of  which  he  was 
prefect  and  treasurer  for  four  years.  He  is  ex-president  and  treasurer  of  St.  Bernard's 
Sunday  School  Teachers'  Association,  charter  president  of  Talevera  Council  No.  411 
C.  B.  L.  and  treasurer  of  Division  No.  1  A.  O.  H.,  Cohoes. 

Clarke,  John  Mason,  M.  A.,  is  a  descendant  of  William  Clarke,  of  England,  who 
came  to  Dorchester,  Mass.,  in  1637,  settled  in  Northampton  in  1656,  and  was  a  rep- 
resentative at  the  General  Court  for  seventeen  years  (see  life  of  William  Clarke,  by 
|ohn  M.  Clarke,  1892).  Descendants  of  this  family  still  live  at  Northampton  but 
various  of  its  branches  moved  to  Lebanon,  New  London  and  Saybrook,  Conn. 
William  Clarke,  great-grandfather  of  John  M.,  bought  with  three  others  from  Phelps 
&  Gorham,  the  present  town  of  Naples,  Ontario  county,  and  there  his  grandson, 
Noah  T.,  was  born  in  1817.  The  latter  was  for  nearly  forty  years  principal  of  the 
Canandaigua  Academy  and  is  one  of  the  few  survivors  of  the  original  University 
Convocation.  He  married  Laura  M.  Merrill,  of  Castleton,  Vt. ,  who  died  in  1887. 
John  M.  Clarke,  the  fifth  of  their  six  children,  born  in  Canandaigua,  April  15,  1857, 
was  graduated  from  the  academy  in  1874  and  from  Amherst  College  in  1877,  and  for 
one  year  was  instructer  in  geology  in  the  latter  institution.  He  taught  a  year  each 
in  the  Canandaigua  and  Utica  Academies,  in  1881-82  was  professor  of  geology  in 
Smith  College,  and  then  spent  two  years  in  studying  geology,  zoology  and  mineral- 
ogy at  the  University  of  Gdttingen,  Germany.  In  1885  he  returned  to  Smith  Col- 
lege, and  thereafter  became  lecturer  on  geology  at  the  Massachusetts  State  College. 
In  January,  1886,  he  was  appointed  by  the  Regents  of  the  University  of  the  State  of 
New  York  to  special  work  on  the  geological  survey,  and  soon  after  to  his  present 
position  of  assistant  State  geologist  and  paleontologist  at  Albany.  Since  1895  he 
has  also  been  professor  of  geology  and  mineralogy  in  the  Rensselaer  Polytechnic  In- 
stitute at  Troy.  In  1880  Amherst  College  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  M,  A 
He  is  a  member  of  the  American  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science,  the 
Geological  Societies  of  Germany  and  Westphalia,  the  Imperial  Mineralogical  Society 
of  St.  Petersburg,  and  the  Psi  Upsilon  and  Phi  Beta  Kappa  fraternities;  and  since 
1894  has  been  an  editor  of  the  American  Geologist.  His  writings  cover  a  wide  field 
of  technical  and  scientific  literature.  In  1887  he  married  Emma,  daughter  of  Joseph 
Juel,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  who  died  March  18,  1893,  leaving  a  son,  Noah  T.     Octo- 


137 

ber  23,  1895,  he  married  Mrs.  Fannie  (Hoffman)  Bosler,  also  of  Philadelphia.  Pro- 
fessor Clarke's  mother,  a  daughter  of  Selah  H.  and  Laura  (Mason)  Merrill,  was  con- 
nected with  the  families  of  Elder  Brewster  of  the  Plymouth  Colony,  Jonathan  Trum- 
bull of  Connecticut.  John  Brown  of  Harper's  Ferry  fame.  Gov.  William  Bradford 
and  John  Mason,  the  Pequod  Indian  fighter. 

Cady,  Harvey  J.,  son  of  Eli  F.  and  Eunice  P.  (Parish)  Cady,  was  born  in  Windsor, 
Mass.,  June  10,  1842,  attended  the  public  schools  and  the  High  School  at  Huntington, 
Mass.,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Westfield  Academy  in  1861;  he  also  took  a 
course  in  a  business  college  at  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  and  became  a  clerk  in  the  commis- 
sion office  of  Charles  J.  White,  in  New  York  city,  who  was  engaged  in  shipping 
goods  South  to  the  army.  Mr.  Cady  finally  went  South  with  goods  and  continued  in 
that  capacity  for  Mr.  White  until  1864,  when  he  became  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Mc- 
Murray,  Hunt  &  Cady,  general  merchants  of  Delhi,  N.  Y.  Three  years  later  Mr. 
Cady  sold  out  and  entered  the  employ  of  Morris  Brothers,  flour  and  grain  merchants 
of  Oneonta,  N.  Y. ,  with  whom  he  remained  eight  years,  being  a  partner  the  last 
two  years.  He  was  then  in  the  employ  of  O.  H.  Hastings  <_V-  Co.,  proprietors  of  the 
Cumberland  Mills  of  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  for  eight  years.  In  1888  he  came  to  Albany 
and  engaged  in  the  wholesale  flour  and  grain  business.  In  1866  he  married  Minnie 
E.,  daughter  of  Henry  G.  Smith,  a  lieutenant  in  Ellsworth's  Zouves,  44th  Regt..  in 
the  Civil  war.  She  died  August  3,  1895,  leaving  five  children:  Lizzie  P.,  Pardee 
Eugene,  Frank  Thurber,  Annie  M.,  and  Minnie  E.  (who  died  December  12,  1895). 

Townsend,  Rufus  King,  son  of  General  Franklin  and  the  late  Anna  (King)  Town- 
send,  was  a  descendant  of  Henry  Townsend,  who  came  from  Norwich,  England,  to 
Long  Island  about  1645.  He  was  born  in  Albany,  March  18,  1853,  was  educated  at 
the  Albany  Academy  and  afterwards  became  proprietor  of  the  Townsend  Furnace, 
a  business  established  in  1807,  which  has  always  remained  in  the  family  and  in  active 
operation  since  that  time,  and  of  which  his  father  now  is  the  executive  head.  Very 
early  in  life  Mr.  Townsend  manifested  an  absorbing  interest  in  everything  pertain- 
ing to  the  fire  department  and  spared  no  pains  nor  money  in  the  advancement  of  it. 
Later  on  he  offered  his  services  and  many  times  bravely  risked  his  life.  April  18, 
1892,  he  was  appointed  by  Mayor  Manning  a  fire  commissioner,  in  which  capacitvhe 
served  faithfully  and  well  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  December  21, 
L895  For  several  years  Mr.  Townsend  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Director-  oi 
the  New  York  State  National  Bank  and  also  of  the  Albany  Savings  Bank.  Generous 
and  genial  in  disposition,  Mr.  Townsend  gathered  to  himself  many  friends,  and  vet 
it  can  be  truly  said  of  him  (as  of  few  others  of  like  temperament),  that  he  neither  sac- 
rificed honesty  of  action  to  sympathy,  nor  permitted  a  kind  and  noble  nature  to  be 
led  into  an  approval  of  doubtful  measures  because  of  his  regard  for  their  author. 
He  seldom  failed  in  correctness  of  judgment  and  never  in  impressing  his  associates 
with  his  candor  and  fairness.  By  his  death  the  city  has  lost  a  faithful  public  officer. 
He  was  stricken  down  in  the  midst  of  a  most  brilliant  career,  but  had  already  won 
lasting  honor  and  fame  in  the  hearts  of  those  he  had  helped  and  encouraged.  ( >u 
June  22,  1891,  he  married  Ida  Jerone,  daughter  of  the  late  Avery  Smith  and  Nellie 
Corbett  Willey  of  Milwaukee.  Wis.,  who  survives  him,  as  does  an  only  child.  Anna 
Jerone  Townsend,  born  June  30,  L892 


138 


Rogers,  Howard  Jason,  born  in  Stephentown  X.  V.,  November  16,  1861,  is  a  son 
of  Edwin  A.  and  Laura  (Howard)  Rogers,  and  a  lineal  descendant  of  Deacon  Joseph 
Rogers  (1),  who  moved  from  Rhode  Island  to  Stephentown  in  1765.  The  line  from 
him  is  (2)  Joseph,  farmer,  local  magistrate  and  a  captain  of  militia;  (3)  Joseph, 
captain  of  cavalry  in  the  war  of  1812;  (4)  Alonzo  Joseph,  one  of  the  earliest  seeds- 
men in  the  State;  and  (5)  Edwin  A.,  who  enlisted  in  1862  in  the  125th  N.  Y.  Vols., 
was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Spottsylvania  and  died  from  the  effects  of  the  wound 
in  1*78.  In  his  mother's  line  Howard  J.  Rogers  is  lineally  descended  from  Nicholas 
Howard,  who  came  from  England  to  .Salem,  Mass.,  with  Endicott  in  1628;  and  from 
Gen.  Hosea  Moffit,  a  member  of  the  New  York  Legislature  from  1794  to  17C8,  sheriff 
of  Rensselaer  county  in  1810,  and  a  member  of  Congress  from  1812  to  1817.  In  1 S79 
Mr.  Rogers  removed  to  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Pittsfield  High 
School  in  1880  and  from  Williams  College  in  1884,  winning  among  other  honors  the 
Graves  prize  for  the  best  English  essay,  and  taking  an  active  part  in  athletics.  On 
leaving  college  he  came  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  taught  English  literature  and  rhetoric 
in  the  Albany  Boys'  Academy  for  eight  years,  reading  law  meanwhile  with  Heyward 
&  Pruyn.  lie  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  June,  1SS7.  In  1892  he  was  made  super- 
intendent of  the  New  York  State  Educational  Exhibit  at  the  World's  Columbian  Ex- 
position at  Chicago;  in  the  latter  part  of  1893  he  became  acting  secretary  for  the  New- 
York  Board  of  (General  Managers  at  the"  World's  Fair,  and  as  such  wrote  their  elab- 
orate report,  "  New  York  at  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition."  April  8,  1895,  he- 
was  appointed  deputy  State  superintendent  of  public  instruction.  He  was  one  of  the 
of  the  organizers  of  the  Albany  Chess  Club  in  1886  and  served  as  its  secretary  until 
1888  and  as  president  from  1888  to  1890,  and  is  now  vice-president  of  the  Albany 
Chess  and  Whist  Club.  He  was  secretary  of  the  New  York  State  Chess  Association 
from  1889  to  1893,  and  has  since  been  its  president.  In  December,  1887,  he  married 
at  New  Haven,  Conn.,  Anne  North,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Turner,  and  their  chil- 
dren are  Kathryn  Howard  and  Joseph  Edwin. 

Rockwell  Hiram  J.,  son  of  George  T.,  was  born  in  Luzerne,  Warren  county,  X.  Y., 
July  13,  1832,  was  educated  at  the  Glens  Falls  Academy,  and  was  afterwards  asso- 
ciated with  his  father  at  the  Rockwell  House  at  Luzerne  until  1866,  when  he  assumed 
charge  of  the  Lake  House  at  Lake  George,  which  he  successfully  conducted  for  five 
years.  In  1871  he  built  with  his  brother.  Charles  L.,  the  Rockwell  House  at  Glens 
Falls,  which  they  kept  until  1878,  when  Hiram  J.  became  manager  of  the  Fort  Will- 
iamt  Henry  Hotel  at  Lake  George  for  one  season.  He  was  then  proprietor  of  the 
American  House  in  Troy  for  nine  and  one-half  years,  being  also  manager  of 
the  Wayside  Inn  at  Lake  Luzerne  for  seven  years.  May  14,  1888,  he  came  to  Al- 
bany as  proprietor  of  the  Hotel  Kenmore,  which  was  built  in  1878  by  Dr.  James 
MeXaughton  for  Adam  Blake,  the  noted  landlord  of  the  old  Congress  Hall.  Later 
this  popular  hotel  received  several  additions  and  now  occupies  a  whole  block,  except- 
ing Jermain  Hall,  fronting  on  North  Pearl  street.  It  is  the  largest  and  foremost 
hotel  in  Albany,  and  under  the  able  management  of  the  Rockwells  has  attained  a 
wide  popularity.  In  December,  1895,  Mr.  Rockwell  admitted  his  son  Frederick  W. 
as  partner,  under  the  firm  name  of  H.  J.  Rockwell  &  Son.  Both  are  members  of  the 
Xew  York  Hotel  Association,  of  which  Hiram  J.  is  one  of  the  originators  and 
founders,  and  which  he  served  as  treasurer  until  the  spring  of  1896. 


139 

Daubney,  William  H.,  is  of  English  ancestry.  His  father  was  a  remarkable  man, 
having  served  for  seventeen  years  in  the  British  Royal  Artillery.  He  was  a  skillful 
swordsman  and  horseman  and  taught  the  art  to  the  nobility.  He  came  to  Montreal 
in  1$46,  and  died  in  1893  at  the  age  of  eighty-one.  He  was  the  only  man  who  ever 
received  a  pension  from  the  British  Government  after  becoming  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States.  Mr.  Daubney  spent  three  years  in  Montreal,  thence  to  Plattsburg, 
where  he  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  and  came  to  Troy  in  1855  and  opened  a 
shop  until  1872;  after  that  he  engaged  in  the  news  business  and  book  store  until 
1884,  when  he  went  to  Virginia  for  one  year.  On  his  return  he  worked  as  agent  for 
the  Metropolitan  Life  Insurance  Company  for  two  years,  and  then  opened  the  pres- 
ent grocery.  Mr.  Daubney  has  been  trustee  of  the  Fourth  ward  twice,  and  was 
canal  collector  from  1890  up  to  1895.  He  has  a  fine  tenor  voice,  which  be  has  devo- 
ted to  the  churches,  having  sung  for  fifty-three  years  and  at  present  sings  in  St. 
Patrick's  church  of  West  Troy. 

Evory  Frank  H.,  son  of  James  and  Alice  J.  (Hickok)  Evory,  was  born  in  Indian 
Fields,  Albany  county,  June  26,  1864.  His  parents  moved  from  Durham,  Greene 
county,  to  Indian  Fields  in  1863,  and  thence  to  Albany  in  1870,  and  here  Frank  H. 
received  a  public  school  education.  His  great-great-grandfather  came  from  Holland 
to  Connecticut  in  the  early  history  of  the  country.  Here  his  great-grandfather, 
Obadiah  Evory,  was  born  in  July,  1775;  he  married  Alcha,  a  daughter  of  Peter 
Vermilyea,  whose  father  Johannes  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  New  Amsterdam. 
Later  Obadiah  moved  to  Durham,  Greene  county,  N.  Y.  Here  seven  children  were 
born,  one  of  whom  (Peter)  served  with  distinction  as  a  soldier  during  the  war  of 
1812.  The  youngest  son,  James,  married  Margaret,  a  daughter  of  John  W.  Welch 
and  Hannah  Van  Etten,  in  1832,  and  remained  on  the  old  homestead  until  his 
death  in  1860.  Here  James,  jr.,  the  father  of  Frank  H.,  was  born  in  1839,  and 
married  Alice  J.  Hickok  in  1860.  His  mother  is  of  an  old  New  England  family; 
her  grandparents  were  Gideon  Hickok  and  Annie  Buckingham  on  her  father's 
side,  and  Roswell  Post  and  Temperance  Kirtland  on  her  mother's  side.  Her  father, 
David  Hickok,  who  died  in  1870,  aged  seventy-two,  was  a  well-to-do  farmer  of 
Greenville,  N.  Y.,  an  elder  and  one  of  the  pillars  of  the  Presbyterian  church;  he 
married  Lydia  Ann  Post,  who  died  in  1883,  aged  eighty-two,  a  daughter  of  Ros- 
well, who  was  a  large  land  and  mill  owner  of  Durham,  Greene  county,  N.  Y.  Frank 
H.  Evory  learned  the  printer's  trade  with  the  Prouty  Printing  Company,  and  in  L885 
entered  the  employ  of  Brandow,  Barton  &  Co.  On  November  1,  1887,  the  Bran- 
dow  Printing  Company  was  incorporated  with  A.  S.  Brandow  president;  W.  B. 
Jones  treasurer,  and  Mr.  Evory  secretary  and  superintendent.  January  1,  ls'.»'», 
Richard  W.  Brass  succeeded  Mr.  Jones  as  treasurer;  the  other  officers  remained  the 
same.  Mr.  Evory  is  an  active  member  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  the  Tabernacle 
Baptist  church,  and  assistant  superintendent  and  chorister  of  the  Sunday  school. 
Also  a  charter  member  of  Albany  Senate  No.  fill,  K.  A.  E.  O.  November  -J::.  L887, 
he  married  Estella  J.,  daughter  of  Ithamar  Spencer  of  Albany,  and  they  had  two 
sons:  Clifford  Spencer  Evory,  born  September  10,  1889,  who  survives,  and  Harold 
Evory,  deceased. 

Morrow,  Samuel  Roseburgh,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Albany.  X.  Y.,  May  6,  1849.  He 
graduated  from  the  Albany   Academy  in  1866  and  from  Yale  with  the  degree  of  A. 


140 

B.  in  1.870,  and  received  the  degree  of  A.  M.  from  the  same  college  in  1874.  He  was 
tutor  at  Yale  in  Greek  and  mathematics  from  1873  to  1876.  He  then  attended  the 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  New  York  city,  from  which  he  received  the  de- 
gree of  M.D.  in  1878.  He  served  on  the  house  staff  of  Bellevue  Hospital,  New 
York,  from  October,  1877,  to  April,  1879.  Doctor  Morrow  then  studied  further  at 
the  London  Hospital,  London ;  General  Hospital,  Vienna,  and  at  Halle  until  1880, 
when  he  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery  in  Albany,  N.  Y.  In  1883 
he  received  the  honorary  degree  of  M.D.  from  the  Albany  Medical  College.  He  has 
been  lecturer  on  minor  surgery,  Albany  Medical  College,  spring  term,  1881-82;  ad- 
junct lecturer  to  the  chair  of  surgery,  1884-86;  adjunct  professor  of  surgery,  1886-88  ; 
lecturer  on  anatomy,  1887-89;  professor  of  anatomy  and  orthopaedic  surgery  since 
1890;  visiting  surgeon  to  St.  Peter's  Hospital  since  1881 ;  to  the  Hospital  for  Incura- 
bles since  1885 ;  to  the  Albany  Hospital  since  1888;  to  the  Child's  Hospital  since  1886; 
was  vice-president  Medical  Society  of  the  County  of  Albany,  1886-87.  Doctor  Morrow 
was  examiner  in  anatomy  in  the  State  Board  of  Medical  Examiners  until  1891,  when 
the  board  was  abolished.  He  is  a  member  of  the  State  Medical  Society  and  has  con- 
tributed several  articles  to  the  leading  medical  journals. 

Whitbeck,  Henry  T.,  born  in  Coeymans,  December  9,  1847,  was  a  son  of  William 
A.  Whitbeck,  son  of  Thomas,  who  spent  most  of  his  days  in  Coeymans,  where  he 
died.  The  father  of  Henry  T.'  Whitbeck  now  lives  at  Coeymans  a  retired  life.  His 
wife  was  Annie  Tompkins,  daughter  of  fohn  Tompkins,  son  of  Daniel  Tompkins, 
mentioned  in  this  work.  To  William  A.  Whitbeck  and  his  wife  were  born  ten  chil- 
dren, and  six  are  now  living.  Mrs.  Whitbeck  died  in  1886.  Henry  T.  Whitbeck 
was  reared  on  a  farm  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  has  147  acres 
of  land  on  which  he  has  lived  since  April  1,  1873.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  being 
assessor  nine  years  and  was  elected  justice  in  1891,  which  he  held  four  years  and  re- 
elected again  in  1895.  September  13,  1872,  he  married  Rosalie  Gifford,  daughter  of 
John  H.  and  Caroline  Gifford  of  Rensselaerville,  N.  Y.  They  have  one  child,  John 
H.     Mr.  Whitbeck  is  a  member  of  Cascade  Lodge  No.  427,  F.  &  A.  M. 

Mickel,  Charles,  born  in  Darmstadt,  Germany,  August  26,  1847,  is  a  son  of  Eman- 
uel Mickel,  a  native  of  Darmstadt,  Germany,  who  came  to  America  in  1849.  The 
father  was  long  engaged  in  business  as  a  decorative  artist  in  New  York  city,  being 
a  member  of  the  firm  of  Delamano,  then  the  largest  house  of  the  kind  in  the  coun- 
try. He  died  in  Albany  in  1891.  Charles  Mickel  was  educated  in  New  York  city, 
came  to  Albany  with  the  family  in  1860  and  remained  with  his  father  until  1876, 
when  he  established  himself  in  the  business  of  decorating,  frescoing,  painting,  etc., 
and  as  a  dealer  in  decorative  specialties  and  paper-hanging.  He  has  been  located 
at  Nos.  594-596  Broadway,  corner  of  Columbia  street,  since  1887.  In  1874  he 
married  Louisa  Faroldt  of  Albany  and  they  have  three  children :  Ezra,  Mary  and 
Ella. 

Kelly,  James  J.,  born  May  3,  1833,  in  Ireland,  came  to  America  about  1850  and 
settled  in  Albany,  where  he  first  learned  the  boat  builder's  trade,  and  later  the  trade 
of  carpenter,  which  he  has  since  followed.  About  1865  he  began  contracting  and 
building.  He  has  considerable  inventive  genius,  and  on  February  28,  1888,  obtained 
a  patent  for  a  circular  show  case.  In  1893  he  invented  and  patented  the  "Capital 
City  dumb  waiter,"  which  he  manufactures  in  several  different  styles  and  sizes.     He 


141 

has  also  originated  a  number  of  other  mechanical  devices,  and  is  a  member,  trustee, 
and  ex-president  of  the  Carpenter's  Union  of  Albany.  In  1801  he  married  Delia 
Kiernan,  and  they  have  four  children  living:  John  T.,  Frank  J.,  Mary  A.,  and 
Cecelia. 

Collin,  Capt.  T.  Campbell,  is  city  edititor  of  the  Cohoes  Daily  News,  of  which  he 
is  one  of  the  stockholders,  and  was  for  three  years  superintendent  of  the  Granite 
Knitting  Mills,  with  which  he  had  been  connected  as  an  employee  for  fourteen  years. 
He  was  born  at  Leicester,  England,  in  1856,  and  brought  by  his  parents  to  America 
the  following  year.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  has  advanced  to  the  "front, 
now  serving  his  fifth  term  as  alderman  from  the  Fourth  ward.  In  1890  he  was  nom- 
inated for  mayor,  and  officiated  three  years  as  water  commissioner.  At  the  twentieth 
anniversary  of  the  Seventh  Separate  Company  of  the  N.  G.  S.  N.  V.,  held  in  1896, 
he  was  the  only  one  left  of  the  original  members.  Since  its  organization  in  Febru- 
ary, 1876,  he  has  been  closely  identified  with  the  fortunes  of  the  company,  entering 
first  as  a  private,  and  serving  in  all  the  grades,  gradually  rising  towards  the  position 
of  captain,  to  which  he  was  promoted  in  1890.  In  1893  the  company  presented  him 
with  an  elegant  gold-mounted  sword;  he  also  has  a  beautiful  gold  watch,  presented 
him  by  the  George  Campbell  Hose  Company,  of  which  he  was  a  member  for  ten 
years.      He  has  held  many  offices  in  the  Masonic  fraternity  of  the  highest  degree. 

Lloyd,  Will  Lyman,  great-grandson  of  Andrew  Lloyd,  of  East  Otis,  Mass.,  and 
grandson  of  Lyman  J.  Lloyd,  a  large  manufacturer  of  harness  and  trunks  in  Albany. 
until  his  death  April  23,  1889,  was  born  in  Albany,  May  27,  1860;  he  attended  the 
public  schools  and  Albany  Business  College.  In  1872  he  became  a  page  boy  in  the 
Legislature  and  continued  as  page  boy  until  1878;  In  1879  he  was  appointed  messen- 
ger to  the  Assembly  Judiciary  committee;  in  1880  he  was  made  superintedent  of  the 
wrapping  department  of  the  Assembly;  in  1881  he  became  a  clerk  in  the  New  York 
Custom  House,  and  in  1882  the  Assembly  correspondent  of  the  Brooklvn  Eagle;  in 

1883  he  was  the  Assembly  representative  of  the  United  Press  Association,  and  in 

1884  the  legislative  correspondent  of  the  New  York  Truth.  In  January,  1885,  he  be- 
came secretary  at  Albany  to  Chauncey  M.  Depew,  and  later  assistant  general  tax 
agent  of  the  N.  Y.  Central  Railroad  which  position  he  still  holds.  lie  is  one  <>l"  the 
governors  of  the  Albany  Club,  a  member  of  the  Acacia  Club,  a  life  member  of  Mt. 
Vernon  Lodge  No.  3,  F.  &  A.  M.,  a  member  of  Capital  City  Chapter  and  De  Witt 
Clinton  Council,  junior  warden  of  Temple  Commandery  No.  'J,  K.  T.,  a  life  member 
of  all  the  Scottish  Rite  bodies  and  Cyprus  Temple,  N.  M.  S.  He  is  a  noted  statisti- 
cian, was  the  originator  of  the  Legislative  Red  Book  and  has  a  valuable  collection  of 
photographs,  autographs,  etc.,  largely  relating  to  the  State  Legislature,  with  which 
he  has  been  identified  for  twenty-five  years.  February  21,  1884,  he  married  Ida  C, 
daughter  of  Charles  Hauptner  of  New  York  city,  and  they  have  had  live  children : 
Valeria  Louise,  Gladys  Viola,  Will  Lyman,  jr.,  Clifford  Gregory,  and  Chauncey 
Depew.     The  latter  died  November  13,  1888,  aged  one  and  one-half  years. 

Pinkerton,  Robert,  son  of  James  and  Mary  (Martin)  Pinkerton,  was  born  in  Bel- 
fast, Ireland,  in  1841.  He  was  educated  in  the  private  schools  and  learned  the  trade 
of  boilermaker  in  Greenwich,  Scotland.  In  1862  he  came  to  America,  settling  in 
New  York  city,  and  obtained  work  in  the  Hutchinson  boiler  shops  in  Brooklyn. 
After  a  few  years  he  went  to  Callao,   Peru.    South    America,   where  he   remained  a 


142 

short  time,  and  returning  spent  a  short  period  in  New  York  and  in  New  London, 
Conn.  In  1871  he  came  to  Waterford,  N.  Y. ,  where  for  fourteen  years  he  worked  in 
the  Steam  Fire  Engine  Works.  In  1885  he  removed  to  Green  Island,  Albany  county, 
where  he  established  himself  as  a  boilermaker.  In  1892  he  entered  into  partnership 
with  Abram  Mull,  with  whom  he  is  now  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  boilers,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Piukerton  &  Mull.  Mr.  Pinkerton  is  a  member  of  the  Exempt 
Firemen1' s  Association,  Waterford,  Clinton  Lodge  No.  140.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Water- 
ford  Chapter  No.  169,  R.  A.  M.  In  1863  he  married  Rachel  Adams,  of  New  York 
city,  .and  they  have  six  children:  Mary  (Mrs.  James  Sinclair  of  New  York),  James 
(deceased),  John,  Robert,  jr.,  Nancy  and  Joseph  G. 

Ridgway  &  Russ. — This  is  the  oldest  plumbing  firm  in  Albany  and  one  of  the  old- 
est in  the  State,  having  been  established  in  Albany  in  1843  by  J.  &  F.  W.  Ridgway, 
who  came  here  from  New  York  city,  being  located  there  at  145  Broadway.  They 
continued  business  in  this  city  for  three  years,  when  the  brothers  separated,  Jonathan 
going  to  Boston  and  F.  W.  continuing  here  alone  until  his  death  in  1851,  at  the  age 
of  thirty-tour.  His  widow  carried  orl  the  establishment  for  a  year  or  two, 
when  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  Mrs.  Ridgway,  Herman  H.  Russ  and  Edmund  Nes- 
bitt,  who  composed  the  firm  of  Ridgway  &  Co.  About  sixteen  years  later  Mr.  Nesbitt 
retired  and  the  firm  of  Ridgway  &  Russ  was  formed.  Mrs.  Ridgway  withdrew 
about  1870  and  her  interest  has  since  been  represented  by  her  son,  Frederick  W. 
Herman  H.  Russ,  born  in  Albany,  October  22,  1829,  is  one  of  the  best  known  busi- 
ness men  in  tin-  State,  and  has  been  street  commissioner  and  one  of  the  public 
building  commissioners  of  the  capital  city  and  is  at  present  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Health.  He  is  a  prominent  and  highly  respected  Free  Mason,  33d  degree,  is  grand 
treasurer  of  the  Grand  Chapter  R.  A.  M. ,  and  a  charter  member  of  the  Albany  Club, 
and  enjoys  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  good  citizens.  He  has  been  engaged  in 
business  in  the  firm's  present  building  for  fifty  years  and  is  now  the  oldest  active 
merchant  on  State  street  in  Albany.  Adam  Russ,  his  father,  born  in  Germantown, 
N.  Y. ,  in  1774,  came  to  Albany  in  1790  and  died  here  in  1863.  He  was  for  a  long 
time  inspector  and  measurer  of  grain,  carried  on  a  large  freight  business  by  teams 
between  Albany  and  Buffalo  until  1825,  when  the  canal  was  opened,  collected  State 
taxes,  served  as  alderman  of  the  Fourth  ward  in  1815-16,  and  was  a  member  and 
elder  of  the  Second  Reformed  Dutch  church,  now  located  on  the  corner  of  Madison 
avenue  and  Swan  street.  Mr.  Ridgway,  born  in  Albany,  July  19,  1849,.  has  been 
connected  with  the  firm  for  thirty  years,  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order,  was  for- 
merly a  member  of  the  National  Guard,  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Old  Guard  of  Co. 
A,  10th  Bat.,  N.  G.  X.  V.,  and  is  one  of  the  water  commissioners  appointed  by  Mayor 
Wilson.  He  is  also  a  charter  member  of  the  Albany  Club  and  one  of  its  board  of 
governors.  He  is  an  active  and  progressive  business  man  and  highly  respected. 
The  firm  does  a  large  business  in  plumbing  and  heating  all  over  the  country  and  has 
executed  heavy  contracts  in  Maine,  Massachusetts,  Vermont,  Connecticut,  New 
York,  New  Jersey,  North  Carolina  and  several  other  States. 

Rochford,  W.  P.,  a  resident  of  West  Troy,  is  at  present  engaged  as  superintendent 
at  Tim  &  Co.'s  Shirt,  Collar  and  Cuff  Manufactory.  He  is  of  French  ancestry,  born 
at  Chester,  Vt,  in  1859.  After  residing  in  Montreal  and  North  Bennington  for  a 
short  time,   he  came  to  Troy  in  1874.     He  had  learned  the  shoemaking  trade  of  his 


143 

father,  Peter  Rochford,  but  went  to  work  at  Holmes  &  Ide's  collar  shop,  also  E.  L. 
Killop's  laundry,  and  spent  one  year  in  Richard  Davis's  laundry.  He  left  Cluett, 
Coon  &  Co.,  where  he  had  been  nearly  thirteen  years  superintendent  of  the  shirt, 
collar  and  cuff  laundries,  and  in  1894  went  to  Clifton,  Staten  Island,  to  engage  in 
business  for  himself,  laundering  new  goods  only.  He  has  only  recently  returned  here, 
where  he  is  well  known  for  his  sterling  worth  and  enterprising  abilities.  Mr.  Roch- 
ford now  owns  a  custom  laundry  at  Bennington,  Vt.  which  is  operated  by  a  resident 
manager. 

Gallien,  Edward  J.,  is  the  eldest  son  of  the  late  Henry  Gallien,  who  came  to  Al- 
bany from  the  Island  of  Guernsey  when  a  boy  and  spent  the  most  of  his  life  in  the 
offices  of  the  canal  auditor  and  State  comptroller,  covering  a  period  of  about  thirty 
years,  during  fourteen  years  of  which  he  was  deputy  State  comptroller.  Henry 
Gallien's  fidelity  under  all  administrations  is  a  part  of  the  financial  history  of  the 
State  of  New  York.  He  died  in  Jauuary,  1884.  Edward  J.  Gallien  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Watervliet,  Albany  county,  June  12,  1858,  was  educated  in  the  Albany 
Academy,  Public  School  No.  11  and  the  High  School.  For  several  years  he  was  a 
messenger  in  the  State  comptroller's  office.  He  was  five  years  assistant  bookkeeper 
for  the  National  Commercial  Bank  and  later  accountant  for  the  National  Savings 
Bank.  In  1883  he  went  with  several  of  his  brothers  to  the  "Bad  Lands"  of  North 
Dakota  and  started  a  cattle  ranch,  but  soon  returned  to  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  as  book- 
keeper for  the  Germania  Bank.  Returning  to  Albany,  he  became  bookkeeper  for 
Barnet  Bros.  &  Aufsesser.  wool  merchants,  and  later  accountant  for  the  Albany  City 
Savings  Institution,  of  which  bank  he  afterwards  became  secretary  and  treasurer. 
In  1893  he  established  his  present  business  as  a  dealer  in  investment  securities.  He 
is  a  trustee  of  the  Albany  City  Savings  Institution  and  has  served  for  a  number  of 
years  as  a  member  of  its  finance  committee.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Unconditional 
Republican  Club.  In  November,  1880,  he  married  Jean,  daughter  of  the  late  J. 
Wesley  Osborn  of  Albany,  and  they  have  five  children:  Edward  J.,  jr.,  Winifred 
Le  Page,  Leila  Osborn  (deceased),  Ruth  Osborn  and  Marion  Ackroyd. 

Frederick,  Nathan,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Guilderland,  August  21,  1851.  Mi- 
chael Frederick,  his  great  grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  born  in  IT",'"),  and 
migrated  to  America  when  a  young  man,  settling  in  the  town  of  Guilderland  on  a 
tract  of  270  acres,  which  was  then  a  forest,  and  there  made  him  a  home.  Mathias, 
the  grandfather  of  Nathan  Frederick,  was  born  on  his  father's  homestead  in  Guil- 
derland in  1775.  He  came  in  possession  of  half  of  his  father's  farm  and  there  spent 
his  life.  His  wife  was  Anna  Van  Aukcn,  and  they  had  four  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters. He  died  June  13,  18-18;  his  wife  survived  him  many  years  and  died  September 
28,  1875.  Peter  M.  Frederick,  the  father  of  Nathan,  was  born  in  Guilderland  on  the 
homestead  in  1818.  He  was  the  oldest  of  his  father's  sons  and  after  the  death  of  his 
father  took  charge  of  the  farm.  He  and  his  brother  Henry  later  purchased  the  farm 
from  the  heirs  and  they  subsequently  divided.  To  his  share  Peter  M.  added  until  he 
owned  153  acres; here  he  raised  his  family  and  lives  at  the  present  time,  and  two  of 
his  sons  now  run  the  farm.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Jacob  Hart,  and 
their  children  are:  Ann  Eliza,  Mary,  William,  Sarah,  Martha,  Nathan,  Henry,  Al- 
fred and  Amanda.  His  wife  died  in  February,  1876,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five.  She 
was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church;  Mr.  Frederick  is  also  a  member  of  tlie  same 


144 

church,  in  which  he  has  officiated  as  deacon  and  elder  for  many  years.  Nathan 
Frederick  was  educated  in  the  common  district  schools  and  left  home  when  twenty- 
three  and  engaged  at  farming  in  the  town  of  Coeymans,  where  he  lived  but  one 
year,  when  he  returned  to  Guilderland  and  bought  a  farm  in  partnership  with  his 
brothex-in-law,  J.  Oggsbury.  After  two  years  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  farm  and 
removed  to  Clarksville,  and  rented  the  farm  of  133  acres  which  he  now  owns,  and 
has  since  been  engaged  in  general  husbandry.  Mr.  Frederick  is  a  staunch  Demo- 
crat. He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  Clarksville  Lodge  No. 
781,  in  which  he  is  steward  and  was  one  of  the  leading  charter  members,  the  lodge 
being  organized  in  his  house  in  January,  1893.  Mr.  Frederick  has  manifested  an 
active  interest  in  the  progress  of  the  proposed  Albany,  Helderberg  &  Schoharie 
Electric  Railroad,  and  was  also  a  worker  on  the  proposed  New  York,  Schenectady 
&  Ogdensburg  Railroad,  and  was  with  the  engineers  five  months  while  surveying 
the  line.  In  1878  Mr.  Frederick  married  Miss  Elena  V.  A.  McCulloch,  daughter  of 
William  and  Maria  (Slingerland)  McCulloch,  and  their  children  are  Maria,  Peter  M., 
Garrett  and  Helen.  They  are  both  members  of  the  Reformed  church,  in  which  Mr. 
Frederick  has  filled  the  office  of  deacon  for  ten  years.  Mrs.  Frederick  was  a  teacher 
in  the  schools  of  the  town  of  New  Scotland  for  nine  years  before  her  marriage  to 
Nathan  Frederick. 

Smelzer,  Baxter  T.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Lodi,  Seneca  county,  N.  V.. 
March  27,  1852.  He  attended  the  common  schools  and  the  Genesee  Wesleyan  Semi- 
nary at  Lima,  N.  Y.,  and  Syracuse  University,  where  he  was  a  member  of  the  Psi 
Upsilon  fraternity.  Subsequently  he  was  a  student  in  the  medical  department  of 
the  Michigan  State  University  at  Ann  Arbor  and  later  entered  Bellevue  Hospital 
Medical  College  in  New  York  city,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1874.  He  there- 
upon commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Havana.  N.  Y.  Dr.  Smelzer  has 
always  been  an  active  Republican  in  politics.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Republican 
State  League  and  was  for  several  years  chairman  of  the  Central  Committee.  He 
was  president  of  the  village  for  a  number  of  years,  member  of  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion for  four  successive  terms,  and  its  president  for  six  years.  In  1893  Dr.  Smelzer 
was  elected  to  represent  the  Twenty-seventh  Senatorial  District.  While  a  member 
of  the  Senate  he  was  chairman  of  the  committee  to  investigate  the  State  Board  of 
Health.  He  introduced  and  ably  supported  very  many  important  bills,  among  them 
being  the  Tuberculosis  bill  and  the  one  maintaining  the  Public  Health  law.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Schuyler  County  and  State  Medical  Associations  and  the  Elmira 
Academy  of  Medicine.  In  June,  1895,  he  was  appointed  secretary  of  the  State 
Board  of  Health,  which  position  he  is  now  filling.  In  1876  Dr.  Smelzer  married 
Lucy  A.  Tracy,  whose  father,  Peter  Tracy,  was  one  of  the  first  presidents  of  the 
Chemung  Canal  Bank  of  Elmira  and  president  of  the  Chemung  Railroad.  They  are 
the  parents  of  two  sons. 

Vander  Veer,  Dr.  Albert,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Root,  N.  Y. ,  July  10,  1841,  and 
is  a  son  of  Abraham  H.  Vander  Veer,  who  in  1828  built  for  tannery  purposes  the 
first  building  in  what  is  now  Rural  Grove.  His  paternal  ancestors  came  from  Alk- 
maar,  Holland,  in  1639,  and  first  settled  in  Long  Island  and  then  in  New  Jersey. 
His  grandmother's  ancestors,  Vancovenhoven  (abbreviated  into  Conover),  were  also 
Hollanders,  and  on  her  father's  farm   in  New  Jersey  the  battle  of  Monmouth  was 


145 

fought,  June  28,  1778.  William  Vander  Veer,  relative  of  Dr.  Albert,  was  an  officer 
in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  a  surgeon  in  the  war  of  1812.  Colonel  Frederick,  a 
cousin,  and  Capt.  Garret  Vander  Veer,  a  brother,  served  in  the  Rebellion.  Dr. 
Albert  Vander  Veer  attended  the  Union  Free  School  of  Palatine  and  the  Canajoharie 
Academy,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Simeon 
Snow  of  Currytown,  N.  Y.  One  year  later  he  came  to  Albany,  entered  the  office  of 
the  late  Dr.  John  Swinburne,  and  attended  lectures  at  the  Albany  Medical  College 
during  1861  and  1862.  In  the  spring  of  1862  he  became  one  of  the  original  "  one  hun- 
dred," commissioned  as  a  U.  S.  Medical  Cadet  and  ordered  to  duty  at  Columbian 
College  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C.  While  there  he  attended  lectures  at  the  Na- 
tional Medical  College,  receiving  from  that  institution  the  degree  of  M.  D.,  graduat- 
ing (honorary)  later  from  the  Albany  Medical  College.  In  December,  1862,  he  was 
commissioned  assistant  surgeon  66th  N.Y.  Vols.,  m  June,  1864,  being  raised  to  grade 
of  surgeon  with  rank  of  major.  He  served  with  his  regiment  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  being  mustered  out  in  September,  1865.  During  1865-66  he  attended  lectures 
at  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  in  New  York  city,  and  since  then  has 
practiced  his  profession  with  signal  success  in  Albany.  He  was  appointed  to  the 
chair  of  general  and  special  anatomy  in  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  1869,  and  at- 
tending surgeon  to  St.  Peter's  Hospital.  On  the  reorganization  of  the  Albany  Med- 
ical College  in  1.876  he  became  professor  of  the  principles  and  practice  of  surgery 
In  1882  he  was  appointed  professor  of  surgery  and  clinical  surgerv  and  still  holds 
these  positions.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Boston  Gynaecological  Society,  the  British 
Medical  Association,  the  International  Medical  Congress  at  Copenhagen  in  1884,  the 
British  Gynaecological  Society,  the  American  Surgical  Association,  Holland  Society 
of  New  York,  the  American  Medical  Association,  the  New  York  Medico-Legal  Soci- 
ety, the  Albany  Institute  and  the  American  Association  of  Obstetricians  and  Gynae- 
cologists. He  is  a  frequent  writer  and  contributor  to  leading  medical  journals.  He 
was  a  member  and  president  of  the  Special  Water  Commission  and  has  been  for 
many  years  a  member  of  the  Albany  Board  of  Health ;  he  has  also  been  president  of 
the  Albany  County  and  New  York  State  Medical  Societies.  Williams  and  Hamilton 
Colleges  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  A.  M.  in  1882,  Union  College  gave  him 
the  degree  of  Ph.  D.  in  1883,  and  the  Queen  of  Holland  decorated  him  with  the  order 
of  "  Oranje-Nassau,"  because  of  his  services  as  vice-president  of  the  local  Holland 
Society.     He  is  also  one  of  the  Regents  of  the  University  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

Crandall,  George  H.,  prominent  among  the  businessmen  of  Cohoes  and  a  large 
operator  in  builders'  material  of  all  kinds,  as  well  as  a  manufacturer  of  furniture. 
Mr.  Crandall  was  born  at  Adams,  N.  Y.,  in  1839,  of  old  Connecticut  ancestors;  his 
father,  the  late  John  M.  Crandall,  was  an  extensive  operator  in  lumber  and  real 
estate  in  Lewis  and  Jefferson  counties.  George  H.  Crandall  first  engaged  in  busi- 
ness as  a  keeper  of  a  general  store  at  Glendale,  N.  Y.,  from  1861  to  1868,  and  then 
run  a  lumber  yard  for  two  years  at  Hoboken,  N.  J.,  furnishing  material  for  the 
building  trades.  Then  from  1870  to  1872,  in  Breslau,  near  Babylon,  L.  I.,  buying 
agent  for  all  kinds  of  material  to  build  about  400  houses;  and  from  1872  to  1878  man- 
aging a  store  and  a  large  saw  mill  in  Lewis  county,  N.  Y.,  and  wholesaling  lumber 
and  all  kinds  of  turned  work  and  dimension  lumber,  in  New  York  city  and  vicinity ; 
and  from  1878  to  1881  engaged  in  the  furniture  business,  traveling  by  canal  with 


146 

four  canal  boats,  stopping  from  three  to  ten  days  in  each  city  and  town  along  the 
Erie  Canal.  This  was  a  profitable  business,  as  he  could  undersell  all  local  dealers, 
until  they  got  a  special  law  passed  by  Legislature  allowing  each  incorporated  town 
and  city  to  charge  him  a  license  of  $25  per  day ;  this  he  could  not  stand,  and  he  de- 
cided to  settle  in  Cohoes  and  build  a  factory  and  store  and  manufacture  furniture 
and  sell  at  retail.  The  disastrous  fire  of  1891  was  a  serious  check,  but  his  indomita- 
ble energy  soon  replaced  the  plant.  The  Crandalls'  career  has  been  characterized 
by  the  qualities  which  makes  success  certain  and  failure  an  unknown  word ;  he  has 
done  a  good  deal  in  the  building  line  himself,  having  erected  about  100  dwellings  in 
the  vicinity  of  Cohoes  and  Lansingburgh. 

Bradley,  Franklin  G.,  is  a  grandson  of  Philo  Bradley,  an  early  settler  of  Berne, 
Albany  county,  and  a  son  of  Daniel  G.  Bradley,  for  many  years  deputy  sheriff,  and 
was  born  in  Berne,  December  28,  1849.  Daniel  G.  came  to  Albany  in  1857  and  was 
long  a  prosperous  merchant.  He  married  Arvilla  Nelson,  and  of  their  nine  children 
seven  sons  are  living.  With  the  exception  cf  six  years  spent  on  a  farm  in  Guilder- 
land,  Franklin  G.  Bradley  has  been  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  since  he 
reached  the  age  of  twenty.  He  established  his  present  grocery  and  provision  store 
on  Beaver  street  in  1878  and  in  1893  moved  to  No.  99  Hudson  avenue.  He  is  a 
member  of  Wadsworth  Lodge  No.  417,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Fort  Orange  Council.  R.  A.,  and 
American  Lodge  No.  32,  I.  O.  O.  F.  In  1868  he  married  Alice  M.,  daughter  of 
Hiram  Gardner  of  Franklin,  Va.,  who  died  in  1891,  leaving  three  children:  Daniel 
G.,  Jennie  E.  and  Franklin  G.,  jr.  He  married,  second,  in  1892,  Mrs.  Celia  (Reed) 
Weidman  of  Summit,  Schoharie  county. 

Gick,  William  H.,  son  of  Robert,  was  born  on  the  Isle  of  Man,  March  4,  1848,  and 
came  to  America  with  his  brother,  Robert  Gick.  jr.,  in  the  spring  of  1870,  settling  in 
Albany.  He  had  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner  in  his  native  country, 
and  coming  here  followed  it  as  a  journeyman  about  one  year,  when  he  became  a 
builder.  In  the  fall  of  1873  he  formed  a  copartnership  with  William  Sayles  (whose 
sketch  appears  in  this  volume),  as  Gick  &  Sayles.  This  firm  has  since  conducted  an 
extensive  building  and  contracting  business  in  Albany  and  vicinity,  and  many  noted 
buildings  are  due  to  their  skill  and  enterprise.  In  1874  he  married  Mary  E.  Bulger 
of  Albany  and  their  children  are  Annetta  E.,  Alice  E.  and  William  H.,  jr. 

Best,  John  A.,  one  of  the  most  prominent  farmers  of  Colonie,  and  also  largely  in- 
terested in  manufacturing  and  mercantile  life,  was  born  in  Watervliet  in  1850. 
Abraham  Best,  his  father,  is  now  a  retired  resident  of  Saratoga  county;  it  is  an  old 
Columbia  county  family,  whose  paternal  ancestors  were  from  Germany,  and  on  the 
maternal  sida  from  Holland.  Mr.  Best  now  operates  five  farms,  aggregating  450 
acres,  chiefly  devoted  to  dairy  products.  At  Crescent  Station  he  has  a  coal  yard, 
another  at  Vischer's  Ferry,  with  a  grocery  business  also.  He  is  a  heavy  operator  in 
ice  and  grain.  For  about  five  years  he  was  also  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  knit 
goods  at  Troy,  the  firm  being  known  as  the  Brunswick  Manufacturing  Company. 

Toohey,  Edward  J.,  son  of  John  and  Bridget  (Kennedy)  Toohey,  was  born  in 
West  Troy,  Albany  county,  N.  Y.,  August  23,  1859.  His  father  was  one  of  the 
pioneer  canal  men  and  kept  the  Whitehall  Packet  House  at  the  time  immigrants 
came  by  way  of  Quebec.     Mr.  Toohey  was  eduated  at  the  Christian  Brothers"  Acad- 


147 

emy  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1874  was  graduated  from  Mason  College,  Terre  Bonne, 
Province  of  Quebec.  After  leaving  college  he  obtained  a  clerkship  in  his  father's 
store  at  West  Troy,  where  he  remained  until  elected  justice  of  the  peace  of  that 
village  in  1881,  which  position  he  now  holds.  He  is  also  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
and  insurance  business.  Mr.  Toohey  was  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Fire  Trustees 
of  West  Troy  for  two  years  and  is  a  member  of  the  Young  Men's  Democratic  Club 
and  was  its  president  for  one  term.  He  is  president  of  the  Young  Men's  Literary 
Association  and  a  member  of  the  Yestris  Club  of  West  Troy. 

MacDonald,  Pirie,  son  of  George  and  Margaret  MacDonald,  was  born  in  Chicago, 
111.,  January  27,  1867;  in  1882  he  entered  the  studio  of  Forshew  in  Hudson,  N.  Y.  ;  in 
1889  he  came  to  Albany  and  opened  his  present  studio  at  the  corner  of  Maiden  Lane 
and  Broadway.  He  is  unquestionably  one  of  the  leading  technicians  of  America, 
and  as  a  voucher  for  this  opinion  we  may  mention  the  fact  that  twice  (in  1884  and 
1886)  he  was  awarded  the  Grand  Prize  for  portraiture  by  the  Photographers'  Asso- 
ciation of  America;  he  holds  seven  medals  from  the  same  society  and  two  medals 
from  the  National  Photographic  Society  of  Germany,  and  one  that  was  awarded  at 
the  International  Photographic  Exhibition  in  Amsterdam,  Holland,  in  1886,  as  well 
as  the  Gold  Medal  for  the  best  portrait  by  photography  in  America.  Mr.  MacDonald 
is  a  member  of  Temple  Lodge  No.  14,  F~.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  the  Albany  and  Albany 
Camera  Clubs.  In  1891  he  married  Emilie,  daughter  B.  Van  Deusen  of  Hudson, 
N.  Y.,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Jessie. 

Estes,  Capt.  Milo  D.,  was  born  in  Clayton,  N.  Y.,  September  16,  1841.  His  father, 
Capt.  James  B.,  became  a  sailor  when  twelve  and  a  captain  when  eighteen  and  fol- 
lowed the  lakes  during  much  of  his  active  life ;  he  was  master  of  the  Niagara,  Cata- 
ract, Ontario,  Rothsay,  Sylvan  Stream,  Pilgrim  and  Bon  Voyage,  all  well  known 
Lake  Ontario  steamers,  and  now  has  charge  of  the  ferry  between  Ontario  Beach  and 
Somerville  at  the  mouth  of  the  Genesee  River.  Capt.  Milo  D.  Estes  after  receiving  a 
common  school  education  at  Clayton  and  Charlotte,  became,  when  twelve  years  of 
age  cabin  boy  on  the  steamer  Niagara  and  later  was  cabin  boy  on  the  Cataract  and 
quartermaster  on  the  old  Ontario.  In  September,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  U.  S. 
Navy  as  an  able  seaman  and  was  assigned  to  the  gunboat  Montgomery,  under 
Farragut,  cruising  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  After  serving  one  year  he  returned  home 
and  in  February,  1864,  enlisted  in  the  3d  N.  Y.  Cav  ,  from  which  he  was  honorably 
discharged  in  December,  1865.  Following  this  he  was  successively  captain  of  the 
tug  D.  T.  Hunt,  second  officer  of  the  steamer  Columbian,  superintendent  of  the 
Rochester  Iron  Company's  fleet  of  barges  and  captain  of  the  steamers  Flower  City, 
J.  F.  Maynard,  John  Thorne,  Island  Belle  and  the  St.  Lawrence.  The  latter  he  suc- 
cessfully commanded  from  August,  1884,  to  September,  1892,  making  it  the  most 
popular  vessel  among  the  Thousand  Islands.  In  the  spring  of  1895  he  came  to  Al- 
bany as  superintendent  of  the  Albany  and  Troy  Steamboat  Company.  He  is  a 
member  of  Genesee  Falls  Lodge  No.  507,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Rochester;  also  a  member 
of  Charles  J.  Powers  Post  No.  391,  G.  A.  R.,  Rochester.  In  1890,  as  captain  of  the  St. 
Lawrence,  he  refused  to  lower  the  U.  S.  flag  at  Kingston,  Canada,  in  order  to  sail  an 
excursion  in  Canadian  waters,  an  incident  which  brought  him  considerable  distinc- 
tion. 

Skillicorn,  John   H.,  M.D.,  son  of  John  and  Jane  (Cowell)  Skillicorn,  was  born  in 


148 

Albany,  N.  Y.,  December  25,  1861.  His  parents  came  from  the  Isle  of  Man  and 
belonged  to  a  very  old  and  respected  family,  his  grandfather  being  a  minister,  noted 
for  his  eloquence,  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Dr.  Skillicorn  attended  the 
public  schools  and  the  Albany  High  School,  from  which  institution  he  was  gradu- 
ated, receiving  the  English  prize  and  first  honorable  mention  for  declamation.  He 
then  attended  Cornell  University,  where  he  took  the  medical  preparatory  course  and 
where  he  was  fitted  to  enter  the  Albany  Medical  College.  In  1883  he  was  graduated 
from  the  latter  institution  and  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine,  standing 
second  in  his  class  and  receiving  special  honorable  mention  for  his  thesis.  During 
his  course  at  the  Albany  Medical  College  Dr.  Skillicorn  was  also  a  student  in  the 
dispensary  of  the  late  Dr.  John  Swinburne.  After  his  graduation  he  was  connected 
with  his  alma  mater  for  three  years  as  prosector  and  also  held  quizzes.  He  then 
traveled  extensively,  studying  the  methods  in  the  different  hospitals,  and  in  1884 
settled  down  to  practice  in  Albany,  opening  an  office  at  No.  324  Hudson  avenue, 
where  he  is  now  located.  Dr.  Skillicorn  is  a  frequent  contributor  to  medical  and 
scientific  journals,  and  is  a  perfect  linguist  in  German,  French,  Italian  and  Spanish. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society,  and  was  one  of  the  first  sur- 
geons in  the  world  to  advocate  and  operate  successfully  for  appendicitis. 

Hermans,  Charles  W.,  was  born  September  4,  1844,  in  the  town  of  Nassau,  Rens- 
selaer county,  N.  Y.,  and  attended  the  district  school  until  sixteen  years  of  age, 
working  on  a  farm  during  summer  vacations.  His  parents  were  Daniel  and  Adeline 
(Waterbury)  Hermans.  In  1860  he  went  to  Marquette,  Mich.,  returning  to  Albany 
in  the  summer  of  1862.  On  September  30  of  that  year  he  enlisted  in  Co.  I,  99th  N. 
Y.  Vols.,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  being  discharged  from  Co.  A,  22d 
Regt.,  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  July  11,  1865.  He  attended  Bryant,  Stratton  & 
Folsom's  Business  College  in  the  winter  of  1865-66,  and  in  the  spring  secured  a  posi- 
tion as  bookkeeper  with  H.  B.  Silliman  of  Cohoes.  In  1870  he  was  appointed  a  book- 
keeper in  the  Manufacturers'  and  Builders'  Bank  of  New  York  city  and  filled  all  the 
positions  in  that  bank  up  to  paying  teller.  In  1889  he  assisted  in  organizing  the 
South  End  Bank  of  Albany,  was  elected  its  cashier  and  so  continued  during  its  ex- 
istence. He  married  in  March,  1871,  Eliza  J.,  daughter  of  Ambrose  C.  Spencer,  of 
Cohoes. 

Bordwell,  Mrs.  Margaret  E.,  is  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  Cohoes.  She  came 
here  with  her  father,  Francis  Revell,  a  native  of  France,  in  1824  from  Mechanicville, 
where  she  was  born  in  1823.  She  was  married  in  1845  to  Jacob  A.  Bordwell,  a  boss 
knitter  in  the  cotton  mills  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1863.  He  left  three 
children :  Mary  Elira,  wife  of  George  Cook,  of  Cohoes ;  Esther  E.,  widow  of  Professor 
George  Gravis,  late  of  Troy ;  and  Charles  Francis,  who  conducts  a  hotel  at  Detroit, 
Mich.  Mrs.  Bordwell  is  a  well  preserved  lady  and  a  personal  landmark,  and  has  in 
her  mature  years  witnessed  the  growth  of  Cohoes  into  a  city. 

Pratt,  Otto  M.,  son  of  Edward  and  Emily  (Field)  Pratt,  was  born  m  Earlville, 
Madison  county,  N.  Y.,  August  22,  1851.  He  attended  the  Earlville  public  schools 
and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  left  home  and  for  twelve  years  was  a  clerk  in  a  general 
store  at  Poolville,  Madison  county,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  removed  to  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  and  accepted  a  clerkship  with  Herrick,  Freeman  &  Smith,  boot  and  shoe 
manufacturers.     He  was  associated  with  this  business  for  twenty  years,  and  in  1885 


149 

became  a  member  of  the  firm,  when  the  name  was  changed  to  Smith,  Pratt  &  Her- 
rick.  In  1893  he  resigned  from  this  company.  Mr.  Pratt  is  now  the  largest  bond 
and  stockholder  in,  and  vice-president  of  the  Winconsin  Land  and  Lumber  Com- 
pany, located  at  and  being  the  village  of  Hermansville,  Mich.,  with  office  at  Oshkosh, 
Wis.,  owning  and  operating  42,000  acres  of  timber  lands,  three  large  sawmills, 
hardwood  flooring  factory,  101  dwelling  houses,  store,  market,  boarding  house,  etc. 
He  is  also  the  owner  and  proprietor  of  a  shoe  store  at  Fort  Edward,  N.  Y.,  and  owns 
considerable  real  estate  at  Superior  City.  In  1876  he  married  Ida  Zenobia  Blanchard, 
daughter  of  Taylor  Blanchard  of  De  Ruyter,  Madson  county,  N.  Y. 

Rowe,  Wilhelmus,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Westerlo  January  20,  1836.  Wilhelmus, 
his  great-grandfather,  came  from  Holland  and  grew  to  manhood  in  Dutchess  county, 
N.  Y.  After  he  married  he  settled  on  a  farm  near  O-nes-que-thaw,  in  the  town  of 
New  Scotland,  and  died  at  eighty-eight;  his  wife  died  at  ninety;  he  left  two  sons, 
Conrad  and  Frederick.  Conrad,  the  grandfather,  was  born  in  1773  and  died  in  1848 
on  the  farm  where  he  was  born;  his  wife  was  Sally  Hoyt;  they  reared  four  sons, 
William,  Richard,  Henry  and  Samuel,  and  three  daughters.  Richard,  the  father, 
was  born  in  1808  and  died  in  1891,  was  also  a  farmer;  his  wife  was  Elizabeth  Bogar- 
dns,  born  in  the  town  of  Berne  and  was  the  daughter  of  John  Bogardus;  they  reared 
three  sons,  Wilhelmus,  John  and  Conrad,  and  three  daughters.  Mrs.  Rowe  died  in 
1876.  Wilhelmus  was  a  contractor  and  builder  and  in  1856  went  to  Winona,  in  the 
then  Territory  of  Minnesota,  afterward  to  Memphis,  Tenn. ;  he  was  in  Tennessee  at 
the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  and  was  conscripted  in  the  rebel  army,  and  after 
Beaureguard  took  command  was  detailed  to  guard  prisoners  from  Corinth  to  Holly 
Springs,  Miss.;  was  second  lieutenant  in  a  company  of  Home  Guards.  Immediately 
after  the  fall  of  Memphis  he  made  his  way  north,  and  three  months  afterward  was 
drafted  in  the  Union  army,  but  was  exempted  on  the  grounds  of  having  been 
in  the  rebel  army.  In  1866  he  married  Elizabeth  H.  Bennett,  daughter  of  Rush- 
more  Bennett,  of  Clarksville,  whose  father,  Daniel  Bennett,  was  born  at  Stone 
near  Berkley,  Glostershire,  England,  in  1777,  and  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1802;  he  married  Abigail  Rushmore  of  New  Salem  and  settled  on  a  farm 
near  that  village,  where  he  died  while  still  a  young  man,  leaving  three  sons,  William, 
Rushmore  and  Thomas,  and  one  daughter.  Rushmore  married  Emily  Whitcomb, 
who  was  a  daughter  of  Roswell  Whitcomb,  a  preacher  in  the  Society  of  Friends ;  his 
father  had  come  from  Connecticut  with  pack  and  ax  when  Albany  county  was  a  com- 
parative wilderness,  to  take  up  a  farm  under  what  was  then  considered  the  very  ad- 
vantageous offer  of  the  Albany  patroon,  Van  Rensselaer;  he  settled  in  Berne.  Mr. 
Bennett  was  a  farmer  and  mill  owner  in  Clarksville,  and  built  the  third  house  in  that 
village ;  he  was  a  Republican  in  politics  and  his  name  appears  on  the  first  Republican 
county  ticket,  the  ticket  with  white  letters  on  a  black  ground,  which  gave  to  the  Re- 
publican party  the  name  of  Black  Republicans;  he  reared  one  son,  Erasmus,  and 
two  daughters,  and  died  in  1875;  his  wife  in  1874.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rowe  still  reside 
on  the  Bennett  homestead,  a  farm  of  200  acres,  and  have  three  sons,  Erasmus  P>., 
born  in  1866,  R.  Burton,  born  in  1872,  and  Anson  H.,  born  in  1882. 

McEwan,  Walter,  born  in  Glasgow,  Scotland,  came  to  America  with  his  parents, 
John  and  Agnes  (Lander)  McEwan,  in  1849  and  settled  in  Albany.  He  attended  the 
public  schools  and  in  1860  entered  the  employment  of  the  Hudson  River  Railroad 


150 

office  at  East  Albany.  In  1870  he  became  a  member  of  the  wholesale  coffee  and 
spice  firm  of  Baily,  Ford  &  McEwan.  March  15,  1872,  he  purchased  his  partners' 
interests  and  in  1876  moved  to  his  present  location,  corner  Maiden  Lane  and  James 
street.  He  has  been  treasurer  of  the  St.  Andrews  Society  since  1884,  and  is  a 
trustee  of  the  Home  Savings  Bank.  In  1873  he  married  Abby  Stuart,  daughter  of 
Stuart  McKissick  of  Albany,  and  their  children  are  Walter  Stuart,  Agnes  Lander, 
Jessie  Ellis,  George  William  and  Charles  Bailey. 

Van  Schaack,  John  S.,  was  born  in  New  Scotland  in  1834.  John,  his  great-grand- 
father, was  a  native  of  Holland  and  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Greene  county, 
and  reared  five  sons.  He  owned  a  fine  farm  on  Coxsackie  flats  and  lived  to  be 
eighty  years  of  age.  Albert,  the  grandfather,  was  the  third  son,  born  in  Greene 
county  in  1853.  He  was  a  farmer  and  settled  in  New  Scotland  in  1770.  His  first 
wife  was  Eva  Spore,  by  whom  he  had  five  children,  two  of  whom  grew  to  maturity. 
His  second  wife  was  Mary  Ann  Bradt,  by  whom  he  had  nine  children  ;  all  grew  to 
maturity.  He  died  in  1830.  The  father  was  the  oldest  son  by  his  father's  first  wife, 
born  in  New  Scotland  in  1802,  where  he  spent  his  life  as  a  farmer.  He  was  a  volun- 
teer soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Sackett's  Harbor. 
His  wife  was  Sarah  Shaver,  born  in  1809,  and  daughter  of  John  F.  Shaver  of  Berne. 
They  reared  four  children :  Mary  Ann,  John  S.,  Frank  and  Elizabeth.  Mrs.  Van 
Schaack  died  in  1888.  John  S.  was  reared  to  farm  work  and  received  his  education 
in  the  common  and  district  schools  and  Charlottesville  Seminary,  and  followed  farm- 
ing all  his  life  up  to  1888,  when  he  retired  to  the  village  of  New  Salem.  He  has 
been  and  is  now  serving  as  justice  and  was  postmaster  during  both  of  Cleveland's 
administrations.  He  has  also  filled  the  office  of  town  auditor  and  represented  his 
town  as  delegate  to  county  conventions  and  at  district  and  Assembly  conventions. 
In  1862  he  married  Amanda  M.,  daughter  of  Luke  Gallup  of  Westerlo,  by  whom 
three  children  have  been  born:  Albert,  who  is  a  teacher  in  Texas;  Susan  and  Eli. 
Mrs.  Van  Schaack  died  in  1881. 

McMillen,  James  S.,  was  born  in  Schoharie  county  in  August,  1843.  Alexander, 
the  grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  born  about  1775,  who  came  to  America 
and  settled  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty  years. 
He  was  a  farmer  and  achieved  some  note  as  a  politician  in  his  town.  He  reared 
seven  sons  and  four  daughters.  Aaron,  the  father,  was  born  in  Albany  in  1815  and 
died  in  December,  1872.  He  was  a  wheelwright  by  trade,  which  he  followed  for 
some  thirty  years.  He  moved  to  Grosvenor's  Corners,  in  the  town  of  Carlyle,  Scho- 
harie county,  where  he  owned  and  conducted  a  shop  and  was  fairly  successful.  His 
wife  was  Margaret  Ann  Culens,  and  their  children  were  James  S.,  Nelson  B.,  Helen 
M.,  and  William  J.  The  wife  survives  her  husband  and  lives  in  Albany  with  her 
daughter.  James  S.  received  a  limited  education  and  began  to  care  for  himself  at 
the  age  of  fifteen,  following  different  occupations  in  Guilderland  and  Bethlehem.  In 
1869  he  purchased  his  present  farm  of  seventy-five  acres  and  is  actively  engaged  in 
mixed  husbandry.  He  was  town  auditor  and  is  now  serving  his  tenth  year  as 
assessor.  In  1871  he  was  married  to  Hester  L.  Snyder,  born  in  New  Scotland  and 
daughter  of  Jacob  Snyder,  by  whom  one  child  has  been  born,  Franklin  J.,  who 
resides  at  home  with  his  father.  His  wife  was  Charlotte  Hallenback.  They  have 
three  children:  Anson,  Olive  and  Allen. 


151 

Butler,  William  H.,  son  of  David  and  Laura  A.  (Smith)  Butler,  was  born  in  Oneida, 
N.  Y.,  January  21,  1860,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Oneida  High  School  in  1878. 
He  then  became  a  freight  conductor  on  the  N.  Y.  C.  &  H.  R.  R.  R.,  and  continued 
in  this  capacity  and  in  the  depot  at  Albany  in  all  ten  years,  when  he  learned  the 
trade  of  clothing  cutter  and  merchant  tailor.  In  1893  he  established  himself  in  the 
merchant  tailoring  business  at  Nos.  635  and  637  Broadway,  Albany,  where  he  has 
built  up  a  large  and  growing  trade.  Mr.  Butler  is  a  member  of  Mount  Vernon 
Lodge  No.  3,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  all  the  Masonic  bodies  to  and  including  the  33  .  and  of 
the  Acacia  Club.  In  1880  he  married  Cora  B.,  daughter  of  William  Foster  of -Siloam, 
Madison  county,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Lenora  Belle. 

Yerks,  George  W. ,  is  a  descendant  of  Revolutionary  stock,  especially  on  the  side 
of  his  maternal  grandmother,  Mrs.  Amos  Clark,  a  member  of  the  Van  Warts  familv. 
His  parents  were  William  H.  and  Mary  A.  (Clark)  Yerks  and  he  was  born  in  Union- 
ville,  Westchester  county,  February  4,  1843.  He  received  his  education  at  Claverack 
Academy  and  Fort  Edward  Institute,  and  he  spent  a  few  years  in  government  em- 
ploy in  New  York  city,  and  in  1867  came  to  Albany  where  he  soon  engaged  in  the 
wholesale  fancy  grocery  business  at  No.  373  Broadway,  under  the  firm  name  of  Ben 
jamin  &  Yerks;  whom  he  succeeded  in  January,  1S77.  In  1888  John  J.  Taaffe  was 
admitted  under  the  present  firm  name  of  George  W.  Yerks  &  Co.  The  business  has 
grown  steadily  and  now  three  stores  are  occupied.  Mr.  Yerks  has  been  president  of 
the  Equal  Rights  Benefit  Association  since  1893  and  is  a  trustee  in  the  Madison 
Avenue  Reformed  church.  In  1868  he  married  Adeline,  daughter  of  George  W. 
Benjamin  of  Albany,  and  of  their  children  one  daughter,  Adeline  Powell  Yerks,  is 
living. 

Rivet,  F.  A.  W.,  M.  D.,  one  of  the  oldest  physicians  of  Green  Island,  was  born  at 
Montreal  in  1847.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  and  when  about  nineteen  he  began  the 
study  of  medicine  at  "  College  Point  aux  Trembles  "  near  Montreal,  graduating  from 
this  institution  with  honors  in  1871.  He  took  a  post-graduate  course  at  McGill  Col- 
lege. Practicing  his  profession  at  Au  Sable  Falls  for  eight  years,  and  about  the 
same  length  of  time  at  Indian  Fields,  he  came  to  Green  Island  in  1887.  Dr.  Rivet 
is  of  the  eclectic  school  of  practice.  He  has  been  health  officer  for  a  long  term  of 
years. 

Tompkins,  Stephen,  was  born  in  Coeymans  in  1857,  and  is  a  son  of  Stephen  and 
Jane  (Van  Derzee)  Tompkins.  His  grandfather,  Daniel  C  ,  was  a  son  of  Caleb 
Tompkins,  who  came  from  Dutchess  county.  The  grandfather  of  Mr.  Tompkins 
was  a  tanner  for  many  years  at  Stephenville,  and  came  to  Coeymans  Hollow  in  1850, 
and  bought  the  farm  where  Mr.  Tompkins  now  lives.  He  died  in  1882.  He  had 
three  sons:  Alfred  D..  Anson,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  Stephen,  who  died  in  1  s.">7 , 
and  one  daughter,  Margaret.  Mr.  Tompkins  is  a  farmer  and  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful men  of  the  town.  He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  William  S.  Cole,  and 
has  two  sons:  William  and  Van  Derzee. 

Reinhart,  H.  E.,  though  apparently  not  past  the  prime  of  life,  is  a  pioneer  set- 
tler of  Cohoes,  coming  here  in  1853  from  Berne,  N.  V.,  where  he  was  born  in  183*. 
He  is  of  Dutch  descent,  and  a  son  of  John  Reinhart,  a  hat  manufacturer.  Here  he 
learned   the   machinist  trade,  which   vocation   he  followed;  having  been  associated 


152 

with  the  Granite  Mill  of  William  Moore  since  1886.  In  1861  he  married  Marie  Oster- 
hout  of  Cohoes,  by  whom  he  has  one  daughter,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  William  Leroy  of 
this  place. 

Kane,  Hon.  Nicholas  T.,  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1846.  He  came  to  America  with 
his  parents  and  settled  in  West  Troy,  Albany  county,  in  1848,  and  died  there  Sep- 
tember 14,  1887.  At  an  early  age  he  actively  entered  the  field  of  labor;  when  seven- 
teen he  enlisted  in  the  Union  army  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  and  served  with  gal- 
lantry and  patriotism  as  a  soldier.  Returning  home  he  rapidly  rose  in  business 
until  finally  he  formed  a  copartnership  with  his  brother,  Pierce  Kane,  and  success- 
fully engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  knit  goods,  at  Sand  Lake,  Rensselaer  county. 
About  1883  he  also  engaged  in  brewing  with  Daniel  E.  and  Henry  A.  Conway  of 
Troy.  In  1882  he  was  elected  town  supervisor  and  held  that  office  several  years,  be- 
ing at  one  time  chairman  of  the  board.  In  1886  he  was  elected  to  represent  his  dis- 
trict in  the  Fiftieth  Congress,  a  position  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was 
chiefly  instrumental  in  locating  the  government  gun  factory  (one  of  the  largest  in  the 
United  States)  at  the  Watervliet  Arsenal,  and  various  other  important  measures  re- 
ceived his  earnest  support.  He  was  a  member  of  Post  Patrick  Kane,  No.  312,  G.  A. 
R. ,  vice-president  of  the  S.  G.  Gleason  Hook  and  Ladder  Company  of  West  Troy, 
treasurer  of  the  Wynantskill  Knitting  Company,  and  prominently  identified  with 
various  other  organizations.  He  was  a  typical  self-made  man,  charitable,  compan- 
ionable, public  spirited,  enterprising  and  progressive,  and  enjoyed  universal  respect 
and  confidence.  In  politics  he  was  a  staunch  Democrat  and  in  every  capacity  he  was 
loyal,  influential  and  popular. 

McCormic,  Robert  Henry,  represents  the  sixth  generation  of  his  family  in  Amer- 
ica, in  each  of  which  the  eldest  son  bore  the  name  of  Robert.  His  ancestor,  Robert 
McCormic,  born  of  Scotch-Irish  parentage  in  Londonderry,  Ireland,  was  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  Londonderry,  N.  II.  ;  a  branch  moved  thence  and  settled  the  town  of 
Londonderry,  Vt.  Mr.  McCormic's  great-grandfather,  Robert,  served  in  the  Revo- 
lution. His  father,  Robert,  who  married  Rhoda  Stevens,  was  born  in  Windham, 
Vt.,  but  spent  most  of  his  life  in  Greene  county,  N.  Y. ,  where,  at  Coxsackie,  Rob- 
ert H.  was  born,  October  25,  1839,  being  the  only  son,  his  sister  being  Mrs.  Harriet 
M.  Stark  of  Paris  Texas.  She  has  been  a  teacher  and  missionary  among  the  Choc- 
taw Indians  for  forty-five  years.  Robert  H.  McCormic  was  graduated  from  Burr 
Seminary  at  Manchester,  Vt.,  came  to  Albany  in  1858  and  in  1860  joined  Co.  B,  10th 
Regt.  September  1,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  F,  44th  N.  Y.  Vols.,  Ellsworth  Zouaves, 
rose  to  the  post  of  captain  and  was  mustered  out  October  14,  1864.  He  was  with  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  participated  in  nearly  all  its  battles  from  first  Bull  Run,  was 
wounded  twice  and  still  carries  in  his  right  hip  a  bullet  received  at  Rappahannock 
Station.  From  1865  to  1887  he  held  an  important  position  in  the  Albany  post-office, 
and  since  then  has  been  engaged  in  life  insurance  business,  being  now  connected 
with  the  Mutual  Life  of  New  York.  He  became  a  member  of  Lew  Benedict  Post 
No.  5,  G.  A.  R.,  in  1887  and  is  now  a  member  of  L.  O.  Morris  Post  No.  121,  and  is 
past  commander  of  both  organizations.  He  has  held  nearly  every  office  in  the  State 
department  of  the  G.  A.  R. ,  being  assistant  adjutant-general  in  1894,  and  is  also  past 
noble  grand  of  Clinton  Lodge  No.  7,  I.  O.  O.  F.  January  1,  1866,  he  married  Caro- 
line, daughter  of  Isaac  Van  Ness  of  Stuyvesant,  N.  Y.,   who  died  in  1875,   leaving 


153 

two  children:  Robert  H.,  jr.,  and  Grace  E.,  graduates  of  the  Albany  High  School 
and  State  Normal  College  respectively.  In  1894  he  married  Louise,  daughter  of 
Ephraim  House  of  Albany  and  for  over  twenty  years  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools. 

O'Brien,  Dr.  Francis  J.,  son  of  Francis  and  Catharine  (Collopy)  O'Brien,  was  born 
in  West  Troy,  June  13,  1860.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  the  Troy  Busi- 
ness College,  and  the  New  York  College  of  Pharmacy,  graduating  from  the  latter  in 
1882.  In  1887  he  was  graduated  from  the  University  of  Vermont  with  the  degree  of 
M.  D.  From  1883  to  1886  he  studied  with  the  late  Dr.  Swinburne  of  Albany,  N.  Y. 
Since  graduating  from  the  Universty  of  Vermont  he  has  practiced  in  West  Troy. 

Chapman,  jr.,  Edgar  T. ,  is  the  eldest  son  of  the  well  known  and  prominent  Epis- 
copal clergyman.  Edgar  T.  Chapman  was  born  at  West  Troy  in  1872,  on  the  old 
homestead  on  the  Troy  and  Albany  road.  Mr.  Chapman  began  the  study  of  law  in 
1891.  He  was  graduated  in  1894  and  at  once  admitted  to  the  county  bar  under  the 
most  favorable  auspices,  and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Albany.  A 
younger  brother,  John  K.  Chapman,  is  now  superintendent  of  the  freight  office  for 
the  N.  Y.  C.  R.  R.,  at  West  Albany. 

Simpson,  Anson  A.,  was  born  at  Hillside,  N.  Y.,  in  1842.  He  was  the  son  of  Ben- 
son Simpson,  a  merchant  of  that  place,  and  was  educated  at  Hudson  River  Institute. 
He  began  life  as  a  clerk  in  a  general  store  at  Craryville.  Mr.  Simpson  has  traveled 
a  good  deal  and  has  been  engaged  in  many  and  various  enterprises.  In  1865  he 
went  to  the  far  West,  and  spent  five  years  in  Colorado  and  California  as  a  miner, 
hotel  keeper,  fruit  dealer,  etc.  In  1870  he  drifted  to  Pittsburg,  Pa. ,  and  traveled 
for  a  glass  manufacturing  company  there.  He  then  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Kinderhook  Depot,  remaining  there  till  1885,  when  he  came  to  Troy  and  be- 
came connected  with  the  Delaware  &  Hudson  Canal  Co.  now  nominally  occupying 
the  position  of  inspector  of  signals.  He  is  especially  fertile  in  the  line  of  inventions 
and  has  produced  many  valuable  appliances,  which  have  been  adopted  and  are  in 
daily  use,  among  others,  a  time  signal,  and  a  life  saving  fender  for  motor  cars,  which 
possess  peculiar  merit  and  will,  without  doubt,  come  into  general  use. 

Fonda,  Douw  H.,  son  of  Garrett  T.  B.  and  Rachel  (Polhemus)  Fonda,  was  born 
September  10,  1831,  in  Fonda,  N.  Y.,  which  derives  its  name  from  the  family.  The 
first  American  ancestor  was  (11  Jellis  Douwse  Fonda,  who  came  from  Holland  and 
was  in  Beverwyck  as  early  as  1654.  The  line  is  (2)  Douw  Jellise  Fonda,  who  resided 
at  Lubberdeland  (Troy)  in  1676;  (3)  Jellis  Adam  Fonda,  born  in  1668,  married  a 
daughter  of  Peter  Winne  in  1695;  (4)  Douw  Fonda,  of  Caughnawaga  (now  Fonda), 
who  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  was  killed  by  the  Indians  in  1780;  (5)  Adam; 
(6)  Douw  Adam  Fonda,  member  of  the  Legislature,  died  in  1855;  and  (7)  Garrett  T. 
B.  Fonda,  who  was  born  in  Fonda  in  1808.  Douw  II.  Fonda,  after  completing  a 
common  school  education,  engaged  in  railroading.  He  was  then  a  mere  boy.  When 
thirteen  he  went  to  New  York  city  as  clerk  in  a  men's  furnishing  store,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years.  Returning  home  he  finally  became  a  clerk  in  a  general  store  in 
Rome,  N.  Y.,  and  two  years  later  engaged  in  railroading,  being  ticket  agent  at  Pal- 
atine Bridge  under  the  later  I  Inn.  Webster  Wagner  for  four  years.  In  September, 
1853,  he  became  teller  of  a  bank  in  Canajoharie  and  two  years  later  was  made  cash- 
ier, which  position  he  held  until  1865,  when  he  came  to  Albany  as  a  partner  in  the 
t 


154 

wholesale  drug'firm  of  ?Fonda  &  Bagley,  the  founders  of  the  business  being  Thomas 
and  Joseph  Russell,  who  were  succeeded  by  a  Mr.  Pulling,  who  was  followed  by  J. 
H.  McClure&Co.,  whom  Fonda  &  Bagley  bought  out.  During  all  these  changes 
the  business  has  been  located  at  Nos.  70-72  State  street  and  No.  13  Norton  street 
and  is  the  oldest  of  the  kind  in  the  city.  In  1877  Mr.  Fonda  became  sole  proprietor 
and  in  1879  he  formed  the  firm  of  D.  H.  Fonda  &  Co.,  by  admitting  Henry  R.  Wright 
and  William  B.  French.  In  1889  the  Douw  H.  Fonda  Drug  Company  was  incorpor- 
ated and  since  then  Mr.  Fonda  has  been  its  president.  He  is  a  member  of  Temple 
Lodge  No.  14,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  has  served  as  school  commissioner  two  terms.  He 
married  first  at  Canajoharie,  Mary  A.  French,  and  after  her  death  he  married  Ellen 
A.  Barker  of  Barry,  Vt. 

Lochner,  Dr.  George  Emory,  was  born  in  Albany,  July  19,  1867,  and  is  a  son  of 
Jacob  L.  Lochner,  who  for  twenty-five  years  was  engaged  in  the  fruit  business  at 
thecorner  of  South  Pearl  and  State  streets.  On  the  maternal  side  Dr.  Lochner  is 
descended  from  Revolutionary  stock,  his  mother  being  Nellie  J.  Best  of  Schoharie. 
When  Dr.  Lochner  was  eight  years  of  age  his  mother  died.  His  early  education 
was  received  at  private  schools  and  in  Public  School  No.  11,  and  was  graduated  from 
the  High  School  in  1885.  He  then  registered  with  Dr.  Albert  Vander  Veer,  under 
whose  care  he  studied  medicine  for  three  years.  He  had  previously  attended  clinics 
at  the  City  Hospital.  While  with  Dr.  Vander  Veer  he  attended  the  Albany  Medical 
College,  graduating  in  March,  1888,  being  honored  by  selection  as  historian  of  the 
class.  At  the  competitive  examination  which  followed  for  appointment  to  the  Al- 
bany Hospital,  Dr.  Lochner  outstripped  all  competitors  and  the  result  entitled  him 
to  the  place.  During  the  summer  of  1888  he  continued  his  studies  in  New  York 
city.  In  September,  1888,  he  entered  the  Albany  Hospital  and  served  twenty 
months  as  ambulance  surgeon  and  house  physician  and  surgeon.  His  term  expired 
in  April,  1890,  and  upon  retirement  he  received  a  diploma  from  the  staff,  gift  of 
surgical  instruments  from  matron  and  associates,  and  a  letter  of  commendation  from 
the  Board  of  Governors.  Leaving  the  hospital,  he  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  No.  1  South  Hawk  street.  In  1890  he  was  appointed  by  Dr.  J.  M.  Bigelow  as 
an  instructor  in  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  laryngology  and  rhinology  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  by  Dr.  J.  P.  Boyd,  as  instructor  in  obstetrics  and  gynaecology  and  in 
anatomy  by  Dr.  S.  R.  Morrow,  which  place  he  still  holds.  In  October,  1891,  he  re- 
ceived the  appointment  of  physician  to  the  Albany  Hospital  Dispensary  for  diseases 
of  women  and  children.  As  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society  he 
was,  in  October,  1891,  chosen  as  its  secretary  and  served  as  censor  in  1893  and  1894. 
In  1892  he  was  appointed  physician  to  the  Albany  Fire  Department.  Dr.  Lochner 
is  a  member  of  the  alumni  associations  of  the  Albany  High  School,  of  which  he  is 
now  serving  as  president,  and  Medical  College,  and  of  the  executive  committee  of 
the  High  School;  he  also  belongs  to  the  Press  Club,  A. K.P.,  and  P.E. K.  fraternities; 
is  also  a  member  of  Masters  Lodge  No.  5,  F.  &  A.  M. 

Burrick,  Rev.  Julius  J.,  was  born  in  Waereghen,  in  the  diocese  of  Ghent,  Belgium, 
in  1858.  His  early  education  was  acquired  under  eminent  tutors  of  St.  Nicholas 
College.  His  philosophical  course  was  subsequently  pursued  at  the  same  college, 
and  his  theological  at  the  Seminary  of  Ghent.  Before  his  assumption  of  holy  orders 
and  in  recognition  of  his  superior  talents,  he  was  promoted  to  the  dignity  of  a  pro- 


155 

fessor's  chair,  which  he  held  until  April,  1892,  when,  coming  to  America,  he  was  ap- 
pointed pastoral  director  of  his  present  charge,  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Mary,  French 
Catholic  church,  of  Watervliet,  N.Y.  As  a  clergyman  of  marked  religious  zeal,  and 
a  scholar  of  broad  culture  in  many  languages,  he  enjoys  the  merited  esteem  and 
confidence  of  all  his  ecclesiastical  and  secular  associates. 

Bell,  Thomas  H.,  son  of  George  and  Martha  (Turner)  Bell,  was  born  in  Carlisle, 
North  of  England,  August  27,  1861.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  was 
for  five  years  a  clerk  in  the  bonded  warehouse  of  the  County  Hotel  and  Wine  Com- 
pany, England.  In  1880  he  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Albany,  and  through 
the  influence  of  his  uncle,  William  Gray,  he  obtained  a  situation  in  the  office  of  the 
Troy  Steel  &  Iron  Co.,  where  he  remained  six  years.  During  that  time  he  became 
interested  in  the  work  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  and  in  1885  was 
one  of  the  prime  movers  in  the  organization  of  the  West  Troy  Y.  M.  C.  A.  He  was 
made  president  of  the  preliminary  organization  and  later  accepted  the  office  of  ex- 
ecutive secretary  of  the  permanent  organization,  and  willingly  gave  his  time  to  the 
work  free  of  charge.  In  1886,  at  the  solicitation  of  the  general  secretary,  Frank 
Ober,  of  the  Albany  Association,  and  the  Rev.  George  A.  Hall,  State  secretary,  he 
resigned  his  position  with  the  Troy  Steel  &  Iron  Co.  and  entered  the  school  for 
Christian  Workers  at  Springfield,  Mass.,  to  prepare  for  the  general  secretaryship  of 
the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  In  1887  Mr.  Bell  was  appointed  general  secretary  of  the  Lansing- 
burgh  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  but  ill  health  forced  him  to  resign  in  the  spring  of  the  following 
year.  He  was  then  appointed  assistant  to  Supt.  J.  D.  Rogers  of  the  Round  Lake 
Association  and  remained  in  that  position  until  1891,  when  he  entered  into  partner- 
ship with  Lee  Rivers,  in  the  hardware  and  electrical  supply  business,  at  West  Troy, 
Albany  county.  In  July,  1893,  they  dissolved  partnership,  and  since  then  Mr.  Bell 
has  been  engaged  in  the  electrical  business,  for  a  time  at  West  Troy  and  now  at 
No.  24  Green  street,  Albany.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Evening  Star  Lodge  No.  75, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  of  West  Troy,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  official  board  of  the  First 
Avenue  Methodist  church  of  West  Troy.  October  22,  1890, 'he  married  Louisa  W., 
daughter  of  P.  R.  Robson  of  Albany,  and  they  have  two  children:  Ernest  B.  and 
Edith  May. 

Quinlan,  George  B.,  D.  D.  S.,  of  West  Troy,  has  practiced  four  years,  having 
graduated  from  the  University  of  Maryland  at  Baltimore.  He  first  entered  the 
New  York  Dental  College  in  1889,  and  was  a  student  of  the  Troy  Business  College 
before  that  time.  His  father,  J.  W.  Quinlan,  was  a  M.  E.  clergyman,  once  located 
in  West  Troy,  and  is  now  in  that  field  of  labor.  His  great-grandfather  came  from 
Northern  Ireland,  and  was  a  physician  of  note  in  Philadelphia.  Dr.  Quinlan  was 
born  in  Columbia  county,  N.  Y. 

Wilcox,  George  W. ,  a  prominent  resident  of  Green  Island,  was  born  at  Troy,  No- 
vember 20,  1854,  and  is  a  son  of  the  well  known  Alans* m  Wilcox,  who  was  born  at 
Amsterdam,  N.  V.,  in  1814,  and  has  been  a  resident  of  this  place  for  over  thirty 
years.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  but  is  now  retired  from  active  business. 
George  Wilcox  began  life  for  himself  when  sixteen  years  of  age  by  engaging  in  the 
news  business  aud  after  rive  years  went  into  the  grocery  business  and  conducted  it 
for  seventeen  years,  and  is  at  present  not  engaged  in  active  business  life.  He  main- 
tains a  deep  interest  in   the  local  affairs  and  ranks  high  among  the  prosperous  and 


156 

prominent  business  men  of  the  town.     He  has  been  tax  collector  and  trustee  of  the 
village,  and  ranks  high  among  the  Masonic  and  benevolent  and  social  fraternities. 

Wiswall,  Eben  S. — This  is  one  of  the  oldest  families  in  the  vicinity.  Mr.  Wis- 
\v all's  paternal  grandfather  came  from  Newton,  Mass.,  about  the  first  of  the  present 
century,  and  settled  in  Troy,  engaging  in  general  store  business ;  in  this  connection 
it  is  remembered  he  put  in  the  first  soda  fountain  known  here.  He  afterward  owned 
a  share  of  the  ferry  to  West  Troy,  at  a  period  when  the  boats  were  operated  by 
horse  power,  subsequently  purchasing  an  interest  in  the  other  two  ferries.  The 
lower  ferries  were  at  that  time  propelled  by  means  of  long  poles.  Mr.  Wiswall  was 
born  in  the  house  which  he  now  occupies,  August  19,  1846.  The  old  mansion  occu- 
pies a  commanding  eminence  overlooking  Troy,  and  is  called  "Hillside."  It  was 
also  the  home  of  his  father,  Ebenezer  Wiswall,  who  was  born  at  Newtown,  Mass., 
in  1818.  Most  of  the  land  surrounding  the  old  home  and  comprising  the  original 
Wiswall  farm  lies  within  the  present  corporate  limits  of  West  Troy.  Mr.  Wiswall 
was  liberally  educated  at  various  Massachusetts  institutions,  and  subsequently  en- 
gaged in  farming.  In  1885  he  took  up  the  manufacture  of  brick  on  a  large  scale,  and 
now  employs  thirty  men  in  that  industry. 

Wiswall,  Charles  E.,  was  born  in  West  Troy,  N.  Y. ,  December  13,  1834,  and  has 
always  lived  here,  except  when  his  business  affairs  necessitate  his  extended  absence. 
He  is  engaged  in  steam  dredging,  and  is  now  operating  in  the  Hudson  toward  Al- 
bany. Elsewhere  in  the  work  may  be  found  details,  not  only  concerning  his  ances- 
tors on  the  Wiswall  side,  but  also  of  his  mother's  family,  that  of  Edward.  Learned. 
Both  were  very  early  identified  with  West  Troy  and  its  growth  and  settlement,  and 
perhaps  of  equal  prominence  in  the  early  annals  of  the  locality. 

Durant,  Fayette  B.,  was  born  as  Pittsford,  Vt.,  in  1848,  and  was  educated  in  the 
grammar  and  high  schools  of  Troy.  He  has  been  associated  with  James  Roy  &  Co., 
of  Watervliet  Mills,  since  1875.  Previous  to  that  time  he  had  engaged  in  the  insur- 
ance and  real  estate  business,  having  resigned  in  1873  from  a  position  as  teller  in  the 
National  Bank,  at  West  Troy,  where  he  had  been  employed  for  eight  years.  He 
was  also  for  three  years  in  the  Central  Bank  at  Troy,  where  his  father,  William  C. 
Durant,  came  in  1855.  He  is  a  foundryman  and  in  1858  engaged  in  that  business  at 
West  Troy,  where  he  is  still  located. 

Arnold,  jr.,  Major  Isaac  (Ordnance  Department),  was  born  in  Connecticut  and 
graduated  from  the  Military  Academy,  June  17,  1862.  He  was  promoted  second 
lieutenant  of  the  Second  Artillery  the  same  date  and  was  assigned  to  Battery  F. 
He  joined  Battery  K,  Fourth  Artillery,  at  Harrison's  Landing,  Virginia,  and  served 
with  the  same  in  the  Third  Corps,  Army  of  the  Potomac,  until  after  the  battle  of 
Chancellorsville,  and  was  present  at  the  following  engagements:  Second  Malvern 
Hill,  Chantilly,  Fredericksburg,  and  Chancellorsville,  and  was  wounded  at  the  latter 
place.  He  was  transferred  to  the  Ordnance  Corps,  April  27,  1863;  he  served  at 
Washington  Arsenal,  District  of  Columbia,  until  about  January  1,  1864,  when  he  was 
transferred  to  St.  Louis  Arsenal,  Missouri.  From  that  point  he  was  detached  in  the 
spring  of  1864  and  sent  to  Springfield,  111.,  to  arm  the  one-hundred-day  men.  After 
three  or  four  months  he  was  relieved  from  that  duty  and  ordered  to  Hilton  Head, 
South  Carolina,  where  he  served  as  chief  ordnance  officer  of  the  Department  of  the 


157 

South  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Lieutenant  Arnold  served  a  short  time  as  assistant 
at  Allegheny  Arsenal,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  then  assigned  to  the'command  of  the 
San  Antonio  Arsenal,  Texas,  and  chief  ordnance  officer  of  the  Department  of  Texas; 
was  promoted  captain  of  ordnance  March  7,  1867.  From  Texas  he  was  ordered  to 
Springfield  Armory,  Massachusetts,  as  an  assistant,  and  moved  from  there  to  Alle- 
gheny Arsenal,  Pennsylvania.  He  then  took  six  months'  leaveof  absence,  on  expiration 
of  which  he  was  ordered  to  Benicia  Arsenal,  California;  he  was  ordered  to  Indian- 
apolis Arsenal  in  1878  where  he  remained  over  eight  years  (whilst  in  command  of 
the  Indianapolis  he  was  complimented  in  orders  by  Major-General  Hancock,  com- 
manding Department  of  the  Atlantic,  for  services  rendered  in  the  suppression  of 
civil  disturbances  following  the  strike  of  railroad  employees  in  1877).  He  was  pro- 
moted major  of  ordnance,  May  29,  1879,  and  was  then  sent  to  command  San  Antonio 
Arsenal,  Texas,  and  was  chief  ordnance  officer,  Department  of  Texas  per  S.  O.  236 
and  261,  respectively,  H.  Q.  A.  1883,  remaining  there  four  years;  he  was  then  sent 
to  Fort  Monroe  Arsenal,  Virginia,  per  S.  O.  223,  H.  Q.  A.  1887,  where  he  was  sta- 
tioned for  two  years,  and  then  assumed  command  of  Columbia  Arsenal,  December 
1,  1889,  per  S.  O.  272,  H.  Q.  A.  1889,  and  superintended  the  completion  of  the  build- 
ings constructed  at  that  post;  member  of  board  for  the  purpose  of  considering  and 
reporting  upon  the  subject  of  field  and  siege  carriages,  &c,  per  S.  O.  108  of  May  7, 
1892;  was  relieved  from  command  December  14,  1892,  and  assumed  command  of  the 
Watervliet  Arsenal,  New  York,  December  19,  1892,  per  S.  O.  290  of  December  12, 

1892,  where  he  is  at  present.  Now  president  of  board  for  testing  rifled  cannon,  per 
S.  O.  119  of  May  26,  1893. 

Mayell,  James  H.,  son  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Northrop)  Mayell,  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 5,  1856,  in  Albany,  where  his  father  settled  about  1834.     His  mother  died  in 

1893.  Henry  Mayell,  a  native  of  New  York  city,  engaged  in  business  in  Albany  as 
a  dealer  in  rubber  goods  March  1,  1853,  on  the  corner  of  State  street  and  Broadway, 
where  it  has  ever  since  continued.  He  gradually  developed  a  large  wholesale  trade 
in  connection  with  his  retail  establishment,  and  in  1880  admitted  his  son,  James  H., 
as  a  partner  under  the  firm  name  of  Henry  Mayell  &  Son.  Upon  the  father's  death 
in  August,  1890,  the  son  succeeded  to  the  business.  Henry  Mayell  was  vice  presi- 
dent of  the  Albany  City  Savings  Institution.  James  H.  was  educated  in  public 
school  No.  8  and  since  the  age  of  nine  years  has  been  connected  with  the 
founded  by  his  father.  For  two  years  he  was  police  commissioner  under  Mayor 
Manning.     He  married  Miss  Jennie  B.  Brooksby,  in  September,  1894. 

Pratt,  Aaron  B.,  son  of  Silas  and  Lydia  (Goodell)  Pratt,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Lawrence,  St.  Lawrence  county,  X.  V.,  January  31,  1833.  He  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  and  was  graduated  from  the  State  Normal  School  at  Albany  in  1853. 
He  taught  school  for  one  year  and  then  studied  law  in  the  office  of  S.  F.  Higgins  and 
Robert  H.  Wells,  of  Albany.  Mr.  Pratt  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1854  and  has 
since  been  practicing  in  Albany.  In  1895  he  formed  a  partnership  with  E.  W.  San- 
ford,  the  firm  being  Pratt  \-  Sanford.  Mr.  Pratt  is  an  honorary  member  of  the  Cal- 
edonians and  a  life  member  of  the  Young  Men's  Association  ;  also  a  member  of  the 
New  York  State  Bar  Association.  In  1869  he  was  supervisor  of  the  Third  ward  of 
Albany,  and  in  1881  was  a  member  of  the  New  York  State  Assembly  from  the  city 
district  of  Albany.  In  1857  he  married  Jane  C.  McEntee,  whose  sou,  Colonel  Charles 
S.  McEntee,  performed  such  gallant  service  in  the  Rebellion. 


158 

Tebbutt,  Marshall,  was  born  in  Bedford,  England,  January  20,  1820,  came  to 
America  in  1852  and  settled  in  Albany  and  died  there  April  14,  1885.  He  engaged 
in  the  undertaking  business  with  a  partner,  under  the  firm  name  of  of  Tebbutt  & 
Vail.  This  firm  was  succeeded  in  1866  by  Tebbutt  &  Morange  and  in  1870  Mr. 
Tebbutt  became  their  successor ;  afterwards  he  admitted  his  sons,  Marshall  W.  and 
Harry  K.,  who,  since  their  father's  death,  have  continued  the  business  under  the 
style  of  M.  Tebbutt's  Sons.  Mr.  Tebbutt  was  a  supervisor  from  the  Seventh  ward 
and  was  well  and  favorably  known  by  a  large  number  of  Albany's  citizens.  His 
worth  as  a  citizen  was  recognized  and  appreciated.  He  was  one  of  the  deacons  of 
the  Emanuel  Baptist  church.  Marshall  W.  Tebbutt  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order,  being  a  32d  degree  Mason  and  Knight  Templar;  he  is  also  treasurer  of  De 
Witt  Clinton  Council  No.  22,  and  a  member  of  Cypress  Temple,  Mystic  Shrine.  He 
was  married  October  18,  1881,  to  Elizabeth  Greene,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  ;  they  have 
three  children  living.  Harry  K.  Tebbutt  is  also  a  Mason,  and  married  Jennie  Sims 
of  Albany ;  he  has  five  children. 

Ten  Eyck,  Jacob  L.,  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  July  8,  1864.  When  four  years 
of  age  he  went  to  live  with  an  uncle,  after  whom  he  was  named,  on  the  old  family 
homestead.  His  education  was  recived  at  a  country  district  school  and  the  public 
schools  of  Albany.  After  eighteen  months  in  Albany  High  School,  he  went  to  the 
lumber  district  as  tally  boy  for  a  firm,  and  remained  one  season.  He  then  entered 
the  employ  of  T.  P.  Crook  &  Co.,  provision  dealers,  as  assistant  bookkeeper,  where 
he  remained  three  years.  While  there  he  helped  organize  the  Young  Men's  Demo- 
cratic Club.  He  then  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Messrs.  Chase  &  Dele- 
hanty,  and  while  a  student  was  appointed  agent  of  the  Barber  Asphalt  Paving  Com- 
pany. Through  his  energies  Albany  adopted  the  asphalt  pavement.  He  attended 
the  Albany  Law  School  but  was  admitted  to  the  bar  before  graduating.  He  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  brother-in-law,  William  S.  Dyer,  which  still  exists  under  the 
firm  name  of  Dyer  &  Ten  Eyck,  one  of  the  leading  firms  of  Albany.  During  the 
session  of  1895  Mr.  Ten  Eyck  represented  the  Third  assembly  district  of  Albany 
county  in  the  New  York  State  Legislature. 

Sabin,  W.  B.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  1862,  and  was  a  son  of  Dr.  Robert  H.  Sabin,  a 
well  known  physician  who  practiced  here  for  thirty  years,  previous  to  his  death 
seven  years  ago  at  the  age  of  fifty-six.  Dr.  Sabin  in  his  chosen  profession  not  only 
follows  that  of  his  father,  but  also  that  of  his  great-grandfather,  who  was  a  noted 
physician  of  Rockingham,  Vt.  He  began  practice  in  1882,  after  graduating  from 
the  Albany  Medical  College  and  taking  a  course  at  New  York  Post-graduate  School. 
He  makes  a  specialty  of  the  diseases  of  the  eye  and  the  ear,  and  was  at  one  time 
associated  with  Dr.  Merrill  of  Albany,  the  celebrated  specialist.  Dr.  Sabin  is  well 
known  in  both  political  and  social  circles,  and  is  at  present  one  of  the  school  com- 
missioners of  West  Troy.  He  is  a  Mason  of  the  32d  degree  and  is  past  master  of 
Evening  Star  Lodge  No.  75,  of  which  he  is  treasurer.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Albany  County  Medical  Society  and  of  the  New  York  State  Medical  Association. 
October  4,  1888,  he  married  Miss  Emma  L.  Dixon  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.  ;  they  have 
one  daughter  named  Edith. 

Merrill,  Cyrus  Strong.  M.  D.,  son  of  Edward  Henry  and  Sarah  Wilson  (Strong) 
Merrill,   was  born  in  Bridport,  Vt.,   September  21,   1847,   received  his  preparatory 


159 

education  under  private  tutelage  and  at  Newton  Academy,  spent  one  year  at  Middle- 
bury  College,  and  was  graduated  with  honor  from  Amherst  College  in  1867.  In  1871 
he  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of  New  York  city 
and  soon  afterward  became  resident  surgeon  to  the  Brooklyn  Eye  and  Ear  Hospital, 
where  he  remained  a  little  over  a  year.  In  1872  he  went  to  Europe  and  spent  two 
years  in  Paris,  London,  Zurich,  Vienna  and  Heidelberg,  preparing  himself  for  his 
specialty,  that  of  oculist  and  aurist.  Returning  in  1874  he  settled  in  Albany,  where 
he  has  since  resided  and  successfully  practiced  his  profession,  and  where  he  was  at 
once  appointed  ophthalmic  and  aural  surgeon  to  St.  Peter's  Hospital.  Later  he  occu- 
pied a  similar  position  in  the  Child's  Hospital  and  subsequently  took  charge  of  the 
eye  and  ear  department  of  the  Troy  Hospital.  In  1876  he  was  chosen  professor  of 
diseases  of  the  eye  and  ear  in  the  Albany  Medical  College  and  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  Union  College,  and  ophthalmic  and  aural  surgeon  to  the  Albany  Hospital, 
which  positions  he  has  since  held.  He  has  frequently  contributed  valuable  papers 
to  current  medical  literature,  and  has  a  wide  reputation  in  his  profession.  In  1875 
he  married  Mary  E.,  only  child  of  Hon.  Stephen  Griffin,  2d,  a  prominent  lumber 
dealer  in  Warrensburg,  N   Y. 

Stevens,  George  H.,  son  of  George  and  Margaret  (Browne)  Stevens,  was  born  in 
Albany  September  28,  1850,  and  attended  school  No.  8  and  the  Boys'  Academy.  In 
1868  he  entered  Rutgers  College  and  was  graduated  with  high  honors  in  1872,  de- 
livering the  valedictory.  He  read  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  Amasa  J.  Parker  for 
one  year  and  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Law  School  in  1874,  being  one  of  the 
commencement  orators.  The  same  year  he  was  admttted  to  the  bar  in  Albany.  In 
November,  1874,  he  was  appointed  by  John  M.  Bailey  assistant  district  attorney,  an 
office  he  held  for  three  years.  For  about  five  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Exam- 
ining Board  of  the  Third  Judicial  Department,  being  appointed  by  the  Supreme 
Court.  Being  a  staunch"  Republican  he  was  elected  alderman  of  the  Fourteenth 
ward  in  the  spring  of  1892  and  re-elected  in  1894,  and  was  noted  in  the  Common 
Council  for  his  hard  work  for  economy,  honesty,  and  good  government.  He  is  a 
member  of  Ancient  City  Lodge  No.  452,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Fort  Orange  Club,  and  the 
Empire  Curling  Club,  and  from  1876  to  1892  was  president  of  the  Capital  City  Club. 
He  was  also  for  several  years  a  director  of  the  Ridgefield  Athletic  Club.  In  1880  he 
married  Mary  Hand  Ogden,  daughter  of  Edward  Ogden  of  Albany,  and  they  have 
one  son,  Ogden  Stevens,  born  July  30,  1882. 

Allanson,  James  E.,  is  a  grandson  of  Peter  Allanson,  sr.,  a  carpenter  and  a  native 
of  Leeds,  England,  who  settled  in  Albany  and  died  here.  Peter  Allanson,  jr.,  father 
of  James  E.,  was  born  in  Albany,  in  1811,  was  also  a  carpenter  and  builder  and  died 
here  in  1880.  He  married  Jane  Easterly.  James  E.,  born  in  Albany,  October  23, 
1846,  was  educated  in  School  No.  8,  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  was  asso- 
ciated with  his  father  until  the  latter's  death.  In  1880  he  engaged  in  the  insurance 
business  and  was  secretary  of  the  New  York  State  Relief  Association  during  its  ex- 
istence. In  December,  1888,  he  organized  the  Permanent  Savings  and  Loan  Asso- 
ciation and  has  since  been  the  secretary  and  manager.  This  association  represents 
$185,000  assets,  has  paid  off  about  880,000  matured  stock  and  has  experienced  a  steadv 
growth.  Its  stock  matures  in  about  seven  years.  Mr.  Allanson  is  a  member  of 
Mount  Vernon  Lodge  No.  3,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which  he  is  past  master,  Temple  Chap- 


160 

ter  No.  5,  R.  A.  M.,  of  which  he  is  past  high  priest,  De  Witt  Clinton  Council  No.  22, 
R.  &  S.  M.,  of  which  he  has  been  recorder  since  1872  and  is  the  present  incumbent, 
Temple  Commandery  No  2,  K.  T.,  past  commander,  Cyprus  Temple  N.  O.  M.  S., 
past  chief  rabbin,  and  the  Acacia  Club,  and  was  one  of  the  incorporators  and  first 
secretary  of  the  Masonic  Hall  Association.  He  was  supervisor  of  the  Fifth  ward  in 
1874.  In  1879  he  married  Susan  J.  Hewson,  who  died  in  March,  1881,  leaving  one 
son,  James  E.,  jr.  He  married  second,  in  October,  1884,  Mary  C.  Hitchcock,  who 
died  in  1886,  leaving  a  daughter,  Harriet  A. 

Brady,  John  J.,  son  of  John  and  Ann  (Farley)  Brady,  natives  of  County  Cavan, 
Ireland,  was  born  in  Albany  on  the  16th  of  January,  1870.  He  attended  St.  Joseph's 
Parochial  School  and  was  graduated  from  the  Christian  Brothers'  Academy  in  1884 
and  from  Manhattan  College  in  1888,  taking  the  degree  of  A.  B.  The  latter  institu- 
tion conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  M.  A.  in  1892.  After  leaving  college  he  spent 
one  year  in  Ireland  and  in  1890  entered  the  law  office  of  Judge  John  W.  Walsh  and 
George  T.  Kelly.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  by  the  General  Term  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  in  February,  1893,  and  at  once  opened  a  law  office  with  Judge  Walsh 
and  Mr.  Kelly.  Mr.  Brady  is  a  ready  speaker  and  good  debater,  a  devoted  and 
constant  worker  for  the  societies  of  which  he  is  a  member,  and  in  1894  was  unani- 
mously elected  national  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Catholic  Young  Men's  National 
Union  of  America,  which  is  composed  of  the  various  Catholic  clubs  throughout  the 
country.  This  office  he  still  holds,  being  re-elected  in  1895.  He  is  a  trustee  of  the 
Catholic  Union  of  Albany,  a  member  and  ex-president  of  Cor  Jesu  Council  No.  84, 
C.  B.  L.,  ex-president  of  the  Sacred  Heart  Sodality,  a  member  of  the  alumni  socie- 
ties of  Manhattan  College  and  the  Christian  Brothers'  Academy,  and  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Columbus.  In  the  fall  of  1895  he  was  elected  on  the  Democratic 
ticket  alderman  of  the  Ninth  ward,  and  is  leader  of  the  Democratic  majority  in  the 
Board  of  Aldermen. 

Eaton,  Calvin  \V.,  descended  from  one  ot  the  oldest  families  of  New  England  (see 
sketch  of  James  W.  Eaton),  is  a  son  of  James  W.  Eaton,  and  was  born  in  Albany, 
July  26,  1842.  He  was  educated  at  the  Boys'  Academy  and  became  a  clerk  in  the 
old  Union  Bank,  where  he  rose  to  the  position  of  teller.  In  1871  he  engaged  in  the 
wholesale  lumber  business  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Van  Santford  &  Eaton,  and 
thus  continued  until  1886,  when  he  removed  to  Utica  and  carried  on  the  same  busi- 
ness for  four  years.  Returning  to  Albany  in  1890  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  real 
estate  and  the  insurance  business.  He  is  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason,  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  bodies  of  Albany,  is  past  master  of  Masters  Lodge  No.  5,  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  is  treasurer  of  the  Lodge  of  Perfection  and  also  Sovereign  Consistory.  He  is 
treasurer  of  the  Acacia  Club,  a  member  of  the  Albany  Camera  Club  and  other  Albany 
clubs,  and  was  quartermaster  of  the  10th  Regt.  N.  G.  N.  Y.  under  General  Parker. 
October  13,  1864,  he  married  Anna  F.,  daughter  of  Amos  P.  Palmer  of  Albany,  and 
their  children  are  Mary  E.,  Alice  I.,  James  P.,  and  Edward  De  L. 

Walker,  Edward,  is  one  of  the  leading  manufacturers  of  the  city  of  Cohoes,  and 
has  been  a  resident  of  this  city  since  1857,  where  he  first  held  a  position  as  overseer 
of  the  spinning  department  in  Harmony  Mills.  In  1875  he  engaged  in  the  business 
with  David  Williams,  under  the  firm  name  of  Walker  &  Williams.  As  a  manufac- 
turer of  cotton  batting  he  has  been  located  at  the  present  factory,  corner  of  Rensse- 


161 

laer  and  Courtland  streets,  since  1891.  Mr.  Walker  in  his  busy  life  has  little  time  to 
devote  to  political  matters,  yet  he  has  served  five  terms  as  alderman  and  is*  now  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Health.  He  is  of  New  England  ancestry,  and  his  mother 
was  a  native  of  this  State.  He  is  a  native  of  Delaware  county,  born  in  1831,  and  is  a 
son  of  Horace  Walker,  also  a  native  of  that  county  and  a  lumberman  'on  the  Dela- 
ware River  in  early  life.  Mr.  Walker's  early  manhood  was  spent  at  his  birthplace, 
New  Berlin  and  Utica.  He  is  the  father  of  one  son  and  five  daughters.  :  He  is  a 
member  of  Cohoes  Lodge  No.    116,   F.  &  A.   M.,  and  of  Cohoes  Chapter  R.  A.  M. 

Ball,  Dr.  Ogilvie  D.,  son  of  Joseph  S.  and  Freelove  (Mitchell)  Ball,  was  born  at 
Schuyler's  Lake,  Otsego  county,  February  4,  1840,  was  graduated  from  Hartwick 
Seminary  in  1858  and  then  entered  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of  New 
York  city,  where  he  remained  one  year.  In  November,  1861,  he  entered  the  U.  S. 
volunteer  service  as  medical  cadet,  attached  the  3d  N.  Y.  Light  Artillery,  and  in 
1864  was  transferred  to  the  line  of  the  same  regiment,  becoming  regimental  quarter- 
master; later  he  served  in  various  capacities,  being  assistant  adjutant-general  of 
North  Carolina,  and  was  mustered  out  in  August,  1865,  with  the  rank  of  first  lieu- 
tenant. Returning  home  he  re-entered  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  and 
graduated  therefrom  as  M.  D.  in  1867.  He  began  the  practice  of  medicine  at 
Schenevus,  Otsego  county,  and  served  as  county  coroner  for  three  years.  He  was  a 
member  and  for  one  year  president  of  the  Otsego  County  Medical  Society.  In  1874 
he  came  to  Albany,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  joined  the  Albany  County 
Medical  Society  in  1874  and  has  been  its  censor,  vice-president  and  president.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  New  York  State  Medical  Society  and  a  member  and  past  master 
of  Schenevus  Valley  Lodge  No.  592,  F.  &  A.  M.  ;  he  was  also  for  several  years  con- 
nected with  the  Albany  Medical  College  as  demonstrator  of  and  adjunct  lecturer  on 
anatomy.  In  1871  he  married  Addie  Van  Derzee,  of  Trumansburg,  N.  Y.,  and  they 
have  one  daughter,  Fannie  D.  Dr.  Ball  received  the  honorary  degree  of  A.  M.  from 
Union  College  in  1376. 

Barker,  James  F.,  M.  D.,  son  of  William  and  Catherine  Barker,  was  born  in  Sche- 
nectady, N.  Y.j  July  1,  1851,  was  graduated  from  Union  College  as  A.  B.  in  1874  and 
as  A.  M.  in  1877,  read  medicine  with  Dr.  James  H.  Armsby,  of  Albany,  and  graduated 
from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  1877  under  the  degree  of  M.  D.  He  began  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  Albany  the  same  year  in  partnership  with  Dr.  Armsby, 
and  since  1879  has  continued  alone.  Dr.  Barker  is  a  member  and  ex-vice-president  of 
the  Albany  County  Medical  Society,  a  member  of  the  New  York  State  Medical  Society, 
a  member  and  senior  warden  of  Masters  Lodge  No.  5,  F.  &  A.  M.,  a  member  of  Capi- 
tal City  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.,  Temple  Commandery,  K.  T.,  and  the  Scottish  Rites 
bodies,  a  32d  degree  Mason ;  also  a  member  of  Cypress  Temple,  Nobles  Mystic 
Shrine;  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  Albany  Unconditional  Club,  the  Albany  Club, 
and  the  Society  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution,  through  his  great-great-grandfather, 
Lieut.  Walter  Switz,  on  his  mother's  side.  In  1887  he  married  Miss  May  E.  Evans,  of 
Albany. 

Cooper,  John  L.,  Dr.,  son  of  Jacob  L.  and  Mary  J.  (Core)  Cooper,  was  born  in 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  March  17,  1857.  He  was  graduated  from  the  Philadelphia  High 
School  in  1874,  attended  Pierce's  Business  College  and  the  medical  department  of 


162 

the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  graduating  from  the  latter  in  1877,  with  the  degree 
of  M.  D.  He  was  resident  physician  in  the  Philadelphia  Hospital  for  a  short  time 
after  graduation  and  practiced  in  Philadelphia  until  1880,  when  he  came  to  Albany, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society, 
Masters  Lodge  No.  5,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Capital  City  Chapter  No.  243,  R.  A.  M.,  De  Witt- 
Clinton  Council  No.  22,  R.  &  S.  M.,  Temple  Commandery  No.  2,  K.  T.,  Cypress 
Temple,  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  November  3,  1880,  he  married  Anna,  daugh- 
ter of  MatheWjWallace  of  Albany,  and  they  have  two  children:  John  L.  and  Eliza- 
beth W. 

Dyer,  Zeb  A.,  is  a  son  of  David  S.,  a  grandson  of  Bradbury,  and  a  great-grandson 
or  James  Dyer,  an  Albany  county  farmer  and  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  His  mother 
was  Louisa  Bell.  The  family  were  early  settlers  of  Berne,  Albany  county,  where 
Zeb  A.  Dyer  was  born  December  1,  1860.  He  received  a  common  school  education 
in  that  town  and  in  Albany,  learned  the  trade  of  cigarmaker  and  was  graduated 
from  the  Albany  State  Normal  School  in  1882.  He  then  taught  school  in  Berne  and 
Guilderland  and  meantime  read  law  in  Albany  with  John  B.  O'Malley,  and  was 
graduated  from  the  Albany  Law  School  and  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1885.  He  at 
once  began  active  practice  in  the  office  of  Isben  Hess,  then  collector  of  internal 
revenue,  and  in  May,  1893,  formed  a  copartnership  with  Henry  S.  McCall,  which 
still  continues.  He  is  a  leading  Democrat,  a  member  of  the  Democratic  General 
County  Committee  and  has  been  a  delegate  to  several  political  conventions,  includ- 
ing the  judicial  convention  of  1891  which  nominated  Hon.  D.  Cady  Herrick  for  jus- 
tice of  the  Supreme  Court.  He  is  a  member  of  Ancient  City  Lodge,  Temple  Chap- 
ter and  De  Witt  Clinton  Council  of  Masons;  past  noble  grand  of  Friendly  Union 
Lodge  No.  381,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Slingerlands;  a  member  of  New  York  Encampment, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  of  the  Albany  Press  and  Acacia  Clubs;  and  a  charter  member  of  the 
Albany  Club.  In  1889  he  married  Jessie  L.,  daughter  of  John  R.  Adams,  of  Delmar, 
Albany  county,  and  they  have  one  son,  John  Adams  Dyer. 

Ecker,  Terome  W. ,  descends  from  one  of  the  early  families  of  the  Schoharie  valley, 
one  of  whom  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  David  Ecker,  his  father, 
born  in  Berne,  Albany  county,  in  1815,  was  a  farmer  and  died  March  17,  1896.  His 
wife,  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Adam  Saddlemire,  also  born  in  1815,  died  in  February, 
1892.  One  of  their  sons.  Miner,  enlisted  in  the  62d  N.  Y.  Vols.,  and  died  from  dis- 
ease contracted  in  the  service.  Jerome  W.  Ecker,  born  in  Knox,  Albany  county, 
July  21,  1847,  was  educated  at  the  Knox  Academy,  the  Albany  State  Normal  School 
and  the  Fort  Edward  Institute  and  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Law  School  and 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  February,  1872.  He  afterward  continued  his  legal  studies 
with  Hungerford  &  Hotaling  and  since  1877  has  been  in  the  active  practice  of  his 
profession.  In  October,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  G,  172d  N.  Y.  Vols.,  under  Capt. 
Morgan  L.  Filkins,  and  served  ten  months,  participating  in  the  siege  of  Port  Hud- 
son and  the  two  expeditions  to  the  Amite  River.  He  is  past  officer  in  the  subordi- 
nate lodge  and  encampment  of  I.  O.  O.  F.,  member  of  the  Grand  Lodge  and  the 
daughters  of  Rebekah,  member  of  Chancellors  Lodge  No.  58,  K.  of  P.,  Albany  Divi- 
sion No.  2,  Uniformed  Rank,  K.  of  P.,  the  Grand  Lodge  of. this  order  since  1888, 
and  Lewis  O.  Morris  Post  No.  121,  G.  A.  R.  June  12,  1872,  he  married  Charlotte 
O.,  daughter  of  Jacob  Kniskern  of  Knox,  and  they  have  had  six  children:  Nellie  G., 


163 

Frederick  (died  aged  nine  months),  George  W.  (a  student  at  Rutgers  College,  class 
of  1899),  Edward,  Howard  J.  and  Eva  (deceased). 

Greene,  Dr.  Frederick  R.,  son  of  Warren  S.  and  Celia  (Randall)  Greene,  was  born 
June  8,  1862,  in  Petersburgh,  N.  Y.  He  was  educated  at  the  district  school  in  Peters- 
burgh  and  at  Hoosick  Falls  Academy,  and  after  reading  medicine  one  year  with- 
Dr.  L.  B.  Newton,  of  North  Bennington,  Yt,  entered  the  Albany  Medical  College  in 
the  fall  of  1881,  graduating  in  1884  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  He  practiced  in  Peters- 
burgh, N.  Y.,  for  a  year  and  a  half,  and  in  the  fall  of  1885  located  in  Albany,  where 
he  is  now  practicing.  Dr.  Greene  is  a  member  of  the  Acacia  Club,  Ancient  City 
Lodge  No.  452,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Mountaineer  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  New  York  Encamp- 
ment No.  1,  K.  P.,  and  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society.  October  6,  1886,  he 
married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Thomas  R.  Blackburn,  of  Albany,  and  they  have  one 
son,  Frederick  R.,  jr. 

Hendrick,  James,  is  the  son  of  a  Dutch  merchant  in  the  West  India  trade  and  on 
his  mother's  side  is  of  English  descent.  He  was  born  in  Walsall,  England,  October 
10,  1825,  was  brought  to  America  when  five  years  old,  and  received  a  private  school 
education  in  New  York  city.  He  read  law  in  Albany  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1852,  but  in  1853  became  a  local  insurance  agent  here,  and  in  1859  was,  appointed 
general  agent  of  the  Liverpool  &  London  Insurance  Company,  which  absorbed  the 
Globe  Insurance  Company  in  1864.  Mr.  Hendrick  was  general  superintendent  of 
the  Inland  Navigation  Department  of  the  Mercantile  Marine  Insurance  Company 
from  1861  to  1876  and  of  the  same  department  of  the  Orient  Mutual  from  1867  to  1886. 
He  was  president  of  the  board  of  Lake  Underwriters,  vice-president  of  the  Atlantic 
Mutual  Life  of  Albany  in  1868,  president  of  the  Albany  City  Fire  Insurance  Company 
in  1868;  has  been  connected  with  many  industrial,  mining  and  transportation  enter- 
prises as  president  or  trustee;  was  associated  with  J.  H.  Ramsay,  J.  Pierrepont 
Morgan  and  others  in  the  celebrated  railroad  war  between  Fisk  and  Gould  of  the 
Erie  and  the  directors  of  the  Albany  and  Susquehanna  Railroads  in  1867;  was  en- 
gineer and  inspector  of  the  Third  Division,  New  York  State  Militia,  from  1853  to 
1860;  and  was  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Charities  under  Governor  Seymour. 
Has  also  served  as  president  of  the  Board  of  Trade  of  Albany.  Latterly  he  has  con- 
fined his  attention  chiefly  to  his  local  insurance  agency  and  to  his  extensive  dairy 
farm  and  nurseries  at  Fort  Grove,  near  Albany. 

Hungerford,  Sidney  A.,  is  a  member  of  an  old  Berne,  Albany  county,  family,  the 
first  of  whom  was  John,  who  came  from  Connecticut.  His  father,  Alexander  Hun- 
gerford, was  born  there  December  23,  1823,  and  in  1870  removed  to  the  foot  of  the 
Indian  Ladder  road,  in  Guilderland,  where  he  still  resides.  He  had  twelve  children  ; 
Daniel,  John  V.  S.,  Eleanor  C.  (Mrs.Isaac  B.  McNary),  Morgan  (deceased),  Lewis  A., 
Barbara  (Mrs.  Peter  F.  BarkhulY),  Myron,  Sidney  A.,  Isaac,  Mary  E.  (Mrs.  Jacob  M. 
Chesbro),  Chester  and  Ira.  Sidney  A.  Hungerford,  born  in  Berne,  June  11,  1858, 
attended  the  district  school,  also  the  old  State  Normal  of  Albany,  read  law  with  John 
Folmsbee  and  later  with  Hungerford  &  Hotaling,  of  Albany,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  November  23,  1883.  Since  1884  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  active  practice 
of  his  profession,  having  an  office  at  No.  50  State  street.  He  is  an  active  Democrat, 
a  member  of  Chancellors  Lodge  No.  58,  K.  P.,  and  the  K.  O.  T.  M.,  and  councillor 


164 

of  Capital  Council,  Order  of  the  Chosen  Friends.  October  28,  1885,  he  married  Eva 
A.,  daughter  of  John  Furback,  of  New  Scotland. 

Jones,  James,  is  the  eldest  son  of  William  Jones,  born  of  Welsh  parentage  in  1816, 
who  came  from  England  to  America  about  1832  and  soon  afterward  settled  in  Al- 
bany, where  he  died  in  September,  1889,  having  long  been  engaged  in  the  cooperage 
business.  Mr.  Jones's  mother,  Ellen  Cahill,  of  Irish  descent,  died  in  1861,  leaving 
six  children.  Mr.  Jones  was  born  in  Albany,  July  4,  1839.  He  received  a  public 
school  education  and  while  yet  a  youth  became  a  clerk  in  the  shoe  store  of  George 
A.  Woolverton  &  Co.  In  1873  he  acquired  a  partnership  in  the  firm  and  in  1883  suc- 
ceeded to  the  old  firm  and  has  successfully  conducted  the  business  alone,  carrying 
on  a  large  wholesale  trade  at  330  Broadway.  July  29,  1875,  he  married  Catherine, 
daughter  of  James  Dolan  of  Albany,  and  their  children  are  James  W.  and  Mary 
T.  M. 

La  Rose,  Anthime  Watson,  son  of  Anthime  F.  and  Kate  (Kappes)  La  Rose,  of 
French  descent,  was  born  December  6,  1865,  in  Albany,  where  his  father  settled 
about  1858,  coming  from  Canada.  The  latter  started  with  his  brother  Peter  the  first 
steamboat  (freight)  line  between  Albany  and  Troy.  Mr.  La  Rose  was  educated  at 
the  Albany  Academy  and  in  1883  engaged  in  the  manufacturing  business  with  his 
father.  He  was  graduated  from  the  Institute  of  Technology  at  Boston  in  1888  and 
then  spent  a  year  each  with  Ogden  &  Wright,  architects,  and  Sullivan  &  Ehlers, 
contractors,  of  Albany,  receiving  with  the  latter  practical  experience  in  iron  con- 
struction. January  1,  1890,  he  opened  his  present  architectural  office.  Among  the 
many  structures  designed  by  him  are  several  fine  residences  and  manufacturing 
plants  and  the  brew  house  for  the  Dobler  Brewing  Company,  recognized  as  one  of 
the  best  of  its  kind  in  the  State.  October  16,  1883,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  D,  10th  Bat., 
N.  G.  N.  Y.,  was  promoted  first  sergeant  October  20,  second  lieutenant  July  10,  1884, 
and  first  lieutenant  May  30,  1888,  and  resigned  January  19,  1892.     September  20, 

1892,  he  was  appointed  assistant  inspector-general  with  rank  of  major,  which  posi- 
tion he  still  holds.  He  is  a  member  of  Wadsworth  Lodge  No.  417,  F.  &  A.  M. , 
Temple  Chapter  No.  5,  R.  A.  M.,  the  Albany  Press  and  Camera  Club  and  the  New 
Manhattan  Athletic  and  United  Service  Clubs  of  New  York  city,  and  an  honorary 
member  of  Delta  Chapter  of  the  Theta  Xi  fraternity. 

Michel,  Fred  G.,  M.D.S.,  son  of  Dr.  Frederick  W.  and  Saloma  (Bergman)  Michel, 
was  born  in  Boonville,  N.  Y.,  July  16,  1851,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Utica,  where  the  family  settled  about  1855.  He  first  learned  the  trade  of  manu- 
facturing jeweler  with  Jeremiah  Gumph  of  Utica.  March  8,  1871,  he  came  to  Al- 
bany and  entered  the  employ  of  H.  G.  Gumph,  manufacturer  of  fine  tools,  with 
whom  he  remained  until  1883.  He  then  began  the  study  of  dentistry  with  Dr.  S.  W. 
Whitney,  and  in  1889  associated  himself  with  Dr.  H.  L.  Whitbeck.  In  1892  he  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  M.  D.  S.,  from  the  State  Board  of  Examiners  and  in  April, 

1893,  began  the  practice  of  dentistry  alone.  He  is  a  member  of  Wadsworth  Lodge 
No.  417,  F.  &  A.  M.,  a  charter  member  of  William  Macy  Lodge  No.  93,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
and  was  a  charter  member  and  is  past  chancellor  of  Flower  Lodge  No.  336,  K.  P., 
and  was  a  charter  member  and  is  now  commander  of  Albany  Tent  No.  363,  K.  O. 
T.  M.     In  1873  he  married  Charity,  daughter  of  Alanson  Hitchman,  of  Howe's  Cave, 


165 

N.  Y.,  and  they  have  had  two  children:  Emily  and  George  C,  both  deceased.     Dr. 
Michel  is  treasurer  and  trustee  of  All  Souls  Universalist  church. 

Smith,  Dr.  Charles  H.,  was  born  on  Madison  avenue  in  Albany,  July  14,  1830,  and 
is  a  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Capron)  Smith,  natives  of  New  England,  who  came  here 
about  1810.  John  was  a  gardener  and  died  about  1842;  his  wife  died  in  1881.  Dr. 
.Smith  read  medicine  with  Dr.  Richard  H.  Thompson  (later  health  officer  of  the  port 
of  New  York)  and  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  1854.  Soon 
afterward  he  was  appointed  resident  physician  to  the  Albany  County  Alms  House, 
where  he  had  charge  of  the  cholera  patients  during  that  memorable  year.  The  last 
case  in  the  institution  was  his  own.  After  recovering  he  obtained  through  Dr. 
Thompson  an  appointment  as  physician  and  surgeon  on  Marshall  O.  Roberts'  steam- 
ship line  from  New  York  to  Havana,  New  Orleans  and  Aspinwall.  He  continued  in 
this  capacity  for  four  years,  acquiring  a  large  experience  in  the  treatment  of  yellow 
and  other  southern  fevers,  and  returning  to  Albany  in  1859  he  has  since  practiced 
his  profession.  In  1864  and  1865  he  was  acting  assistant  surgeon  in  the  Ira  Harris 
U.  S.  General  Hospital,  located  at  the  old  barracks  in  Albany  county.  In  1859  he 
opened  a  drug  store,  which  he  has  since  continued,  and  which  has  been  located  at 
246  Washington  avenue  since  1866.  Dr.  Smith  has  been  a  member  of  the  Albany 
County  Medical  Society  since  about  1855,  was  president  of  the  Albany  County  Phar- 
maceutical Association  at  one  time,  has  served  in  the  old  volunteer  fire  department, 
and  in  Co.  F,  10th  Battalion,  N.  Y.  N.  G.,  was  supervisor  of  Thirteenth  wardforsix 
terms,  and  was  president  of  the  Albany  Business  Men's  Association  for  one  year. 
He  is  now  serving  his  third  year  as  a  member  of  the  Albany  Board  of  Health.  In 
1867  he  married  Lucy,  daughter  of  John  Blair  of  Albany,  and  they  have  four  chil- 
dren: Dr.  James  E.,  a  graduate  of  the  Albany  Academy  and  the  Albany  Medical 
College,  inspector  of  rifle  practice  in  the  Tenth  Battalion,  and  a  practicing  physician 
with  his  father;  Lucy  E.,  a  graduate  of  the  Albany  Female  Academy,  the  Albany 
State  Normal  College,  and  the  Woman's  College  of  Baltimore,  Md.  ;  Charles  H.,  jr., 
a  student  of  pharmacy  associated  with  his  father:  and  Charlotta  J.,  a  student  at  the 
Woman's  College  of  Baltimore. 

Toedt,  Emanuel  B.,  son  of  John  C,  was  born  in  New  York  city,  October  22,  1857) 
and  was  prepared  for  college,  but  in  1873  entered  the  New  York  office  of  Fairbanks 
&  Co.,  where  he  remained  eight  years.  He  has  ever  since  been  connected  with  this 
well-known  firm,  rising  from  the  humblest  to  a  high  post  in  their  employ.  In  1880* 
he  came  to  Albany  to  take  charge  of  their  books  and  in  1882  was  made  manager  of 
this  branch,  which  position  he  still  holds.  The  business  of  the  Albany  house  was 
comparatively  small  when  Mr.  Toedt  assumed  charge,  but  he  has  successfully  in- 
creased it  eightfold.  Since  1890  it  has  been  conducted  under  the  name  of  the  Fair- 
banks Company,  incorporated.  This  is  the  largest  scale  and  mill,  factory  and  rail- 
road supply  business  in  this  section  of  the  State,  and  its  growth  and  prosperity  are 
largely  due  to  Mr.  Toedt's  able  management.  Fie  is  a  member  of  the  Fort  Orange 
Club  and  an  associate  member  of  the  American  Institute  of  Mining  Engineers.  In 
February,  1889,  he  married  Miss  Lucy,  daughter  of  Samuel  M.  Van  Santvoonl  of 
Albany,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Marian  Van  Santvoord  Toedt. 

Whitbeck,  Theodore  H.,  D.  D.  S.,  of  Holland  Dutch  descent,  is  a  member  of  an 
early  Coeymans.  Albany  county,   family,  the  first  of  whom  was  Thomas  Whitbeck 


166 

and  his  son  John  T.  Thomas,  son  of  John  T.,  married  Rachel  A.  Garrett  and  they 
were  the  parents  of  Dr.  Whitbeck,  who  was  born  near  Coeymans,  March  31,  1869. 
The  latter  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  under  private  tutelage,  studied 
dentistry  with  his  brother,  Dr.  Henry  L.  of  Albany,  and  received  the  degree  of 
D.  D.  S,  from  the  dental  department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1891. 
Since  then  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  in  Albany. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Third  District  Dental  Society  and  of  the  Albany  Press  Club. 
He  is  also  a  knight  of  the  Essenic  order. 

Walker,  John  M.,  descends  from  the  Walker  and  Burt  families,  early  settlers  of 
New  England,  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (Burt)  Walker,  born  in  Springfield,  Mass., 
June  27,  1838.  He  was  educated  at  the  Springfield  Academy  and  in  April,  1861,  en- 
listed on  the  first  call  for  troops,  in  Co.  F,  2d  Conn.  Vols.,  for  three  months.  He 
continued  in  the  service  until  the  war  closed  as  United  States  inspector  of  contract 
arms,  under  the  War  Department,  and  in  1865  became  a  traveling  salesman  for 
Milton,  Bradley  &  Co.,  publishers,  of  Springfield,  Mass.,  with  whom  he  remained 
until  January,  1874,  when  he  came  to  Albany.  In  November,  1875,  he  founded  the 
present  business  of  the  Hudson  Valley  Paper  Company,  and  in  1876  Andrew  B. 
Jones  became  his  partner.  They  do  an  extensive  wholesale  business  in  paper,  sta- 
tionery and  printers'  supplies.  Mr.  Walker  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  George 
Dawson  Post  No.  63,  G.  A.  R.  In  January,  1879,  he  married  Lucy  P.,  daughter  of 
Charles  C.  Russ  of  Albany. 

Balch,  Lewis,  M.  D.,  Ph.  D.,  of  English  and  French  ancestry,  and  eldest  son  of 
Rev.  Lewis  P.  W.  Balch,  D.  D.,  and  Anna  Jay,  was  born  in  New  York  city  July  7, 
1847.  His  father,  born  in  Leesburg,  Va.,  in  1810,  died  in  Detroit,  Mich.,  while  rector 
of  Grace  Episcopal  church,  in  1874,  was  for  three  years  a  cadet  at  West  Point,  was 
educated  at  Princeton  College,  and  for  fifteen  years  was  secretary  of  the  House  of 
Bishops  of  the  United  States.  His  grandfather,  Hon.  Lewis  P.  W.  Balch,  of  Lee- 
town,  Va.,  was  a  volunteer  at  Fort  McHenry  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  afterward  a 
United  States  judge,  and  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Stephen  Bloomer  Balch,  born  in  1746, 
a  graduate  of  Princeton  College  in  1774,  pastor  of  a  church  at  Georgetown,  D.  C, 
and  died  in  1833.  Dr.  Balch's  mother  was  a  daughter  of  Hon.  William  Jay,  the 
second  son  of  John  Jay,  and  a  judge  of  Westchester  county,  N.  Y.,  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  American  Bible  Society,  and  a  prominent  anti-slavery  advocate  and  died 
October  14,  1858.  John  Jay  was  the  first  chief  justice  of  the  U.  S.  Supreme  Court, 
governor  and  chief  justice  of  New  York,  minister  to  Spain,  and  a  celebrated  factor 
in  national  history.  Dr.  Balch  was  educated  at  the  Maryland  Institute  in  Baltimore, 
the  Berkely  Institute  in  Newport,  R.  I.,  the  Vermont  Episcopal  Institute  in  Burling- 
ton, and  the  medical  department  of  McGill  University  at  Montreal.  He  was  grad- 
uated from  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  in  New  York  city  in  March,  1870, 
served  at  different  times  in  the  Montreal  General  Hospital,  the  old  New  York  Hos- 
pital on  Broadway,  the  Children's  Hospital  on  Ward's  Island,  and  the  Brooklyn  City 
Hospital,  and  began  practice  in  New  York,  where  he  was  appointed  attending  sur- 
geon to  the  Northern  Dispensary.  In  1873  he  came  to  Albany,  where  he  has  since 
resided  and  practiced  medicine.  He  has  been  attending  surgeon  to  St.  Peter's  Hos- 
pital and  the  Albany  City  Hospital  and  surgeon  to  the  Child's  Hospital  and  the  Hom- 
oeopathic Hospital.     In  1876,  on  the  reorganization  of  the  Albany  Medical  College, 


167 

he  was  appointed  professor  of  anatomy  in  that  institution.  He^was  appointed  by 
Hon.  A.  B.  Banks  a  district  physician,  city  physician,  and  health  officer  of  Albany, 
and  became  secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Health  in  1886.  Soon  after  his  gradua- 
tion he  entered  service  in  the  National  Guard  and  was  promoted  to  the  post  of  sur- 
geon. In  1870  he  married  Miss  Jane  B.  Swann,  a  niece  of  Governor  Swann,  of 
Maryland,  and  they  have  one  son,  born  in  1872. 

Cook,  Hon.  John  T.,  was  born  in  Albany,  February  22,  1854,  and  is  [the  eldest 
child  of  John  and  Martha  Cook.  His  father,  a  native  of  Boston,  Lincolnshire,  Eng- 
land, came  to  this  country  and  settled  in  Albany  in  1848.  John  T.  Cook  was  edu- 
cated at  the  public  schools  of  his  native  city  and  in  the  autumn  of  1868  entered  the 
"Albany  Free  Academy,  '  now  Albany  High  School,  where  he  remained  about  a 
year.  After  learning  a  trade  he,  in  1876,  entered  the  office  of  Smith,  Bancroft  & 
Moak  as  a  clerk  and  student  at  law  and  prosecuted  his  studies  until  1879,  when  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  the  January  term  of  the  Supreme  Court.  He  remained 
with  Smith,  Moak  &  Buchanan,  the  survivors  of  the  old  firm,  until  the  spring  of 
1884,  when  he  established  an  office  for  the  general  practice  of  his  profession.  He 
has  edited  the  "  Eastern  Reporter"  and  "  English  Reports,"  and  in  connection  with 
Irving  Browne,  then  editor  of  the  Albany  Law  Jouraal,  he  engaged  in  preparing 
Weed,  Parsons  &  Co's.  edition  of  the  reprint  of  the  New  York  Court  of  Appeals  Re- 
ports, which  is  still  under  his  charge.  His  annotated  edition  of  the  Penal  Code  and 
the  Code  of  Criminal  Procedure  of  New  York  State  is  held  in  high  estimation  by  the 
legal  profession.  The  Albany  Law  Journal  says:  "  Mr.  Cook  is  one  of  the  most  ex- 
perienced, industrious,  and  capable  law  editors  in  this  country  and  in  these  two  vol- 
umes gives  admirable  evidence  of  comprehensive  research  and  accurate  discrimina- 
tion." He  has  a  choice  library  containing  2,000  volumes,  besides  a  select  private 
collection  of  books  on  general  literature.  Mr.  Cook  is  the  present  assistant  district 
attorney  of  Albany  county,  and  in  1894  represented  the  Seventeenth  ward  in  the 
Common  Council  of  1894-96. 

Eaton,  James  Webster,  son  of  James  W.  Eaton,  was  born  in  Albany,  May  14,  1856. 
His  lineage  is  traced  to  John  and  Anne  Eaton,  who  in  1634  settled  in  Salisbury  and 
afterward  in  Haverhill,  Mass.,  where  the  family  lived  for  several  generations.  John 
Eaton  was  a  soldier  in  the  settlement  of  Haverhill.  Ebenezer  Eaton,  the  great- 
grandfather of  James  Webster  Eaton,  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war  under  his 
brother,  Capt.  Timothy  Eaton.  James  W.  Eaton  was  graduated  from  the  Albany 
Boys'  Academy  in  1875  and  from  Yale  University  in  1879;  in  the  latter  year  he  be- 
gan the  study  of  law  in  Columbia  Law  School,  which  he  left  in  May,  1880,  to  become 
professor  of  Latin  in  the  Albany  Boys'  Academy,  which  position  he  held  until  his 
admission  to  the  bar  in  1882.  In  1883  Mr.  Eaton  formed  a  copartnership  with  George 
W.  Kirchwey,  a  former  Yale  classmate,  which  continued  until  July,  1891.  In  the 
following  autumn  he  was  nominated  by  the  Democrats  and  elected  district  attorney 
of  Albany  county  and  held  that  office  until  January  1,  1895.  He  has  been  instructor 
in  the  department  of  evidence  and  contracts  of  the  Albany  Law  School  for  some 
years,  and  is  engaged  in  active  practice  at  the  bar  of  his  native  city.  As  a  lawyer 
he  is  strong  in  argument,  candid  and  successful;  he  is  strong  at  nisi  prius,  still 
stronger  before  the  court  in  banc.  It  is  said  that  in  some  respects  his  characteristics 
resemble  those  of  the  late  Judge  Ambrose  Spencer.     He   is  a  member  of  Masters 


168 


Lodge  No.  5,  F.  &  A.  M.,  the  Fort  Orange  Club  and  other  organizations  of  Albany. 
July  18,  1894,  he  married  Mrs.  Hortense  Willey  Vibbard,  of  Dansville,  N.  Y. 

Andrae,  M. ,  treasurer  and  manager  of  the  American  Soap  and  Washoline  Com- 
pany, was  born  in  1846  in  Germany  and  came  to  this  country  in  1856,  and  took  up 
his  residence  in  Cohoes  and  after  a  short  time  went  to  Canada.  He  returned  to 
Cohoes  in  1860,  and  in  1861  enlisted  in  Co.  D,  88th  N.  Y.  Vols.  Throughout 
McClellan's  campaign  he  braved  the  hardships  and  privations  of  a  soldier's  life,  and 
then  served  aboard  the  United  States  Ironclad  Roanoke.  After  leaving  the  gunboat 
he  was  honorably  discharged  in  April,  1864.  The  next  September  he  enlisted  in  Co. 
A,  175th  N.  Y.  Vols.,  serving  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Returning  here  he  engaged 
in  the  meat  market  business  until  1888,  then  entered  the  American  Soap  and  Washo- 
line Company  at  its  reorganization.  This  important  industry  increased  under  his 
able  management.  They  employ  many  men,  and  100,000  pounds  of  soap  can  be 
produced  weekly,  which  finds  a  ready  sale  from  Maine  to  Oregon  among  manufac- 
turers. A  member  of  the  Cohoes  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  since  1869;  member  of  N.  G. 
Post  Lyon,  No.  43,  G.  A.  R.,  director  of  the  Fairview  Home  for  Friendless  Children, 
Watervliet,  N.  Y.,  since  its  organization;  director  of  the  Mohawk  and  Hudson  River 
Humane  Society  since  its  organization;  vestryman  of  St.  John's  Episcopal  church  for 
nine  years,  and  warden  for  seventeen  years ;  a  member  of  Diocesan  Convention  of 
Albany  for   twenty-six  years. 

Dodge,  William  T.,  president  of  the  Cohoes  Saving  Institution,  and  for  more  than 
thirty  years  the  leading  insurance  agent  of  the  city.  Mr.  Dodge  was  born  in  Berlin, 
Vt.,  in  1829.  He  was  of  Pilgrim  ancestry,  inheriting  the  sterling  qualities  of  heart 
and  hand  characterizing  those  founders  of  a  noble  race.  He  is  emphatically  a  self- 
made  man,  though  so  trite  a  phrase  does  bare  justice  to  a  bank  president  who  began 
with  a  common  school  education,  and  who  spent  his  early  manhood  on  the  farm 
where  he  was  born,  and  later  as  a  factory  operator.  Mr.  Dodge  became  a  resident 
of  Cohoes  in  1852,  and  in  1860  he  married  Miss  Sarah  Maria  Steenburg,  who  left  at 
her  death  in  1883,  one  daughter,  Carolina  Jane  Dodge.  In  1855  he  embarked  in 
business  in  the  flour  and  feed  line,  and  in  1862  in  insurance  and  real  estate  busi- 
ness, and  has  for  not  less  than  twenty-eight  years  occupied  his  present  office  at 
Mohawk  and  Ontario  streets;  for  nearly  forty  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
M.  E.  church.  He  was  deputy  sheriff  of  Albany  county  from  1873  to  1875,  and 
alderman  from  1878  to  1880.  In  1873  he  was  elected  a  trustee  of  the  Cohoes  Savings 
Institution,  and  in  1877  a  director  of  the  National  Bank  of  Cohoes. 

Featherstonhaugh,  J.  D.,  M.  D.,  one  of  the  most  scholarly  and  eminent  of  the  med- 
ical profession  of  Cohoes.  He  was  born  at  Washington,  D.  C,  in  1845.  His  father 
was  James  D.  Featherstonhaugh,  a  civil  engineer.  Dr.  Featherstonhaugh's  boy- 
hood was  passed  in  France  and  England,  where  he  received  his  preliminary  edu- 
cation. Returning  to  America  he  entered  Union  College  at  Schenectady  in  1863, 
graduating  four  years  later  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  He  at  once  began 
the  study  of  medicine  in  the  office  of  the  late  A.  M.  Vedder  of  Schenectady,  and  was 
graduated  at  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of  the  City  of  New  York  in  1870, 
and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  during  the  same  year  at  Cohoes.  He  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  educational  matters  and  in  municipal  government,  having 
served  for  a  number  of  years  as  curator  to  the  Albany  Medical  College,  as  school 


169 

commissioner  for  several  terms,  and  is  at  present  secretary  of  the  Public  Improve- 
ment Commission  of  Cohoes.  The  doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medi- 
cal Society,  and  also  of  the  State  organization.  He  was  married  in  1802  to  Caroline 
M.  Johnston,  daughter  of  the  late  Robert  Johnston,  of  Cohoes. 

McGarrahan,  John  P.,  M.  D.,  began  his  successful  practice  in  his  native  city,  Co- 
hoes. He  was  born  there  in  1873  and  is  the  son  of  Michael  McGarrahan,  super- 
intendent of  a  wool  store  in  Troy,  and  was  educated  at  Egberts  High  School,  and 
at  eighteen  years  of  age  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  J.  H.  Mitchell  of 
Cohoes,  with  whom  he  was  associated  for  three  years.  He  entered  Albany  Med- 
ical College  in  1891,  graduating  with  high  honors  in  1894,  receiving  the  Boyd 
prize  in  obstetrics.  He  began  practicing  his  profession  July  7,  1894,  opening  an 
office  at  72  Vliet  street,  where  he  still  continues  his  practice.  He  is  acting  physician 
for  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  of  which  he  is  a  member,  also  for  the  C.  M.  B.  A.,  and 
associate  member  of  the  Medical  Society  of  Troy  and  Vicinity.  On  September  23, 
1895,  he  was  married  to  Mary  A.  Cooley,  daughter  of  John  and  Kate  Cooley,  long 
residents  of  Cohoes.     He  has  one  son,  John. 

Mott,  R.  H.,  a  prominent  merchant  of  Cohoes,  came  here  when  thirteen  years  old 
with  his  father,  B.  D.  Mott,  a  tinsmith,  and  began  the  tinsmithing  business  with 
him  in  1883,  as  B.  D.  Mott  &  Son,  store  and  shop  at  No.  173  Remsen  street  At  the 
death  of  the  father  in  1885  this  firm  was  dissolved,  then  continued  as  R.  H.  Mott 
until  1888,  when  he  bought  out  the  furniture  business  at  No.  72  Oneida  street  of  T. 
P.  Hildreth,  late  of  Cohoes,  whose  daughter  Mr.  Mott  married  in  1884.  This  store 
was  enlarged  and  remodeled,  making  it  one  of  the  most  modern  establishments  in 
the  city,  carrying  a  fine  stock  of  house  furnishing  goods,  draperies,  crockery,  car- 
pets and  oil  cloth,  hardware,  stoves  and  ranges.  There  are  four  floors,  two  of  them 
100  feet  deep,  filled  with  choice  goods  and  operated  with  all  modern  methods.  The  two 
younger  brothers  associated  with  Mr.  Mott  are  G.  F.  and  Dudley  B.  ;  the  firm  is 
now  R.  H.  Mott  &  Bros.     Mr.  Mott  was  born  at  Fort  Edward,  N.  V.,  in  I860 

Speir,  Stuart  G.,  was  born  in  West  Milton.  Saratoga  county.  N.  Y.,  May  29,  1SI7. 
His  father  was  Robert  Speir,  a  prominent,  influential  representative  citizen,  well 
known  to  business  men  throughout  the  State.  His  mother  is  Elizabeth  Vedder 
Speir  of  this  city.  In  1876  he  married  Ida  Cutler,  an  Albany  lady  ;  they  have  a  family 
of  four  children  :  Mabel  R.,  Grace  E..  Ruth  E.  and  William  Stuart.  All  are  members 
of  the  Madison  Avenue  Dutch  Reformed  church,  except  William,  the  youngest.  Mr. 
Speir  is  deacon  in  this  church  In  early  life  Mr.  Speir  mastered  the  rudiment- 
common  school  education,  graduated  from  the  Ballston  Academy  in  1802,  and  from 
Eastman's  Business  College,  at  Poughkeepsie,  in  ls<ifi.  Being  an  expert  bookkeeper 
he  was  appointed  assignee  by  the  courts  to  settle  several  large  estates  during  1866, 
1867  and  1868.  The  largest  of  these  was  that  of  Edward  C.  Koonz,  wholesali 
retail  carpet  dealer.  Mr.  Speir  devoted  a  year  to  the  preliminary  study  of  law,  and 
graduated  from  the  Albany  Law  School,  class  ol  L879  80;  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
May  25,  1880.  He  served  as  official  court  stenographer  to  the  Court  of  Special 
Sessions  in  1881  and  1882;  to  the  law  department  of  the  city  of  Albany,  1883;  also 
reported  in  the  various  City,  County,  State  and  United  States  Courts.  Mr.  Speir  was 
president  of  the  Albany  Stenographers'  Association  in  1**7.     This  was  an  organ iza- 


170 

tion  of  about  twenty  stenographers,  consisting  mainly  of  the  official  court  reporters 
of  the  city,  county  and  State,  and  of  stenographers  connected  with  the  executive, 
legislative  and  judicial  branches  of  the  State  government,  together  with  a  few  from 
the  ranks  of  those  employed  in  business  and  professional  offices.  Mr.  Speir  being 
musically  inclined,  in  early  life  devoted  considerable  attention  to  vocal  music,  occu- 
pying several  positions  as  solo  tenor  in  Albany  and  Troy  churches.  On  January  10, 
1877,  he  was  elected  president  of  the  Mendelssohn  Vocal  Club,  a  triple  quartette  of 
Albany's  best  male  voices.  This  popular  club  for  several  years  catered  to  the  music- 
loving  public  of  Albany  and  vicinity,  winning  many  laurels  for  its  muscial  skill.  In 
Masonic  circles  Mr.  Speir  is  what  is  known  as  a  correct  ritualist.  He  was  raised  in 
Masters  Lodge  No.  5,  F.  &  A.  M.,  November  22,  1875;  was  advanced  in  that  lodge 
to  the  several  subordinate  places  and  stations  in  regular  succession,  covering  a  period 
of  eight  years,  and  was  senior  deacon  two  years.  He  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason  in 
Capital  City  Chapter  No.  242,  R.  A.  M.,  and  also  Royal,  Select  and  Superexcellent 
Master  in  De  Witt  Clinton  Council  No.  22,  this  city.  On  December  14,  1896,  he  was 
elected  Master  of  Masters  Lodge  No.  5,  F.  &  A.  M.,  the  initial  lodge  in  Ameiica, 
constituted  in  Albany  on  February  21,  1765,  under  the  title,  Union  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M. 

Sill,  John  De  Friest,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Bethlehem,  Albany  count}-,  Novem- 
ber 10,  1853.  He  is  a  son  of  Francis  Nicoll  who  was  born  March  18.  1818,  and  who 
removed  to  Albany  in  1854  and  established  himself  in  the  coal  business  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Grand  and  Hamilton  streets.  He  represented  his  ward  at  different  times  as 
alderman  and  supervisor  and  for  a  long  time  prior  to  his  death  was  president  of  the 
Albany  County  Bank.  He  died  August  23,  1.895.  Mr.  Sill's  ancestors  all  possessed 
that  superior  type  of  manhood  that  shows  itself  so  plainly  in  the  characters  of  their 
descendants.  Coming  as  he  does  from  such  a  worthy  line  of  ancestors  we  will  men- 
tion them  in  their  order:  John  Sill  left  England  in  1637  and  located  in  Cambridge, 
Mass  ,  about  eighteen  years  after  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims  at  Plymouth.  Joseph, 
son  of  John,  was  born  in  England  in  1636,  and  was  the  father  of  Joseph  2d  (born 
January  6,  1678)  who  married  Phebe  Lord  of  Lyme,  Conn.  Next  in  the  order  of 
descent  is  Lieut.  John  Sill  who  was  born  February  14,  1710,  and  died  October  17, 
1796  He  was  a  farmer  at  Lyme,  Conn.,  and  served  in  the  Revolution.  Silas  4th 
son  of  Lieut.  John,  was  born  November  17,  1749,  and  died  October  26,  1811.  He 
was  a  tanner  and  shoemaker  residing  at  Silltown,  Conn.,  and  was  the  father  of  Mai. 
Richard  Sill  of  Albany,  who  was  an  officer  of  the  Revolutionary  army  and  served  as 
an  aid  to  Lord  Sterling.  Judge  William  N.  Sill  of  Bethlehem,  Albany  county,  was  a 
son  of  Major  Richard  and  the  father  of  Francis  Nicoll  Sill,  and  grandfather  of  John 
D.  :•  ill  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  is  also  a  direct  descendant  of  the  Van  Rens- 
selaers  and  Nicolls,  two  of  the  most  prominent  and  influential  families  in  the 
early  history  of  the  State.  His  mother  was  Elizabeth  Ann,  daughter  of  John  De 
Friest  of  Greenbush,  N.  Y  She  was  descended  from  an  old  family  of  Knicker- 
bockers living  in  and  near  Schaghticoke,  N.  Y.  John  D.  Sill  was  educated  at 
the  Albany  Normal  School  and  Albany  Business  College  and  in  1872  went  to  the 
Albany  County  Bank  as  clerk  where  he  rapidly  rose  to  the  position  of  teller.  In 
1881  Isaiah  Page  and  Francis  N  Sill  bought  the  D.  S.  Woods  Malleable  Iron  Works 
and  John  D.  Sill  left  the  County  Bank  to  become  the  manager  of  the  foundry,  which 
position  he  now  holds,  but  since  his  father's  death  he  has  acquired  his  interest.      Mr. 


in 

Sill  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  Club.      In  187.*)  he  was  married  to  Charlotte  A.    Far- 
rington  of  Newburgh,  N.  Y.     They  have  one  one  daughter,  Florence  K. 

Read,  Major  Harmon  Pumpelly,  traces  his  ancestry  to  Edward  Read,  armiger, 
lord  of  the  manor  of  Beedon  in  Berkshire,  England,  high  sheriff  of  Berkshire,  1439, 
and  back  to  Thomas  de  Read  of  Northumberland.  The  cavalier  Richard  Read  of 
Oxfordshire,  with  his  greatnephews,  Sir  Compton  and  Edward  Read,  defended  Barton 
Court  against  the  Parliamentarians  until  it  was  burned  over  his  head.  His  great- 
grandson,  Col.  John  Read  (grandson  of  Sir  Charles,  who  came  to  Dublin  where  he 
held  estates)  born  in  Dublin,  Ireland,  January  15,  1688,  became  a  large  land  owner 
in  Maryland  and  Delaware  and  a  founder  of  the  city  of  Charleston.  Hon.  George 
Read,  his  son,  born  September  17,  1733,  in  Maryland,  died  September  21,  1798,  in 
New  Castle,  Delaware,  was  the  author  of  the  first  constitution  and  the  first  edition 
of  the  laws  of  Delaware  and  signed  the  original  petition  to  the  king  of  the  Congress 
of  1774,  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  the  constitution  of  the  United  States. 
Hon.  John  Read,  son  of  George,  was  U.  S.  agent-general  from  1797  to  1809.  His  son, 
Hon.  John  Meredith  Read,  LL.D.,  was  one  of  the  candidates  for  the  presidency  of 
the  U.  S.  in  1860,  was  U.  S.  district  attorney  eight  years,  attorney-general  of  Penn- 
sylvania, solicitor-general  of  the  Treasury  Department,  chief  justice  of  Pennsvlvania, 
one  of  the  most  eminent  of  the  leaders  of  the  Freesoil  movement  which  gave  birth 
to  the  Repubilcan  party,  grand  master  of  Masons  of  Pennsylvania,  etc.  Gen.  John 
Meredith  Read,  son  of  the  latter,  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  February  21,  1837,  was 
graduated  from  Brown  University  and  the  Albany  Law  School,  and  in  1860  became 
adjutant-general  of  New  York  and  alsoorganized  the  "  wide  awake"  movement  in  this 
State.  He  was  the  first  U.  S.  consul-general  to  France  and  Algeria  during  the  Franco- 
German  war,  and  at  the  request  of  the  German  government  he  occuj}ied  the  same  po- 
sition for  that  country.  November  7,  1873,  he  became  U.  S.  minister  to  Greece.  He 
later  resigned  from  that  position,  and  for  distinguished  services  on  behalf  of  Greece, 
was  created  by  King  George  a  Knight  Grand  Cross  of  the  Order  of  the  Redeemer,  the 
highest  dignity  bestowed  by  that  country.  April  7,  1859,  he  married  Delphine  Marie, 
daughter  of  Harmon  Pumpelly  of  Albany.  Their  son,  Harmon  Pumpelly  Read  born 
July  1  ',  1860,  was  educated  at  St.  John's  Military  Academy,  Sin;<  Sing,  N.Y.,  and  Trin- 
ity College,  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  spent  some  time  in  study  abroad.  As  a  Republican, 
he  has  always  taken  special  interest  in  the  laboring  classes  and  in  is8r>  was  nomi- 
nated for  the  Assembly,  but  was  defeated  in  a  Democratic  stronghold.  He  was 
president  of  the  Y.  M.  A.  in  1886  and  the  same  year  was  a  member  of  the  civic- 
day  and  tableting  committee  during  Albany's  Bi-Centennial  celebration.  In  1893 
he  was  the  vice-chairman  of  the  committee  appointed  by  the  mayor  of  Albany  to 
receive  the  Duke  of  Veragua.  He  became  acting-chairman  on  account  of  the  absence 
of  the  chairman,  Charles  Tracey,  and  upon  Major  Read  alone  devolved  the  whole 
responsibility  of  the  public  reception  and  grand  tour  through  the  North  Woods. 
With  what  success  he  carried  out  these  various  duties  is  shown  in  the  Duke  of 
Veragua's  own  words:  "Among  my  most  pleasant  remembrances  "t  America  will  be 
my  reception  in  Albany  and  trip  to  the  Adirondacks.  '  He  has  taken  an  active  in- 
terest in  genealogy  and  history,  is  quoted  as  one  of  the  three  greatest  authorities  on 
heraldry  in  this  country,  and  in  1894  was  one  of  the  original  promoters  of  Albanv's 
historical  pageant  of  December  '■'.  •">  and  7.     January  15,  1895,  he  was  elected  Regent 


172 

of  Philip  Livingston  Chapter  Sons  of  the  Revolution,  succeeding  Hon.  Matthew  Hale, 
the  first  president.  He  was  inspector  of  rifle  practice  in  the  old  5th  Brig.,  N.  G.  S. 
N.  Y.  He  is  a  fellow  of  the  Royal  Geographical  Society  of  France,  the  Historical 
Societies  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  and  of  many  other  learned  societies  of 
Europe  and  America.  In  1889  he  married  Marguerite,  daughter  of  the  late  Jacques 
Frederic  de  Carron  oi  Franche  Comte,  France,  a  descendant  of  an  ancient  Huguenot 
family.  He  has  been  an  active  Scottish  Rite  Mason  and  is  looked  upon  as  one  of  the 
most  learned  of  the  ciaft  in  the  history  of  the  order.  He  has  made  a  special  study 
of  the  social  conditions  of  the  various  classes  in  Europe  and  America  before  the 
American  Revolution,  and  of  the  customs  and  laws  relating  to  the  nobility,  gentry 
and  yeomanry  of  that  period.  He  has  been  a  constant  contributor  to  the  press, 
writing  under  various  names. 

Rickard,  Hon.  Michael,  was  born  in  East  Creek,  Herkimer  county,  February  1, 
1837.  His  father  was  a  section  boss  on  the  old  Utica  and  Schenectady  (now  the 
Central)  road,  and  lost  his  life  by  the  cars.  Shortly  after  his  father's  death  Mr. 
Rickard  was  employed  as  line  boy  for  civil  engineers  who  were  surveying  the  route 
for  new  tracks.  Later  he  was  employed  as  ticket  agent  at  Amsterdam,  N.  Y.,  then 
clerk  in  the  freight  house  at  Fort  Plain,  N.  Y.,  and  subsequently  he  went  on  the 
road  as  fireman.  It  was  not  long,  however,  before  he  was  promoted  to  the  position 
of  engineer  and  he  soon  became  one  of  the  most  expert  in  charge  of  a  locomotive. 
For  some  time  he  was  engine  dispatcher  at  Utica,  M.  Y. ,  and  then  went  back  on  the 
road,  being  placed  in  charge  of  engines  on  some  of  the  most  important  trains  on  the 
Central.  He  was  prominent  in  the  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Engineers,  was  one 
of  the  charter  members  and  held  various  offices.  November  14,  1887,  he  was  ap- 
pointed a  railroad  commissioner  to  succeed  John  D.  Kernan,  resigned.  Governor 
Hill  reappointed  him  for  the  term  of  five  years  on  January  29,  1888,  and  on  January 
29,  1893,  Governor  Flower  reappointed  him  for  another  term.  The  first  Mr.  Rickard 
knew  of  his  appointment  was  on  November  14,  1887,  when  he  stepped  off  his  engine 
at  the  Union  Station  and  was  handed  his  commission  by  a  friend,  who  had  obtained 
it  from  Governor  Hill  to  hand  to  the  commissioner  when  he  arrived  in  Albany  on  his 
locomotive.  Commissioner  Rickard  left  a  widow  and  four  children,  who  reside  in 
Albany  at  his  late  home,  No.  233  Madison  avenue.  One  daughter  is  the  wife  of 
Fred  S.  Howell,  the  well-known  broker.  Edward  H.,  the  elder  brother,  is  employed 
by  the  Fonda,  Johnstown  and  Gloversville  railroad.  Another  son,  Raymond  C,  is 
a  stenographer  in  the  office  of  the  car  shops  at  West  Albany.  Mr.  Rickard  was  al- 
ways at  his  desk  in  the  Capitol  when  the  committee  was  not  in  session.  He  had 
many  friends  among  railroad  men  and  was  beloved  by  all. 

Wallace,  Major  William  A.,  son  of  Dr.  James  Jefferson  and  Eliza  Thompson  (Bond) 
Wallace,  was  born  in  New  York  city  in  the  early  forties.  His  father's  ancestors  came 
from  Argyleshire,  Scotland,  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Londonderry,  N.  H.,  in  1719. 
John  Wallace,  the  great-great-grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  Londonderry  and  he  and  Miss  Annis  Barnet  were  the  first  couple 
married  there.  His  son  William  was  married  to  Miss  Hannah  Thornton,  a  sister  of 
Dr.  Matthew  Thornton,  who  was  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  His 
son,  also  William,  moved  to  Canada  where  he  acquired  96,000  acres  of  land,  but  the 
spirit  of  patriotism  led  him  to  relinquish   all  and  at  the  time  of  the  War  of  1812  lie 


173 

moved  to  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  that  flourishing  citv. 
He  was  married  to  Miss  Ann  Doudal,  of  Orange  county,  a  granddaughter  of  Gen- 
eral Wisner  who  was  a  member  of  Congress,  a  general  in  the  Revolution  and  who 
died  in  1777.  Major  Wallace's  maternal  great-grandfather  was  Joseph  Bond  who 
served  three  years  in  the  Revolution  as  a  member  of  a  Massachusetts  regiment ;  and 
his  maternal  grandfather  was  Abijah  Thompson  of  Woburn,  Mass.,  who  was  in  the 
French  and  Indian  war  and  in  the  Lexington  alarm  of  1775.  Benjamin  Thompson, 
a  member  of  this  family  was  knighted  by  the  King  of  Belgium  and  took  the  title  of 
Count  Rumford ;  he  was  governor  of  Munich  ;  he  left  $50,000  to  be  used  to  endow  a 
chair  at  Harvard  University,  of  which  he  was  a  graduate;  this  chair  is  now  called 
the  Rumford  chair;  he  was  appointed  commanding  officer  of  West  Point  but  died 
while  crossing  the  ocean  to  fulfill  his  commission.  Major  William  A.  Wallace  at- 
tended the  Brooklyn  Grammar  School.  At  the  time  of  the  completion  of  his  educa- 
tion the  Rebellion  broke  out,  and  he  enlisted  in  the  13th  Regt.  of  Brooklyn.  After 
his  return  from  the  war  he  was  made  confidential  clerk  for  Claflin  &  Co.,  dry  goods 
merchants  of  New  York.  He  remained  there  until  1873,  when  he  removed  to  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  fire  insurance  business.  He  is  now 
first  assistant  clerk  to  the  Board  of  Contract.  Major  Wallace  joined  George  S.  Dawson 
Post  No.  63,  G.  A.  R.,  in  1876  and  has  been  once  its  commander,  and  its  adjutant  for 
eight  years.  He  has  been  assistant  adjutant  general  of  the  department  of  New  ^  ork, 
G.  A.  R.,  under  three  commanders.  For  five  years  he  was  confidential  clerk  to  Gen. 
James  M.  Warner,  postmaster.  He  has  been  a  Mason  for  thirty  years  and  is  now  a 
member  of  Temple  Lodge  No.  14,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Crescent  Chapter  No.  220,  R.  A. 
M. ,  of  New  York  city.  Major  Wallace  is  also  a  charter  member  of  the  Philip  Livings- 
ton Chapter,  Sons  of  the  Revolution.  September  23,  1878,  he  married  Frances  lone 
Abbe,  of  Huguenot  ancestry.  Major  and  Mrs.  Wallace  are  members  of  St.  Peter's 
church. 

Cox,  James  W.,  jr.,  was  born  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Maiden  Lane  and  Chapel 
street,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  April  14  1859,  and  is  the  oldest  son  of  the  late  Dr.  James  W. 
Cox.  He  received  his  education  in  the  Albany  Academy,  graduating  in  1877.  He 
possessed  a  very  delicate  constitution  and  in  order  to  gain  strength  he  spent  four 
years  in  the  employ  of  the  Hon.  Erastus  Corning  on  his  stock  farm  near  Kenwood, 
Albany  county,  N.  Y.  In  1881  Mr.  Corning  appointed  Mr.  Cox  as  his  private  secre- 
tary, which  position  he  still  occupies.  In  the  spring  of  1895,  Mr.  Cox  organized  the 
Albany  Felt  Company  and  Mr.  Cox  was  elected  its  president.  He  now  devotes  con- 
siderable time  to  the  business.  Mr.  Cox  has  been  for  fifteen  years  a  trustee  and 
secretary  of  the  Board  of  Dh-ectors  of  the  Albany  City  Homoeopathic  and  Dispen- 
sary Association  and  for  fourteen  years  a  trustee  of  the  Albany  Citv  Savings  Insti- 
tution, and  is  the  chairman  of  the  Bond  and  Mortgage  Committee.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Fort  Orange  Club.  Society  of  the  Colonial  Wars,  Sons  of  the  American 
Revolution  and  Society  of  the  War  of  1812.  In  December.  1885,  he  married  Mar- 
garet, daughter  of  Thomas  Riggs,  of  Baltimore,  Md.  They  have  three  children: 
James  W.,  3d.,  Thomas  Riggs  and  Margaret  Riggs. 

Shaffer,  Edwin  C,  was  born  in  Gallupville,  Schoharie  county,  X.  Y.,  April  30, 
1845.  His  parents  were  born  in  Schoharie  county,  X.  V.  ;  his  ancestors  on  his 
father's  side  (Shaffer  and  Weidman)  were  of  Holland  and  German  descent,  and  mi 


174 

his  mother's  side  (Possone  and  West)  were  of  English  and  French  descent,  and  some 
of  them  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  When  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
seven  years  old  his  parents  moved  to  Schoharie  village,  where  he  was  educated  in 
the  public  school  and  Schoharie  Academy.  At  twelve  years  of  age  he  engaged  as 
clerk  in  a  general  merchandise  store  in  Schoharie,  where  he  remained  two  years. 
He  then  went  as  clerk  in  the  Schoharie  county  clerk's  office  and  in  1861  removed  to 
Albany,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  obtained  a  situation  as  bookkeeper  in  a  wholesale  grocery 
house.  In  1863  he  accepted  a  position  in  the  office  of  the  paymaster-general  of  the 
State  of  New  York  and  was  there  until  the  close  of  Governor  Seymour's  administra- 
tion. Mr.  Shaffer  was  an  active  member  of  the  Albany  Burgesses  Corps  for  several 
years  and  was  elected  financial  secretary  three  consecutive  years.  In  the  spring  of 
1865  Mr.  Shaffer  was  appointed  assistant  paymaster  of  the  New  York  Central  Rail- 
road, which  position  he  retained  until  1871,  when  he  was  appointed  to  a  clerkship  in 
the  office  of  Governor  Hoffman,  where  he  remained  until  the  latter's  term  of  office 
expired  in  1873.  He  then  engaged  with  the  D.  &  H.  Co.'s  railroad  as  traveling 
auditor  and  continued  in  that  position  until  March  1,  1882,  when  he  resigned  to  ac- 
cept the  position  of  general  agent,  at  Albany,  of  the  People's  Line  of  Steamers. 
which  position  he  now  holds,  having  been  in  charge  of  the  Albany  end  of  the  line 
for  fifteen  years.  Mr.  Shaffer  is  also  a  member  of  the  Albany  Club.  In  1869  he 
married  Fannie  Augusta  Jenkins,  daughter  of  George  Jenkins  of  Albany.  Mrs. 
Shaffer  was  born  in  the  old  State  Capitol,  her  father  having  been  superintendent  of 
the  old  Capitol  for  many  years. 

Walker,  Peter,  one  of  the  leading  and  prominent  men  of  Guilderland,  was  born  in 
that  town  September  '26,  1844.  He  is  the  son  of  the  late  Israel  Walker,  who  was  also 
a  native  of  the  same  town,  a  man  of  sterling  qualities  and  a  wise  counselor,  whose 
opinion  was  often  sought  in  matters  where  questions  both  difficult  and  important 
were  involved.  When  but  eleven  years  of  age  he  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  shoe- 
making  which  he  followed  for  many  years,  but  later  devoted  his  attention  to  farm- 
ing. His  wife  was  Maria  Van  Yalkenburgh,  a  daughter  of  Johakim  and  Rebecca 
Van  Valkenburgh,  who  were  also  residents  of  this  town.  Side  by  side  and  hand  in 
hand,  they  went  together  through  life,  and  their  industry  and  perseverance  were 
rewarded  by  the  accumulation  of  a  good  property.  He  died  in  1887,  his  wife  in  1894. 
The  grandfather,  Peter  Walker,  was  also  born  in  this  town,  and  for  many  years 
held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace.  He  afterward  removed  to  the  town  of  Knox, 
where  his  last  years  were  spent.  Mr.  Walker  received  his  early  education  at  the 
district  schools  and  later  at  Knoxville  Academv.  He  remained  on  the  farm  with  his 
father  until  the  death  of  the  latter,  except  four  years  that  he  was  manager  of  a  gen- 
eral store  at  Altamont;  since  then  he  has  remained  on  the  farm.  He  was  elected 
and  filled  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  twenty  consecutive  years  (serving  two 
years  as  justice  of  sessions),  and  resigning  that  office  in  1893  to  accept  the  office  of 
supervisor.  He  was  re-elected  in  1894,  and  is  now  filling  that  office.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  St.  George's  Lodge  of  Schenectady,  and  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias.  In  December,  1870,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eva  Anna 
Keenholts,  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Alida  (Bloomingdale)  Keenholts. 

Turner,  John  H.,  was  born  in  England,  June  12,  1821,  and  is  a  son  of  Peter,  a  son 
of  Reginald,  who  lived  and  died  in  England  at  the  age  of  ninety-five.     The  wife  of 


i ;  5 

Peter  Turner  was  Sarah  Lawton,  born  in  England.  The  parents  of  John  H.  came 
to  America  about  1827  and  settled  in  Berne,  where  he  died  in  1839  and  his  wife  died 
in  1857.  John  H.  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He 
had  two  brothers  and  three  sisters,  of  whom  one  brother  and  two  sisters  are  now 
living.  Mr.  Turner  worked  out  by  the  day  and  month  for  five  years,  and  in  1858 
bought  the  farm  of  150  acres  which  he  now  owns.  In  1845  he  married  Eliza  Norton, 
by  whom  nine  children  have  been  born:  Sarah  A.,  Emma,  Lydia,  Newton,  Bertha, 
Charles  (deceased),  Wesley  (deceased),  Channing,  and  Eliza.  Channing  was  edu- 
cated for  a  physician  and  died  at  Oak  Hill  after  practicing  for  one  year. 

Yeeder,  Peter  J.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Guilderland,  on  the  Veeder  homestead, 
in  1831.  Volkert  Veeder,  the  great  grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Albany  county  and 
an  agent  of  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  and  was  also  an  active  worker  in  the  coloniz- 
ing of  this  territory.  He  owned  1,180  acres  of  land  in  one  body,  on  the  Glass  House 
and  Norman's  Kill,  which  was  on  the  Van  Ball's  patent  He  was  active  and  enter- 
prising and  owned  one  mile  of  land  on  the  Norman's  Kill  and  two  miles  on  Glass 
House  Creek.  He  reared  four  sons  and  three  daughters  Peter,  the  grandfather, 
was  born  in  Guilderland  on  the  homestead,  where  he  died  when  thirty-five  years  of 
age.  His  wife  was  Ellen  Bullock,  daughter  of  Matthew  Bullock,  by  whom  five  chil- 
dren were  born:  John  B.,  Ellen,  Annie  and  Peter.  John  B.,  the  father,  was  born 
on  the  same  farm,  and  died  on  a  portion  of  this  tract,  which  farm  his  son  William 
D.  now  owns.  He  spent  his  life  successfully  as  a  farmer  and  left  a  good  property 
valued  at  816,000.  His  wife  was  Ellen  Holmes  of  New  Scotland,  daughter  of  Sey- 
mour Holmes,  a  successful  farmer  of  that  town.  To  them  were  born  three  children: 
John  S.  (deceased).  Peter  J.  and  William  D.  He  died  August  12,  1864,  and  his  wife 
died  in  1850.  Mr  Veeder  is  trustee  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  was  later  elected 
elder,  which  office  he  held  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  Peter  J.  received  his  educa- 
tion at  the  Charlotteville  Boarding  School  and  Princeton  Academy  in  Schenectady 
county.  In  1854  he  entered  the  junior  class  at  Union  College.  He  returned  to  the 
farm  and  remained  with  his  father  until  the  latter's  death.  He  then  purchased  the 
personal  property  and  conducted  the  farm  of  148  acres.  This  he  conducted  until 
1874,  when  he  sold  his  interest  to  his  brother  William,  and  removed  to  the  village 
of  Guilderland,  and  eight  years  later  purchased  the  property  where  he  now  resides 
In  1892  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Flower  as  United  States  loan  commissioner, 
which  position  he  held  for  three  years.  In  1866  he  married  Emma  Weaver,  born  in 
Watervliet  and  daughter  of  Daniel  Weaver.  He  has  been  trustee  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  for  twenty-five  years  and  treasurer  for  seven  years.  For  a  number  of 
years  Mr.  Veeder  has  been  retired  from  active  business.  The  Veeder  family  dates 
back  to  1616,  when  the  first  Veeder  came  to  America  from  Holland.  He  was  granted 
a  large  tract  of  land  in  what  is  now  Albany  county.  Van  Rensselaer  was  later 
granted  a  tract  of  land  by  the  queen,  covering  the  Veeder  tract.  Van  Rensselaer 
endeavored  to  dispossess  Veeder,  and  the  litigation  thai  followed  ended  in  leaving 
1,180  acres  in  the  possession  of  Veeder.  Van  Rensselaer  being  English,  and  favored 
by  the  crown,  the  arbitrators  returned  the  above  decision. 

Ferguson,  William  H.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland  in  1845  on  the  farm 
he  and  his  brother  Andrew  now  own.  The  farm  was  bought  by  his  grandfather, 
Lot  Ferguson,  in  1812,  who  was  a  native  of  West  Chester  county,  N.  V.,  and  bdrn  in 


176 

1764.  He  came  to  New  Scotland  in  1785,  where  he  followed  teaching.  Here  he 
met  and  married  Miss  Anna  Bruce,  a  native  of  the  place;  he  then  purchased  and 
settled  on  a  tract  of  land  on  Black  Creek;  meeting  with  misfortunes  on  this  farm, 
he  sold  it  and  in  1812  purchased  and  settled  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  William 
H.  and  Andrew  Ferguson ;  here  he  met  with  unusually  good  success  and  accumu- 
lated a  large  property.  Hisi  children  were  William,  John,  Michael,  Hannah  and 
Elizabeth.  He  died  August  17,  1829,  and  his  wife  March  5,  1847.  William,  the 
father  of  William  H.  Ferguson,  was  born  on  his  father's  farm  in  1800;  after  the 
death  of  his  father  he  purchased  the  farm  of  the  heirs  and  spent  his  life  there.  His 
wife  was  Jane  E.,  daughter  of  William  and  Helen  (Murray)  Fuller,  and  their  chil- 
dren were  William  H.,  Andrew,  Ellen,  Alice,  John,  Edmund,  Margaret  and  Ada. 
He  died  in  1879  and  his  wife  in  1886.  William  H.  Ferguson  attended  the  common 
schools,  and  a  select  school  two  terms.  He  learned  the  carpenter's  and  builder's 
trade,  also  coopering,  wagonmaking  and  millwright  work,  studied  engineering  and 
learned  it  practically  by  running  his  own  engine,  and  so  made  himself  master  of 
details  in  running  their  extensive  cider  and  vinegar  factory.  William,  Andrew  and 
John  built  a  new  mill  in  1865  and  put  in  better  presses  with  large  wooden  smashers; 
the  business  grew  and  in  1881-82  the  present  mill  was  built,  52  by  54,  with  a  sixteen 
horse  power  steam  engine  to  run  the  machinery,  with  the  latest  improved  grinders 
and  presses,  William  taking  charge  and  operating  it.  In  1882  they  put  in  the  quick 
process  for  making  vinegar  and  their  goods  are  much  sought  after.  Mr.  Ferguson 
studied  chemistry  for  twelve  years  and  was  a  close  student  of  the  chemical  change 
of  cider  when  passing  from  the  juice  to  the  finished  cider  or  vinegar,  and  became  an 
expert  in  that  line.  He  has  invented  several  improvements,  which  are  in  use  and 
greatly  benefit  the  manufacturers.  He  is  a  regular  correspondent  for  several  jour- 
nals which  are  devoted  to  the  trade  and  the  manufacture  of  cider  and  vinegar,  and 
is  considered  the  highest  authority.  It  is  an  acknowledged  fact  that  he  has  defended 
the  cause  of  the  cidermakers  of  the  United  States,  without  recompense,  and  has 
done  more  for  them  than  any  other  man  in  America.  He  is  a  member  of  the  New 
York  State  Cider  and  Vinegar  Association.  From  1882  to  1891  he  was  on  the  road  a 
portion  of  each  year,  selling  and  erecting  vinegar  machines.  In  addition  to  the 
cider  and  vinegar  factory  the  brothers  run  a  box  factory,  in  which  they  use  annually 
many  thousand  feet  of  planed  lumber.  In  1894  they  put  in  fruit  evaporators,  with 
which  they  are  now  doing  an  extensive  business,  nearly  their  entire  product  going 
direct  to  Germany  and  France.  The  homestead  they  have  changed  from  a  grain 
and  stock  farm  to  a  fruit  farm.  Mr.  Ferguson  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows, 
Voorheesville  Lodge,  of  which  he  is  past  grand.  In  1868  he  married  Emma,  daugh- 
ter of  Isaac  and  Lauraetta  (Sprung)  Morrison  of  East  Greenbush,  and  their  children 
are  Lulu  May  and  Nellie  Hendrick. 

Walker,  Charles  Ashbel,  son  of  Alphonsoand  Jeannette(Judd)  Walker,  both  natives 
of  Albany,  was  born  in  the  capital  city  June  23,  1843.  His  father  was  a  dry  goods 
merchant  there  and  died  in  1854,  aged  thirty-five.  His  mother  was  a  descendant  of 
Thomas  Judd,  a  colonial  settler  of  Connecticut.  Mr.  Walker  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Albany,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion  was  clerk  to  Speaker 
Littlejohn  of  the  Assembly  and  also  a  member  of  Co.  B,  Washington  Continentals. 
In   the  spring  of  1861   he  enlisted  in  Co.  I,  5th  N.  Y.  Vols.,  Duryee's  Zouaves,  was 


17? 

promoted  corporal,  and  assisted  his  regiment  in  building  Fort  Federal  Hill  at  Balti- 
more. In  the  spring  of  1862  the  regiment  joined  the  5th  Army  Corps  of  McClellau's 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  at  Fortress  Monroe  en  route  to  Richmond,  where  it  partici- 
pated in  the  seven  day's  fight  and  where  Mr.  Walker  was  wounded  at  Gaines  Mills, 
May  27,  1862.  At  the  close  of  McClellann's  campaign  he  was  sent  to  New  York  city 
with  a  detachment  under  Major  Hull  to  raise  another  regiment  of  Zouaves  to  form  a 
brigade  under  Gen.  G.  K.  Warren,  his  old  regimental  commander.  This  became 
the  165th  N.  Y.  Vols.,  2d  Duryee's  Zouaves,  in  which  Mr.  Walker  was  commissioned 
second  lieutenant.  The  new  regiment  was  ordered  to  the  Department  of  the  Gulf 
under  General  Banks  and  served  through  the  Port  Hudson,  Louisiana  and  Texas 
campaigns.  Mr.  Walker  was  promoted  first  lieutenant  and  captain  and  brevetted 
for  meritorious  service  with  rank  of  major  by  Gov.  R.  E.  Fenton  in  1864.  He  was 
then  detached  and  sent  to  Riker's  and  Hart's  Islands  in  New  York  harbor  for  his  regi- 
ment's quota  of  conscripts,  and  while  there  was  assistant  adjutant-general  on  Gen. 
H.  W.  Wessel's  staff,  commandant  of  post  and  provost-marshal  in  charge  of  3,500 
rebel  prisoners,  whose  release  he  superintended  on  their  taking  the  oath  of  allegi- 
ance. He  was  mustered  out  of  service  September  15,  1865,  and  oik  returning  to 
Albany  became  successively  second  and  first  lieutenant  of  Co.  B,  Washington  Conti- 
nentals (now  the  10th  Regt.  N.  G.  S  N.  Y.),  and  was  also  brevetted  captain  in  the 
National  Guard.  He  remained  with  this  regiment  until  January  1,  1876,  when  he 
removed  to  New  York  city,  where  he  has  since  resided.  On  October  1,  1866,  he  be- 
came associated  with  the  Albany  and  Susquehanna  Railroad  in  the  freight  depart- 
ment at  Albany.  This  road  is  now  a  part  of  the  Delaware  &  Hudson  Canal  Co. 
system,  and  of  the  latter  company  Mr.  Walker  has  been  treasurer  since  1890.  He 
has  been  in  the  service  of  these  roads  thirty-one  years,  rising  by  gradation  through 
every  department.  He  is  a  trustee  of  the  Franklin  Savings  Bank  and  a  member  of 
the  Colonial  Club,  both  of  New  York  city;  a  member  of  the  Military  Order  of  the 
Loyal  Legion  of  the  United  States,  a  member  of  the  Albany  Society  of  New  York, 
member  of  Veteran  Associations  of  the  5th  N.  Y.  and  165th  N.  Y.  Vols,  in  New  York 
city,  and  a  director  in  the  Albany  &  Susquehanna,  New  York  &  Canada,  Schenec- 
tady &  Duanesburgh,  Cherry  Valley,  Sharon  &  Albany,  Adirondack,  and  Rutland 
Railroad  Companies,  and  the  Adirondack  Stage  Co.  In  politics  he  has  always  been 
a  Republican. 

De  Voe,  David,  was  born  December  3,  1837,  the  oldest  of  ten  children  (nine  of 
whom  are  living),  born  to  Henry  I.  and  Sarah  V.  (Winne)  De  Voe.  He  attended  the 
district  school  until  sixteen  years  of  age,  followed  by  two  terms  at  Fort  Plain  (N.  Y.  | 
Seminary.  He  then  followed  farming  up  to  the  time  of  the  beginning  of  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion,  with  the  exception  of  teaching  school  one  winter.  Under  the  first  call 
for  75,000  men  he  enlisted  on  the  second  day  after  the  call  in  the  18th  N.Y.Vols.,  Colonel 
Jackson's  Regiment.  He  was  engaged  in  both  Bull  Run  battles,  both  attacks  on 
Fredericksburg,  at  South  Mountain  and  Antietam.  His  father  died  in  April,  lS(;-„>, 
and  he  obtained  a  furlough  to  come  home,  thereby  escaping  the  dangers  and  priva- 
tions of  the  Peninsula  campaign,  and  returned  and  served  his  term  of  enlistment. 
being  corporal  when  he  was  discharged.  In  L866  he  went  on  a  whaling  voyage,  and 
serving  ten  months  left  the  ship  at  the  Island  St.  Catharina,  Brazil,  whence  he  went 
to  Montevideo,  spent  ten  months  bet  ween  there  and    Buenos   Ayres  and    Paraguav, 


178 

and  returned  thence  to  New  Orleans,  arriying  at  the  latter  place  April  7,  1868,  hav- 
ing been  gone  two  years.     He  has  taught  school  nineteen  winter  terms,  and  has 
been  assessor  six  years ;  in  politics  he  is  a  Democrat.     February  14,  1884,  he  married 
Sarah  J.  Warner,  widow,  whose  maiden   name   was   Bolster.     His  mother  died  No 
vember  13,  1891. 

Swarthout,  William,  born  in  Westerlo,  January  10,  1829,  was  a  son  of  George  W. 
and  Catherine  (Patre)  Swarthout,  and  grandson  of  Peter  Patre,  and  Cornelius  Swart- 
hout. Peter  Patre  was  a  native  of  Holland  and  an  early  settler  of  Westerlo.  Cor- 
nelius Swarthout  came  from  Dutchess  county  to  Westerlo  in  pioneer  days.  George 
W.  Swarthout  was  a  farmer  of  Westerlo  and  a  Whig,  then  Republican  in  politics, 
and  a  member  of  the  Dutch  Reform  church.  He  died  in  1857  and  his  wife  in  1870. 
William  Swarthout  was  brought  up  on  the  farm  and  in  1855  married  Catherine, 
daughter  of  John  Crawford  of  Westerlo,  and  they  have  one  son,  George  W.,  who 
married  Annie  Adrience,  daughter  of  George  Adrience,  farmer  of  Westerlo.  George 
W.  Swarthout  works  the  homestead  farm  with  his  father,  which  consists  of  104  acres; 
they  also  carry  on  a  farm  of  C.  Hinckley  of  140  acres.  In  politics  they  are  Repub- 
licans. 

Gilbert,  Edmond  J.,  was  born  in  Troy  in  1847,  and  has  devoted  much  of  his  time 
to  the  public  service  of  his  country.  He  is  a  son  of  A.  J.  Gilbert  and  was  left  moth- 
erless at  three  years  of  age.  When  sixteen  years  of  age  he  enlisted  in  Company  A, 
21st  New  York  Cavalry,  and  endured  all  the  privations  of  a  soldier.  He  was  cap- 
tured at  Ashby's  Ford  and  incarcerated  in  Libby  prison  for  three  and  a  half  months. 
After  one  year  in  Panama,  with  the  Panama  Railroad  Company,  as  a  machinist,  he 
enlisted  in  the  regular  army  artillery  in  the  capacity  of  sergeant  major,  remaining 
for  three  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R  ,  and  his  private  business  began 
with  the  Gilbert  Car  Company,  in  1870,  where  he  superintended  the  machine  shops; 
he  was  for  three  and  a  half  years  in  Brazil  for  the  same  Company  as  superintendent 
of  construction.  Mr.  Gilbert  has  been  collector  of  the  village,  and  is  now  president 
of  the  tenth  district. 

Bloorningdale,  John  P.,  an  old  and  highly  respected  citizen  of  the  town,  was  born 
in  1818.  John,  his  grandfather,  was  a  farmer  in  Guilderland.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried; by  the  first  marriage  two  sons  were  born  and  by  the  second  several  sons  and 
daughters.  Peter,  his  father,  was  a  farmer  of  Guilderland.  His  wife  was  Lydia 
Gray,  daughter  of  Robert  Gray,  who  was  a  hotel-keeper.  Their  children  were  Lucan, 
Jane  Mary,  Ann,  Lydia,  John  P.,  Robert,  and  Peter.  Mr.  Bloorningdale  remained 
on  the  farm,  assisting  his  father,  until  twenty-six  years  of  age,  when  he  began  for 
himself  at  farming  at  which  he  continued  many  years,  with  unusually  good  success. 
He  added  from  time  to  time  to  his  real  estate  possessions  until  he  owned  many  farms 
throughout  the  county,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  owned  five  farms  containing  sev- 
eral hundred  acres,  and  also  for  years  was  an  extensive  money  loaner.  In  1871  he 
retired  to  the  village  of  Guilderland  Center,  where  he  owned  a  large  amount  of  real 
estate  and  there  devoted  a  number  of  years  of  his  time  to  the  building  of  residences 
and  disposing  of  them.  He  erected  among  other  buildings  a  large  cigar  factory, 
which  he  leased.  Mr.  Bloorningdale  will  long  be  remembered  by  many  to  whom  he 
has  rendered  financial  assistance  at  opportune  times.  In  1839  he  was  married  to 
Hannah  Young  of  the  town  of  New  Scotland,  and  daughter  of  George  Young;  to 


179 

them  was  born  one  son,  Joel,  of  New  Salem.  His  wife  died  very  young,  and  five 
years  after  her  death  he  married  Mary  M.,  daughter  of  Frederick  Crounse  of  Guilder- 
land.     She  died  in  1870.     Mr.  Bloomingdale  died  in  July,  1896. 

White,  Isaap,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Berne,  September  30,  1837.  His  great- 
grandfather, Leonard  Berkeman,  was  an  Orangeman,  living  in  the  North  of  Ireland. 
Mary,  his  daughter,  while  a  young  girl  in  her  native  place,  was  playing  one  day  on 
the  dock,  at  a  time  when  a  ship  was  about  to  sail  for  America.  Owing  to  the  jeal- 
ousy which  existed  between  the  Catholics  and  the  Protestants,  she  was  kidnapped. 
She  was  allowed  to  come  on  board  the  ship  where  she  was  seized  and  cast  into  the 
hold  and  not  permitted  to  come  above  until  the  ship  was  far  out  to  sea.  She  was 
brought  to  America  and  sold  for  her  passage.  She  married  James  White,  an  Eng- 
lishman, and  they  settled  in  town  of  New  Scotland.  Frederick  White,  his  grand- 
father, was  born  on  his  father's  homestead  in  New  Scotland.  David,  the  father  of 
Isaac  White,  was  also  a  native  of  New  Scotland  and  was  a  farmer  and  speculator  in 
live  stock.  He  settled  in  town  of  Berne,  where  he  owned  a  large  farm.  Some  years 
later  he  exchanged  this  farm  for  another  in  town  of  New  Scotland  and  there  lived 
to  time  of  his  death  in  1847.  His  wife  was  Hannah  Schermerhorn  of  Berne,  and 
their  children  were:  Abram,  Isaac,  Jacob,  Elias,  Frederick,  Margaret,  Harriet  and 
Jeremiah.  His  wife  survives  him  and  now  resides  in  New  Salem.  Isaac  White 
grew  to  manhood  in  New  Scotland  and  attended  the  common  district  schools.  In 
1858  he  returned  to  the  towm  of  Berne  with  his  mother,  where  she  bought  a  farm ; 
he  later  purchased  half  of  this  farm  and  subsequently  the  other  half,  to  which  he 
has  added  several  farms,  now  owning  over  500  acres,  the  most  of  which  he  superin- 
tends himself.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Berne  Cheese  Company,  of 
which  he  is  now  president  and  stockholder  in  the  factory.  Mr.  White  has  repre- 
sented his  town  on  the  Board  of  Supervisors  two  terms  and  filled  other  minor  offices. 
He  has  provided  all  of  his  children  with  liberal  educational  advantages,  all  of  whom 
are  teachers  except  the  youngest.  In  18G5  he  married  Miss  Melvina  E.  Flansburg, 
and  their  children  are  Elsie,  Frank,  Elias,  Emma  and  Floyd. 

Abrams,  John  D.,  was  born  in  Vermont,  July  1,  1826.  and  was  a  son  of  Daniel 
and  Althea  Drake,  he  born  in  Long  Island  and  his  wife  in  Vermont.  They  came  to 
Westerlo  in  1827,  thence  to  Rensselaerville,  and  thence  to  Greene  county,  where  he 
died  September,  1879,  and  she,  April,  1878.  John  D.  Abrams  was  reared  on  a  farm 
and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  November  16,  1858,  he  married  Caroline 
Travis,  daughter  of  David  and  Susan  Root.  David  Travis  was  born  in  Dutchess 
county  January  21,  1783,  and  died  in  Rensselaerville,  December  19,  1871;  his  wife 
was  born  in  Greene  county  March  10,  1790,  and  died  in  Rensselaerville  February  20, 
1877.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abrams  was  born  one  daughter,  Allie  S.,  wife  of  William  F. 
Van  Valkenburgb  of  Greene  county.  Mr.  Abrams  was  a  Whig  and  is  now  a  Repub- 
lican. The  family  attend  the  Baptist  church.  Mr.  Abrams  owns  UK)  acres  of  land, 
which  he  bought  in  1*7:!. 

Fitch,  Dr.  John  H.,  was  born  in  New  Scotland,  April  2,  1837.  His  father,  Ebe- 
nezer  A.  Fitch,  was  a  descendant  in  the  sixth  generation  from  Rev.  James  Fitch, 
who  emigrated  from  England  in  1638  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Norwich, 
Conn.,  where  he  preached  over  fifty  years.  The  mother  of  Dr.  Fitch  was  Eliza, 
daughter  of  John  A.  Crounse  and  granddaughter  of  David  Martin,  a  soldier  of  the 


180 

Revolution.  Dr.  Fitch  received  his  education  at  the  New  York  Conference  Semi- 
nary, Charlotteville,  N.  Y.,  and  at  the  New  York  State  Normal  School  at  Albany, 
from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1858.  He  spent  two  years  in  teaching 
and  in  September,  1801,  enlisted  in  Co.  D,  48th  N.  Y.  State  Infantry.  He  served 
three  years,  seeing  much  active  service  and  was  honorably  discharged  in  1864.  He 
commenced  the  study  of  medicine  in  1866  and  was  graduated  from  the  New  York 
Eclectic  Medical  College  in  1868.  He  commenced  practice  in  New  York  city  and 
was  house  surgeon  of  its  dispensary,  demonstrator  of  anatomy  two  years  and  in  1870 
was  appointed  adjunct  professor  of  anatomy.  He  removed  to  Albany  in  1872,  where 
he  was  surgeon  in  the  Albany  Homeopathic  Hospital  in  1872-73;  since  1873  he  has 
resided  in  New  Scotland.  Dr.  Fitch  has  been  to  some  extent  a  contributor  to  cur- 
rent medical  literature,  is  the  author  of  articles  in  "The  Encyclopedia  of  Materia 
Medica  Pura,"  and  in  conjunction  with  Dr.  R.  E.  Kinze  of  New  York,  of  a  work  en- 
titled "  A  Monograph  on  Cactus,"  published  in  1875.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany 
Homeopathic  Medical  Society  and  of  the  International  Hahnemann  Association  ;  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  Masonic  fraternity.  Dr.  Fitch  was 
married  in  1874,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  A.  W.  Twitchell,  of  Albany,  who  died  in  1882 
and  by  whom  he  had  one  daughter,  May.  In  1884  he  married  Melissa,  daughter  of 
James  McCulloch,  of  New  Scotland. 

Wright,  Fred,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Berne,  January  26,  1861.  John  S.,  the 
great-grandfather,  was  a  resident  of  the  town  of  Berne,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation and  also  burned  charcoal  in  large  quantities.  He  reared  a  large  family  and 
died  in  1850  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  Silas,  the  grandfather,  was  a  resident  of 
Clarksville,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Berne  in  1812,  and  spent  many  years  of  his  life 
as  a  miller  in  different  places.  He  served  the  town  of  Berne  as  supervisor  and 
held  other  offices  for  several  terms.  Since  1856  he  has  resided  in  Clarksville,  where 
he  conducted  a  mill  for  many  years  and  later  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business, 
which  he  continued  until  he  retired  from  active  business  life.  He  was  postmaster 
for  sixteen  years  and  was  also  [justice  of  the  peace.  He  is  alive  and  enjoys  good 
health.  Jacob  M.,  the  father,  was  born  in  Berne  in  1836,  and  spent  his  early  life  on 
the  farm  and  attended  the  common  schools.  His  first  enterprise  was  that  of  a  hotel- 
keeper  in  his  native  town,  and  during  the  late  war  was  employed  by  the  Remington 
Firearms  Company  in  their  factory  at  Ilion ;  later  he  was  janitor  at  the  Normal 
School  in  Albany,  where  he  remained  for  five  years,  and  then  conducted  a  livery  for 
some  time.  In  1878  he  removed  to  Clarksville  and  erected  buildings  and  put  in  a 
baking  furnace  and  has  been  interested  in  the  baking  business  since.  He  served  as 
tax  collector  while  in  the  town  of  Berne.  His  wife  is  Celinda  E.,  born  in  Berne  and 
a  daughter  of  John  and  Charity  Bell.  To  them  were  born  three  children:  Silas  J., 
deceased;  Fred,  and  Charles  J.,  deceased.  Fred  spent  his  early  life  on  his  father's 
farm  and  attended  the  common  schools  and  the  Albany  public  schools.  He  delivered 
bread  for  his  father  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he  engaged  in  the 
cigar  business  as  jobber,  doing  his  own  selling.  In  1884  he  returned  to  Clarksville, 
where  he  has  ever  since  been  engaged  in  the  bakery  business.  He  has  also  been  in- 
terested in  various  enterprises,  and  officiated  as  town  clerk  in  1886.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  the  National  Union  of  Albany,  and  Schuyler  Coun- 
cil No.  705.  In  1886  he  married  Emma,  daughter  of  Martin  S.  Yan  Derzee,  and 
have  one  child,  Maud. 


181 

Clapp,  Augustus  Henly,  was  born  in  Albany,  August  18,  180").  He  is  a  descend- 
ant of  Richard  Clapp  of  Dorset,  England,  whose  son  Thomas,  born  1597,  came  to 
America  in  1833.  He  first  settled  in  Scituate,  Mass.,  but  soon  removed  to  Dorches- 
ter, Mass.,  of  which  town  he  enrolled  as  freeman  in  1638.  In  1049  he  was  deputy  to 
the  General  Court ;  died  April  20,  1684.  His  wife's  name  was  Abigail.  Their  son, 
Thomas,  born  May  15,  1639,  died  1703,  married  Mary  Fisher.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  Samuel,  born  August,  1682;  he  married  first,  Elizabeth  Fethers,  second 
Bertha  Dean  ;  parents  of  Samuel,  born  July  6,  1710,  married  Mary  Dean.  He  repre- 
sented his  town  in  the  General  Court;  parents  of  Noah,  born  1747,  died  November 
11),  1820.  He  married  Olive  Shepard,  who  died  in  1845  at  ninety-one  years.  They 
were  the  parents  of  Reuel  Clapp,  born  April  4.  1792,  who  in  early  manhood  came  to 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  he  became  its  chief  builder  and  contractor.  During  the  last 
thirteen  years  of  his  life  he  was  principal  proprietor  aud  manufacturer  of  Townsend's 
Sarsaparilla,  in  its  day  a  most  popular  and  curative  medicine.  He  died  of  heart- 
failure  January  14,  1850.  He  married,  June  26,  1816  Eliza,  daughter  of  Roelof  and 
Catharine  Coon,  of  Holland  descent,  by  whom  six  children  were  born,  all  of  whom 
are  dead,  leaving  no  descendants.  After  death  of  Eliza  he  married  Sarah,  sister  of 
his  first  wife,  December  23,  1830,  to  whom  one  daughter,  Sarah,  was  born  February 
29,  1832,  died  September  25,  1859,  married  Thomas  B.  Van  Alstyne  1851  ;  left  sur- 
viving her,  son,  Thomas  B.  Van  Alstyne,  of  Tustin,  Cal.,  lawyer  and  fruit  grower. 
After  the  death  of  his  second  wife  Mr.  Clapp  again  married,  January  13,  1836,  Hul- 
dah  Miles,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Noah  Miles  of  Temple,  N.  H.  ;  she  survived  her  hus- 
band and  died  in  her  eighty-eighth  year,  February  12,  1891.  Of  her  marriage  four 
child'ren  were  born,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy:  Charles,  born  February  2,  1839, 
died  December  13,  1873;  Edwin  Apollos,  born  June  19,  1840,  died  October  13,  1880, 
who  after  receiving  an  academic  education  became  a  druggist  and  pharmacist;  he 
served  in  the  Rebellion  as  assistant  surgeon  25th  X.  V.  Vols.  ;  he  married  Josephine, 
daughter  of  the  late  Edward  Henly  of  Albany.  Four  children,  Reuel  Frederick, 
Augustus  Henly,  Marie  Josephine  and  Cora  Miles,  survive.  Augustus  was  educated 
in  the  Albany  schools  and  at  fourteen  became  a  clerk  in  the  book  store  of  Bernard 
Quinn,  with  whom  he  remained  twelve  years.  In  May,  1892,  he  started  his  present 
book,  stationery  and  periodical  business. 

Bloomingdale,  Hon.  Frank,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Guilderland,  in  July,  1852. 
He  is  a  son  of  Adam  Bloomingdale,  who  was  also  born  in  this  town  in  1823.  He 
was  one  of  three  sons:  Jacob,  John  ami  Adam,  horn  to  Adam,  who  was  a  farmer  in 
Guilderland.  Adam,  the  father,  grew  to  manhood  <>n  his  father's  farm,  and  in  1849, 
when  twenty-six  years  of  age,  went  to  California  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  gold 
mines.  He  remained  in  California  for  four  years,  meeting  with  some  success,  and 
returned  to  New  York  city,  where  he  remained  three  years,  and  then  returned  to  his 
native  town  and  engaged  in  tanning.  After  some  years  he  removed  to  Schenectadv 
and  interested  himself  in  the  hay  and  straw  business;  ten  years  later  he  moved  to 
Yoorheesville,  where  he  died  in  April,  1894.  He  was  twice  married;  his  first  wife 
was  Margaret  Van  Waggoner,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary  Van  Waggoner  of 
Rhinebeck.  They  had  six  children,  of  whom  three  sons  and  one  daughter  grew  to 
maturity.  His  wife  died  in  1*79,  at  the  age  of  fifty-two.  frank  was  reared  to  farm 
life  and  attended   the  common   schools.      When    he   was  eighteen  years   of  age   his 


182 

father  placed  him  in  charge  of  a  hay  and  straw  business,  which  he  conducted  for 
some  time.  He  was  also  for  a  time  associated  with  his  father  in  business  in  Schenec- 
tady. In  1875  he  moved  to  the  village  of  Voorheesville,  where  he  engaged  in  a 
small  way  unaided  in  the  hay  and  straw  business  on  his  own  account.  To  his  busi- 
ness he  has  added  other  lines,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  a  dealer  in  agricul- 
tural implements.  He  has  erected  several  storage  houses  along  the  railroad  in  the 
village,  and  has  erected  for  himself  a  fine  office  and  residence.  In  1894  and  1895  he 
was  elected  to  the  Assembly.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Voorheesville 
Lodge,  of  which  he  is  past  noble  grand,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, Noah  Lodge  of  Altamont,  of  the  Temple  Chapter  No.  5,  Clinton  Council 
No.  22,  and  of  the  Cypress  Shrine  of  Albany,  and  also  a  member  of  the  Uncon- 
ditional Club,  and  the  Acacia  Club  of  Albany.  In  1873  he  was  married  to  Caroline, 
daughter  of  Jacob  C.  Wormer  of  Guilderland.  Their  children  are  Alice  M., 
Josephine  and  William  J.  In  1880  his  wife  died.  His  second  wife  was  Alice, 
daughter  of  Frederick  B.  La  Grange  of  New  Scotland,  by  whom  one  child  was  born, 
Frederick  A.  He  has  two  brothers  and  one  sister  living,  younger  than  himself;  the 
latter  is  Mrs.  Carrie  Bradt,  now  resides  at  Voorheesville.  N.  Y.  His  brothers, 
C.  A.  Bloomingdale  and  W.  C.  Bloomingdale,  who  now  reside  in  Brooklyn,  N.  V., 
are  now  considered  among  the  largest  commission  men  in  hay  and  straw  and 
farmers'  produce  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  started  on  their  own  resources. 

Andrae,  Paul  H..  came  to  America,  when  fifteen  years  of  age,  from  Brutting, 
Germany,  where  he  was  born  in  1856.  He  was  a  son  of  Paul  Andrae,  a  hotel  keeper 
of  that  place.  Mr.  Andrae  came  to  Cohoes  in  1871,  and  engaged  in  the  meat  market 
of  his  brother  for  eight  years.  In  1879  he  opened  a  meat  and  vegetable  market  at 
23  White  street.  In  1881,  having  erected  a  new  building,  including  a  residence  and 
a  commodious  market  at  £6  White  street,  he  removed  his  business  to  his  new  build- 
ing, where  he  has  at  present  one  of  the  finest  meat  and  vegetable  markets  in  the 
city.  In  his  dealing  with  his  fellowmen  he  is  a  most  honorable  and  upright  man. 
He  was  president  for  one  year  of  the  Business  Men's  Association. 

Keeler,  William  Henry,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in  Albany,  March  23,  1843,  and 
received  a  public  school  education.  When  twenty  he  opened  an  oyster  house  on 
Green  street,  which  soon  became  on,e  of  the  most  popular  and  famous  in  Eastern 
New  York.  This  was  the  beginning  of  his  wide  reputation  as  a  restaurateur  and 
landlord.  After  successfully  continuing  the  business  for  seven  years  he  sold  out. 
In  1872  and  again  in  1874  he  was  elected  on  the  Democratic  ticket  as  alderman  of 
the  Fourth  ward  and  served  in  all  four  years.  He  was  street  commissioner  five 
years  and  in  1882  was  elected  sheriff  of  Albany  county,  which  office  he  held  three 
years.  In  1886  he  purchased  the  building  No.  26  Maiden  Lane,  handsomely  remod- 
eled it,  adding  dining  rooms  and  other  conveniences  and  opened  it  as  a  restaurant, 
which  rapidly  increased  in  popularity.  January,  1890,  he  purchased  the  Broadway 
front,  remodeled  it  on  a  handsome  scale  and  has  since  conducted  the  combined 
structures  as  Keeler's  Hotel,  which  now  embraces  eight  buildings  and  fronts  on 
three  streets,  and  is  the  most  popular  hostelry  between  New  York  and  Chicago.  In 
1877  Mr.  Keeler  married  Catherine,  daughter  of  Robert  Taylor  of  Albany,  and  they 
have  five  children:  John  D.,  William  H.,  jr.,  Rufus  P.,  Grace  and  Harriet. 

Richardson,  William  J.  and  Alexander,  are  sons  of  William  Richardson,  who  came 


183 

from  Ireland  in  1830  and  settled  the  farm  where  his  sons  now  live.  William  J.  mar- 
ried Jennie  Ross,  who  died  in  1892,  and  left  three  sons  and  three  daughters:  George 
A.,  Walter  J.,  William,  Anna,  Jennie,  and  Lottie.  The  grandfather  of  Mr.  Rich- 
ardson, John  Richardson,  came  to  America  at  the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  war. 
He  was  a  soldier  and  returned  to  Ireland,  where  he  died. 

Reynolds,  Lewis  W.,  born  in  Westerlo,  is  the  son  of  Jared  and  Delilah  E.  (Showers) 
Reynolds,  both  natives  of  Westerlo,  and  grandson  of  Lewis  and  Elizabeth  (Husted) 
Reynolds,  who  lived  and  died  on  the  farm  where  Lewis  W.  Reynolds  now  resides, 
and  which  was  bought  by  his  great-grandfather,  Jared  Reynolds.  Jared,  the  father 
of  Lewis  Reynolds,  was  a  farmer,  merchant  and  hotel-keeper  at  South  Westerlo. 
He  had  a  general  store  and  did  alarge  business  in  handling  farm  implements.  After 
his  death  in  1892  Lewis  W.  Reynolds  carried  on  the  store  until  1892,  and  the  hotel 
until  1894.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jared  Reynolds  were  married  in  1864 and  had  six  children: 
Jennie,  wife  of  Frank  Ingalls,  Lewis,  Electus,  Myra,  Jessie  and  Harry.  Mr.  Rey- 
nolds was  a  Democrat  and  deputy  sheriff  and  gave  support  to  the  Christian   church. 

Whitehead,  Samuel. — The  Moulding  Sand  Business  known  as  Whitehead  Bros. 
Co.  was  established  in  the  year  1850  by  Samuel  Whitehead,  sr. ,  his  sons  succeeding 
to  the  business  in  1860  and  continued  the  business  as  a  copartnership  until  1891, 
\vhen  it  was  incorporated  in  a  stock  company  under  the  New  Jersey  laws,  with  Ly- 
dell  Whitehead  as  president,  Alfred  J.  Miller,  vice-president,  Van  Loan  Whitehead, 
secretary  and  William  H.  Smith,  general  manager.  It  is  the  largest  Moulding  Sand 
Company  in  America,  dealing  in  all  kinds  of  moulding  sand,  fire  sand,  foundry  clay, 
kaolin,  cupola  and  foundry  supplies,  stove  plate  moulding  sand  a  specialty.  This 
company  does  business  in  New  Jersey  and  different  points  on  the  Hudson  River  and 
on  the  Erie  Canal.  Mr.  Samuel  Whitehead,  sr. ,  is  one  of  the  members  of  the  firm 
having  charge  of  the  work  at  Coeymans,  Selkirk  and  Cedar  Hill,  N.  Y.,  with  his  son 
Samuel  G.  Whitehead  as  asssistant.  Samuel  G.  WThitehead  married  the  charming 
Miss  Eliza  H.  Clapper,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Clapper  of  Cedar  Hill,  X.  Y. 
Mr.  Samuel  Whitehead,  sr.,  resides  with  his  son  and  daughter  in  their  beautiful  villa 
on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson. 

Van  Leuven,  Peter,  born  December  2,  1825,  is  a  son  of  Peter  Van  Leuveu  and 
Cathrine  (Myers)  Van  Leuven  and  grandson  of  Peter  and  Catharir.e  (Briett)  Van 
Leuven,  who  came  from  Dutchess  county,  and  on  the  passage  across  river  in  a 
scow,  they  were  upset  and  nearly  all  their  goods  were  lost.  They  settled  a  farm 
near  Chesterville,  where  they  spent  their  lives.  Peter  Van  Leuven.  sr.,  always  fol- 
lowed farming,  commencing  near  Chesterville,  where  he  died  August  15,  1862,  and 
Mrs.  Van  Leuven  in  1866.  During  the  war  of  1812  he  conveyed  with  his  own  team 
ammunition  and  provisions  from  Albany  to  Sackett's  Harbor.  Peter  Van  Leuven, 
jr.,  has  been  a  successful  farmer  and  has  made  many  improvements  on  the  home- 
stead, which  consists  of  162  acres;  he  also  owns  200  acres,  part  of  which  he  rents. 
He  is  a  Republican.  In  1891  Mr.  Van  Leuven  married  Juliett,  daughter  of  Dr. 
Josiah  W.  Lay  of  Chesterville,  who  was  a  prominent  physician  there.  On  the  ma- 
ternal side  Mr.  Van  Leuven  is  a  descendant  of  Philip  Myers,  who  was  brought  to 
Coeymans  when  a  small  boy  by  his  father  from  Germany.  The  father  returned  for 
the  rest  of  the  family  and  was  never  heard  of.     Philip  was  reared  by   Peter  Whit- 


184 

beck  of  Coeymans.     He  came  to  Westerlo  and  took  a  large  tract  of  land  and  became 
one  of  the  most  prominent  farmers  of  the  town. 

Spaulding,  Alonzo,  born  in  Westerlo,  February,  1825,  is  a  son  of  Hugh  and  Mary 
(St.  John)  Spaulding,  who  were  lifelong  residents  of  Westerlo.  The  grandfather, 
Elnathan  Spaulding,  came  from  Connecticut  to  Kinderhook  and  engaged  in  farming. 
He  afterwards  removed  to  Westerlo  where  he  died.  He  was  twenty-five  years 
justice  in  Westerlo.  Alonzo  Spaulding  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  educated  in  the 
common  schools.  He  studied  law  with  Rufus  Watson  of  Greenville,  then  with  Ly- 
man Tremain,  and  in  1851  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  for  many  years  practiced  his 
profession  in  Albany  county.  Mr.  Spaulding  has  always  had  his  residence  on  the 
old  homestead,  with  the  exception  of  four  years  spent  in  Rensselaerville  and  less 
than  one  year  in  Kingston. 

Moore,  William  J.,  son  of  Dr.  John  and  Eleanor  (Hagadon)  Moore,  born  in  Al- 
bany, N.  Y. ,  February  27,  1838,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  the  Albany 
Business  College,  after  which  he  engaged  in  the  gardening  business  on  Van  Rensse- 
laer Island.  His  father  died  in  1862;  he  then  took  charge  of  the  latter's  business, 
settled  up  the  estate,  and  continued  the  business  until  1886,  when  he  sold  out  his 
interest  in  the  garden  to  William  Glosser.  He  has  leased  the  Van  Rensselaer 
Island  for  the  last  thirty  years.  He  then  bought  a  farm  at  Castleton,  N.  Y.,  and 
conducted  it  as  a  horse  farm,  which  he  still  owns.  He  then  embarked  in  the  livery 
business  on  Hudson  avenue  and  conducted  that  about  four  years;  then  sold  out  the 
business  to  Mills  &  Sanborn.  February,  1895,  he  bought  the  retail  department  of 
the  Standard  Wagon  Co..  located  at  447  and  449  Broadway.  May,  1896,  he  moved 
to  his  present  location  26  and  28  State  street,  where  he  still  carries  on  the  business. 
May  2,  1888,  he  married  Lillian  L.  Holmes,  and  has  one  son,  William  J.,  jr. 

McKown,  William,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Guilderland,  July  13,  1842.  John  Mc- 
Kown,  his  second  great-grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Scotland  and  founder  of  the 
McKown  name  in  America  about  1767.  John  McKown,  his  grandfather,  was  born 
in  the  McKownville  Hotel  in  1778,  and  in  this  hotel  he  grew  to  manhood  and  lived 
until  seventy  years  of  age.  James,  the  father  of  Mr.  McKown,  was  also  born  in  the 
McKownville  Hotel  in  the  year  1814.  He  assisted  his  father  in  the  hotel  until  the 
latter  rented  it,  and  then  moved  to  the  farm,  which  came  into  his  possession  at  the 
death  of  his  father,  where  he  lived  and  died.  He  was  an  active  and  successful 
farmer  and  for  years  was  a  breeder  of  cattle.  His  wife  was  Sarah  Ann  White,  born 
in  the  town  of  Guilderland,  a  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Sarah  White,  formerly  of  Ver- 
mont. They  had  one  child,  William.  Mr.  McKown  died  in  February,  1878,  and  his 
wife  died  in  1879.  William  McKown  spent  his  early  life  on  his  father's  farm,  at- 
tending the  common  schools  and  the  Boys'  Academy  in  Albany  When  he  was 
eighteen  years  of  age  he  entered  the  grocery  store  of  Samuel  C.  Bradt  in  Albany, 
as  clerk,  the  store  standing  where  the  capitol  now  stands.  After  two  years  as  clerk 
he  became  a  partner  in  the  business,  remaining  there  seven  years  longer,  when,  on 
account  of  his  father's  failing  health,  he  closed  out  his  business  and  returned  home 
to  take  charge  of  his  father's  affairs.  His  father  died  the  next  year  and  he  remained 
on  the  farm  for  fifteen  years,  when,  in  1887,  he  retired  to  McKownville,  erecting  a 
fine  residence,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  now  owns  several  farms  which  he 
looks  after.     He  was  for  some  time  president  of  the  Guilderland  Mutual  Insurance 


185 

Association.  In  1863  he  was  married  to  Levina  McMillen,  who  was  born  in  the  town 
of  New  Scotland,  a  daughter  of  Alexander  and  Margaret  McMillen.  Their  children 
are  James,  Margaret,  Ella,  Jessie,  Alexander,  Anna,  and  Eva.  The  three  oldest 
died  when  nineteen,  eighteen,  and  seventeen  years  of  age,  respectively.  His  wife 
died  in  1890.  His  second  wife  was  Mrs.  Rachel  (Jacobson)  Buchanan,  who  was 
born  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Jacobson.  She  died  Sep- 
tember 29,  1896. 

Hollenbeck,  Jerome  M.,  born  in  the  town  of  Rensselaerville,  N.  Y.,  June  15,  1855, 
is  a  son  of  Charles  Hollenbeck,  who  was  born  in  Columbia  county,  Jul}'  4,  1810,  and 
came  to  Albany  county  with  his  parents  in  1814,  where  he  was  a  farmer.  He  died 
August  3,  1894.  His  wife  was  Hannah  Hess,  born  August  22,  1815,  and  died  June 
21,  1893.  Jerome  Hollenbeck  was  educated  in  Rensselaerville  Academy  and  select 
schools  and  is  by  occupation  a  farmer  and  speculator.  October  6,  1880,  he  married 
Ida  Cartwright,  daughter  of  Salmon  S.  Cartwright,  and  they  have  two  children : 
Malla  May  and  Bertha. 

Gaffers,  Will  R.,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  in  1863.  He  is  the  eldest  son  of 
a  family  of  five  children  and  one  of  the  executors  of  the  late  William  M.  Gaffers. 
The  latter  was  born  at  Albany  in  1825,  and  began  life  without  capital,  achieving 
substantial  success  by  force  of  character.  He  came  to  Watervliet,  now  Colonie,  in 
1850  and  purchased  a  farm,  the  nucleus  of  the  present  large  estate  of  nearly  500 
acres.  It  was  he  who  proposed  the  name  of  Colonie  for  the  town,  having  been 
largely  instrumental  in  its  separation  from  West  Troy  in  1S95.  He  died  May  11, 
1896,  leaving  a  widow  and  five  children,  all  of  whom  are  of  age;  the  widow  now  re- 
sides on  the  old  homestead.  W.  R.  Gaffers  is  recognized  as  a  rising  young  man, 
having  the  courage  of  his  convictions  and  is  a  fluent  speaker,  having  mastered  sev- 
eral languages.  He  is  the  fifth  generation  of  the  paternal  ancestry  since  the  first 
William  Gaffers  came  from  Sippling,  Brunswick,  Germany,  over  100  years  ago,  and 
fought  gallantly  under  Colonel  Bremen  at  Bennington. 

Cole,  William  S.,  was  born  in  1832.  He  was  the  son  of  Charles,  and  the  grandson 
of  Shubael,  who  came  from  Rhode  Island  to  Coeymans  in  1795.  He  had  seven  sons: 
Lanson,  Nathan,  George,  Charles,  Hardy,  David  and  Merritt.  Charles  Cole  had 
two  sons:  Madison  and  William  S.  William  S.  had  one  son  and  two  daughters 
William,  Mrs.  Stephen  Tompkins,  and  Mrs.  Jessie  Hotaling.  He  bought  a  farm  at 
Indian  Fields,  where  he  has  always  been  a  prominent  and  successful  farmer. 

Koonz,  John  P.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland,  November  5.  1S39.  His 
great-grandfather  came  from  Germany  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Westerlo.  Peter 
Koonz,  the  grandfather,  was  born  in  Westerlo,  where  he  became  a  farmer  and  spent 
his  life.  His  wife  was  Catherine  Cline,  and  they  had  thirteen  children.  She  lived 
to  be  106  years  of  age,  and  when  104  years,  without  the  use  of  glasses,  she  hemmed 
a  linen  handkerchief  for  each  of  her  granddaughters,  the  needle  work  on  which 
would  have  been  creditable  to  one  half  her  age.  .She  died  in  Albany.  Samuel,  the 
father  of  John  Koonz,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Westerlo  in  18(19.  When  a  young 
man  he  went  to  Albany  and  learned  the  weaver's  trade  and  soon  after  married 
Elizabeth,  the  only  child  of  Jonathan  and  Hannah  (Van  Buren)  Folmsbee  of  New 
Scotland.     Mrs.   Folmsbee  was  a  first  cousin  of  President   Martin  Van  Buren.     Im- 


186 

mediately  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Koonz  moved  on  to  the  farm  of  his  father-in-law, 
consisting  of  sixty-two  acres,  which  he  took  charge  of,  and  later  added  forty  acres 
more  to  the  farm,  and  here  spent  his  remaining  days.  Their  children  were  Mary, 
Hannah,  Catherine,  Peter  (who  died  when  two  years  of  age),  Phebe,  John  F.,  Abram, 
Peter,  Samuel  (who  died  in  infancy)  and  Sarah.  Mr.  Koonz  died  December  29,  1871, 
and  his  wife  in  1888.  John  F.  Koonz  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm  and  at- 
tended the  common  district  schools.  When  twenty-one  he  married  and  began  life 
for  himself  as  farmer  in  the  town  of  Guilderland  on  a  rented  farm ;  two  years  later 
he  purchased  a  small  farm  of  ten  acres  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland,  and  in  1865 
purchased  his  present  farm  of  seventy-three  acres,  and  here  has  ever  since  resided. 
Since  1875,  in  connection  with  his  farm,  he  has  been  an  extensive  dealer  in  fertilizers, 
and  for  four  years  had  his  office  in  Albany,  where  he  had  a  heavy  trade.  For  fifteen 
years  he  spent  the  autumns  and  winters  as  traveling  salesman,  in  the  interest  of  his 
fertilizing  business,  the  balance  of  the  year  being  spent  on  his  farm.  Mr.  Koonz  is 
an  active  member  of  the  American  Protective  Association.  He  has  been  twice  mar- 
ried; his  first  wife  was  Nancy,  daughter  of  Frederick  J.  Tygert  of  Guilderland,  by 
whom  he  had  seven  children:  Ellen  J.  (wife  of  Jacob  Allbright),  Libbie  (wife  of 
Fred  Nickelson),  Samuel  C,  John  E.  (who  died  when  nineteen  from  injuries  received 
on  a  railroad),  Fannie,  Frederick  J.  and  Daisy.  Mrs.  Koonz  died  in  October,  1888. 
In  1891  Mr.  Koonz  married  Miss  Jessie,  daughter  of  William  Vanderbilt  of  Iowa,  and 
they  have  two  children,  Harlan  and  Harold. 

Wetmore,  Edward  Willard,  was  born  in  Detroit,  Mich.,  September  5,  1846.  He 
is  a  son  of  Frederick  Wetmore  and  Cornelia  Piatt  Willard,  who  was  the  granddaugh- 
ter of  Dr.  Elias  Willard  of  Albany,  X.  V.,  who  was  a  surgeon  in  the  Revolution  and 
a  direct  descendant  of  Simon  Willard,  the  founder  of  Concord,  Mass.  The  Wet- 
mores  came  from  Middletown,  Conn.,  where  Amos  Wetmore  was  a  captain  in  the 
Connecticut  Line  in  the  Revolution.  He  was  the  great-grandfather  of  E.  W.  Wet- 
more. Mr.  Wetmore's  mother  was  the  fourth  in  descent  from  Robert  Livingstone, 
jr.,  mayor  of  Albany  and  Indian  commissioner;  and  the  fifth  in  descent  from  Peter 
Schuyler,  first  mayor  of  Albany.  Edward  W.  Wetmore,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Detroit  and  the  University  of  Michigan,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1867  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  In  1870  he  received  the  hono- 
rary degree  of  M.  A.  from  the  same  institution.  In  1869  Mr.  Wetmore  took  a  course 
in  metallurgy  at  the  Rensselaer  Polytechnic  Institute  in  Troy,  N.Y.  He  also  took  a 
two  years  course  in  Auburn  (X.  Y.)  Theological  Seminary,  after  which  he  received 
the  appointment  of  instructor  in  natural  sciences  in  Robert  College,  Constantinople, 
where  he  remained  three  years.  Since  then  Mr.  Wetmore  has  been  a  teacher  of 
natural  sciences  with  the  exception  of  ten  years  of  business  life  spent  in  Detroit  and 
Connecticut.  Since  1891  he  has  been  the  professor  of  natural  sciences  at  the  State 
Normal  College  at  Albany,  N.  Y.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Delta  Kappa  Epsilon  fra- 
ternity, Sons  of  the  Revolution,  Society  of  the  Colonial  Wars,  Fortnightly  and  Cres- 
cendo Clubs  and  the  Albany  Institute.  He  has  always  been  actively  identified  with 
church,  Sunday  school  andY.  M.  C.  A.  work,  was  for  four  years  the  president  of  the 
association  in  Detroit,  Mich.,  and  is  now  chairman  of  the  educational  committee  of 
the  Albany  Y.  M.  C.  A.  In  1883  he  was  married  to  Martha,  daughter  of  William  H. 
Cox  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have  two  children:  William  Cox  and  Edward  Van 
Dyke. 


187 

Moore,  Albert  T. ,  was  born  in  Rensselaerville,  N.  Y.,  December  1,  1827,  son  of 
Apollos  and  Deborah  (Stone)  Moore.  His  father,  Apollos  Moore,  was  born  in  Pitts- 
field,  Mass.,  1765;  he  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  enlisting  at  the  age  of 
sixteen,  and  served  three  years.  He  came  to  Rensselaerville  about  1785,  built  a 
substantial  house  two  miles  east  of  the  village,  which  became  his  home  for  life.  He 
was  a  prominent  man  in  the  town,  holding  most  of  the  town  offices  and  was  ap- 
pointed judge  of  Albany  county,  which  office  he  held  for  many  years.  He  was  by 
occupation  a  farmer  and  miller.  He  died  in  1841.  Deborah  Stone,  his  wife,  was 
born  in  Windham,  Greene  county,  1788,  and  died  in  Rensselaerville,  1857.  Their 
children  were  George  Stone,  Albert  Tuttle,  and  Jerome  B.  Albert  T.,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  reared  on  the  farm,  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  has 
always  been  a  farmer  by  occupation.  In  politics  he  is  a  Demorcrat.  For  five  years 
he  held  the  office  of  supervisor  of  the  town.  For  the  last  ten  years  he  has  lived  a 
retired  life  in  the  village  of  Rensselaerville.  In  1855  he  married  Ann  B.  Knowles, 
who  was  also  born  in  Rensselaerville. 

White,  John  J.,  son  of  Isaac  and  Ann  Eliza  (Cramer)  White,  was  born  in  Fulton- 
ville,  N.Y. ,  September  4,  1848.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Isaac  White,  moved  from 
Nine  Partners,  Dutchess  county,  to  near  Duanesburg,  X.  Y.,  later  to  Otsego  county, 
and  in  1828  to  Palmyra,  N.  Y.,  but  finally  returned  to  Duanesburg.  Hon.  Isaac 
White,  son  of  Isaac,  was  born  in  Maryland,  Otsego  county,  February  10,  1820,  was 
educated  at  Gallupville  Academy,  taught  school,  became  a  merchant  in  Gloversville 
and  afterward  a  farmer  in  Duanesburg  and  in  1866  came  to  Albany  and  entered  the 
employ  of  George  A.  Wolverton  &  Co.  On  October  3,  1843,  he  married  Ann  Eliza 
Cramer,  and  in  March,  1871,  he  formed  with  his  son,  John  J.,  the  firm  of  Isaac  White 
&  Son  and  purchased  the  notion  and  fancy  goods  business  of  George  H.  Knowlton. 
In  1S74  another  son,  Edgar  M.,  was  admitted  under  the  style  of  Isaac  White  &  Sons. 
January  1,  1883,  Mr.  White  withdrew,  Edgar  M.  gave  place  to  his  brother,  Frank, 
and  the  firm  became  Isaac  White's  Sons  &  Co.  In  January,  1885,  Edgar  M.  White 
again  became  a  member  of  the  firm  and  in  1887  Addison  B.  Wells  was  admitted, 
Frank  White  retiring  at  this  time  on  account  of  ill  health.  In  1890  the  business  was 
closed  out  and  the  firm  dissolved,  and  in  1892  John  J.  White,  Addison  B.  Wells  and 
Frank  J.  Wilkins,  organized  the  present  firm  of  White,  Wells  &  Wilkins,  from  which 
Mr.  Wilkins  withdrew  in  December,  1894,  the  other  two  partners  continuing  under 
the  same  name.  The  business  is  exclusively  wholesale  dry  goods,  notions  and  fancy 
goods,  and  lias  been  conducted  in  the  present  block  on  Broadway  since  1871  and  is 
the  only  one  of  the  kind  in  the  city.  John  J.  White  was  educated  at  the  Gloversville 
Academy,  came  to  Albany  in  1807  and  was  a  clerk  for  Mr.  Knowlton  until  1871.  He 
is  a  director  in  the  Albany  County  Bank  and  a  trustee  of  the  Albany  County  Savings 
Bank.  In  1873  he  married  Anna  E. ,  daughter  of  Jacob  Miller  of  Albany;  she  died 
in  March,  1875,  leaving  one  son,  Frederick  J.,  who  is  associated  in  business  with  his 
father.  In  1870  Mr.  White  married,  second,  Charlotte  E.,  daughter  of  Launcelot 
Bew,  of  Albany,  and  they  have  five  children:  Launcelot  Bew  (deceased),  Mary  Bew, 
John  J.,  jr.,  William  Bew,  and  Ruth. 

,     Groot,  James  Bleecker,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Albany  in   1848.     He  is  the  son  of 

Philip  Wendell  Groot,  who  was  a  native  of  Fonda,    Montgomery  county,  N.  V.,  and 
a  descendant  of  the  old  and  widely  known  Groot  family  of  Amsterdam.     He  was  for 


188 

many  years  a  broker  in  New  York  city.  In  1840  he  came  to  Albany  and  engaged  in 
the  dry  goods  and  real  estate  business  but  after  a  time  returned  to  New  York  city 
and  resumed  his  operations  as  a  broker.  His  wife  was  Deborah  Sanders,  a  native 
of  Schenectady,  and  a  daughter  of  Barent  and  Cathalina  (Bleecker)  Sanders.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Groot  reared  three  children,  two  daughters  and  one  son;  he  died  about 
1870,  and  his  wife  survived  him  eight  years.  James  Bleecker,  the  subject,  spent 
most  of  his  time  in  early  life  traveling  about  for  his  health ;  after  a  time  he  studied 
law  and  later  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  for  a  time  in  Albany.  In  1887  he 
accepted  a  position  as  assistant  paymaster  on  the  Delaware  &  Hudson  Canal  Rail- 
road which  ne  now  holds.  In  1888  he  erected  a  residence  on  the  mountain  side, 
above  the  village  of  Altamont  in  the  town  of  Guilderland.  In  1893  he  erected  his 
handsome  and  imposing  residence  on  the  mountain  side,  above  the  village,  a  pic- 
turesque spot,  commanding  a  beautiful  view  of  the  valley  At  this  beautiful  residence 
he  and  his  sisters  make  their  permanent  home.  In  this  home  they  have  old  pictures, 
furniture,  and  rare  old  china,  Japanese  and  Russian  tea  sets,  comprising  hundreds 
of  pieces  of  the  most  elegant  and  antique  ware,  worth  thousands  of  dollars.  All 
these  articles  were  inherited  as  the  portion  of  the  estates  of  Groot,  Bleecker,  San- 
ders, and  Van  Rensselaer  families,  from  whom  they  are  descended.  Mr.  Groot  is  a 
natural  mechanic  and  mathematician,  and  spends  much  of  his  time  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  fine  and  complicated  clocks  of  his  own  designing,  having  a  room  setoff  as  his 
work  shop,  which  he  has  well  stocked  with  all  the  finest  and  modern  tools,  etc.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  Noah  Lodge  and  Noah  Chapter  of  Altamont, 
and  is  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason  of  Albany  Lodge. 

Deitz,  Wallace  E.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Berne,  November  21,  1857. 
Col.  Johan  Jost  Deitz,  his  great-grandfather  and  founder  of  the  family  in  America, 
came  from  Switzerland  and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  the  town  of  Berne,  coming 
there  between  1750  and  1760.  Jacob,  the  grandfather,  was  born  in  Berne  about  1787. 
He  was  a  lifelong  and  successful  farmer,  accumulating  a  fine  property  in  the  Beaver- 
dam  Valley.  His  wife  was  Mary  Elizabeth  Zimmer.  John  G.,  the  father,  was  born 
in  Berne  in  1836,  his  early  life  being  spent  on  his  father's  farm.  In  1878  he  removed 
to  Gloversville,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  for  about  fif- 
teen years,  when  he  retired  to  the  village  of  Slingerlands,  where  he  died  November 
17,  1896,  and  was  buried  at  Pine  Grove  Cemetery  of  Berne.  His  wife  was  Lydia  J., 
daughter  of  John  H.  Engel,  of  Berne,  and  they  had  eight  children:  Isadora,  Wallace 
E.,  Laura,  Charles  F.,  Elmer,  Seward,  Carrie,  and  Adella,  of  whom  four  survive. 
Wallace  E.  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  district  school.  At 
the  age  of  eighteen  he  began  for  himself,  continuing  his  schooling  winters.  Urged 
on  by  his  success  in  his  studies,  he  was  soon  enabled  to  secure  a  certificate  to  teach. 
He  was  then  engaged  in  teaching  and  studying  until  1877,  when  he  passed  the  State 
examination  and  soon  after  entered  the  Albany  Medical  College,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  March  3.  1882.  He  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Howe's  Cave, 
Schoharie  county,  two  years  later  removing  to  Berne,  where  he  has  since  resided, 
enjoying  a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  He  owns  a  farm,  also  a  saw  mill,  which  he 
superintends.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society  and  the  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  Orion  Lodge  No.  624  of  Gallupville,  of  which  he  is  past  noble  grand.  In  July, 
1889,  Dr.  Dietz  married  Theodora,  daughter  of  David  and  Louis  (Rheinhart)  Ball, 
of  Berne.     They  have  an  adopted  daughter. 


189 

Reid,  William  James,  was  bom  in  New  Salem,  Albany  county,  March  6,  1835. 
George  the  grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  who  came  to  America,  before 
1785,  and  settled  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland.  He  was  a  farmer  and  reared  eight 
children,  and  died  in  1805.  One  of  his  sons,  James,  was  the  first  supervisor  of  the 
town  and  held  the  office  from  1833  to  1838.  Alexander,  the  father,  was  born  in  New 
Scotland  in  1801  and  spent  most  of  his  life  here.  When  a  young  man  he  settled 
in  the  town  of  Berne,  where  is  now  Reidviile,  which  was  named  in  his  honor. 
Through  his  efforts  a  post-office  was  established  and  he  was  appointed  postmaster, 
and  also  conducted  a  store  and  hotel.  He  remained  there  for  about  six  years,  when 
he  returned  to  New  Salem,  where  he  engaged  as  a  wheelwright,  which  business  he 
followed  until  he  retired  on  account  of  ill-health.  His  wife  was  Sophia  Thompson, 
born  in  New  Scotland,  by  whom  eight  children  were  born:  Eliza  J.,  George  A.,  Mar- 
garet, Maria,  Alexander,  William  J.,  Ann  and  John,  Mr.  Reid  died  in  1878  at  the 
age  of  seventy-seven,  and  his  wife  died  in  1869.  William  J.,  when  sixteen  years  of 
age,  began  learning  and  working  at  the  wheelwright  trade  in  his  father's  shop  and 
has  followed  this  business  since.  For  many  years  he  manufactured  sleighs  and 
wagoi  s  and  employed  several  men  to  help  him.  After  his  marriage,  in  1850,  he 
opened  a  shop  for  himself  and  has  always  met  with  success  in  his  business.  In  early 
life  he  manifested  a  keen  and  intelligent  interest  in  the  political  affairs  of  his  town 
and  county,  and  when  twenty-eight  years  of  age  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace 
and  filled  the  office  with  satisfaction  for  twenty  years.  He  was  justice  of  sessions 
during  the  years  1872,  '73,  '81  and  '82,  and  was  elected  supervisor  of  the  town  for 
the  years  1886,  '87,  and  '88,  and  since  1883  he  has  been  notary  public.  He  has  been 
chosen  many  times  as  representative  to  county  and  State  conventions.  In  1859 
he  married  Catherine  Paterson,  daughter  of  Alexander  Paterson,  who  was  born  in 
New  Scotland  and  is  of  Scotch  ancestry,  his  grandfather,  John,  being  one  of  the  early 
emigrant  settlers  in  this  town.  Their  children  are  Mrs.  Margaret  Raynsford  of 
Jersey  city  ;  Mrs.  Mary  Moak  of  the  same  place;  and  William  P.,  who  is  with  the 
National  Express  Company  at  Jersey  city. 

Bennett,  David  W  ,  was  born  in  New  Scotland,  August  SO,  ls:is.  He  was  the  son 
of  William,  who  was  one  of  three  sons,  William,  Rushmore,  and  Thomas,  and  one 
daughter,  Ann,  born  to  Daniel  Bennett,  of  England.  William  became  a  fanner  in 
New  Scotland,  where  lie  did  a  large  and  successful  business.  His  wife  was  Catha- 
rine Bradt,  daughter  of  David  Bradt,  and  granddaughter  of  Storm  Bradt;  she  was 
born  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  David  W.  Bennett  in  1814,  as  was  her  grandfather. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bennett  were  born  six  children:  Daniel,  David  W.,  Ann,  Abbie 
(died  at  twenty  years  of  age),  William  H.,  and  Hester.  Mrs.  Bennett  died  in  1865 
and  Mr.  Bennett  spent  the  last  fifteen  years  of  his  life  in  the  town  of  Bethlehem, 
and  died  in  1876,  aged  sixty-nine  years.  David  W.  received  his  education  in  the 
common  district  and  Albany  .schools.  He  remained  on  the  homestead  until  he  was 
twenty-four,  when  he  purchased  it  of  his  father;  he  sold  it  in  1871,  when  he  pur- 
chased of  an  uncle  the  original  homestead  of  113  acres  of  his  maternal  grandfather, 
where  his  mother  was  born,  and  four  years  later  he  removed  to  Albany,  where  he 
resided  one  year.  For  many  years  lie  has  made  a  specialty  of  high  grade  fersey 
cows.  lie  has  also  devoted  much  of  his  time  to  apple  culture,  and  in  the  mean  time 
has  purchased  sixty-eight  acres  adjoining  the  homestead.      In  -IM!!  he  married    .Miss 


190 

Harriet  Perry  of  New  Scotland.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Casper  and  Amanda 
(Meade)  Perry;  this  union  was  blessed  with  two  children,  William  C.  and  Anella. 
William  C.  married  Elizabeth  Higgins  and  has  one  child,  Edward  J.  Daniel  Ben- 
nett, the  grandfather  of  the  subject,  was  born  at  Stone  near  Berkley,  England,  in 
the  year  1777.  He  married  Miss  Abigail  Rushmore  of  New  Salem,  and  settled  near 
there  on  a  farm,  where  he  died  while  yet  a  young  man. 

Barber,  Morgan  F.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Berne,  April  6,  1849.  Lemuel  (Bar- 
bour) the  great-grandfather,  was  a  native  of  France.  Gideon,  the  grandfather,  was 
born  in  Dutchess  county.  He  was  a  lifelong  and  successful  farmer,  and  spent  the 
last  thirty-five  years  of  his  life  in  Berne,  where  he  conducted  a  farm.  His  wife  was 
Polly  Nelson,  and  their  children  were  Jesse,  Nelson,  Charles,  Darius,  John  and 
Roxie.  He  died  in  1874  and  his  wife  died  in  1868.  Charles,  the  father,  was  born  in 
Berne  in  May,  1825.  He  was  also  a  lifelong  farmer  in  the  town  of  Berne  and  Wes- 
terlo,  but  now  resides  in  Berne.  His  wife  was  Amanda  M.,  youngest  daughter  of 
twenty-four  children  born  to  Richard  Filkins  by  two  wives,  one  of  whom  was 
Catherine  Angell.  The  children  of  Charles  and  Amanda  Barber  were  Morgan 
F.,  Oliver  J.,  Sanford  H.,  Perry  D.  (who  died  when  quite  young),  Frank,  Ida 
E.,  Arthur  (who  died  when  young),  Loren  C,  Jennie  E.,  who  died  when  eighteen 
years  of  age,  and  Fred.  Morgan  F.  was  reared  to  farm  life  and  received  his 
education  in  the  old  Filkins  school  house  in  Berne.  When  sixteen  years  of  age 
he  began  for  himself  by  working  at  farm  work,  which  he  followed  until  twenty- 
two  years  of  age,  with  the  exception  of  one  year  spent  at  carpentry;  being 
of  a  speculative  turn  of  mind  he  then  turned  his  attention  to  speculating  in  various 
things,  such  as  produce,  stock,  horses,  agricultural  implements,  fruit,  nursery  stock, 
etc.,  which  he  has  continued  to  the  present  time.  In  1877  he  removed  to  the  village 
of  Clarksville  and  owns  a  farm  and  cultivates  many  varieties  of  fruits.  In  1892  he 
established  a  beer  bottling  business  in  Clarksville,  is  also  agent  for  several  large 
breweries,  and  is  a  jobber  in  cigars,  doing  a  general  wholesale  business.  During 
his  nineteen  years'  residence  in  this  town,  seventeen  of  them  have  been  spent  in 
public  office.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  Berne  Lodge  No.  684.  In 
1871  he  married  Ruth  Emma,  born  in  Westerlo  in  1853,  a  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and 
Christina  (Wright)  Newberry,  by  whom  eleven  children  were  born:  Lillian,  Ida, 
Evelyn,  Lora  and  Cora  (twins),  Herman,  Eugene,  Lucy,  Clyde,  Morgan  and  Clifton. 
Mr.  Barber  was  one  of  the  original  promoters  and  stockholders  of  the  Clarksville 
and  Furabush  telephone  line  and  is  now  one  of  the  directors  of  the  company. 

Becker.  Howard,  was  born  in  Albany  and  is  the  son  of  Aaron,  grandson  of  Aaron 
and  great-grandson  of  Frederick  Becker,  who  with  his  father,  Frederick  Becker, 
came  to  Houck's  Corners  when  a  boy  and  died  there,  leaving  three  sons:  Christopher, 
Peter  and  Aaron.  Howard  Becker  came  to  the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  near 
Jerusalem,  with  his  father  in  1857,  where  they  are  farmers. 

Barckley,  Edward  L.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Knox,  June,  1842.  Michael  Barck- 
ley,  his  great-grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  migrated  to  America, 
settling  in  the  town  of  Guilderland,  a  pioneer.  Evert  Barckley,  his  grandfather, 
was  born  in  Guilderland  and  spent  his  life  as  a  farmer,  and  died  there  in  1826.  He 
had  one  son  and  several  daughters.  Henry,  the  father  of  Edward  Barckley,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Guilderland  in  1816,  and  in  early  life  followed  blacksmithing. 


191 

He  subsequently  settled  in  the  village  of  Knox  and  owned  a  farm  joining  the  vil- 
lage. In  1856  he  opened  a  store  and  engaged  in  general  mercantile  business,  but 
still  operated  his  farm ;  being  a  man  of  good  judgment  and  of  unusual  business 
ability,  he  accumulated  a  large  property.  In  politics  he  was  first  a  Whig  and  later 
identified  himself  with  the  Republican  party.  He  was  elected  town  clerk  and  rep- 
resented his  town  on  the  Board  of  Supervisors  for  two  terms,  and  was  postmaster 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 
His  wife  was  Magdalene,  daughter  of  Aaron  Livingston  of  Guilderland,  and  they 
had  two  children,  Michael  and  Edward  L.  ;  the  former  was  lieutenant  in  Co.  K,  7th 
N.  Y.  Heavy  Artillery;  he  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor  and  died  from 
the  effects  of  his  wound.  Henry  Barckley  was  a  member  of  the  Dutch  Reformed 
church,  in  which  he  was  elder,  an  active  worker  and  a  liberal  supporter;  his  wife 
survives  him  and  lives  with  her  son.  Edward  L.  Barckley  received  his  education 
in  the  Knox  Academy.  He  remained  at  home  and  assisted  his  father  in  the  store 
and  on  the  farm,  receiving  thus  a  thorough  and  practical  education.  Years  before 
the  death  of  his  father  he  assumed  full  control  of  his  father's  business  and  now  owns 
the  farm  of  135  acres  and  store  property.  For  many  years  Mr.  Barckley  has  been 
prominently  identified  with  the  Republican  party  and  is  a  recognized  leader  of  that 
party  in  his  town.  The  years  of  1885,  '86  and  '87  he  represented  his  town  on  the 
Board  of  Supervisors,  in  1895  received  the  appointment  of  penitentiary  commissioner 
and  was  postmaster  under  Harrison.  In  November,  1896,  his  party  honored  him 
with  the  election  of  treasurer  of  Albany  county.  He  has  often  represented  his  dis- 
trict as  a  delegate  to  the  County,  Assembly  and  State  Conventions.  November  22, 
1865,  he  married  Miss  Eunice,  daughter  of  Alvah  and  Amanda  (Tyler)  French,  and 
they  have  one  child,  Grace. 

Merriman,  Willis  E.,  son  of  Harmon  N.  and  Emelme  (Chambers)  Merriman,  was 
born  in  Carbondale,  Pa.,  May  4,  1843.  His  father  was  a  lawyer,  a  graduate  of  the 
Albany  Law  School,  and  captain  of  Co.  H,  177th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Vols.,  that  went  from 
Albany,  N.  Y.  He  was  severely  wounded  at  the  first  attack  on  Port  Hudson,  May 
27,  1863,  and  died  at  sea  while  being  brought  home.  On  the  maternal  side,  Mr. 
Merriman  is  descended  from  the  Lees  who  lived  in  Connecticut  and  who  came  to 
America  shortly  after  the  arrival  of  the  Puritans.  Mr.  Merriman's  parents  removed 
to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  in  1847,  and  he  was  educated  at  the  Albany  Academy  and  Anthony's 
Classical  Institute.  After  completing  his  education,  he  obtained  a  clerkship  in  the 
office  of  Surgeon-General  S.  O.  Van  Der  Poel,  M.  D.,  April  19,  1861.  He  remained 
there  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  on  January  1,  1866,  was  appointed  confidential 
clerk  to  State  Comptroller  Hillhouse,  which  position  he  held  ten. years.  In  1876  lie 
was  appointed  warrant  clerk,  the  principal  financial  office,  and  served  in  that  capacity 
until  the  creation  of  the  office  of  second  deputy,  to  which  position  he  was  appointed 
in  January,  1895,  by  Comptroller  Roberts.  Mr.  Merriman  has  been  employed  in  the 
State  comptroller's  office  thirty -one  years,  and  in  point  of  term  of  service,  he  is  one 
of  the  oldest  employees  of  the  State.  Since  1**4  lie  has  been  a  member  of  the  Gen- 
eral Board  of  Examiners  of  the  State  Civil  Service.  He  served  thirteen  years  as  a 
member  of  Co.  A,  10th  Bat.,  N.  G.  N.  Y.,  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Old  Guard, 
Albany  Zouave  Cadets,  and  lias'  held  the  offices  of  secretary  and  vice-president  of 
same.     He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Albany  Club.     January 


192 

21,  1875,  he  married  Helen  M.  Clark,  daughter  of  Francis  Clark   of  Albany.     They 
have  two  sons:   Willis  E.,  jr.,  and  Porter  Lee. 

Nicholls,  H.  A. — Among  the  business  places  of  Coeymans  village  the  furniture 
store  of  Nicholls  &  Robbins  has  supplied  a  long-felt  want.  Mr.  Nicholls  was  born 
in  Massachusetts  and  in  early  life  went  to  Michigan.  He  returned  and  after  grad- 
uating from  Stamford  (N.  Y.)  Academy  in  1885,  taught  school  until  1891,  when  he 
was  compelled  to  retire  from  that  field  through  ill-health.  After  spending  some  time 
in  Coeymans  he  opened  the  above-mentioned  furniture  store,  where  is  carried  on  a 
general  furniture  and  undertaking  business.  S.  L.  Robbins  was  born  in  Greene 
county,  N.  Y.  His  early  days  were  spent  on  a  farm  up  to  the  time  of  his  joining  in 
business  with  Mr.  Nicholls.  He  graduated  after  a  thorough  course  of  instruction 
from  the  Champion  College  of  Embalming  in  the  class  of  '96.  Both  partners  are 
men  of  good  standing  and  possess  excellent  business  qualifications. 

Van  Slyke,  G.  W.,  &  Horton. — George  W.  Van  Slyke,  son  of  Peter  B.  and  Sarah 
(Covert)  Van  Slyke,  both  of  Holland  Dutch  descent,  was  born  in  New  Baltimore,  N. 
V.,  September  5,  1831,  and  moved  to  Stuyvesant,  N.  Y.,  with  his  parents  in  1839. 
His  first  American  ancestor,  Willem  Pieterse  Van  Slyke,  settled  in  Beverwyck  as 
early  as  1G28.  Mr,  Van  Slyke  was  an  engineer  in  a  lumber  mill  for  six  years  and 
later  a  general  merchant  in  New  Baltimore  until  1868,  when  he  came  to  Albany  and 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cigars  under  the  firm  name  of  Gee  &  Van  Slyke.  Mr. 
Gee  retired  in  1870  and  Mr.  Van  Slyke  continued  the  business  with  slight  changes  in 
the  firm  name  until  1880,  when  Wallace  N.  Horton  was  admitted  under  the  style  of 
G.  W.  Van  Slyke  &  Co.  In  1889  the  present  name  of  G.  W.  Van  Slyke  &  Horton 
was  adopted.  Mr.  Van  Slyke  died  August  11,  1891,  and  since  then  his  widow  has 
represented  his  interest  in  the  business,  which  is  one  of  the  best  known  of  its  kind 
in  the  country.  The  firm  employs  about  175  people  and  has  developed  an  extensive 
trade  as  manufacturers  and  jobbers  of  fine  cigars.  Mr.  Van  Slyke  was  a  director  in 
the  First  National  Bank,  a  founder,  director  and  vice-president  of  the  Homestead 
Savings  and  Loan  Association,  an  original  incorporator  and  president  of  The  Pure 
Baking  Powder  Company,  a  member  of  the  Holland  Society  of  New  York  and  the 
Albany  Club,  a  trustee  of  the  Madison  Avenue  Reformed  church  and  president  of 
the  board  from  1888  till  his  death,  and  president  of  the  consistory  of  that  body.  In 
September,  1864,  he  married  Georgian na  Parsons  of  New  Baltimore,  who  died  in 
November,  1865.  He  n  arried  second,  February  3,  1870,  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Rich- 
ard T.  and  Margaret  (Bailey)  Hoag,  of  Albany,  who  survives  him.  They  had  two 
sons,  George  W.  and  William  H.,  twins,  born  January  3,  1873,  both  graduates  of 
Yale  University,  class  of  1895. 

Batchelder,  Robert  C,  son  of  Rev.  Daniel  and  Lydia  (Porter)  Batchelder,  was  born 
in  the  State  of  Maine,  the  county  and  town  of  Knox,  July  4,  1856.  His  father  died 
when  he  was  three  years  old.  Young  Batchelder,  when  old  enough  to  attend  school, 
had  to  walk  three  miles,  that  being  the  nearest  school.  At  the  age  of  ten  years  be 
had  to  help  work  the  farm  and  attended  school  only  in  winters.  He  graduated  from 
Freedom  Academy  in  1871  ;  he  then  took  entire  charge  of  the  farm  for  three  years, 
at  the  end  of  which  time,  with  his  mother's  consent,  he  started  out  for  himself;  in 
the  spring  of  1874  he  arrived  in  the  city  of  Boston,  that  being  the  next  year  after 
the  great  financial  panic.     Positions   were   hard    to  obtain;    and    although   young 


103 

Batchelder  was  used  to  hardships  and  disappointments,  yet  after  a  constant  effort 
for  over  four  weeks  without  obtaining  any  thing  to  do,  he  was  the  nearest  discour- 
aged of  any  time  of  his  life;  he,  however,  obtained  a  good  position.  In  1876  he 
went  to  Worcester,  Mass.,  and  engaged  in  the  coal  and  wood  business,  and  in  one 
year  had  established  a  good  trade.  In  1877  he  sold  out  his  business  there  to  his 
brother-in-law,  B.  F.  Wiggins,  and  came  to  Albany  and  located  in  the  same  business 
at  82  and  84  Arch  street.  In  the  year  1873  Mr.  Batchelder  married  Miss  Lizzie  P. 
Hungerford.  Iu  1883  he  removed  his  business  and  took  possession  of  the  old  estab- 
lished coal  yards,  697  Broadway,  extending  through  to  Montgomery  street.  In  the 
fall  of  1884  his  yards  were  destroyed  by  fire.  Early  the  next  year  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  Robert  A.  Wallace;  they  carried  on  the  coal  and  wood  business  until 
1888,  when  Mr.  Batchelder  bought  out  Mr.  Wallace's  interest  and  has  since  that  time 
carried  on  the  business  at  774  Broadway  and  dockyard  foot  of  Livingston  avenue. 
In  1893  Mr.  Batchelder  built  a  large  factory  at  Hawkesbury,  Ont.,  for  manufactur- 
ing kiln-dried  bundle  wood,  from  which  point  large  quantities  are  shipped  to  the 
principal  New  England  cities  as  well  as  Albany  and  Troy.  In  the  spring  of  1894  he 
associated  with  him  in  business  Mr.  Joseph  C.  McClelland.  Mr.  Batchelder  is  a 
man  of  pronounced  opinion  and  prompt  action,  a  firm  believer  in  having  proper  re- 
gard for  the  rights  of  others  as  well  as  to  maintain  his  own  rights.  He  admires 
men  of  good  deeds  and  thinks  that  Genl.  Grant  *vas  the  good,  great  man  in  the, 
truest  sense;  he  believes  that  C  M.  Depew  will  go  down  in  history  as  the  greatest 
orator  of  this  or  any  other  age,  and  that  he  should  be  honored  for  the  fairness  with 
which  he  discusses  all  matters.  Mr.  Batchelder  is  a  member  of  Ancient  City  Lodge 
F.  &  A.  M.,  Capital  Chapter  R.  A.  M.,  and  Temple  Commandery  No.  2,K.  T. 

Burdick,  Norman,  is  descended  from  an  old  Rhode  Island  family,  his  grandfather 
being  Elkanah  Burdick,  of  Granville,  N.  Y.,  born  August  6,  1771,  died  April  21, 
1832,  who  married  Martha  Worden.  His  father,  Joseph  Uriah  Burdick,  of  Dexter, 
Me.,  born  in  1808,  married  Cynthia  Morgan.  Mr.  Burdick  was  born  in  Middletown, 
Vt. ,  June  2,  1834,  received  a  common  school  education,  learned  the  trade  of  iron 
molder  in  Amherst,  N.  H.,  and  came  to  Albany  in  1864  as  superintendent  for  Shear, 
Packard  &  Co.,  stove  manufacturers.  He  continued  with  them  and  their  successors, 
Perry  &  Co.,  in  the  foundry,  until  1871,  when  he  became  traveling  salesman  for  the 
latter  firm.  From  1877 'to  1881  he  had  charge  of  the  foundry  at  Sing  Sing  prison; 
in  1881  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  patent  stove  specialties  in  that  city,  and 
in  1883  moved  the  business  to  Albany.  In  1885  his  son,  Bainbridge  W.,  became  his 
partner  under  the  present  firm  name  of  Burdick  &  Son,  and  in  1888  they  moved  the 
establishment  from  Green  street  to  the  corner  of  Liberty  and  Division  streets,  where 
it  is  now  located.  The  firm  also  has  a  slate  quarry  at  Hampton,  N.  Y.,  and  a  large 
stock  farm  of  about  500  acres  at  the  same  place,  where  they  breed  fine  trotting 
horses.  Mr.  Burdick  has  always  been  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  Custus 
Morum  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F..  and  Post  Lull,  G.  A.  R.,  both  of  Milford.  N.  H.,  and  is  a 
member  and  past  master  of  Benevolent  Lodge,  No.  7,  F.  &  A.  M.,  also  of  Milford, 
He  is  a  member  of  all  Masonic  bodies  of  New  Hampshire  except  De  Witt  Clinton 
Council,  Temple  Commandery  and  Cyprus  Temple,  of  Albany.  He  is  a  charter 
member  of  the  Acacia  Club  and  a  member  of  the  Albany  Republican  Unconditional 
Club.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  Co.  C,  4th  N.  Y.  Vols.,  was  promoted  second  lieutenant 
y 


194 

and  served  until  1864,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged  for  disability.  He  married 
Mary  D.,  daughter  of  Otis  R.  Fisher,  of  Wilton,  N.  H.,  and  they  have  two  children: 
Bainbridge  W.  and  Ethel  (Mrs.  Elmer  E.  Wygant),  both  of  Albany.  Bainbridge 
Winfield  Burdick,  born  in  Amherst,  N.  H.,  February  13,  1864,  is  a  member  of  Wads- 
worth  Lodge,  No.  417,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  all  the  Odd  Fellow  bodies,  of  the  Republican 
Unconditional  Club  and  of  the  Albany  Burgesses  Corps. 

Springer,  J.  Austin,  son  of  Adrian  Oliver  and  Jeanette  (Squire)  Springer,  was 
born  in  Utica,  N.Y.,  January  11,  1870.  In  1878  his  parents  moved  to  Albany,  N.Y., 
where  he  was  educated  in  the  public  and  high  schools.  Music  being  his  aim,  and 
with  a  determination  to  devote  his  whole  time  to  its  study,  he  left  the  High  School 
in  the  winter  of  1888  and  placed  himself  under  the  instruction  of  Dr.  Jeffery  'and 
John  Kautz  for  piano  and  Samuel  Belding  for  organ.  In  June,  1895,  Mr.  Springer 
went  to  New  York  to  further  pursue  the  study  of  the  piano  under  William  Mason, 
Mus.  Doc,  A.  C.  M.,  who  is  recognized  as  America's  greatest  pianoforte  teacher. 
At  the  present  time  he  still  continues  his  studies  under  the  valued  tutelage  of  this 
great  master.  In  the  spring  of  1888  he  received  his  first  charge  in  the  capacity  of 
assistant  organist  of  All  Saints'  Cathedral,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  which  position  he  held 
during  the  summer  of  that  year  during  Dr.  Jeffery's  absence  in  Europe.  The  fol- 
lowing year  he  was  appointed  organist  of  St.  Luke's  Episcopal  church  at  Cambridge, 
N.  Y.  In  1889  he  went  to  the  First  M.  E.  church  at  Lansingburgh,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
held  the  position  of  organist  for  three  years.  His  next  charge  was  at  the  North  Re- 
formed church  of  West  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  in  September,  1894,  he  was  appointed  or- 
ganist and  director  of  music  in  the  First  M.  E.  church  of  Albany,  N.  Y.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1896,  Mr.  Springer  was  chosen  out  of  eighteen  applicants  to  be  the  organist  of 
the  State  Street  Presbyterian  church  of  Albany,  which  position  he  still  holds,  giving 
eminent  satisfaction  in  that  capacity.  On  June  13  1890,  Mr.  Springer  was  married 
to  Olive  G.  Robertson  of  Albany.  He  has  won  for  himself  distinction  as  a  piano- 
forte instructor  and  exponent  of  Dr.  Mason's  method.  The  "Springer  Musicales," 
which  are  given  every  season  by  his  pupils,  show  evidence  of  his  conscientious  work 
in  this  department.  During  the  season  of  1896-97  he  has  given  a  series  of  lecture 
musicales  to  his  pupils  on  the  "Principle  of  Devitalization  as  Applied  to  Artistic- 
Piano  Playing,"  and  the  "  Lives  and  Works  of  Famous  Composers."  Mr.  Springer 
has  written  many  compositions  for  the  piano  and  voice,  his  works  having  been  ren- 
dered by  such  organizations  as  Gilmore's,  Sousa's,  and  the  United  States  Marine 
Band  of  Washington.  His  latest  work,  a  "  Valse  Caprice,"  has  been  heard  in  con- 
cert and  pronounced  to  be  a  work  of  decided  originality  with  rich  harmonical  treat- 
ment. He  has  also  dedicated  a  "Slumber  Song"  to  Mrs  Olivia  Shafer  of  Albany, 
and  a  "Lullaby"  to  Townsend  H.  Fellows,  solo  baritone  of  Grace  church.  New 
York. 

Beutler,  William  F.,  was  born  December  15,  1852,  m  Albany,  and  is  a  son  of  Frank 
Benjamin  and  Susannah  (Stoehr)  Beutler,  both  of  whom  came  here  from  Prussia, 
Germany,  in  1848.  Mr.  Beutler  received  a  public  school  education  and  at  the  age  of 
eleven  years  entered  the  law  office  of  Ira  Shafer  and  Jacob  H.  Clute,  the  latter  being 
county  judge  of  Albany  county.  In  the  fall  of  1864  Alonzo  B.  Voorhees  formed  a 
copartnership  with  Mr.  Shafer,  and  Mr.  Beutler  continued  with  the  firm  until  it  dis- 
solved in  1867  by  the  removal  of  Mr.  Shafer  to  New  York   city.      He  then  remained 


195 

with  Mr.  Voorhees,  and  the  firm  of  Voorhees  &  Norton,  until  his  admission  to  the 
bar  in  1874,  when  he  formed  a  copartnership  with  David  J.  Norton,  as  Norton  & 
Beutler,  which  continued  until  1888,  and  since  then  he  has  practiced  alone.  He  was 
assistant  district  attorney  in  1878,  1879  and  1880  and  assistant  corporation  counsel 
from  June,  1883,  to  May.  1884,  and  was  long  a  member  of  the  Unconditional  Repub- 
lican Club,  of  which  he  was  president  in  1886.  June  25,  1884,  he  married  Adeline 
B.,  daughter  of  John  W.  Bartlett  of  Chelsea,  Mass.,  and  they  have  one  daughter, 
Annie  Louise,  born. March  8,  1886. 

Wood,  Levi,  was  born  in  New  Scotland  in  1842.  Gideon  Wood,  his  grandfather, 
was  a  native  of  Cape  Cod,  Mass.,  born  in  1778,  a  wheelwright  by  trade,  and  a  manu- 
facturer of  spinning-wheels.  He  came  to  the  town  of  Westerlo,  Albany  count}', 
about  1806,  and  devoted  his  time  to  farming  and  the  manufacture  of  spinning- 
wheels.  His  wife  was  Jerusha  Atkins,  by  whom  he  had  four  children:  Uriah, 
Arnold,  Anna  and  Elizabeth.  He  died  in  1861,  aged  eighty-three  years.  Arnold 
Wood,  the  father,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Westerlo  in  1806.  He  devoted  his  early 
life  to  teaching  and  later  followed  farming ;  he  removed  to  the  town  of  New  Scot- 
land in  1836,  where  he  became  fairly  well-to-do.  His  wife  was  Mary  Spencer,  born 
in  Rhode  Island  in  1806,  and  a  daughter  of  Anthony,  and  a  cousin  of  Senator 
Anthony  Spencer.  Their  children  were  William,  Levi,  Amelia,  Charles  and  Ann 
Eliza;  the  latter  died  when  three  years  old.  Arnold  Wood  died  in  1891,  and  his 
wife  resides  in  New  Scotland  on  the  homestead  with  her  son  Charles.  Levi  Wood 
received  a  very  fair  education,  attending  the  common  schools  and  the  Albany  Nor 
mal.  He  remained  on  the  farm  until  he  was  twenty-one.  His  first  enterprise  was 
the  grocery  business,  which  he  established  on  the  corner  of  Bear  and  William  streets, 
Albany,  in  partnership  with  Mr.  Underhill,  under  the  firm  name  of  Underhill 
&  Wood.  Here  he  remained  for  seven  years;  the  four  following  years  were 
spent  in  Connecticut,  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  paper,  when  he  returned  to 
Albany  and  again  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  at  the  same  location,  but  this 
time  for  himself.  He  remained  here  for  eight  years  when  he  again  embarked  in  the 
paper  manufacturing  business  in  New  Baltimore,  Greene  county,  N.Y.  In  1892  he 
came  to  the  village  of  Voorheesville  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  which 
he  conducts  at  the  present  time.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  Temple 
Lodge  No.  14  of  Albany,  and  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  Voorheesville  Lodge.  In  1863 
he  married  Harriet  A.  Martin,  born  in  New  Scotland,  and  a  daughter  of  William 
and  Mary  A.  (Moak)  Martin,  and  their  children  are  Mary  Ella,  wife  of  Dr.  W.  F. 
Shaw  of  Voorheesville,  and  Frank  W.,  with  the  National  Express. 

Chapin,  Josiah  D.,  son  of  Josiah  B.  and  Caroline  (Peck)  Chapin,  was  born  in 
Springfield,  Mass.,  June  12,  1842,  and  moved  with  his  parents  to  Albany  about  1848 
and  subsequently  to  Troy,  N.  Y.,  where  he  received  a  public  school  education.  He 
also  attended  the  Quincy  Grammar  School  at  Boston  and  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Busi- 
ness College  in  Albany.  In  1861  he  became  a  clerk  in  the  wholesale  and  retail 
clothing  store  of  Davis,  Craft  &■  Wilson,  witli  whom  he  remained  until  the  firm  was 
dissolved  in  1870.  He  then  continued  with  R.  C.  Davis  &  Co.,  clothiers,  till  1876. 
and  afterward  was  engaged  in  the  merchant  tailoring  business  in  Troy.  January  1, 
1878,  he  returned  to  Albany  and  became  bookkeeper  for  C.  G.  Craft,  clothier,  and  in 
1890  was  admitted  as  partner  under  the  firm  name  of  C.  G.  Craft  &  Co.     Mr.  Craft 


196 

died  in  March  of  that  year  and  since  then  Mr.  Chapin  and  Benjamin  M.  Secor  have 
continued  the  business  as  surviving  partners.  The  firm  manufactures  and  wholesale 
and  retails  clothing  on  an  extensive  scale.  Mr.  Chapin  served  in  the  local  militia 
about  nine  years,  and  is  a  member  of  Co.  A,  of  the  Old  Guard.  In  1874  he  married 
Emily,  daughter  of  Benjamin  F.  Moseley  of  Albany,  and  they  have  one  daughter, 
Abbie,  who  survives. 

Hallenbeck,  George  A.,  was  born  in  Greene  county,  N.  Y.,  in  May,  1857.  Smith 
Hallenbeck,  his  great-great-grandfather,  came  from  Holland  with  his  two  brothers 
and  took  up  a  large  tract  of  land  known  as  the  Hallenbeck  Patent.  Jacob,  the 
grandfather,  was  a  farmer  and  spent  his  life  in  Greene  county;  he  reared  three  chil- 
dren: George  Jacob  and  Eliza.  Jacob,  the  father,  was  a  mason  by  trade  and  for 
many  years  and  to  the  time  of  his  death  in  1858  had  charge  of  a  turnpike  road ;  he 
had  also  a  contract  for  and  built  many  of  the  stone  arch  bridges  on  that  road.  His 
wife  was  Phebe  A.  Renne,  by  whom  he  has  had  five  children:  William,  Lucy,  Mary 
(died  young),  Alice  (died  young)  and  George.  Mr.  Hallenbeck  having  died  when 
George  was  but  fifteen  months  old,  his  wife  kept  the  family  together  and  cared  for 
them  until  she  died  in  1877.  William,  the  oldest,  when  but  seventeen  enlisted  in 
Co.  I,  Col.  Pratt's  Regiment,  20th  N.  Y.  Yols.,  and  was  shot  dead  at  the  second 
battle  of  Bull  Run.  George  A.  began  to  care  for  himself  when  he  was  quite  young; 
he  first  engaged  as  a  drug  clerk;  when  seventeen  he  began  to  learn  the  cigarmaker's 
trade,  and  when  he.  mastered  that  he  worked  for  twelve  years  as  a  journeyman 
cigarmaker;  he  then  began  business  for  himself  in  Middleburg,  Schoharie  county, 
becoming  the  successor  of  J.  C.  Barst  &  Co.  ;  this  business  he  conducted  until  1886, 
when  he  removed  it  to  Guilderland  Center,  where  he  drew  plans  and  had  a  place 
built  especially  for  himself.  He  is  an  energetic  business  man  and  public  spirited ; 
he  gives  employment  to  from  seven  to  sixteen  men,  and  has  two  men  on  the  road 
with  his  goods  all  the  time,  and  covers  about  eighteen  counties.  He  has  an  annual 
output  of  about  three-quarters  of  a  million,  and  his  is  the  leading  industry  of  the 
village.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  Lodge  of  Altamount,  and  Odd 
Fellows  Lodge  of  Voorheesville.  In  1890  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Isadore 
A.  Yanderburg,  daughter  of  Joseph  Vanderburg  of  Greene  county. 

Mclntyre,  Archibald,  son  of  James  and  Ann  (Campbell)  Mclntyre,  was  born  in 
Johnstown,  N.Y.,  June  6,  1827.  He  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  and 
Johnstown  Academy,  and  on  April  27,  1845,  he  removed  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
obtained  a  clerkship  in  the  grocery  store  of  S.  T.  Thorn.  In  1846  Mr.  Thorn  sold 
out  to  Richard  Bortle,  and  in  1852  Mr.  Mclntyre  went  into  partnership  with  Mr. 
Bortle.  This  partnership  continued  until  1862,  when  Mr.  Mclntyre  sold  his  interest 
to  Mr.  Bortle.  Mr.  Mclntyre  then  went  into  the  wholesale  provision  business  on 
Exchange  street,  handling  flour,  butter,  cheese,  etc.  Subsequently  he  moved  to 
State  street  and  in  1871  to  his  present  location  on  Hudson  avenue.  In  1885  he  sold 
out  and  resumed  again  in  1889.  Mr.  Mclntyre  is  a  member  of  Temple  Lodge  and 
Capital  City  Chapter;  he  is  also  a  director  of  the  Commerce  Insurance  Company- 
In  1854  he  married  Jane  Anne  Bearcroft,  and  they  have  seven  children,  two  sons 
and  five  daughters. 

McNamara,  John  W.,  son  of  Hugh  and  Ellen  McNamara,  who  came  to  America 
from  Ireland  in  1832,  was  born  in  Watervliet,  Albany  county,  January  9,  1839,  and 


19* 

moved  with  the  family  to  Albany  in  1844.  He  was  educated  in  the  private  schools 
of  Michael  O'Sullivan  and  the  late  Thomas  Newman  and  at  the  State  Normal  Col- 
lege, from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1858.  In  1855  he  was  selected  as  an  assistant 
in  the  compilation  of  the  State  census.  He  taught  school  for  three  years  and  in  1861 
became  a  law  student  in  the  office  of  Courtney  &  Cassidy.  He  finished  his  legal 
studies  with  L.  D.  Holstein.  On  the  death  of  Mr.  Holstein  in  1864  the  business  was 
continued  by  Cheever  &  McNamara  until  1868,  when  the  latter  formed  a  copartner- 
ship with  S.  Y.  Hawley,  which  continued  until  Mr.  Hawley's  death  in  1887.  In  1869 
Mr.  McNamara  was  elected  police  justice,  vice  Hon.  S.  H.  Parsons  resigned,  and  in 
1870  was  re-elected  for  a  full  term  of  four  years.  In  1864  he  was  chosen  secretary  of 
the  Albany  Railway  Company  to  succeed  Mr.  Holstein,  deceased,  and  held  that  posi- 
tion until  1880,  when  he  was  elected  treasurer  and  general  manager,  which  offices  he 
still  fills.  In  January,  1881,  he  became  a  charter  member  of  the  Committee  of  Thir- 
teen. He  is  first  vice-president  of  the  Law  and  Order  League;  was  long  a  member 
of  Mountaineer  Co.,  No  5,  of  the  volunteer  Fire  Department;  was  an  incorporator 
of  the  Albany  Stove  Company;  was  one  of  the  incorporators  and  a  trustee  of  the 
Catholic  Union  of  St.  Vincent's  Orphan  Asylum  and  a  member  of  the  advisory  board 
of  managers  of  St.  Peter's  Hospital.  In  1863  he  married  Martha  J.,  daughter  of 
Rev.  Frederic  Ramsey,  of  Lawyerville,  N.  Y. 

Page,  Edward  N.,  manager  of  the  Cohoes  Rolling  Mill,  has  been  associated  with 
the  iron  industry  since  he  was  ten  years  of  age.  He  was  born  in  England  in  1826, 
coming  to  America  in  1848;  and  to  Cohoes  in  1862,  when  he  became  one  of  the  firm 
of  Simmons  &  Page  (Jonas  Simmons).  In  1863  James  Morrison  bought  out  Jonas 
Simmons's  interest,  and  the  firm  of  Morrison,  Colwell  &  Page  was  then  formed,  and 
the  business  is  still  continued  under  the  same  firm  name  and  management.  Mr. 
Morrison  died  June  11,  1893.  Mr.  Page  is  a  master  of  the  details  in  iron  and  steel 
making,  and  is  a  man  of  wide  experience  in  the  work,  having  devoted  his  whole  life 
to  the  closest  study  of  all  the  branches  pertaining  to  America's  greatest  industry. 

Bell,  HoraceS.,  son  of  Horace  and  Jane  (Seaman)  Bell,  was  born  at  Stuvevsaut 
Falls,  Columbia  county,  February  8,  1845,  and  received  a  public  school  education  at 
Castleton,  N.  Y.  His  mother  died  in  1850  and  his  father  in  1858,  and  in  the  latter 
year  he  became  a  clerk  in  Albany  for  James  R.  Iladley,  with  whom  he  remained 
eight  years.  In  1866  he  purchased  of  Minor  J.  Yeeder  the  retail  grocery  and  grain 
business  at  No.  168  South  Pearl  street,  where  he  has  since  been  located.  In  the 
same  year  he  formed  a  partnership  with  William  L.  Coffin,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Bell  \-  Coffin,  and  so  continued  until  Mr.  Collin's  death  on  February  25,  1896,  when 
he  succeeded  to  the  business.  Mr.  Bell  is  a  director  in  the  First  National  Bank,  a 
trustee  and  first  vice-president  of  the  Albany  City  Savings  Institution,  a  director  in 
the  Equal  Rights  Insurance  Company  of  Albany  since  its  organization  in  1882,  one 
of  the  organizers  and  a  director  of  the  Albany  County  Loan  Association,  and  for 
several  years  an  elder  in  the  Madison  Avenue  Reform  church.  He  was  married  in 
is;:;  to  Mary,  daughter  of  John  McHarg  of  Bethlehem,  N.  V.,  and  thev  have  three 
children:  Jessie,  Horace  and  Mildred. 

Parsons,  Francis  Marion,  of  Scotch  and  German  descent,  was  born  in   Camillus, 

Onondaga  county,  August  19,  1S-1S.  He  is  a  son  of  David  Henry  Parsons,  a  farmer 
residing  at  Weedsport,  N.  Y.     His  mother  was  Emiline  Mills,   daughter  of  the  late 


198 

Samuel  and  Phoebe  Mills,  of  Coeymans,  Albany  county.  Her  grandfather,  another 
Samuel  Mills,  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  The  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  Joshua  Parsons,  came  from  Scotland  and  settled  in  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y. 
He  later  removed  to  Granby  where  he  was  supervisor  of  the  town.  In  1866,  after  a 
residence  in  Granby  of  seventeen  years,  the  Parsons  family  removed  to  Camillus. 
Francis  M.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  attended  the  public  schools  for  some  time  and 
entered  the  Baldwinsville  Academy,  meanwhile  teaching  school  in  the  counties  of 
Cayuga  and  Onondaga  and  working  for  a  time  in  a  Memphis  store.  While  teaching 
school  he  read  law  with  William  B.  Mills  of  Weedsport,  and  in  1871  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  at  the  General  Term  of  the  Supreme  Court  held  in  Rochester,  N.  Y.  He 
opened  an  office  in  Weedsport  and  soon  became  the  leading  lawyer  in  the  northern 
part  of  Cayuga  county.  In  1879  he  was  elected  special  county  judge  on  the  Repub- 
lican ticket  and  retained  the  place  for  three  years.  In  1886  and  1887  he  was  elected 
and  re-elected  to  the  Assembly  where  he  was  both  years  a  member  of  the  ways  and 
means  committee.  Mr.  Parsons  has  also  been  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  has  acted 
as  town  clerk  for  the  town  of  Brutus.  About  January  1,  1894,  he  was  appointed  first 
confidential  clerk  to  the  attorney-general  of  the  State.  July  1,  1894,  he  was  made 
deputy  attorney-general  of  the  State  and  now  holds  that  office.  He  is  a  member  of 
Weedsport  Lodges  of  Odd  Fellows  and  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  of  the  Unconditional 
Republican  Club  of  Albany.  He  is  also  a  trustee  of  the  Methodist  society.  In  1871 
he  married  Hattie  Eliza  Bibbens  of  Brutus,  N.  Y. ,  and  they  have  three  children: 
Minnie  L.,  Frederick  Jay  and  Eva  Hattie.  The  family  residence  is  at  Weedsport, 
N.  Y 

Tucker,  Luther  Henry,  jr.,  was  born  in  Albany,  X.  Y.,  September  9,  1869.  He 
received  Ins  preparatory  education  at  the  Albany  Academy,  after  which  he  entered 
Vale  University  and  graduated  in  the  class  of  1891.  While  at  Yale  he  was  a  speaker 
in  the  junior  exhibition  for  the  H.  J.  Ten  Eyck  Prize.  Mr.  Tucker  was  also  a  speaker 
for  the  De  Forest  Medal  in  his  senior  year,  and  hence  a  Townsend  prize  man.  He 
was  class  poet,  editor  of  the  Yale  Literary  Magazine,  and  a  member  of  the  Zeta  Psi 
fraternity.  Immediately  after  graduation  Mr.  Tucker  sailed  for  Europe  and  visited 
Ireland,  England,  France,  Italy,  Switzerland,  Germany,  Austria,  Holland  and  Bel- 
gium. He  returned  in  December,  1891,  and  took  a  post-graduate  course  at  Yale  in 
1892  and  1893  (Foote  scholarship)  in  English  literature;  in  June,  1894,  he  received  the 
degree  of  A.  M.  December  1,  1893,  he  entered  the  firm  of  Luther  Tucker  &  Son, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  an  editor  of  the  Cultivator  and  Country  Gentleman. 
March  28,  1894,  he  married  Florence  Barnard,  daughter  of  the  late  Stephen  P. 
Barnard,  M.  D.,  of  Hudson,  N.  Y.,  and  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.  They  have  one  daugh- 
ter:  Katharine  Barnard. 

Corliss,  Stephen  Potter,  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  July  26,  1842,  and  received  his 
education  there,  which  was  completed  about  the  time  of  the  breaking  out  of  the  war 
of  the  Rebellion.  He  at  once  enlisted  as  a  private,  was  promoted  through  the  reg- 
ular positions  to  that  of  captain,  was  brevetted  major,  lieutenant-colonel  and  colonel 
for  great  gallantry  and  distinguished  bravery  at  the  capture  of  the  Southside  Rail- 
road, April  2,  1865,  and  was  also  voted  a  medal  by  the  Congress  of  the  United  States 
for  his  conduct  at  this  time;  spent  about  three  months  in  Libby  Prison  in  Richmond, 
Va.,  served  upon  the  staffs  of  Brig. -Gen.   John  Ramsey  and  Major-Gen.   Nelson  A 


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Miles — with  the  latter  went  to  Fortress  Monroe,  Va.,  to  assist  in  the  care  of  Jefferson 
Davis,  then  a  prisoner  there;  finally  upon  his  own  request  was  discharged  from  the 
United  States  army,  December  16,  1866.  Returning  to  his  native  city,  he  was  soon 
occupied  in  the  pursuits  of  a  mercantile  life.  March  1,  1866,  he  entered  the  employ- 
ment of  Charles  H.  Strong,  then  a  wholesale  clothier  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  as  a  com- 
mercial traveler,  and  covered  the  territory  of  Michigan,  Ohio  and  Illinois.  In  Jan- 
uary, 1869,  Mr.  Strong  retired  from  business  and  Colonel  Corliss  was  at  once  engaged 
by  Messrs.  Davis.  Craft  &  Wilson,  at  this  time  one  of  the  largest  manufacturers  of 
clothing  in  our  country.  He  remained  through  the  various  changes  in  this  firm  until 
July  1,  1887,  when  he  entered  the  service  of  Hackett,  Carbart  &  Co.,  of  New  York, 
whom  he  now  represents.  He  has  from  the  time  he  entered  the  ranks  of  the  com- 
mercial travelers  been  a  conspicuous  member  and  foremost  in  advocating  and  work- 
ing for  whatever  shall  tend  to  add  to  their  good  name  and  advance  their  interests  as 
a  class;  was  a  charter  member  of,  and  for  ten  years  has  been  president  of  the  Albany 
Commercial  Travelers  Club;  is  first  vice-president  Commercial  Travelers  Home 
Association  of  America,  and  also  holds  the  same  position  in  the  Commercial  Travelers 
Mutual  Accident  Association  of  the  United  States;  is  also  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Masonic  order,  of  the  military  order  of  the  Loyal  Legion,  and  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic,  of  which  he  was  department  commander  in  1873  and  1874 ;  also 
served  upon  the  staff  of  Major-Gen.  Joseph  B.  Carr,  who  commanded  the  3d  Division 
National  Guard  of  our  State;  was  for  years  a  member  of  the  staff  of  the  Washington 
Continentals,  and  later  was  captain  of  Co.  B,  10th  Battalion  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y. 

Cutler,  Edgar  A.,  is  the  son  of  Martin  L.  Cutler,  a  native  of  Holliston,  Mass.,  born 
in  1819;  he  came  to  Albany  in  1847.  Mr.  Cutler  comes  of  old  New  England  stock ; 
his  great  ancestor,  John,  came  from  Norfolk,  Eng.,  in  1637,  and  settled  at  Higham, 
Mass.  ;  he  seems  to  have  been  a  man  of  vigorous  parts,  with  a  mind  of  his  own,  for 
he  early  engaged  in  the  religious  controversies  which  form  an  essential  ingredientin 
Puritan  life,  and  suffered  in  consequence.  Simeon,  another  ancestor,  served  with 
distinction  in  the  Revolutionary  war;  he  joined  Washington  at  Boston,  and  remained 
with  the  army  during  its  eight  years  of  defeat  and  victory,  and  retired  with  a  cold 
nel's  commission.  Jtfr.  Cutler,  sr. ,  was  engaged  in  the  wholesale  and  retail  millinery 
business  at  the  time  of  his  death,  March  15,  1S90;  he  was  also  trusteeof  the  National 
Exchange  Savings  Bank,  and  prominent  in  the  business  circles  of  Albany.  He  mar- 
ried Maria  A.  Salisbury  of  Albany,  who  survives  him;  they  had  two  sons,  Walter  S. 
of  San  Francisco,  and  Edgar  A.,  born  in  Albany,  November  13,  1858.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  Albany  Academy,  and  when  eighteen  entered  his  father's  store,  where 
he  remained  as  salesman  until  1890,  when  he  succeeded  to  the  business.  He  is  one 
of  the  leading  wholesale  and  retail  milliners  of  Albany.  The  business,  which  has 
been  located  at  Nos.  540-546  Broadway  since  1847,  is  the  oldest  of  the  kind  in  the 
State  outside  of  New  York,  and  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  country. 

Bowman,  Cassius  M.,  was  born  in  Troy,  July"-',  1846.  He  is  the  son  of  Joseph 
Bowman,  the  well  known  veteran  collar  manufacturer  of  Troy.  Joseph  Bowman 
came  to  Troy  when  twelve  years  of  age  from  Vermont.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneer 
manufacturers  of  collars  in  Troy,  as  early  as  1854,  but  later  removed  to  a  farm  in 
Fulton  county.  He  is,  however,  a  member  of  the  present  firm  of  Bowman  &  Sons, 
manufacturers  of  linen  collars  and  cuffs,  No.  555  to  561   Federal  street,  Troy.     This 


200 

firm  was  established  in  1876  with  Cassius  M.  Bowman  and  Joseph  Bowman,  jr.,  as 
active  members,  and  employed  about  100  people.  C.  M.  Bowman  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Green  Island  since  1882,  and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  local  government. 

Zeilman,  Charles  H.,  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  September  25,  1839.  He  received 
a  common  school  education  and  later  went  into  the  employ  of  Steele  &  King,  where 
he  learned  the  paper  hanging  business  and  subsequently  served  as  an  apprentice  at 
the  carpenter's  trade,  at  which  he  was  employed  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion. 
August  8,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  44th  N.  Y.  Vols,  and  was  successively  promoted 
from  the  ranks  to  first  sergeant,  second  and  first  lieutenant  and  captain;  and  com- 
manded Company  F,  the  Albany  company,  from  the  Peninsula  campaign  until  the 
company  was  mustered  out  of  service  in  Albany,  October  11.  1864.  He  participated 
in  most  of  the  battles  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged,  was  severely  wounded  in 
the  side  at  Gettysburg,  and  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  left  arm  in  the  battle  of  the 
Wilderness.  He  has  been  a  prominent  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  since  1867.  January 
1,  1865,  when  the  free  delivery  system  was  put  in  operation  in  Albany,  Postmaster 
Dawson  appointed  him  as  a  letter  carrier  and  subsequently  to  a  clerkship  in  the  dis- 
tributing department,  from  which  he  resigned  in  the  September  following,  to  accept 
the  position  of  chief  clerk  and  property  clerk  of  the  Capital  police  force.  He  re- 
mained in  that  position  until  September,  1870,  and  on  the  fifteenth  of  that  month  he 
re-entered  the  postal  service  under  Postmaster  Smyth  and  for  nineteen  years  was 
clerk  at  the  stamp  window.  When  Gen.  James  M.  Warner  was  appointed  postmaster 
in  1889,  Mr.  Zeilman  was  appointed  assistant  postmaster  and  has  held  that  position 
ever  since,  having  been  reappointed  by  the  present  incumbent,  Hon.  Francis  H. 
Woods.  He  was  a  member  and  secretary  of  the  Board  of  Civil  Service  Examiners 
for  the  Albany  post-office  from  its  establishment  to  the  time  he  became  assistant 
postmaster. 

Baxter,  William  C. ,  secretary  of  the  David  Judson  Coal  Company  of  Troy,  is  the 
son  of  the  well  known  William  E.  Baxter,  an  early  settler  of  West  Troy,  who  is 
prominently  connected  with  the  Warford  &  Robinson  Transportation  firm,  and  owns 
several  boats.  William  C.  is  a  native  of  West  Troy,  born  in  1866;  he  finished  his 
education  at  the  Troy  Business  College,  after  which  he  entered  the  firm  with  which 
he  is  now  identified.  Mr.  Baxter  is  a  trustee  of  the  Second  ward,  to  which  office  he 
was  elected  in  1895,  by  one  of  the  largest  majorities  ever  given  in  the  ward,  and  re- 
elected alderman,  November,  1896,  under  the  new  city  charter.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Watervliet  Club  of  West  Troy,  secretary  of  the  Troy  branch  of  the  Commercial 
Travelers'  Home  Association,  a  member  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Royal  Arcanum,  and 
Knights  of  the  Ancient  Essenic  Order. 

Happel,  Dr.  William  H.,  son  of  John  H.,  and  Caroline  (Kilzer)  Happel.  wras  born 
in  Albany,  April  22,  1866,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  High  School  in  1884 
and  from  Concordia  College  at  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  in  1886.  He  taught  for  one  year 
as  adjunct  professor  of  languages  in  St.  Paul's  College  at  Concordia,  Mo.,  and  then 
entered  the  Albany  Medical  College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1890.  In 
April  of  that  year  he  was  appointed  house  physician  in  the  Albany  City  Hospital 
and  served  eighteen  months.  In  October,  1891,  he  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  Albany.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society,  and  its 
present  treasurer,  and  is  a  Mason,  a  member  of  Temple  Lodge  No.  14,  F.  &  A.  M., 


201 

Temple  Chapter,  De  Witt  Clinton  Council,  Temple  Commandery  No.  2,  K.  T., 
Cyprus  Temple,  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  and  the  Scottish  Rite  bodies.  In  1891 
he  married  Irene,  daughter  of  the  late  Elisha  Schill  of  Ballston,  N.  Y.,  and  they 
have  two  children:  Ralph  Schill  and  Irene  Kilzer. 

McKinney,  James  &  Son. — James  McKinney,  son  of  James  and  Jane  Frances 
(Netterville)  McKinney,  was  born  in  Duanesburg,  Schenectady  county,  August  29, 
1825.  His  father,  a  farmer  who  came  to  America  about  1810,  was  born  of  Scotch- 
Irish  stock  in  the  North  of  Ireland  and  was  the  son  of  Rev.  James  McKinney,  a 
Scotch  Covenanter  minister.  James  McKinney,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  and  at  the  Canajoharie  Academy,  and  in  the  latter  vil- 
lage became  a  clerk  in  his  grandfather's  store.  When  eighteen  he  began  learning 
the  iron  business  at  Palatine  Bridge,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1846  came  to  Albany  to  follow 
his  trade,  which  he  subsequently  followed  in  New  York  city  for  a  time.  Returning 
to  Albany  in  1857,  he  formed  in  that  year  a  copartnership  with  Abram  Mann,  and 
under  the  firm  name  of  McKinney  &  Mann  established  the  first  architectural  iron 
business  in  the  capital  city  in  a  building  on  Lumber  street,  now  Livingston  avenue, 
near  where  the  railroad  bridge  now  stands.  In  1863  the  firm  removed  to  De  Witt 
street,  to  buildings  specially  erected  for  them.  In  1867  Mr.  McKinney  became  sole 
proprietor,  and  in  1872  erected  and  occupied  the  present  plant  at  Nos.  925-933 
Broadway.  In  1883  his  son  Edward  N.  was  admitted  as  partner,  under  the  firm 
name  of  James  McKinney  &  Son,  which  still  continues.  This  is  the  most  extensive 
architectural  iron  works  in  Eastern  New  York  outside  of  New  York  city,  and  fur- 
nished a  large  part  of  the  iron  work  for  the  Albany  post-office  building,  the  State 
Capitol  building,  the  D.  &  H.  C.  Co.'s  office  building,  the  new  Albany  Safe  Deposit 
and  Storage  Company  building,  the  Dudley  Observatory,  and  numerous  other 
structures  in  Albany  and  elsewhere.  Besides  executing  contracts  for  heavy  struc- 
tural work  in  buildings,  such  as  columns,  girders,  trusses,  etc.,  this  firm  makes  a 
specialty  of  all  kinds  of  the  finest  ornamental  work  in  the  line  of  stairs,  elevator  en- 
closures, wrought  iron  gates,  railings,  etc.  They  do  a  large  business  in  New  York 
city  and  vicinity,  having  put  this  class  of  work  in  many  of  the  largest  structures 
there.  On  account  of  their  reputation  for  fine  work  they  are  asked  to  compete  with 
the  foremost  concerns  in  the  country  in  this  line.  Mr.  McKinney  is  a  vice-president 
of  the  Albany  Exchange  Savings  Bank,  a  director  in  the  Standard  Emery  Wheel 
Company  and  the  Marshall  &  Wendell  Piano-forte  Manufacturing  Company,  Limited, 
ami  has  been  a  member  of  the  Fourth  Presbyterian  church  for  forty  years,  an  elder 
for  twenty-two  years  and  connected  with  its  Sunday  school  for  twenty-five  years. 
He  is  a  Republican,  and  was  alderman  of  the  Seventh  ward  one  term.  In  1850  he 
married  Julia  A.  Poole  of  Albany,  and  of  their  six  children  three  are  living.  Ed- 
ward N.  McKinney,  their  only  son,  was  born  in  Albany  May  17,  1857.  Since  leav- 
ing school  in  1874  he  has  been  associated  in  business  with  his  father,  becoming  a 
member  of  the  firm  in  1NSIC  Ik-  is  a  director  in  the  New  York  State  National  Bank, 
vice-president  and  treasurer  of  the  Standard  Emery  Wheel  Company,  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Albany  Terminal  Warehouse  Company,  manager  and  treasurer  of 
the  Marshall  &  Wendell  Piano-forte  Manufacturing  Company,  Limited,  a  director  in 
the  Albany  Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  a  trustee  of  the  Albany  Savings  Bank  and 
Second  Presbyterian  church.     He  was  a  member  of  the  Albany  Building  Commis- 


202 

sion,  which  erected  a  number  of  school  houses,  engine  houses  and  other  public 
buildings  in  Albany.  In  1888  he  married  Marion  Louise  Roessle  of  Washington, 
D.  C,  and  they  have  three  children. 

Hatt,  Samuel  S. — Among  the  members  of  the  Albany  county  bar  there  are  none 
.more  favorably  known  than  Samuel  S.  Hatt.  His  education  was  obtained  at  the 
Fort  Edward  Institute,  where  he  prepared  for  college,  and  at  the  Law  Department 
of  Union  University,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1877  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B. 
In  the  same  year  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Charles  W.  Mead,  which  has  con-  fl 
tinued  until  this  day,  and  is  one  of  the  representative  and  successful  law  firms  of  the 
State.  He  has  never  entered  the  field  of  politics,  preferring  to  devote  himself  strictly 
to  the  practice  of  his  profession.  In  addition  to  his  extensive  practice,  however,  he 
is  prominently  identified  with  the  business,  charitable  and  educational  interests  of 
Albany.  He  is  a  trustee  of  the  Albany  County  Savings  Bank,  of  the  Albany  Orphan 
Asylum,  treasurer  of  House  of  Shelter,  a  member  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Albany 
and  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club,  and  a  trustee  and  the  treasurer  of  the  Emmanuel  Bap- 
tist church,  and  an  active  member  of  the  New  York  State  Bar  Association.  In  pub- 
lic and  professional  life  he  has  always  been  held  in  the  highest  esteem  and  confidence. 
He  married  into  one  of  Albany's  oldest  families,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Peter  P.  Staats, 
fcr  many  years  one  of  Albany's  prominent  physicians,  and  has  one  son,  now  prepar- 
ing for  college  at  the  Albany  Academy. 

Ward,  John  G.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Westerlo  in  the  year  1849  and  is  the  pro- 
duct of  Revolutionary  stock,  taking  his  name  from  Gen.  John  Ward  who  achieved 
signal  military  honors  in  the  struggle  of  the  American  Colonies  for  independence. 
Mr.  Ward  also  traces  his  ancestry  back  to  Gov.  Daniel  Tompkins  of  this  State.  Mr. 
Ward's  father  is  the  Rev.  Gilbert  Ward,  a  retired  and  honored  minister  of  the  Meth- 
odist church.  Mr,  Ward's  great-grandfather,  Nathan  Ward,  came  from  Westchester 
county  in  1797  and  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  town  of  Westerlo.  The 
Hon.  William  L.  Ward,  congressman  from  the  Westchester  District,  is  a  member  of 
the  same  family.  Mr.  Ward's  education  was  obtained  at  the  local  school  and  at  Fort 
Edward  Institute.  His  father  owned  large  landed  interests  in  Westerlo,  and  young 
Ward  remained  on  the  farm  for  several  years,  prosecuting  his  agricultural  work 
along  the  most  approved  lines.  He  had  erected  a  cider  mill  on  his  farm,  where  he 
also  had  a  productive  apple  orchard.  Mr.  Ward's  business  ability  could  not  be  con- 
fined to  his  native  town  and  with  his  clear  and  judicious  insight  into  the  future  he 
saw  that  a  splendid  opportunity  was  presented  for  a  cider  and  vinegar  factory  at 
Ravena,  formerly  Coeymans  Junction,  a  growing  and  enterprising  village  on  the 
West  Shore  Railroad  in  Albany  county.  He  removed  to  Ravena,  therefore,  and 
erected  an  extensive  plant;  which,  with  its  improvements  in  the  shape  of  modern 
machinery,  etc.,  is  one  of  the  largest  institutions  for  the  manufacture  of  pure  cider 
vinegar  in  the  United  States,  turning  out  50,000  barrels  each  year.  His  eldest  son, 
Gilbert  E.,  who  possesses  the  keen  business  instinct  of  his  father,  is  also  interested 
in  the  business.  Several  thousand  carloads  of  produce  also  are  shipped  yearly  by 
the  firm.  Mr.  Ward  married  Cecilia,  a  most  estimable  woman,  daughter  of  Dr.  John 
Keefer,  and  their  home  has  been  blessed  with  five  children:  Gilbert  E.,  John  H., 
Grace  L.,  Walter  K.,  and  Raymond;  a  happier  family  will  not  be  found  anywhere. 
Mr   Ward's  second  son,  John  H.,  who  has  not  yet  chosen  his  life  profession,  has  re- 


203 

cently  graduated  with  high  honors  at  Wesleyan  University.  Mr.  Ward  is  one  of  the 
best  known  and  popular  men  in  Albany  county  and  is  well  and  favorably  known 
throughout  Eastern  New  York.  He  is  what  is  called  a  big-hearted  man,  and  many 
are  the  deeds  of  charity  and  kindness  to  those  in  need  that  he  performs,  always, 
however,  without  ostentation.  From  the  time  he  cast  his  first  vote  Mr.  Ward,  as  a 
staunch  Republican,  always  has  taken  a  lively  interest  in  politics  and  in  every  con- 
test of  his  party  with  its  opponents  he  has  ever  been  found  doing  faithful  work  for 
Republican  success.  In  1882  he  was  the  nominee  of  his  party  for  member  of  con- 
gress in  a  hopeless  struggle  against  Democratic  fraud  at  the  polls.  Mr.  Ward  is  now 
a  candidate  for  the  appointment  as  collector  df  internal  revenue  for  the  Eastern 
New  York  District  at  the  hands  of  President  McKinley,  and  a  look  at  the  political 
horoscope  indicates  that  he  is  to  get  the  appointment,  which  will  be  a  reward  only 
in  part  for  his  party  services.  Mr.  Ward  possesses  rare  political  sagacity,  and 
with  his  ability  to  make  and  keep  friends  he  is  a  political  power  in  his  county. 
His  brother,  the  Hon.  Walter  E.  Ward,  who  is  an  ex-member  of  the  Assembly,  owes 
a  great  deal  of  his  political  success  to  the  unselfish  efforts  and  splendid  political  judg- 
ment of  his  brother.  Mr.  Ward  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  church,  to  whose  needs 
he  subscribes  liberally.  Public  spirited,  amiable,  and  upright  in  his  dealings  with 
his  fellows,  he  enjoys  the  esteem  and  respect  of  all  who  know  him. 

Pearsall,  G.  L.,  represents  one  of  the  younger  successful  business  men  of  Albany. 
While  but  comparatively  young,  he  has  established  a  business  that  extends  over  the 
larger  part  of  the  United  States  and  Canada,  and  enjoys  an  enviable  reputation 
among  not  only  the  business  men  of  Albany,  but  throughout  the  country.  Mr.  Pear- 
sall is  the  son  of  S.  W.  Pearsall  and  Synthia  E.  Pearsall,  and  was  born  at  Groomes 
Corners  Saratoga  county,  N.  Y.,  September  14,  1865.  His  father  was  the  inventor 
of  several  photographic  processes  connected  with  the  old  wet  plate  process,  and 
for  years  carried  on  a  successful  manufacturing  business  at  Groomes  Corners,  X.  Y. 
Mr.  G.  L.  Pearsall  came  to  Albany  in  1S86,  and  after  completing  his  education  at 
the  State  Normal  College,  entered  on  a  business  life,  the  success  of  which  has  few 
equals.  Until  1895  he  conducted  the  photographic  business  with  his  present  busi- 
ness of  supplying  the  photographic  trade  with  electric  light  enlargements,  bromide 
prints,  crayon,  pastels,  sepia  and  water  color  portraits,  also  frames,  and  conducts 
one  of  the  largest  concerns  of  the  kind  in  the  country.  His  factory  is  located  on 
Fulton  street.  In  1896  he  erected  a  handsome  villa  residence  on  Allen  street,  Pine 
Hills,  which  is  an  ornament  to  the  city.  In  1888  he  married  Miss  Jennie  Willard  of 
Albany,  and  they  have  three  children,  Marguerite,  Hazel  Estelle  and  Willard  Will- 
ard. He  is  a  member  of  Wadsworth  Lodge  No.  U7,  F.  &  A.  M.,  William  Lacy 
Lodge  No.  33,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  the  Albany  Press  Club,  the  Albany  County  Wheelmen 
and  Camera  Club,  is  active  in  politics  and  alive  to  all  that  will  benefit  and  promote 
the  business  interests  of  Albany. 

Stephens,  Peter  A.,  police  justice  of  Albany,  is  a  sou  of  John  and  Catharine  F. 
(Allen)  Stephens,  and  was  born  in  Albany,  March  1,  1856.  His  father,  who  was 
born  in  New  York  city  in  1829,  remained  here  with  his  parents  in  1845  and  resided 
here  till  his  death  in  September,  1888.  Judge  Stephens  was  educated  in  the  Albany 
public  schools  Free  Academy  (now  Albany  High  School),  read  law  with  Hiram  L. 
Washburn,  jr.,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Binghamton,  in  May,  1877,  when  he 


204 

began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  his  native  city,  where  he  has  always  resided. 
In  the  fall  of  1885  he  succeeded  John  A.  McCall,  jr.,  resigned  as  school  commis- 
sioner, and  in  the  following  spring  was  elected  for  a  full  term  of  three  years.  De- 
cember 31,  1889,  he  was  appointed  police  justice,  vice  Martin  D.  Conway  elected  sur- 
rogate, and  in  April,  1890,  and  1892,  and  November,  1895,  he  was  elected  to  this 
office  by  handsome  majorities.  He  is  an  able  lawyer,  a  skilled  parliamentarian  and 
a  great  lover  of  outdoor  sports.  His  wit  and  humor  are  among  his  chief  character- 
istics. He  is  a  member,  an  incorporator  and  ex-president  of  the  Empire  Curling 
Club,  and  a  prominent  member  of  the  Benevolent  Protective  Order  of  Elks  and 
other  fraternal  societies.  He  is  married  and  has  five  sons  and  one  daughter.  The 
family  of  Judge  Stephens  is  an  old  one  in  the  city  of  Albany,  his  paternal  grand- 
parents, James  Stephens  and  Elizabeth  (Devine)  Stephens,  who  were  married  in  the 
city  of  New  York  in  or  about  the  year  1815,  having  lived  and  died  here,  and  his  ma- 
ternal grandparents,  John  Allen  and  Mary  (Cary)  Allen,  having  been  married  in 
this  city  prior  to  1820  and  always  resided  here. 

Haverly.  William  J.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Knox,  July  5,  1849.  The  progenitor 
of  this  line  of  the  family  in  America  was  John  Haverly,  who  came  from  Wurtem- 
burg,  Germany,  in  or  about  1750,  and  settled  in  that  part  of  Berne  which  is  now 
Knox,  and  was  a  farmer.  He  had  four  sons,  Karl,  Jacob,  John,  jr.,  and  George. 
The  son  Jacob  was  the  great-grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  John  I.,  the 
grandfather,  was  born  in  Knox  in  1783,  where  he  followed  carpentry.  His  wife  was 
Marilla  (born  1797),  daughter  of  Henry  Deitz,  and  their  children  were  Cynthia  A., 
Elizabeth,  Jacob,  Eli  and  John  D.  He  died  December  2,  1866,  and  his  wife  August 
30,  1891.  John  D.  Haverly,  the  father,  was  born  in  Knox,  January  7,  1827,  and 
attended  the  common  district  school.  When  a  boy  he  worked  on  a  farm  by  the  day 
or  month;  subsequently  he  worked  at  carpentry  with  his  father,  and  also  learned 
the  shoemaker's  trade,  which  he  plied  winters.  When  about  thirty  years  old  he 
engaged  in  buying  and  butchering  cattle  and  selling  meat ;  this  he  followed  seven 
years,  when  he  bought  and  conducted  a  hotel  in  the  village  of  Berne,  which,  two 
years  later  he  traded  for  a  farm,  upon  which  the  house  had  been  destroyed  by  fire; 
he  rebuilt  the  house,  built  new  barns,  wagon  house  and  other  outbuildings.  In  1867 
he  disposed  of  the  farm  and  purchased  his  present  farm  of  170  acres  in  the  town  of 
Knox,  where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  His  wife  was  Sophia  E..  daughter  of  Adam 
and  granddaughter  of  Mathias  Shultes.  The  latter  was  the  progenitor  of  the  Shultes 
family  in  America  and  a  native  of  Holland.  Their  children  were  Willard  J.,  Isadore 
(who  died  when  five  years  old),  Rena  and  Nina.  William  J.  Haverly  has  spent  most 
of  his  life  on  the  farm,  engaged  for  many  years  with  his  father  in  the  breeding  of 
trotting  and  road  horses,  registered  stock.  They  are  the  owners  of  the  well  known 
stallion,  "Victor  Mohawk,"  whose  progeny  has  produced  such  satisfactory  roadsters. 
When  a  boy  Mr.  Haverly  attended  the  common  schools  and  two  terms  at  Knox 
Academy,  taught  school  when  seventeen  years  old,  and  later  attended  the  Albanv 
Normal  School,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  June,  1869.  He  was  then  engaged 
in  the  grocery  business  in  Albany  for  two  years,  afterwards  returning  to  his  father's 
farm,  in  which  he  took  an  interest,  and  followed  teaching  winters.  Since  1874  he 
has  been  a  dealer  in  farm  machinery,  and  since  1890  has  dealt  in  fertilizers.  Since 
1887  he  has  followed  teaching  winter  and  summer,  having  taught  in  all  twenty-nine 


205 

terms.  Mr.  Haverly  has  for  years  been  prominently  identified  with  the  Republican 
party,  has  filled  the  office  of  collector  for  the  town  of  Knox,  and  was  elected  in  ls7s 
to  represent  his  town  in  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  again  in  1882,  1891  and  1892, 
and  is  present  supervisor  of  Knox.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternitv,  Berne 
Lodge  Xo.  684,  and  was  for  a  number  of  years  an  Odd  Fellow,  until  the  lodge  was 
disbanded.  In  1888  he  married  Carrie  M.,  daughter  of  Theodore  Nauright,  a  native 
of  Xaurightville,  N.  J.,  and  their  children  are  Edwin  B.,  May,  Elmina  D.,  Theo- 
dora N.,  Nellie  L.,  Ann  A.  and  John  W. 

Capron,  William  J.,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Albany,  November  16,  1838.  He  was 
a  son  of  John  Capron,  who  was  born  in  Albany  in  1790.  He  was  one  of  two  children, 
Sarah  and  John,  born  to  William  Capron,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  who  was  a  farmer 
and  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  John,  the  father,  was  a  farmer  and  a  dairyman. 
He  spent  his  last  days  in  the  town  of  Watervliet.  His  wife  was  Sarah  Pangborn, 
daughter  of  George  Pangborn.  Their  children  were  Sarah,  wife  of  Robert  Harper, 
of  Albany;  John  P.,  Martha,  William  J.,  and  Mary.  He  died  in  1S49,  and  his  wife 
survived  him  until  1887.  When  twenty-one  years  of  age  William  J.  began  for  him- 
self as  a  farmer,  near  Guilderland  village,  which  he  followed  for  some  twelve  years, 
when  he  opened  a  grocery  store  in  Guilderland,  which  he  conducted  for  fifteen  years, 
and  in  addition  to  this  he  practiced  as  a  veterinarian.  He  later  disposed  of  his 
store  and  devoted  his  whole  time  as  a  veterinarian,  at  which  he  had  gained  a  wide 
reputation.  He  was  clerk  for  one  term,  justice  for  six  years,  and  was  overseer  of 
the  poor  for  many  years.  He  was  also  elected  constable  for  fourteen  consecutive 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  Wadsworth  Lodge  of  Albany,  and 
of  the  Knights  Chapter.  He  is  also  an  officer  of  the  Humane  Society  for  the  pre- 
vention of  cruelty  to  animals  and  children,  and  has  also  been  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Health  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  Co.  B,  10th  New  York  State 
Volunteers,  which  was  changed  to  177th,  and  was  discharged  after  three  months  on 
account  of  sickness.  In  1864  he  married  Margaret  Scott,  born  in  the  town  of  New 
Scotland,  and  daughter  of  Peter  Scott;  their  children  are  Alice  and  John  H.  The 
latter  is  a  telegraph  operator.  Mr.  Capron  has  served  his  town  as  deputy  sheriff, 
being  appointed  by  a  Democratic  sheriff,  which  is  much  to  his  credit, 

Merritt,  Mrs.  Magdalene  Isadore  La  Grange,  poet,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Guilder- 
land,  September  17,  1864,  at  Elmwood  Farm,  the  homestead  of  the  La  Grange  family, 
originally  De  La  Grange.  She  is  the  seventh  daughter  of  Myndret  La  Grange  and 
Julia  A.  La  Grange,  his  wife,  second  cousins,  both  descendants  of  Count  Johannes 
de  la  Grange,  a  French  Huguenot,  who  emigrated  from  La  Rochelle,  France,  1656, 
a  son  of  whom  settled  upon  the  tract  of  laud,  and  founded  the  homestead,  which 
has  since  descended  from  father  to  son,  and  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born.  At  the  early  age  of  eight  years  she  was  already  writing  verses,  which  were 
correct  in  rhyme.  Brought  up  in  a  home  of  wealth  and  refinement,  and  surrounded 
with  all  that  makes  life  desirable,  spending  much  of  her  life  out  of  doors  in  a  coun- 
try unsurpassed  for  its  beauty,  it  is  but  natural  that  her  work  should  partake  largely  of 
the  religious,  and  always  of  nature.  She  spent  three  years  studying  art  under  the 
tuition  of  Prof.  William  P.  Morgan  at  the  Albany  Female  Academy,  where  she  was 
educated.     When  but  sixteen   the  editor  of  a  daily  pa]  hearing  her  repeat 

some  of  her  verses,  requested  permission  to  publish   them,  which  was  given;  since 


206 

then  she  has  been  a  contributor  to  various  papers,  some  of  her  first  poems  having 
been  published  in  the  Brotherhood  of  Engineers'  Journal,  whose  editor  says  of  her 
poems:  "  They  are  of  the  highest  merit  and  worthy  to  be  placed  among  the  finest 
songs  of  the  day."  She  has  received  kindly  encouragement  from  distinguished 
sources,  and  says  the  sweetest  and  most  cherished  is  from  Mrs.  Frank  Leslie,  who 
was  the  first  stranger  to  recognize  her  with  words  of  praise.  She  is  a  fine  prose 
writer  and  is  an  occasional  contributor  to  the  Christian  Work  and  various  other 
papers,  with  short  stories  and  sketches.  In  1893  she  published  a  book  of  her  earlier 
poems,  'Songs  of  the  Helderberg,"  of  which  over  300  copies  were  sold  in  Albany 
countv  in  two  months.  She  is  one  of  the  poets  whose  biography  appears  in  "A 
Woman  of  the  Century."  January  31,  1894,  she  married  Aaron  Merritt,  of  Port 
Jervis,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Merritt  is  a  locomotive  engineer  on  the  West  Shore  Railroad,  a 
gentleman  of  the  highest  integrity,  who  stands  high  in  the  esteem  of  his  employers. 
Their  home  is  at  Oak  Knoll,  a  fifty-acre  farm  belonging  to  the  author,  situated  beau- 
tifully on  the  banks  of  the  Norman's  Kill.  Here  the  author  lives  quietly  and  hap- 
pily, herself  superintending  much  of  the  work  of  the  farm  and  the  care  of  her  five 
thoroughbred  Jerseys.  Entertaining  many  distinguished  people,  and  with  the  care 
of  her  family,  her  life  is  busy  and  useful. 

Lamoreaux,  Maus,  was  born  in  Coeymans  in  1864  and  is  the  son  of  William  J., 
grandson  of  Jarvis,  and  great-grandson  of  George,  whose  father,  James,  came  from 
Paris,  Prance,  and  settled  at  Indian  Fields.  In  1885  Mr.  Lamoreaux  married  Emma 
L.,  daughter  of  Henry  C.  Mosher,  and  settled  on  a  farm  near  Wemple,  where  he  is 
one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  the  town. 

Lansing,  Egbert  W.,  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  Cohoes,  is  a  represent- 
ative of  a  family  who  were  closely  identified  with  the  history  of  this  city  from  its 
earliest  period.  His  first  American  ancestor,  Gerrit  Lansing,  whose  death  occurred 
in  the  vicinity  of  Albany  prior  to  1679,  and  from  whom  he  is  sixth  in  descent,  came 
from  Holland.  The  residence  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Lansing  was  built  in  part  by 
his  great-grandfather,  Johannes  I.  Lansing,  about  1750.  Mr.  Lansing  was  born  in 
is:>>:>>,  and  was  educated  in  Albany  and  has  for  the  past  twenty  years  been  actively 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  business.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican,  and  was  one  of 
the  first  aldermen  of  his  native  city  in  1870.  His  wife  was  Helena,  daughter  of  1  low 
F.  Lansing  of  this  city,  whom  he  married  in  1860.  Both  are  connected  with  the 
Reformed  church. 

Orelup,  William  IL,  is  the  son  of  the  late  John  Orelup,  who  died  in  1892  at  the 
age  of  seventy  two  years.  He  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  in  Cohoes,  and  al- 
ways resided  here,  with  the  exception  of  fifteen  years  spent  in  Ballston  Spa,  as  an  axe 
manufacturer.  Here  he  was  a  contractor  in  the  manufacture  of  axes,  having  reached 
the  top  of  financial  success  by  the  results  of  his  own  labor  and  genius.  He  had  the 
courage  and  mental  strength  to  stand  firmly  by  the  principles  of  right.  William  H. 
was  born  here  in  1849,  where  his  grandfather,  William  Orelup,  settled  in  1830  as  a 
local  preacher.  His  mother,  who  is  still  living,  was  Eliza  Hitchcock;  her  only 
daughter,  Mrs.  Egbert  P.  Lansing,  is  now  living  in  New  York.  He  is  chiefly  inter- 
ested in  real  estate. 

Hall,   James,   B.    N.    S.,   (r.   s.),   A.   M..   M.    D.,   LL.L...   son  of    English    parents, 


207 

was  born  in  Hingham,  Mass.,  September  12,  1811.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  entered 
Rensselaer  School  at  Troy,  N.  Y.  (now  the  Rensselaer  Polytechnic  Institute) 
and  closely  followed  instruction  in  geology.  He  was  graduated  in  1832  and 
remained  in  the  school  as  assistant  professor  of  chemistry  and  natural  sciences  until 
1836,  when  he  was  made  professor  of  geology.  When  the  geological  survey  of  the 
State  of  New  York  was  organized  in  1836,  Professor  Hall  was  appointed  by  Gover- 
nor Marcy  assistant  to  the  geologist  in  charge  of  the  second  district,  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing year  he  was  made  State  geologist  in  charge  of  the  fourth  district.  In  1843, 
upon  the  resignation  of  Mr.  T.  A.  Conrad,  the  palaeontologist  of  the  survey,  Governor 
Bouck  appointed  Professor  Hall  to  take  charge  of  this  work.  He  made  investiga- 
tions outside  of  New  York  State,  and  it  was  due  to  them  that,  in  1855,  he  was  ap- 
pointed State  geologist  of  Iowa  and  in  1857  State  geologist  of  Wisconsin.  In  1855 
he  was  offered  by  Sir  W.  G.  Logan,  the  government  geologist  of  Canada  the  charge 
of  the  palaeontological  work  of  that  survey,  but  declined  the  position.  He  has  made- 
reports  at  various  times  for  explorations  and  surveys  conducted  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment, such  as  Fremont's  Exploring  Expedition  in  1845,  Stansbury  s  Expedition 
to  the  Great  Salt  Lake  in  1852,  Emory's  United  States  and  Mexican  Boundary  Sur- 
vey in  1857,  and  U.  S.  Geological  Exploration  of  the  Fortieth  Parallel  in  1877. 
In  1866  he  was  made  director  of  the  New  York  State  Museum  of  Natural  History, 
and  in  1893  was  re-commissioned  by  Governor  Flower  State  geologist  and  palaeontol- 
ogist, which  appointment  had  been  for  eleven  years  previous  in  the  control  of  the 
Regents  of  the  University  from  1882.  Professor  Hall  has  received  many  academic- 
degrees  and  titles  of  distinction;  Harvard,  Hamilton,  Union,  the  University  of  Mary- 
land, McGill  University,  Montreal  and  the  Rensselaer  Institute  have  conferred 
these.  He  has  been  president  of  the  American  Association  for  the  Advancement  of 
Science  and  of  Geological  Society  of  America  and  vice-president  of  the  Internationa] 
Congress  of  Geologists.  He  is  a  member  of  about  forty  scientific  societies,  in  nianv 
of  which  his  membership  is  honorary.  In  1858  he  received  the  Wollaston  medal 
from  the  Geological  Society  of  London;  in  1881  the  Ricordodi  Benemerenza  from  the 
International  Geological  Congress,  and  in  1882  the  Order  dci  Santi  Maurizio  Laz- 
zaro  from  the  King  of  Italy;  in  1884  the  Walker  prize  of  $1,000  from  the  Boston 
Society  of  Natural  History,  and  in  1890  the  Hayden  medal  from  the  Academy  of 
Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia.  Professor  Hall  is  the  author  of  hundreds  of  scien- 
tific papers. 

Tennant,  Albert  C,  is  the  great  great-grandson  of  James  Tennant,  who,  with  two 
brothers  came  from  England  to  Connecticut  about  1700.  His  parents  were  Thomas 
and  Dorcas  J.  (Briggs)  Tennant,  the  latter  being  a  granddaughter  of  Capt.  John 
Briggs  of  the  Revolutionary  army.  Mr.  Tennant  was  born  in  Willett,  Cortland 
county,  N.  Y.,  November  11,  1846,  was  educated  iu  the  district  schools  and  at  Cin- 
cinnatUS  Academy  and  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  State  Normal  School  in 
January,  1868.  He  read  law  in  Geneva,  N  Y.,  with  Hon.  W.  F.  Diefendorf  about 
three  years  and  afterward  with  Judge  Edwin  Countryman,  then  of  Cooperstown,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Albany  in  March.  1^;:;  lie  then  formed  a  copartner- 
ship with  Ibm.  James  S  Davenport  and  practiced  at  Richfield  Springs  until  January 
1.  1884,  when,  having  been  elected  surrogate  of  Otsego  county,  he  removed  to 
Cooperstown  and  at  the  end  of  a  full  term  of  six  years  was  re-elected  to  that  office, 


208 

being  the  only  Democrat  elected  in  that  county  that  year.  He  resigned  the  position 
May  1,  1894,  and  moved  to  Albany,  where  he  has  since  practiced  law  as  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Hale,  Bulkeley  &  Tennant.  In  1889  he  was  appointed  by  Governor 
Hill  a  member  of  the  commission  to  revise  the  judiciary  article  of  the  State  Constitu- 
tion. He  was  chairman  of  the -Democratic  Committee  of  Otsego  county  over  ten 
years,  has  been  a  delegate  to  several  State  conventions  and  in  1892  was  a  delegate 
from  New  York  to  the  National  Democratic  Convention  at  Chicago.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Richfield  Springs  Lodge  and  Chapter  of  Masons.  October  4,  1876,  he  married 
Lizzie  H.,  daughter  of  Hiram  Getman  of  Richfield  Springs,  and  they  have  one  son, 
Clermonte  G. 

J.  M.  Jones's  Sons,  builders  of  street  cars,  was  established  in  1839  in  its  present 
location.  Since  that  time  there  have  been  improvements  and  alterations  which  make 
the  works  far  different  than  those  which  were  from  time  to  time  built  to  increase  the 
capacity  of  the  concern,  or  to  take  the  place  of  the  structures  destroyed  by  fire  and 
worn  out  by  the  ravages  of  time.  It  is  about  half  a  century  since  the  first  street  car 
line  was  constructed  in  this  county,#and  only  since  then  has  the  Jones  works  been 
engaged  in  making  cars;  previous  to  that  they  made  family  wagons  and  stage 
coaches.  The  works  now  employ  nearly  300  men  in  nearly  every  branch  of  industry, 
and  the  capacity  of  the  plant  is  nearly  600  cars  a  year,  sixty  having  been  turned  out 
in  May  last,  the  calculation  being  to  complete  two  cars  every  working  day.  Jones' 
cars  may  be  found  in  nearly  every  city  in  the  country,  and  many  have  been  shipped 
to  foreign  lands. 

Bowe,  John,  son  of  Michael  and  Mary  (Purcell)  Bowe,  was  born  in  Albany  July  18, 
1847.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  the  Albany  Normal  College,  grad- 
uating from  the  latter  in  1878.  He  then  secured  a  position  in  the  State  Insurance 
Department  as  clerk,  where  he  remained  until  elected  treasurer  of  Albany  county  in 
the  fall  of  1890.  In  1878  he  was  elected  supervisor  of  the  Third  ward  of  Albany  and 
served  three  years.  In  1S88  he  was  elected  alderman  of  the  Third  ward  and  re- 
elected in  the  spring  of  1890,  serving  four  years  in  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  all  of 
which  time  he  was  its  president.  In  the  fall  of  1890  he  was  elected  treasurer  of  Al- 
bany county,  and  re-elected  in  the  fall  of  1893  and  served  until  his  term  expired 
on  December  31,  1896.  In  1863  he  enlisted  in  Co.  F,  176th  N.  Y.  Vols.,  and  served 
two  years  and  eight  months.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Union,  the  Dongan 
and  Press  Clubs,  and  Post  121,  G.  A.  R.  Mr.  Bowe  is  a  director  of  the  Albany  City 
National  Bank  and  a  trustee  of  the  Albany  City  Savings  Institution. 

Templeton,  Charles  B. ,  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  is  the  grandson  of  Philip  Temple- 
ton,  who  came  from  the  North  of  Ireland  to  Albany  about  1800.  His  parents  were 
John  and  Cecelia  (Payn)  Templeton,  of  whom  the  former  died  in  1890.  John  Temple- 
ton  was  treasurer  of  the  Albany  County  Savings  Bank  and  cashier  of  the  Albany 
County  Bank  and  organized  both  institutions.  He  held  various  corporation  offices, 
was  president  of  the  Young  Men's  Association  in  1863,  for  several  years  president  of 
the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and  a  trustee  in  a  number  of  charitable  and  religious  organizations. 
Charles  B.  Templeton  was  born  in  Albany,  October  28,  1864,  was  graduated  from 
the  Albany  Academy  in  1880  and  from  Union  College  in  1884,  receiving  the  degrees  of 
A.  B.  and  C.  E.,  and  read  law  with  Hungerford  &  Hotaling.  He  was  graduated 
from  the  Albany  Law  School  as  LL.  B.  arid  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1886,  and  since 


209 

then  has  been  associated  in  practice  with  Hon.  Lansing  Hotaling.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Albany  Institute,  the  Alpha  Delta  Phi  and  the  Fort  Orange  and  Uncondi- 
tional Republican  Clubs;  was  secretary  and  later  president  of  the  Young  Men's  As- 
sociation for  several  years ;  was  the  first  president  of  the  Theta  Nu  Epsilon  (soph- 
more)  College  fraternity ;  was  for  some  time  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Union 
College  Alumni  Association,  and  was  the  commandant  of  the  Unconditional  Cam- 
paign Club  in  1892.  He  was  the  Republican  candidate  for  district  attorney  in  1889, 
and  judge  of  the  City  Court  in  1892,  and  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  League 
of  the  Republican  Clubs  of  the  State,  having  been  for  several  years  a  member  of  the 
executive  committee,  representing  Albany  county.  November  14,  1894,  he  married 
Margaret  Elizabeth  Edwards  of  Albany. 

Knowles,  Charles  R.,  is  a  son  of  the  late  Rev.  Charles  J.  Knowles,  whose  father, 
Eli  Knowles,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Greenville,  Greene  county,  N.  Y.  and 
whose  wife,  Vina,  was  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  Sherrill,  another  pioneer  of  Greenville  ; 
her  brother,  Hon.  Eliakim  Sherrill,  was  a  member  ot  the  Thirteenth  Congress,  State 
senator  in  1854  and  a  colonel  in  the  Union  army;  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg. Mr.  Knowles  was  born  at  Riverhead,  Long  Island,  on  May  16,  1839.  His 
early  education  was' in  the  academies  at  Riverhead,  L.  I.,  and  Greenville,  N.  Y.,  the 
latter  being  one  of  the  foremost  academies  of  the  State.  It  was  here  Martin  Van 
Buren  and  Lyman  Tremaine  and  many  others  prominent  in  State  and  Nation  re- 
ceived their  early  education  ;  among  the  many  eminent  teachers  of  the  academy  was 
a  brother  of  the  late  Hon.  Amasa  J.  Parker,  uncle  of  the  editor  of  this  work.  Mr. 
Knowles  has  never  lost  his  interest  in  Greenville  or  its  material  prosperity;  he  owns 
the  old  Sherrill  homestead,  where  his  mother  was  born,  having  modernized  it  for  his 
summer  home.  He  is  the  president  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  academy-  His 
first  business  experience  was  as  a  clerk  in  his  uncle's  insurance  office,  in  Washington, 
Di  C,  where  he  spent  some  three  years;  from  Washington  he  entered  the  office  of 
his  cousin,  Judge  Knowles,  of  Potsdam,  St.  Lawrence  county,  as  a  law  student. 
Before  concluding  his  law  studies,  after  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  in  1861,  he  enlisted 
as  a  private  in  the  92d  Regt.,  N.  Y.  Yols. ,  organized  a  company  and  was  elected 
its  captain,  and  with  his  regiment  served  with  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  participating 
in  its  victories  and  defeats,  its  marches  and  countermarches  through  the  Peninsula 
campaign,  until  after  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  when  sickness  compelled  him  to  resign. 
With  returning  health  there  came  to  him  the  appointment  of  judge  advocate  of  the 
Mississippi  squadron,  with  rank  of  acting  master  on  the  staff  of  Rear  Admiral  Lee. 
At  the  close  of  the  war  he  settled  in  Albany,  became  general  agent  of  the  Commerce 
Insurance  Company,  and  in  1868  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  In  the  same  year  he  was 
appointed  manager  of  the  New  York  State  Department  <>\  the  Insurance  Company 
of  North  America,  and  Royal  of  Liverpool,  and  Pennsylvania  Fire  Insurance  Com- 
pany of  Philadelphia.  January  1,  1888,  the  Royal  Insurance  Company  decided  to 
unite  the  New  York  State  department  witli  the  Metropolitan  Department,  under 
the  management  of  E.  F.  Beddall,  which  left  Mr.  Knowles  with  the  management 
of  the  North  American  and  the  Pennsylvania  Fire  Insurance  Companies.  January 
1,  1896,  the  Philadelphia  Underwriters  was  added  to  the  list  of  his  companies.  A 
Republican  in  politics,  Mr.  Knowles  has  Keen  the  representative  of  his  party  in  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  and   State   Legislature,  as  well  as  a  popular  stump  speaker  in 


210 

many  a  hard  fought  contest  in  the  State.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Merchants'  National 
Bank,  a  trustee  of  the  Albany  City  Savings  Institution,  trustee  of  the  Emanuel  Baptist 
church,  acting  president  of  the  Fairview  Home  for  Friendless  Children,  vice-president 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  governor  of  the  Albany  City  Hospital,  a 
member  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club,  and  of  the  N.  Y.  Commandery  of  the  Loyal  Legion 
of  the  U.  S..  In  the  Assembly  he  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  commerce  and 
navigation,  and  in  that  capacity  was  largely  instrumental  in  saving  to  the  cities  of 
New  York  and  Brooklyn,  the  Brooklyn  Bridge,  the  charter  of  which  was  in  danger  of 
annulment.  In  1862  he  married  Elizabeth  F. ,  eldest  daughter  of  Hiram  Gilbert, 
of  Albany.  Their  living  children  are  four  daughters,  Jane  S.,  Margaret  B. ,  Elizabeth 
D.,  and  MaryG.,  all  of  whom  are  or  have  been  studentsof  St.  Agnes  School,  Albany, 
and  Smith  College,  Northampton,  Mass.,  and  one  son,  Charles  Piatt  Knowles,  a  grad- 
uate of  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of  New  York,  class  of  '96. 

Van  Rensselaer,  William  Bayard,  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  Killaen  Van  Rensse- 
laer, and  were  the  English  law  still  in  force  in  this  State,  would  be  the  ninth  patroon, 
or  Lord  of  the  Manor  of  Rensselaerwyck.  His  great-grandfather,  Stephen,  known 
as  "the  young  patroon,"  was  a  general  in  the  United  States  army,  lieutenant-gov- 
ernor of  New  York,  member  of  congress,  first  chancellor  of  the  Board  of  Regents, 
etc.,  etc.,  and  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Philip  J.  Schuyler.  General  Stephen's 
son,  also  Stephen,  1789-1868,  married  Harriet,  daughter  of  William  Bayard  and  had  a 
son,  Bayard  Van  Rensselaer,  whose  wife  was  Laura,  daughter  of  Marcus  T.  Reynolds. 
They  were  the  parents  of  W.  Bayard  and  Dr.  Howard  Van  Rensselaer  (see  sketch  of 
latter  for  further  genealogy).  W.  Bayard  Van  Rensselaer,  born  October  4,  1856, 
attended  the  Albany  State  Normal  School,  the  Boys'  Academy,  a  boarding  school  at 
Catskill  and  St.  Paul's  School  in  New  Hampshire  and  graduated  from  Harvard  College 
in  1879.  He  attended  Harvard  Law  School  one  year,  read  law  with  Marcus  T.  and 
Leonard  G.  Hun  in  Albany  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1882.  He  began  active 
practice,  but  the  death  of  Charles  Van  Zandt  in  1881  soon  placed  him  in  charge  of 
the  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer  estate.  In  1885  the  heirs  conveyed  their  interests  in  this 
property  to  the  Van  Rensselaer  Land  Company  of  which  he  has  since  been  treasurer 
and  general  manager.  He  is  a  director  in  the  Cohoes  Company  (incorporated  1823), 
which  supplies  all  the  factories  in  Cohoes  with  water  power;  and  is  also  a  director  in 
the  New  York  State  National  Bank,  a  trustee  of  the  Albany  Savings  Bank,  and  presi- 
dent of  Albany  Terminal  Warehouse  Co.,  a  foundation  member  of  the  Fort  Orange 
Club  and  a  member  of  the  University  and  Reform  Clubs  of  New  York  city.  In  1880 
he  married  Louisa  G.,  daughter  of  Professor  Lane  of  Harvard  University. 

Payn,  jr..  Samuel  Giles,  born  February  4,  1845,  in  Albany,  is  a  son  of  Samuel 
Giles,  sr.,  who  was  born  in  Fort  Miller,  Washington  county,  N.  Y.,  December  22, 
1815,  who  married  Sarah  Goodrich  Noble  of  New  York  city  in  1839,  who  was  born  in 
New  York  city  December  30,  1817,  and  who  died  in  Albany  July  8,  1854;  she  was  a 
descendant  through  her  mother  of  the  French  Huguenot  family  of  Emars,  who  early 
came  to  this  country.  Samuel  Giles,  sr. ,  was  for  many  years  a  prominent  business 
man  of  Albany,  being  engaged  in  the  flour  and  grain  trade  on  lower  Broadway.  He 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Young  Men's  Association  and  the  Board  of  Trade 
of  Albany,  of  which  latter  he  was  an  early  president.  Their  surviving  children  are 
John  Goodrich,  George  Alexander,  Samuel  Giles,  jr.,   Cornelius  Noble,   Sarah  Jane 


•ill 

and  Frederick  Amar  (Emar);  by  his  second  wife  he  had  one  daughter,  Catherine. 
Benjamin  Hawley  Payn,  father  of  Samuel  G.  Payn,  sr.,  who  was  born  in  Fort  Miller, 
Washington  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1783,  was  a  son  of  Noah,  who  took  an  active  part  fn 
the  struggle  for  American  Independence.  Noah  Payn  was  born  in  Pomfret,  Conn., 
November  24,  1729,  and  settled  in  Fort  Miller  in  17(56;  he  was  the  only  son  of  Stephen 
Pain  3d,  born  June  21,  1699,  in  Pomfret,  Conn.,  who  was  the  seventh  son  of  Samuel 
Paine  of  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  who  was  born  May  12,  1662,  he  being  the  fifth  son  of 
Stephen  Paine  2d,  born  in  Norfolk,  England,  in  1629,  and  who  came  to  New  England 
with  his  father  when  about  nine  years  of  age.  He  was  the  first  son  of  Stephen 
Paine,  sr.,  who  came  from  Great  Ellingham  near  Hingham,  Norfolk  county,  Eng- 
land, in  the  year  1638,  in  the  ship  Diligent  of  Ipswich,  John  Martin,  master,  bringing 
his  family  consisting  of  his  wife  Rose,  three  sons  and  four  servants.  He  settled  first 
in  Hingham,  Mass.,  but  removed  to  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  in  1644.  From  him  many  of 
the  Payn,  Pain,  and  Paine  families  of  America  trace  their  descent,  all  being  from 
one  common  ancestry.  Stephen  3d  dropped  the  final  c  of  his  name,  and  Noah  changed 
the  /to y;  there  are  many  of  this  family,  cousins  of  Samuel  G..  jr.,  who  add  a  final 
e  to  Payn.  Stephen  Paine  1st  was  undoubtedly  a  descendant  of  the  only  Paine  of 
the  time  of  William  the  Conqueror,  who  was  enumerated  or  mentioned  in  the  Domes- 
bay  Book,  the  great  Survey  or  first  Census  of  England,  taken  after  the  conquest  by 
order  of  King  William  in  1086,  a  copy  of  which  is  owned  by  the  Boston  Public 
Library.  Samuel  Giles  Payn,  jr.,  attended  the  Albany  Boys'  Academy  and  Sand 
Lake  Collegiate  Institute.  September  4,  1861,  he  enlisted  as  a  sharpshooter  in  Capt. 
Elijah  Hobart's  Company  of  Berdan's  2d  Regiment  U.  S.  Sharpshooters.  Governor 
Morgan,  fearing  that  as  U.  S.  troops  they  would  not  be  credited  to  X.  Y.  State's 
quota,  forced  the  company  into  the  93d  Regt.  N.  Y.  Vols.,  as  Co.  B.  He  was  with 
the  regiment  continually  except  two  weeks  in  hospital  at  Newport  News,  Ya. ,  six 
weeks  on  detached  service  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  after  that  battle,  and  during  his  thirty 
days'  veteran  furlough,  from  his  enlistment  until  he  received  the  wound  that  inca- 
pacitated him  from  further  active  service,  and  from  which  he  still  suffers.  His  reg- 
iment participated  in  all  the  campaigns  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  from  its  forma- 
tion to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  engaged  in  the  battles'of  Yorktown,  Williams 
burgh,  Fair  Oaks,  Fredericksburgh,  Mine  Run,  Wilderness,  Po  River.  Spottsylvania 
Court  House  and  North  Anna  River,  Ya.,  and  Gettysburg,  Pa.  While  carrying  the 
colors  of  his  regiment  in  the  charge  of  its  brigade  at  North  Anna  River,  Va.,  May 
23,  1864,  he  was  severely  wounded  in  the  left  leg  just  below  the  knee.  Shortly  after- 
wards he  was  commissioned  second  lieutenant  for  his  conduct  on  the  battlefield, 
being  promoted  over  all  the  mm  commissioned  officers  of  the  regiment.  He  was 
mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the  war  on  July  28,  1865,  while  still  suffering  severely 
from  his  wound,  having  served  almost  four  years.  In  1867  he  engaged  with  his 
brother  Cornelius  in  the  prepared  Hour  business ;  in  1869  began  the  study  of  art  with 
Prof.  Alexander  Francois  of  Albany.  Later  he  opened  a  studio  for  pastel  and 
crayon  portraiture,  being  the  first  artist  in  Albany  to  make  life  size  crayon  portraits; 
afterwards  he  added  the  solar  printing  and  enlarging  process,  and  still  later  the 
electric  light  and  platinum  process,  and  continued  in  this  business  until  1894.  Hi 
then  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  magnetic  garments  and  appliances  at  611  Broad- 
way, Albany,  N.  Y.,  under  the  name  of  "  Suttonia"  Magnetic  Co.  These  consist  of 
magnetic  jackets,  belts,  leggins,  shields,  insoles,  etc.,  for  the  cure  of   lung  troubles, 


212 

rheumatism,  heart  troubles,  cold  feet  and  cramp  in  limbs,  etc.  He  is  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  William  A.  Jackson  Post  No.  644,  Department  New  York  G.  A.  R.,  and  has 
resided  in  Bath-on-Hudson  since  1873.  February  14,  1871,  he  married  Isabella 
Laing  Hutton  of  Schuylerville,  N.  Y.,  a  daughter  of  John  Hutton  of  that  place,  who 
was  born  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  August  8,  1812,  who  was  a  son  of  David  Hutton, 
a  merchant  tailor  of  that  place.  John  Hutton,  her  father,  served  during  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion  in  the  125th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Vols.,  that  went  from  Troy,  N.  Y.  He  was 
discharged  for  disability  after  serving  almost  two  years.  They  have  had  three  chil- 
eren:  Anna  Goodrich  and  Albert  Pond  Payn,  both  deceased,  and  Samuel  Giles  3d, 
born  at  Bath  on-Hudson,  August  27,  1878. 

Robinson,  James  A.,  son  of  Albert  S.  and  Anna  M.  (Preston)  Robinson,  was  born 
in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  in  1862.  He  moved  to  Albany  with  his  parents  in  the  early  sev- 
enties, and  attended  the  public  and  high  schools  and  the  Albany  Academy.  He 
afterward  became  a  student  in  the  law  office  of  Clifford  D.  Gregory  and  remained 
there  five  years,  in  the  mean  time  being  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  subsequently  be- 
came connected  with  the  Hon.  Robert  G.  Scherer  and  remained  with  him  three  years. 
Since  then  Mr.  Robinson  has  practiced  law  at  No.  68  State  street.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men  and  Capital  City  Lodge  No.  440,  I.  O.  O.  F.  In 
1893  he  married  Genevieve  Bigelow  of  Albany. 

Taylor,  Robert  B.,  was  born  in  New  Scotland,  March  10,  1829.  Robert,  his  grand- 
father, was  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  in  1758  and  came  to  America  when  a  young 
man  and  spent  his  life  as  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland;  his  wife  was  Eva 
Ann  Hotaling,  born  in  1762;  they  reared  four  sons  and  five  daughters.  John  Tay- 
lor, the  father,  was  born  on  the  homestead  in  1790,  and  spent  his  life  in  agricultural 
pursuits;  his  wife  was  Christiana,  daughter  of  Rev.  Harmon  and  Rachel  (Bogart) 
Van  Huysen;  to  them  were  born  ten  children:  James,  Mary  J.,  Rachel,  Harriet, 
Sarah,  John  V.,  Robert,  Eva  Ann,  Eliza,  and  Catharine;  he  died  in  1850.  His  wife 
.  was  born  in  August,  1794,  and  lived  to  be  eighty-six  years  of  age.  Her  father,  the 
Rev.  Harmon  Van  Huysen,  son  of  Harmon,  a  native  of  Holland,  was  a  Revolu- 
tionary soldier,  who  ranked  as  captain,  and  after  the  war  settled  in  New  Scotland  on 
the  farm  now  owned  by  his  grandson,  Robert  B.  Taylor;  it  being  the  donation  of 
his  friends  in  that  vicinity,  each  contributing  ten  acres.  He  entered  the  pulpit  and 
was  the  founder  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  church  in  Guilderland  and  New  Scotland. 
It  was  known  as  the  Helderberg  Reformed  Church.  He  had  three  congregations 
and  preached  for  thirty-one  consecutive  years.  Robert  B.  lived  on  his  father's  farm 
and  attended  the  common  schools.  When  twenty-one  years  old  his  father  died,  and 
the  following  year  he  began  for  himself  on  the  same  place  where  he  erected  his 
present  sightly  house.  In  1853  he  married  Elizabeth  (born  in  New  Scotland),  the 
daughter  of  Peter  R.  and  Mary  (Ostrander)  Furbeck,  and  granddaughter  of  John 
Furbeck,of  Germany,  who  was  a  prominent  Revolutionary  soldier  in  Washington's 
army.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor  were  born  five  children:  Alfred  J.,  John  B.,  and 
Rensselaer,  all  of  whom  are  farmers  in  this  town ;  and  Mary  Anna,  died  when  she 
was  eighteen  years  old,  and  Ellen,  died  when  she  was  sixteen  years  old. 

Court,  Charles,  was  born  in  Coeymans  in  1860,  and  is  a  son  of  Edward,  who  came 
from  England  and  settled  at  Aquetuck  in  about  1856,  where  he  built  a  wagon  shop 
and  carried  on  business  until  his  death.     Mr.    Court,    after  attending  the   district 


•ii:; 


school,  went  to  the  State  Normal  School  at  Albany,  where  he  was  graduated,  and  has 
been  a  teacher  for  several  winters.  In  1882  he  bought  the  store  at  Aquetuck,  which 
he  has  since  carried  on,  and  since  1892  he  has  been  postmaster.  He  married  Griffina, 
daughter  of  Isaac  Tompkins,  by  whom  two  sons  and  one  daughter  have  been  born: 
Jesse,  Paul,  Helen. 

Crannell,  Monroe. — Standing  on  the  sidewalk  on  Broadway,  New  York,  one  may 
look  through  the  picket  fence  that  surrounds  Trinity  church-yard,  and  read  on  a 
tomb  stone  near  the  inscription  marking  the  burial  place  of  Robert  Crannell  and 
Molly  Winslow,  his  wife.  From  this  English  stock  down  through  several  genera- 
tions of  ancestors  of  Huguenot  and  Dutch  blood,  Monroe  Crannell  was  born  in  the 
city  of  Albany.  He  was  educated  at  the  Classical  Institute,  and  at  the  Albany 
Academy,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Law  School  before  he  attained  his 
majority.  He  continued  his  studies  in  the  law  office  of  Judge  Wolford  and  the  Hon. 
Worthington  Frothingham,  until  he  was  admitted  to  the  Albany  county  bar.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Albany  Zouave  Cadets,  and  served  his  full  enlistment  with 
this  famous  military  organization.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican,  and  at  various 
times  was  importuned  to  accept  nominations  for  public  office;  these  overtures  were 
always  firmly  declined.  Yet,  while  refusing  to  act  in  an  official  capacity,  Mr.  Cran- 
nell labored  earnestly  and  intelligently  for  all  measures  having  for  their  purpose  the 
improvement  of  the  city  of  Albany.  He  was  one  of  the  projectors  of  the  Hawk 
street  viaduct,  and  when  others  lost  courage,  and  sank  into  apathy  at  the  seeming 
indifference  of  the  citizens  of  Albany  to  the  proposed  improvement,  or  were  silenced 
by  the  bitter  attacks  of  those  opposed  to  it,  Mr.  Crannell  never  faltered  or  wavered. 
He  worked  for  three  years  combating  wrong  impressions,  and  forcing  his  views  on 
the  Legislature  through  representative  speakers,  until  in  June,  1888,  he  won  his 
cause,  and  secured  for  the  city  what  has  proven  to  be  one  of  the  most  appreciated 
improvements  ever  accomplished  by  Albanians.  In  testimony  of  his  untiring  efforts 
he  was  presented  with  a  valuable  watch  and  chain  by  grateful  citizens,  among 
whom  were  many  of  those  who  had  opposed  the  construction  of  the  viaduct.  Mr. 
Crannell  never  married.  He  made  his  home  with  his  brother,  Mr.  \Y.  Winslow 
Crannell  of  Albany.      He  died  suddenly  April  2(5,  1893. 

Slingerland,  Cornelius,  was  born  September  15,  1839,  in  the  house  erected  by 
Tunis  Slingerland,  his  great-great-grandfather,  in  1762.  The  first  of  the  family  in 
America  was  Tunis  Cornelius  Slingerland,  born  in  Amsterdam,  Holland.  April  7, 
1017,  and  came  to  America  in  1051).  In  1652  he  purchased  a  tract  of  land  lying  east 
of  the  present  Chapel  street  in  Albany,  and  in  1665,  with  his  brother-in-law,  Jo- 
hannes Apple,  bought  of  the  Indians  8,000  acres  of  land  east  of  the  Helderberg 
mountains,  which  comprised  a  portion  of  the  present  towns  of  New  Scotland  and 
Bethlehem;  in  1684  this  purchase  was  confirmed  by  Governor  Dongan.  Of  this  tract 
he  retained  2,000  acres,  the  remainder  going  to  the  Van  Rensselaers.  His  wife  was 
Engeltie  Albertsie  Bradt,  and  their  children  who  reached  maturity  were  Arent,  Al- 
bert, Cornelius  and  Elizabeth.  Cornelius  was  born  June  7,  1670,  and  married  Eva 
Mebie,  May  28,  1690;  of  his  children  one  was  Tunis  Cornelius,  above  mentioned,  born 
March  1,  1722;  he  spent  his  lifeclearing  and  improving  the  land,  and  the  brick  house 
he  erected  in  1702  is  still  standing  in  excellent  preservation  ;  he  reared  four  sons:  John, 
Cornelius,  Peter  and  Henrv,  of  whom  Peter  was  the  grandfather  of  the  subjeel  and  was 


214 

born  February  5,  1759.  He  was  an  energetic  man,  built  and  operated  mills  and  con- 
verted the  timber  on  his  land  into  lumber;  his  wife  was  Gertrude  Bloomingdale ; 
their  children  were  Maus  and  Agnes;  he  died  in  1847,  in  his  eighty-ninth  year. 
Maus,  the  father  of  the  subject,  was  born  March  7,  1806;  he  owned  700  acres  of  land 
and  the  saw  and  grist  mills  built  by  his  father;  he  was  public  spirited  and  active  in 
the  welfare  of  his  town.  He  married  Susanna,  daughter  of  William  Sayer  of  New 
Scotland,  and  had  four  sons  and  four  daughters.  His  wife  died  in  1856,  and  he  died 
July  7,  1892.  Cornelius  Slingerland,  the  subject  of  this  record,  has  spent  his  life  on 
the  homestead ;  he  has  between  250  and  300  acres,  on  which  he  has  made  many  im- 
provements in  the  way  of  buildings,  etc.,  having  the  best  barn  in  the  town.  He  has 
recently  bought  the  saw  mill  property  adjoining  his  farm,  consisting  of  thirty  seven 
acres,  with  two  good  houses,  barns,  etc.  Aside  from  his  farm  interests  he  is  con- 
nected with  other  business  enterprises.  He  is  one  of  the  original  promoters  and 
now  president  of  the  Clarksville  Telephone  Company.  Politically  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican and  declined  the  nomination  by  that  party  for  sheriff.  He  married,  Septem- 
ber 9,  1863,  Anna,  daughter  of  Garrett  and  Eve  (Van  Derzee)  Hotaling  of  Bethle- 
hem. They  have  two  children:  Mrs.  Susie  Shear  and  Evelyn  C.  Mrs.  Shear  has 
one  son,  Cornelius  Slingerland.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Slingerland  are  members  of  the  Re- 
formed church,  in  which  he  has  been  deacon  and  elder  for  several  years.  Mrs.  Sling- 
erland is  a  member  of  the  Ladies'  Missionary  Society. 

Hurst,  David  T.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Knox,  March  10,  1851.  Francis  Hurst, 
his  great-grandfather,  was  a  native  of  England.  Francis,  his  grandfather,  ■  was 
born  in  England  about  1787.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  Albany  and  moved  to  the 
town  of  Knox  where  his  father  had  provided  him  with  a  farm  of  150  acres  of  land. 
His  wife  was  Magdalene  Keenholts,  and  they  reared  three  sons  and  seven  daugh- 
ters. He  died  when  eighty-five  years  old  and  his  wife  died  at  about  the  same  age. 
Robert,  his  father,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Knox,  March  20,  1825,  and  when  a  small 
boy  went  and  lived  among  his  relatives,  with  whom  he  grew  up  and  worked  for 
until  twenty-six  years  of  age.  He  then  bought  his  father's  homestead,  where  he 
lived  for  three  years.  He  sold  the  farm  and  removed  to  New  Scotland,  where  he 
lived  some  thirty-seven  years.  In  1887  he  retired  from  his  farm  to  the  village  of 
Altamont,  where  he  purchased  an  acre  of  land  and  erected  a  nice  residence.  In 
1850  he  married  Mary  Ann  Mathies,  a  native  of  New  Scotland,  and  daughter 
of  Henry  Mathies.  Their  children  were  Margaret,  Ida,  David  T.,  Walter,  Al- 
verenns.  Frank,  and  Ira  and  Luella,  deceased.  David  T.  moved  on  his  father's 
farm  in  1872,  and  worked  it  on  shares  until  1880,  when  he  purchased  it.  To 
this  he  added,  in  1893,  another  farm  of  seventy-three  acres,  and  here  Mr.  Hurst  has 
done  general  farming.  He  is  also  a  heavy  fruit  grower,  having  a  fine  large  apple 
orchard.  In  1872  he  was  married  to  Louisa  M.,  daughter  of  George  I,  and  Anna 
Reid,  of  New  Scotland.  Their  children  are  Carrie  G.,  Verner  R.,  Lulu  S.  and 
George  I. 

Greene,  Lindsey,  is  the  son  of  Anson,  and  the  grandson  of  Daniel,  whose  father, 
William  Greene,  came  from  Connecticut  to  Coeymans  about  1788  and  settled  in 
Coeymans  Hollow.  He  had  four  sons:  William,  Russell,  David  and  Anson.  Anson 
Greene  was  for  many  years  a  merchant;  he  died  in  1893  leaving  two  sons,  Stanley 
and  Lindsey,    who   still    carry  on   the  store  where    their  father  did    business.     In 


215 

1886  they  bought  the  paper  mills  at  Alcove,  where  they  continued  until  1891  when 
they  were  destroyed  by  fire.  Mr.  Lindsey  studied  law  at  the  Albany  Law  School, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1880,  after  which  he  practiced  for  some  years  at  Ra- 
vena,  and,  though  now  devoting  most  of  his  time  to  the  mercantile  business,  lias 
some  law  practice. 

Abrams,  Augustus  C,  was  born  in  Rensselaerville  in  18  I '-'.  I  It-  is  the  son  of  Elijah, 
who  was  born  in  Greenville,  Greene  county,  in  1*08,  being  one  of  four  sons  and  four 
daughters  born  to  Benjamin,  formerly  a  farmer  in  Long  Island,  who  removed  to  and 
settled  in  the  town  of  Rensselaerville,  where  he  spent  his  last  days.  Elijah,  the 
father,  was  a  farmer  and  came  to  Guilderland  in  1868*  where  he  was  successful, 
He  was  a  man  of  many  peculiarities  but  well  liked.  His  wife  was  Thankful  Bouton, 
daughter  of  David  Bouton,  by  whom  he  had  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  four  of 
whom  are  now  living.  Augustus  C.  remained  with  his  parents  until  he  became  of 
age,  when  he  went  to  California  via  the  Panama  route,  where  he  remained  for  five 
years;  he  interested  himself  in  the  mines,  meeting  with  fair  success.  He  returned 
by  request  of  his  father  in  1868.  In  1870  father  and  son  purchased  a  dairy  farm  of 
180  acres  in  Guilderland,  and  farmed  it  together,  selling  milk  in  Albany  city  until 
1889,  when  Augustus  bought  the  father  out.  They  had  added  fifty  acres  to  the 
place  and  made  many  improvements,  erecting  a  fine  house  which  has  since  been  re- 
modeled. The  father  lived  mostly  with  Augustus  until  his  death  in  1891,  and  was 
buried  from  the  old  homestead  by  special  request;  his  wife  died  in  18S4.  Augustus 
is  a  thorough,  practical  farmer.  In  1869  he  united  with  the  M.  E.  church;  has  been 
a  class  leader  ever  since,  also  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  for  fourteen 
years  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  since  1864;  also  of  the  I.  O. 
G.  T.  Was  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance  when  seventeen  years  of  age.  In 
1871  he  married  Anna  E.  Herrick,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Nancy  J.  Herrick, 
who  died  in  1892,  leaving  two  children,  Lilly  M.  and  Charles  E.,  who  are  at  home; 
Charles  is  engaged  in  the  poultry  and  broiler  business.  His  second  wife  is  Anna 
Wise,  daughter  of  Martin  Wise.  They  have  two  children,  Jessie  I.  and  Ethel  M. 
After  many  years  of  the  closest  and  most  friendly  and  affectionate  relationship  be- 
tween father  and  son,  which  lasted  until  the  dying  day  of  the  father,  strange  to  say, 
Mr.  Abrams,  through  some  unfortunate  mistake  was  left  entirely  out  of  his  father's 
will. 

Thornton,  George  and  Theron  T.,  of  Guilderland,  are  natives  of  Duanesburg, 
Schenectady  county,  N.  V.  Their  paternal  grandfather  was  Thomas  Thornton,  who 
married  Betsey  Richardson,  both  born  in  Londonderry,  N.  11.  ;  Thomas  was  a  brother 
of  Dr.  Matthew  Thornton,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence, 
and  also  of  Major  John  Thornton  of  Schenectady.  Their  maternal  grandparents 
were  Joseph  and  Lydia  (Thompson)  Gaige.  Their  father  was  Charles  Thornton, 
born  in  Duanesburg  in  17!)7,  where  he  was  a  lifelong  farmer.  In  1854  he  moved  to 
the  Merrylield  farm  and  purchased  it  in  lN."if;;  this  farm  is  now  owned  and  opi 
by  George  and  Theron  T.  In  1822  he  married  Alinira  Gaige,  who  bore  him  seven 
children,  as  follows:  George,  Lydia,  Maria  L.,  Theron  T.,  Euretta.  Charles  W.  and 
Amanda.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thornton  were  both  members  of  the  I  Mitch  Reformed  church, 
though  Mrs.  Thornton  always  retained  a  love  for  the  Quaker  religion,  the  faith  of 
her  ancestors.     She  died  September  12,   l^is,  and  he  November  6.  1880,     The  Thorn- 


216 

ton  Brothers  are  conducting  a  general  farming  business  on  the  homestead.  Both 
are  staunch  and  ardent  Democrats  and  thoroughly  interested  in  the  public  affairs  of 
their  town  and  county.  Have  been  elected  delegates  to  county,  assembly  and  judicial 
conventions  and  have  the  reputation  of  being  true,  fair  and  impartial  jurymen. 
George  has  remained  unmarried,  and  Theron  T.  married  Susan  M.  Lainhart ;  they 
have  one  child,  Amey  L. 

Chesebro,  Thaddeus,  son  of  William  Chesebro,  was  born  in  the  village  of  Guilder- 
land  Center  in  1832.  Elijah,  his  grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Stonington,  Conn., 
born  in  1759,  and  was  of  Welsh  ancestry.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Knox,  Albany,  county,  in  1789.  He  was  married  the 
same  year  to  Thankful  Williams,  who  was  born  in  1769,  and  also  of  Welsh  ancestry. 
They  had  nine  children:  Eunice,  who  died  when  ten  years  of  age;  Hannah,  Elijah, 
Jane,  Mary,  Lucy,  Williams,  Esther,  and  Sarah  Ann.  He  died  May  6,  1808,  and  his 
wife  died  May  22,  1858.  Their  son  Elijah  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812  and  died 
in  1860.  Williams,  the  father  of  Thaddeus,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Knox,  July  22, 
1802.  He  began  life  for  himself  when  twenty-four  years  of  age.  He  became  a  black- 
smith by  trade  and  about  1826  moved  to  the  village  of  Guilderland  Center  and  pur- 
chased a  blacksmith  shop  and  carried  on  business  there  until  1836,  when  he  sold  out 
his  shop  and  purchased  100  acres  of  heavy  timber  land,  which  now  comprises  the 
farm  of  Thaddeus  Chesebro.  His  wife  was  Roxana  Chapman,  daughter  of  Jonas 
and  Susan  Chapman  of  Knox.  The  children  are  Thaddeus,  Sarah,  Esther,  Mary, 
Jesse  and  Charles.  He  died  in  1877  and  his  wife  died  in  1881  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
nine.  Thaddeus  received  a  common  school  education,  and  at  the  age  of  twelve  his 
father  set  him  to  hauling  cord  wood  and  produce  to  the  city  of  Albany.  At  this 
pursuit  he  continued  until  he  grew  into  manhood.  Several  years  before  the  death  of 
his  father  he  assumed  full  control  of  the  farm  business.  Since  then  he  has  added  to 
his  estate  forty  acres  of  woodland  and  erected  a  large  wagon  house  and  barns.  For 
some  years  past  he  has  given  considerable  attention  to  dairying  and  possesses  an  ex- 
cellent lot  of  grade  Jersey  cows.  In  1856  he  married  Miss  Gertrude,  daughter  of 
Wendell  Vine,  who  was  a  prominent  man  in  Guilderland,  where  he  was  supervisor. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chesebro  have  two  children:  Mrs.  Edna  Graffers  of  Newtonville  and 
Mrs.  Carrie  Goodrich  of  Pasadena,  Cal. 

Fearey,  Joseph,  &  Son. — Thomas  and  Joseph  Fearey,  natives  of  England,  engaged 
in  the  retail  boot  and  shoe  business  in  Albany  in  1844  and  continued  together  until 
1865,  when  Thomas  and  his  two  sons,  George  D.  and  Thomas  H.,  established  a  shoe 
manufactory.  Joseph  Fearey  continued  the  retail  business  alone  and  soon  ad- 
mitted his  son  William  H.  as  a  partner,  under  the  firm  name  of  Joseph  Fearey  & 
Son,  which  has  ever  since  remained  unchanged.  Joseph  Fearey  died  in  1890,  and 
his  son,  in  January,  1895,  and  since  then  the  business  has  been  carried  on  by  Mrs. 
William  H.  Fearey,  with  William  T.  McMullan  as  manager.  The  latter  has  been 
with  the  house  since  1871,  and  in  1882  was  promoted  to  his  present  position.  The 
firm  has  two  large  stores  in  Albany  and  one  in  Troy,  the  latter  being  opened  in 
1894. 

Terry,  Washington  C,  was  born  in  Coeymans,  and  is  a  son  of  Francis  and  Bar- 
bara (Car-hart)  Terry,  and  grandson  of  John  and  great-grandson  of  Philip,  whose 
father  was  George  Terry,  who  came  from  Rhode  Island  to  Coeymans  and  settled 


217 

near  Coeymans,  and  was  mostly  engaged  in  farming.  Mr.  Terry  is  a  farmer  on 
the  farm  where  his  father  settled  in  1847,  and  where  he  died  in  1869.  He  married 
Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  Daniel  Carhart. 

Van  Allen,  Richard  B.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Bethlehem.  Albany  county,  in 
1842.  John  Van  Allen,  the  great-grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Holland.  John,  the 
grandfather,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Bethlehem  in  1786,  and  was  a  practical  and 
successful  farmer.  His  wife  was  Anna  Elmandorth,  who  was  born  in  Kinderhook, 
a  daughter  of  Jacob  Elmandorth.  They  reared  nine  children:  John,  Samuel,  Gar- 
rett, Philip,  Jane,  Catherine,  Maria,  Kaziah  and  Julia.  He  died  in  1863  and  his 
wife  died  several  years  before.  Samuel,  the  father  of  Richard  B.,  is  a  native  of 
Bethlehem,  born  September  2,  1815.  He  received  a  common  school  education  and 
remained  on  his  father's  farm  until  twenty-two  years  of  age,  when  he  married  and 
began  for  himself  on  a  rented  farm.  He  later  purchased  one-half  of  his  father's  199 
acres,  on  which  he  resided  until  1875,  when  he  removed  to  Guilderland,  bought  a  lot 
and  erected  a  residence  at  Fuller's  Station.  Soon  after  he  came  into  possession  of 
the  general  store  at  that  place,  which  he  conducted  for  fourteen  years.  In  1890  he 
was  succeeded  in  business  by  his  son  Richard  and  his  brother-in-law.  He  has  since 
led  a  retired  life.  While  in  the  town  of  Bethlehem  he  was  elected  school  commis- 
sioner and  was  trustee  of  the  district  school  for  fifteen  years.  In  1836  he  married 
Elizabeth  Becker,  who  was  born  in  Bethlehem  in  1813,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Rich- 
ard and  Catherine  (Snyder)  Becker.  Their  children  are  John,  Richard,  Ira  and 
George.  His  wife  died  in  1867.  The  past  few  years  his  children  have  quietly 
brought  about  a  reunion  at  his  residence,  greatly  to  the  surprise  and  delight  of  their 
aged  parents.  Richard  B.  worked  on  his  father's  farm  and  attended  the  common 
schools,  but  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  left  home  and  engaged  as  mechanic  in  the 
steel  works  of  Troy,  and  later  spent  a  time  at  farming,  and  from  1879  to  1883  he 
was  in  the  produce  business  in  Albany.  In  1883  he  removed  to  Fuller's  Station, 
where  he  assisted  his  father  in  his  store.  In  1890  he,  with  his  brother-in-law,  pur- 
chased his  father's  store  and  business.  He  has  also  been  a  dealer  in  hay  and  straw 
for  the  past  five  years  and  was  for  a  time  interested  in  a  cider  mill.  He  was  post- 
master at  Fuller's  Station  for  two  years  under.  Harrison  and  Cleveland.  In  1888  he 
married  Emma  Goodman  of  Schenectady.  Air.  and  Mrs.  Van  Allen  have  two  chil- 
dren :  Voorhees  and  Mattie  May. 

Washburn,  Hiram  L. ,  son  of  Hiram  L.  and  Magdalen  T.  (Clark)  Washburn,  was 
born  in  Westford,  Otsego  county,  N.  Y.,  June  14,  184<).  He  is  of  English  descent, 
being  descended  from  one  of  three  brothers  who  came  from  England  to  America 
prior  to  the  Revolution ;  and  of  Holland-Dutch  descent,  his  maternal  ancestors  hav- 
ing been  among  the  first  to  settle  the  town  of  Schenectady,  N.  V.  Mr.  Washburn 
attended  the  Albany  public  schools  and  the  Ballston  Spa  Institute,  after  which  he 
studied  law  in  the  office  of  Hungerford  &  llotaling  of  Albany  and  was  admitted  to 
practice  in  1861.  Since  his  admission  to  the  bar  he  has  practiced  law  in  Albany. 
Mr.  Washburn  was  the  attorney  for  four  or  live  German  banking  and  loan  associa- 
tions that  were  organized  between  1866  and  1875,  and  was  for  several  years  searching 
clerk  in  the  Albany  county  clerk's  office.  He  also  tried  the  case  which  brought  about 
the  suspension  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  in  New  York  State  for  several  months 
after  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  the  question  involved  being  in  relation  to  the  mus- 


218 

tenng  out  of  men  who  had  enlisted  to  fill  unexpired  terms.  He  was  the  inspector  of 
rifle  practice  on  the  staff  of  the  Third,  Fifth  and  Ninth  Brigades,  N.  G.  N.  Y.,  for 
ten  years  and  was  on  duty  at  the  West  Albany  riots.  Mr.  Washburn  is  at  present 
the  attorney  for  the  Permanent  Savings  &  Loan  Association  of  Albany  and  has  a 
very  large  real  estate  practice.  He  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  being  a  member  of  Cap- 
ital City  Chapter,  De  Witt  Clinton  Council  and  Masters  Lodge  No.  6.  April  1,  1866, 
he  married  Phebe  Neemes  of  Albany,  and  they  have  three  children:  Mrs.  William  J. ( 
McKown,  Mrs.  R.  J.  LeBoef,  and  Lucius  H.  Washburn. 

Wallen,  William,  is  a  son  of  Frederick  J.  Wallen,  born  in  Birmingham,  England, 
October  21,  1837,  who  came  to  America  about  1849  and  settled  in  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
where  he  learned  the  trade  of  gas  and  steam  fitting.  In  1860  Frederick  J.  came  to 
Albany  and  had  charge  of  the  steam  and  gas  fitting  department  of  Tucker  &  Craw- 
ford until  1873,  when  he  established  business  for  himself.  He  became  one  of  the 
leading  steam  and  gas  fitters  in  Albany.  Mr.  Wallen  was  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Philadelphia  and  Albany  Volunteer  Fire  Departments  from  the  age  of  seventeen, 
being  foreman  in  Albany  of  Steamer  No.  4  several  years.  He  was  also  connected 
with  the  present  fire  department  of  Albany  and  while  discharging  his  duties  July  13, 
1885,  was  killed  in  the  Boardman  &  Gray  fire,  being  forty-seven  years  of  age.  He 
was  an  active  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Virden.  who  died  July  30,  1878,  and  of  their  ten  children  eight  are  living.  Mr. 
Wallen's  mother  died  in  Philadelphia  in  1892,  aged  eighty  two  and  his  father,  Will- 
iam, in  Albany,  in  1893,  aged  eighty-three.  William  Wallen,  son  of  F.  J.,  was  born 
April  5,  1863,  associated  himself  with  his  father  in  1876  and  on  the  latter's  death  in 
1885  succeeded,  with  his  brother,  George  E.,  to  the  business,  under  the  firm  name  of 
F.  J.  Wallen's  Sons.  George  E.  withdrew  in  February,  1895,  and  since  then  Will- 
iam Wallen  has  continued  alone,  having  one  of  the  largest  plants  between  New  York 
and  Buffalo,  and  doing  a  large  amount  of  steam,  hot  water  heating  and  gas  fitting. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  the  Elks  and  the  Empire  Curling  and  Albany 
Bicycle  Clubs.  April  15,  1884,  he  married  Minnie  E.  Evans  of  Albany,  and  their 
children  are  Nathan  Evans  and  Frederick  William. 

Rankin,  Edward  W.,  is  a  great-grandson  of  William  Rankin,  who  was  born  in 
Stirlingshire,  Scotland,  May  16,  1745  (died  1834),  and  came  to  Troy,  N.  Y.,  in  1763. 
He  married  Wilhelmina  Payne,  daughter  of  Dr.  Lodowick  Dunkel,  of  New  York 
city.  William  Rankin,  his  son,  born  1785,  died  1869,  married  Abigail  Ogden,  of 
Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  in  1809,  and  removing  to  Newark,  N.  J.,  became  prominent  in  busi- 
ness and  religious  circles.  His  son,  Edward  E.  Rankin,  D.D.,  born  1830,  died 
1889,  was  pastor  at  Springfield,  N.  J.,  then  of  the  42d  Street  Presbyterian  church, 
New  York  city,  1849  to  1863,  when  he  went  to  the  war  under  the  Christian  Commis- 
sion. From  1866  to  1879  he  was  pastor  of  the  First  Church  of  Christ  at  Fairfield, 
Conn.  Retiring  in  ill-health  he  settled  in  Hartford  for  two  years  and  then  returned 
to  Newark,  N.  J.  He  was  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Hartford  Theological  Seminary 
and  a  lecturer  in  his  later  years  at  the  Bloomfield  Theological  Seminary.  He  mar- 
ried, 1847,  Emily  Watkinson,  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  whose  family  came  from  Laven- 
ham,  Suffolk,  England,  in  1795.  Her  father,  Edward  Watkinson,  married  Lavinia 
Hudson,  of  Hartford,  and  was  a  brother  and  partner  of  David  Watkinson,  the 
founder  of  the  Watkinson   Library.     Edward  Watkinson   Rankin,  son  of  Rev.  Dr. 


219 

E.  E.  Rankin,  born  in  New  York  city,  August  12,  1850,  educated  at  Collegiate 
School,  N.  Y.  C,  Newark  Academy  and  Williston,  Easthampton,  was  gradu- 
ated at  Princeton  College  in  1871,  receiving  degree  of  A.  M.  in  1874.  He  studied 
law  at  Southport,  Conn,  (where  he  also  edited  the  Southport  Chronicle),  and  at 
Bridgeport.  He  received  degree  of  LL.  B.  from  the  Albany  Law  School  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  Albany  in  1873.  He  was  in  Europe  until  1875  and  studied  for 
a  time,  at  Leipsic.  He  returned  to  Albany  in  1875,  since  which  time  he  has  followed 
his  profession,  making  a  specialty  of  office  practice  and  real  estate  titles.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Albany  Institute,  Albany  Historical  Society  and  Albany  Camera 
Club.  June  3,  1884,  he  married  Catharine  Bogart  Putnam  daughter  of  Dr.  Alonzo 
and  Harriet  Maria  (Van  Rensselaer)  Putman,  who  on  her  father's  side  traces  her 
descent  back  six  generations  to  an  ancestor  coming  from  Holland.  Her  grand- 
father, Cornelius  H.  Putman,  married  Gazena  Yisscher  Maybee,  the  granddaughter 
of  Col.  Frederick  and  Gazena  De  Graff  Visscher,  of  Caughnawaga.  Mrs.  Rankin's 
mother,  Harriet  Maria  Van  Rensselaer,  was  the  daughter  of  Robert  Sanders  Van- 
Rensselaer  (married  Catharine  Bogart),  who  was  the  son  of  Col.  Philip  Van  Rens- 
selaer (married  Maria  Sanders),  who  built  the  mansion  "  Cherry  Hill,"  at  Albany 
in  1768,  in  which  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rankin  now  live.  Col.  Philip  Van  Rensselaer 
was  a  son  of  Col.  Killian  Van  Rensselaer  (married  Arriantie  Schuyler  in  1742),  and 
he  the  son  of  Hendrick  Van  Rensselaer  (married  Catrina  Van  Brugh,  daughter  of 
Catharine  Roeloffsen,  and  granddaughter  of  Anneke  Jans),  who  was  a  brother  of  Kil- 
lian Van  Rensselaer,  the  third  Patroon  of  Rensselaerwyck.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rankin 
have  three  children,  Edward  Elmendorf,  Herbert  Edward  and  Emily  Watkinson. 

Keenholts,  Hon.  James,  of  Altamont,  was  born  in  Guilderland,  April  13,  1868,  son 
of  James  Keenholts  and  Helen  (Horner)  Martin,  grandson  of  Christopher,  whose 
father  was  Christopher.  James  Keenholts  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  and 
remained  on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was  sixteen  years  old,  when  he  engaged  in 
the  meat  business  on  his  own  account  in  Altamont.  In  1866  he  engaged  in  the  fruit 
and  produce  business,  which  he  still  continues.  From  1889  to  1893  he  conducted  a 
livery  in  addition  to  his  other  occupations.  Mr.  Keenholts  is  a  Republican  and  act- 
ive in  politics;  he  assisted  in  the  incorporation  of  the  village  of  Altamont,  and  is 
now  serving  his  third  term  as  trustee  thereof;  he  was  a  prime  mover  in  establishing 
the  Altamont  Driving  Park  and  Fair  Association,  of  which  he  was  made  superin- 
tendent, and  has  been  a  director  since  the  organization;  on  January  9,  1897,  he  was 
elected  president  of  the  association.  In  1894  he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  and 
re-elected  in  1895.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Voorheesville  Lodge  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  Na- 
tawa  Tribe  of  Red  Men  of  Albany.  In  1887  he  married  Delia  C.  Griggs  of  Cobles- 
kill,  daughter  of  C.  L.  Griggs.  They  have  had  three  children:  Ella,  Anita  and 
Helen  J. 

Reynolds,  Charles  W.,  was  born  in  Petersburgh,  Rensselaer  county,  N.  Y.,  Feb- 
ruarys, 1848.  He  is  descended  from  William  Reynolds  <>(  Providence,  R.  I.,  who, 
on  August  20,  1637,  with  twelve  others  including  Roger  Williams,  signed  the  follow- 
ing compact: 

We,  whose  names  are  here  under,  desire  to  inhabit  in  the  town  of  Providence,  do  promise  to 
subject  ourselves  in  active  and  passive  obedience  to  all  such  orders  or  agreements  as  shall  lie 
made  for  public  good  of  the  body,  in  an  orderly  way  by  the  major  assent  of  the  presenl  inhab- 


220 

itants,  masters  of  families  incorporated  together  into  a  town  fellowship,  and  such  others  whom 
they  shall  admit  unto  them,  only  in  civil  things.  ' 

The  great-grandfather  of  Charles  W.,  William  W.  Reynolds,  came  from  Westerly, 
R.  I.,  and  settled  in  Petersburgh  in  1780.  Prior  to  this,  in  1777,  he  served  in  the  de- 
fense of  his  country  against  the  English,  at  the  battle  of  Bennington.  He  spent  his 
remaining  days  in  Petersburgh,  being  supervisor  in  1801,  1802  and  1803,  and  magis- 
trate for  many  years.  The  grandfather  of  this  subject  was  Parley  Reynolds,  who 
was  born  in  Petersburgh  in  1780.  He  became  a  merchant  and  for  many  years,  in 
partnership  with  his  brother  Thomas,  conducted  an  extensive  and  profitable  business 
in  Petersburgh,  and  was  supervisor  in  1837  and  1838.  William  W.  Reynolds,  the 
father  of  Charles  W.,  was  born  September  25,  1816,  and  died  June  4,  1876,  and  was 
supervisor  in  1847,  1848,  1856  and  1857.  He  was  married  to  Mary  (born  January  14, 
1825),  daughter  of  Braddock  Peckham,  jr.  (born  June  4,  1781,  died  January  7,  1834), 
and  granddaughter  of  Braddock  Peckham,  sr.  (born  May  4,  1757,  died  January  9, 
1830),  who  was  a  soldier  in  a  Rhode  Island  regiment  during  the  Revolutionary  war. 
Previous  to  this  service  he  was  second  in  command  in  an  expedition  composed  of 
patriotic  citizens  of  Wickford,  R.  I.,  that  made  a  prisoner  of  the  British  General 
Prescott,  July  10,  1777,  at  Newport,  R.  I.  ;  the  prisoner  was  delivered  to  General 
Washington  at  Newburgh  by  the  same  party,  and  on  July  18,  1777,  was  exchanged 
for  Major-General  Harry  Lightfoot  Lee.  At  the  close  of  his  connection  with  this 
duty,  he  came  to  the  valley  of  the  Little  Hoosick,  looking  for  a  future  home.  He  had 
but  just  arrived  when  Captain  Hull's  company  was  being  formed  to  go' to  the  relief 
of  General  Stark  at  Bennington  ;  he  joined  this  company,  was  made  lieutenant  and 
served  in  that  capacity  at  the  battle  of  Bennington  and  continued  with  the  company 
until  after  the  battle  of  Bemis  Heights  and  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne,  when  the 
company  was  disbanded ;  he  then  joined  the  command  of  General  Gates  and  with 
that  little  army  of  1,500  marched  away  to  New  Jersey.  He  was  at  the  defeat  of 
Brandywine  and  on  the  bloody  field  of  Monmouth.  He  remained  with  General 
Gates's  command  until  the  latter  was  superseded  by  Gen.  Nathaniel  Greene,  and 
with  him  saw  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown.  At  the  termination  of  the 
war  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Rhode  Island,  and  in  1786,  accompanied  by  his  brother 
Abel,  came  to  the  beautiful  valley  of  the  Little  Hoosick  and  there  reared  a  family 
of  thirteen  children  and  where  many  of  his  descendants  still  reside.  The  first  an- 
cestor in  this  county  of  Braddock  Peckham  was  John  Peckham  of  Newport,  R.  I., 
who  was  admitted  an  inhabitant  May  20,  1638;  he  married  Mary  Clarke,  who  was  a 
sister  of  the  Rev.  John  Clarke  from  Bradfordshire,  England,  "  one  of  the  ablest  men 
of  the  seventeenth  century  and  a  founder  of  Rhode  Island."  In  1648  John  Peckham 
was  one  of  the  ten  male  members  in  full  communion  of  the  First  Baptist  church. 
Charles  W.  Reynolds  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm,  and  obtained  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools,  at  Fort  Edward  Institute  and  Alfred  University.  When 
twenty-one  years  of  age  his  father  assisted  him  in  purchasing  an  interest  in  a  general 

1  "  The  government  established  by  these  primitive  settlers  of  Providence  was  an  anomaly  in 
the  history  of  the  world.  At  the  outset  it  was  a  pure  democracy,  which  for  the  first  time  guarded 
jealously  the  rights  of  conscience  by  ignoring  any  power  in  the  body  politic  to  interfere  witli  those 
matters  that  concern  man  and  his  Maker.  Principle,  not  precedent,  formed  their  only  standard 
of  judgment.  Could  the  record  of  their  proceedings  have  been  preserved  (meetings  were  held 
monthly),  with  what  interest  should  we  nowptirsue  the  debates  of  this  earliest  of  modern  democ- 
racies'."— Arnold's  History  of  Rhode  Island. 


221 

store  in  the  village  of  Petersburgh  in  partnership  with  the  late  David  H.  Kellyer  where 
they  soon  after,  in  connection  with  their  mercantile  interests,  began  the  manufacture 
of  shirts  by  contract,  and  with  such  encouraging  success  that  in  1875  they  sold  their 
store  and  engaged  exclusively  in  the  manufacture  of  shirts  on  their  own  account,  in 
which  undertaking  they  have  been  successful  as  well  as  furnishing  employment  to  a 
large  number  of  people.  Mr.  Reynolds  makes  the  village  of  Petersburgh  his  home, 
but  spends  the  winters  at  bis  Albany  residence  where  his  children  enjoy  greater  ed- 
ucational advantages.  In  1874  he  married  Lucy  M.  Gifford,  born  December  7,  1856, 
a  native  of  Albany  and  daughter  of  Alonzo  (born  March  9,  1832)  and  Mary  J.  (Hakes) 
Gifford  (born  August  4,  1835),  who  has  borne  him  five  children,  as  follows:  William 
G.,  born  August  12,  1875;  George  T.,  born  September  21,  1878;  Grace  born  Decem- 
ber 31,  1880;  Alonzo  P.,  born  January  21,  1886:  and  Noyes,  born  April  8,  1891.  Mr. 
Reynolds  has  traveled  extensively  over  the  United  States,  and  in  1891,  accompanied 
by  his  son  William  G.,  was  of  the  party  of  over  two  hundred  Knights  Templar  who 
visited  Europe.  Mr.  Reynolds  has  never  sought  office,  but  in  the  spring  of  1896 
was  elected  supervisor  of  Petersburgh  without  opposition  and  at  a  considerable  per- 
sonal sacrifice  consented  to  serve  in  that  capacity. 

Thacher,  Ralph  W.,  was  born  in  Brockport,  N.  Y.,  April  24,  1839.  He  is  a  son  of 
Dr.  Ralph  Thacher,  who  was  born  in  Lebanon,  Conn.,  where  five  generations  of 
Thachers  have  lived  or  were  born.  Mr.  Thacher's  mother  was  Jerusha  B.  Harri- 
son of  Williamstown,  Mass.  The  first  member  of  the  Thacher  family  in  America 
was  the  Rev.  Thomas  Thacher,  first  pastor  of  the  Old  South  church  in  Boston, 
Mass.,  from  whom  is  also  descended  John  Boyd  Thacher,  mayor  of  Albany.  Rev. 
Thomas  Thacher  landed  at  Boston  in  the  ship  James  in  August,  1635,  in  charge  of 
his  uncle,  Anthony  Thacher,  who  had  been  a  curate  of  his  father's  church  in  Salis- 
bury, England.  Rev.  Peter  Thacher,  the  father  of  Rev.  Thomas,  was  rector  of  St. 
Edmund's  church  at  Salisbury,  England,  and  lies  buried  in  the  churchyard  under 
the  shadow  of  Salisbury  cathedral.  Ralph  W.  Thacher,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
and  seventh  in  descent  from  Rev.  Thomas  Thacher,  spent  the  years  of  1855  and 
1856  at  Williams  College  and  was  graduated  from  Hamilton  College  in  1859.  While 
at  Hamilton  he  was  a  member  of  the  Phi  Upsilon  fraternity.  After  leaving  college 
Mr.  Thacher  removed  to  Albany,  N.  Y. ,  in  1860  and  engaged  in  the  grain  business 
with  David  N.  Glazier  and  Harvey  D.  Leonard.  After  three  years  Mr.  Thacher  was 
taken  into  partnership  and  the  firm  became  Glazier,  Leonard  &  Co.,  which  existed 
five  years.  Mr.  Leonard  then  retired  and  the  firm  became  for  two  years  Glazier  & 
Thacher.  In  1870  Mr.  Thacher  withdrew  and  went  to  Kansas,  where  he  established 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Ottawa,  of  which  he  was  cashier  five  years  and  vice- 
president  four  years,  including  two  years  after  he  returned  to  Albany,  in  1877. 
When  Mr.  Thacher  returned  to  Albany  he  bought  of  David  N.  Glazier  the  business 
that  he  was  originally  interested  in.  Mr.  Glazier  was  then  in  failing  health  and 
shortly  after  died.  Mr.  Thacher  continued  in  this  business  until  July,  1891,  coupling 
witli  it  a  mill  and  elevator  at  Schenectady,  N.  Y. ,  a  mill  and  elevator  at  Kenwood, 
near  Albany,  two  malt  houses  in  Albany  and  a  coal  yard  in  Schenectady,  having  in 
all  ninety  employees.  He  retired  from  that  business  to  go  into  the  export  trade  in 
New  York  in  1891,  that  being  the  year  when  there  was  a  shortage  in  all  the  wheat 
producing  countries  in  the  world  save  America.     Mr.  Thacher  was  very  successful 


222 

in  New  York  and  in  the  fall  of  1892  he  retired  from  active  business  on  account  of 
impaired  health.  In  November,  1896,  he  took  the  presidency  of  the  Albany  Art 
Union  as  a  pastime,  growing  out  of  his  liking  for  amateur  photography  and  to  some- 
what satisfy  his  love  of  the  beautiful  in  art.  Mr.  Thacher  is  a  member  of  Masters 
Lodge  No.  4,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  a  demitted  member  of  Temple  Chapter,  R.  A.  M. ; 
he  was  also  a  charter  member  of  the  Fort  Orange  and  Albany  Clubs.  He  is  now  a 
member  of  the  University  Club  of  New  York  and  of  the  New  York  Produce  Ex- 
change. He  was  formerly  a  member  of  the  Boston  Chamber  of  Commerce  and  the 
Chicago  Board  of  Trade.  His  first  wife  was  Anna  Elizabeth  Glazier,  of  Brockport, 
N.Y.,  by  whom  he  has  one  daughter.  Mrs.  F.  W.  Stedman,  of  Albany.  His  present 
wife  was  Louisa  C.  Huntington,  of  Albany,  by  whom  he  has  a  son,  Ralph  Hunting- 
ton Thacher. 

Lawson,  Stephen,  was  born  in  1830,  and  is  a  son  of  Levi,  and  grandson  of  Law- 
rence Lawson,  who  first  settled  at  Bethlehem  and  later  at  Rufus  Corners,  where  he 
died  and  left  two  sons,  James  and  Levi.  Levi  came  to  Coeymans  in  1830  and  bought 
the  farm  where  Stephen  now  lives.  He  was  a  farmer  and  died  in  1860.  He  had 
four  sons:  Henry,  William,  Isaac,  and  Stephen,  who  remained  on  the  homestead, 
and  has  two  sons :  Frederick  and  Howard. 

Griffen,  Edward  C,  son  of  Edward  and  Harriett  (Perkins)  Griffen,  was  born  in 
Newark,  N.  J.,  September  5,  1868.  In  1875  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Schuyler- 
ville,  N.  Y.,  where  he  attended  the  high  school  at  that  place.  Subsequently  he  at- 
tended the  Albany  Business  College  and  graduated  from  that  institution  June  6, 
1887,  when  he  entered  the  employ  of  Henry  Russell,  flour  merchant,  and  remained 
with  him  seven  years,  rising  to  the  position  of  bookkeeper.  In  January,  1894,  Mr. 
Griffen  resigned  his  position  with  Mr.  Russell  and  opened  a  store  at  No.  43  Hudson 
avenue,  where  he  deals  in  flour,  feed,  hay  and  grain.  He  is  one  of  Albany's  young- 
est merchants  and  is  respected  for  his  integrity,  perseverance  and  fair  dealing.  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1892,  he  married  Harietta  Meader  of  Quaker  Springs,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have 
one  son,  Chauncey  Rider. 

Miller,  S.  Edward,  jr.,  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  in  1855.  His  father  for  many 
years  was  a  prominent  merchant  on  Broadway.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was 
Sarah  Frances  Silsby.  On  the  paternal  side,  Mr.  Miller  is  descended  from  Elizabeth 
Staats  (great- grandmother)  who  was  born  just  below  Albany  in  the  old  Staats  home- 
stead, the  oldest  inhabited  house  in  America,  bearing  date  of  erection  of  1630. 
Mr.  Miller  received  his  education  in  the  public  and  high  schools  and  was  bookkeeper 
for  Corning  &  Co.  until  1882,  when  he  opened  a  men's  furnishing  store  at  No.  36 
Maiden  Lane.  His  business  rapidly  increased  so  that  in  1891  he  took  premises  at 
No.  34  Maiden  Lane;  now  he  occupies  Nos.  34  and  36.  He  began  this  business  in  a 
small  way  and  owing  to  his  pleasant  manner  and  fair  dealings,  was  not  long  in  hav- 
ing it  very  well  established.  He  now  has  a  plant  outside  used  solely  for  the  manu- 
facture of  shirts  giving  employment  to  a  large  number  of  hands.  Mr.  Miller  has  a 
large  double  store  and  does  the  largest  strictly  furnishing  goodsbusiness  in  the  State, 
outside  of  New  York  and  Buffalo.  He  has  a  very  large  custom  shirt  trade  extending 
to  all  parts  of  the  United  States,  and  the  Hanan  shoe  agency  which  is  developing 
into  a  large  business.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  Club,  Old  Guard,  Albany 
Zouave  Cadets  and  the  Empire  and  Capital  0!ty  Curling  Clubs.     Mr.  Miller  is  also 


223 

a  life  member,  ex-vice-president  and  director  of  the  Young  Men's  Association  and  a 
member  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  In  1880  he  married  Sarah  Louise  Nash,  daughter  of  John 
H.  Nash  and  sister  of  Willis  G.  Nash,  cashier  of  the  New  York  State  Bank.  They 
have  two  children:  Louise  Adele  and  Edgar  Nash. 

Danaher,  John  E.,  son  of  Francis  M.  and  Mary  E.  (Hillenbrant)  Danaher,  was 
born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  March  4,  1861.  He  attended  the  public  schools  and  Christian 
Brothers'  Academy  and  graduated  from  the  Albany  High  School  in  1878.  After 
leaving  the  high  school  he  obtained  a  situation  as  bookkeeper  for  Tallmadge  &  Carter, 
commission  merchants,  and  remained  with  this  firm  a  year  and  a  half.  Subsequently 
he  was  bookkeeper  and  afterward  traveling  salesman  for  William  H.  Livingston, 
wholesale  liquor  dealer,  with  whom  he  remained  seven  years,  when  in  1886,  he  started 
in  the  wholesale  liquor  business  for  himself  at  No.  34  Green  street.  He  remained  at 
that  location  for  one  year  and  then  owing  to  increased  business  he  moved  to  Nos. 
394  and  396  Broadway,  where  he  was  located  five  years,  when  his  business  became 
so  large  that  he  was  compelled  to  find  more  suitable  quarters  and  moved  to  his  pres- 
ent location  No.  97  Hudson  avenue,  corner  of  Grand  street,  with  storehouse  in  the 
rear  at  No.  14  Grand  street.  Mr.  Danaher  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Union,  the 
Commercial  Traveler's  Club,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Control  of  the  National 
Wholesale  Liquor  Dealers  Association  of  America.  He  married  Elizabeth  B., 
daughter  of  Patrick  McCarthy,  for  many  years  a  builder  and  alderman  of  Albany. 
They  have  one  daughter,  Hortense  E.  Mr.  Danaher's  success  may  be  accounted  for 
somewhat  by  the  fact  that  he  was  born  of  that  good  stock,  Irish  and  German.  His 
maternal  grandparents  were  of  the  first  German  immigrants  to  locate  in  Albany,  where 
they  came  in  1830.  Mr.  Danaher  if  a  self  made  man  and  great  praise  is  due  to  his 
efforts.  He  does  a  strictly  wholesale  business,  being  a  large  direct  importer  of  wines 
and  brandies  and  has  sole  control  of  the  "Optimus"  brand  of  whiskey.  He  has  a 
large  business  equal  to  and  as  important  as  any  in  Albany. 

Ertz  Berger,  Edmund  J.,  son  of  William  G.  and  Mary  L.  (Sheridan)  Ertz  Berger, 
was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  September  3,  1856.  About  1765,  Daniel  Ertz  Berger  came 
to  America  from  Basil,  Switzerland,  and  settled  in  Albany  and  engaged  in  trading 
skins  and  furs  with  the  Indians,  and  was  in  many  a  bloody  encounter  with  them. 
Daniel,  his  son,  the  grandfather  of  Edmund  J.,  was  born  in  Albany  in  1788,  and 
Charlotte  Dunlap,  his  wife,  was  born  in  Albany  in  1794.  William  G.,  the  father  of 
Edmund  J.,  was  a  manufacturer  of  cigars  and  candies  in  Albany  and  did  an  exten- 
sive business  during  the  war.  He  died  in  1885,  aged  seventy-five.  Edmund  J.'s 
mother  died  when  he  was  two  years  old  and  he  went  to  live  with  an  uncle  who  put 
him  through  the  public  schools  and  high  school,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  the 
English  and  mathematical  course  in  1874.  He  then  entered  the  employ  of  S.  L. 
Munson,  shirt  and  collar  manufacturer,  where  he  learned  the  business  and  with  whom 
he  remained  twenty  years,  rising  rapidly  until  he  had  entire  charge  of  the  shirt  de- 
partment. In  1881  Mr.  Ertz  Berger  went  West  on  an  extensive  trip  for  his  health. 
In  1894  he  entered  the  Hudson  River  Garment  Company  in  partnership  with  William 
R.  McGraw,  and  is  now  junior  partner  and  financial  manager.  Mr.  Ertz  Berger  is 
a  member  of  the  Unconditional  Republican  Club,  the  Ancient  Essenic  Order  and 
treasurer  of  the  Albany  Bicycle  Club.  In  1883  he  married  Eloise  Ross  of  Albany, 
and  they  have  one  daughter,  Edna  D. 


224 

Cass,  Lewis. — This  citizen  of  Albany,  for  many  years  prominent  amony  those  in- 
terested in  the  welfare  of  the  city,  was  born  at  Decatur,  Otsego  county,  N.  Y. ,  De- 
cember 30,  1853.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  and  his  early  life  was  passed  upon  his 
father's  farm.  At  the  age  of  twelve,  he  was  left  an  orphan.  At  the  age  of  sixteen, 
he  began  to  teach  in  the  district  schools  in  Otsego  county,  at  "  a  dollar  a  day  and 
boarded  around."  Afterwards  he  passed  successfully  through  the  State  Normal 
School,  Colgate  Academy  at  Hamilton,  N.  Y  ,  graduating  from  the  former  in  1872 
and  the  latter  in  1874.  He  pursued  a  collegiate  course  at  Union  College,  and  grad- 
uated from  that  institution  in  1878.  In  the  summer  of  1878,  he  began  to  study  law 
with  the  celebrated  firm  of  Smith,  Bancroft  &  Moak,  where  he  remained  for  three 
years,  when  he  opened  an  office  of  his  own  f5r  the  transaction  of  business.  In  1886 
he  married  Miss  Kate  Landon,  eldest  daughter  of  Judge  Landon  of  Schenectady,  N. 
Y.  Mr.  Cass  early  took  a  high  rank  as  a  lawyer,  and  especially  as  an  advocate,  be- 
ing connected  with  many  important  litigations,  notably,  the  case  of  "  McDonald 
against  the  Village  of  Gloversville,"  and  "  The  Trumbell  will  case  "  in  Albany  county, 
and  many  other  important  litigations  in  Circuit,  Probate  and  Criminal  Courts.  He 
was  attorney  for  the  New  York  State  Dairy  Commissioner,  and  afterwards  for  the 
Commissioner  of  Agriculture  of  the  State  of  New  York  for  seven  years,  and  for  the 
past  two  years  attorney  for  the  New  York  State  Veterinary  Medical  Society.  Mr. 
Cass  is  well  known  as  an  ardent,  fearless  advocate  of  progress,  and  has  been  a 
potent  factor  in  various  reforms  and  improvements  in  the  city,  notably,  the  project 
of  the  construction  of  Beaver  Park  in  the  south  portion  of  the  city.  To  no  one  man 
is  there  more  credit  due  for  this  much  needed  improvement  than  to  Mr.  Cass.  Being 
a  forcible  and  fluent  public  speaker,  his  services  are  eagerly  sought  in  political  cam- 
paigns. Although  deeply  interested  in  politics  and  political  affairs,  he  has  never 
sought  nor  held  a  political  office,  preferring  to  remain  a  private  citizen.  He  has  a 
well  selected  library  of  classic  and  historic  literature  and  fiction,  with  which  he  is 
exceedingly  familiar.  He  was  selected  in  1888,  to  deliver  the  annual  address  before 
the  Adelphic  Society  of  Union  College,  and  chose  for  his  subject  "  The  Duty  of  the 
Educated  Man  to  Business  and  Society."  Another  topic  upon  which  he  has  been 
heard  with  interest  and  propriety  is  "The  Puritans,"  which  perhaps  is  his  best  known 
lecture.  Love  for  his  early  occupation  abides  with  him,  as  shown  by  the  fact  that 
he  is  one  of  the  most  successful  amateur  florists  in  the  city,  turning  his  special  atten- 
tion to  roses,  having  a  collection  unsurpassed  by  any  in  the  city. 

Gilbert,  Henry  S.,  is  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Guilderland.  He  was  born  in 
the  town  of  New  Scotland,  March  5,  1846.  His  father  was  Williams  Gilbert,  born  in 
the  town  of  Bethlehem,  April  18,  1823.  His  paternal  grandfather  was  also  Williams, 
who  married  first  Ora  Hart,  who  bore  him  eleven  children:  Glazier,  Noah,  Elkanah, 
Maria,  Laura,  Ann,  Bradley,  Alvin  and  Calvin  (twins)  and  Prudence;  his  second  wife 
was  Charity  Barber,  by  whom  he  had  four  children:  Eliza,  Rachel  Ann,  Joseph  and 
Elisha.  Williams,  father  of  Henry  S.,  married  Hannah  Houghton  (born  in  New 
Scotland,  April  4,  1821)  in  December,  1843;  she  was  one  of  a  family  of  ten  children 
born  to  David  (  born  January  24,  1878)  and  Anna  (Bryant)  Houghton  (born  February 
2,  1777),  and  granddaughter  of  John  and  Dorcas  (Lawrence)  Bryant;  her  brothers 
and  sisters  were  Polly,  Lucy,  John,  Silas,  Eli,  Catharine,  Smith,  Sally  and  Jane  Ann  ; 
she  was  the  last  survivor  of  her  family.     Williams  followed  farming  all  his  life,  living 


225 

some  years  in  New  Scotland  and  in  1850  removing  to  Guilderland  where  he  bought  a 
farm  and  resided  until  1805,  when  he  sold  his  farm  and  removed  to  Glenville,  Sche- 
nectady county;  there  he  bought  a  farm  on  which  he  resided  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  September,  1873.  The  only  child  of  Williams  and  Hannan  (Houghton) 
Gilbert  was  Henry  S.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Mrs.  Gilbert  survived  her  husband 
many  years,  cared  for  by  her  son  till  the  time  of  her  death,  January  14,  1895.  Henry 
S.  Gilbert  attended  the  district  school  and  remained  with  his  father  until  the  latter's 
death,  when  he  sold  the  farm  and  bought  his  present  one  of  100  acres  near  Fuller's 
Station,  to  which  he  moved  in  1874.  He  has  been  successfully  engaged  in  dairying, 
keeping  .a  fine  lot  of  choice  cows;  he  also  takes  much  pride  in  keeping  fine  horses. 
In1890-91  he  engaged  in  mercantile  business  at  Fuller's  Station,  where  he  owned  a 
store,  and  where  he  was  also  postmaster  under  Harrison's  administration,  but  not 
liking  the  business  he  sold  out  and  returned  to  his  farm,  on  which  he  has  since  re- 
sided. He  deals  in  agricultural  implements,  handling  the  Johnson  harvesting  ma- 
chines; he  is  a  director  and  stockholder  in  the  Altamont  Driving  Park  and  Fair  As- 
sociations, and  was  chairman  of  the  committees  on  fruit  and  vegetables,  and  on 
stock  and  poultry,  also  horses.  In  January,  1807,  he  married  Helen  C.  Weaver,  a 
native  of  Glenville,  Schenectady  county,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Hannah  (Clossen) 
Weaver.  They  have  two  children,  William  W.,  born  January  14,  1808,  and  Burton 
II.,  born  April  29,  1870.  William  W.  married  Hattie,  daughter  of  Leroy  Main,  and 
has  one  child,  Ethel;  he  remained  on  the  farm  with  his  father  until  April,  1890,  when 
he  removed  to  Voorheesville  where  he  now  resides.  Burton  A.  is  at  home  with  his 
parents. 

Frederick,  Charles  F.,  son  of  Philip  and  Catharine  (Gomph)  Frederick,  was  born 
in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  August  21,  1805.  He  is  a  grandson  of  Philip  Frederick,  who  was 
born  in  Germany,  and  who  came  to  Albany  in  1830,  where  he  engaged  in  the  furni- 
ture business  and  was  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  highly  respected  citizens  of 
Albany.  His  son,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  followed  his  father's 
business  with  the  addition  of  the  undertaker's  business,  and  gave  promise  of  build- 
ing up  a  remarkable  business,  but  was  cut  off  in  early  manhood.  He  died  in  181  1, 
aged  thirty-seven,  leaving  a  family  of  eight  children,  all  of  whom  are  now  living. 
He  was  prominent  in  fraternal  and  social  circles,  being  a  Mason,  an  Odd  Fellow, 
and  Knight  of  Pythias;  he  was  also  an  ex-member  of  the  25th  Regiment,  and  in  1870 
represented  the  then  Tenth  ward  in  the  Board  of  Supervisors.  Charles  F.  Fred- 
erick, the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  learned  the 
trade  of  bookbinder  with  R.  G.  Hendrie,  with  whom  he  remained  eight  years;  at 
the  end  of  five  years  he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  foreman  of  Mr.  Hendrie's 
establishment  and  held  that  position  when  he  left  Mr.  Hendrie's  employ.  In  1880 
Mr.  Frederick  removed  to  Washington,  I).  C,  where  he  obtained  an  appointment  as 
bookbinder  in  the  government  printing  office  and  remained  there  six  years,  resign- 
ing to  go  into  the  grocery  business  in  Washington,  lie  was  compelled  to  abandon 
this  business  after  three  years  owing  to  ill  health,  and  in  September,  1895,  returned 
to  Albany.  In  January,  1896,  he  took  a  course  in  the  United  States  Embalming 
College  in  New  York  city,  from  which  he  received  a  diploma.  In  March  of  the 
same  year  he  started  his  present  business,  that  of  undertaker  and  cmbalmer,  at  X<>. 
118  Washington   avenue.     Mr.    Frederick    is  a  member   of  the  American  Legion  of 


226 

Honor,  the  International  Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders  and  Clinton  Lodge  No.  7, 
I.  O.  O.  F.  November  16,  1887,  he  married  Sarah  Furman  of  Albany,  and  they 
have  one  son,  Charles  F.,  jr. 

Van  Valkenburgh,  Hon.  John  W.,  was  born  in  the  village  of  Chatham,  Columbia 
countv,  N.  Y.,  June  23,  1826,  and  is  a  son  of  James  B.  Van  Valkenburgh,  also  of 
Chatham,  who  fought  gallantly  at  Plattsburgh  during  the  war  of  1812.  He  lived 
until  he  was  eighty-one  years  of  age,  dying  August  15,  1868.  The  maiden  name  of 
Mr.  Van  Valkenburg's  mother  was  Clarinda  Pitts,  an  aunt  of  Hon.  Edmund  Pitts, 
ex-speaker  of  the  Assembly.  She  died  July  3,  1871,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one.  His 
grandfather,  Bartholomew  Van  Valkenburgh,  was  a  native  of  Holland  and  came  to 
America  at  an  early  date,  settling  at  Chatham,  N.  Y.  He  served  with  distinction 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  In  his  early  youth,  J.  W.  Van  Valkenburgh,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  attended  the  common  schools  in  Chatham  and  worked  on  his  father's 
farm.  When  he  became  of  age  he  joined  a  military  company  and  on  November  16, 
1849,  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant  in  the  old  23d  Regiment,  N.  Y.  Militia.  This 
commission  he  held  thirty-six  years,  until  the  regiment  went  out  of  existence.  In 
1852  Mr.  Van  Valkenburgh's  services  were  secured  to  push  forward  the  work  of  the 
Lebanon  Springs  Railroad,  and  he  is  said  to  have  thrown  out  the  first  shovel  of 
earth  and  hired  the  first  man  on  the  work.  He  displayed  great  energy  and  ability 
in  this  enterprise.  He  took  a  deep  interest  in  politics  and  early  joined  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  In  1853  he  was  appointed  deputy  sheriff  of  Columbia  county  and 
served  for  three  years.  In  1856  he  was  made  route  agent  for  the  general  post-office 
department  and  ran  the  first  night  express  train  on  the  Harlem  Railroad  from  Al- 
bany to  New  York.  When  the  Civil  war  broke  out  Mr.  Van  Valkenburgh  offered 
his  services  and  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant  of  Co.  E,  128th  Regiment,  N.  Y. 
Vols.  August  20,  L862,  he  was  duly  mustered  into  the  service.  His  career  was  a 
most  creditable  one.  In  January,  1863,  he  served  as  a  member  of  a  court  martial 
in  New  Orleans,  and  continued  in  the  service  until  April  13,  1864,  when  on  advice  of  a 
surgeon  he  tendered  his  resignation  and  was  honorably  discharged.  In  1865  he  ac- 
cepted a  positiou  as  conductor  on  the  Harlem  Railroad.  The  following  year  he  was 
elected  member  of  assembly  from  Columbia  County.  In  1867  Mr.  Van  Valken- 
burgh removed  to  Albany  and  has  since  been  an  active  and  esteemed  citizen  of 
that  city.  In  1808  he  accepted  the  superintendency  of  the  Albany  and  Susque- 
hanna Railroad  and  in  1872  became  interested  in  the  New  York  and  Albany  Rail- 
road, now  known  as  the  New  York  Railway.  When  the  Lebanon  Springs  Railroad 
became  involved  Mr.  Van  Valkenburgh  was  appointed  receiver  and  held  that  posi- 
tion for  three  years.  In  1873  he  was  elected  a  member  of  assembly  from  Albany 
county  and  has  thus  had  the  honor  to  represent  both  Albany  and  Columbia  counties. 

Hennessy,  John  V.,  M.  D.,  son  of  Thomas  and  Margaret  (McKinley)  Hennessy, 
was  born  in  New  York  city  in  1854.  When  he  was  a  boy  his  parents  removed  to 
Bath-on-the-Hudson;  here  young  Mr.  Hennessy  attended  the  public  schools.  After 
leaving  school  he  obtained  a  situation  as  clerk  in  the  office  of  his  father,  who  was  a 
well  known  and  prosperous  builder  in  Albany.  He  remained  with  his  father  until 
1880,  when  he  entered  the  Albany  Medical  College  and  in  1884  was  graduated  from 
that  institution,  receiving  the  degree  of  M.  D.  Dr.  Hennessy  has  practiced  in  Al- 
bany since  his  graduation.     He  is  a  surgeon  on  the  staff  of  St.  Peter's  Hospital,  at- 


227 

tending  physician  at  the  Boys'  Orphan  Asylum,  lecturer  on  materia  medica  at  the 
Albany  Medical  College  and  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society.  In 
1878  he  married  Sarah  Elizabeth  Kane  of  Amsterdam,  N.  Y. 

Williams,  C.  Frank,  son  of  Isaac  A.  and  Sarah  M.  (Carpenter)  Williams,  was  born 
in  Brattleboro,  Vt.,  October  17,  1859,  and  attended  the  public  schools  of  Brattleboro, 
and  Worcester,  Mass.,  after  which  he  learned  the  printer's  trade  in  Brattleboro.  In 
1878  Mr.  Williams  removed  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  he  followed  his  trade  until  1880, 
when  he  opened  a  printing  office  in  S.  R.  Gray's  building  in  partnership  with  J.  H. 
Prouty.  This  partnership  lasted  for  four  years,  when  Mr.  Williams  organized  the 
C.  F.  Williams  Printing  Company,  which  existed  until  1892,  when  it  was  completely 
burned  out  at  No.  36  Beaver  street.  Immediately  after  this  fire  the  company  was 
dissolved  and  Mr.  Williams  resumed  alone  at  his  present  location,  No.  9-11  Green 
street.  Mr.  Williams  is  a  member  of  Ancient  City  Lodge  No.  452,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Al- 
bany Lodge  No.  641,  K.  A.  E.  O.,  Unconditional  and  Capital  City  Clubs  and  Albany 
Republican  League.  June  12,  1884,  he  married  Frances  E.  A.  Pangburn  of  Albany, 
and  they  have  three  children. 

Grogan,  Michael,  was  born  in  Ireland  and  was  brought  to  America  when  an  in- 
fant, John  Grogan,  having  preceded  him  two  years  before  and  who  had  directly 
located  in  West  Troy,  was  a  pioneer  settler  and  for  years  in  the  employ  of  the  Har- 
rington planing  mill.  Here  Mr.  Grogan  has  spent  most  of  his  life,  first  acquiring 
the  cooper's  trade,  which  he  followed  for  thirteen  years.  He  served  one  year  as 
clerk  in  the  weighlock  and  then  entered  the  county  clerk's  office  under  John  Larkin, 
acting  as  clerk  for  four  years.  In  1884  he  was  appointed  deputy  sheriff,  filling  the 
position  for  eleven  years. 

Murray,  William  H.,  M.  D.,  son  of  Francis  and  Sarah  (Lockwood)  Murray,  was 
born  in  Poundridge,  Westchester  county,  N.  Y.,  December  2,  1845.  He  attended 
Betts's  Academy  at  Stamford,  Conn.,  and  graduated  from  that  institution  in  1863. 
In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  entered  Union  College  at  Schenectady,  N.  V.,  and  grad- 
uated in  1877,  receiving  the  degree  of  A.  B.  During  the  year  1867-6S,  he  taught 
school  at  Bellefonte,  Pa.,  with  Governor  Hastings,  present  governor  of  Pennsylvania. 
In  the  fall  of  1868  Dr.  Murray  entered  the  Albany  Medical  College  and  received  the 
degree  of  M.  D.  from  that  institution  in  1869.  In  1868  he  married  Martha  W. 
Bouck,  granddaughter  of  the  late  Governor  Bouck ;  they  have  two  children  living, 
Frank  and  Bessie.  In  1870  Dr.  Murray  began  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Albany 
and  has  since  continued  there,  making  a  specialty  of  obstetrics.  He  has  been  prom- 
inently identified  with  the  Democratic  party  and  has  sacrificed  much  time  to  further 
the  interests  of  the  city  of  Albany;  there  is  no  man  better  known  or  more  highly 
respected  in  his  ward,  the  Sixteenth.  He  can  call  everybody  by  name.  His  love 
for  his  profession  and  his  devotion  to  his  fellows  have  contributed  to  his  holding  the 
following  offices:  Supervisor  of  his  ward  for  five  terms,  president  of  the  Board  of 
Aldermen  one  term,  district  physician,  police  surgeon,  county  physician,  coroner's 
physician,  penitentiary  physician,  and  at  present  city  physician.  Dr.  Murray  has 
been  president  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Hospital  for  Incurables  since  its 
foundation.  He  has  also  been  prominently  identified  with  social  and  fraternal 
organizations;  he  has  been  through  all  the  chairs  in  Odd  Fellowship,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  all  Masonic  bodies,   and  has  the   thirty-second  degree;  he  has  also  been  a 


228 

member  of  the  K.  of  P.  and  Red  Men.     He  is  now  a  member  of  the  Albany  and 
Acacia  Clubs  and  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society. 

Hall.  Charles  Roswell,  son  of  John  Peck  and  Sarah  Hart  (Purdy)  Hall,  was  born 
September  17,  1853,  in  Guilford,  Chenango  county,  N.  Y.,  where  his  father  owned  a 
farm  and  died  in  1875.  The  family  were  early  settlers  of  Connecticut,  coming  origi- 
nally from  England  in  the  seventeenth  century,  and  held  commissions  in  the  State 
troops  of  their  State  in  the  Colonial  wars,  and  in  the  Continental  army  during  the 
war  of  the  Revolution.  Mr.  Hall  after  receiving  a  common  school  education,  be- 
came a  teacher  in  his  native  town,  and  in  the  fall  of  1870  entered  the  State  Normal 
School  at  Brockport,  N.  Y.  After  entering  and  before  finishing  at  the  State  Normal 
School  he  taught  school  several  terms,  in  this  State,  and  in  the  States  of  Massachu- 
setts, Connecticut  and  New  Jersey.  He  read  law  with  Judge  Alberto  T.  Roraback 
in  Canaan,  Conn.,  with  Hon.  Horace  Packer,  in  Oxford,  and  with  Judge  Albert  F. 
Gladding  in  Norwich,  from  whose  office  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Saratoga  in 
September,  1880.  He  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Norwich,  where  he  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace,  clerk  to  the  Surrogate's  Court,  and  in  January,  1884, 
he  received  an  appointment  as  assistant  to  Attorney-General  O'Brien,  with  charge 
of  the  Land  Department  of  that  office.  In  the  fall  of  1886  he  was  offered  and  ac- 
cepted the  office  of  Deputy  Comptroller,  being  the  youngest  man  to  hold  that  impor- 
tant position,  and  occupied  it  until  the  close  of  the  term  of  the  then  comptroller. 
Later  he  formed  a  copartnership  for  the  practice  of  the  law  with  Mr.  Frederick  E. 
Wadhams,  the  special  study  of  the  law  in  reference  to  State  lands  and  the  tax  laws 
made  while  he  was  assistant  attorney-general,  and  deputy  comptroller,  being  found 
to  be  of  great  advantage.  April  16,  1889,  he  was  appointed  deputy  superintendent 
of  the  Banking  Department,  by  the  then  superintendent,  Willis  S.  Paine,  and  has  re- 
mained connected  with  that  department  since.  He  has  filled  every  position  in  it 
from  deputy  and  acting  superintendent  to  bookkeeper,  has  made  a  special  study  of 
the  laws  affecting  the  organization,  conduct  and  supervision  of  financial  institutions, 
both  under  the  State  Banking  Laws  and  the  National  Bank  Act,  and  is  the  author 
of  Hall's  Bank  Laws,  a  recognized  authority  on  such  subjects.  He  has  written  much 
for  the  press,  has  delivered  lectures  and  read  papers  on  financial  subjects,  has  won 
honors  as  an  orator,  has  always  been  a  staunch  Democrat,  being  delegate  to  local, 
State  and  National  conventions.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  Clubs  and  other 
organizations. 

Collins,  Hon.  Lorenzo  D.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Whitehall,  Washington  county, 
July  13,  1821.  He  is  of  Puritan  ancestry  and  Revolutionary  stock,  both  grandfathers 
having  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  His  father,  Daniel  Collins,  fought  in  the 
war  of  1812.  Mr.  L.  D.  Collins  received  a  district  school  education  and  when  nine- 
teen years  of  age,  left  his  father's  farm  and  located  in  West  Troy,  Albanv  county, 
where  two  years  later,  he  opened  a  canal  barn  and  grocery  and  provision  store.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  old  Whig  party  and  when  the  Republican  party  was  formed  in 
1856,  he  became  a  member  and  has  been  very  active  ever  since.  Mr.  Collins  was 
trustee  of  the  village  of  West  Troy  in  1852  and  the  next  year  was  chosen  village 
president;  in  1859  and  I860,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Assembly  and  in  1866  was 
elected  State  senator.  While  in  the  Senate,  he  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
canals  and  in  1867  introduced  in  the  Senate  a  bill  for  the  erection  of  the  New  Capi- 


229 

tol  building,  which  he  had  passed.  Every  bill  he  introduced,  while  in  the  Legisla- 
ture, was  passed  and  became  law.  In  1865  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  International 
Convention  at  Detroit,  Mich.  In  1895  when  the  town  of  Watervliet  was  divided  and 
the  town  of  Colonie  erected,  Mr.  Collins  was  chosen  the  first  supervisor  and  was  re- 
elected in  the  spring  of  189G.  He  was  named  by  Governor  Morton  as  one  of  the  dele- 
gates from  New  York  to  the  National  Farmers'  Congress  and  Good  Roads  Parlia- 
ment, which  were  held  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  during  the  Cotton  States  and  International 
Exposition  in  1895.  He  is  president  of  the  State  Farmers'  League  and  chairman  of 
the  executive  committee  of  the  New  York  State  Farmers'  Congress,  both  of  which 
were  organized  largely  through  his  individual  efforts.  Mr.  Collins  was  a  director  of 
the  Union  National  Bank  of  Troy,  for  twenty  years,  and  was  for  six  years  captain 
of  the  Light  Guards,  a  military  company  of  West  Troy,  Albany  county.  He  is  a 
charter  member  of  Evening  Star  Lodge,  No.  75,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  West  Troy. 

Antemann,  Herman  W.,  son  of  Gottlieb  and  Augusta  (Scherff)  Antemann,  was 
born  in  Saxony,  Germany,  April  21,  1847.  He  came  to  America  with  his  parents 
when  he  was  five  years  old  and  settled  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  educated  in 
a  private  German  school  and  the  public  schools.  He  obtained  his  first  employment 
with  Thomas  E.  Van  Loon  at  No.  480  Broadway,  where  he  learned  the  jewelry  busi- 
ness. In  1870  Mr.  Antemann  and  Mr.  Van  Loon  formed  a  partnership.  Six  months 
later  Mr.  Van  Loon  sold  out  to  Mr.  Antemann  and  for  the  past  twenty-four  years 
Mr.  Antemann  has  been  in  business  at  his  present  location,  No.  14  James  street, 
where  he  now  does  a  large  business  as  a  manufacturing  jeweler.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  the  Redeemer  and  a  member  and  director  of 
the  Albany  Musical  Association.  February  10,  1870,  lie  married  Elizabeth  Huber  of 
Albany,  by  whom  he  has  four  children,  Elizabeth,  Kathryn,  Millie  and  Augusta 
Elsie. 

•Winne,  Charles  Visscher,  is  descended  from  Pieter  Winne,  born  in  Ghent,  Inlan- 
ders, and  Tannatje  Adams,  his  wife,  born  in  Leeuwaerdeu,  Vrieslandt,  who  came  to 
America  and  settled  in  what  is  now  Bethlehem,  Albany  county,  July  (I,  108-1.  The 
line  of  descent  is  (1)  Pieter  Winne;  (2)  Livinus,  1047-1700,  of  Albany,  married  first 
Teuntje  Martense  and  second  Mrs.  Williamje  Yiele  Schermerhorn ;  (3)  Benjamin  (by 
second  wife),  1705-1797,  married  Rachel  Van  Arnam  ;  (4)  Livinus,  1715  1825,  mar- 
ried Marytje  Lansing;  (5)  Livinus  Lansing,  1783-1810,  married  Ann  Visscher.  at- 
torney, graduated  from  Union  College  in  1804,  captain  U.  S.  Army  1812,  and  served 
in  that  war;  and  (6)  Nanning  Visscher,  1801]  1858,  a  physician,  graduated  from 
Union  College  in  1824  and  from  Yale  in  1820,  commissioned  surgeon  with  rank  of 
lieutenant-colonel  on  Maj.-Gen.  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer's  stall',  and  married  Rachel, 
daughter  of  Garrett  Van  Zandt  Bleecker.  All  these  spent  their  active  careers  in 
Albany.  Charles  V.  Winne,  son  of  Dr.  X.  V,  was  born  January  21,  L848,  was  edu- 
cated at  the  Albany  Hoys'  Academy  and  in  1*11  entered  the  employ  of  the  1 ».  &  I!. 
C.  Co.,  where  he  has  since  remained.  He  was  first  attached  to  the  engineering 
corps  and  since  1872  has  been  in  the  paymaster's  office,  becoming  paymaster  in  June, 
1891.  He  is  a  member  of  Temple  Lodge  No.  II.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Temple  (.  hapter  No. 
5,  R.  A.  M.,  the  Fort  Orange  Club,  the  Old  Guard  Albany  Zouave  Cadets,  and  the 
Ridgelield  Athletic  and  Albany  Camera  Clubs;  has  been  president  of  the  Young 
Men's  Association  since  isi)4;  was  commodore  <>t'  the  American  Canoe  Association 


230 

in  1892;  was  for  six  years  captain  of  the  Mohican  Canoe  Club;  and  is  secretary  of 
the  Albany  Country  Club;  a  trustee  and  treasurer  of  the  Albany  City  Homoeopathic 
Hospital,  member  of  the  Holland  Society  of  New  York  and  recorder  of  the  Board 
of  Governors  of  the  American  Canoe  Association,  in  which  he  is  very  prominent. 

Young,  William  P.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland,  August  7,  1834,  Peter, 
his  grandfather,  being  a  native  of  the  town  of  Knox,  where  he  was  born  about  1784, 
and  where  he  spent  his  days  as  a  farmer.  He  was  a  prominent  and  active  member 
of  the  State  militia,  in  which  he  took  great  pride  and  spent  considerable  money, 
being  an  officer  in  a  company  of  cavalry.  His  first  wife  was  Miss  Toles,  by  whom 
he  had  six  sons  and  four  daughters,  his  second  wife  being  Miss  Bundy,  by  whom 
three  children  were  born.  He  died  in  1864,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  Peter,  the 
father,  was  born  in  Knox,  June  6,  1806.  He  commenced  at  the  age  of  sixteen  to 
learn  the  carpenter's  trade  and  followed  it  about  forty  years,  when,  in  1851  he 
bought  a  farm  in  Guilderland  and  in  1856  bought  an  adjoining  farm.  In  1863  he 
engaged  in  farming  in  Guilderland,  where  he  spent  his  remaining  days.  He  was  also 
a  member  of  and  drummer  in  the  State  militia.  His  wife  was  Rebecca  (Williams) 
Austin,  and  their  children  were  John  A.,  Charles  W.,  Henry  W.,  Sarah  A.,  Mar- 
garet J.,  Lois  R.,  Mary  (who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-five),  Eliza  O.  and  Gouvenier 
M.  He  died  August  15,  1881,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five,  and  his  wife  died  April  28, 
1892,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven.  William  P.  remained  at  home  until  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  when  he  rented,  in  1856,  a  farm  for  one  year  for  himself  in  the  town 
of  Coeymans.  In  1857  he  returned  to  Guilderland  and  worked  his  father's  farms  for 
nine  years,  and  in  1866  purchased  a  farm  in  New  Scotland  which  he  still  owns.  In 
1883  he  bought  a  second  farm  in  New  Scotland,  where  he  now  resides.  He  has 
made  a  specialty  of  fruit  culture  and  has  several  varieties  on  his  farms.  The  farm 
on  which  he  now  lives  is  known  as  the  Dr.  Sager  farm,  and  was  originally  owned  by 
Dr.  Day.  Dr.  Sager  lived  with  Dr.  Day  and  later  married  his  adopted  daughter. 
Mr.  Young  has  erected  new  houses  and  barn  buildings  on  both  of  his  farms,  being 
his  own  architect.  December  9,  1854,  he  married  Mary  S.  Koonz,  born  in  New  Scot- 
land and  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Folmsbee)  Koonz,  and  granddaughter 
of  Nathaniel  and  Catherine  (Cline)  Koonz;  the  latter  lived  to  be  106  years  of  age. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Young  were  born  four  children:  Mary,  widow  of  Albert  Relyea, 
who  died  January  4,  1885,  was  married  to  him  August  18,  1875,  leaving  two  children 
surviving  her:  Lizzie  B.,  and  Levi  E.  William  H.  married  Libbie  Main  of  Guilder- 
land,  March  10,  1885,  and  have  two  children:  Olive  and  Lelah  ;  he  is  an  extensive 
berry  grower.  Hannah  E.  married  Henry  Goodfellow  of  Guilderland,  October  7, 
1880,  and  have  two  children :  Florence  and  Ernest.  Elizabeth  E.,  who  still  resides 
at  home.  Of  the  brothers  and  sisters  of  William  P.  Young,  John  A.  Young  resides 
at  Brodhead,  Wis.,  having  married  in  1852  Maria  Groat  of  Guilderland,  by  whom 
he  has  had  four  children.  Charles  W.  Young  lives  at  Whitewater,  Wis.,  and  mar- 
ried Mary  Jane  Chism,  and  has  no  children.  Sarah  A.  Young  married  Peter  Van 
Patten  and  now  lives  in  Centralia,  Kansas,  having  one  daughter.  Margaret  J. 
Young  married  Charles  Gemlich  and  resides  in  Guilderland  and  has  one  son.  Henry 
W.  Young  was  married  to  Joanna  Gates  and  lives  in  the  city  of  Albany.  They  are 
the  parents  of  two  children.  Lois  R.  Young  married  David  Van  Patten,  a  brother 
of  Peter,  and  lives  on  an  adjoining  farm  in  Centralia,  Kas.     They  have  two  chil- 


231 

dren.  Eliza  O.  Young  married  Charles  Severson  and  resides  in  Guilderland,  having 
borne  him  one  child.  Gouvenier  M.  Young  resides  at  Whitewater,  Wis.,  having 
married  Elva  Martin  of  Guilderland,  by  whom  he  has  had  two  children,  of  whom 
one  survives. 

Niles,  Nathaniel,  son  of  John  H.  and  Fannie  (Mosher)  Niles,  was  born  in  Bethle- 
hem, Albany  county,  September  1,  1856,  and  is  a  grandson  of  Nathaniel  Niles,  who 
came  from  Connecticut  to  Coeymans,  Albany  county,  at  an  early  day  and  died  there 
in  1876.  The  latter  was  prominent  in  town  affairs,  serving  as  supervisor,  etc.  John 
H.  Niles,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  died  in  1861.  Nathaniel  Niles  attended  the  public 
and  private  schools,  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Free  Academy  in  1874  and  from 
Dartmouth  College,  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.,  in  1878,  and  read  law  in  Albany  with 
Judge  Rufus  W.  Peckham.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1880  and  for  a  time  acted 
as  clerk  for  Peckham,  Rosendale  &  Hessberg,  in  whose  offices  and  the  offices  of  their 
successors,  he  has  successfully  practiced  his  profession  ever  since.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Democrat. 

Mead,  Charles  W.,  son  of  Delois  L.,  was  born  in  Clymer,  N.  Y.,  December  3,  1843, 
and  pursued  his  education  under  private  tutors  and  in  the  academies  of  Chautauqua 
county,  graduating  in  1863.  He  completed  his  collegiate  studies  at  Painesville, 
Ohio,  and  for  seven  years  was  principal  of  academies  and  union  schools  in  his  na- 
tive county.  In  the  fall  of  1870  he  came  to  Albany  and  entered  the  Albany  Law 
School,  from  which  he  was  graduated  and  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1871.  He  imme- 
diately began  the  practice  of  his  profession  and  in  1877  formed  a  copartnership  with 
Samuel  S.  Hatt,  which  still  continues,  the  present  firm  being  Mead,  Hatt  &  Palmer. 
He  is  a  staunch  Republican  and  in  1882  was  appointed  a  U.  S.  circuit  court  commis- 
sioner, which  position  he  has  since  held.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  welfare 
of  the  city,  was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  legislative  branch  of  its  government, 
and  has  given  considerable  attention  and  takes  high  rank  in  the  social  and  fraternal 
organizations  of  Albany.  He  is  a  member  of  Grand  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  is  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  fraternal  cooperative  associations,  and  was  the  represen- 
tative of  one  of  the  leading  orders  of  the  State  in  the  matter  of  State  legislation  and 
one  of  the  framers  of  the  present  law  governing  the  same.  In  1874  he  married  M. 
Marilla  Burnap,  one  of  the  leading  contraltos  of  Albany,  and  they  have  one  daugh- 
ter, Edith   M. 

Amyot,  Bruno  E.,  D.  D.  S.,  is  a  leading  member  of  the  dental  profession  in 
Cohoes,  and  is  a  son  of  Bruno  Amyot,  who  has  been  a  resident  of  this  place  for 
nearly  half  a  century.  He  came  from  Yereherer,  Province  of  Quebec.  Doctor 
Amyot  was  born  in  1869  in  Cohoes  and  was  educated  in  the  parochial  schools.  At 
the  age  of  nineteen  he  entered  the  New  York  College  of  Dentistrv,  and  after  two 
years  graduated,  in  1890,  beginning  practice  here  at  once,  where  he  enjoys  a  large 
patronage.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Third  Ifistrict  Dental  Society  of  New  York 
State.    September  30,  1896,  he  married  Miss  Rosa  de  Lima  Masson  of  Cohoes. 

Berns,  James  H.,  was  born  in  1863,  a  son  of  James  Berns,  an  artist;  his  mother 
being  a  teacher,  made  the  home  of  his  childhood  a  dwelling  of  culture  and  refine- 
ment. Mr.  Berns  is  a  Democrat  and  is  a  member  of  the  County  Committee. 
James  H.  is  one  of  the  leading  young  lawyers  of  Cohoes,  and  came  to  the  front  be- 
cause of  his  able  handling   of   the   celebrated  case  of  Cahill,    who  was  indicted  for 


232 

shooting  his  brother-in-law,  Charles  Schofield,  at  Cohoes.  In  1892  he  entered  the 
Albany  Law  School,  after  graduating  from  the  High  School  and  the  Albany  busi- 
ness College.  After  his  admission  to  the  bar  in  1894,  he  opened  an  office  and  began 
practice. 

Bullock,  Joseph,  came  to  Cohoes  as  early  as  1846,  and  has  been  a  resident  here 
since,  with  the  exception  of  eight  years  in  Lockport,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the 
knitting  business.  He  was  of  Dutch  ancestry,  born  in  Guilderland,  in  1835,  and  de- 
cidedly a  self-made  man,  adding  to  his  limited  education  by  close  observation  and 
personal  research.  In  1872  he  returned  to  Cohoes  and  in  1877  established  a  baking 
business,  which  he  conducted  with  marked  success  until  it  was  purchased  in  1894  by 
his  son,  John  H.  Bullock,  who  still  conducts  it  at  No.  116  Remsen  street.  Mr.  Bul- 
lock is  a  man  of  great  strength  of  character  and  convictions.  He  appreciates  highlv 
the  picture  of  the  domicile  of  his  youth  where  both  father  and  mother  were  born ;  it 
was  built  in  1704  and  is  yet  intact;  the  brick  in  the  fireplace  and  chimney  were 
brought  from  Holland. 

Belanger,  Israel,  justice  of  the  peace,  and  a  scholarly  young  man,  had  the  courage 
and  perseverance  to  break  the  fetters  of  circumstances  which  surrounded  his  youth, 
and  gain  his  way  to  the  front  "amid  the  maddening  crowd's  ignoble  strife.  "  When 
nine  years  old  he  began  life  in  the  mill  where  he  remained  until  twenty  years  of  age 
as  a  weaver.  He  then  returned  to  Joliette,  Quebec,  where  he  was  born  in  1863,  and 
entered  Joliette  College.  In  1890  he  graduated  with  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Letters 
from  Laval  University,  Quebec,  and  came  to  Cohoes.  Here  he  studied  law  with 
Hon.  George  H.  Fitts  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1892.  Besides  his  law  practice 
and  office  duties,  he  is  identified  with  an  insurance  and  real  estate  agency.  He  is 
now  justice  of  peace  of  the  city  of  Cohoes. 

Campbell,  Hon.  George,  a  well  known  citizen,  long  identified  with  the  interests  of 
Cohoes,  is  of  Canadian  birth,  and  first  located  at  Cohoes  in  1847,  and  after  sixteen 
years'  residence  at  Waterford,  where  he  learned  the  machinist's  trade  and  was  for  a 
time  in  partnership  with  George  Gage,  he  returned  to  this  city  in  1863,  and  estab- 
lished with  John  Clute  the  present  firm.  In  1873  they  erected  a  commodious  modern 
block  on  their  old  location  opposite  the  Harmony  Hotel.  He  makes  a  specialty  of 
machinery  for  knitting,  but  produces  much  other  work  of  high  grade.  Mr.  Camp- 
bell was  formerly  a  leader  in  local  politics,  and  besides  various  minor  offices  pre- 
viously held,  he  was  elected  in  1881  to  the  Assembly  by  a  large  majority. 

Carter,  William  H.,  superintendent  of  the  carding  department  of  the  Tivoli  Mills 
since  1868.  Mr.  Carter  was  born  in  the  city  of  Albany  in  1836,  and  fourteen  years 
later  his  father,  Michael  Carter,  moved  to  Cohoes,  when  William  went  to  work  in 
the  Egberts  Mills,  where  he  remained  for  fifteen  years.  He  was  made  a  foreman  in 
1860  and  took  charge  of  the  carding  department.  In  1S68  he  became  associated  with 
Commodore  A.  J.  Root  of  the  Tivoli  Mills,  and  has  for  nearly  thirty  years  occupied 
a  responsible  position.  In  1880  Mr.  Carter  began  operating  a  mill  at  Troy  with  Mr. 
Corliss,  but  they -were  burned  out  two  years  later,  and  the  venture  was  abandoned; 
meantime  he  had  maintained  his  connection  with  the  Tivoli  Mills.  Mr.  Carter  is 
one  of  the  pioneer  people  of  Cohoes.  He  is  a  member  of  several  charitable  organ- 
izations. 


233 

Crawford,  James  F. ,  has  been  a  lawyer  in  active  practice  at  Cohoes  for  half  a  cen- 
tury, coming  here  in  1849  after  two  years'  practice  in  Albany.  At  the  close  of  an 
academic  course  at  Augusta,  X.  Y.,  where  he  was  bom  in  1819,  he  began  legal  study 
in  Oneida  Castle,  X.  Y.,  with  the  late  Timothy  Jenkins,  a  lawyer  of  much  prom- 
inence. After  four  years  he  came  to  Albany  and  resumed  his  studies  with  Edwin 
C.  Litchfield,  then  district  attorney  of  Albany  county.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  L846,  and  was  very  successful, from  the  start.  As  a  citizen  of  Cohoes  he  has  been 
prominently  identified  with  every  interest  which  has  tendered  to  develop  its  growth 
and  prosperity.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature 
in  1866,  when  the  first  appropriation  was  made  for  the  State  Capitol. 

Clark,  William  B.,  was  born  in  Xew  York  city  in  1858,  but  has  been  a  resident  of 
Cohoes  since  he  was  four  years  of  age.  He  began  business  life  empty  handed,  but 
possessed  the  sterling  qualities  of  his  Scotch  ancestors,  and  has  achieved  substantial 
success.  In  every  department  of  the  milling  business  he  has  labored,  and  was  eight 
years  in' the  plumbing  business,  putting  in  heating  apparatus  in  the  Cascade  Mills 
and  other  large  buildings.  The  Continental  Knitting  Company  was  organized  in 
1891  as  the  Clark  &  Wilson,  but  John  C.  Bennett  is  now  the  junior  partner.  He  is  a 
member  of  both  the  .Masonic  fraternity  and  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

Dawson,  John,  late  of  Cohoes,  retired  from  active  business  only  a  short  time  pre- 
vious to  his  death  in  1895.  At  that  time  he  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
knitting  needles  used  here  in  the  hosiery  mills.  He  was  born  at  Nottingham,  Eng- 
land, coming  to  America  when  nine  years  old,  and  a  later  year  to  Cohoes.  His 
father  was  a  lace  manufacturer,  and  he  brought  his  machine  here  but  never  used  it. 
Mr.  Dawson  was  a  skilled  machinist  and  very  successful  in  all  his  enterprises.  He 
allied  himself  with  one  of  the  first  families  here  when  he  married  Mary,  daughter  of 
John  Long.  They  had  seven  children:  William  IL,  Lincoln  J.,  Lizzie.  Maria, 
Frank  R.,  Alice  and  Herbert  G. 

Elliot,  W.  J.,  is  city  clerk  of  Cohoes  since  1894.  He  is  a  young  man  of  wide  popu- 
larity, born  in  1860,  and  is  a  son  of  James  Elliot.  The  latter  now  deceased,  was  a 
native  of  England,  but  he  spent  most  of  his  life  here  as  a  merchant  in  the  confection- 
ery line.  Mr.  Elliot  was  educated  here  and  first  engaged  in  job  printing,  the  firm 
being  known  as  Craig  &  Elliot,  and  carried  on  an  extensive  business.  Mr.  Elliott  is 
a  Republican  and  is  serving  his  first  official  engagement  with  credit. 

Foley,  Edward,  has  been  one-  of  the  leading  builde  mtractors  of  Cohoes, 

where  he  came  in  L865  to  take  charge  of  the  building  of  the  Cohoes  Company  dam. 
He  was  educated  in  the  county  schools  of  Ireland,  where  he  was  born  in  1881.  He 
also  acquired  the  mason's  trade  there,  and  came  to  America,  to  Xew  York  city, 
when  he  was  seventeen  years  old.  After  two  years  he  came  to  Albany  and  there 
superintended  bridge  construction  and  church  building,  erecting  St.  Peter's  church 
and  other  buildings.  In  Cohoes  he  built  the  Harmony  Mill,  one  of  the  largest  in  the 
world,  the  Episcopal  church,  and  other  smaller  buildings.  By  his  untiring  efforts 
he  has  made  a  financial  success,  and  now  lives  a  retired  life.  He  has  five  children, 
the  elder  son,  Edward,  jr.,  is  now  a  resident  of  Kansas  City,  and  is  engaged  in  the 
real  estate  business.  v 

Garland,  Jerome,  has  for  eight  years  held   the  responsible  position  of  manager  of 
dd 


234 

the  Cohoes  Iron  Foundry  and  Machine  Company,  to  which  he  came  in  1871  as  super- 
intendent, having  held  a  like  position  in  the  Laconia  Company  Iron  Works,  Bidde- 
ford,  Me.,  where  his  boyhood  was  spent  and  where  he  learned  the  machinist's  trade. 
He  was  born  in  Medina,  N.  Y.,  in  1833,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  P.  Garland,  a  lock 
builder  and  contractor,  and  when  six  months  old  passed  through  Cohoes  on  the  canal, 
but  was  not  of  sufficient  age  to  have  any  personal  remembrance  of  the  trip.  When 
a  boy  he  had  a  predilection  for  the  sea,  but  one  voyage  as  a  sailor  changed  his  mind. 
He  spent  one  year  in  California  during  the  gold  excitement  Mr.  Garland  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  has  served  as  alderman  of  the  Second  ward,  and  was  also  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Health  and  of  the  Excise  Board.  He  is  a  master  Mason  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

Kennedy,  Thomas,  is  superintendent  of  the  celebrated  Tivoli  Mills,  Root  Manu- 
facturing Company,  with  which  he  has  had  a  long  term  of  association,  having  first 
entered  them  in  1863.  He  has  always  been  a  machinist  and  acquired  the  trade  at 
Gage's  shops  at  Waterford.  He  also  operates  a  factory  at  No.  49  Mohawk  street, 
which  manufactures  special  machinery  for  knitting  mills,  and  is  in  charge  of  his  son, 
T.  Frank  Kennedy.  He  was  born  in  County  Galway,  Ireland,  in  1842,  coming  to 
America  in  1848.  He  was  on  the  Board  of  Education  in  1878-79.  Mr.  Kennedy  is  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 

Leversee,  Hon.  Jacob  D.,  has  been  a  resident  of  Cohoes  only  since  1878,  but  has 
taken  a  very  front  place  in  business  and  manufacturing  circles.  He  was  born  in 
Brunswick,  N.  Y. ,  in  1858,  and  received  a  common  school  education  at  that  place, 
where  his  father  was  then  a  farmer.  Mr.  Leversee  learned  the  paper  box  making 
trade  at  Lansingburgh,  and  in  1885  established  the  present  firm  of  Leversee  & 
Snyder,  with  W.  W.  Snyder  of  Cohoes,  of  which  he  is  president;  he  is  also  presi- 
dent of  the  Daily  News  Company  of  Cohoes.  In  social  and  financial  circles  he  is  a 
central  figure,  and  has  served  as  alderman  of  the  Third  ward.  In  1896  he  was 
elected  member  of  assembly  to  represent  the  Fourth  assembly  district  of  Albany 
county.  He  is  a  member  of  Apollo  Commander}'  No.  14  of  Troy,  also  a  member  of 
B.  P.  O.  Elks  Lodge  No.  141,  and  a  member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Cohoes  City  Club,  the  Mystic  Club,  the  Waterford  Club,  Pafraets  Dael  Club 
of  Troy,  and  is  treasurer  of  the  Park  Club  of  Lansingburgh.  Mr.  Leversee  was 
married  September  9,  1880,  to  Katie  Fitzgerald  of  Cohoes. 

Lowery,  Rev.,  J.  F.,  LL.D.,  the  talented  and  faithful  pastor  of  St.  Agnes  church, 
which  is  just  completed,  was  its  first  pastor  and  builder.  He  has  labored  for  years 
for  its  erection.  Rev.  Father  Lowery  has  done  glorious  work,  which  will  be  for  cen- 
turies a  remembrance  of  one  who  labored  zealously  and  effectually  for  the  salvation 
of  souls  and  for  the  up-building  of  the  church  of  God.  He  was  born  in  Utica,  N.Y., 
March  2,  1841,  and  studied  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  city,  and  after  an 
academic  course,  went  to  St.  Charles  College,  Maryland,  where  he  made  his  classical 
studies,  and  afterwards  completed  the  higher  studies  at  St.  Mary's  University,  Bal- 
timore, and  St.  Joseph's  Provincial  Seminary,  Troy,  where  he  was  ordained  to  the 
priesthood,  June  15,  1867.  He  was  appointed  to  .Saratoga,  and  then  to  St.  Joseph's, 
Albany.  His  first  pastoral  charge  was  in  Oswego,  in  which  city  he  built  the  church 
of  St.  John  the  Evangelist,   and  he  afterwards  built  St.  Cecelia's  church  in  Fonda. 


235 

The   University  of  Niagara   conferred  on  him   the  honorary  degree  of    Doctor  oi 
Laws  in  April,  1894. 

McDermott,  Martin,  one  of  the  popular  and  successful  druggists  of  the  city  of 
Cohoes,  has  been  engaged  in  that  business  since  1880,  when  he  began  as  a  clerk  for 
C.  S.  Clute.  He  was  born  at  Halfmoon,  Saratoga  county,  in  1859,  and  is  a  son  of 
Roger  McDermott,  then  a  farmer,  but  now  a  resident  of  Cohoes.  Mr.  McDermott 
opened  the  Model  Pha-  macy  at  103  Remsen  street,  Cohoes,  and  the  establishment  is 
indeed  a  model  in  every  respect  He  is  a  member  of  the  Business  Men's  Association 
of  the  city  of  Cohoes. 

Millar,  W.  L.,  an  enterprising  young  man  of  Cohoes,  is  practically  a  lifelong  resi- 
dent of  that  city,  though  born  near  Glasgow,  Scotland,  in  1861.  He  came  with  his 
father,  Alexander  Millar,  a  blacksmith,  to  America  in  1866.  He  first  entered  River- 
side Mills  as  a  cutter,  where  he  remained  for  seven  years,  and  was  afterward  em- 
ployed in  other  mills.  In  1889,  with  his  father-in-law,  George  P.  Steenburg,  he 
opened  up  a  coal  yard  on  Central  avenue;  in  1890  Mr.  Steenburg  died,  and  he  has 
since  operated  the  business  alone. 

Mansfield,  W.  K.,  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Cohoes  Daily  News,  was  born  in 
1856,  in  Waterford,  where  he  still  resides.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Cohoes  and  at  Amherst  College  Amherst,  Mass.  From  1877  until  1884  he  was  in 
business  in  Saratoga  county.  He  purchased  the  Daily  News  from  James  H.  Mas- 
ten,  in  October,  1884,  and  has  since  conducted  it.  He  served  for  six  years  as  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  in  the  town  of  Halfmoon,  Saratoga  county,  and  is  now  serving  the 
third  term  as  justice  of  the  peace  of  the  town  of  Waterford.  He  is  a  member  and 
past  master  of  Cohoes  Lodge  No.  116,  F.  S:  A.  M..  and  is  also  a  member  and  past 
high  priest  of  Cohoes  Chapter  No.  168,  R.  A.  M.,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Riverside 
Club  of  Lansingburgh.  The  Daily  News  is  the  oldest  daily  paper  published  in  the 
city,  having  been  established  in  1873  by  Edward  Monk,  the  original  size  of  the 
sheet  being  13  by  20  inches.  The  increasing  demand  upon  its  columns  necessitated 
enlargements  in  1875,  1876,  1879,  and  again  in  1882,  when  the  present  form,  24  by 
36,  was  adopted.  In  June,  1*74,  Samuel  Sault  entered  the  firm,  which  was  known 
as  Monk  &  Sault.  In  December,  1873,  the  office  was  removed  from  the  corner  of 
Ontario  and  Remsen  streets  to  enlarged  quarters  in  the  Campbell  &  Clute  block  on 
Mohawk  street.  In  July,  1879,  Mr.  Sault's  interest  was  transferred  to  James  H. 
Masten,  the  veteran  editor  of  the  city,  for  many  years  editor  of  the  Cataract.  In 
April,  1881,  the  firm  of  Monk  &  Masten  was  dissolved,  Mr.  Monk  retiring.  .Mr. 
Masten  continued  as  editor  and  proprietor  until  <  >ctober,  1884,  when  he  disposed  of 
the  paper  to  Mansfield  &  Harrington.  In  October,  L885,  the  firm  of  Mansfield  & 
Harrington  was  dissolved  and  the  News  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  present  editor 
and  proprietor,  W.  K.  Mansfield.  In  November,  1885,  the  News  office  was  removed 
to  the  present  location  in  North's  block.  The  News  is  published  daily  at  noon,  Sun- 
days and  holidays  excepted.  It  presents  all  the  local  and  vicinity  news  and  full 
telegraphic  reports  from  all  parts  of  the  world.  It  is  in  every  sense  a  family  paper 
and  does  not  depend  upon  the  sensational  or  scandalous  for  its  circulation.  It  also 
furnishes  its  readers  with  the  very  best  miscellaneous  matter  and  illustrated  serial 
stories  of  home  reading.  Tire  News  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being  the  only  noon 
paper  published  in  the  country,  <>r  so  far  as  is  known,  in  the  world.     The  News  took 


236 

a  prominent  part  in  the  labor  difficulties  of  1886  and  1887  and  contended  for  the 
constitutional  freedom  which  was  denied  by  the  advanced  labor  agitator  of  that 
time.  The  News  and  its  editor  went  under  a  boycott  for  several  years,  as  a  result  of 
the  stand  taken  at  that  time  on  behalf  of  individual  liberty. 

Stevens,  Joseph,  the  well-known  news  dealer  and  stationer,  has  been  located  for 
thirty-four  years  on  Remsen  street.  He  first  entered  the  business  in  1862  under  the 
firm  name  of  Jones  &  Stevens,  but  since  1865  he  has  conducted  the  business  alone. 
He  has  a  varied  line  of  school  books,  blank  books,  envelopes,  writing  paper,  pens 
and  ink,  also  fashion  magazines,  and  he  makes  a  specialty  of  Butterick  patterns  of 
which  he  has  the  agency.  Mr.  Stevens  is  a  native  of  Cohoes,  and  a  lifelong  resi- 
dent. He  was  born  in  1839,  and  is  the  son  of  John  Stevens,  a  mechanic.  He  re- 
ceived a  common  school  education  and  first  worked  in  a  woolen  mill.  In  1870  Mr. 
Stevens  married  Miss  Lucy  M.  Reinhart  of  Berne,  N.  Y.  They  have  two  children, 
Charles  and  Lydia  F. 

Slade,  E.  F  ,  a  son  of  Benjamin  J.  and  Elizabeth  (Flager)  Slade,  both  natives  of 
Saratoga  county,  N.Y.,  was  born  May  28,  1866;  he  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
at  Waterford.  The  original  location  of  his  business  was  at  Nos.  21  and  29  Church 
street,  but  in  1892  he  established  the  coal  business  down  town,  by  purchasing  the 
large  yards  of  F.  B.  Shattock  at  148  Saratoga  street,  where  he  also  handles  wood, 
hay,  and  feed;  he  also  owns  extensive  ice  houses  at  the  north  end  of  the  city  of 
Cohoes.  He  is  a  Republican  and  is  a  prominent  official  in  the  Masonic  fraternity; 
is  a  member  of  Apollo  Commandery,  also  a  member  of  the  order  of  the  Mystic  Shrine 
and  a  member  of  the  Mystic  Club.  He  was  married  April  1,  1891,  to  Anna  Ladd,  of 
Waterford.     They  have  one  son,  Benjamin  J. 

Shine  James  H.,  is  emphatically  a  self-made  man,  owing  the  important  social 
and  political  status  he  occupies  to  his  own  exertions  and  character.  He  was  born  at 
Waterford,  N.  Y. ,  in  1846,  of  humble  parentage.  The  exigencies  of  life  took  him  out 
of  school  when  but  twelve  years  old,  and  thenceforward  he  was  a  man  among  men.  In 
early  life  various  occupations  on  the  canals,  farming  labor,  and  the  cooper's  trade  re- 
ceived successive  attention.  In  1*04  he  enlisted  in  the  16th  N.  Y.  Heavy  Artillery, 
and  saw  nearly  two  years'  service.  Mr.  Shine  was  canal  weighmaster  from  1874  to 
1880,  and  collector  of  canal  statistics  from  1882  to  1890.  From  1885  to  1890  rfe  was  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  knit  goods  at  Valley  Falls,  N.  Y.  While  a  resident  of 
Waterford  he  served  as  trustee  of  the  village,  and  as  supervisor  for  three  years.  In 
1891  he  assumed  his  present  position  as  manager  of  Hope  Knitting  Mills  at  Cohoes. 
In  1896  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Public  Improvement  Commission  of  the 
city  of  Cohoes. 

Spillane,  P.  H.,  one  of  the  most  popular  and  enterprising  druggists  of  the  city,  has 
been  in  the  city  since  1876,  when  he  opened  a  store  under  the  firm  name  of  Spillane 
&  Davis.  In  1880  he  purchased  his  partner's  interest,  and  removed  to  LarkinHall,  and 
in  1N90  to  his  present  location.  Mr.  Spillane  was  born  in  Rochester  in  1858.  and  isa  son 
of  David  Spillane,  now  a  retired  resident  of  Cohoes.  He  has  been  engaged  in  the 
drug  business  all  of  his  lifetime  and  is  a  past  master  of  its  requirements  and  the  ac- 
cessory lines,  and  although  young  in  years  is  the  oldest  druggist  in  point  of  residence 
at  Cohoes.  He  is  a  prominent  Democrat  and  has  filled  various  offices,  such  as  com- 
missioner of  schools,  etc. 


2:37 

Simpson,  John  F.  has  been  a  resident  of  Cohoes  since  1840,  and  during  that  time 
has  been  associated  with  the  Harmony  Mills,  and  now  has  a  responsible  position  as 
superintendent  thereof.  He  is  a  descendant  of  an  old  family.  His  maternal  grand- 
father, Avery  Le  Roy,  came  from  France  with  La  Fayette,  and  took  part  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  He  was  born  at  Saratoga  in  1827,  and  is  a  son  of  Stephen  Simp- 
son, a  farmer  and  millwright,  who  died  here.  Mr.  Simpson  was  but  nine  years  of 
age  when  he  entered  the  cotton  mills.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  was  village  trustee 
for  a  time.  He  has  been  police  commissioner  for  two  years  and  still  holds  that 
position. 

Simmons,  George  E.,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Cohoes  since  1859,  came  from  Troy 
where  he  was  educated,  and  engaged  in  mercantile  life,  keeping  a  grocery  store  for 
many  years  before  conducting  the  Harmony  Hotel.  He  reopened  the  new  building 
in  1880,  and  selling  again  in  1885.  He  now  has  two  large  farms  in  the  suburbs  of 
Cohoes.  He  is  a  son  of  A.  C.  Simmons,  a  farmer,  and  was  born  at  Poestenkill, 
Rensselaer  county,  in  1835.  Amelia  Shelton  was  his  first  wife,  whom  he  married  in 
1856.  In  1868  he  married  Margaret  Jane  Baker,  his  present  wife,  who  is  a  daughter 
of  A.  M.  Baker,  of  this  city.  Her  great-grandfather  was  Capt.  Seth  Baker,  who  was 
a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  her  grandfather,  Lewis  Baker,  was  killed  at 
Sackett's  Harbor  in  the  war  of  1812.  Mr.  Simmons  has  been  prominently  identified 
with  public  affairs,  serving  seven  years  as  supervisor.  In  1879  he  was  appointed 
assistant  superintendent  of  public  works,  which  position  he  held  until  1895.  Their 
son,  Abram  B.,  died  in  1893  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years.  He  was  a  graduate  of 
the  Albany  Medical  College  and  had  begun  to  practice  at  Amsterdam.  He  was  re- 
garded as  a  young  man  of  great  promise  and  his  death  was  a  heavy  blow  to  his 
family  and  friends.     There  are  two  daughters  now  living,  Annie  E.  and  Amelia  M. 

Slavin,  Thomas,  though  a  native  of  Waterford,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  born  in  1833, 
has  been  a  lifelong  resident  of  Cohoes.  His  reminiscences  of  the  place  in  its  infancy 
are  very  interesting,  and  he  is  regarded  as  a  personal  landmark  and  compendium  of 
data  concerning  the  early  times.  His  testimony  is  regarded  as  impeachable  in  cases 
involving  boundaries  and  conditions  of  a  half  century  ago.  Here  has  been  the 
scene  of  his  early  struggles  in  early  business  life,  for  Mr.  Slavin  is  a  self  made  man. 
He  has  been  compelled  to  gain  his  own  maintenance  since  he  was  nine  years  of  age, 
as  he  was  one  of  the  seventeen  children  of  Michael  Slavin,  who  came  from  Ireland 
in  1832.  He  first  engaged  as  a  teamster  for  flour  mills.  In  isi;.~i  he  established  a 
coal  business  and  in  1869  came  to  No.  135  Saratoga  street,  where  he  also  deals  in 
wood,  hay,  flour,  feed  and  corn.  In  1859  he  married  Elizabeth  Bannon  of  Troy,  by 
whom  he  has  had  eight  children,  four  sons  and  four  daughters;  Thomas  F.  and 
Charles  J.  are  associated  with  him  in  business. 

Wilcox,  Rodney,  is  a  personal  "landmark"  of  Cohoes.  where  he  came  in  1856, 
when  the  village  had  about  6,000  population.  He  was  born  in  Victory  Mills.  X.  Y.. 
in  1833,  and  is  a  son  of  John  Wilcox  of  English  birth.  His  early  manhood  was  spent 
on  a  farm,  but  he  first  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  his  native  place.  <  >n 
coming  here  he  resumed  the  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Stiles  &  Wilcox,  until 
wiped  out  by  the  panic  of  1*57.  He  then  traveled  in  the  West,  returned  one  year 
later  and  began  business  again  under  the  firm  name  of  Marshall  &  Wilcox.  Since 
1867  the  establishment  has  been  under  his  own  name,  and  contains  a  general  line  of 


238 

dry  goods,  draperies,  etc.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  is  interested  in  the 
success  of  the  party.  He  is  an  attendant  of  the  M.  E.  church.  In  1872  he  married 
Miss  Adeline  Coon.     They  have  an  adopted  daughter,  Mary  Elizabeth. 

Wertime,  Walter  H.,  was  born  in  Ilion,  N.  Y. ,  in  1871.  His  father  was  Herman 
Wertime,  born  in  Cologne,  Germany.  He  was  educated  at  the  University  of  Bonn, 
and  came  to  this  country  in  1862.  He  enlisted  in  the  Union  army  immedialely  after 
his  arrival  and  served  until  April,  1865.  He  was  honorably  discharged  at  that  time; 
he  then  settled  in  Herkimer  county.  Although  a  college  graduate  and  a  man  of 
unusual  attainments,  he  practiced  no  profession,  but  conducted  a  grocery  store  in 
Cohoes,  to  which  place  he  came  in  1874  and  died  in  1879.  Walter  H.  Wertime  was  ed- 
ucated in  the  public  schools  and  graduated  from  the  Egberts  High  School  in  1888; 
he  taught  school  for  one  year  and  then  began  legal  studies  with  D.  C.  McElwain  of 
this  city.  He  entered  the  Albany  Law  School  in  1891,  graduating  in  1892  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  that  same  year,  after  which  he  began  practice  in  Cohoes.  In 
January,  1893,  he  formed  a  copartnership  with  George  H.  Fitts  (now  surrogate  of 
Albany  county),  and  is  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  the  law.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber and  secretary  of  the  Republican  County  Committee  at  the  age  of  twenty-one. 
He  is  pmhably  the  youngest  official  as  city  attorney,  yet  the  Common  Council  of 
Cohoes  appointed  him  to  this  important  position  in  1895.  The  able  manner  in  which 
he  discharged  the  onerous  duties  devolved  upon  him  proved  the  wise  selection  of  that 
body  as  he  was  by  heredity,  education,  and  character  pecularly  fitted  for  the  re- 
sponsible work.  On  October  8^1896,  he  was  appointed  assistant  district  attorney  of 
Albany  county  by  Eugene  Burlingame.  On  the  6th  day  of  August,  1896,  Mr.  Wer- 
time was  married  to  Estella  Farrelly,  of  Cohoes. 

Harrington,  Francis  A.,  son  of  Enoch  Harrington,  a  prominent  farmer  and  mill 
owner.  He  was  born  in  Morris,  Otsego  county,  N.  Y.,  March  31,  1843,  and  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town.  When  sixteen  he  entered  the 
famous  old  Delaware  Literary  Institute  at  Franklin,  N.  Y.,  and  was  graduated  in 
1864.  Meanwhile  he  had  taught  school  to  defray  his  expenses.  In  the  spring  of  1865 
he  entered  the  service  of  the  old  Albany  and  Susquehanna  Railroad  (now  a  part  of 
D.  &  H.  C.  system)  in  the  chief  engineering  department,  and  on  the  completion  of 
the  road  continued  with  the  company  in  the  operating  department  until  1886,  he  en- 
tered the  service  of  the  N.  Y.  C.  &  H.  R.  Railroad  as  general  freight  agent  at 
Troy.  January  1,  1890,  he  was  made  assistant  superintendent  of  the  N.  Y.  Central 
system  between  New  York  city  and  Syracuse.  In  1891  he  was  made  superintendent 
of  the  Mohawk  division  with  headquarters  at  Albany.  In  1893  he  was  made  super- 
intendent of  the  Mohawk  and  Malone  Railroad  from  Herkimer  and  Utica  to  Malone. 
He  is  also  managing  director  of  the  Troy  Union  Railroad. 

Mather,  Andrew  E.  and  A.  Dan,  are  of  the  ninth  generation  in  America  from 
Rev.  Richard  Mather,  who  was  born  in  Lowton,  England,  in  1596,  came  to  Boston, 
Mass.,  August  17,  1635,  and  died  in  Dorchester,  Mass.,  April  22,  1669;  he  married 
first,  Catherine  Holt,  and  second,  Sarah  Story  (widow  of  Rev.  John  Cotton)  and  was 
the  father  of  Increase  and  the  grandfather  of  Cotton  Mather,  both  noted  in  New 
England  history.  The  line  under  consideration  is  (1)  Richard,  son  of  Thomas  and 
grandson  of  John,  of  Lowton,  England;  (2)  Timothy,  1628-1684;  (3)  Richard,  1653- 
1688;  (4)  Timothy,  1681-1755;  (5)  Timothy,  1711-1800;  (6)  Jehoida,  1740-1811,  all  of 


239 

Lyme,  Conn.;  (?)  Dan,  1774-1856,   of  Burlington,  N.  Y. ;  and  (8)  Andrew  A. ,  father 

of  Andrew  E.  and  A.  Dan.  Andrew  Adrian  Mather  (8),  son  of  Dan  and  Susannah 
(Onderhouk),  was  born  in  Burlington,  Otsego  county,  October  17,  1812,  and  still  re- 
sides where  his  father,  a  tanner,  settled  in  1811.  He  has  been  a  staunch  adherent 
to  the  temperance  party  since  1841  and  in  1853  was  elected  by  it  to  the  Legislature. 
He  was  elected  sheriff  of  Otsego  county  in  1860  and  was  appointed  deputy  provost 
marshal  in  1864.  He  married  first,  September  7,  1834,  Teresa  Davis  Cummings,  who 
died  January  27,  1860,  leaving  six  children:  Adrian  O.,  born  May  22,  1835,  married 
Sarah  Whitford  May  21,  1863,  and  died  July  18,  1883;  Andrew  E.,  born  July  3,  !*:;;  ; 
Addison  Dan,  born  November  12,  1838;  Elias  C,  born  April  8,  1840,  mustered  into 
Co.  K,  121st  N.  Y  Vols.,  August,  1862,  appointed  lieutenant  and  adjutant  20th  I*.  S. 
Colored  Inf.,  September,  1864,  married  Mary  Whitford,  January  27.  1867;  Kate 
Maria,  born  May  26,  1*43;  and  Fayette,  born  January  11,  1845,  died  January  15, 
1849.  Mr.  Mather  married  second,  January  6,  1862,  Addie  J.  Birdsall  and  had  two 
children:  Clara  Louise  and  Jennie  A.  In  August,  1862,  Andrew  E.  Mather  was 
mustered  as  first  lieutenant  of  Co.  K,  121st  N.  V.  Vols.,  was  promoted  captain  Janu- 
ary, 1863,  major  May  3,  1863,  for  gallantry  at  second  Fredericksburg,  where  he  was 
wounded  in  the  shoulder  on  Salem  Heights,  was  appointed  lieutenant-colonel  Janu- 
ary, 1864.  and  transferred  to  the  20th  I'.  S.  Colored  Inf.  January  30,  1865,  was  ap- 
pointed acting  inspector-general  of  artillery  and  Forts  Morgan  and  Gaines  at  Mobile 
Bay,  and  May  30  was  appointed  commissioner  to  parole  officers  and  men  under  Gen. 
E.  Kirby  Smith  and  others  at  New  Orleans,  where,  on  April  19,  he  had  been  field 
officer  of  the  day  when  news  of  Lincoln's  assassination  had  been  received.  In  1868 
he  joined  his  brothers,  Adrian  O.  and  A.  Dan,  who  had  established  themselves  in 
the  wholesale  grocery  business  in  Albany  in  1865,  under  the  firm  name  of  Mather 
Brothers.  Adrian  O.  died  July  18,  1883,  and  since  then  A.  E.  and  A.  I),  have  con- 
stituted the  firm,  which  has  been  located  at  Nos.  -i<'<-'-  465  Broadwav  since  issij.  An- 
drew E.  was  commissary  of  subsistence  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Frederick  Townsend 
and  adjutant-general  on  General  Lord's  staff,  3d  Brigade.  lie  has  been  one  of  the 
governors  of  the  Albany  City  Hospital  since  1873  and  president  of  the  board  one 
year,  is  one  of  the  managers  of  the  Home  for  Aged  Men,  and  a  trustee  of  the  Home 
Savings  Bank.  Both  he  and  Adrian  ( >.  were  charter  members  of  the  Fort  Orange 
Club.  A.  Dan  Mather  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  Club.  Both  are  charter  members 
of  the  order  of  the  Founders  and  Patriots  of  America. 

Jenison,    E.    Darwin,  was  born  in  Albany,   Novembei    28,    1859,  being  the  a 
William  L.  Jenison  and  a  descendant  of  Robert  Jenison,  who  came  to  America  from 
Colchester,    Essex   county,    England,    in    1630,    and   settled   in   Watertown,    Mass. 
Mr.  Jenison  is  therefore  of  the  eighth  generation  of  the  Jenison  family  in  this  coun- 
try.    His  education   was  obtained  at  the  Albany   High  School  in  the  cla-s  of  1878 
and   in  1883,  after  a   few  years  of  clerkship,  he  entered   the  office  of  the  Commerce 
Insurance  Company  of  Albany  as   its  cashier.     On   October   12,  L886,   he  was 
moted  to  the  office'of  assistant  secretary  of  the  company  and  on  May  21,  1890,  suc- 
ceeded Richard  V.  He  Witt  as  its  secretary,  a  position  he  still  holds.     In  February, 
1886,  he   became  associated    in  the  local    tire  insurance  business  with  Garret  A.  Van 
Allen  and  R.  V.  He  Witt,  under  the  firm  name  of  De  Witt  &  Co.,  and  in  1890,  upon 
the  retirement  of   Mr.  De  Witt,  the  business  was  continued  with  Mr.  Van  Allen  un- 


240 

der  the  present  name  of  Jenison  &  Co.  In  1885  Mr.  Jeuison  was  married  to  Miss 
Anna  Van  Allen,  only  daughter  of  Garret  A.  Van  Allen.  In  polities  Mr.  Jenison  is 
a  Republican,  but  he  has  has  never  held  or  sought  public  office. 

Snyder,  Henry  F.,  was  born  in  Albany,  July  18,  1850.  His  ancestors  were  Dutch 
and  came  to  this  country  in  the  sixteenth  century.  One  of  them,  Johannes  Snyder, 
was  a  member  of  the  second  Council  of  Safety  appointed  in  October,  1777,  of  the 
third  Congress  of  the  United  States,  and  of  the  first  Assembly  in  1777.  Mr.  Snyder's 
father  was  for  many  years  an  attorney  and  counselor  at  Bethlehem,  N.  Y. ,  and  died 
in  I860.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Houghtaling.  She  was  a  native  of  the  town 
of  Bethlehem,  and  died  December  7,  1896,  at  the  residence  of  her  son,  Henry  F. 
Snyder  in  Albany.  Mr.  Snyder  wras  educated  at  the-  district  school  of  Bethlehem 
and  in  1863,  upon  the  death  of  his  father,  was  obliged  to  discontinue  his  studies. 
He  worked  about  five  years  in  a  small  grocery  store  and  was  next  employed  in  Lar- 
rabee's  steam  bakery  in  Albany,  where  he  remained  seven  years.  In  1878,  with  his 
brother,  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  which  they  carried  on  successfully  for 
ten  years.  In  1890  Mr.  Snyder  established  his  present  grocery  store  at  No.  11  Sec- 
ond avenue,  which  is  now  in  charge  of  his  youngest  son.  In  1886  he  was  elected  a 
Republican  member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  from  the  First  ward,  which  position 
he  also  filled  in  1887  and  1888.  In  1892  he  was  chosen  treasurer  of  the  Republican 
County  Committee,  in  1894  and  '95  he  was  president  of  the  Republican  City  Commit- 
tee, and  is  now  a  member  of  the  Executive  Republican  Committee  of  the  county  of 
Albany,  representing  the  First  Assembly  district.  He  has  been  an  able  campaign 
speaker  since  1884.  January  1,  1893,  Mr.  Snyder  was  appointed  deputy  clerk  of 
Albany  county  by  Hon.  James  D.  Walsh.  Upon  the  election  of  Hon.  George  H. 
Fitts,  the  present  surrogate,  Mr.  Snyder  was  appointed  deputy  surrogate,  the  posi- 
tion which  he  now  holds.  He  has  displayed  fine  literary  taste  and  talent  in  several 
articles  which  he  has  contributed  to  newspaper  literature.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Capital  City  Republican  Club  of  Albany,  the  Republican  League  of  Albany  and  the 
Republican  League  of  New  York.  In  1869  he  married  Adelia,  daughter  of  the  late 
David  Mull  of  Coeymans,  and  they  have  two  sons:  Lemuel  H.  and  Alvin. 

Severence,  Matthias  J.,  jr.,  born  in  Albany,  November  6,  1861,  is  the  eldest  son  of 
Col.  Matthias  J.  Severence,  who  was  born  on  the  Moselle  River  in  Germany  in  1837, 
and  has  lived  in  the  capital  city  since  he  was  two  and  a  half  years  old.  Colonel 
vSeverence  was  for  many  years  engaged  in  the  grocery  and  mineral  water  business, 
was  connected  with  the  old  Volunteer  Fire  Department  and  State  militia,  and  in 
1861  became  lieutenant  of  Co.  H,  43d  N.  Y.  Vols.,  in  which  he  served  two  years  dur- 
ing the  Rebellion  of  1861  to  1865.  Later  he  was  made  captain  of  Co.  H,  25th  Regt. 
N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.,  and  was  promoted  colonel.  He  is  connected  with  all  the  German 
singing  and  several  fraternal  societies  of  Albany,  and  was  one  of  the  marshals  of 
the  Great  German  Jubilee  in  1871,  and  of  "All  Nations"  day  during  the  Albany  bi- 
centennial celebration  in  1886.  He  has  been  a  brigadier-general  of  the  Uniformed 
Rank  K.  of  P.,  was  commander  of  Post  5,  G.  A.  R. ,  was  the  independent  candidate 
for  sheriff  in  1884,  served  as  supervisor  of  the  old  Tenth  ward  several  years,  and  is 
now  connected  with  the  Albanj'  Brewing  Company.  His  first  wife,  Margaret  C.  Mc- 
Guinness,  died  in  1875.  leaving  six  children;  Matthias  J.,  jr.,  being  the  third.  He 
married,  a  second  wife,  Mrs.  Ophelia  (Nichols)  Haney.     Matthias  J.  Severence,  jr., 


241 

was  educated  in  the  public  and  German  private  schools  and  academy  of  Albany, 
read  law  with  Nathan  P.  Hinman  and  Hon.  Simon  O  Rosendale,  and  was  graduated 
from  the  Albany  Law  School  and  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1889,  being  in  the  mean 
time  deputy  property  clerk  under  Mayor  Swinburne.  He  practiced  for  a  time  in  the 
offices  of  Hinman  &  Farren  and  Reilly  &  Hamilton,  served  three  years  as  an  exam- 
iner in  the  State  Banking  Department  under  Charles  M.  Preston,  and  in  November, 

1895,  was  elected  judge  of  the  city  court  for  a  term  of  four  years  from  January  1, 

1896.  He  is  a  Democrat,  a  past  chancellor  of  Columbia  Lodge  K.  of  P.  and  a  past 
captain  of  the  Sons  of  Veterans,  the  I.  O.  Red  Men,  trustee  of  the  Elks,  Lodge  No. 
49,  and  several  German  singing  societies.  He  was  aide-de  camp  with  rank  of  lieu- 
tenant-colonel on  the  staff  of  Leland  J.  Webb,  commander-in-chief  of  the  Sons  of 
Veterans  of  the  United  States.  January  28,  1891,  he  married  Margaret  C,  daughter 
of  the  late  Charles  Kirchner  of  Albany,  and  they  have  one  child,  Marguerite  Annette 
Severence. 

Barber,  Fletcher,  son  of  Isaac  I.  and  Mary  (Dominick)  Barber,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Wright,  Schoharie  county,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the  sixth  in  descent  from  his  pater- 
nal ancestor,  who  came  to  America  from  Hertfordshire,  England,  in  1634,  and  who 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Windsor,  Conn.  Mr.  Barber  attended  the  Schoharie 
Academy  and  later  the  Fort  Edward  Collegiate  Institute.  In  1855  he  moved  to' Al- 
bany, N.  Y.,  where  he  entered  the  office  of  M.  &  S.  Patten  as  a  clerk.  At  their  sug- 
gestion and  with  their  advice  and  assurance  of  their  faith  in  his  future  success,  in 
1860  he  began  business  for  himself  at  No.  5  Hudson  avenue,  making  a  specialty  of 
buckwheat  flour  and  grass  seed,  in  connection  with  mill  feed  and  grain.  This  was 
continued  until  1S79,  when  he  removed  to  Broadway,  where  the  firm  of  Barber  & 
Bennett  was  formed.  Here  the  same  line  of  business  has  been  continued  and  the 
house  is  a  leading  one  in  its  specialties.  Financial  success  has  crowned  Mr.  Barber's 
efforts.  He  has  been  an  active  member  of  the  Albany  Board  of  Trade  since  its  for- 
mation and  has  served  on  committees  and  in  various  offices,  including  that  of  presi- 
dent. He  is  a  bank  director  and  occupies  other  offices  of  trust.  In  I860  he  was 
married  to  Rhobe,  daughter  of  Simeon  Morgan  of  Gallupville,  Schoharie  countv. 

Delehanty,  Hon.  Michael,  son  of  Daniel  and  Margaret  Delehanty,  was  born  in 
Ireland,  July  12,  1820,  came  to  America  with  his  parents  in  1825  and  settled  in  Al- 
bany, where  his  father  died  in  1845  and  his  mother  in  1S47.  His  father  was  a  mer- 
chant and  dockmaster  here  for  several  years.  Mr.  Delehanty  was  educated  in  the 
private  schools  and  academy  of  Albany  and  when  sixteen  learned  the  trade  of  tin 
and  coppersmith  with  Whitney  &  Cluett,  with  whom  he  remained  five  years.  In 
1841  he  established  himself  in  the  tin,  copper,  stove  and  plumbing  business  at  No.  8 
Green  street,  his  partner  being  William  R.  Whitney.  Two  years  later  he  withdrew 
and  started  the  same  business  on  Beaver  street,  whence  he  removed  in  1848  to  Nos. 
36  '■'>'!  Green  street,  where  the  house  has  since  carried  on  a  large  general  plumbing, 
stove,  furnace,  tin  and  copper  trade.  In  January,  1892,  he  gave  the  active  manage- 
ment of  the  business  over  to  his  son,  John  S..  who  carries  it  on  under  the  name  of 
M.  Delehanty's  Son.  Mr.  Delehanty  is  a  Democrat  and  was  alderman  of  the  old 
Second  (now  Fifth)  ward  four  years,  supervisor  two  years,  school  commissioner  eight 
years,  and  police  commissioner  under  the  capital  police  system  appointed  by  Gov- 
ernor Hoffman,  four  years;  was  unanimously  appointed  by  the  Common  Council  as 


242 

a  life  member  of  the  Water  Commission.  In  January,  1892,  he  was  appointed  by 
Governor  Flower  superintendent  of  the  State  Capitol  and  served  until  May,  1895. 
He  is  a  trustee  of  the  Albany  Exchange  Savings  Bank.  In  1841  he  married  Mary, 
daughter  of  Charles  Quinn  of  Albany,  and  their  surviving  children  are  Julie,  wife  of 
Hon.  Edward  Murphy,  jr.,  of  Troy;  Daniel,  lieutenant  commander  U.  S.  Navy  and 
supervisor  of  the  Port  of  New  York" since  1894;  John  S. ,  of  Albany;  William  E.,  of 
New  York  city,  and  Mary  F.,  Francis  B.,  attorney  of  Albany,  and  Helen  J.  of 
Albany. 

Capron,  John  D.,  son  of  William  and  Clarissa  (Dodge)  C apron,  was  born  in  Al- 
bany, October  27,  1830,  and  on  his  mother's  side  is  descended  from  the  Peabodys  of 
New  England.  Mr.  Capron,  after  receiving  a  public  school  education,  became  a 
clerk  for  William  N.  Cassidy,  grocer,  and  later  entered  the  employ  of  Ford  &  Grant, 
druggists,  on  the  site  of  the  Hawk  street  entrance  to  the  Capitol.  Four  years  after- 
ward he  purchased  Mr.  Grant's  interest  and  in  1860  withdrew  to  form  a  partnership 
with  Edmund  L.  Judson  and  engaged  in  the  wholesale  flour  and  provision  business. 
The  firm  of  Judson  &  Capron  continued  until  1887,  when  Mr.  Judson  retired  and  it 
became  Capron  &  Smith,  which  on  Mr.  Smith's  retirement  was  succeeded  by  John 
D.  Capron  &  Co.,  which  was  dissolved  in  October,  1895.  Mr.  Capron  was  one  of  the 
founders  and  incorporators  of  the  Home  Savings  Bank,  which  opened  for  business 
May  4,  1872,  and  was  vice-president  until  the  death  of  William  White  in  1882,  when 
he  became  its  president.  The  treasurer,  Edmund  L.  Judson,  died  in  1890 
and  Mr.  Capron  acted  as  both  president  and  treasurer  for  two  years,  when 
he  resigned  the  presidency  and  has  since  continued  as  treasurer,  being  the  only 
charter  member  of  the  bank  still  living.  He  was  supervisor  of  the  Sixth  ward  one 
year.  In  1861  he  married  a  daughter  of  William  White,  and  they  have  one  son, 
William  White  Capron,  a  graduate  of  the  Albany  Academy  (being  major  of  the 
Cadet  Corps)  and  of  Yale  College,  and  now  of  the  wholesale  provision  firm  of  Lester 
&  Capron  of  Albany. 

Davidson,  Andrew,  was  born  in  February,  1840,  in  Morebattle,  Roxburgshire,  Scot- 
land. When  six  years  old  he  came  with  his  parents  to  this  country  and  settled  in 
the  county  of  Otsego,  N.  Y.  His  father,  James  Davidson,  is  still  living  in  the  same 
county  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-one.  His  grandfather,  Robert  Davidson,  also 
a  native  of  Morebattle,  Scotland,  possessed  considerable  poetical  ability  and  wrote 
several  small  volumes  of  "Poems  on  the  Border."  His  mother's  maiden  name  was 
Jane  Curie,  who  died  in  1885  aged  seventy-six  years.  Both  of  his  parents  early  united 
with  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  they  became  prominent  members.  The  boy- 
hood days  of  Andrew  Davidson  were  passed  upon  a  farm  and  in  attending  the  com- 
mon schools.  He  began  teaching  school  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  and  for  some  time 
taught  school  in  the  winter  months,  while  he  attended  the  Cooperstown  Seminary  in 
the  summer,  where  he  was  fitted  for  a  collegiate  course.  In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted 
in  Company  E  of  the  121st  N.  Y.  Yolunteers.  He  had  previously  been  commissioned 
by  Governor  Edwin  D.  Morgan  to  recruit  a  company  for  the  regiment,  which  he 
speedily  organized.  He  received  the  appointment  as  second  sergeant  in  Co.  E  early 
in  September  of  the  same  year  and  went  with  his  regiment  to  Washington,  and  after 
an  encampment  of  a  few  days  at  Fort  Lincoln  marched  with  the  regiment  to  the 
front.     For  the  first  time  Sergeant  Davidson  and  his  splendid  fighting  regiment  faced 


243 

the  storm  at  Crampton's  Gap,  South  Mountain,  Maryland.  The  121st  regiment  was 
left  to  guard  the  Gap  during  the  progress  of  the  battle  of  Antietam.  On  the  3d  of 
May  of  the  following  year  (1863)  Davidson,  now  made  first  sergeant  of  his  Co.,  while 
righting  in  the  battle  of  Salem  Church,  Va. ,  was  shot  through  both  Legs  above  the 
knee  by  a  minnie  ball.  He  was  removed  to  Douglas  hospital  at  Washington  as  soon 
as  possible,  where  he  was  treated  for  his  dangerous  wounds  until  he  was  able  to 
rejoin  his  regiment  at  Warrenton,  Va.,  in  August  of  the  same  year.  Upon  his  return 
to  duty  Colonel  Upton  promoted  him  to  be  sergeant-major.  On  the  29th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1864,  he  was  appointed  a  first  lieutenant  of  the  30th  U.  S.  colored  troops  then 
organizing  in  Baltimore,  Maryland.  When  the  regiment  was  fully  organized  he  was 
made  its  first  adjutant.  Early  in  the  spring  of  1864  the  30th  colored  regiment  joined 
the  army  of  the  Potomac  and  Adjutant  Davidson  was  with  it  from  that  time  until 
the  surrender  of  General  Johnston  at  Raleigh,  X.  C.  He  was  with  his  regiment  in 
the  Battle  of  the  Mine  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  July  30th,  1864.  when  some  four  thousand 
Union  soldiers  lost  their  lives  or  were  taken  prisoners.  Adjutant  Davidson  wears 
a  medal  of  honor,  awarded  him  by  the  war  department  under  an  act  of  Congress  for 
gallant  conduct  on  that  occasion.  While  stationed  at  Goldsboro,  N.  C,  after  the 
surrender  of  Johnston,  Adjutant  Davidson  was  appointed  aide-de-camp  on  the  staff 
of  Gen.  Delevan  Bates,  commanding  the  brigade,  and  soon  after  was  made  acting 
assistant  adjutant-general  on  his  staff  and  promoted  to  a  captaincy.  He  was  sub- 
sequently acting  assistant  adjutant-general  and  acting  assistant  inspector-general 
on  the  staff  of  Gen.  C.  J.  Paine,  commanding  the  eastern  district  of  North  Carolina, 
until  he  was  mustered  out  with  his  regiment  in  Baltimore,  December,  1*60.  It  would 
greatly  exceed  the  limits  of  this  sketch  to  follow  Captain  Davidson  through  all  the 
battles  in  which  he  participated  during  his  services  in  the  war  for  the  Union.  We 
here  merely  mention  the  names  of  these  engagements  in  their  chronological  order: 
Crampton's  Gap,  .South  Mountain,  Md.,  September  14,  1862;  Fredericksburg,  Va., 
December  11-16,  1862;  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  May  2,  1863;  Marye's  Heights.  May  3, 
1863;  Salem  Church,  May  3,  1863;  Rappahannock  Station,  Va,  November  7,  1863; 
Mine  Run,  Va.,  November  26,  1863;  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  10,  isi;4,  to  December, 
1864;  Mine  Explosion,  or  Battle  of  the  Mine,  Petersburg, Va.,  July  30,  1864;  Hatcher's 
Run,  Va.,  October  27-28,  1867;  Fort  Fisher,  N.  C,  December  25,  1864;  Fort  Fisher, 
X.  C,  January  13-15,  1865;  Sugar  Loaf  Hill,  N.  C,  January  19,  18<>:> .  Sugar  Loaf 
Battery,  N.  C,  February  11,  1865;  Cox's  Bridge,  N.  C,  March  24,  1865;  Johnston's 
surrender,  March  26,  ISO").  Though  severely  wounded  in  battles,  Captain  Davidson 
came  out  of  the  fiery  ordeal  of  war  a  scarred  veteran.  A  year  after  the  close  of  the 
war  he  carried  on  a  mercantile  business  until  the  spring  of  1870.  when  he  removed  to 
Cherry  Valley  and  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  his  brother-in-law,  Judge 
James  W.  Barnum.  He  completed  his  course  af  legal  studies  in  the  office  of  Judge 
Samuel  A.  Bowen,  of  Cooperstown,  and  was  there  admitted  to  the  bar  in  November, 
ls7:'..  In  1874  he  became  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  <  >tsego  Republican,  published 
in  Cooperstown.  He  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  for  the  term  of  lssl  5.  He 
He  served  on  the  committees  on  finance,  miscellaneous  corporations,  villages  and 
public  printing.  In  March,  1890,  President  Harrison  appointed  him  first  deputy  com- 
missioner of  pensions.  After  the  resignation  of  General  Raum  in  the  early  days  of 
March,  ISit:;,  he  was  acting  commissioner  of  pensions  until  relieved  in  the  latter  part 
cit  April  following.      He  then  returned  to  his  journalistic  work  at  Cooperstown.     On 


244 

the  31st  of  May,  1866,  Captain  Davidson  married  Miss  Altana  R.  Barnum,  eldest 
daughter  of  Sylvester  W.  Barnum,  esq.,  of  Middlefield,  N.  Y.  He  has  three  children, 
Clarence  W.,  now  associate  editor  of  the  Otsego  Republican,  and  two  daughters, 
Linda  W.  and  Myra  B.  Captain  Davidson  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
at  Cooperstown.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  the 
Loyal  Legion,  the  Union  Veterans'  Legion,  Medal  Legion  of  Honor,  and  of  the 
Masons  and  Odd  Fellows.  For  many  years  he  was  chairman  of  the  Republican 
County  Committee,  was  twice  chosen  a  member  of  the  State  Committee,  and  was  a 
frequent  delegate  to  State  Conventions.  Captain  Davidson  was  not  an  applicant  for 
deputy  secretary  of  state,  but  General  Palmer,  his  friend  and  comrade,  shortly  after 
his  election  in  November,  1893,  as  secretary  of  state,  tendered  him  the  position, 
which  was  accepted,  and  he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  January  1,  1894. 

Drislane,  William  E.,  was  born  in  Tarrytown,  N.  Y.,  in  1851.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Ulster  county  and  in  1875  went  into  the  grocery 
business  for  himself  in  Newburgh,  N.  Y.  He  also  started  branch  stores  at  Tarry- 
town,  Sing  Sing,  Poughkeepsie  and  Peekskill,  and  in  1884,  having  given  up  his 
branch  stores  he  removed  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  he  opened  a  grocery  store  at  No. 
147  South  Pearl  street.  In  1886  he  bought  the  old  Jewish  Synagogue  property  at 
Nos.  153  to  159  South  Pearl  street,  and  after  overhauling  it  started  a  grocery  store 
there.  In  1890  he  opened  another  grocery  in  the  old  Music  Hall  where  he  carried 
on  a  very  successful  business  until  January,  1894,  when  the  property  was  destroyed 
by  fire.  Mr.  Drislane  then  purchased  the  old  Female  Academy  property  on  North 
Pearl  street,  which  he  thoroughly  overhauled,  putting  in  a  new  front  and  opened  for 
business  there  June  15,  1894.  His  first  year's  business  in  Albany  amounted  to  850,- 
000  and  last  year's  to  8250,000.     He  has  seventy-five  people  in  his  employ. 

De  Witt,  Richard  Varick,  son  of  Richard  V.  and  Sarah  (Walsh)  De  Witt,  was  born 
in  Albany,  N.  Y. ,  in  1832.  He  is  a  grandson  of  Simeon  De  Witt,  who  was  born  in 
Ulster  county  in  1756  and  who  joined  the  line  of  the  Continental  army  as  volunteer 
and  was  present  at  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne,  October  17,  1777.  In  1778  Congress 
appointed  Simeon  De  Witt  geographer-general  and  chief  of  topographers  to  the 
Continental  army,  which  positions  he  retained  until  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary 
war.  In  1784  he  was  appointed  surveyor-general  of  New  York  State  and  served  as 
such  until  his  death  in  1834;  in  1784  he  was  appointed  by  Congress  surveyor-general 
of  the  United  States,  but  he  declined.  He  was  a  regent  of  the  University  of  New 
York  from  1798  until  his  death,  and  was  vice-chancellor  from  1817  and  chancellor 
from  1829.  He  was  also  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati.  The 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  1800  and  died  in  1868.  From  1823 
until  1828,  he  was  brigadier-general  commanding  the  forces  in  Albany  county  and 
was  vice-president  of  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati  from  1848  until  his  death.  Both 
father  and  grandfather  of  the  subject  were  for  many  years  elders  of  Second  Dutch 
church  of  Albany.  Richard  Varick  De  Witt,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  educated 
at  the  Albany  Academy  and  in  1849  went  into  the  employ  of  the  Albany  Insurance 
Company  as  clerk.  In  1854  he  was  appointed  to  a  clerkship  in  the  New  York  State 
Bank  and  remained  there  until  1868,  when  he  again  engaged  in  the  insurance  busi- 
ness. Mr.  De  Witt  was  secretary  of  the  Commerce  Insurance  Company  from  l^T- 
to  1890  and  was  secretary  of  the  Albany  Insurance  Company  from  1890  to  February, 


245 

1896,  when  he  resigned  to  engage  in  business  for  himself.  He  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Fire  Commissioners  since  1887;  a  trustee  of  the  Madison  Avenue 
Reformed  church  for  ten  years,  and  was  at  one  time  a  director  of  the  Albany  Ex- 
change Savings  Bank.  He  is  now  president  of  the  Albany  Board  of  Fire  Under- 
writers, a  trustee  of  the  Albany  Medical  College,  a  member  of  the  standing  commit- 
tee of  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  president  of  the 
Albany  branch  of  the  Local  Fire  Insurance  Agents'  Association  of  N.  Y.  State. 

McCredie,  James,  son  of  Thomas  and  Margaret  (Smith)  McCredie,  was  born  in 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  February  27,  1861.  Thomas  McCredie  was  born  in  Glasgow,  Scot- 
land, on  St.  Andrew's  day,  November  30,  1808.  When  Thomas  McCredie  was  very 
young  his  parents  died  and  his  foster  parents  apprenticed  him  to  a  master  carpenter 
for  three  years  and  six  months.  But  his  mind  and  attention  turned  toward  malting, 
inasmuch  as  his  father  had  been  a  wine  and  malt  liquor  dealer.  He  had  always  been 
a  great  student  and,  having  read  much  of  America  he  determined  to  visit  it,  and  on 
October  30,  1838,  he  reached  the  city  of  Albany.  He  soon  made  the  acquaintance  of 
Peter  Ballantine,  the  famous  maltster  and  brewer,  a  fellow  countryman  of  Mr.  McCre- 
die, and  he  commenced  work  in  the  malt  house  of  Howard  &  Ryckman.  The  three 
following  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  the  Andrew  Kirk  inalt  house  and  brewery, 
he  having  decided  upon  malting  as  his  life  work.  For  two  years  he  was  superin- 
tendent of  the  Andrew  Kirk  plant.  For  six  years  after  this  he  was  in  the  employ 
of  Robert  Dunlop,  another  Scotchman,  as  superintendent  of  his  houses  at  Troy, 
X.  Y.  He  then  went  to  Philadelphia  as  superintendent  of  a  malt  house  owned  by 
the  Messrs.  Gaul  and  remained  there  one  season,  after  which  he  returned  to  Albany 
and  entered  the  employ  of  Mr.  Dunlop  again.  In  1848  he  married  Miss  Ellen  Dunlop, 
who  lived  only  two  years  and  who  left  an  only  daughter  who  survived  but  a  short 
time.  About  this  date  Thomas  McCredie  entered  or  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr. 
Robert  Dunlop,  which  partnership  proved  an  unusually  happy  and  agreeable  one  for 
both.  In  1851  Robert  Dunlop' s  death  occurred,  and  at  the  settlement  of  the  latter's 
estate  Mr.  McCredie  acquired  possession  of  the  Dunlop  malt  house  on  Clinton 
avenue.  From  this  date  a  character,  which  for  careful  and  undivided  attention  to 
"business  and  a  studious  effort  to  equal,  if  not  excel  the  best  in  the  line  of  work 
which  he  had  undertaken,  showed  itself  and  not  without  its  beneficial  results. 
Soon  after  he  obtained  the  entire  control  of  the  malt  house  of  John  McKnight, 
corner  of  Orange  and  Hawk  streets.  Thirty  years  before  his  death  he  was  ac- 
corded the  first  place  among  the  maltsters  of  the  United  States,  and  he  sustained 
bis  reputation  as  a  maltster  until  his  death  March  24,  1892.  He  took  a  great  interest 
in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  Albany.  He  was  a  member  of  the  bftard 
of  governors  of  the  Albany  Hospital  and  served  as  a  directoi  of  the  Mechanics'  and 
Farmers'  Bank,  and  a  trustee  of  the  Mechanics'  and  Farmers'  Savings  Bank.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Albany  City  Curling  Club  and  St.  Andrew's  Society.  Four 
times  he  visited  the  land  of  Ins  birth,  but  he  never  lost  interest  in  the  land  of  his 
adoption.  He  was  ever  kind-hearted  and  deeply  religious,  and  was  beloved  of  all 
who  knew  him.  At  the  time  of  his  death  lie  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  ti 
of  the  First  Reformed  church.  In  1854  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Smith,  of  Albany. 
by  whom  he  had  five  children,  twodaughters  and  three  sons.  In  a  word,  for  a  person 
Of  such  prominence  and  wealth,  Thomas  McCredie  was  a  most  unostentatious  man, 


246 

never  seeking  preferment  except  in  his  own  business  or  pursuit,  but  giving  his  un- 
divided and  liberal  support  to  whatever  of  outside  matters  that  fell  to  his  charge ; 
his  best  attention  to  whatever  he  was  willing  to  undertake  with  a  most  singular 
fidelity.  James  McCredie,  his  son,  for  whom  this  article  is  intended,  was  educated 
in  private  schools,  the  Albany  Academy  and  was  graduated  from  the  Riverview 
Military  Academy  at  Poughkeepsie,  after  which  he  learned  the  brewing  business  in 
Smith  &  Brother's  brewery  in  New  York  city.  He  then  returned  to  Albany,  and  up  to 
the  time  of  his  father's  death  was  engaged  in  the  management  of  his  father's  business. 
After  the  death  of  his  father  James  succeeded  to  the  control  of  the  business  and  has 
successfully  conducted  it  ever  since.  He  is  a  young  man  inheriting  or  possessing  in 
a  large  degree  all  those  qualities  which  made  his  father  so  interesting  and  prominent 
a  character  in  whatever  line  he  undertook.  James  McCredie  is  of  a  singularly  happy 
and  sunny  temperament  or  nature,  a  close  observer,  is  quick,  resolute,  active  and 
decided  in  his  mental  attributes,  giving  his  best  efforts  and  time  to  those  positions 
which  he  has  been  selected  to  fill,  in  all  of  which  he  has  proved  himself -eminently 
qualified,  as  is  evidenced  or  proved  by  his  continuing  to  fill  the  positions  to  which 
he  as  been  elected  year  after  year  without  a  single  intermission.  It  is  James 
McCredie's  nature  to  do  all  or  everything  that  falls  to  his  lot  to  do,  whether  in  a 
public  capacity  or  in  private  life,  with  the  most  scrupulous  care;  nothing  is  ever 
neglected ;  no  regard  is  paid  to  the  labor,  attention  or  time  required  so  that  the  un- 
dertaking may  result  beneficially.  Every  young  man  does  not  possess  this  character, 
this  capacity  for  work,  the  care  taken  in  itsdoing,  the  determination  to  finish  all  work 
undertaken,  and  if  in  a  public  capacity  with  an  entire  view  to  the  public  interest. 
June  16,  1890,  Mayor  James  H.  Manning  appointed  Mr.  McCredie  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Fire  Commissioners  to  succeed  James  D.  Coleman.  On  January  18,  1897, 
Mayor  John  Boyd  Thacher  reappointed  Mr.  McCredie  fire  commissioner,  which  term 
will  expire  June  1,  1900.  He  has  been  chairman  of  the  supply  committee,  which  is 
the  principal  committee,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  hose,  telegraph  and  real  estate 
committees  of  the  Board  of  Fire  Commissioners.  January  11,  1895,  he  was  unani- 
mously elected  secretary  of  the  board,  which  position  he  has  held  ever  since.  In 
1892  he  was  elected  governor  of  the  Albany  Hospital  in  place  of  his  father,  who 
resigned  owing  to  ill  health,  and  shortly  after  he  was  elected  secretary  of  the  board, 
and  in  February,  1896,  was  elected  president  of  the  board  of  governors.  Mr.  McCredie 
has  been  a  member  of  St.  Andrew's  Society  for  fifteen  years,  and  in  November, 
1892,  he  was  elected  one  of  the  managers,  filling  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of 
his  father.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Caledonian  Club,  a  Scottish  organization, 
president  of  the  Albany  City  Curling  Club,  and  a  member  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club. 
December  6,  1889,  he  was  elected  a  director  and  secretary  of  the  Albany  Railway 
and  still  holds  the  position.  September,  1892,  he  was  elected  a  trustee  of  the  Me- 
chanics' and  Farmers'  Savings  Bank. 

YVillerton,  Edmund  Ronslow,  son  of  Thomas  and  Helen  (Metcalf)  Willerton,  was 
born  in  the  city  of  York,  England,  in  1845  and  when  an  infant  came  with  his  parents 
to  America  and  soon  after  settled  in  Albany,  N.  Y.  He  received  his  early  education 
in  Albanv  in  schools  Nos.  5  and  13.  He  began  his  work  as  a  messenger  boy  for  the 
Western  Union  Telegragh  Company,  in  Albany,  March,  1864,  advancing  to  various 
positions,  including  assistant  bookkeeper,  and  when  he  left  in  1870,  he  was  cashier. 


247 

He  then  went  into  the  employ  of  the  Albany  cV  Susquehanna  Railroad  (afterwards 
the  Delaware  &  Hudson  Railroad),  in  the  general  passenger  department,  where  he 
has  remained  ever  since,  and  is  now  chief  clerk  in  that  department.  Mr.  Will- 
erton  is  a  member  of  Ancient  City  Lodge,  No.  452,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  was  elected 
master  of  the  lodge  for  the  years  1895-90.  He  is  a  member  of  Temple  Chapter 
No.  5,  R.  A.  M.,  and  was  high  priest  during  1895-66.  He  is  a  member  of  De  Witt 
Clinton  Council  No.  22,  R.  &  S.  M.,  and  was  elected  master  for  1897;  is  a  member  of 
Temple  Commandery,  No.  2,  K.  T.,  and  of  Cyrus  Temple  Nobles  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine,  and  is  also  a  thirty-second  degree  Scottish  Rite  Mason.  Mr.  Willerton  is 
also  a  member  of  St.  George's  Society,  the  Albany  Club,  the  Acacia  Club,  and  of  the 
Dutch  Reformed  church.  January  13,  1869,  he  married  Frances  Amelia  Dole  of 
Albany   and  they  have  three  children:   Florence  M.,  Edna  G.  and  Fred  D. 

Kernochan,  Edward  L.,  was  born  in  New  York  city,  October  3,  1870.  His  parents 
were  F.  E.  Kernochan  and  Abba  E.  Learned.  His  great-grandfather  came  from  the 
North  of  Ireland  and  settled  in  Orange  county.  His  grandfather  was  for  many 
years  a  large  dry  goods  merchant  in  New  York  city,  with  branches  at  Mobile  and 
New  Orleans.  Mr.  Kernochan's  father  was  graduated  from  Yale  in  1861  and  fol- 
lowed the  profession  of  lawyer  in  New  York  city  until  187:?,  when  he  went  to  Pitts- 
field,  Mass.,  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  woolens.  He  died  in  Pittsficld  in 
1*S4.  Mr.  Kernochan's  maternal  grandfather,  Edward  Learned,  was  for  many 
years  one  of  the  well  known  financiers  of  New  York  city  and  was  at  one  time  largely 
interested  in  railroad  construction  and  mining  interests.  He  furnished  the  stone  for 
the  foundation  of  the  New  York  State  Capitol  from  his  Maine  quarries.  K.  L.  Ker- 
nochan engaged  in  business  in  a  pulp  mill  at  Madison,  Me.  Later  he  removed  to 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  was  elected  ;i  director  of  the  Taylor  Brewing  and  Malting  Com- 
pany, and  in  1895  was  elected  vice-president  of  the  same  company.  Mr.  Kernochan 
is  a  member  of  the  Albany  Country  Club. 

Van  Vranken,  Adam  '1'.,   M.  D.,  was  born  at  Yischer's  Ferry,   Saratoga  county, 

X.  Y.,  September  14,  1850.  His  paternal  ancestors  came  from  Holland  and  settled 
in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  in  1646,  afterwards  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  beyond  the 
Mohawk  River,  a  portion  of  which  is  still  in  possession  of  the-  family.  lie  was  the 
son  of  J.  Witbeck  Van  Vranken  and  Dorcas  Cregier,  both  of  Holland  descent.  He 
received  his  early  education  in  the  district  schools  of  his  native  place,  and  finished 
his  literary  studies  at  Fort  Edward  Collegiate  Institute,  and  was  graduated  from  the 
Albany  Medical  College  in  1*7:?,  was  house  physician  in  the  Albany  Hospital,  and 
located  in  West  Troy  in  1875,  where  he  still  resides.  lie  was  for  ten  years  attending 
physician  to  the  Troy  ]  [ospital,  and  is  now  upon  the  consulting  stall'  1  [e  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Medical  Society  of  the  County  of  Albany,  and  was  its  president  in  1895  '."'>. 
also  a  member  of  the  New  York  State  Medical  Association,  and  of  the  Stale  Medical 
Society.  He  was  the  president  of  the  Alumni  Association  of  Albany  Medical  Col- 
lege m  1895,  and  is  now  the  president  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  of 
West  Troy,  also  president  of  the  Board  of  Education.  He  married  Miss  Lizzie  M. 
Shoemaker  of  Albany.  N.  Y.,  who  died  in  1886,  lb-  then  married  Miss  Emma  liar 
mon  of  West  Troy  in  1*89. 

Sturtevant,  Stephen  V.,  one  of  the  most  prominentmen  of  Watervliet,  is  the  son 

of   George   A.   Sturtevant,    a  pioneer   settler   here   from    Fort    Miller.    X.  Y.,   where 


248 

Stephen  was  born  in  1844.  He  was  educated  here  and  has  always  been  engaged  in 
the  lumber  and  coal  business,  forming  a  partnership  with  William  Andrews  in  1881. 
Mr.  Sturtevant  is  now  president  of  the  Board  of  Fire  Commissioners,  of  which  he 
has  been  a  member  for  fifteen  years.  He  has  an  interesting  war  record,  participat- 
ing in  several  big  battles.  He  enlisted  in  Co.  —  of  the  Seventh  N.  Y.  Heavy  Artil- 
lery in  1863,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war  as  sergeant. 

Phelps,  Arthur  T.,  was  born  in  West  Troy,  March  18,  1853.  He  is  the  sou  of 
James  Francis  and  Lucina  (Tyrrel)  Phelps.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Schroon, 
Essex  county,  N.  Y.  After  their  marriage  they  moved  to  West  Troy,  and  for  over 
twenty  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  lumber  business.  He  was  a  director  of  the 
National  Bank  of  West  Troy;  about  ten  years  ago  he  moved  to  Davenport,  Iowa, 
where  he  is  living  retired.  Mrs.  Phelps,  the  mother  of  Arthur  T.,  died  in  West  Troy 
in  1853,  shortly  after  the  birth  of  her  son.  Mr.  Phelps  subsequently  married  Jenette, 
daughter  of  Capt.  Nehemiah  Finch.  Arthur  T.  Phelps  is  descended  from  a  Connec- 
ticut family,  who  in  turn  were  the  direct  descendants  of  one  William  Phelps,  who 
settled  in  Tewksbury,  England,  in  1521,  having  moved  from  Wales.  The  Phelps 
family  originally  came  from  Italy,  where  the  name  was  Guelph,  went  to  Wales  where 
the  name  was  changed  to  Whelps;  on  removal  to  England  it  was  anglicized  to 
Phelps.  The  family  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Windsor,  Conn.,  where  they 
were  farmers,  importers  and  breeders  of  fine  cattle.  Arthur  T.  Phelps  was  gradu- 
ated from  Crown  Point  Academy  in  1867,  and  from  the  Troy  Business  College  in 
1868;  he  became  a  professor  in  the  same  in  1869  which  place  he  resigned  to  accept 
the  position  of  bookkeeper  for  the  firm  of  Phelps  &  Smith,  lumber  dealers  of  West 
Troy.  He  was  appointed  general  bookkeeper  in  the  National  Bank  of  West  Troy, 
February  8,  1871,  and  cashier  of  the  same  bank  ten  years  later,  which  position  he  now 
holds.  He  was  appointed  sewer  commissioner  for  West  Troy  in  1892  and  school 
commissioner  in  1895.  He  was  president  of  the  Board  of  Education  in  181)6,  and  a 
water  commissioner  the  same  year.  He  is  an  admirer  of  fine  horses  and  dogs.  His 
horses  are  never  entered  in  the  professional  races,  but  are  always  ready  for  a  friendly 
brush  on  road  or  track.  He  is  the  proprietor  of  the  celebrated  Watervliet  Kennels, 
which  contain  many  fine  St.  Bernards,  several  of  which  were  imported  from  the  old 
countries,  and  have  won  many  prizes  at  bench  shows,  etc.  Mr.  Phelps  is  well  known 
in  musical  circles,  and  for  several  years  was  a  tenor  singer  in  many  large  churches. 
He  has  been  prominent  in  local  charities.  The  National  Bank  of  West  Troy  was  or- 
ganized in  1852  with  John  Knickerbacker  president,  and  A.  C.  Gunnison  cashier;  it 
became  a  national  bank  in  1865.  Thomas  A.  Knickerbacker,  a  son  of  the  first  presi- 
dent, is  the  present  president,  and  Mr.  Phelps  is  cashier.  Mr.  Phelps  was  married 
to  Miss  Emma  E.,  daughter  of  Samuel  Stover  of  West  Troy,  June  9,  1874.  The 
Stovers  were  one  of  the  old  Dutch  families  of  West  Troy,  where  the  ancestors  had 
resided  for  several  generations.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phelps  have  three  children:  Lucina 
M.,  Alice  J.,  both  educated  at  the  Troy  Female  Seminary,  and  Havvley  Stover,  stu- 
dent at  the  Troy  Academy.  The  family  attend  the  Episcopal  church  of  West  Troy. 
As  a  business  man,  Mr.  Phelps  takes  rank  among  the  careful  and  conservative  busi- 
ness men  of  the  county,  and  has  made  a  most  excellent  record  as  a  financier.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Park  Club  of  Lansingburgh,  and  for  five  years  was  president  of 
Watervliet  Club  of  West  Troy,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  organizers.  In  politics 
be  has  always  been  a  staunch  Republican. 


249 

Eckert,  Henry  E.,  the  leading  jeweler  of  the  city  of  Watervliet,  was  born  in 
Baden,  Germany,  and  when  fourteen  years  old  went  to  Austria  and  learned  the 
jeweler's  trade.  He  became  an  American  in  1861,  his  complete  mastery  of  his  trade 
gaining  him  lucrative  employment  with  a  firm  of  chronometer  makers  at  Albany. 
In  1870  Mr.  Eckert  opened  a  store  in  West  Troy,  where  he  has  by  superior  work- 
manship and  high  personal  character  built  up  a  fine  business.  His  son,  Henry  J. 
Eckert,  recently  graduated  with  distinction  from  the  Spencer  Optical  Institute  of 
New  York,  will  henceforth  be  associated  with  his  father,  and  adding  a  large  and  at- 
tractive stock  of  optical  goods. 

Getman,  Edward  M.,  third  son  of  Charles  and  Chloe  (Hutton)  Getman,  was  born 
in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  April  5,  1844.  He  is  a  lineal  descendant  from  John  Frederick 
Getman,  who  came  from  Germany  in  1720  and  settled  in  the  present  town  of  Ephra- 
tah  in  Fulton  county,  N.  Y.,  and  whose  four  sons  served  in  the  colonial  army  under 
Sir  William  Johnson  in  1755.  The  grandson,  George,  had  four  sons,  all  of  whom 
were  soldiers  in  the  Revolution.  One  of  these  sons.  George,  the  great-grandfather 
of  Edward  M.,  had  six  sons,  all  of  whom  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  In  the  late  war 
were  two  sons  of  Charles  Getman,  who  were  at  the  Watervliet  Arsenal;  another  was 
on  special  service  up  the  Yazoo  river  to  General  Grant.  About  184G  Mr.  Getman's 
parents  moved  to  Watervliet,  N.  Y.,  then  West  Troy  His  schooldays  were  limited 
to  a  few  sessions  in  the  public  schools  of  that  time,  which  were  meagre  as  compared 
to  the  public  schools  of  to-day.  At  seventeen  he  was  appointed  if)  a  clerkship  in  the 
Watervliet  Arsenal,  resigning  December  31,  1864.  He  was  one  of  the  two  persons 
who  laid  the  trains  blowing  up  buildings  in  Troy  in  the  great  fire  of  1862.  In  1863 
he  was  sent  as  special  messenger  with  a  large  train  of  cars  filled  with  munitions  of 
war  to  Louisville,  Kv. ,  for  General  Buell  in  the  memorable  Buell  and  Bagg  race  into 
Kentucky  for  supplies.  January,  1865,  he  moved  to  Kentucky  and  aided  in  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Louisville  City  National  Bank,  where  he  continued  in  the  banking 
business  until  he  was  appointed  by  the  government  as  bank  examiner.  As  an  expert 
he  was  called  by  the  mayor  to  examine  the  sinking  fund  of  Louisville  and  at  a  subse- 
quent period  was  requested  to  examine  the  water  works  of  said  city,  a  property  of 
§7,000,000  value  and  owned  by  the  city.  In  Februuary,  L878,  at  the  request  of  Sec- 
retary B.  H.  Bristow,  Gen.  John  M.  Harlan  (now  on  the  Supreme  Bench  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.)  and  Hon.  Martin  I.  Townsend  <>i  Troy,  he  was  appointed  a  national 
bank  examiner  for  Kentucky ;  Tennessee  and  pari  of  West  Virginia  were  added  to 
his  charge  late  in  1878.  In  1879  he  was  ordered  to  New  <  (rleans  during  a  panic  and 
suspensions  there,  rendering  valuable  service.  An  official  trip  through  Texas  and 
Arkansas  followed.  He  was  then  made  the  special  examiner  at  large  for  the  Central 
West  and  on  critical  cases  was  sent  into  Missouri,  Kansas,  Indiana,  Ohio  and  Mich- 
igan, at  the  same  time  giving  proper  attention  to  his  original  district.  In  1886  he 
was  transferred  to  New  York  State  and  assigned  from  Buffalo  to  Xew  Y<>rk  on  the 
southern  tier  of  counties,  and  after  fourteen  years  of  this  service  he  resigned  in  De- 
cember, 1S(J2.  He  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  in  the  city  of 
Watervliet,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Getman's  father  was  canal  collector  one  tern;  his  brother, 
Charles,  was  a  member  of  the  last  Connecticut  Legislature,  and  Edward  M.,  na- 
tional bank  examiner,  which  are  the  only  public  offices  ever  held  by  the  family.  Mr. 
Getman  has  been  an  unswerving  Republican  easting  his  first  vote  in  Kentucky  for 
ff 


250 

Grant.  In  1896  he  was  nominated  for  the  office  of  mayor  of  the  city  of  Watervliet, 
but  was  defeated  by  only  a  very  small  majority.  September  19,  1867,  Mr.  Getman 
was  married  to  Emma,  second  daughter  of  John  Morris  of  West  Troy,  and  they  have 
two  children :  Archie  R.  and  Edith  M. 

Langan,  John,  was  the  son  of  William  Langan,  who,  after  leaving  his  birthplace, 
first  settled  in  Schenectady..  He  was  born  in  Limerick,  Ireland,  in  1843.  He  learned 
the  blacksmith's  trade  in  the  locomotive  shops  there,  then  entered  the  Arsenal  shops. 
In  1861  he  enlisted  in  the  Ordnance  Department  as  a  private,  and  soon  was  made  a 
corporal,  acting-sergeant  and  quartermaster,  being  six  years  in  the  service.  After 
the  war  he  came  to  West  Troy  and  established  a  grocery,  market  and  liquor  store, 
Since  1880  he  has  dealt  in  liquors  at  wholesale  only.  Mr.  Langan  has  taken  a  lively 
interest  in  political  affairs  and  held  various  offices.  He  was  town  clerk  for  two 
years,  overseer  of  the  poor  for  two  years,  and  deputy  sheriff  for  eighteen  years. 
He  was  also  on  the  Board  of  Excise  for  fifteen  years.  He  has  also  served  on  the 
Democratic  County  Committee  for  a  number  of  years. 

Day,  Michael  J.,  mayor  of  Watervliet,  is  a  native  of  Troy,  but  a  resident  here 
since  1856,  when  he  came  with  his  father,  Daniel  Day,  a  well-known  grocer  of 
this  place.  Mr.  Day  was  educated  here  and  at  La  Salle  Institute  at  Troy.  At  six- 
teen years  of  age  he  entered  the  store  of  William  H.  Frear  of  Troy  as  clerk,  remain- 
ing there  for  twelve  years,  and  advancing  to  the  position  of  head  cashier.  In  1882 
an  opportunity  presented  itself  for  his  engaging  in  the  coal  business  with  James 
Crummy.  The  firm  is  now  known  as  Crummy  &  Day.  Mayor  Day,  in  the  year 
1882,  married  Miss  Jennie  McKeever,  and  has  one  daughter,  Mary. 

Neil,  George,  one  of  the  foremost  figures  in  the  business  life  of  Cohoes,  was  born 
at  St.  Thomas,  Ont. ,  in  1842.  He  was  early  thrown  on  his  own  resources  and  has 
achieved  success\,by  his  own  efforts.  In  1865  he  came  to  Cohoes  as  an  employee  in 
a  knitting  mill,  and  in  1870  received  an  engagement  with  J.  H.  Parson  &  Co.,  as 
salesman  and  bookkeeper,  a  responsible  position  which  he  held  for  fourteen  years, 
Later  he  formed  a  partnership  with  George  McDowell,  which  existed  for  five  years. 
In  1891  he  went  into  the  Atlantic  Knitting  Co.  as  treasurer  and  manager,  and  is  a 
man  well  qualified  for  the  position,  as  he  possesses  full  knowledge  of  every  branch 
of  the  business.     He  has  traveled  extensively  and  is  a  well  known  man  in  trade. 

Williams,  David,  was  born  in  Troy  and  removed  to  Cohoes  at  a  very  early  age. 
He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade  and  conducted  a  blacksmith  shop  from  1872  until  1874. 
He  then  sold  out  and  went  into  the  bat  and  shoddy  business  with  Edward  Walker, 
the  firm  name  being  Walker  &  Williams  Mfg.  Co.  He  was  appointed  fire  commis- 
sioner in  1893  and  served  until  June,  1896.  He  is  a  member  of  Cohoes  Lodge  No. 
116,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Cohoes  Chapter  No.  168,  R.  A.  M.,  and  resides  at  108  Mohawk 
street. 

Garside,  John,  ex-mayor  of  the  city  of  Cohoes  and  one  of  the  foremost  business 
men  of  that  city,  was  born  in  Halifax,  England,  in  1838,  and  came  to  America  when 
eight  years  of  age.  Mr.  Garside  has  for  fifteen  years  been  a  heavy  dealer  in  Chi- 
cago beef,  having  first  associated  himself  with  the  Swifts  in  1881,  and  has  been  a 
resident  of  Cohoes  since  1854.  He  was  one  of  the  original  promoters  of  the  Cohoes 
City  Railroad  and  is  now  vice-president  of  the  concern,  having  been  identified  with 


251 

the  management  from  its  inception.  Mr.  Garside's  administration  as  mayor  of  the 
city,  from  1886  until  1892,  was  marked  by  the  good  sense  and  practical  qualities  for 
which  he  is  somewhat  distinguished.  In  1*57  Mr.  Garside  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Wagstaff.  They  have  one  daughter,  Mary,  wife  of  Marry  Green,  who  is  associated 
with  Mr.  Garside  in  the  meat  business,  he  having  charge  of  the  branch  office  in 
Schenectady.     They  have  two  children,  John  and  Grace. 

Benson,  Samuel  J.,  is  one  of  the  most  successful  builders  of  his  day,  as  the  many 
buildings  in  Cohoes  and  elsewhere  will  attest.  Among  them  are  the  "Cascade  Mills" 
For  (leorge  H.  McDonald  &  Co.,  and  the  "Granite  Mills"  for  William  Moore,  also 
the  Presbyterian  church  which  he  is  now  building.  Mr.  Benson  is  a  native  of  Lim- 
erick, Ireland,  coming  to  America  when  three  years  old  with  his  father,  John  Ben- 
son, a  mason.  He  first  settled  in  Newburgh,  N.  V. ,  then  in  is<>6  he  came  to  Cohoes 
where  he  learned  the  stone-mason  trade,  which  pursuit  he  has  always  followed  most 
successfully.     As  a  citizen  he  is  well  known  for  his  sterling  integrity  and  worth. 

Kelly,  Hon.  George  T.,  born  in  Albany,  May  12,  1864,  attended  the  Christian 
Brothers'  Academy,  and  later  public  schools  Nos.  15  and  8,  and  was  graduated  from 
the  Albany  High  School  in  1883.  He  entered  the  law  office  of  Peckham,  Rosendale 
&  Hessberg,  and  subsequently  became  their  managing  clerk.  In  the  mean  time  he 
took  a  course  of  lectures  at  the  Albany  Law  School  and  Union  University,  graduat- 
ing with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.  in  188(5,  being  the  honor  man  and  the  youngest  mem- 
ber of  his  class.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  the  General  Term  of  the  Supreme 
Court  in  May  of  the  same  year.  On  March  1,  1887,  he  formed  a  copartnership  with 
Judge  John  W.  Walsh,  which  continued  until  January,  1890,  when  Mr.  Kelly  resumed 
the  practice  of  his  profession  individually.  He  is  a  man  of  refined  tastes  and  of  ex- 
tensive reading  in  general  literature.  He  is  interested  in  all  public  matters  and  in 
politics  is  a  Democrat.  At  the  Democratic  Assembly  Convention  of  1895  he  was 
nominated  for  member  of  assembly  of  the  Third  Assembly  District,  an  office  which 
he  filled  with  honor  and  ability.  In  1896  he  was  re-elected  to  this  position,  being  the 
only  Democrat  elected  in  Albany  county.  Mr.  Kelly  married  the  daughter  of  Hon. 
William  C.  McFadden  of  Ilarrisburg,  Pa.,  and  they  have  three  children.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Dongan  Club,  Catholic  Union,  C.  M.  B.  A.,  and  Phi  Delta  Phi 
Society. 

Montignani,  John  F.,  only  son  of  John  O.,  a  native  of  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  was 
born  in  (liens  Falls,  X.  V.,  June  24,  1855.  His  father  came  to  America  and  settled 
in  Albany  about  1845,  and  alter  residing  for  a  few  years  in  Glens  Falls,  returned  to 
this  city,  where  he  died  January  8,  L894;  he  was  superintendent  of  various  factories, 
was  a  manufacturer  and  dealer  in  pianos  and  was  a  prominent  Mason,  holding  mem- 
bership in  Temple  Lodge  No,  15,  F.  &  A.  M.  ;  he  was  also  active  in  Scotch  societies, 
was  one  of  the  founders  of  both  the  curlingclubs  of  Albany,  was  prominent  in  mu 
circles,  was  a  founder  and  the  first  secretary  of  the  Albany  Burns  Club  and  married 
Elizabeth  Ferguson,  of  Kortright,  Delaware  county,  N.  V.,  who  died  June  1. 
John  F.  Montignani  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  High  School  in  1875  and  then 
entered  Cornell  University,  but  owing  to  ill  health  was  tuned  to  abandon  a  college 
course.  He  read  law  in  the  office  of  Edward  Wade  of  Albany  and  later  with  Paddock, 
Draper  &  Chester,  a  leading  firm  composed  of  William  S.  Paddock,  then  Recorder, 
Andrew  S.  Draper,  afterward  state  .superintendent  of  public  instruction,  and   Alden 


252 

Chester,  now  a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1881 
and  at  once  formed  a  copartnership  with  Hon.  Robert  G.  Scherer,  which  continued 
until  1888.  In  1890  he  formed  his  present  partnership  with  George  H.  Mallory  and 
William  S.  Elmendorf,  the  firm  name  being  Montignani,  Mallory  &  Elmendorf. 
While  in  the  Albany  High  School  he  held  all  the  offices  of  the  Philodoxia  Society  and 
was  one  of  the  founders  and  a  charter  member  of  the  Philologian  Society.  In  1876 
he  was  one  of  the  principal  organizers  of  the  High  School  Alumni  Association,  which 
now  has  nearly  2,000  members,  and  served  as  its  president  for  four  years  from  1883. 
He  assisted  in  founding  the  Friendly  Few  Society  of  High  School  graduates  in  1877 
and  has  been  its  secretary  ever  since.  In  1893  he  aided  in  reviving  the  Albany  Burns 
Club,  of  which  he  has  since  been  the  secretary.  He  is  a  member  and  for  some  time 
was  secretary  of  St.  Andrews  Society,  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  Caledonian  Society, 
at  college  became  a  member  of  the  Delta  Upsilon  Fraternity,  and  in  1895  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Albany  Workingmen's  Educational  Club.  A  Republican,  he 
has  been  prominent  in  politics,  was  a  candidate  for  recorder  in  1895,  managed  the 
Wilson  mayoralty  campaign,  and  in  1896  established  the  McKinley  League  in  Albany 
county  and  city.  In  1894  he  was  engaged  in  New  York  as  counsel  for  the  "Anti- 
Machine  Republicans,"  representing  them  before  the  State  Committee.  He  has  a 
general  law  practice  in  all  the  courts  and  is  attorney  for  the  Mechanics'  and  Farmers' 
Bank.  He  was  counsel  in  the  celebrated  McPherson  case,  in  which  the  constitution- 
ality of  the  collateral  (now  the  transfer)  tax  law  was  attacked.  In  1885  he  was  mar- 
ried in  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  to  Clementina  Petrie-Montignani,  daughter  of  Henry 
G.  Montignani,  and  they  have  two  children  "living :   Elizabeth  F.  and  Jennie  M. 

Thompson,  David  A.,  was  born  at  Mannington,  Salem  county,  N.  J.,  May  29,  1844. 
His  parents  were  of  English  descent  and  Quakers,  his  forefathers  migrating  to  West 
Jersey  about  1680.  He  obtained  his  rudimentary  education  at  the  Salem  Friends 
School  and  Academy,  and  later  became  a  student  at  Haverford,  Pa.,  where  he  re- 
mained one  and  one-half  years.  In  1866  he  entered  Princeton  College  and  was  grad- 
uated in  1868.  He  then  removed  to  Albany,  entered  the  Albany  Law  School  and 
was  graduated  in  1869,  when  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  For  ten  years,  until  1879, 
he  practiced  his  profession  alone.  In  the  latter  year  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
Arthur  L.  Andrews,  under  the  firm  name  of  Thompson  &  Andrews,  which  continued 
until  1885,  when  the  firm  became  Stedman,  Thompson  &  Andrews,  George  L.  Sted- 
man  being  the  senior  member.  This  copartnership  was  dissolved  January  1,  1896, 
Mr.  Stedman  retiring,  and  since  then  the  firm  has  been  Thompson  &  Andrews. 
In  1874  Mr.  Thompson  was  appointed  first  clerk  to  Edmund  L.  Judson,  mayor  of 
Albany,  which  is  the  only  public  office  he  ever  held.  He  was  for  many  years  a  mem- 
ber and  trustee  of  the  First  Congregational  church,  the  Home  for  Aged  Men,  the 
Albany  Orphan  Asylum,  the  Albany  Mutual  Insurance  Company,  the  Albany  Female 
Academy,  the  Home  Savings  Bank,  and  the  Albany  Safe  Deposit  and  Storage  Com- 
pany. He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Committee  of  Thirteen  since  1882  and  is  now 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  that  society ;  he  is  also  a  member  of  Masters  Lodge,  No. 
5,  F.  &  A.  M.  October  4,  1871,  he  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  the  late  Dr. 
James  McNaughton  of  Albany,  and  they  have  three  children:  James  McNaughton, 
Andrew  and  Margaret  McNaughton  Thompson 

Andrews,  Arthur  L.,  son  of  Dr.  George  and  Julia  A.  (Hooker)  Andrews,  was  bom 


253 

in  Marion,  la.,  April  16,  1855,  and  descends  from  William  Andrews,  who  in  1635 
came  from  England  to  New  Haven,  Conn.,  where  the  family  lived  for  generations, 
and  held  State  and  Federal  offices.  Dr.  George  Andrews,  a  physician,  removed  to 
Westfield,  Mass.,  in  1857,  and  died  in  Wallingford,  Conn.,  November  27,  1895. 
Arthur  L.  Andrews  attended  the  private  schools  at  Westfield,  was  graduated  from 
Westfield  High  School  in  1871,  and  received  the  degree  of  B.  A.  from  Wesleyan 
University  in  1875,  being  one  of  the  honor  men  in  his  class,  and  taking  while  there 
a  prominent  part  in  all  the  athletic  exercises.  On  July  7,  1875,  he  came  to  Albany 
and  entered  the  law  office  of  Stedman  &  Shepard,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  Sep- 
tember 8,  1877.  He  remained  with  his  preceptors  as  managing  clerk  until  August  1, 
L879,  when  he  formed  a  copartnership  with  David  A.  Thompson,  as  Thompson  & 
Andrews.  On  February  16,  1885,  this  firm  became  associated  with  George  L.  Sted- 
man, under  the  name  of  Stedman,  Thompson  &  Andrews,  and  on  January  1,  1SS9, 
George  W.  Stedman  was  admitted  as  partner.  January  1,  1896,  this  firm  dissolved 
and  since  then  the  style  has  been  Thompson  &  Andrews.  In  November.  lsit,">  Mr. 
Andrews  was  appointed  by  Governor  Morton  as  commissioner  to  devise  charters  for 
cities  of  the  second  class.  He  has  been  attorney  for  the  Board  of  Supervisors  for 
two  years  and  counsel  for  the  Republican  organization  for  two  years,  and  is  a  trustee 
of  the  Albany  Home  School  for  oral  instruction  of  the  deaf,  a  member  and  deacon  of 
the  State  Street  Presbyterian  church,  a  member  of  the  Fort  Orange,  Ridgefield 
Athletic,  and  Capital  City  Clubs,  president  of  the  McKinley  Guards,  and  a  member 
of  the  Psi  Upsilon  Club  of  New  York  city.  September  4.  1S71>,  he  married  Alice, 
daughter  of  Samuel  Anable  of  Albany,  and  they  have  one  son.  Harold  Fourdrinier 
Andrews,  born  July  3,  1884. 

Ward,  Hon.  Walter  E.,  was  born  December  5,  1853,  in  Westerlo,  Albany  county. 
His  father,  Rev.  Gilbert  Ward,  formerly  of  Westerlo.  whose  long  services  in  the 
ministry  of  the  M.  E.  church  have  been  signally  blessed,  is  still  living.  His  mother, 
Emeline  Garrett,  a  native  of  New  Baltimore,  Creene  county,  died  several  years  ago. 
His  grandfather,  Gilbert  Ward,  was  a  pioneer  farmer  of  Westerlo,  a  justice  of  the 
peace  in  1822  and  a  man  of  prominence.  This  branch  of  the  Ward  family  in  America 
is  descended  from  the  same  ancestry  as  Gen.  John  Ward  of  Revolutionary  fame. 
Walter  E.  Ward  worked  on  his  father's  farm  in  Westerlo  summers  and  attended  the 
district  school  in  winter.  When  seventeen  he  entered  the  Collegiate  Institute  at 
Claverack,  X.  V.,  then  under  the  principalship  of  Rev.  Alonzo  Flack,  1  >.  D.  While 
there  he  taught  school  a  part  of  the  time,  earning  money  enough  to  pay  his  educa- 
tional expenses.  On  leaving  Claverack  in  1873  Mr.  Ward  entered  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity, where  he  was  a  member  of  the  university  football  team  and  boat  crev 
rowed  in  the  intercollegiate  regatta  at  Saratoga  ::i  1876.  He  was  graduated  from 
Wesleyan  with  honor  in  1877.  He  then  took  up  Ins  residence  in  Albany.  Prepara- 
tory to  entering  the  Albany  Law  School  he  read  law  in  the  office  of  Hungerford  & 
Hotaling,  and  about  the  same  time  gave  private  instruction  in  Latin  and  Creek. 
Mr.  Ward  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Law  School  in  1879,  and  was  at  once  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar.  In  1**0  he  opened  an  office  in  Albany  and  four  y< 
ciated  with  himself  his  present  partner,  Frederick  W.  Cameron,  the  firm  name 
being  Ward  &  Cameron.  While  carrying  on  his  general  legal  practice.  Mr.  Ward's 
attention  was  turned   t<>  a  careful    investigation  of  the  laws  relating  to  patents,  and 


254 

he  has  made  this  subject  a  special  department  by  bringing  together  all  the  important 
authorities,  so  that  this  collection  of  books  in  this  line  is  the  largest  of  any  lawyer 
in  this  city.  He  has  had  charge  of  important  infringement  suits  in  which  he  has 
gained  a  wide  reputation,  and  is  a  lecturer  on  patents,  trade  marks  and  copyrights, 
in  the  Albany  Law  School.  As  a  Republican,  Mr.  Ward,  in  the  fall  of  1890,  was 
nominated  for  member  of  assembly  from  the  Second  Assembly  district  and  was 
elected  over  Dr.  De  Graft'  of  Guilderland  "by  a  majority  of  564,  being  the  only 
Republican  chosen  to  any  office  from  the  county  in  that  election.  He  served  with 
credit  on  the  Committees  on  Cities,  Revision  of  Laws,  and  Excise  Matters.  In 
1891  he  was  re-elected  by  a  majority  of  1,072  over  ex-County  Clerk  W.  D.  Strevell 
and  was  again  the  only  successful  Republican  nominee  on  the  ticket  for  Albany 
count)-.  During  his  second  legislative  term  Mr.  "Ward  served  on  the  Committee  on 
General  Laws  and  Revision.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Unconditional  Republican, 
Camera  and  Albany  Clubs  and  a  member  of  Trinity  M.  E.  church,  and  in  1891-92 
was  superintendent  of  its  Sabbath  school.  In  1881  Mr.  Ward  married  Miss  Carrie, 
daughter  of  Luman  Stanton  of  Westerlo,  and  they  have  three  children:  Maude  E., 
Florence  and  Walter  J. 

Potts,  Jesse  Walker,  is  the  only  son  of  Jesse  Charles  Potts,  who  was  born  September 
30,  1811,  in  Albany.  His  grandparents  were  Jesse  and  Elizabeth  (Duns)  Potts,  the 
former  being  a  Friend,  who  came  to  Albany  from  Pennsylvania  in  1790.  He  is 
descended  from  David  Potts,  who  came  from  Wales  and  settled  in  Bristol  township, 
Philadelphia  county,  Pa.,  before  1692.  David  Potts,  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  married  Alice  Croasdale,  who  with  her  parents  came  to  America  with  Will- 
iam Penn  in  the  Welcome  in  1682.  Jesse  Potts  died  December  21,  1811,  leaving  a 
widow  and  six  children.  Elizabeth  Duns  was  born  in  Scotland.  Jesse  Charles  Potts 
attended  the  old  Lancaster  school  and  was  at  the  opening  of  the  new  building  in 
1817,  where  the  Albany  Medical  College  is  now.  When  thirteen  he  worked  for  Mrs. 
Cook  who  kept  a  reading  room  on  Broadway  near  Maiden  Lane,  and  afterward  in 
a  grocery  on  old  Van  Schaick  street.  In  1828  he  was  apprenticed  to  learn  the  molder's 
trade  at  Corning  &  Norton's  Eagle  Foundry,  and  after  the  firm  sold  their  business 
to  Many  &  Ward  in  1830,  he  finished  his  apprenticeship  with  Francis  Low  at  the  Clinton 
Foundrv.  He  worked  for  Howard  Nott  &  Co.,  manufacturers  of  the  famous  Nott 
stoves,  and  was  with  Rathbone  &  Silliman  for  about  a.year.  In  1835  he  formed  a  "part- 
nership with  Benjamin  Thomas  for  the  manufacture  of  stove  castings,  on  the  site  of 
the  present  First  Baptist  church.  In  1836  the  firm  was  changed  to  Thomas,  Potts  & 
Wells.  Subsequently  Mr.  Potts  sold  his  interest  to  the  other  two  and  became  the 
foreman  of  De  Graff's  Foundry.  In  1837  he  entered  into  partnership  with  Levi  S. 
Hoffman,  with  whom  he  remained  until  1846,  when  he  bought  Mr.  Hoffman's  inter- 
est and  four  years  later  sold  the  business  to  Shear  &  Packard ;  in  1852  he  formed 
with  Jacob  H.  Shear  and  Joseph  Packard,  the  firm  of  Shear,  Packard  &  Company; 
in  February,  1857,  he  sold  his  interest  to  Shear  &  Packard  and  retired  from  active 
business.  In  1850  and  1851  he  became  interested  in  real  estate  and  built  many  dwell- 
ings in  the  city.  In  1851  he  went  to  Europe  in  company  with  the  late  George  Daw- 
son. He  represented  the  old  Third  ward  as  supervisor  in  1852,  being  elected  as  a 
Whig.  He  was  an  admirer  of  Henry  Clay  and  when  the  latter  made  his  second 
canvass  for  the   presidency  in   1832,   Mr.   Potts  cast  his  first  vote.     He   continued 


255 

a  Whig  until  the  Republican  party  was  formed  in  1856,  when  he  joined  it.  Pie 
joined  the  Volunteer  Fire  Department  August  17,  1835,  and  was  foreman  of  Truck 
No.  1.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Commerce  Insurance  Company  in  1859 
and  a  director  from  that  time,  and  was  also  a  director  of  the  First  National  Bank. 
He  was  a  member  and  for  many  years  a  vestryman  of  St.  Peter's  church  and  was 
one  of  the  committee  (the  other  two  being  John  Taylor  and  Dr.  Philip  Ten  Eyck) 
that  had  charge  of  the  erection  of  the  present  building  in  1859  and  1860.  lie  also  at  the 
request  of  the  family  of  John  Tweddle,  superintended  the  completion  of  the  tower  in 
1876.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Fireman's  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows,  March  10, 
1887,  and  was  also  a  member  of  the  Histrionic  Association.  He  took  a  great  interest  in 
American  coins  and  medals  and  his  collection  probably  ranked  with  any  in  the 
country.  December  22,  1835,  he  married  Eunice  U.  Walker,  who  died  in  June,  1890. 
Mr.  Potts  died  February  '2,  1891,  leaving  two  children,  who  are  now  living.  In  1895 
the  new  rectory  of  St.  Peter's  was  built  and  given  to  the  church  as  a  memorial  to 
Jesse  Charles  Potts  and  his  wife,  by  their  son  and  daughter,  Jesse  Walker  Potts  and 
Sarah  Benham  Potts. 

Boyd,  James  P.,  M.D.,  is  a  native  of  Albany  and  a  son  of  one  of  the  foremost  phy- 
sicians of  the  city  in  his  day.  He  received  his  early  education  at  the  Albanv  Boys' 
Academy  and  was  graduated  from  Princeton  College  in  1867.  He  then  entered  the 
Albany  Medical  College  where  he  pursued  the  study  of  medicine  with  that  assiduitv 
which  had  characterized  his  earlier  school  days.  Subsequently  he  entered  the  Col- 
lege of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of  New  York  city  and  received  the  degree  of  M.  I  >. 
from  that  institution  in  1871.  The  next  two  years  Dr.  Boyd  devoted  to  higher 
studies  in  his  chosen  profession  in  the  famous  universities  of  Germany.  He  bi 
the  practice  of  medicine  in  Albany  in  1S7:!,  and  has  steadily  increased  until  now; 
he  stands  in  the  foremost  rank  of  the  eminent  physicians  of  the  city.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society,  the  New  York  State  Medical  Society,  the 
American  Medical  Association,  the  American  Association  of  Obstetricians  and  the 
G  vnecological  Society.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  British  Gynecological  Society. 
He  is  also  attending  gynecologist  to  Albany  Hospital,  consulting  obstetrician  to  St. 
Peter's  Hospital  and  professor  of  obstetrics;  gynecology  and  diseases  of  children  at 
the  Albanv  Medical  College. 

Guthrie,  Alfred  A.,   son   of  Samuel  and   Catherine  (Minean  Guthrie,   was  born  in 
Troy,  Davis  county,  la.,  September  2D,   1850,  was  prepared   for  college   in  the  acad- 
emy of  his  native  town  and  received  from  the  State  University  of   Iowa  the  d< 
of  A.  B.  in  1875  and  that  of  A.  M.  in  1877.      After  graduating  he  began  the  study  of 
law  in  the  office  of  Hatch  &  Hatch,  of  Hannibal,  Mo.,  but  in  1888  removed  to  Albany 
and  took  a  partial  course  of  studies  at  the  Union  Law  School,   receiving  the   d< 
of  LL.B.  and  being  admitted  to  the  liar  of  New   York   in  June.    1884.      He  v  as 
ciated  iu  practice  with  his  brother,  William  R,  Guthrie  and   Andrew  J.  Colvin,  until 
the  former's  death  in  1890,  and  since  then  has  continued  alone.      He  has  alwavsbeen 
a  Republican,  has  held  several  positions  of  trust  and  honor,   and  is  pre-eminently  a 
scholar,    a  lover  of  books  and  a  thorough  student  of  jurisprudence.     He       a  thirty- 
Becond  degree  Mason,  past  commander  of  Temple  Commandery   No.  'J    K.  T.,  past 
thrice  illustrious  master  of  De  Witt  Clinton  Council,   No.  22.   R.  &   S.   M.,  past  high 
priest  of  Capital  City  Chapter  No.  242,  R.  A.  M.,  past  master  of  the  Ineffable  and 


256 

Sublime  Grand  Lodge  of  Perfection  of  Albany,  a  trustee  representing  his  chapter  in 
the  New  Temple  Commission,  and  a  member  of  the  Grand  Commandery  of  New  York 
and  has  been  the  representative  of  the  Grand  Commandery  of  Texas.  In  Odd  Fellow- 
ship he  has  from  its  inception  been  counsel  without  compensation  for  the  trustees 
of  the  New  Odd  Fellows  Temple  of  Albany.  He  was  elected  grand  warden  of  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  of  the  State  of  New  York  in  1893,  deputy  grand  master 
August  1,  1894,  and  grand  master  in  August  1895,  holding  the  latter  office  one  year, 
lie  is  continually  called  upon  to  deliver  addresses  in  all  parts  of  the  State.  Decem- 
ber 25,  1877,  he  married  Ella,  daughter  of  Rev.  Samuel  M.  Osmond,  D.  D.,  of  Phil- 
adelphia, Pa.,  who  died  in  March,  1879,  leaving  one  son:  Keith  Osmond  Guthrie, 
now  a  student  at  Yale  College,  class  of  1899. 

Hallenbeck,  Charles  W  — Garrett  J.  Hallenbeck,  born  in  the  town  of  Guilderland, 
in  December,  1816,  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  that  town.  The  first  of  the  family 
that  emigrated  from  Holland  to  America  were  William  and  Michael  F.,  who  settled 
on  the  Livingston  Manor  about  1740.  Isaac,  the  son  of  William  and  grandfather  of 
Garrett  J.,  settled  in  the  town  of  Guilderland  where  he  reared  four  sons:  Tunius, 
Garrett,  Abram  and  Jacob  I.  Jacob  I.,  the  father  of  Garrett  J.,  was  born  in  Guild- 
erland December  14,  1791,  where  he  was  a  well-to-do  farmer.  When  twenty  years 
of  age  he  married  Christiana  Waldron  and  their  children  were  Isaac,  George  Y. , 
Garrett  J.,  Margaret  and  Jane  Ann,  all  deceased  except  Margaret.  He  died  in  1877 
and  his  wife  in  1875.  Garrett  J.  devoted  his  life  to  farming  and  in  early  life  he 
bought  and  sold  many  farms.  In  1853  he  settled  permanently  on  the  farm  of  128 
acres,  which  is  now  owned  by  his  sons,  Charles  W.  and  Alexander.  He  took  great 
pride  in  the  breeding  of  fine  horses  and  cattle.  In  1844  he  married  Lucinda  Van 
Yalkenburg,  who  was  born  in  Guilderland  in  July,  1822,  daughter  of  Johoicam  and 
Rebecca  (McMichael)  Van  Yalkenburg.  Their  children  were  Jacob  G.,  Rebecca, 
Cornelius  (deceased),  Isaac  H.,  Alexander,  Jane  Ann,  Emma,  and  Charles  W.  of 
Albany.  Johoicam  Van  Yalkenburg  was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Guilderland,  and 
the  son  of  John  Van  Yalkenburg.  He  was  a  farmer  and  lumberman,  owning  a 
good  farm  and  a  saw  mill.  He  reared  ten  children,  all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity 
except  one  boy,  who  was  accidentally  killed.  Alexander  McMichael,  the  maternal 
grandfather,  of  Mrs.  Hallenbeck,  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  was  for  years  a  hotel 
keeper  and  farmer. 

Wolff,  John,  son  of  John  A.  and  J.  J.  (Mayen)  Wolff,  was  born  in  Arnhem,  Holland, 
July  22,  1836.  He  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools,  and  Almkerk  Univer- 
sity from  which  he  graduated  in  1855.  Immediately  after  his  graduation  he  was 
appointed  assistant  teacher  of  the  Holland  and  French  languages  and  filled  that  chair 
until  1857,  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  America  and  settled  in  Albany,  N.  Y. 
Mr.  Wolff  obtained  the  position  of  shipping  clerk  with  Wheeler  &  Melick  and  held 
that  place  until  1888,  when  he  associated  himself  with  the  Wheeler  &  Melick  Manu- 
facturing Company.  While  shipping  clerk,  Mr.  Wolff  was  abroad  seven  timesinthe 
capacity  of  salesman.  The  firm  went  out  of  existence  in  1890,  and  Mr.  Wolff  assumed 
control  of  the  business  and  continued  in  that  capacity  until  January,  1896;  since  then 
he  has  been  engaged  in  a  general  repair  and  commission  business.  In  1S6:!  he  mar- 
ried Miss  D.  G.  Fortanier  of  Rotterdam,  Holland,  and  they  have  one  son  and  four 
daughters. 


257 

Ogden,  Charles  G.,  son  of  Edward  and  Julia  (Hand)  Ogden,  was  born  in  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  January  25,  1858.  Mr.  Ogden's  father  was  born  in  England  and  on  the  ma- 
ternal side  he  is  descended  from  New  England  ancestors.  He  received  his  education 
in  the  Albany  Academy,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1877.  He  then  entered 
the  office  of  his  father,  where  he  learned  the  business  of  architect  and  draughtsman. 
In  1892  he  was  taken  into  partnership, the  firm  being  Edward  Ogden  &  Son,  located 
at  No.  61  State  street.  In  1884  Mr.  Ogden  married  Lizzie,'  daughter  of  Peter  Kin- 
near,  of  Albany,  and  they  have  two  children,  a  son  and  a  daughter. 

Banker,  William  Soules,  son  of  John  and  Christiana  (Kent)  Banker,  was  born  in 
Clinton  county,  N.  Y.  He  received  his  education  at  the  Plaf/tsburgh  and  Cham- 
plain  Academies,  after  which  he  went  into  business  with  the  Redford  Crown  Glass 
Works  at  Redford,  N.  V.  He  remained  with  this  concern  for  many  years,  until 
their  retirement  from  business.  His  worth  as  a  salesman  had  become  well  known 
during  his  connection  with  the  Redford  works,  and  after  leaving  them  he  was  con- 
nected with  some  of  the  most  important  houses  in  the  United  States.  They  were 
J.  W.  Blodgett  &  Co.,  of  Boston;  J.  R.  Jaffrey  &  Sons,  of  New  York,  and  N.  K. 
Fairbank  &  Co.,  of  Chicago,  later  the  N.  K.  Fairbank  Company.  In  April,  1S88, 
Mr.  Banker  removed  to  Albany,  representing  the  latter  house,  also  the  Cudahy 
Packing  Co.,  South  Omaha,  Neb.,  and  he  continued  to  represent  the  Fairbank  Com- 
pany until  November,  1895.  He  now  represents  the  Cudahy  Packing  Co.,  South 
Omaha,  Neb.;  Central  Lard  Co.,  New  York  city;  the  Waverly  Refining  Co.,  New 
York  city;  the  National  Linseed  Oil  Co.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  ,  American  Preservers  Co., 
Philadelphia,  Pa.;  Muscatine  Oat  Meal  Co.,  Muscatine,  la.;  Eli  Pettijohn  Cereal 
Co.,  Minneapolis,  Minn.  ;  Mohawk  Condensed  Milk  Company,  Rochester,  N.  Y.  ; 
Jacob  Beck&  Sons,  Detroit,  Mich.  ;  De  Land  &  Co.  (Cap  Sheaf  Soda),  Fairport,  N.Y.  ; 
the  Rockford  Sugar  Refining  Co.,  Rockford.  111.  ;  Connecticut  Extract  Witch  Hazel, 
Middletown,  Conn.;  Delgado  &  Co.,  New  Orleans,  La.;  Theo.  Brierre's  Sons,  New 
Orleans,  La.;  Standard  Rice  Co.,  New  York  city;  American  Soap  Co.,  New  York 
city;  Columbia  Falls  Packing  Co.,  Columbia  Falls,  Me.;  and  the  Marshall-Kennedy 
Milling  Co.,  Allegheny,  Pa.  Mr.  Banker  has  also  other  large  milling  interests;  his 
office  and  warehouse  at  65  and  67  Hudson  avenue  is  one  of  the  best  in  Albany,  large, 
attractive,  and  contains  all  the  up  to  date  improvements,  including  steam  power  and 
steam  heating. 

Van  Aken,  De  Baun,  son  of  Dr.  David  F.  and  Abigail  (Lansing)  Van  Aken,  was 
born  in  Lishaskill,  Albany  county,  X.  Y.,  January  :!,  L868.  Dr.  David  P.,  the  father 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  still  a  practicing  physician  at  Maiden,  Ulster  county, 
N.  Y.  Mr.  Van  Aken  is  descended  from  French-Huguenot  stock ;  from  those  who, 
shortly  after  the  massacre  of  St.  Bartholomew's,  moved  to  Holland.  Two  brothers 
left  Holland  and  came  to  America  just  previous  to  the  Revolution  and  one  of  them, 
Henry,  great-great-grandfather  of  Mr.  Van  Aken.  performed  gallant  service  in  the 
war.  Mr.  Van  Aken's  grandfather,  Alanson,  is  now  living  in  the  town  of  Xew  Scot- 
land at  the  ripe  old  age  of  ninety-two,  lie  has  been  justice  ol  the  peace  of  New 
Scotland  for  a  number  of  years.  ( )n  the  maternal  side  Mr.  Van  Aken  is  descended 
from  Gerritt  Lansing,  who  came  from  Holland  and  whose  descendants  have  had  an 
important  part  in  framing  the  history  of  Albany  county.  Mr.  Van  Aken  was  edu- 
cated in  the  Saugerties  Institute,  the  Union  Classical  Institute  at  Schenectady  and 
gg 


258 

the  Albany  College  of  Pharmacy,  from  which  he  received  the  degree  of  Ph.  G.  in 
1884.  After  leaving  college  Mr.  Van  Aken  was  associated  with  Dr.  C.  H.  Smith  on 
Washington  avenue  for  twelve  years  and  was  a  partner  during  the  last  five.  In  1894 
he  purchased  the  store  on  the  corner  of  Hamilton  and  Hawk  streets,  where  he  is 
now  doing  a  large  business.  He  is  secretary  .of  the  College  of  Pharmacy  and  in- 
structor in  chemistry  therein.  For  one  term  he  was  president  of  the  Alumni  Asso- 
ciation of  the  college.  Mr.  Van  Aken  is  a  member  of  the  State  Street  Presbyterian 
church  and  has  been  its  Sunday  school  superintendent  for  the  past  five  years.  In 
1890  he  married  Jessie  W.  Schermerhorn  of  East  Greenbush,  and  they  have  one  son, 
Homer  Lansing. 

Hawley,  Mrs.  Clara  M. — Among  the  numerous  printing  establishments  in  Albany 
it  would  be  hard  to  find  one  where  prompt  service  and  fair  dealing  more  abound 
than  in  that  owned  by  Mrs.  C.  M.  Hawley.  This  business  was  originally  established 
in  1871  by  L.  H.  Burdick,  for  general  job  and  newspaper  printing,  at  No.  51  North 
Pearl  street.  Mr.  Burdick  continued  to  own  and  manage  the  business  until  1878, 
when,  having  taken  James  Taylor  into  partnership,  the  firm  became  Burdick  & 
Taylor.  The  plant  was  subsequently  moved  to  Martin  Hall  and  later  to  No.  481 
Broadway,  where  the  business  was  continued  until  1893.  In  November,  1890,  the 
partnership  was  dissolved  and  Lewis  J.  Roberts  came  into  the  firm,  making  the  firm 
Taylor  &  Roberts.  Mr.  Roberts  died  after  thirteen  months,  but  the  firm  name  con- 
tinued until  1893,  when  Charles  H.  Hawley  succeeded  to  the  Roberts  interest.  Mr. 
Hawley  died  in  November,  1893,  and  the  interest  has  since  been  carried  on  by  Mr. 
Hawlev's  widow,  Mrs.  Clara  M.  Hawley.  January  21,  1897,  Mrs.  Hawley  bought 
Mr.  Taylor's  interest  and  has  since  then  been  sole  owner  of  the  plant,  at  Nos.  36-38 
Beaver  street,  and  secured  the  services  of  L.  H.  Burdick  to  manage  the  business  for 
her.  Mr.  Burdick,  being  the  founder  of  the  business,  is  of  course  a  most  valuable 
man  and  will  build  up  the  concern  to  hold  its  own  as  among  the  first  of  its  kind  in 
the  city.  Mr.  Burdick  also  represents  the  Pennsylvania  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Com- 
pany and  for  eight  years  has  been  secretary  of  the  West  End  Savings  and  Loan 
Association.  He  is  very  popular  in  social  and  fraternal  circles,  and  is  a  Knight 
Templar,  Mason,  a  past  grand  in  the  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  and  an  encampment  member. 

Anderson,  Charles  W.,  was  born  April  28,  1866,  in  Oxford,  Ohio.  He  graduated 
from  the  High  School  of  that  town,  Spencerian  Business  College  of  Cleveland  and 
Miami  University.  He  determined  upon  the  legal  profession,  and  to  prepare  himself 
read  law  with  Judge  Weed  of  Cleveland.  He  did  not  complete  his  studies,  however, 
but  moved  east  to  New  York  and  entered  politics.  He  was  for  a  time  on  the  staff  of 
the  New  York  Age,  and  was  connected  with  the  late  Col.  Elliot  F.  Shephard  until  his 
death.  He  was  appointed  United  States  Internal  Revenue  Gauger  by  Hon.  William 
Windom,  which  position  he  held  until  December,  1893,  when  he  resigned  to  accept 
the  appointment  of  private  secretary  to  State  Treasurer  Colvin,  which  position  Ife 
now  holds.  Mr.  Anderson  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  scholarly  colored  men  of  . 
the  country,  and  has  probably  been  honored  as  much  as  any  living  man  of  his  race. 
He  responded  to  the  sentiment,  "The  Citizen  and  the  Ration,"  at  the  annual  ban- 
quet of  the  Garfield  Club  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  in  1891,  and  to  that  of  "The  Future 
of  the  Republican  Party,"  in  1892.  He  also  responded  to  a  toast  at  the  annual  ban- 
quet of  the  St.  Patrick's  Club  at  Hotel  Brunswick,  New  York,  March  17,  1892;   he 


259 

was  one  of  the  speakers  at  the  banquet  given  by  the  government  of  Venezuela, 
through  her  commissionar,  Hon.  Napoleon  Dominici,  at  Delmonico's,  to  the  Ameri- 
can advocates  of  the  Monroe  Doctrine  in  the  same  year.  Mr.  Anderson  responded 
to  the  toast  of  "The  Emancipation  Proclamation,"  at  the  Lincoln  banquet  of  the 
Marquette  Club  of  Chicago,  at  the  Grand  Pacific  Hotel,  February  12,  1895.  He  has 
delivered  many  lectures,  among  them  being  "The  Delights  and  Defects  of  Conver- 
sation," "The  Life,  Times  and  Teachingsof  Rousseau,"  "Abraham  Lincoln,'  "The 
Abolitionists,"  "Frederick  Douglass,"  "The  Philosophy  of  Prejudice,"  "  The  Ama- 
teur Thinker,"  and  "The  Brotherhood  of  Man."  He  has  made  many  occasional 
addresses  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  readiest  and  most  polished  speakers  of  his 
age  in  the  State.  He  was  appointed  a  commissioner  to  the  Tennessee  Centennial  by 
Governor  Morton,  and  was  selected  by  the  Republican  State  Committee  to  accom- 
pany Hon.  William  McKinley  on  his  speaking  tour  through  New  York  State  during 
Hon.  Levi  P.  Morton's  canvass  lor  governor.  Mr.  Anderson  makes  many  friends 
wherever  he  goes,  as  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  he  was  tendered  a  complimentarv 
luncheon  by  members  of  the  Union  League  Club  of  Chicago,  October  17,  1896. 

Wrightson,  George  W.,  was  born  in  England  and  came  to  America  when  four 
years  of  age,  and  settled  in  Utica  and  in  1859  engaged  with  the  N.  Y.  C.  &  II.  R.  R. 
R.  Co.  as  fireman,  and  acted  as  such  on  the  engine  that  took  President  Lincoln  to 
the  White  House,  also  taking  his  body  west  when  killed.  From  fireman  he  was 
promoted  to  engineer,  and  ran  the  first  passenger  engine  from  Ravena  on  the  West 
Shore  R.  R.,  and  settled  there.  He  also  ran  an  engine  on  the  Mohawk  division.  He 
married  Miss  Rachel  Lang  of  Utica,  and  built  a  line  residence  at  Ravana,  where  he 
reared  a  family  of  three  daughters:  Ada  L.  (Mrs.  G.  C.  Boyl),  Eva  M.  and  Grac<  M 
He  was  and  is  yet  the  principal  mover  in  the  organization  of  the  Christian  church  at 
Ravena,  which  was  built  in  1889,  and  of  which  he  is  a  leading  member  and  sup- 
porter. 

Don,  William  G.,  son  of  John  G.  and  Julia  (Crew)  Hon,  was  horn  in  Albany.  X.  \\, 
March  29,  1854.  He  attended  Professor  Luther's  sch<  ml  mi  Eagle  street  and  Folsom's 
Business  College,  after  which  he  worked  for  the  Van  Rensselaer  estate  and  as  tally 
boy  for  Clark,  Sumner  &  Co..  lumber  dealers,  where  he  rose  to  the  position  of  clerk. 
In  1876  he  went  to  work  forThomas  S.  Murphy  as  bookbinder.  In  L894  Mr.  Murphy 
died  and  in  March,  1895,  a  new  company  was  formed,  Thomas  S.  Murphy  &  Co.,  of 
which  Mr.  Don  was  elected  treasurer,  and  which  office  he  now  holds.  Mr.  Don  was 
active  in  the  politics  of  the  Republican  party  at  the  time  of  the  late  John  I-'.  Smyth 
and  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Capital  City  Club  in  1868,  and  is  also  a  menii 
the  Unconditional  Club.  In  1883  he  married  Harriet  S.  Cochrane  of  Ogdensburg, 
N.  Y.,  and  she  died  the  same  year. 

Gibbons,  Erastus,  born  in  Coeymans,  January  II,  1842,  is  a  son  of  Erastus  and 
Martha  (Wheat)  Gibbons.  Erastus  Gibbons,  sr.,  was  a  native  of  Westerlo  and  she 
pf  Albany;  the  grandparents,  John,  came  from  Dutchess  county  to  Westerlo  in  pio- 
neer days.  Erastus,  father  of  Erastus  Gibbons,  jr.,  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and 
resided  in  Coeymans  for  some  years,  but  spent  his  last  days  in  Westerlo  on  a  farm 
and  died  in  1  s7"» ;  Mrs.  Gibbons  died  in  1871.  Erastus  Gibbons,  jr.,  was  educated  at 
the  academy  at  Coeymans  and  in  1867  married  Carrie  Iv,  daughter  of  Abner  Garret, 
bf  Westerlo,  and  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gibbons  have  been  born  eight  children  :  Mattie,  wile 


260 

of  William  Fish,  of  the  N.  Y.  C.  R.  R.,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. ;  Nettie,  Estella  and  Bertie, 
now  living;  Adella,  died  aged  six  years;  Willie,  died  age  ten  years;  Jessie,  died  age 
ten  years,  and  Erastus  died  aged  two  years.  Mrs.  Gibbons  died  in  1888.  From  the 
farm  Mr.  Gibbons  went  into  general  mercantile  business  in  Dormansville  in  1866, 
and  with  the  exception  of  two  years  has  carried  on  the  business  to  the  present  time. 
He  was  postmaster  under  Cleveland,  during  his  last  term.  In  1863  Mr.  Gibbons 
enlisted  in  Co.  D,  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inft. ,  but  was  soon  honorably  discharged  on  account  of 
sickness.     He  is  a  member  of  Post  S.  Evan  N. ,  G.  A.  R.,  and  a  Republican. 

Shultes,  Abram,  a  landmark  and  well  known  citizen  of  Berne,  was  born  in  Berne 
(now  Knox)  March,  1827.  The  parent  tree  of  the  Shultes  family  in  America  was  Ma- 
thias  (Mottise)  Shultes,  who  was  born  in  Holland  in  1726,  his  father  being  killed  the 
same  year  by  religious  persecutors,  the  mother  fearful  that  her  own  life  and  the  life  of 
her  child  might  also  be  sacrificed,  fled  to  America  with  her  babe,  when  he  was  but 
six  months  of  age.  She  settled  in  the  woods  (probably  in  .Schoharie  county)  among 
her  Dutch  friends  and  there  reared  her  boy  to  manhood.  He  later  became  one  of 
the  first  settlers  in  the  town  of  Berne  and  from  time  to  time  took  up  400  acres  of  land, 
made  him  a  home  and  cared  for  his  mother  until  the  time  of  her  death.  He  fought 
Indians  during  the  French  and  Indian  war  from  1754  to  1762,  and  fought  Tories  and 
Indians  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  During  this  war,  the  Indians  and  Tories 
were  determined  to  kill  him  and  many  a  time  he  was  obliged  to  seek  shelter  in  the 
woods,  to  escape  from  their  attacks.  His  son  William  was  lieutenant  of  a  regiment 
during  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  reared  six  sons  and  several  daughters.  Lieut. 
Wm.  Shultes,  the  grandfather  of  Abram,  was  a  native  of  Berne,  where  he  was  a 
farmer.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  died  when  forty-five  years 
of  age.  His  wife  was  a  Miss  Post,  daughter  of  the  notorious  tory  Jacob  Post,  and 
they  had  four  children.  For  his  second  wife  he  married  Miss  Stern berger,  by  whom 
two  children  were  born.  Peter  W.  Shultes,  Abram's  father,  was  born  on  the  home- 
stead in  1801.  He  came  in  possession  of  one  of  his  father's  farms  and  succeeded  in 
accumulating  a  large  property  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  worth  $40,000.  His 
wife  was  Magdalene  West,  daughter  of  Peter  and  granddaughter  of  the  celebrated 
artist  Sir  William  West  and  they  had  twelve  children,  but  only  five  grew  to  maturity. 
He  died  in  1853  and  his  wife  survived  him  many  years  and  died  at  the  home  of  her 
son,  Abram.  Abram  Shultes  attended  the  the  common  district  school  and  took  an 
academic  course  at  the  Gallupville  Academy.  When  nineteen  years  of  age  he  began 
teaching,  this  he  followed  about  six  months  of  the  year  for  several  years,  when  he 
settled  on  the  homestead,  where  he  remained  until  forty  years  of  age,  when  the  farm 
was  sold  and  divided  among  the  heirs;  he  then  bought  his  present  farm  of  160  acres 
on  West  Mountain  and  moved  there  in  1867  and  he  owns  another  farm  of  120  acres 
in  the  town  of  Rensselaerville.  In  1855  he  married  Margaret  Turner,  born  in  Eng- 
land and  a  daughter  of  George  and  Dorotha  (Potter)  Turner,  who  came  to  America 
with  his  family  in  1832.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shultes  are  Florence  (wife 
of  Wallace  R.  Peasley),  George  D.,  De  Forest,  Mary,  Alice,  Joseph  T.,  Charles  A., 
William  J.,  Margaret  and  Susan  E.  George,  Joseph  and  William  are  now  in  Cortez 
Valley,  Nevada,  in  the  silver  mines.  George  Turner,  father  of  Mrs.  Shultes,  was 
born  in  England  in  1772.  He  was  a  farmer  and  cartman,  carting  coal  principally. 
He  settled  in  Berne  on  West  Mountain  in  1832  and  died  October  10,  1833.     His  wife, 


/  261 

Dorothy,  was  born  in  1786  and'died  December  15,  1838  and  they  had  eight  children: 
George,  Margaret,  Joseph  Jonathan,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  Susan  and  Leah. 

Rice,  Joseph  Taft,  who  for  many  years  was  prominently  identified  with  Albany's 
interests,  was  born  in  Shrewsbury,  Mass.,  January  22.  1787.  He  was  a  lineal  de- 
scendant from  Edmund  Rice,  who  was  born  in  Wales  in  1594,  moved  to  Hertford- 
shire, England,  and  in  1038,  with  his  wife  and  seven  children  came  to  this  country 
and  settled  in  Sudbury,  Mass.  He  died  at  Marlboro,  Mass.,  March  3,  1603,  and  was 
buried  at  Sudbury.  Joseph  Taft  Rice  settled  in  Albany  in  1808  and  engaged  in  the 
most  extensive  manufacture  of  silver  ware  west  of  New  York  city,  continuing  it  until 
1832.  Many  of  the  older  citizens  yet  have  the  productions  of  his  manufacture  which 
are  highly  prized  as  heirlooms  and  for  their  sterling  worth.  September  4,  1811,  he 
married  Jane,  daughter  of  Gilbert  dimming  of  Strothspay,  Scotland;  they  were 
blessed  with  thirteen  children  all  born  and  reared  in  this  city.  One  of  his  sons  was 
killed  in  the  late  war  and  the  others  have  honorably  filled  responsible  public  posi- 
tions. Mr.  Rice  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  Republican  Artillerv  organ- 
ized in  1810.  He  was  closely  affliated  with  De  Witt  Clinton,  William  H.  Swan, 
Thurlow  Weed  and  other  public  men  of  that  period.  He  was  very  noticeable  for  his 
commanding  figure  and  walk  and  was  of  a  genial  temperament.  He  died  June  19, 
1854. 

Wormer,  Eliakim  F.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Guilderland,  November  15,  1*47. 
Peter  and  Mooney  (Brougham)  Wormer,  his  great-grandparents,  were  natives  of 
Holland,  and  migrated  to  America  and  settled  on  Black  Creek,  in  the  town  of  Guil- 
derland. He  lived  to  an  old  age  and  his  wife,  Mooney,  lived  to  the  age  of  104  years, 
and  retained  remarkable  physical  and  mental  strength  to  the  last.  Cornelius,  the 
next  in  line,  was  born  in  Guilderland  about  1778,  and  became  an  active  and  success- 
ful farmer.  He  was  prominent  and  influential  in  public  affairs,  and  gave  each  of  his 
sons  a  good  start  in  life  by  placing  them  on  farms  of  their  own.  His  wife  was  Sarah 
Relyea;  he  lived  to  be  nearly  ninety-two  and  his  wife  lived  to  be  ninety-five.  They 
reared  five  sons  and  two  daughters.  Frederick,  the  father  of  Eliakim,  was  born  in 
Guilderland  in  October,  1814.  He  has  spent  all  his  active  life  successfully  as  a  farmer 
in  his  native  town.  For  a  number  of  years  he  lived  in  Guilderland  Center,  where  he 
owns  property.  He  passes  his  time  by  attending  to  his  garden  ami  small  fruit 
growing.  He  and  his  wife  are  well  preserved  and  spry  old  people  and  enjoying  the 
comforts  of  life.  His  wife  was  Marie  Blessing,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Guil- 
derland, June  5,  1816.  Their  children  are  Eliakim  F.,  Francis,  Rufus,  Daniel,  Fred- 
erick, William,  David,  Sarah  and  Hannah.  Eliakim  spent  his  early  life  on  his 
father's  farm,  and  attended  the  common  district  schools.  When  about  twenty-one 
he  engaged  in  business  for  himself  as  a  dealer  in  apples,  potatoes  and  other  farm 
produce  which  he  followed  a  few  years  with  fair  success;  he  then  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, which  vocation  he  has  followed  successfully  to  the  present  date.  He  is  the 
most  extensive  apple  grower  in  this  section  of  the  country.  For  some  years  past  lie 
has  been  a  breeder  of  registered  Holstein  cattle  and  Shropshire  sheep,  he  is  also  the 
owner  of  a  fine  thoroughbred  French  coach  stallion.  He  was  road  commissioi 
Guilderland'  for  a  number  of  years.  In  ls?'-2  he  married  Eliza,  daughter  of  James 
and  Marie  (Ilallenbeck)  Fryer;  she  was  born  in  the  town  of  Guilderland  in  1851, 

Paddock,  Edward,  son  of  William  S.  and    Magdalen  (Jlonghtaling)  Paddock,   was 


262 

born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  in  1859.  William  S.  Paddock,  the  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  prominently  identified  with  Albany  interests  and  was  for  twelve 
years  recorder  and  for  two  years  acting  mayor  of  Albany.  Edward  Paddock  attend- 
ed the  public  schools  and  after  completing  his  education  he  obtained  a  clerkship  in 
the  office  of  Smith,  Craig  &  Co.,  lumber  dealers.  He  remained  there  seven  years, 
after  which  he  was  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  William  McEwan,  coal  merchant,  for  five 
years.  In  1890  Mr.  Paddock  opened  a  general  sporting  goods  store  at  No.  93  State 
street  and  has  since  carried  on  a  successful  business  there.  He  is  a  member  of 
Temple  Lodge  No.  14,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Capital  City  Chapter  No.  242.  R.  A.  M.,  De  Witt 
Clinton  Council  No.  22,  R.  &  S.  M.,  and  Temple  Commandery  No.  5.  Mr.  Paddock 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Wheelmen  and  Was  at  one  time  its  treasurer. 
September  10,  1890,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Underhill  of  Albany,  and  they  have  one 
daughter.  Ruth  Magdalen. 

Fisher,  David  A.,  was  born  in  1834,  and  is  the  son  of  Daniel  G.,  who  was  born  in 
1808  and  died  in  1860,  and  grandson  of  Duncan,  and  great-grandson  of  Daniel 
Fisher,  who  was  among  the  first  settlers  of  Berne,  in  1770.  Mr.  Fisher  came  to 
Bethlehem  in  1856  and  to  his  present  home  in  1881,  where  he  is  a  farmer.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  M.  Long,  and  they  have  four  sons  and  three  daughters:  Burton  (who  is  a 
lawyer)    Frederick  D.,  Richard  L.  and  David  D.,  Anna,  Eleanor  and  Maria  D. 

Elmendorf,  William  Burgess,  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  February  8,  1856.  He 
is  a  son  of  John  Elmendorf,  jr.,  who  was  born  March  3,  1819,  and  Caroline  M.  Bur- 
gess, and  is  directly  descended  from  Jacobus  Coenradt  Van  Elmendorf,  who  was 
born  in  Holland,  came  to  America  in  1652,  and  who  married  Greitje  Aertse  Van 
Wagenen  in  Kingston,  N.  Y.,  April  25,  1667,  the  ceremony  being  performed  by  a 
justice  of  the  court  with  the  consent  of  the  bride's  mother,  inasmuch  as  the  bride 
being  under  age,  the  Dutch  church  would  not  or  could  not  perform  the  ceremony. 
All  of  Mr.  Elmendorf's  intermediate  ancestors  were  born  in  Kingston,  N.  Y. ,  and 
are  as  follows,  commencing  with  the  son  of  Jacobus  Coenradt  Van  Elmendorf,  Coen- 
radt Elmendorf,  who  married  Ariaantje  Geritse  Vandenburg  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  June 
28,  1693;  Cornelius  Abraham  Elmendorf  who  married  Engeltje  Heermans;  Abraham 
Elmendorf  who  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  who  married  Anaatje  dispell, 
April  22,  1758;  and  John  Elmendorf,  grandfather  of  William  B.,  who  married  Mar- 
garet Folant.  Mr.  Elmendorf,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  graduated  from  the  Albany 
vState  Normal  School  in  1871,  and  spent  two  years  at  the  Albany  Academy  and  one 
year  at  the  Albany  Business  College.  He  is  a  thorough  transportation  man  and  be- 
lieves in  his  business.  For  twenty-five  years  he  has  represented  (with  his  father, 
the  late  Capt.  John  Elmendorf  who  died  March  11,  1885),  the  popular  Hudson  River 
Day  Line  Steamers.  Mr.  Elmendorf  is  a  member  of  the  Society  of  the  Sons  of  the 
Revolution,  the  Holland  Society  of  New  York,  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Albany  City 
Curling  Club.  In  May,  1877,  he  married  Isabel  H.  Dalton,  daughter  of  William 
Dalton,  president  of  the  Albany  Exchange  Savings  Bank  and  late  of  the  lumber  firm 
of  Dalton  &  Kibbee.  She  died  in  1887,  and  by  her  Mr.  Elmendorf  had  one  son  (de- 
ceased) and  one  daughter,  Edna.  In  1889  he  married  Victoria  O'Brien,  daughter  of 
the  late  William  O'Brien,  esq.,  of  the  banking  house  of  O'Brien  &  Meridith  of  Mon- 
treal, and  also  Canadian  representative  of  the  Grand  Trunk  Railway.  They  have 
three  children,  Enid,  Jean  and  Alice.  , 


263 

Alexander,  Thomas,  was  born  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  in  1858.  George  Alex> 
ander,  his  father,  was  a  native  of  Edinburgh,  and  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  but  be- 
came one  of  the  largest  builders  and  contractors  in  the  city  of  Edinburgh,  some 
times  employing  as  high  as  three  hundred  men  at  a  time.  He  was  a  man  of  pro- 
gression, with  great  business  ability  and  accumulated  a  good  fortune.  He  made  two 
trips  to  America,  and  was  preparing  for  his  third  trip  when  death  overtook  him  in 
August,  1892.  His  wife  was  Ann  Murray,  by  whom  sixteen  children  were  born, 
seven  sons  and  five  daughters,  who  all  grew  to  maturity.  Thomas  Alexauder  re- 
ceived a  common  school  education  and  learned  the  mason's  and  stone  cutter's  trade. 
He  worked  with,  and  assisted  his  father  for  fourteen  years,  till  1885,  when  he  left 
home  and  sailed  for  America,  landing  in  Quebec,  Canada,  where  he  remained  two 
weeks.  While  with  his  sister  at  Port  Dover,  he  learned  of  the  magnificent  capitol 
building  under  way  of  erection  in  the  city  of  Albany,  and  concluded  that  was  the 
city  for  him,  and  after  visiting  Niagara  Falls  and  Buffalo,  he  landed  in  Albany  with 
but  twenty-five  cents  in  his  pocket.  He  immediately  sought  and  found  employment 
as  a  mason,  borrowing  money  from  a  stranger  to  buy  his  tools,  and  began  work. 
He  was  not  long  to  see  the  good  qualities  of  the  Helderberg  blue  Hag  stone  and  con- 
cluded to  engage  in  the  stone  business;  consequently  in  1887,  in  partnership  with 
his  employer,  he  purchased  fifteen  acres  of  stone  land  where  his  quarry  is  now  lo- 
cated, and  later  came  in  possession  of  the  entire  quarry,  and  subsequently  purchased 
the  remaining  eighty  acres  on  which  the  quarry  is  located,  and  after  hard  toil  and 
careful  supervision  has  opened  up  and  developed  one  of  the  finest  and  largest  quar- 
ries in  the  State,  which  is  second  to  none  in  the  country.  In  .March,  1894,  he  married 
Miss  Hannah  Smith  of  Berne,  a  daughter  of  Henry  J.  Smith;  she  died  five  months 
later. 

Warren,  Henry  P.,  is  one  of  the  leading  educators  of  the  State  and  conies  from 
the  East.  He  spent  most  of  his  boyhood  in  Gorham,  Me.,  where  his  father,  the  late 
Rev.  Dr.  William  Warren  resided.  Mr.  Warren  attended  the  Gorham  Academy, 
Gorham,  Me. ,  until  1855  when  he  entered  Phillips  Academy  at  Andover,  Mass.,  then 
under  the  administration  of  Dr  Samuel  L.  Taylor.  Mr.  Warren  spent  a  year  teach- 
ing in  Merrimac,  Mass,  and  was  graduated  from  Yale  in  1870.  That  same  year  he 
became  principal  of  the  Fifth  Street  Grammar  School  at  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  where 
he  remained  a  year  and  a  half  and  then  went  to  hover,  N.  II.,  where  he  was  prin- 
cipal of  the  Dover  High  School.  I  [e  was  obliged  to  go  South  for  lii^  health  in  is;."., 
and  remained  three  years,  when  he  returned  to  Dover.  He  took  charge  of  the  N.  II. 
State  Normal  School  in  1S7!)  for  four  years,  then  went  to  I ,awrenceville.  X.  J.,  and 
with  six  others  established  the  Lawrcnccville  School,  a  preparatory  boarding  school. 
He  remained  there  until  January,  1887.  In  August,  1SS0,  he  was  elected  principal 
of  the  Albany  Academy. 

Brunk,  lames  H.,  was  born  Januarj  8,  1840,  in  the  town  of  Berne  <>n  the  farm  he 
now  owns.  Nicholas  Brunk,  his  grandfather,  was  born  in  the  Mohawk  Valley,  of 
Holland  ancestry  and  was  a  descendant  from  one  of  five  brothers  who  migrated  from 
Holland  and  settled  along  the  Mohawk  River  as  pioneers;  Nicholas  settled  in  the 
town  of  Knox,  where  he  cleared  him  a  farm  and  made  him  a  home  on  180  a< 
land.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth  Miller  and  their  children  were  Mathias  Hannah, 
Henry,  Jacob,  Gittie  Ann,  Eva,  Catherine  and   Lydia.      Henry  Brunk,  the  father  of 


364 

James,  was  born  in  Knox  February  28,  1806,  where  he  was  a  lifelong  farmer.  He 
married  Rebecca  Fowler  who  was  born  in  Berne  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  her  son, 
March  17,  1809.  After  his  marriage,  he  purchased  from  his  father-in-law  the  farm  of 
146  acres  and  there  spent  his  life.  Their  children  were  Almira,  Lydia  Ann,  Jabez, 
James  H.,  Elizabeth,  Catherine  S. ,, Nicholas  J.,  and  Edgar.  He  died  December  12, 
1865.  and  his  wife  May  26,  1893.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Lewis  Fowler,  who  was  a 
native  of  England  and  came  to  America  in  the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  war  and 
served  seven  years  in  the  war.  James  H.  Brunk  has  spent  his  life  on  the  homestead 
farm.  When  a  boy  he  attended  the  common  district  schools,  but  after  the  death  of 
his  father,  he  hired  the  farm  from  his  mother  and  the  other  heirs  and  in  1868  pur- 
chased it  and  has  added  to  it  since  then  twenty-seven  acres,  where  he  has  devoted 
his  attention  to  a  general  farming  and  the  breeding  of  fine  grade  cattle.  Mr.  Brunk 
has  filled  the  office  of  overseer  of  the  poor  for  several  years.  He  is  an  influential 
member  of  the  Patrons  of  Industry  and  president  of  the  Evening  Star  Lodge  of 
Berne.  March  4,  1865,  he  married  Louisa  E.  Hungerford  of  Berne,  and  their  chil- 
dren are  Willie  J.,  Frank  T.,  Hattie  (who  died  when  nineteen),  Lena,  Alfred  and 
Leroy. 

Cuyler,  Edward  Cornelius,  son  of  Jacob  C.  and  Mary  Elizabeth  (Henley)  Cuyler, 
was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  in  1859.  He  attended  the  Albany  Academy,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1878,  after  which  he  took  a  course  at  Yale  University  and  was 
graduated  in  1883,  receiving  the  degree  of  A.  B  Mr.  Cuyler  has  followed  the  pro- 
fession of  the  newspaper  man  and  has  been  connected  with  the  Express  as  city 
editor  under  William  Barnes,  jr.,  and  Walter  F.  Hurcomb;  with  the  State;  and  the 
Times-Union  under  the  late  Ira  Wales.  For  the  past  eight  years  he  has  been  special 
correspondent  for  the  New  York  Evening  Post  and  various  other  papers  throughout 
the  country.  In  1883  he  married  Clarinda  Helene  Busley,  and  they  have  two  daugh- 
ters,  Elizabeth  and  Kathryn. 

Haines,  Luther  H.,  born  in  Westerlo,  December  25,  1839,  a  son  of  Adam  and  Eliza 
Ann  (Hanney)  Haines  and  grandson  of  Anthony  Haines,  who  was  reared  in  West- 
erlo but  went  to  Schoharie  county,  where  he  died.  Adam  Haines  was  a  farmer  six- 
teen years  in  Coeymans,  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  spent  in  Westerlo.  Luther 
H.  Haines  has  always  been  a  farmer  and  rents  167  acres  of  land  in  Westerlo  from 
Henry  Hunt.  He  is  a  Democrat  and  has  been  collector  and  road  commissioner  and 
has  taken  great  interest  in  having  good  schools.  In  1859  he  married  Emeline  Coons, 
niece  of  Abram  Coons  of  Albany,  and  they  have  seven  children :  Myron  A.,  Jacob  L., 
Ambers  S.,  David,  Ella,  wife  of  Clarence  Hopkins,  Maggie,  wife  of  Manley  Mark, 
and  Orson  L.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haines  attend  the  M.  E.  church. 

Clyckman,  Frederick  L. ,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Knox,  July  1,  1819,  a  son  of 
Lawrence  Clyckman,  who  was  born  in  the  same  town  about  1778,  who  was  one  of 
two  sons  and  two  half-brothers,  sons  of  a  native  of  Germany  who  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  began  farming  in  the  town  of 
Knox,  where  he  cleared  a  farm  and  built  a  log  house  and  where  he  lived  till  his 
death,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  Lawrence,  the  father  of  Frederick  L.,  also  spent 
his  life  as  a  successful  farmer  in  the  same  town,  owning  a  fine  farm  of  150  acres;  he 
was  a  volunteer  in  the  war  of  1812;  his  wife  was  Maria  Batcher,  and  their  children 
were  Jacob,  Mary,  Frederick,  Gertrude,  Adaline,  Elida,  Katie,  Margaret  and  Sarah. 


265 

Mr.  Clyekman  was  an  elder  in  the  Lutheran  church  for  a  number  of  years.  Fred- 
erick L.  Clyekman  remained  on  the  homestead  with  his  father  until  he  was  thirty- 
eight  years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  Guilderland  and  bought  a  farm  of  100  acres, 
where  he  has  since  resided;  by  industry  and  perseverance  he  has  paid  for  his  farm, 
erected  good  and  commodious  buildings,  and  made  many  other  improvements;  he  is 
an  up-to-date  and  prosperous  farmer.  In  1850  he  married  Eva,  daughter  of  Peter 
Walker,  who  bore  him  two  children,  Angelica  M.  and  Jessie  F.  His  second  wife 
was  Lydia,  daughter  of  Conrad  Batcher  of  Knox,  who  bore  him  one  child,  Jane  A. 
Mr.  Clyekman  has  been  deacon  and  elder  in  the  Lutheran  church  for  several  years. 
The  oldest  daughter,  Angelica,  married  William  J.  Alkenbrack  of  New  Scotland  in 
November,  1884;  Jessie  married  William  D.  Relyea  of  New  Scotland  in  November, 
1882;  and  Jane  A.  married  Shubael  C.  Jaycox  of  Bethlehem,  March  14,  1892. 

Hoskins,  Charles  M.,  son  of  Martin  and  Helen  (Pratt)  Hoskins,  was  born  in 
Jamaica,  Windham  county,  Vt.,  June  25,  18(31.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Vermont  and  then  learned  the  trade  of  shirt  cutter  in  the  factories 
of  Starbuck  and  Joseph  Fowler  in  Glens  Falls,  N.Y.,  where  he  remained  five  years. 
He  then  removed  to  Leominster,  Mass.,  where  he  was  employed  by  the  Leominster 
Shirt  Company  and  remained  there  three  years,  rising  from  cutter  to  the  position  of 
superintendent  of  the  factory.  From  Leominster  he  removed  to  Albany,  N.  V. . 
where  he  was  given  the  position  of  cutter  on  special  orders  in  the  factory  of  S.  L. 
Munson.  He  stayed  with  Mr.  Munson  two  and  one-half  years,  leaving  in  February, 
1895,  to  accept  his  present  position  of  manager  of  the  Albany  Shirt  Company.  Mr. 
Hoskins  is  a  member  of  Temple  Lodge  No.  14,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Clinton  Lodge  No. 
7,  I.  O.  O.  F.  August  21,  1889,  he  married  Frances  Mary  Harris  of  Garrettsville. 
N.  Y. ,  and  they  have  one  son,  Charles  Albert. 

Steenberg,  Byron  IT. ,  M.  D.,  son  of  Henry  W.  and  Amelia  C.  (Usher)  Steenberg, 
was  born  in  Malta,  Saratoga  county.  X.  Y.,  April  18,  1839.  He  attended  the  Jones- 
ville  Academy  and  Fort  Edward  Collegiate  Institute,  after  which  he  went  into  busi- 
ness in  Mechanicsville  as  a  clerk  in  Hatfield's  general  store.  He  remained  there  a 
few  years,  after  which  he  was  made  bookkeeper  for  W.  J.  &  K.  II.  Scott  at  Albany, 
N.  Y.  He  then  went  West  and  was  connected  with  the  dry  goods  house  of  C.  J. 
Pettibone  &  Co.  at  Fon  du  Lac  and  Green  Bay,  Wis.  While  West  he  determined 
to  study  medicine  and  in  1868  he  returned  East  and  entered  the  medical  department 
of  Vermont  University  at  Burlington,  where  he  took  one  course  of  lectures.  Subse- 
quently he  removed  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  in- 1870  he  received  his  degree  from  the 
Albany  Medical  College  and  has  since  practiced  in  Albany.  Dr.  Steenberg  is  a 
member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society,  of  which  he  has  been  secretary, 
vice  president  and  president.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  New  York  State  Medical 
Society  and  is  a  master  Mason.  In  June,  1880,  he  married  Ada  H.  Higgs  of  Albany, 
and  they  have  one  son,  Victor. 

Van  Derzee,  John  A. — Storm  Van  Derzee  came  to  Rensselaerwyck  in  the  year 
1630,  having  previously  emigrated  from  Holland.  He  was  a  trader  at  Beverwyck, 
or  Albany,  in  1661.  He  married  Hilletje,  daughter  of  Gerrit  Lansing,  ami  had  at 
least  two  sons  who  lived  to  maturity,  viz.:  Albert  and  Wouter.  Albert,  sou  of  Storm 
and  Hilletje  Lansing  Van  Derzee,  married  Hilletje  Gansevoort,  January  20,  1706; 
hh 


266 

their  children  were  Ariaantje,  born  May  22,  1707 ;  Storm,  born  June  26,  1709 ;  Harmon, 
born  March  4,   1711.     Harmon  Van  Derzee,  son  of  Albert  and  Hilletje  Gansevoort 

Van  Derzee,  married  Eva (surname  unknown) ;  their  children  were    Albert, 

baptized  June  28,   1738;  Cornells,  baptized  August  10,   1740;  Storm,  July  11,  1742. 

Gornelis  Van  Derzee,  son  of  Harmon  Van  Derzee  and  Eva ,  married  Agnes 

Whitbeck,  October  27,  1763;  their  children  were  Harmon,  born  September  3,  1774; 
Andrew,  born  May  22,  1766;  Eve,  born  October  13,  1769;  Moyaca,  born  April  25, 
1783.  Agnes  Whitbeck  Van  Derzee  died  November  10,  1821 ;  Cornells  Van  Derzee, 
her  husband,  died  March  19,  1823.  Andrew  Van  Derzee,  son  of  Cornelis  Van  Derzee 
and  Agnes  Whitbeck  Van  Derzee,  married  Jane  Ten  Eyck,  March  17,  1797;  their 
children  were  Agnes,  born  March  20,  1798;  Garritie,  born  Septemcer  16,  1801,  died 
October  9,  1889;  Cornelius,  born  April  7,  1804,  died  April  11,  1885;  Conradt  Ten 
Eyck,  born  May  20,  1806,  died  September  26,  1865;  John,  born  October  8,  1808,  died 
December  2,  1861;  Caroline,  born  September  26,  1811;  Barent,  born  December  22, 
1818,  died  December  29,  1857.  Jane  Ten  Eyck  Van  Derzee,  wife  of  Andrew  Van 
Derzee,  died  June  4,  1827.  Andrew  Van  Derzee  married  for  the  second  time  widow 
Charlotte  Snyder  (born  Sherwood);  their  only  child,  Andrew  S.  Van  Derzee,  was 
born  November  22,  1828.  Andrew  Van  Derzee  died  April  23,  1835.  Conradt  Ten 
Eyck  Van  Derzee,  son  of  Andrew  and  Jane  Ten  Eyck  Van  Derzee,  married 
Maria  Shear,  June  19,  1834;  their  children  were  Jane,  born  August  19,  1836; 
Peter,  born  August  24,  1838 ;  Agnes,  born  February  13,  1841 ;  Elizabeth,  born 
March  10,  1843;  John  A.,  born  February  1,  1845;  Albert,  born  May  9,  1847; 
Charles,  born  July  24,  1849;  Caroline  born  January  16,  1856.  Maria  Shear 
Van  Derzee  died  December  27,  1876.  John  A  Van  Derzee,  son  of  Conrad  Ten  Eyck 
Van  Derzee  and  Maria  Shear  Van  Derzee,  married  Josephine  Waterman  October  22, 
1874;  their  children  were  Jesse  W.,  born  October  30,  1875,  died  February  6,  1896; 
Florence  G.,  born  November  28,  1880;  John  Jay,  born  December  1,  1888.  John  A. 
Van  Derzee  is  the  present  owner  and  occupant  of  the  old  homestead  farm  which  con- 
tains 240  acres.  He  is  engaged  in  raising  grain,  dairying,  fruit  culture,  and  stock 
raising.  This  farm,  which  is  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation,  is  located  south  of  the 
Haanakrois  Creek,  about  one-half  mile  from  the  Coeymans  and  Westerlo  stone  road, 
formerly  the  old  turnpike.  Just  one  hundred  years  after  the  grant  to  the  territory 
included  in  the  town  of  Coeymans  was  made  by  Governor  Lovelace  to  Barent  Peterse 
Coeymans,  the  two  brothers,  Cornelius  Van  Derzee  and  Storm  Van  Derzee,  bought 
from  John  Barclay  and  Anna  Marghritta,  his  wife,  on  the  17th  of  March,  1673,  the 
lands  south  of  the  Haanakrois  Creek  for  ,£1,200.  (The  deed  for  the  above  property 
is  at  present  in  possession  of  one  of  the  descendants.)  A  substantial  stone  structure 
took  the  place  of  the  log  house  which  was  at  first  built  by  Cornelius  Van  Derzee. 
This  house,  having  been  remodeled,  is  still  in  a  good  state  of  preservation  and  oc- 
cupied by  Mr.  John  A.  Van  Derzee  and  family. 

Deitz,  Alanson  F.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Schoharie,  Schoharie  county,  in  1849. 
He  was  a  son  of  William  D.  Deitz,  a  native  of  the  same  place,  who  was  born  in 
1818.  He  was  one  of  four  sons:  Peter,  John,  Jacob  and  William,  and  three  daughters, 
born  to  Philip  A.  Deitz,  a  native  of  Holland,  who  settled  in  Schoharie  county  about 
1808,  and  became  a  successful  and  quite  wealthy  farmer,  owning  four  farms  at  the 
time  of  his  death.     His  brother,  who  came  with  him  from   Holland  and  settled  in 


267 

Schoharie  county,  was  with  his  whole  family  murdered  by  Indians  during  the  war  of 
1812.  William  A.,  the  father,  was  a  farmer  and  lived  on  one  of  the  farms  left  by  his 
father,  and  was  also  very  successful.  His  second  wife  was  Alvina  Fanning,  by 
whom  he  had  six  children.  He  died  in  1862.  Mr.  Deitz  attended  school  during  the 
summer  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he  started  out  for  himself  with  but 
forty  eight  cents.  He  went  to  work  on  a  farm  for  his  cousin,  following  farming  for 
some  time,  and  managed  to  go  to  school  during  the  winter.  At  the  age  of  twenty 
years  he  purchased  a  patent  right  of  a  fruit  and  lard  press,  which  he  sold  for  some 
time  with  success.  He  then  carried  on  a  beer  bottling  establishment  for  a  short 
time,  and  in  1871  he  engaged  in  the  bottling  business  in  Easl  Worcester,  Otsego 
county,  which  he  sold  two  years  later  and  removed  to  Guilderland  Center,  where  he 
established  a  small  bottling  business.  In  addition  to  this  business  he  has  bought  at 
different  times  different  wood  lots,  which  he  has  cleared,  making  posts,  rails,  lum- 
ber, etc.  Mr.  Deitz  is  of  an  inventive  turn  of  mind,  having  invented  and  patented 
at  different  times  several  useful  implements;  among  the  more  prominent  was  a  wire 
hay  binder  which  he  manufactured  for  six  years.  In  1885  he  established  his  present 
bottling  works,  and  in  addition  to  his  bottling  business  he  is  also  interested  in  the 
poultry  business.  He  was  one  of  the  village  trustees  of  Altamont  in  1894,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1896  was  elected  water  commissioner.  He  is  a  member  of  Voorhees- 
ville  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows.  In  1871  he  was  married  to  Mary  La  Grande,  who  was 
born  in  Guilderland,  a  daughter  of  Andrew  La  Grande.  Mr.  Deitz  was  treasurer 
and  deacon  of  the  Reformed  church.  Mrs.  Deitz  is  a  member  of  the  Missionary 
Society. 

Hunter,  James,  son  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth,  was  born  in  County  Down.  Ireland, 
January  4,  1865,  and  was  educated  and  reared  on  a  farm  in  his  native  countrv.  He 
came  to  America  in  1882,  settling  in  Albany,  where  he  lived  with  and  was  employed 
by  Robert  II.  Moore,  a  lumber  merchant,  remaining  with  him  two  years;  he  was 
then  with  Hugh  Patterson  and  E.  P.  Bates  one  year  each,  learning  the  gas  and 
steam  fitting  trade,  and  was  subsequently  with  the  Ferguson  Boiler  Company,  be- 
coming their  superintendent.  In  January,  1893,  he  engaged  in  the  steam  and  gas 
fitting  business  for  himself  at  Nos.  9  and  11  Liberty  street,  and  in  May,  1894,  bought 
out  the  Ferguson  Boiler  Company.  In  April,  L895,  he  occupied  their  old  quarters  on 
Church  street,  where  he  manufactures  high  and  low  pressure  steam  boilers  and 
steam  and  hot  water  heating  apparatus,  doing  also  a  general  contracting  business  m 
steam  and  hot  water  heating,  and  dealing  in  boilers,  engines  and  general  steam  sup- 
plies. June  24,  1891.  he  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Henry  Babcock  of  Albany, 
and  they  have  two  children,  Henry  Babcock  and  Char', 

Shields,  Francis,  son  of  Adam,  was  born  in  Albany  in  1822.  Adam  Shields,  who 
was  born  in  Ireland  in  1798,  came  to  America  in  1819  ami  settled  in  Albany,  where 
he  entered  the  employ  of  Levi  Solomon,  a  well  known  tobacconist.  In  is:!:',  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  Samuel  Townsend,  as  Townsend  &  Shields  and  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  tobacco.  On  Mr.  Townsend's  death,  which  occurred  in  1886, 
Mr.  Shields  formed  a  partnership  with  Charles  Chapman  and  William  Taylor,  under 
the  name  of  Chapman,  Shields  &  Taylor,  and  continued  until  1840,  when  Mr.  Shields 
withdrew.  In  185(1,  with  Daniel  Adams,  under  the  style  of  Shields  &  Adams,  he 
started   the  present  tobacco  manufacturing  business  of    Francis   Shields   in   Church 


2G8 

street.  Mr.  Adams  withdrew  in  1860  and  Mr.  Shields's  son  Francis  became  a  part- 
ner under  the  name  of  Shields  &  Son ;  this  continued  until  1880,  when  Mr.  Shields 
retired.  He  died  in  1888  and  since  that  year  the  business  has  been  successfully  con- 
ducted by  Francis  Shields,  and  is  the  largest  tobacco  manufactory  in  the  city. 

Cull,  William  H.,  was  born  in  Albany,  August  24,  1853,  and  is  a  son  of  David  and 
grandson  of  William  Cull,  who  was  born  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  1800.  He  came  to 
America  in  1820,  lived  in  Albany  and  Brandon,  Vt.;  dying  in  the  latter  place  in  1876. 
William  married  Letitia  Campbell,  of  Scotch  descent,  who  died  in  1888,  aged  eighty- 
four.  David  Cull  was  born  in  Albany,  became  a  well  known  telegraph  operator,  and 
married  Helen  M.,  daughter  of  James  H.  Young  of  Schenectady,  N.  Y. ,  and  died  in 
1860.  William  H.  Cull  attended  the  private  and  public  schools  of  Albany  and 
finished  his  education  at  the  Albany  Free  Academy.  When  sixteen  he  entered  the 
office  of  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Company  at  Troy,  N.  Y. ,  as  a  messenger  boy. 
There  he  worked  faithfully  in  various  capacities,  until  the  American  District  Mes- 
senger service  of  Albany  was  established  in  the  fall  of  1874.  He  was  soon  after 
appointed  superintendent  of  the  company  and  continued  in  the  same  capacity  until 
January  1,  1877.  A  vacancy  occurring  about  that  time  in  the  office  of  the  Fire  Alarm 
Telegraph  office  in  Albany,  Mr.  Cull  was  appointed  by  MajTor  Banks  to  a  position  in 
the  department.  He  remained  in  the  office  of  the  Fire  Alarm  Telegraph  Company 
until  the  19th  of  May,  1883,  when  he  was  chosen  superintendent  and  electrician  of 
the  Hudson  River  Telephone  Company,  a  position  which  he  filled  till  the  1st  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1890,  when  he  was  invited  to  take  charge  of  the  electrical  department  of  the 
Albany  Railway,  of  which  he  was  speedily  made  superintendent.  He  had  almost 
everything  to  do  about  starting  the  electrical  railway  service  and  ran  the  first  motor 
cars  on  State  street.  On  the  expiration  of  his  contract  with  the  Albany  Railway 
Company,  May  1,  1891,  Mr.  Cull  again  became  connected  with  the  Hudson  River 
Telephone  Company  as  electrician,  and  on  the  1st  of  January,  1893,  he  was  appointed 
its  general  superintendent,  a  position  he  has  since  filled.  Mr.  Cull  is  a  member  of 
Temple  Lodge  and  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen.  He  has  also  been  a 
member  of  the  Unconditional  Republican  Club  since  1876  and  was  one  of  its  charter 
members  and  first  officers  of  the  permanent  organization ;  for  the  past  five  years  he 
has  been  the  treasurer  of  the  club.  He  has  always  taken  a  very  active  interest  in 
old  Albany's  welfare  and  has  been  an  earnest  and  efficient  worker  on  public  cele- 
brations and  reception  committees  appointed  by  the  different  mayors.  February  13, 
1888,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Estelle,  daughter  of  the  late  James  Sprinks  of  Albany. 

Chase,  Hon.  Norton,  son  of  Nelson  H.  Chase,  a  leading  and  respected  citizen  of 
Albany,  was  born  in  the  capital  city,  September  3,  1861,  and  was  graduated-from  the 
Albany  Academy  in  1878,  winning  five  gold  medals.  The  same  year  he  entered 
Yale  College  and  subsequently  became  a  student  at  the  Albany  Law  School,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  as  LL.  B.  and  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1882.  He  began 
active  practice  with,  and  continued  until  the  death  of,  Judge  Samuel  Hand  in  1886, 
when  he  succeeded  to  the  latter's  law  business.  Mr.  Chase  was  successfully  con- 
nected in  litigation  with  the  Lamson  Consolidated  Store  Service  Company,  involving 
over  twenty  different  cases,  and  was  also  counsel  for  Tiffany  &  Company,  when  the 
State  comptroller  levied  a  tax  on  that  corporation  of  §237,000,  which  was  reduced  to 
$6,000.     He  has  also  been  identified  with  several  criminal  trials.     He  was  for  two 


269 

years  assistant  corporation  counsel  of  the  city  of  Albany,  and  in  188")  was  elected 
member  of  assembly  from  the  Third  assembly  district.  In  1887  he  was  nominated 
for  State  senator  in  the  17th  senatorial  district;  the  election  was  carried  into  the 
courts  and  his  opponent  was  declared  elected  by  a  plurality  of  eight.  In  1880  Mr. 
Chase  was  elected  State  senator  and  was  the  youngest  man  in  the  Senate  of  1890-91. 
During  his  term  he  introduced  the  first  bill  extending  registration  throughout  the 
county.  He  is  a  prominent  Democrat  of  the  Jeffersonian  school,  a  ready  and  fluent 
speaker,  a  powerful  debater  and  a  forceful  campaign  orator  and  has  been  delegate 
to  many  Democratic  conventions.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Democratic  and  Reform 
Clubs  of  New  York,  is  a  trustee  and  counsel  of  the  Albany  Exchange  Savings  Bank, 
and  is  a  member  of  several  social  and  other  organizations  of  Albany.  In  1881  he 
was  commissioned  first  lieutenant  and  appointed  adjutant,  and  in  1886  elected  major 
of  the  10th  Battalion  N.  G.  N.  Y.  In  1895  he  was  the  candidate  on  the  Democratic 
ticket  for  the  office  of  attorney-general  of  the  State  of  New  York.  June  "22,  1887,  he 
married  Mabel  Louise,  daughter  of  Henry  L.  James  of  Williamsburg,  Mass. 

Fitzgerald  Brothers,  Edward  J.  and  William  R.,  are  sons  of  Edward  J.  Fitzgerald, 
who  came  to  Albany  from  Ireland  about  1840  and  died  here  in  1884,  aged  fifty-four; 
he  was  for  many  years  a  plumber,  carrying  on  a  successful  business  alone  and  later 
under  the  firm  name  of  E.  Fitzgerald  &  Sons.  Edward  J.  Fitzgerald,  jr.,  was  born 
in  Albany,  December  30,  1864,  and  learned  the  trade  of  machinist  at  Green  Island. 
William  R.  was  born  in  1873.  In  April,  1892,  they  formed  a  copartnership  under  the 
style  of  Fitzgerald  Brothers  and  purchased  of  Peter  Kinnear  the  old  brass  foundry 
at  the  corner  of  Beaver  and  Grand  streets,  which  they  have  conducted  with  marked 
success.  They  manufacture  an  infinite  variety  of  brass  appliances,  such  as  steam 
engine  work,  iron  turning,  brass  castings  and  couplings,  copper  and  composition 
castings,  cocks,  brass  work  for  breweries,  etc. 

Ansbro,  Thomas,  son  of  Peter  and  Mary  (McEvily)  Ansbro,  was  born  in  Albany, 
December  18.  1854.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Mayo,  province  of  Connaught,  Ire- 
lend.  Thomas  Ansbro  was  educated  at  the  Christian  Brothers'  Academy  and  m  lv'> 
obtained  a  clerkship  in  Patrick  Cuddy's  grocery  store,  where  he  remained  twelve 
years;  he  then  went  to  New  York  city  and  was  for  a  time  in  the  employ  of  Philip 
Steiner,  tea  merchant..  He  came  to  Albany  in  1881  and  opened  a  restaurant  on 
Broadway,  which  he  conducted  for  seven  years.  In  1888  he  was  appointed,  by 
Superintendent  McEwan,  as  keeper  in  the  Albany  County  Penitentiary,  which  he 
resigned  after  five  years,  to  accept  the  position  of  superintendent  of  the  brush  fac- 
tory of  the  penitentiary,  to  which  position  he  was  appointed  by  Mr.  Bronk,  the  eon- 
tractor.  In  1893  he  was  appointed  inspector  of  markets  by  Mayor  Manning  and  held 
the  position  until  the  expiration  of  Mayor  Manning's  term  i  In  1895  he  was 

appointed  appraiser  of  customs  by  Hon.  John  P.  Masterson  and  still  occupies  that 
position.  Mr.  Ansbro  represented  the  Fourth  ward  in  the  Common  Council  for  six 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Union,  and  m  1891  married  Delia,  daughter 
of  Michael  Coughlin  of  Albany.     They  have  one  son,  Anthony  Brady. 

Liscomb,  Orlando  P.,  son  of  Darius  P.  and  Anna  Gage  (Clement)  Liscomb, 
farmers,  was  born  in  Hart  land,  \'t.,  January  I,  1888,  and  moved  with  his  parents  to 
Rutland  in  1841,  where  he  received  his  education.  His  paternal  ancestors  were 
early  settlers  of  New    England;  on    his   mother's   side    he   descends  from    Robert 


270 

Clement,  who  came  in  his  own  ship  from  Coventry,  England,  to  Haverhill,  Mass., 
about  1640.  When  twenty-two  Mr.  Liscomb  engaged  in  mercantile  business  in 
Castleton,  Vt.  In  1863  he  enlisted  in  Co.  M,  11th  Vt.  Vol.  Inf.  (later  the  1st  Vt.  H. 
A.),  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  participating  in  the  battles  of  Spottsyl- 
vania,  Cold  Harbor  (where  he  was  wounded)  and  North  Anna.  Returning  from  the 
war  he  again  engaged  in  mercantile  business  in  Castleton,  Vt.,  and  since  1868  has 
been  identified  with  the  oil  trade.  In  1868  he  first  associated  himself  in  this  busi- 
ness with  E.  W.  Murphey,  and  in  1873  they  became  partners  under  the  present  firm 
name  of  Murphey  &  Liscomb.  The  firm  has  a  branch  house  in  Springfield,  Mass  , 
conducted  under  the  name  of  Murphey,  Liscomb  &  Haskell,  .and  another  in  Hudson, 
N.  Y.,  styled  Murphey,  Liscomb  •&  Co. ;  they  are  exclusively  wholesale  dealers  in  oil. 
Mr.  Liscomb  is  a  member  of  Fort  Orange  and  the  Albany  Country  Clubs  and  of  Lee 
Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.  of  Castleton,  Vt.  In  1873  he  married  Cornelia  Speed  of  Ithaca, 
N.  Y.,  who  died  in  1884,  leaving  four  children:  Percival  Clement,  Margaret  How- 
ard, Orlando  Parkhurst,  jr.,  and  Christina  Morrell. 

Cady,  Dr.  Frank  William,  son  of  Clark  S.  and  Atalanta  (Barrett)  Cady,  was  born 
in  Warsaw,  N.  Y.,  December  13.  1863,  and  in  1871  moved  with  the  family  to  Holley, 
Orleans  county,  where  he  received  a  public  school  education.  His  maternal  uncle, 
Dr.  W.  C.  Barrett,  is  the  well  known  dean  of  Buffalo  Dental  University.  Dr.  Cady 
studied  dentistry  with  his  brother,  Dr.  Edward  Everett  Cady,  of  Moline,  111  ,  and 
was  graduated  from  the  Chicago  College  of  Dental  Surgery  in  1888.  He  practiced 
in  Earlville,  111.,  until  1890,  when  he  became  associated  with  his  preceptor  brother  at 
Hoboken,  N.  J.  In  1892  he  came  to  Albany  and  organized  the  Cady  Dental  Com- 
pany, which  has  a  branch  office  in  Troy  and  a  force  of  eight  assistants  and  of  which 
he  has  since  been  the  proprietor.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  and  Camera  Clubs.  In 
March,  1891,  he  married  Mary  Louise,  daughter  of  Orange  J.  Eddy,  a  prominent 
lawyer  and  president  of  the  Exchange  Bank  of  Holley,  N.  Y.  They  have  one  son, 
Frank  William,  jr.,  born  January  26,  1893. 

Murphy,  Joseph  A.,  son  of  James  F.  and  grandson  of  Robert  Murphy,  a  native  of 
Ireland,  was  born  in  Albany,  April  22,  1873.  James  F*  Murphy,  born  in  Philadel- 
phia, Pa.,  August  8,  1845,  came  to  Albany  in  1856  and  for  about  twenty-eight  years 
has  been  a  shipping  clerk  for  the  N.  Y.  C.  &  H.  R.  R.  R.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  Co. 
D,  91st  N.  Y.  Vols.,  and  served  four  years,  being  honorably  discharged  as  first  lieu- 
tenant. He  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Daniel  Murphy  of  Troy  and  Albany, 
who  died  October  19,  1894,  leaving  four  children:  John  S. ,  Joseph  A.,  Helen  M.  and 
Henry  A.  Joseph  A.  Murphy  was  graduated  from  St.  Joseph's  Academy  in  1891,  read 
law  with  Edward  J.  Meegan  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  December  6,  1894.  Since 
then  he  has  been  associated  with  Delancy  Potter  in  the  practice  of  his  profession. 

Meegan,  Thomas  A.,  son  of  Thomas  A.,  sr.,  a  large  lumber  merchant  and  promi- 
nent citizen,  and  a  grandson  of  Thomas  Meegan  (see  sketch  of  Edward  J.  Meegan), 
was  born  in  Albany  February  3,  1862,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Christian  Brothers' 
Academy  with  honors  in  1879.  He  read  law  with  his  uncle,  Edward  J.,  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  at  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  May  3,  1883,  and  since  then  has  practiced 
with  his  preceptor.  April  11,  1893,  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  Albany  City  Court, 
by  a  majority  of  3,900,  for  three  years,  but  the  new  constitution  reduced  this  term  to 
two  years  and  eight  months.     In  November,  1895,  he  was  re-elected  for  a  full  term 


271 

of  six  years  from  January  1,  1896.  He  is  judge  advocate  on  the  staff  of  the  Jackson 
Corps,  a  four  year  trustee  of  the  order  of  Elks,  and  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum, 
C.  B.  L.,  Catholic  Union,  and  A.  O.  H.  He  is  an  active  Democrat,  has  frequently 
been  a  delegate  and  chairman  of  assembly  conventions  and  as  a  lawyer  and  judge 
takes  high  rank  among  the  leaders  of  the  Albany  bar. 

Le  Boeuf,  Randall  J.,  is  a  son  of  Peter  J.  Le  Boeuf,  who  was  born  in  France  in 
1834,  came  to  Canada  with  his  parents  when  young,  and  was  graduated  from  the 
Fort  Edward  Institute;  he  engaged  first  in  the  manufacture  of  axes  in  Cohoes  and 
later  became  a  member  of  the  collar,  cuff  and  shirt  firms  of  Wheeler,  Allendorph  <.v 
Le  Boeuf  and  Wheeler,  Le  Boeuf  &  Co.,  of  Troy.  His  wife  was  Sarah  A.  Saunders. 
Randall  J.  was  born  in  Cohoes,  March  10,  1870,  and  when  nine  years  old  came  with 
the  family  to  Albany,  where  he  finished  his  education  at  the  grammar  and  High 
Schools,  graduating  in  1887.  He  read  law  with  Eugene  Burlingame  until  the  fall  of 
1889,  when  he  entered  Cornell  University  in  the  course  of  history  and  political  science  ; 
at  the  end  of  the  first  year  he  discontinued  \hese  studies  and  entered  the  law  depart- 
ment, from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1892,  being  one  of  the  prize  debaters  and  re- 
ceiving also  a  thesis  prize.  He  was  made  a  member  of  the  1  >elta  Upsilon  fraternity 
and  was  president  of  the  junior  and  senior  classes  of  the  law  school.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  at  Saratoga  Springs,  September  14,  1892,  and  was  managing  clerk 
for  Sackett  &  Bennett,  elevated  railroad  attorneys,  and  assistant  attorney  for  Carter, 
Hughes  &  Kellogg,  both  of  New  York,  until  February.  1895,  when  he  returned  to 
Albany  and  formed  his  present  partnership  with  Fugene  Burlingame.  In  November, 
1895,  he  was  appointed  corporation  counsel  for  the  village  of  Greenbush.  He  has 
been  several  terms  a  member  of  the  executive  council  of  the  I  Jelta  Upsilon  fraternity, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Cornell  University  Club  and  the  Albany  Republican  Uncon- 
ditionals.  June  3,  1895,  lie  married  Katharine,  daughter  of  Hiram  1..  Washburn  of 
Albany. 

I'hibbs,  Thomas,  son  of  Thomas  and  Catharine  (Donahy)  Phibbs,  was  born  in 
Ireland,  October  8,  1846.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Ireland  and  in 
1867  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Canada,  where  he  followed  the  occupation  <>( 
farmer.  Four  years  later  he  moved  to  Albany.  X.  Y.,  where  he  engaged  m  the  ice 
business  with  Hiram  Hotaling,  with  whom  he  remained  four  years,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  he  started  in  the  ice  business  for  himself.  In  1892  Mr.  Phibbs  was 
elected  president  of  the  Hudson  Valley  lee  Company  and  has  retained  the  office 
ever  since.  Mr.  Phibbs  is  a  member  of  Greenbush  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M..  Greenbush 
Chapter,  R.  A.  M,  Dewitt  Clinton  Council,  R.  &  S.  M..  and  Temple  Commandery, 
A.  A.  O.   X.   M.  S.      He  has  three  children:    William,   Lulu  and  Frank. 

Sims,  Albert  F.,  superintendent  of  the  Albany  Weather  Bureau,  was  born  in 
New  York  city,  August  19,  1862,  was  graduated  from  the  College  of  the  City  of  New 
York  in  18S2,  and  soon  afterward  entered  the  Signal  Service  Bureau  in  Washington. 
IX  C.  Later  he  took  a  course  at  the  School  of  Application  at  Fori  Myers,  and  on 
the  outbreak  of  the  Indian  troubles  in  Arizona  was  ordered  to  the  Apache  Pass  as 
telegraph  and  heliograph  operator,  where  he  was  soon  placed  in  charge  of  t: 
peating  station  at  St.  Thomas.  He  was  promoted  for  bravery  and  subsequently  was 
stationed  at  Dodge  City,  Kan..  Fort  Smith,  Ark.,  and  in  Wyoming,  where  he  built  a 
military  line,  150  miles  from    Rawlins  t<>  Washakie.      In  l*s*  he  was  ordered   to  Al- 


272 

bany  to  take  charge  of  the  Signal  Bureau  at  this  point,  succeeding  John  C.  Barnes, 
who  was  the  successor  of  Alois  Donhausser.  The  Albany  Weather  Bureau  was 
established  December  22,  1874,  the  observations  being  confined  to  taking  the  tem- 
perature, wind  directions  and  state  of  weather.  Its  scope  was  later  enlarged  and 
now  reports  are  received  twice  daily  from  all  the  signal  stations  in  the  United  States. 
The  territory  embraces  all  of  the  State  east  of  Syracuse  from  Rhinebeck  to  Canada, 
Western  Massachusetts  and  Vermont,  and  during  the  year  ending  June  30,  1896, 
over  200,000  forecasts  were  sent  out.  In  October,  1890,  Mr.  Sims  married  Mary, 
daughter  of  Capt.  James  B.  Smith  of  Port  Washington,  Long  Island.     . 

Hubbard,  George  A.,  son  of  Miles  and  Maria  C.  (Cadman)  Hubbard,  was  born  in 
Lexington,  Ky. ,  September  1,  1856.  His  parents  moved  to  New  York  State  when  he 
was  an  infant  and  he  was  educated  in  the  Spencertown  (N.  Y.)  Academy.  He  then 
removed  to  Troy,  N.  Y. ,  where  for  a  time  he  was  employed  as  cutter  in  the  stores  of 
Morris  Gross  and  Julius  Saul,  and  subsequently  he  entered  the  employ  of  G.  M. 
Hitchins,  manufacturer  of  ladies'  underwear  and  calico  wrappers,  on  Green  Island. 
After  three  years  he  went  back  to  Julius  Saul,  but  remained  only  a  short  time,  for 
Mr.  Hitchins  liked  his  work  so  well  that  he  gave  him  an  interest  in  the  business  as 
an  inducement  to  return.  Later  the  business  was  moved  to  Hudson,  N.  Y.,  and 
then  to  Albany,  where,  after  two  years,  Mr.  Hubbard  succeeded  to  the  sole  owner- 
ship, and  has  since  manufactured  in  his  own  name.  In  1880  he  married  Florence 
M.,  daughter  of  Thomas  D.  Davis  of  Waterford,  N.  Y. 

Woolverton,  Andrew  W.,  son  of  Charles  B.  and  Harriet  F.  (White)  Woolverton, 
was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y. ,  October  29,  1857.  He  was  educated  in  the  Albany 
Academy  and  in  1872  entered  the  employ  of  his  grandfather,  William  White.  In 
1876  he  went  into  the  employ  of  the  National  Commercial  Bank  and  left  there  as 
bookkeeper  in  1883  and  formed  a  partnership  with  Thomas  Austin  for  conducting 
a  general  fire  insurance  agency,  in  which  business  he  is  now  engaged.  Mr.  Wool- 
verton is  a  trustee  of  St.  Margaret's  church  at  Menands,  Albany  county,  and  is  the 
treasurer  of  the  Albany  Board  of  Trade.  In  1884  he  was  married  to  Annie, 
daughter  of  Dr. 'William  H.  Bailey,  and  they  have  two  children,  Edward  B.  and 
Harriette. 

Knickerbocker,  Edmund  Chase,  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  (1)  John  Von  Berghan 
Knickerbocker,  of  Brabant,  Holland,  a  captain  in  the  Dutch  navy,  whose  son,  (2)  Har- 
mon Jansen  Knickerbocker,  born  in  Friesland  in  1648,  came  to  America  about  1669. 
His  American  lineage  is  (3)  Lawrence,  of  Red  Hook,  N.Y,  ;  (4)  Harmon,  born  1719;  (5) 
Harmon  Jansen,  born  1748;  (6)  Peter;  (7)  Edmund,  born  1814;  and  (8)  Irving,  born 
1839.  The  last  two  settled  in  Albany,  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born, 
February  13,  1867.  Edmund  C.  Knickerbocker  was  graduated  from  the  Albany 
Academy  in  1884  as  valedictorian  of  his  class,  and  the  same  year  entered  Williams 
College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  with  honor  in  1888.  He  read  law  with  Harris 
&  Rudd,  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Law  School  in  1890,  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
May  of  the  same  year,  and  has  remained  in  the  office  of  his  preceptors  ever  since, 
becoming  a  member  of  the  firm  in  October,  1892.  He  was  much  interested  in  the 
renewal  of  the  Y.  M.  A.  Library  and  is  recording  secretary  of  the  executive  com- 
mittee of  that  association.  He  is  superintendent  of  the  Madison  Avenue  Reformed 
church  Sunday  school,  assistant  superintendent  of  Olivet  Sunday  school  and  a  mem- 


273 

ber  of  the  Republican  Unconditional  Clubtand  the  Chi  Psi  Society.  He  married,  in 
1892.  Josephine,  daughter  of  Hon.  Vreeland  H.  Youngman  of  Albany,  and  they 
have  one  daughter,  Winifred  Chase  Knickerbocker. 

Guardineer,  George  H.,  sou  of  John  and  Mary  (Cathington)  Guardineer,  was  born  . 
in  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  June  9,  1852,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  Albany  in  1855.  His 
father,  an  iron  moulder  by  trade,  was  for  many  years  assistant  superintendent  of  the 
old  State  Capitol.  When  thirteen  Mr.  Guardineer,  having  finished  his  education  in 
the  public  schools,  entered  the  photograph  gallery  of  McDonald  &  Sterry  and 
remained  with  them  and  their  successor,  J.  X.  McDonald  for  twenty-seven  years, 
being  a  traveling  salesman  for  the  latter  for  twelve  years.  About  1807  Mr.  McDon- 
ald established  in  connection  with  the  gallery  a  photographic  supply  business,  which 
Mr.  Guardineer  purchased  November  1,  1894,  and  which  he  successfully  continues, 
carrying  a  large  stock  of  all  kinds  of  photographic  materials.  Mr.  Guardineer  was 
the  Republican  supervisor  of  the  Seventeenth  ward  in  1888;  was  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Public  Instruction  from  1891  until  it  ceased  to  exist  as  an  elective  board; 
and  is  a  member  of  Temple  Lodge  No.  14,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Capital  City  Chapter  No.  242, 
R.  A.  M.,  the  A.  O  U.  W. ,  the  Royal  Arcanum,  the  Albany  Burgesses  Corps,  the 
Acacia  and  Unconditional  Republican  Clubs,  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the 
Uniformed  Rank  K.  of  P.,  in  which  he  is  assistant  adjutant-general  with  the  rank 
of  colonel  for  the  State  of  New  York.  In  December,  1873,  he  married  Emma  Reid 
of  Voorheesville,  N.  Y.,  and  their  children  are  Nellie  and  Frederick. 

Havens,  Elmer  Hamilton,  is  a  descendant  of  David  Havens,  born  July  12,  1777, 
and  Elizabeth  Goodrich,  his  wife,  born  December  2,  1785,  daughter  of  a  Revolution- 
ary soldier.  Their  children  were  David  Hyland,  Allgenette,  Benjamin  Franklin, 
John  Braddock  and  Walter  Burling.  Benjamin  Franklin  Havens,  born  May  22,  1810, 
married  Elizabeth  Groesbeck,  bom  m  ISIT,  and  had  rive  children:  Eugene  Hiram, 
Morton  Hamilton,  Timothy  C,  Emma  and  Caroline.  Morton  Hamiltou  Havens, 
born  July  27,  1838,  married  Elizabeth  M.  Bunker,  born  March  16,  1842;  their  children 
were  Edward  Morton  (deceased),  Ella  Elizabeth,  Elmer  Hamilton.  Franklin,  Marcia 
Vanderlip,  Alice  Rebecca  (deceased),  Jessie  May.  Morton  and  Lydia  Oliver.  Mr. 
Havens  enlisted  August  18,  1862,  in  Co.  F,  113th  X.  Y.  Inf.  (afterward  known  as  the 
7th  N.  Y.  H.  A.),  became  sergeant  August  18,  and  was  promoted  second  lieutenant  of 
Bat.  H,  December  13,  1863.  He  was  made  second  lieutenant  of  Co^D,  18th  I'.  S. 
Vet.  Reserve  Corps,  with  rank  from  September  22,  |sr,4.  On  April  15,  1*<*>7.  he  was 
appointed  president  of  the  Board  of  Registration  oi   Princi  ounty,  Va.,  mus- 

tered out  of  service  January  i,  1868,  and  brevetted  first  lieuteuant  February  10,  and 
captain  March  20,  18<i<>,  by  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York  lor  gallant 
and  meritorious  conduct.  Elmer  Hamilton  Havens,  born  in  Albany.  January  :'.!>, 
1864,  was  educated  in  the  public  and  high  schools  and  when  nineteen  began  to  learn 
the  carpenter's  trade  of  his  father,  with  whom  he  continued  a--  foreman  several  years. 
In  1S88  he  engaged  in  business  with  his  brother,  Franklin,  and  since  L890  ha 
alone.  Among  the  many  buildings  erected  by  him  are  the  Smith  $  llerriek  shoe 
factory,  the  Schell  flats,  and  a  number  of  residences  on  Pine  Hills.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Unconditional  Republican  Club'  and  in  1895  was  elected  alderman  of  the 
Eleventh  ward  for  two  years.     September  21.  lssis,  he  married  Ida  May, 


274 

Sydney  Chapman  and  Aleitha  (Rossman)  Blakeman  of  Greenbush,  N.  Y.,  and  their 
children  are  Carrie,  Aleitha,  Elmer  Hamilton,  jr.,  and  Sydney  Chapman. 

Dugan,  Patrick  C. ,  son  of  James  and  Jane  (Lowry)  Dugan,  natives  of  Ireland,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Wright,  Schoharie  county,  March  10,  1867.  His  father  came  to 
America  in  1851.  Mr.  Dugan  was  reared  on  a  farm,  taught  school  winters  and  was 
graduated  from  the  Schoharie  Academy  in  1884.  He  continued  teaching  until  1886, 
when  he  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Stephen  L.  Mayham,  then  county 
judge  of  Schoharie  county  and  now  a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court.  He  was  admit- 
ted to  thenar  of  Albany  November  30,  1889,  and  on  December  1  formed  a  copartner- 
ship with  C.  W.  Hinman,  which  continued  two  years  in  Schoharie.  February  22, 
1892,  he  came  to  Albany,  where  he  has  since  been  in  active  practice.  He  has  had 
much  experience  in  criminal  law,  and  as  a  Democrat  has  been  active  in  campaign 
work.  September  1,  1896,,  he  married  Agnes  H.,  daughter  of  John  J.  O'Neill  of 
Albany. 

Jewett,  Rev.  Freeborn  G. ,  jr.,  son  of  Freeborn  G.  and  Ella  Kate  (Taylor)  Jewett, 
was  born  in  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  in  1866.  He  is  a  great-grandson  of  Hon.  Freeborn 
G.  Jewett,  who  was  the  first  chief  justice  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  of  New  York 
State,  and  who  also  was  elected  to  Congress;  and  a  grandnephew  of  the  Hon.  George 
Riddell,  United  States  Senator  from  Delaware,  who  was  the  first  senator  who  died 
before  completing  his  term  of  office,  and  who  was  buried  from  the  Capitol.  Homer 
A.  Nelson,  another  great-uncle  of  Rev.  Mr.  Jewett,  was  secretary  of  state  of  New 
York  and  at  one  time  a  candidate  for  the  nomination  for  the  office  of  governor.  He 
was  also  one  of  the  four  Democratic  congressmen  to  vote  for  the  abolition  of  slavery. 
Mr.  Jewett's  step-grandfather  Marvin,  uncle  of  Gen.  Selden  E.  Marvin,  is  the  only 
person  living  who  received  a  commission  from  President  Jackson.  He  is  judge  of 
the  Northern  District  of  Florida.  Since  1872  Mr.  Jewett's  father  has  been  confiden- 
tial clerk  in  the  office  of  the  secretary  of  state  of  New  York.  Rev.  Freeborn  G. 
Jewett,  jr.,  moved  to  Albany,  N.  Y. .  in  1872  with  his  parents  and  completed  the 
course  of  instruction  at  the  Albany  Academy.  He  then  entered  Williams  College 
and  was  graduated  in  1888  with  the  degree  of  B.  A. '  He  received  the  prize  for  elocu- 
tion and  while  at  college  did  considerable  literary  work,  as  the  editor  of  the  "  Gul" 
during  his  senior  year  and  as  one  of  the  editors  of  the  Williams  Literary  Monthly. 
He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Chi  Psi  fraternity.  After  completing  his  college 
course,  he  was  lay  reader  at  Grace  Episcopal  church  in  Albany,  meanwhile  keep- 
ing up  his  studies  and  teaching  elocution  in  the  Albany  Academy  during  the  school 
year  1888-89.  The  first  term  of  the  fall  of  1889  he  spent  at  the  Episcopal  General 
Theological  Seminary  in  New  York  and  then  entered  the  Berkeley  Divinity  School 
at  Middletown,  Conn.,  of  which  Bishop  Williams,  the  presiding  bishop  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  America,  is  dean.  He  was  graduated  from  the  in- 
stitution on  June  3,  1891,  and  ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  Williams.  June  10,  1891, 
he  married  Minnie  Wasson,  daughter  of  ex-Congressman  John  M.  Bailey  of  Albany. 
June  21,  1891,  he  became  assistant  minister  of  St.  Paul's  church  in  Albany  and  on 
December  17,  of  the  same  year,  he  was  ordained  priest  by  Bishop  Doane.  In 
February,  1892,  he  was  unanimously  elected  rector  of  St.  Paul's  church  and  during 
his  pastorate  many  new  branches  of  church  work  have  been  established,  among 
which  may  be  mentioned  the  Brotherhood  of  St.  Andrew  and  a  chapel  in  the  west 


275 

end  of  the  city.     Mr.   Jewett  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Visitors  of  the  Albany 
Female  Academy. 

Barends,  Frederick  J.,  son  of  Frederick  and  Elizabeth  (Schippers)  Barends,  was 
born  in  Amsterdam,  Holland,  August  10,  1856.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Holland  and  in  March,  1869,  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Albany,  N.  V.,  where 
for  a  short  time  he  attended  school,  and  subsequently  worked  two  years  in  the  print- 
ing office  of  the  late  Joel  Munsell.  He  then  went  into  the  employ  of  the  B.  W. 
Wooster  furniture  company,  where  he  remained  twenty-five  years.  January  1,  1896, 
he  was  appointed  deputy  county  clerk  of  Albany  county  and  he  fills  the  office  most 
acceptably.  In  1890  he  was  nominated  for  the  New  York  State  Assemby  by  the 
Republicans  of  the  first  district  of  Albany  county  and  was  defeated,  but  had  the  sat- 
isfaction of  reducing  the  Democratic  majority  considerably.  In  November,  1880,  he 
married  Hannah  Feig  of  Albany. 

Higgins,  Michael  E.,  chief  of  the  Albany  Fire  Department,  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Mullin)  Higgins,  natives  of  Ireland,  who,  about  1844,  settled  in  Albany 
where  they  died,  the  former  in  1856  and  the  latter  in  1885.  Michael  Higgins  was 
born  in  Albany,  January  17,  1845,  received  a  public  school  education  and  when 
eleven  became  a  newsboy ;  later  he  was  an  engineer  on  the  river,  learned  the  ma- 
chinist's trade  and  from  1860  to  1869  was  first  engineer  in  Clark,  Gifford  &  Judson's 
old  tlour  mill.  In  1869  he  was  relief  engineer  and  afterward  engineer  of  Steamer 
No.  6,  which  position  he  held  eleven  years,  when  he  resigned  but  continued  on  as  a 
hoseman.  For  three  years  from  1878  he  was  also  engaged  in  the  meat  business,  and 
in  1879,  1880  and  1881,  served  as  supervisor  of  the  Fifteenth  ward.  From  1880  to  1886 
he  was  city  marshal;  in  1885  he  was  appointed  assistant  exgineer,  and  in  1886,  on 
the  death  of  James  McQuade,  chief  engineer  of  the  Albany  Fire  Department  and  has 
since  held  the  latter  position.  He  has  been  continuously  connected  with  the  fire  de- 
partment since  1864,  holding  every  post  and  becoming  a  member  of  the  present  (paid) 
force  in  1867.  For  several  years  he  was  an  active  1  >emoc  rut.  a  member  of  various 
political  conventions  and  first  assistant  marshal  of  the  Albany  Phalanx,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  the  Exempt  Firemen's  Association.  In  1870  he  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  L.,  daughter  of  James  Gallagher  of  Albany,  and  they  have  had  rive 
children:  John  F.,  Edward  J.,  and  Jennie  C,  who  arc  living,  and  Battle  and  Martin 
Delehanty,  deceased. 

Brumaghim,  Eugene,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Guilderland,  Albany  county,  X.  Y.. 
April  3,  1853.  In  1860  he  removed  to  Albany  and  was  graduated  from  the  Albany 
High  'School  in  1873.  During  the  years  of  1880  and  1881  lie  was  principal  ofthe  High 
.School  at  Gilman,  111.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits 
in  Albany,  and  he  is  at  present  connected  with  Wcidman  &  Co.,  wholesale  grocers. 
He  was  president  of  the  Young  .Men's  Association  for  one  term  and  during  his  in- 
cumbency of  that  office  the  $50,000  for  Harmanus  Bleecker  Hall  was  raised  by  pop- 
ular subscription.  He  is  past  mastei  qf  Wadsworth  Lodge  I'.  &  A  M.  and  is  prom- 
inently connected  with  the  Unconditional  and  Press  Clubs. 

Condon,  William  R.,  born  in  Albany,  September  88,  1870,  is  a  son  of  Thomi 
and  Helen  J.  (Keeney)  Condon,  and  a  grandson  ol  James  Condon,  a  native  <>i"  Ire- 
land, who  settled  in  Albany  when  seventeen  years  of  age  and  died  here  in  May,  lv'."i. 


276 

aged  eighty  eight.  James  was  one  of  the  first  dyers  in  the  capital  city  and  continued 
in  that  business  for  fifty  years.  He  also  served  as  alderman  and  supervisor.  He 
married  Margaret  J.  Hennessy,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-five,  leaving  nine  chil- 
dren, all  deceased.  Thomas  A.  Condon,  born  in  1851,  was  a  manufacturer  of  mat- 
tresses., deputy  sheriff  and  a  detective  on  the  police  force,  and  died  March  8,  1895. 
His  wife  died  October  12,  1894',  leaving  two  children,  William  R.  and  Mary  J.  Will- 
iam R.  Condon,  when  fifteen,  became  a  clerk  in  the  Albany  freight  office  of  the  D.  & 
H.  C.  Co.,  where  he  remained  nine  years.  February  15,  1896,  he  formed  a  copart- 
nership with  Joseph  A.  Wisely,  as  Condon  &  Wisely,  and  engaged  in  the  retail  busi- 
ness of  hats,  caps,  men's  furnishings,  etc.  December  15,  1891,  he  became  a  member 
of  Co.  B,  10th  Bat,  N.  G.  N.  Y.  On  June  6,  1894,  he  married  Madeline  D.,  daugh- 
ter of  William  Bailie  of  Albany. 

Cook,  Alfred,  son  of  William  J.  and  Margaret  (Risk)  Cook,  was  born  in  Albany, 
June  3,  1858,  was  educated  at  the  Boys'  Academy  and  was  graduated  from  the  Al- 
bany Normal  College  in  1878.  Shortly  afterwards  he  obtained  a  situation  as  assist- 
ant bookkeeper  with  Haskell  &  Gallup,  wholesale  dealers  m  coffees,  teas  and  spices, 
where  he  remained  until  they  went  out  of  business  in  1881,  when  he  engaged  with 
Tracy,  Wolverton  &  Wilson,  wholesale  grocers,  as  shipper.  Serving  in  this  capacity 
for  about  six  months,  he  was  promoted'to  represent  the  concern  on  the  road.  In 
1883  Mr.  Wolverton  retired  and  the  business  was  carried  on  by  Tracy  &  Wilson. 
Mr.  Cook  continued  to  represent  them  until  1888,  when  he  became  the  junior  mem- 
ber of  the  concern  of  Tracy,  Wilson  &  Cook.  In  1890  he  purchased  the  entire  busi- 
ness and  is  now  located  at  No.  45  Hudson  avenue,  as  a  wholesale  jobber  in  tea,  coffee 
and  spices.  He  is  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  Albany  Commercial  Travelers' 
Club,  a  member  of  the  Commercial  Travelers'  Mutual  Accident  Association  of 
America  and  honorary  member  of  the  Fort  Johnson  Club,  Johnstown,  N.  Y.  His 
father  came  to  Albany  from  Galway,  N.  Y.,  and  was  engaged  in  the  wholesale  gro- 
cery business  until  his  death,  being  a  member  of  the  firms  of  Cook  &  Wing,  and 
Cook,  Wing  &  Wooster. 

Walsh,  Henry  Haswell,  is  a  descendant  of  Dudley  Walsh,  a  native  of  the  North  of 
Ireland,  who  became  a  settler  and  one  of  the  early  mayors  of  Albany,  where  he  died. 
He  married  Sarah  Stevenson,  September  24,  1793.  Their  son,  John  Stevenson 
Walsh,  a  member  of  the  hardware  firm  of  Godfrey  &  Walsh  of  Albany,  died  Febru- 
ary 15,  1857,  aged  sixty-five.  He  married  Laura  (born  April  16,  1811),  daughter  of 
John  and  Abbie  (Spencer)  Townsend.  Dudley  Walsh,  their  son,  born  in  Bethlehem, 
Albany  county,  May  8,  1841,  enlisted  February  18,  1862,  in  Co.  D,  90th  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf., 
as  second  lieutenant;  March  16,  1863,  he  was  promoted  captain  of  Co.  K,  134th  N.  Y. 
Vols.,  and  was  discharged  August  7,  1865.  He  was  three  years  in  the  Albany  post- 
office  and  some  time  a  produce  merchant.  April  26,  1865,  he  married  Josephine  A., 
daughter  of  Col.  Henry  B.  and  Elizabeth  (Trowbridge)  Haswell  of  Albany,  and  they 
have  had  six  children:  John  Stevenson  (married  April  20,  1896,  Grace  Shutter), 
Henry  H.,  Laura  Townsend,  Dudley,  jr.  (died  in  infancy),  James  (died  in  infancy), 
and  Elizabeth  Trowbridge.  Henry  Haswell  Walsh,  born  November  30,  1867,  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  and  Albany  Academy  and  spent  several  years  in  the 
hardware  stores  of  M.  E.  Viele,  Woodward  &  Hill  and  J.  E.  Taylor  &  Co.  In  1892 
he  started  his  present  harness  manufacturing  establishment.  June  27,  1894,  he  mar- 
ried Addie,  daughter  .of  Henry  Vine  of  Albany. 


277 

Wells,  Anton,  born  in  Germany,  August  24,  1825,  came  to  America  in  1837  and 
settled  in  Albany,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  learned  the  trade  of  grate  and 
fender  maker,  and  in  1849  purchased  the  retail  stove  and  heating  establishment  of 
James  Goadby,  which  he  has  since  successfully  conducted,  being  one  of  the  oldest 
and  best  known  stove  dealers  in  the  city.  He  is  an  extensive  dealer  in  grates,  fire- 
places, hot  air  furnaces,  stoves,  ranges,  etc.  In  1850  he  married  Caroline  Oberist,  a 
native  of  Germany,  and  they  have  had  seven  children:  Polly  (Mrs.  Prieser),  Louis, 
Amelia,  Edward,  Theodore  (deceased),  Reinhart  and  Caroline. 

Hartt,  Eugene  R.,  son  of  Chauncey  N.  and  Sophia  J.  (Ross)  Hartt,  was  born  in 
Niagara  county,  N.  Y. ,  April  20,  1845,  was  educated  in  private  schools  at  Gasport, 
N.  Y.,  and  at  the  Albany  Boys'  Academy,  and  first  engaged  in  buying  grain  in  the 
West  for  Albany  houses.  Later  he  became  a  clerk  in  the  Merchants'  National  Bank 
of  Albany,  bookkeeper  for  Mills  &  McMartin,  and  in  1870  a  member  of  the  wholesale 
grocery  firm  of  William  J.  Cook  &  Co.,  which  ceased  business  in  1872.  He  then  en- 
tered the  employ  of  Albert  Wing,  Son  &  Co.,  wholesale  grocers.  In  1887  this  firm 
adopted  its  present  name  of  Wing  Bros.  &  Hartt  (see  sketch  of  Albert  J.  Wing).  Mr. 
Hartt  is  a  member  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club  and  was  for  about  two  years  a  water 
commissioner.  He  married  Ada  B.,  daughter  of  William  J.  Cook,  and  has  one 
daughter,  Marguerite  H. 

Conway,  Joseph  A.,  is  the  son  of  Michael  and  Ann  Conway,  who  removed  from 
New  York  city  to  Albany  in  1858.  Michael  was  for  many  years  conuected  with  the 
Albany  police  force,  was  the  first  captain  of  the  present  police  department,  was  a 
mason  by  trade,  and  was  deputy  county  sheriff  at  the  time  of  his  death,  May  5,  1886. 
Joseph  A.  Conway,  born  October  27,  1858,  in  Albany,  was  educated  in  the  High 
School  and  in  the  fall  of  1875  became  a  student  in  the  law  office  of  Hawley  &  McNa- 
mara,  with  whom  he  began  active  practice  upon  his  admission  to  the  bar  in  1880 
Later  he  formed  a  law  copartnership  with  his  brother,  Martin  I )  Conway,  afterward 
surrogate,  which  continued  for  six  years.  Since  then  he  lias  practiced  alone.  He 
was  the  Democratic  candidate  for  judge  of  the  Justice's  Court  in  the  spring  of  1886, 
but  was  defeated,  though  he  ran  900  ahead  of  his  ticket.  In  1887  his  brother  was 
elected  police  justice,  but  after  serving  eighteen  mouths  resigned  and  was  el< 
county  surrogate.  October  28,  1890,  Mr.  Conway  married  Louisa  A.,  daughter  of 
Frank  Maxsteadt  of  Albany.     They  have  had  three  children,  all  deceased. 

Moore  Brothers,  Veterinarians.— Henry  C.  Moore  was  born  in  Ripley,  England, 
August  13,  1838,  and  came  to  America  with  his  parents,  Henry  and  Emma  Moore, 
in  1852,  settling  in  Cortland,  N.  V.  Henry  Moore  was  a  well  known  veterinary  sur- 
geon, being  a  student  of  Statham,  the  celebrated  veterinarian  of  Derby.  England. 
He  practiced  successfully  in  Cortland  and  later  in  Poughkeepsie,  X.  V.,  and  about 
1872  came  to  Albany,  where  he  continued  his  profession  until  he  retired  in  1886. 
Henry  C.  Moore  was  educated  at  the  Cortland  Academy  and  studied  veterinary 
surgery  with  his  father.  Edward  Moore  was  born  in  Cortland  county.  August  17, 
1855,  was  graduated  from  the  Poughkeepsie  Academy,  and  in  1877  was  graduated 
from  the  Royal  College  of  Veterinary  Surgeons  of  London,  England.  The  two 
brothers  were  associated  more  or  less  with  their  father  until  his  retirement  in  1886, 
when  they  succeeded  him  and  established  their  present  veterinary  hospital  in  Hudson 
avenue,  which  is  without  doubt  the  largest  and  most  complete  of  its  kind  in  America. 


278 

Here  all  domestic  animals  are  treated  in  the  departments  of  pharmacy,  surgery, 
dentistry,  etc.  The  firm  also  has  permanent  charge  of  the  leading  stock  farms  and 
private  herds  throughout  the  country  and  is  the  best  known  in  the  United  States, 
having  a  national  reputation.  Henry  C.  Moore  is  a  member  of  Apollo  Lodge  No.  13, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Troy,  Temple  Commandery  No.  2,  K.  T.,  Cyprus  Temple,  Nobles  of 
the  Mystic  Shrine,  and  the  Acacia  Club  of  Albany.  Edward  Moore  was  for  seven 
years  a  member  of  Co.  A,  10th  Battalion,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Old  Guard  Zouave 
Cadets.  While  in  England  he  was  cattle  plague  inspector  for  the  English  govern- 
ment in  1877,  having  charge  of  the  London  district.  He  has  done  much  for  State 
and  local  boards  of  health,  has  long  been  the  veterinarian  in  charge  of  the  Albany 
Fire  Department,  and  since  about  1880  has  been  the  veterinary  editor  of  the  Country 
Gentlemen. 

McCombe,  James,  was  born  March  20,  1834,  in  the  town  of  Ayr,  Scotland,  where 
he  began  learning  the  trade  of  dyer,  which  he  finished  in  Glasgow.  He  came  to 
America  in  August,  1854,  settling  first  in  New  York  city,  where  he  remained  eleven 
years.  He  spent  two  years  in  Troy  and  came  to  Albany  August  1,  1867;  here  he 
established  his  present  dye  business  at  No.  163  South  Pearl  street,  which^since  1891 
has  been  located  at  No.  99  on  the  same  street.  He  is  the  second  oldest  dyer  in  the 
city. 

McDonough,  Clarence  J.,  is  a  grandson  of  Michael  and  Mary  McDonough,  natives 
of  Ireland,  and  the  only  son  of  Michael  McDonough,  jr.,  who  was  born  in  Chatham, 
N.  Y.,  and  who  came  to  Albany  about  1855,  where  he  died  May  4,  1895.  Michael 
McDonough  established  himself  in  the  wholesale  liquor  business  in  the  spring  of 
1860,  at  611  and  613  Broadway,  and  successfully  continued  there  until  his  death,  when 
he  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Clarence  J.  He  was  a  heavy  importer  and  built  up  a 
large  wholesale  trade.  He  married  Julia  T.  Blake,  who,  with  one  of  their  three 
children  survives  him.  Clarence  J.  McDonough  was  born  December  28,  1873,  and 
was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Academy  in  1894. 

Piatt,  William  John,  son  of  Charles  E.  and  Helen  (Wiley)  Piatt,  was  born  in  Al- 
bany, January  28,  1857.  The  family  originally  came  to  Albany  county  from  Rye, 
Conn.,  and  have  lived  there  for  several  generations.  Charles  E.  Piatt,  son  of  James 
E.,  was  born  in  Albany,  December  25,  1826,  and  died  February  22,  1896.  He  was  a 
butcher  and  meat  dealer.  His  wife's  death  occurred  March  2,  1896  and  their  chil- 
dren were  James  E.,  Susie  A.,  William  J.,  Lansing  I.  and  Charles  D.,  all  of  Albany. 
Mr.  Piatt  enlisted  for  three  years  in  the  113th  N.  Y.  Inf.  (which  became  the  7th 
N.  Y.  H.  A.)  and  was  stationed  in  the  defenses  of  Washington.  After  one  year's 
service  he  was  promoted  lieutenant.  William  J.  Piatt  attended  the  public  and  high 
schools  of  Albany.  He  was  for  two  years  a  clerk  in  the  bookstore  of  Edwin  Ellis  & 
Co.  and  for  nine  years  was  employed  in  the  Clinton  Stove  Works  in  Troy.  In  1888 
he  engaged  in  the  meat  business  with  his  father,  and  on  the  latter's  death  succeeded 
him. 

Robinson,  Robert  J.,  was  born  in  Albany,  June  19,  1869,  and  is  the  only  son  of 
Robert  and  Caroline  (Garrity)  Robinson.  His  father  was  born  in  the  North  of 
Ireland,  and  coming  to  Albany,  engaged  in  the  merchant  tailoring  business  until  his 
death,   which   occurred  September   13,    1892;  his  mother  died  in   1882.     Robert  J. 


279 

Robinson  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  academy,  and  the  Albany  Business 
College;  he  then  associated  himself  with  his  father  and  learned  the  trade  of  raer-' 
chant  tailoring,  and  on  his  father's  death  succeeded  him  in  business.  His  father 
was  a  Mason,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Wheelmen.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Wadsworth  Lodge  Xo.  417,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Temple  Chapter  Xo.  5,  R.  A.  M., 
and  the  Masonic  Veteran  Association.  In  1862  he  married  Christina  A.,  daughter 
of  William  Logan  of  County  Armagh,  Ireland,  and  they  have  five  children  living: 
James  Samuel,  Martha  J.,  Tysie  Estelle,  John  Hall  and  Elizabeth  Shanks. 

Stahl,  Simon,  son  of  Jacob  and  Rosaline  Stahl,  was  born  in  Ostrova,  Germany, 
January  29,  1860,  and  came  to  America  with  his  parents  in  1867,  settling  in  Elmira, 
X.  V.,  where  he  was  educated.  In  1874  he  became  a  clerk  in  the  fancy  goods  and 
millinery  store  of  A.  F.  Cohen,  with  whom  he  remained  four  years;  he  was  then  for 
three  years  in  the  employ  of  Stahl  &  Case,  of  Jersey  City,  X.  J.,  and  in  1881  opened 
a  millinery  and  fancy  goods  store  there,  which  he  continued  till  1884;  later  he  was  in 
business  in  Newark,  X.  J.,  and  also  clerked  for  Lichtenstein  &  Sons  for  a  time.  In 
February,  1888,  he  came  to  Albany  and  with  his  brother  Julius,  under  the  firm  name 
of  J.  Stahl  &  Brother,  bought  out  the  millinery  establishment  of  M.  M.  Hvdemen.  In 
1892  Simon  Stahl  purchased  his  brother's  interest  and  since  then  has  conducted  the 
business  alone  with  marked  success;  he  is  exclusively  a  retailer  employs  about  forty 
hands  and  is  one  of  the  leading  milliners  in  Eastern  New  York.  In  1880  he  married 
Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  Charles  Stone  of  Jersey  City,  X.  J.,  who  takes  an  active 
part  in  the  management  of  the  business  and  to  whom  is  due  a  very  large  measure 
of  the  success  attained. 

Lathrop,  Charles  II.,  descends  from  Rev.  John  Lothrop,  who  was  graduated  from 
Uueens  College,  Cambridge,  England,  as  B.  A.  in  1605  and  as  M.  A.  in  1609,  and 
who  for  religious  freedom  came  to  America  in  1634  and  settled  in  Scituate,  Mass., 
where  he  was  pastor  of  the  church  until  1639,  when  he  moved  to  Barnstable,  where 
he  died  in  1653.  The  family  is  traced  back  in  England  to  1216,  when  the  name  ap- 
pears as  Lowthrope.  Henry  B.  Lathrop,  grandfather  of  Charles  II.,  married  Small 
Preston  and  when  a  young  man  came  to  Albany,  where  he  engaged  in  mercantile 
business  and  where  he  died  in  1870.  He  was  born  in  Lisbon.  Conn.,  November  17, 
1794.  Charles  H.  Lathrop.  ST.,  his  son,  was  born  in  Albany,  March  15,  1880,  was  for 
many  years  the  agent  of  the  National  Express  Company  and  died  here  December:!. 
1895.  He  married  Lydia  A.  Presby.  Cluuk-s  II.  Lathrop,  their  sou,  born  May  27. 
L862,  in  Albany,  was  educated  in  the  public  and  high  schools  and  was  a  clerk  for 
Benjamin  Lodge,  the  well  known  merchant  tailor,  until  1889,  when  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  Charles  S.  Shanks,  as  Shanks  &  Lathrop,  and  became  Mr.  L 
successor.  The  firm  has  successfully  carried  on  a  large  merchant  tailoring  bus 
Mr.  Lathrop  has  been  secretary  and  treasurer  and  is  now  vice-president  of  tl 
bany  County  Wheelmen.  September  28,  1VS-Y  be  married  Mary  E.,  daughter  of 
Hon.  Warren  S.  Kelley  of  Albany,  and  their  children  are  Charles  H.,  jr.,  and 
Mary  E. 

Sporborg,  Silas,  is  the  son  of  Joseph  Sporborg,  a  native  of  Bavaria,  Germany,  who 
came  to  America  and  settled  in  Albany  about  1*36  and  who  died  here  in  April 
aged   seventy-three.      Joseph  was  a  prominent  wholesale   milliner,  and    founded  the 
present  business  of  his  son  in  1846.     In  1876  he  took  bis  sons  Henry  I.  and  Silas  into 


280 

partnership  under  the  firm  name  of  J.  Sporborg  &  Sons,  and  upon  his  retirement  in 
1886  the  style  of  J.  Sporborg's  Sons  was  adopted.  Henry  J.  died  in  December,  1892, 
and  since  then  Silas  Sporborg  has  continued  the  business  alone,  carrying  on  a  large 
wholesale  trade.  Joseph  was  for  many  years  president  of  the  congregation  of  Beth 
Emeth  and  a  director  of  the  National  Savings  Bank.  Silas  Sporborg,  born  in  Al- 
bany, February  10,  1851,  was  educated  at  the  Boys'  Academy  and  Professor  Anthony's 
School  and  when  eighteen  entered  his  father's  store.  He  is  a  member  of  Washing- 
ton Lodge  No.  85,  F.  &  A.  M.,  the  Bna  Brith  and  the  Delphi  Club. 

Enos,  Henry  D.,  is  a  grandson  of  Ethol  Enos,  a  large  farmer  and  long  a  justice 
of  the  peace  of  Watervliet  and  a  colonel  in  the  war  of  1812.  Henry  S.  Enos,  father 
of  Henry  D.,  was  born  in  1831,  engaged  in  the  lumber  business,  served  three  and  a 
half  years  in  Co.  C,  91st  N.  Y.  Vols.,  in  the  Rebellion,  and  was  connected  with  the 
Watervliet  Railroad  company  until  1885,  when  he  moved  to  Iowa.  Henry  D.  Enos, 
born  in  Albany,  August  6,  1862,  received  a  high  school  education  and  for  ten  years 
followed  the  iron  moulder's  trade.  In  1890  he  engaged  in  the  life  insurance  business 
and  soon  afterward  became  general  agent  for  Eastern  New  York  for  the  State  Mu- 
tual Life  Assurance  Company  of  Worcester,  Mass.,  which  position  he  still  holds. 
He  is  a  member  of  Ancient  City  Lodge  No.  452,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Capital  City  Chapter, 
R.  A.  M.,  and  De  Witt  Clinton  Council,  R.  &  S.  M.,  and  has  been  ruling  elder  in  the 
Fourth  Presbyterian  church  since  he  was  twenty-six  years  of  age,  being  the  young- 
est man  ever  elected  to  that  office  in  that  church.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Re- 
publican Unconditional  Club  and  has  been  especially  prominent  in  mission  work, 
being  the  chief  promoter  and  a  founder  of  the  Viaduct  Mission,  of  which  he  was  six 
years  superintendent.  November  10,  1886,  he  married  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  William 
Thomas  of  Albany,  and  their  children  are  Henry  T.,  M.  Margaret  and  Ruth.  Mr. 
Enos's  great-grandfather,  Matthias  Enos,  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

De  Blaey,  Abram,  son  of  Mathew  and  Maria  (Lansen)  De  Blaey,  was  born  in  Ter- 
nenzen,  Holland,  September  5,  1847.  In  1854  his  parents  came  to  America  and  in 
April,  1855,  settled  in  Albany.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  learned 
the  trade  of  shoemaker,  which  he  followed  from  1863  to  1888,  being  a  large  manufac- 
turer on  Broadway  for  five  years.  In  1888  he  bought  the  news  room  at  No.  31  State 
street,  where  the  business  is  carried  on  in  the  name  of  his  wife,  H.  L.  De  Blaey. 
Mr.  De  Blaey  is  a  member  of  Capital  City  Lodge  No.  440,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  New  York  En- 
campment No.  1,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  Canton  Nemo  P.  M.  No.  1.  June  14,  1871,  he  mar- 
ried Harriet  L.  Mink,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Nellie  L. 

Houck,  James  A.,  the  oldest  hotel  proprietor  in  one  place  in  Albany,  is  a  son  of 
Christian  Houck,  one  of  the  earliest  hotel  keepers  in  the  town  of  Knox,  Albany 
county,  where  James  A.  was  born  in  1839.  About  1859  the  family  came  to  Albany, 
where  Christian  conducted  the  Avenue  House  on  Washington  avenue  until  his 
death.  In  1871  James  A.  Houck  succeeded  a  Mr.  Brayton  as  proprietor  of  the  Eagle 
Hotel,  on  State  street  corner  of  South  Pearl,  and  immediately  changed  the  name  to 
the  Globe  Hotel,  which  it  still  bears,  and  under  which  it  has  attained  a  wide  popu- 
larity, In  May,  1894,  he  admitted  his  son  Clarence  A.  as  a  partner  under  the  firm 
name  of  J.  A.  Houck  &  Son.  Mr  Houck  is  one  of  the  best  known  landlords  in  East- 
ern New  York  and  during  his  quarter  of  a  century  proprietorship  of  the  Globe  has 
won  a  high  reputation  among  the  traveling  public.     He  was  elected  sheriff  of  Al- 


281 

bany  county  in  1879,  as  a  Republican,  and  served  one  term  and  was  a  candidate  for 
county  clerk,  but  suffered  defeat  along  with  the  rest  of  the  ticket. 

Wakefield,  William  H.,  &  Son.— W.  H.  Wakefield's  father,  John  Wakefield,  a  na- 
tive of  the  North  of  Ireland,  settled  in  Albany  about  1838  and  died  here  in  1884.  He 
was  for  many  years  a  groceryman  and  coal  dealer  in  the  west  end  of  the  city  and 
was  long  superintendent  of  the  reservoir  for  the  water  department.  William  H. 
Wakefield,  born  October  26,  1843,  in  Albany,  was  for  about  twenty-five  years  a 
driver  for  the  Delavan  livery.  In  1872  he  also  engaged  in  the  livery  business  for 
himself  and  in  1890  took  his  only  son,  William  J.,  into  partnership,  under  the  firm 
name  of  W.  H.  Wakefield  &  Son.  They  established  their  present  livery  business  on 
State  street  and  have  brought  it  into  prominence  as  one  of  the  largest  and  best 
equipped  in  the  city.     William  J.  Wakefield  was  born  March  31,  1866. 

Cameron,  Frederick  W.,  the  eldest  son  of  Truman  I).  Cameron,  was  born  in  Al- 
bany, June  1,  1859.  His  early  education  was  acquired  at  the  Albany  Academy, 
which  he  entered  when  he  was  five  years  old.  He  entered  Union  College  in  the 
class  of  1881  and  was  graduated  with  the  highest  honors.  He  immediately  entered 
the  Albany  Law  School  and  in  the  spring  of  1882  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  In  col- 
lege Mr.  Cameron  gave  especial  attention  to  the  study  of  the  sciences  and  took 
extra  courses  in  physics,  mechanics,  chemistry  and  electricity  for  the  purpose  of 
qualifying  himself  for  the  practice  of  patent  law.  His  vacations  were  spent  in  a  law 
office.  His  father,  who  was  for  many  years  a  professor  in  the  Albany  Academy, 
early  inculcated  in  his  son  a  taste  for  literary  pursuits.  In  the  prosecution  of  the 
special  branch  of  law  relating  to  patents,  Mr.  Cameron  has  been  very  successful, 
acting  as  counsel  in  many  important  suits  for  infringements,  and  has  had  wide  ex- 
perience in  the  United  States  Courts.  He  is  the  counsel  for  several  large  manufac- 
turing concerns  and  has  been  uniformly  successful.  Since  1882  he  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  law  firm  of  Ward  <Kr  Cameron,  his  partner  being  Hon.  Walter  E.  Ward. 
In  1892  he  was  appointed  United  States  commissioner  by  Judges  Wallace  and  Coxe 
and  still  holds  the  position.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  Club,  the  Albany  Insti- 
tute, the  Albany  Historical  and  Art  Society,  the  Albany  Camera  Club,  Temple 
Lodge  No.  14,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  a  trustee  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church.  In  1891 
he  married  Jennie  A.,  daughter  of  Judge  Amos  Lean,  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Albany  Law  School.     They  have  two  daughters,   Iran  Elizabeth  and  Josephine. 

Carr,  Lewis  E.,  was  born  March  10,  L842,  m  the  town  of  Salisbury,  Herkimer 
county,  is  the  son  of  Eleazer  and  Hannah  (Rayner)  Carr.  and  a  grandson  of  Eleazer 
and  Hannah  (Hakes)  Carr,  natives  of  New  England.  The  father  of  Eleazer,  with 
one  or  two  brothers,  was  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Lewis  E.  Carr  was  educated  at 
Falley  Seminary  in  Fulton,  N.  Y.,  and  was  graduated  from  Fairfield  Academy  in 
Herkimer  county  in  1861.  After  spending  two  years  on  the  farm,  he  came  in  the 
spring  of  186:>  to  Albany  and  graduated  from  the  Albany  Law  School  in  1864  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  then  spent  one  year  in  the  law  office  of  Sherman  S. 
Rogers  in  Buffalo,  where  he  had  as  his  roommate  Grover  Cleveland.  In  July,  1865, 
lie  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Porl  Jervis,  N.  Y.,  and  continued  until 
1893,  having  from  1869  to  1871  O.  P.  Howell,  now •  surrogate  of  Orange  county,  as 
bis  partner.  Mr.  Carr  was  elected  district  attorney  of  Orange  county  in  1871,  and 
ii 


282 

held  the  office  three  years,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  Port 
Jervis  for  sixteen  years.  In  1893  he  came  to  Albany  as  attorney  for  the  Delaware 
and  Hudson  Canal  Company  (railroad  department)  and  still  holds  that  position. 
From  1872  to  June  1,  1896,  he  was  the  attorney  for  the  N.  Y.,  L.  E.  &  W.  R.  R.  Co., 
having  charge  of  their  business  in  Orange,  Sullivan  and  Delaware  counties.  He  is 
a  member  of  Port  Jervis  Lodge  No.  328,  F.  &  A.  M.,  a  member  and  past  high  priest 
of  Neversink  Chapter  No.  189,  R.  A.  M.,  a  member  of  Delaware  Commandery  No. 
44,  K.  T.,  and  its  eminent  commander  for  seven  years,  a  member  of  Blooming 
Grove  Park  Association  of  Pike  county,  Pa.,  the  Lawyers'  Club  of  New  York  and 
the  Albany  Club.  In  1865  he  married  Ruth,  daughter  of  Mathias  Duke,  an  officer 
in  the  British  army  stationed  at  Kingston,  Ontario,  Canada.  Her  grandfather,  John 
Gallagher,  was  an  officer  in  the  English  army  at  the  battle  of  Waterloo ;  later  was  town 
major  at  St.  John's,  New  Brunswick,  and  was  the  English  officer  who  surrendered 
the  possession  of  Eastport,  Me.,  to  the  Americans  at  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carr  have  three  children:  Raymond  W.,  Lewis  E.,  jr.,  and  William  D. 

Whitney,  W.  M  ,  &  Co. — The  extensive  dry  goods  business  of  W.  M.  Whitney  & 
Co.  was  established  in  a  two-story  building,  25  by  40  feet,  on  the  site  of  the  present 
store,  by  Ubsdull  &  Pearson  in  1859.  In  1864  James  T.  Lenox  succeeded  them.  He 
died  about  1866  and  in  that  year  William  M.  Whitney  and  John  C.  Myers,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Whitney  &  Myers,  purchased  the  establishment  and  continued  it  until 
1870,  when  Mr.  Myers  retired.  Mr.  Whitney  became  sole  owner  and  has  success- 
fully conducted  the  business  under  the  name  of  W.  M.  Whitney  &  Co.  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  He  replaced  the  old  building  with  a  new  structure,  which  has  a  frontage 
of  127  feet,  a  depth  of  270  feet  and  a  floor  area  of  90,860  square  feet,  the  whole 
comprising  fifty-six  distinct  departments,  employing  from  450  to  600  people.  The 
firm  also  has  a  large  warehouse  and  stables  on  Hudson  avenue,  a  buying  office  in 
New  York  city  and  an  importing  branch  in  Paris.  A  wholesale  trade  was  also  car- 
ried on  until  1894,  but  since  then  the  business  has  been  exclusively  retail.  It  is  the 
largest,  most  complete  and  best  equipped  dry  goods  establishment  in  this  section  of 
the  State  and  its  development  and  success  are  mainly  due  to  the  energy,  enterprise 
and  ability  of  Mr.  Whitney,  whose  two  sons,  William  M.,  jr.,  and  Charles  S.  A.,  are 
now  active  members  of  the  firm. 

Milbank,  William  Edward,  M.  D. ,  was  born  at  Coeymans,  Albany  county,  March 
8,  1841.  He  received  an  academical  and  classical  education  at  the  Albany  Academy  ; 
pursued  the  study  of  medicine  under  the  supervision  of  Dr.  William  Oilman  of 
Parkersburg,  West  Virginia,  and  Dr.  Albert  Van  Derveer  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and 
was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  December,  1872.  He  began 
practice  at  Albany  immediately  after  graduation,  being  associated  one  year  with  Dr. 
David  Springsteed.  He  has  remained  a  resident  of  Albany,  and  is  engaged  in  the 
duties  of  active  professional  life.  Dr.  Milbank  is  unmarried.  He  became  a  member 
of  the  Albany  County  Homeopathic  Medical  Society  in  April,  1873.  He  was  elected 
a  delegate  to  the  State  Homeopathic  Medical  Society  in  1874,  '75,  '76,  '77  and  '78; 
and  to  the  secretaryship  of  the  County  Society  in  1875  and  again  in  1876.  He  has 
held  the  position  of  chief  of  the  surgical  staff  of  the  Homeopathic  Hospital  and  City 
Dispensary  four  years;  from  1876  to  1880  and  in  1885,  was  reappointed  to  the  same 
position.     He  became  a  member  of  the  Homeopathic  Medical  Society  of  the  State  of 


283  ' 

New  York  in  1879;  a  member  of  the  Homeopathic  Medical  Society  of  Northern  New- 
York  in  1883;  ane  of  the  American  Institute  of  Homeopathy  in  1887.  He  was  ap- 
pointed by  Governor  Hill,  in  1S8.J,  to  the  office  of  commissioner  of  the  State  Board 
of  Health  and  was  reappointed  three  successive  terms,  holding  the  office  until  Janu- 
ary, 1895.  While  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Health,  Dr.  Milbank  indited  and 
prepared  a  number  of  very  valuable  papers  which  are  published  in  its  annual  report. 
The  doctor  presented  and  read  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  State  Homeopathic 
Medical  Society,  held  in  February,  1895,  a  very  elaborately  prepared  paper  entitled: 
"  Albany's  Water  Question." 

Casey,  Walter  V.,  is  a  son  of  John  H.  and  Mary  I"..  (Rourke)  Casey,  natives  of  Ire- 
land and  was  born  in  Albany,  April  12,  1872.  John  H.  became  a  printer  in  the 
office  of  the  Albany  Knickerbocker,  was  made  foreman  of  the  Press  and  Knicker- 
bock,  and  died  in  March,  1893,  aged  fifty-five.  Walter  V.  Casey,  after  attending  the 
Albany  High  School,  accepted  in  August,  1887,  a  position  with  E.  De  L.  Palmer,  real 
estate  dealer,  and  remained  there  until  1893,  when  he  formed  with  Joshua  F.  Tobin 
the  present  real  estate  and  fire  insurance  firm  of  Casey  &  Tobin.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Columbus  and  the  Catholic  Union. 

MacFarlane,  Andrew,  M.  I).,  son  of  Andrew  and  Sophia  (Troy)  MacFarlane,  was 
born  in  Glasgow,  Scotland,  January  1,  1863.  His  father,  a  merchant  came  to 
America,  and  settled  in  Albany  about  1847,  but  returned  to  Scotland  in  1861  and  re- 
mained ten  years,  when  he  again  came  to  Albany  and  died  here  in  1882.  1  >r  Mac- 
Farlane was  graduated  from  the  Albany  High  School  in  1880  and  then  spent 
one  year  in  the  University  of  Glasgow  in  .Scotland;  returning  to  Albany  he  was 
graduated  from  Union  College  in  1884,  as  one  of  the  honor  men  of  his  class. 
He  read  medicine  with  Dr.  George  E.  Gorham  of  Albany,  was  graduated  as  M.  I), 
from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  1887  and  on  competitive  examination  was 
appointed  to  the  staff  of  the  New  Jersey  State  Hospital  for  the  Insane  where  he  re- 
mained one  year.  He  was  then  for  two  years  physician  in  a  private  institution  for 
the  insane  in  Boston  ;  meantime  he  had  done  much  work  in  the  hospitals  of  New  York 
city  and  after  leaving  Boston  he  went  abroad  for  about  eighteen  months  and  studied 
in  Paris,  Prague  and  Vienna,  returning  to  Albany  in  1*92.  Since  then  he  has  followed 
the  general  practice  of  his  profession  and  was  appointed  instructor  in  the  Albany 
Medical  College,  later  became  a  lecturer  and  is  now  clinical  professor  of  physical  diag- 
nosis and  miscroscopy.  He  is  physician  to  the  dispensary  of  St.  Peter's  Hospital,  an  at- 
tending physician  to  the  Albany  <  >rphan  Asylum  and  Albany  Hospital  for  Incurables, 
lecturer  on  medical  jurisprudence  of  insanity  at  the  Albany  Law  School  and  bacteri- 
ologist to  the  Albany  Board  of  Health  since  1894.  He  is  a  member  ami  ex-secretary 
of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society  and  a  delegate  to  the  New  \>>vk  State  Medical 
Society.  He  has  often  been  called  as  expert  on  insanity  in  noted  murder  trial 
is  regarded  as  an  able  authority  on  this  disease. 

Annesley,  Richard  Lord,  son  of  Lawson  and  Laura  (Jones)  Annesley,  was  born  in 
Albany,  July  Hi,  is:js.  His  father  was  born  in  Borden  town,  N.  J.,  May  •">.  1795,  and 
in  1802  came  to  Albauy  with  his  lather,  William  Annesley.  who  in  that  year  engaged 
in  the  picture  and  art  business,  founding  what  is  now  the  Albany  Art  Gallery.  In 
1820  William  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Lawson,  who  continued  the  business  until 
I860,  when  his  son  Isaac  became  the  proprietor.      The  latter  carried  on  the  establish- 


284 

ment  until  his  death,  in  June,  1865,  when  Richard  Lord  Annesley,  his  brother,  suc- 
ceeded him,  and  has  since  remained  in  charge.  This  is  the  oldest,  the  largest  and 
one  of  the  finest  art  stores  in  the  city.  About  twenty-five  years  ago  a  large  manufac- 
tory for  fine  woodwork  and  furniture  was  added.  Richard  Lord  Annesley  was  edu- 
cated at  the  Albany  Academy,  in  Prof.  C.  H.  Anthony's  school  and  at  the  Troy 
Rensselaer  Polytechnic  Institute.  He  began  active  life  on  the  Erie  Canal  enlarge- 
ment. In  1862,  with  Major  (then  captain)  John  L.  Newman,  he  recruited  and  organ- 
ized Co.  I,  which  joined  the  43d  N.  Y.  Inf.  at  Hagerstown,  Md.,  with  four  other  com- 
panies from  Albany.  Mr.  Annesley  was  elected  first  lieutenant,  was  promoted  cap- 
tain and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  being  brevetted  major  April  2,  1865,  for 
gallant  and  meritorious  service  at  the  assault  on  Petersburg.  Returning  from  the 
army  he  succeeded  his  brother  Isaac  in  business  and  has  since  carried  on  the  trade 
established  by  his  grandfather  ninety-five  years  ago.  He  is  a  member  of  Post  No. 
63,  G.  A.  R.,  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the  United  States,  the  Society  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  and  the  Fort  Orange  Club.  In  January,  1886,  he  married  Miss  Harriet, 
daughter  of  John  Ward  of  Albany. 

Clough,  William,  established  his  present  mercantile  business  in  Cohoes  in  1857, 
and  carries  a  various  line  of  groceries,  tinware,  drugs,  dry  goods  and  hosiery.  He 
is  a  pioneer  settler  of  Cohoes,  coming  here  in  1851,  where  he  worked  six  years  for 
the  Harmony  Co.,  as  foreman  of  one  department.  He  was  born  in  England  in  1820, 
and  was  a  spinner  by  trade.  He  came  to  America  in  1848,  and  was  one  of  the  fire 
wardens  before  organization  of  the  city  of  Cohoes  in  1869.  He  was  assessor  twice 
and  held  many  minor  offices.     In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 

Tessier,  Wilfred  G.,  one  of  the  four  coroners  of  Albany  county,  is  a  native  of  the 
city  of  Cohoes,  and  was  born  in  1863 ;  he  was  also  educated  there.  After  spending 
eleven  years  at  the  baker's  trade,  he  established  in  1890  the  present  business  located 
at  No.  69  Garner  street  as  a  dealer  in  groceries.  He  is  holding  very  acceptably  the 
position  of  coroner,  his  first  political  office. 

Stanton,  William,  for  many  years  associated  with  Mr.  Graham  in  a  large  grocery 
store  on  Willow  street,  Cohoes,  under  the  firm  name  of  Stanton  &  Graham,  was  a 
mason  by  trade  and  has  always  carried  on  a  large  contracting  business,  which  he 
still  continues.  He  has  always  been  largely  interested  in  the  coal  business.  Mr. 
vStanton  has  always  taken  a  lively  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  to  the  welfare  of  the 
city  and  its  local  government.  He  was  constable  and  deputy  sheriff  during  the  war, 
and  has  been  alderman,  also  president  of  the  Board  of  Education,  and  is  still  a  prom- 
inent factor  in  politics.  Mr.  Stanton  is  a  native  of  Brunswick,  Rensselaer  county, 
and  was  born  in  1838. 

Tessier,  Frank,  has  been  a  resident  of  Cohoes  since  he  was  eight  years  of  age, 
when  he  came  here  with  his  father.  Pierre  Tessier,  a  carpenter.  He  was  born  near 
Montreal,  Canada,  in  1848.  In  1871  he  purchased  of  John  Valley,  by  whom  he  had 
been  employed  for  thirteen  years,  a  bakery  which  he  conducted  till  1890.  In  1883  he 
also  engaged  in  the  livery  business  at  the  present  location  No.  37  Saratoga  street. 
Mr.  Tessier  has  led  an  active  political  life.  In  1877  he  was  elected  supervisor  from 
the  Third  ward,  and  since  1892  has  been  superintendent  of  the  streets  of  the  city. 

Baillargeon,  J.  T.,  has  been  a  merchant  of  Cohoes  for  about  five  years  as  wholesale 


285 

and  retail  dealer  in  manilla,  straw,  tea,  and  tissue  paper  at  No.  145  Bridge  avenue, 
Adam's  Island.  He  came  here  from  New  York  city,  where  he  had  been  for  eleven 
years  as  superintendent  of  the  packing  department  in  a  commission  house.  He  was 
born  in  Quebec,  Ontario,  in  1857,  the  son  of  Joseph  Baillargeon,  a  retired  builder, 
and  educated  at  Point  Lewis.  For  six  years  he  held  a  position  as  foreman  for 
Marshfield  &  Co.,  Chicago.  Mr.  Baillargeon  is  noted  locally  as  a  fine  baritone 
singer. 

1  )ickey,  William  J.,  superintendent  of  the  Cascade  Mills  of  Cohoes,  is  a  son  of  John 
Dickey,  a  contractor  who  came  from  the  north  of  Ireland  and  settled  here  at  a  very 
earlv  period  of  the  history  of  Cohoes.  His  death  occurred  in  1878  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
seven,  but  his  memory  lives  in  the  hearts  of  his  fellowmen  as  one  who  left  nothing 
undone  that  would  advance  the  welfare  of  residents  here.  Mr.  Dickey  has  spent  a 
lifetime  in  the  mills,  having  first  began  to  work  there  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years. 
He  was  first  employed  by  Hon.  C.  H.  Adams  in  his  woolen  mill,  and  from  the  foot 
of  the  ladder  has  steadily  reached  its  most  responsible  position.  He  was  for  nine 
years  superintendent  of  the  Egberts  Woolen  Mill,  then  operated  by  Mr.  McDowell, 
and  when  the  latter  erected  the  Cascade  Mills,  he  was  given  the  superintendency. 
Mr.  Dickey  has  been  connected  with  the  fire  department  for  twenty-five  years,  and 
was  fire  commissioner  for  four  years,  treasurer  for  nine  years  of  the  Hitchcock  Hose 
Co.,  and  captain  for  ten  years  of  the  same. 

Calkins,  H.  G.,  though  a  young  man  has  been  a  prominent  member  of  the  Board 
of  Education  of  the  city  of  Cohoes  for  five  years,  and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  its 
councils.  When  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age  he  was  elected  school  commis- 
sioner, making  a  very  competent  officer  for  that  responsible  position.  Mr.  Calkins 
is  a  descendant  of  the  old  Connecticut  family,  and  a  son  of  A.  T.  Calkins,  a  promi- 
nent furniture  dealer  since  the  war.  He  enlisted  in  1861  in  Co.  A,  22d  Regiment 
N.  V.  Vols.,  as  first  sergeant,  but  returned  lieutenant  and  quartermaster.  Among 
the  battles  in  which  he  participated  may  be  mentioned  those  of  South  Mountain. 
Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  and  Second  Bull  Run.  He  was  for  thirty  years  in  the 
same  store,  which,  since  1887,  has  been  in  charge  of  his  son.  II.  G.  Calkins,  who  was 
born  in  Cohoes  in  1869. 

Rosemond,  James,  came  to  New  York  from  Ireland,  where  he  was  born  in  L859, 
with  his  widowed  mother  who  is  still  a  resident  of  Cohoes.  He  was  educated  in 
New  York  in  the  grammar  schools  and  first  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business  where 
he  remained  for  four  years.  He  then  came  to  Cohoes  and  acquired  the  plumber's 
trade,  working  for  three  years  in  the  Harmony  Mills  and  nine  years  with  Burbanks 
&  Co.  In  1892  this  enterprising  young  man  engaged  in  business  for  himself  at  No. 
92  Main  street,  and  has  developed  an  extensive  industry  in  plumbing  and  tin-rooting, 
also  steam  and  hot  water  heating,  making  a  specialty  of  beer  apparatus.  The  posi- 
tion he  now  holds  in  the  front  rank  of  the  young  men  of  to-day  is  due  to  his  own 
personal  efforts  and  sterling  characteristics. 

Hochstrasser,   Arthur  E. ,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Berne,   February  5,  1847.     The 

founder  of  the  Hochstrasser  name  in  America  was  Jacob  Hochstrasser,  the  great- 
grandfather of  Arthur  E.     He  was  a  native  of  Holland  and  was  one  of  the  pioneer 

settlers  in  the  town  of  Berne.      He  was  one  of  a  committee  to  petition  the   Legisla- 


286 

ture  to  set  off  the  town  of  Berne  from  Rensselaerville,  and  the  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee to  draft  the  town  laws,  and  was  the  first  supervisor  and  first  justice  of  the 
peace.  Paul  I. ,  the  grandfather  of  Arthur  E.  Hochstrasser,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Berne  in  1762.  He  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  and  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  He  settled  in  the  town  of  Knox,  where  he  erected  a  saw  mill  and  manufactured 
lumber  for  some  years,  but  returned  to  Berne  and  purchased  200  acres  of  land,  a 
portion  of  which  embraced  the  White  Sulphur  Springs,  and  there  spent  his  re- 
maining days.  His  wife  was  Dorothy  Fisher.  Peter  Hochstrasser,  the  father  of 
Arthur  E.,  was  born  in  Berne  on  the  homestead,  April  18,  1800.  He  was  a  wheel- 
wright by  trade,  his  principal  manufactures  being  spinning  wheels,  flax  and  wool 
wheels;  he  also  owned  a  farm  of  seventy-five  acres  which  he  supervised.  His  wife 
was  Eliza  Weidman,  born  in  Berne  July  20,  1808,  daughter  of  Col.  Jacob  Weidman. 
Their  children  were  Jacob  M.,  John,  Charles  (who  was  a  soldier  in  the  Rebellion), 
Arthur  E.,  Catharine,  Margaret  and  Sarah.  He  died  April  20,  1880,  his  wife  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1887.  Arthur  E.  Hochstrasser  learned  the  turner's  trade  and  when  eight- 
een purchased  a  factory  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  bedsteads;  three  years 
later  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother  Jacob  M.  in  a  saw  mill  and  manufac- 
tured lumber,  bedsteads,  etc.  In  1882  he  sold  his  mill  interest  and  engaged  in  gen- 
eral mercantile  business  in  the  village  of  Berne  and  in  1891  he  erected  his  present 
store  building.  He  owns  and  resides  on  the  place  where  he  was  born.  He  was 
town  clerk  from  1882  to  1885,  was  town  committeeman,  president  of  the  town  Re- 
publican organization  from  1886  to  the  present  time,  and  has  often  been  chosen  as 
delegate  to  town,  district  and  State  conventions.  Mr.  Hochstrasser  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity  and  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  Helderberg  Lodge  of 
Odd  Fellows.  He  is  one  of  the  active  promoters  and  contributors  in  and  to  the  pro- 
posed Albany,  Helderberg  and  Schoharie  railroad,  of  which  he  is  also  a  stock- 
holder. September  25,  1868,  he  married  Josephine,  daughter  of  Edward  Settle  of 
Berne,  and  they  have  one  child,  Fred  P.  His  wife  died  March  7,  1882,  and  Febru- 
ary 4,  1885,  Mr.  Hochstrasser  married  Hattie,  daughter  of  Henry  W.  Weidman,  and 
they  have  two  children,  Margaret  and  Chester. 

Peasley,  Wallace  A.,  was  born  September  12,  1857,  on  the  farm  he  now  owns  and 
occupies.  Thomas  Peasley,  his  great-grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts 
who  came  to  Albany  county  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Berne  on  West  Mountain,  in 
the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century.  Orson  Peasley,  the  grandfather  was  born 
in  Berne  in  1804,  where  he  was  a  lifelong  farmer  and  lived  and  died  on  the  farm  of 
160  acres  on  which  he  was  born.  He  died  in  1866  and  his  wife  in  1888.  Addison, 
the  father  of  Wallace  A.  Peasley,  was  born  in  Berne,  August,  1834.  He  grew  to 
manhood  on  the  homestead  and  later  came  in  possession  of  it.  His  wife  was  Hen- 
rietta, daughter  of  John  Tibbitts,  who  was  a  soldier  in  1812,  and  to  them  were  born 
two  children :  Wallace  A.  and  Elmer.  Wallace  Peasley  attended  the  common  dis- 
trict schools  and  the  Gloversville  Academy.  He  has  spent  his  life  on  the  farm  with 
his  father  and  for  years  has  been  a  careful  and  interested  breeder  of  thoroughbred 
trotting  horses  and  is  the  owner  of  the  fine  stallion,  Varrick ;  he  is  also  a  breeder  of 
thoroughbred  Jersey  cattle,  swine,  chickens  and  turkeys.  Mr.  Peasley  has  filled 
town  offices  continuously  since  he  became  a  voter,  filling  first  the  offices  of  inspector 
of  election,  excise  commissioner,  and  in  1896  was  elected  to  represent  his  town  on  the 


28^ 


Board  of  Supervisors.  In  1890  he  was  appointed  to  take  the  United  States  census  in 
his  election  district.  The  farm  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Peasley  was  originally  settled 
by  Mrs.  Abigail  Taylor,  his  great  grandmother,  who  came  from  Rhode  Island.  The 
house  she  caused  to  be  erected  in  1777  is  still  standing,  the  only  change  from  the 
original  being  a  new  roof.  In  1877  Mr.  Peasley  married  Florence  Shultes  of  West 
Berne,  daughter  of  Abram  and  Margaret  (Turner)  Shultes.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peasley 
have  four  children:   Blanche,  Ethel,  Mary  and  Florence. 

Young,  Elias,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Berne,  June  22,  1844.  Samuel  Young,  his 
grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Berne,  near 
where  is  now  the  village  of  Reidsville,  in  1792,  where  be  farmed  and  practiced  law, 
having  for  many  years  an  extensive  law  practice.  His  wife  was  Magdalene  Warner, 
a  native  of  Berne,  and  they  had  three  sons:  Philip,  David  and  Silas.  lie  died  in 
1860  at  the  age  of  eighty  years;  his  wife  died  some  years  before.  Philip,  the  father 
of  Elias,  was  born  in  Berne  in  1809,  where  he  was  a  lifelong  farmer  and  owned  a 
farm  of  160  acres.  His  wife  was  Hannah,  daughter  of  Elias  Mathias  of  New  Scot- 
land, and  their  children  were  Samuel  P.  (deceased),  David  P.,  Mary  E.,  Margaret 
A.  and  Elias.  He  died  in  1891  and  his  wife  in  1893.  Elias  Young  spent  his  earlier 
days  on  his  father's  farm,  where  he  attended  the  common  schools  and  later  the  Fort 
Edward  Institute;  subsequently,  by  the  assistance  of  his  father,  he  entered  as  a 
student  Eastman  College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1865.  When  twenty 
years  of  age  he  began  teaching,  which  profession  he  has  followed  a  goodly  portion 
of  the  time.  For  some  five  years  he  was  engaged  in  general  mercantile  business 
in  the  village  of  Reidsville,  in  partnership  with  his  brother,  and  was  for  main- 
years  a  dealer  in  agricultural  implements.  Mr.  Young  from  early  manhood  mani- 
fested a  keen  interest  in  the  political  affairs  of  his  town  and  county,  associating  him- 
self with  the  side  of  Democracy.  He  was  elected  and  filled  the  office  of  justice 
of  the  peace  for  twelve  years,  and  from  1886  to  1896  has  been  notary  public.  In 
1881  he  was  elected  school  commissioner  and  again  in  1891  and  i893.  In  1868 
he  married  Frances,  daughter  of  Hugh  Conger  of  Berne,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren: Eunice  (wife  of  Christopher  Michael),  and  Philip  S.,  M.  D.,  who  was  a  grad- 
uate from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  1896. 

Rheinhart,  Alonzo  L.,  was  horn  in  the  town  of  Berne,  July  13,  1858.  John  Rhein- 
hart,  his  great-grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Germany  and  immigrated  to  America 
in  1762,  settling  in  or  about  New  York.  When  the  Revolutionary  war  broke  oul  he 
enlisted  and  served  through  the  whole  war.  Johannes  Rheinhart,  the  grandfather. 
was  born  in  Berne  on  the  homestead  where  he  was  a  lifelong  farmer  and  owned  a 
farm  of  113  acres.  His  children  weir  Catharine,  Peter,  David,  William  and  Adam. 
Peter,  the  father  of  Alonzo  Rheinhart,  was  born  in  Berne  in  1803.  In  early  life  he 
was  a  farmer,  but  later  became  a  shoemaker  in  the  village  of  Berne.  His  last  days 
were  spent  in  Knox.  He  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being  Christiana  Deitz, 
and  their  children  were  Louisa  (wife  of  David  Ball  of  Berne),  Matilda  (wife  of  Isaa< 
Ballot'  Schoharie),  and  Christiana,  who  died  when  fourteen.  His  second  wile  was 
Mary  Ann,  daughter  of  William  Havens  of  Knox,  and  they  had  the  following  chil- 
dren :  Harrison,  Catharine,  Addison  (who  was  a  soldier  m  the  war  of  the  Rebellion, 
I860  to  1865,  enlisting  in  Co.  E,  7th  N.  Y.  Heavy  Artillery  for  three  years,  and  was 
taken  prisoner  at  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor  and  was  a  prisoner  in  the  Andersonville 


288 

prison  eleven  months,  and  died  in  1870),  Morgan  (who  served  in  the  army  the  last 
year  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion),  Lucy,  Irvin,  Mary  J.  and  Alonzo  L.  Alonzo  L. 
remained  with  his  father  until  twenty  three  years  of  age.  He  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  and  began  life  for  himself  as  a  farmer,  which  vocation  he  has  since 
followed.  In  the  spring  of  1888  he  moved  to  the  town  of  Berne  on  his  present 
farm  of  sixty  acres,  where  he  has  since  resided,  doing  general  farming.  In  1896 
Mr.  Rheinhart  was  elected  town  clerk  and  several  times  he  has  been  called  upon  to 
represent  his  town  and  district  at  town,  county  and  assembly  conventions.  In  1887 
he  married  Ida,  daughter  of  Charles  G.  and  Margaret  (Schoonmaker)  Frink,  and 
they  have  two  children,  Frank  A.  and  Minnie.  Mr.  Frink,  father  of  Mrs.  Rhein- 
hart, was  a  prominent  man  in  the  town  of  Knox,  representing  his  town  on  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  several  terms ;  he  was  also  one  of  the  most  successful  farmers 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  his  wealth  was  $50,000. 

Snyder,  Cecil,  born  in  Rensselaerville,  September  10,  1848,  is  a  son  of  David  H. 
and  Eunice  (Head)  Snyder,  both  natives  of  Rensselaerville.  They  came  to  Westerlo 
in  1851  and  engaged  in  farming,  where  they  remained  until  his  death.  Mrs.  Snyder 
still  lives  on  the  homestead  with  Cecil  Snyder.  The  grandfather,  Ephraim  Snyder, 
was  an  early  settler  of  Rensselaerville  and  came  from  Dutchess  county.  Cecil 
Snyder  has  always  been  a  farmer  on  the  homestead,  which  consists  of  160  acres  and 
he  now  intends  making  a  specialty  of  dairying.  In  1877  he  married  Anna,  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Ann  Norton  of  Westerlo,  and  they  have  two  children,  Jessie  M. 
and  Millard. 

Lockwood,  Horace  R.,  born  in  Westerlo,  February  28,  1841,  is  a  brother  of  Leander 
S.  Lockwood,  mentioned  in  this  work.  In  1865  he  married  Esther,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Nancy  (Townsend)  Green  of  Westerlo,  and  they  have  three  children : 
Estella,  Samuel  G.  and  Mary  Helen.  Mr.  Lockwood  has  the  old  Allen  farm  of  164 
acres  and  eighty  acres  where  he  resides.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat  and  held  the 
office  of  assessor  for  six  years  in  succession.  Mr.  Lockwood  is  a  member  of  J.  M. 
Austin  Lodge  No.  567,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  the  Christian  church  of  South  Westerlo. 

Simpkin,  Robert  P.,  born  November  29,  1830,  in  Westerlo,  was  a  son  of  Robert  L. 
and  Phoebe  (Powell)  Simpkin,  he  of  Westerlo,  and  she  of  Long  Island,  and  grandson 
of  R.  Simpkin  on  his  father's  side  and  of  Samuel  Powell  on  the  maternal  side;  the 
latter  was  a  farmer  in  Long  Island.  R.  Simpkin  spent  his  life  in  Westerlo;  Robert 
L.  Simpkin  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  at  which  he  worked  in  connection  with  farm- 
ing. Robert  P.  Simpkin  has  always  followed  farming  and  is  the  owner  of  111  acres 
of  land,  forty  acres  of  homestead  settled  by  his  grandfather  and  seventy-one  which 
he  bought.  In  1855  he  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Sally  Holmes 
of  Westerlo,  and  they  have  three  children:  Alice,  widow  of  Daniel  Lockwood,  who 
died  1894;  Ellison,  who  died,  aged  eighteen  years;  and  Jennie,  wife  of  Emery 
Palmer,  farmer  and  thrasher  of  Greenville,  Greene  county,  N.  Y.  In  politics  Mr. 
Simpkin  is  a  Democrat  and  he  and  his  family  attend  and  support  a  Christian  church. 

Simpkin,  Henry,  born  in  Westerlo,  N.  Y.,  February  4,  1836,  is  a  brother  of  Robert 
P.  Simpkin,  mentioned  in  this  work.  Henry  Simpkin  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and 
with  the  exception  of  three  years  spent  in  Coeymans,  has  followed  farming  in  the 
town  of  Westerlo.     He  has  a  farm  of  120  acres  where  he  resides  and  another  of  fortv 


289 

< 

acres.  In  1857  he  married  Louise  H.,  daughter  of  John  and  Elsie  (Traver)  Freely, 
both  natives  of  Greene  county,  and  they  have  one  son,  Victor,  who  married  Ella, 
daughter  of  William  and  Mariett  Applebeen  of  Westerlo,  and  they  have  one  daugh- 
ter, Grace  L.  Simpkin,  born  January  15,  1888.  Victor  resides  on  the  homestead  and 
carries  on  the  farm.  In  politics  they  are  both  Republicans  and  attend  the  M.  E. 
church. 

Hanney,  Andrew  D.,  born  in  Westerlo,  August  29,  1819,  is  a  son  of  David  and 
Hannah  (Terbush)  Hanney,  he  a  native  of  Westerlo  and  she  of  Fishkill.  His  grand- 
father, Andrew  Hanney,  was  born  in  Scotland,  where  he  married  and  came  to  Hol- 
land Purchase,  N.  Y. ,  then  to  Westerlo,  where  he  settled  as  a  farmer.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  raised  an  independent  company  to  help  at 
Burgoyne's  surrender.  David  Hanney  was  a  farmer  of  Westerlo  and  as  a  Democrat, 
held  the  office  of  assessor  for  a  great  many  years  and  refused  to  be  supervisor.  He 
died  in  1872  and  Mrs.  Hanney  in  1842.  Andrew  D.  Hanney,  has,  with  the  exception 
of  a  few  years  spent  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  been  a  farmer  on  the  homestead.  He 
has  102  acres  which  is  now  carried  on  by  his  son.  In  1851  Mr.  Hanney  married 
Hannah  M.,  daughter  of  John  Hain  of  Westerlo,  and  they  had  two  children:  George, 
a  farmer  of  Westerlo,  and  Charles,  on  the  home  farm.  Mrs.  Hanney  died  in  1872 
and  Mr.  Hanney  married  again,  Phoebe  C.  (Babcock)  La  Paugh,  who  died  January 
11,  1893.     Mr.  Hanney  is  a  Democrat  and  Baptist. 

Hinckley,  Charles,  born  in  Westerlo,  March  21,  1821,  was  a  son  of  Josiah  and 
Clarrissa  (Slausen)  Hinckley.  The  father  of  Josiah,  Josiah  Hinckley,  came  from 
New  York  city  and  settled  in  Westerlo  when  the  town  was  but  a  wilderness.  He 
fought  in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  then  settled  on  a  farm  in  Westerlo.  The  great- 
grandfather was  of  Scotch  descent  and  married  a  French  lady  and  settled  in  New 
York  city,  and  spent  his  last  days  in  JWesterlo.  The  father  of  Charles  Hinckley  spent 
his  life  on  the  farm  in  Westerlo,  where  he  died  in  1866,  and  Mrs.  Hinckley  in  1872. 
Charles  Hinckley  married  Rachel  Ann  Hayek,  daughter  of  Walter  and  .Margaret 
Huyck.  Mrs.  Hinckley  died  in  INK:}.  Mr.  Hinckley  has  always  been  a  farmer  and 
carried  on  farming  on  the  homestead  till  1888,  when  he  rented  the  farm  and  took  tip 
his  residence  in  the  vieintv  of  South  Westerlo.  He  lias  always  been  a  Democrat  in 
politics. 

Erwin,  Jacob  M.,  was  born  in  New  Salem  in  1843.  John,  his  great. grandfather, 
was  one  of  three  brothers:  John,  William,  and  fared,  from  the  North  of  Ireland,  who 
came  to  America  and  settled  in  New  Scotland  in  about  1775.  Hugh,  the  grand- 
father, was  born  on  the  homestead  in  1786,  and  in  time  came  into  possession  <>f  it. 
His  wife  was  Lavina,  daughter  of  Rev,  Harmarius  Van  Huysen,  who  was  a  captain 
in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  a  Hutch  Reformed  minister.  He  died  in  1871  and  his 
wife  died  in  1868.  Isaac,  the  father,  was  born  on  the  homestead  in  L818  and  his 
early  life  was  spent  at  various  occupations.  When  sixteen  years  of  age  he  began  to 
learn  the  shoemaker's  trade  in  Clarksville  and  four  years  later,  in  lsHs.  he  started  a 
shoe  shop  on  his  own  account  in  the  village  of  New  Salem,  where  he  has    ever    since 

resided  and  plied  his  trade.  I  le  tilled  the  offices  of  collector  and  overseer  of  the  poor. 
In  1840  he  married  Maria,  daughter  of  Jacob  Martin,  of  New  Scotland.  Their  chil- 
dren were  Jacob  M..  James  E.,   William  II..  John  ora.      Jacob  M. 


290 

attended  the  common  schools  until  fourteen  yearsof  age,  when  he  entered  his  father's 
shop  as  apprentice  and  remained  there  until  eighteen  years  old  when,  in  September, 
1861,  enlisted  in  Co.  D,  91st  N.  Y.  Vols.,  and  served  three  years,  and  in  January, 
1864,  he  re-enlisted  in  the  same  company,  which  was  heavy  artillery  after  that  date, 
and  in  which  he  was  a  commissioned  officer.  The  principal  battles  in  which  he 
participated  were  Port  Hudson,  Irish  Bend,  Vermilion  Bayou,  and  Alexandria,  thence 
to  Fort  Jackson,  which  his  company  took  charge  of,  Dmwiddie  Court  House,  Five 
Forks  and  Appamattox.  He  returned  home  in  July,  1865,  and  immediately  after  his 
return  he  received  his  commission  as  second  lieutenant.  He  then  went  to  work  at 
his  trade  which  he  plied  until  1867.  In  1868  he  engaged  in  general  mercantile  busi- 
ness in  the  village  of  New  Salem,  which  business  he  has  followed  up  to  the  present 
time.  In  1870  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  New  Salem,  which  office  he  filled 
until  1884;  he  was  again  appointed  under  President  Harrison.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  G.  A.  R.,  Post  No.  5  of  Albany.  The  year  1895  he  spent  diligently  furthering 
the  cause  of  the  proposed  Albany,  Helderberg  and  Schoharie  Electric  Railroad,  of 
which  he  is  one  of  the  directors,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  executive  committee  of 
directors.  In  1867  he  was  married  to  Amanda,  daughter  of  Conrad  Mathias  of  New 
Scotland.     To  them  were  born  two  children:  Levi  M.  and  Charles  W. 

Flansburgh,  John,  was  born  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland,  in  1836.  Jacob,  the  great- 
grandfather, was  a  native  of  Holland  and  of  good  old  Holland  ancestry.  He  came 
to  the  United  States  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Bethlehem,  where  he  spent  his  life 
as  a  farmer.  He  reared  four  children:  John  P.,  Elizabeth,  Sophia  and  Cornelia. 
John  P.,  the  grandfather,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Bethlehem  in  September,  1784, 
and  died  in  July,  1867.  In  1803  he  was  married  to  Margaret  Kniver  of  Bethlehem, 
and  their  children  were  Peter,  David,  Jacob,  Michael,  Maria,  Eva,  John,  William, 
Elizabeth,  Matthew,  Kate,  Cornelia  and  Garrett.  He  was  married  twice,  the  issue 
of  the  last  marriage  being  one  son,  James.  He  removed  to  Sharon,  Albany  county, 
thence  to  the  Helderberg  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland  in  1809.  He  was  a  lifelong 
farmer,  who  began  poor  and  by  his  energy  and  ambition  he  accumulated  a  good 
property.  He  was  married  to  Maria  Simmons,  who  was  born  in  New  Scotland  and 
daughter  of  Andrew  Simmons,  by  whom  seven  children  were  born:  John,  Margaret 
J.,  Mary  Ann,  Catherine  J.,  Caroline,  Ellen  and  Rufus.  His  second  wife  was  Cath- 
erine Simmons,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  by  whom  two  children  were  born,  Harriet 
and  Ida.  His  second  wife  died  in  1892.  John  Flansburgh  worked  on  his  father's 
farm  and  attended  the  common  schools,  and  when  twenty-five  years  of  age  embarked 
in  farming  for  himself.  He  soon  accumulated  enough  to  purchase  his  present  farm, 
of  150  acres,  upon  which  he  has  made  many  improvements.  He  served  his  town  as 
excise  commissioner  and  collector.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry, 
Clarksville  Grange,  of  which  he  is  treasurer.  In  1860  he  married  Catherine  J., 
born  in  New  Scotland  and  daughter  of  John  and  Betsey  (Brate)  Radley.  Their 
children  are  Peter,  who  married  Ida  Relyea  and  has  one  child,  and  Lizzie,  wife  of 
Elsbree  Jones. 

Crookes,  John,  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  July  10,  1838.  He  was  a  son  of 
William  and  Frances  (Wardwell)  Crookes,  natives  of  the  same  place.  They  reared 
five  children:  John,  Fannie,  Sarah  Ann,  Elizabeth  and  Jane.  The  mother  died  in 
1848.     The  father  was  a  blacksmith,  and  in  1851  left  England  with  his  family  and 


291 

sailed  for  America,  landing  in  New  York  one  month  later.  He  came  direct  to  Al- 
bany, where  he  plied  his  trade  for  one  year,  when  he  removed  to  Tarrytown  in  New 
Scotland,  and  four  years  later  to  the  village  of  Clarksville,  where  he  spent  his 
remaining  days  at  his  trade.  While  in  England  he  was  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows fraternity.  He  died  in  18*>7.  John,  when  at  the  age  of  ten  years,  was  obliged 
to  enter  his  father's  shop  as  a  helper.  He  has  devoted  his  life  successfully  at  his 
trade,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  entered  his  father's  shop  and  has  ever  since  done 
a  general  blacksmithing  business  on  his  own  account.  September  5,  1864,  he 
enlisted  in  the  23d  New  York  Independent  Battery  and  was  transferred  to  the  8th 
New  York  Heavy  Artillery,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  participated 
in  a  good  many  battles  and  skirmishes.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
Berne  Lodge  No.  864.  In  1860  he  married  Sarah  Ingraham,  daughter  of  Lyman  In- 
graham  of  New  Scotland.  Their  children  are  Charles,  who  is  employed  in  the  State 
Capitol  at  Albany;  Clara,  wife  of  Benjamin  Winston  of  New  Scotland;  John  and 
Frank,  twins;  and  Lizzie.  All  of  his  sons  are  blacksmiths.  John  is  in  Altamont, 
N.  Y. ,  and  Frank  is  a  blacksmith  in  the  State  Capitol. 

Oliver,  Abram  E.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland,  N.  V.,  in  January,  is:',:!. 
He  has  spent  his  life  successfully  at  fanning  and  fruit  growing,  being  one  of  the 
most  extensive  apple  growers  in  his  town,  in  which  pursuit  he  has  manifested 
a  thorough  knowledge.  He  purchased  his  first  farm  from  his  father,  but  now  owns 
four  farms  containing  382  acres,  which  was  originally  owned  by  his  great-grand- 
faher,  grandfather  and  father,  and  which  he  purchased  at  different  times.  In  early 
life  he  dealt  to  some  extent  in  cattle  and  sheep.  He  has  made  many  essential  im- 
provements on  his  farm,  erected  an  imposing  dwelling,  etc.  He  has  provided  each 
of  his  children  with  liberal  educational  advantages,  and  has  since  placed  two  of  his 
sons  on  two  of  his  farms.  Mr.  Oliver  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  has  served  his  town 
nine  years  as  assessor,  and  is  now  president  in  the  third  district  of  the  Republican  town 
organization.  Mr.  Oliver  has  been  twice  married;  May  17,  1856,  he  married  Lucre- 
tia,  daughter  of  Anthony  Legrange,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children:  Anna,  Abram, 
Nelson,  Ida,  Lovina,  Frank  and  Elwood,  the  latter  a  physician  in  Colorado.  In  1872 
Mr.  Oliver  married  Elizabeth  Borst,  a  native  of  Schoharie  county,  by  whom  he  had 
three  children:  Chester,  Lillian  and  Sadie.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  (  Iliver  are  members  of  the 
New  Scotland  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  Mr.  <  Hiver  has  been  trustee  for  many 
years  and  is  now  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school.  Everett  Oliver,  the  great- 
grandfather of  our  subject,  was  born  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland,  on  one  of  the 
farms  now  owned  by  Mr.  Oliver,  about  1759.  He  spent  his  lite  as  a  farmer  and  lived 
to  be  about  eighty  years  of  age.  He  reared  tour  sons  and  three  daughters.  John 
E.,  the  grandfather,  was  the  oldest  of  his  father's  children,  and  was  born  on  the 
same  farm  about  1780.  He  came  into  possession  of  twenty-five  acres  of  his  father's 
homestead  and  became  an  active,  energetic  and  successful  farmer.  He  was  a  Re- 
publican in  politics,  and  was  much  interested  in  the  welfare  of  his  party.  lie  reared 
eight  sons  and  one  daughter,  and  to  each  of  these  he  gave  a  farm.  lie  lived  to  be 
ninety-four  years  of  age.  The  last  half  of  his  life  was  spent  in  the  town  of  Westerlo. 
Everett1  Oliver,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  New  Scotland,  in  1807,  01  one  of 
the  farms  now  owned  by  his  son.  He  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  meeting  with  good  suc- 
cess.     He   married    Mary   Albright,   by  whom   he  had  four  children :  John,    Abram, 


292 

Ellen  J.,  and  Eve  Ann.  His  wife  died  at  fifty-seven  years  of  age.  They  were 
members  of  the  M.  E.  church,  of  which  he  was  a  liberal  supporter.  He  died  in 
January,  1896.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  owned  four  farms  and  $7,000  in  cash ;  he 
had  eight  living  great-great-grandchildren,  a  number  of  great-grandchildren,  several 
grandchildren,  and  three  children. 

Van  Allen,  William,  was  born  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland,  on  the  farm  which  he 
now  owns,  March  14,  1811.  Garrett,  his  great-grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Holland, 
came  to  America  and  settled  in  the  wilderness  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland,  where 
he  cleared  a  home  on  a  tract  of  about  250  acres,  where  he  spent  his  remaining  days. 
He  reared  two  sons,  William  and  John,  and  two  daughters.  He  lived  to  an  extreme 
old  age.  William,  the  grandfather,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead,  September  11, 
1744,  where  he  spent  his  life  clearing  and  improving  the  farm.  His  wife  was  Mag- 
dalme  Van  Wie,  born  April  8,  1752.  They  had  but  one  child,  Garrett  W.  Mr.  Van 
Allen  died  May  28,  1795,  and  his  wife  June  23,  1836.  Garrett  W.,  the  father,  was 
born  where  his  father  was.  August  1,  1790,  and  there  grew  to  manhood  and  spent 
his  life  actively  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  married,  October  5,  1807, 
Hannah  Winnie,  when  he  was  but  seventeen  years  of  age ;  she  was  born  October 
20,  1790.  Their  children  were  Christiana,  William,  Adam,  Garrett,  Francis,  Philip 
and  Conrad,  seven  of  whom  grew  to  maturity.  He  died  May  13,  1851,  and  his  wife 
March  8,  1874.  William,  the  subject,  has  spent  his  life  on  the  homestead  of  his 
great-grandfather.  He  represented  his  town  in  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  in 
other  minor  offices.  In  1887  he  tore  down  the  old  stone  fort  house,  which  wa:, 
erected  by  his  great  grandfather.  October  26,  1887,  he  married  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
(Moak)  Moak,  daughter  of  William  Moak  of  New  Scotland. 

Becker,  Frederick  C,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Bethlehem  in  October,  1829.  Fred- 
erick, his  grandfather,  was  born  in  about  1758.  He  was  of  German  descent  and 
a  farmer  by  occupation,  which  he  followed  in  the  town  of  Bethlehem.  His  wife  was 
Catherine  Bender,  by  whom  three  sons  and  two  daughters  were  born.  He  owned 
188  acres  of  land,  which  he  divided  between  two  of  his  sons.  Christopher,  the 
father,  was  born  in  Bethlehem  in  1801,  and  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  at  which  he  was 
fairly  prosperous.  He  held  some  of  the  most  important  offices  of  the  town  and 
served  his  town  as  assessor,  collector,  and  commissioner  of  highways.  His  wife 
was  Hannah  Arnold,  born  in  Bethlehem.  Their  children  are  Elizabeth,  Frederick 
C,  Catherine,  Louisa,  Christian,  Christopher,  Jacob,  John  and  Andrew,  who  died 
when  twenty  years  of  age.  Jacob  and  Christian  were  soldiers  in  the  war  of  the  Re- 
bellion. Mr.  Becker  died'  in  1881  and  his  wife  died  several  years  previous.  Fred- 
erick lived  on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was  twenty-six  years  old,  when  he  embarked 
in  business  for  himself  in  March,  1887.  He  moved  to  the  town  of  New  Scotland  and 
purchased  his  present  farm  of  seventy  acres,  on  which  he  has  since  been  doing  gen- 
eral farming.  While  in  Bethlehem  he  served  as  tax  collector  and  commissioner  of 
highways.  In  1861  he  married  Margaret  Hotaling,  and  their  children  are  Almira, 
Charles,  Catherine, 'William  F.  and  Addie. 

Smith,  Henry  A.,  a  prominent  landmark  of  New  Scotland,  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Guilderland,  November  4,  1830.  Nicholas  Smith,  his  great-grandfather,  was  a 
native  of  Dutchess  county  and  came  to  New  Scotland  with  his  wife  and  family  in 
1760.     His  children  were  Andrew,   Michael,   John,  Zachariah,   Nicholas,  Catharine 


293 

aud  Jonas,  all  of  whom  lived  to  reach  the  century  mark,  and  he  also  lived  to  a  great 
age.  He  was  formerly  interested  in  the  tract  known  as  the  Nine  Partners,  but  was 
driven  off  by  the  Indians  and  finally  settled  in  the  forest,  where  he  made  him  a 
home.  He  was  an  enthusiastic  hunter  and  trapper  and  would  strike  a  deer  trail  in 
the  morning  and  with  gun,  tomahawk  and  belt  of  ground  corn  he  would  follow  it 
until  he  caught  his  game;  he  was  also  a  sla\  e  owner.  Nicholas  Smith,  the  grand- 
father, was  born  in  Dutchess  county  in  1752  and  came  to  New  Scotland  with  his 
parents,  where  he  became  a  farmer  and  spent  his  life.  He  lived  to  be  103  years  of 
age  and  was  bright  and  active  up  to  his  death.  His  wife  was  Mary  Keebe,  and  their 
children  were  Nicholas,  Thomas,  Andrew,  Joseph,  Henry,  Stephen,  Hulda,  Kate, 
Lucinda  and  Margaret.  Andrew  M.,  the  father  of  Henry  Smith,  was  born  on  the 
homestead  in  1799,  where  he  was  a  lifelong  and  fairly  successful  farmer;  with  the 
exception  of  two  years  spent  in  Guilderland,  his  life  was  spent  in  his  native  town. 
In  politics  he  was  first  a  Whig  and  later  a  Republican.  His  wife  was  Lucy,  daugh- 
ter of  Everett  Sigsbee,  and  Cheir  children  were  Henry  A.,  Mary,  Lucinda,  Hulda, 
Elizabeth,  Kate,  Ellen,  Margaret  and  Andrew.  He  died  September  'S,  1877,  and  his 
wife  in  1SS7.  She  was  a  good  Christian  woman  and  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  church. 
Henry  A.  Smith  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  where  he  remained  until  he  was 
twenty-five,  when  he  married  and  began  farming  for  himself  on  a  farm  which  he 
had  purchased  and  to  which  he  has  added,  now  owning  150  acres.  Ik-  devoted  con- 
siderable attention  to  the  breeding  of  thoroughbred  Gurnsey  and  Jersey  cattle,  and 
also  raised  some  high  grade  horses.  He  has  been  a  hard  working  man  and  his 
labors  have  been  crowned  with  success.  He  is  an  ardent  Republican.  In  1885  Mr. 
Smith  married  Hester,  daughter  of  Martin  and  Susan  (Frcyer)  Siver  of  Guilderland, 
and  their  children  were  Andrew,  William  J..  Henry,  Margaret  (wife  of  Nelson 
Croraise  of  Rensselaer  county,  N.  Y. ),  Mary  (wife  of  Miner  White  of  New  Scotland) 
and  Ira.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  were  both  members  of  the  M.  E.  church,  in  which  he 
officiated  as  trustee  and  steward.  His  wife  died  in  May,  1895.  William  L,  the 
son,  attended  the  Troy  Conference  Academy  and  has  since  devoted  his  attention  to 
teaching  and  assisting  on  the  farm. 

Frost,  J.  Sheldon,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Rensselacrvillc.  Albany  county,  1  >e- 
cemberl,  1864.  His  parents  were  John  I),  and Phebe (Sheldon) Frost.  Early  in  the 
seventeenth  century,  three  Frost  brothers  came  from  England  ami  settled  on  Long 
Island.  Afterwards  the  branch  of  the  family  from  which  James  Sheldon  Frost  is 
descended  removed  to  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1805  they  removed  to  the  town 
of  Rensselaerville.  The  property  they  took  in  1805  is  still  in  the  possession  of  the 
family.  Mr.  J.  Sheldon  Frost's  great-great-grandfather,  Isaac  Frost,  had  fourteen 
children,  eight  of  whom  lived  to  be  over  eighty  years  of  age.  Mr.  Frost's  great- 
great-grandfather  on  his  mother's  side  was  a  sea  captain  and  spent  a  part  of  his  life 
exploring  Africa.  All  his  ancestors  were  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  Mr. 
Frost  was  educated  at  public  and  private  schools  and  at  Friends  College  at  Locust 
Valley,  Long  Island.  Later  he  attended  the  Albany  Business  College,  and  in  1888 
was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Law  School  and  in  May  of  the  same  year  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice.  He  began  his  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  I  >raper  ,\  Chester  and 
after  Mr.  Draper's  withdrawal  he  remained  with  Judge  Cluster  until  1890,  since  which 
time  he  has  successfully  practiced  his  profession  in  Albany.      Mr.  Frost  is  a  member 


294 

of  Wadsworth  Lodge  No.  417,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Court  Schuyler  No.  1754,  I.  O.  P.,  and 
of  Jay  Chapter,  Phi  Delta  Phi  fraternity ;  also  a  member  of  Albany  Senate  No. 
641,  K.  A.  E.  O.  In  1893  Mr.  Frost  was  one  of  a  committee  of  three  to  investigate 
the  affairs  of  the  Western  Farm  Mortgage  Trust  Company  of  Denver,  on  behalf 
of  eastern  holders,  and  represents  large  holdings  in  litigation  now  pending  in  the 
Federal  Courts. 

Flansburgh,  Rufus,  was  born  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland,  December  31,  1848. 
The  second  great-grandfather  of  Rufus  Flanbsurgh,  the  parent  tree  of  the  family 
in  America,  was  a  native  of  Holland  and  settled  in  Albany  county,  where  he  was  a 
farmer,  and  was  murdered  for  his  money.  Jacob,  the  great-grandfather  of  Rufus, 
was  a  native  of  Holland  and  spent  his  active  life  in  the  town  of  Bethlehem  as  a 
farmer,  and  his  children  were  John  P.,  Eliza,  Sophia  and  Cornelia.  John  P.  Flans- 
burgh, the  grandfather,  was  born  in  Bethlehem,  September  23,  1784,  and  was  a  life- 
long and  successful  farmer,  spending  his  last  days  ip  the  town  of  New  Scotland. 
The  last  forty-two  days  of  his  life  were  spent  in  fasting,  partaking  of  nothing  but 
water,  believing  that  his  maker  had  demanded  him  to  cease  partaking  of  the  fruit 
of  the  vine.  He  died  in  July,  1867.  In  April,  1803,  he  married  Margaret  Kniver, 
and  their  children  were  Peter,  David,  Jacob,  Michael,  Maria,  Eva,  John,  William, 
Elizabeth,  Martha,  Catharine  and  Garrett.  Michael  Flansburgh,  the  father,  was 
born  in  New  Scotland,  where  he  too  was  a  lifelong  and  successful  farmer.  His  first 
wife  was  Maria  Simmons,  a  daughter  of  Andrew  Simmons,  and  their  children  were 
John,  Margaret  J.,  Mary  Ann,  Catharine  J.,  Caroline,  Ellen  and  Rufus.  His  wife 
died  in  May,  1851 ;  his  second  wife  was  Catharine,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  and  they 
had  two  children,  Harriett  and  Ida.  He  died  in  1888  and  his  wife  in  1892.  Rufus 
Flansburgh  was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  When  twenty-one  he  began  life 
for  himself  on  a  farm  belonging  to  his  father-in-law,  where  he  resided  until  1888. 
In  connection  with  farming  he  dealt  to  a  considerable  extent  in  horses  and  cattle. 
He  erected  him  a  residence  in  Voorheesville  and  in  1890  erected  a  store  in  the  vil- 
lage, in  which  he  conducted  a  general  mercantile  business  until  1893,  when,  to  settle 
the  estate  of  his  father-in-law,  he  purchased  the  farm  of  180  acres,  where  he  had 
lived  so  long.  He  leased  his  store  property  and  devoted  his  time  to  looking  after 
his  farming  interests,  and  in  the  spring  of  1896  took  personal  management  of  his 
farm,  yet  resides  in  the  village.  Mr.  Flansburgh  is  a  Republican,  and  while  always 
interested  in  the  political  welfare  of  his  town,  is  not  an  aspirant  to  public  office, 
always  declining  proffered  nominations.  December  25,  1872,  he  married  Catharine, 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Hannah  (Brate)  Weidman,  of  New  Scotland.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Flansburgh  are  liberal  supporters  of  all  the  churches  in  the  village,  but  are  members 
of  none. 

Kenyon,  Lewis,  was  born  in  Rensselaerville,  on  the  farm  he  now  owns,  June  15, 
1843,  and  is  a  son  of  Simeon  P.  The  father  of  Mr.  Kenyon  was  a  native  of  Rhode 
Island  and  came  to  the  farm  now  owned  by  Mr.  Kenyon  in  1831,  where  he  died  in 
1861.  His  wife  was  Susan  Cross,  born  in  Dutchess  county  and  came  to  Rensselaer- 
ville after  marriage,  where  she. died  in  1871.  Mr.  Kenyon  was  reared  on  a  farm 
and  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  Scnodack  Academy,  He  is  a  farmer  and 
owns  about  320  acres  of  land,  the  original  homestead.  He  is  at  present  justice  of 
the  peace  and  was  supervisor  for  five  successive  years.     In  1871  he  married  Frances 


295 

M.  Coggshall,  and  had  one  son,  Clayton,  educated  at  the  Middleburg  and  Green- 
ville Academies.  Mrs.  Kenyon  died  in  1882,  and  he  married  his  second  wife,  by 
whom  two  daughters  have  been  born,  Etta  and  Nellie. 

Lounsbury,  Omar  W.,  born  in  Rensselaerville,  N.  V.,  August  11,  1843,  was  a  son 
of  William  and  Mary  M.  (Reeve)  Lounsbury,  both  natives  of  Rensselaerville.  Will- 
iam Lounsbury  was  a  son  of  Sylvanus,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  who  came  to  Rensse- 
laerville previous  to  1800  and  spent  most  of  his  life.  He  was  a  farmer  and  tanner 
by  trade,  and  in  politics  a  Democrat.  He  died  in  1892  and  his  wife  in  1868.  Omar 
W.  Lounsbury  was  educated  in  Rensselaerville  and  followed  teaching  a  while,  but 
is  now  a  farmer  and  owner  of  108  acres.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  was  col- 
lector for  two  years.  March  14,  1878,  he  married  Jennette  Snyder,  and  they  have 
one  daughter,  M.  Manila. 

Chadwick,  Enoch  H.,  was  born  in  1814  on  the  farm  where  the  family  now  reside. 
He  was  a  son  of  Aaron  and  Martha  (Hoag)  Chadwick,  who  went  from  Dutchess 
county  to  Otsego  county,  and  finally  to  Rensselaerville,  N.  Y.  and  bought  the  farm 
where  the  family  lives,  and  also  had  another  farm  near.  He  died  in  Rensselaerville, 
N.  Y.,  in  1839.  Enoch  H.  Chadwick  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  a  Republican 
in  politics.  In  1839  he  married  Hannah  Knowles,  daughter  of  Daniel  Knowles,  of 
Rensselaerville,  and  an  early  settler  from  Rhode  Island.  They  had  three  children: 
Frances,  wife  of  Addison  Bishop  of  Westerlo;  Lydia  H.,  wife  of  Israel  Frost  of 
Rensselaerville;  and  Margaret,  at  home.  Mr.  Chadwick  was  a  member  of  the 
Friends,  and  Mrs.  Chadwick  a  Methodist.      Mr.  Chadwick  died  March  17.  1876. 

Niles,  Luther  H,  born  in  Rensselaerville,  N.  Y. ,  October  8,  1830,  was  a  son  of 
Samuel  Niles,  born  in  Coeymans  in  1806,  and  he  a  son  of  one  of  the  earliest  settlers 
of  Coeymans  (where  he  lived  and  died),  coming  from  Connecticut  at  an  early  date. 
The  father  of  Luther  Niles  came  to  Rensselaerville  in  1828  and  bought  the  farm 
Luther  now  owns,  and  died  there  in  1*91.  His  wife  was  Ruth  Tompkins  of  Coey- 
mans, a  daughter  of  Daniel  Tompkins,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Coeymans.  Mrs. 
Niles  died  in  1893.  Luther  II.  Niles  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools.  He  is  a  farmer  and  owns  a  farm  of  200  acres.  In  1851  he  married 
Minerva  Tanner  of  Rensselaerville  and  they  have  three  children:  Henry  T.,  Libbie 
and  Mary.  Mrs.  Niles  died  andhe  married  Mary  Wininsof  Durham,  Greene  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  they  had  three  children:  Henry,  Samuel  and  Luther,  deceased.  Mr. 
Niles  is  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  has  been  assessor  nine  years.  He  is  a  member  of 
Cascade  Lodge,  No.  42,  F.  &  A.  M.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Niles  were  bora  ten 
children,  of  whom  eight  are  now  living,  Luther  being  the  youngest  of  the  family. 

Kiffin,  Thomas  S.,  one  of  the  prominent  and  respected  resident-  of  New  Scotland, 
and  who  for  more  than  twenty  years  occupied  the  responsible  position  as  Store  ki 
for  the  Delaware  &  Hudson  Canal  Co.,  at  Watervliet,  was  born  in  the  south  of  Ire- 
land in  is  14,  and  came  to  America  with  his  parents  when  seven  years  old.  The 
family  made  their  home  in  Clifton  Park.  N.  Y,  where  he  received  a  good  academic 
education.  In  1864  he  became  identified  with  the  manufacture  of  cement  pipe  at 
West  Troy,  and  was  for  eight  years  foreman  for  the  Warner  Lime  and  Cement  Com- 
pany. In  1868  he  became  an  employee  of  the  Delaware  &  Hudson  Canal  Co.,  and 
has  by  faithful  and  capable  service  made  himself  valuable  to  them, 


296 

Caulkins,  George  L.,  whose  ancestors  on  both  sides  were  among  the  early  settlers 
here,  was  born  in  Watervliet  in  1859.  His  father,  John  L.  Caulkins,  a  prominent 
contractor  (now  deceased),  came  here  in  1825  from  Watertown,  Conn.  But  his  ma- 
ternal ancestry  is  of  riper  local  antiquity.  His  maternal  grandfather,  Edward 
Learned,  was  the  first  president  of  the  village  in  1823.  George  Caulkins  spent  some 
of  his  earlier  years  as  an  inspector  of  lumber,  and  has  always  resided  here,  except  a 
few  years  when  he  was  shipping  clerk  for  the  Pond's  Extract  Company  at  their  New- 
port office.  In  1888  Mr.  Caulkins  took  up  his  present  business,  that  of  undertaking 
and  practical  embalmer,  on  Broadway. 

Coleman,  J.  Russell,  son  of  J.  Russell  and  Jennie  E.  (Bailey)  Coleman,  was  born 
in  West  Troy,  Albany  county.  October  31,  1869.  He  finished  the  course  of  instruc- 
tion in  the  Troy  (N.  Y.)  Academy  in  1886,  and  entered  his  father's  office  as  a  clerk, 
where  he  remained  two  years,  when  he  accepted  a  clerkship  in  the  National  Bank  of 
Troy,  where  he  rapidly  rose  to  the  position  of  head  bookkeeper.  Mr.  Coleman  is  a 
member  of  the  Troy  Citizens  Corps.  July  18,  1894,  he  married  Marion  Grace,  daugh- 
ter of  W.  S.  Booth  of  Troy,  and  they  have  one  son,  J.  Russell,  jr. 

Tayer,  Albert  has  been  a  resident  of  West  Troy  since  1861,  and  in  fact  has  lived 
his  whole  life  in  the  vicinity.  He  was  born  in  Stephentown  in  1833.  His  paternal 
ancestors  were  from  Normandy;  his  great-grandfather  was  an  English  officer,  and 
his  maternal  grandfather  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  Mr.  Taye  was  brought 
up  to  the  blacksmith's  trade  at  which  he  became  an  expert  workman.  During  the 
Civil  war  he  worked  in  Watervliet,  and  soon  after  the  war  established  himself  at  the 
same  business  at  Troy,  N.  Y. 

Van  Bergen,  George  A.,  the  well  known  insurance  agent  of  New  Scotland,  was 
born  at  Troy  in  1845.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  John  C.  Van  Bergen,  who  was  a  resi- 
dent of  Green  Island  from  1848  to  his  death  in  1862.  George  Van  Bergen  was  com- 
pelled by  the  exigencies  of  life  to  leave  school  when  twelve  years  old,  but  has  by  per- 
sistent and  well-directed  personal  research  made  himself  thoroughly  informed.  He 
learned  the  moulder's  trade,  which  was  his  father's,  and  followed  it  nearly  thirty 
years.  Mr.  Van  Bergen  spent  a  year  in  the  service  of  his  country  as  a  soldier  of  Co. 
F,  89th  N.  Y.  Vols.,  during  which  time  he  spent  four  months  in  rebel  prisons.  In 
1884  he  took  up  the  insurance  business,  representing  some  of  the  most  stable  com- 
panies, among  them  the  .Etna,  Hartford,  and  the  "  Insurance  Company  of  North 
America."  He  is  a  citizen  of  more  than  ordinary  note,  has  run  the  gauntlet  of  local 
official  life,  including  the  presidency  of  the  village. 

Nesbitt,  John  H.,  an  old  and  respected  citizen  of  West  Troy,  was  born  in  the 
county  of  Kilkenny,  Ireland,  in  1826.  When  eighteen  years  old  he  came  to  America 
and  henceforward  carved  his  own  way  in  the  world.  This  statement  may  be  accepted 
also  in  a  literal  sense,  for  Mr.  Nesbitt  was  by  trade  a  carpenter  and  learned  his  trade 
in  Troy.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  West  Troy  for  about  half  a  century.  His  son, 
George  R.  Nesbitt,  follows  the  same  vocation,  and  has  been,  like  his  father,  an  em- 
ployee of  the  Delaware  and  Hudson  Canal  Company  at  the  carpenter's  shop  on 
Green  Island.  Mr.  Nesbitt  is  a  genial  and  well-preserved  gentlemen,  who  has  ac- 
quired a  competence  by  his  own  unaided  exertions. 

Stover,  Charles  M.,  superintendent  of  West  Troy  and  Green  Island  Water  Works 


297 

System,  is  a  Trojan  by  birth  and  education.  He  learned  the  printer's  trade  and  was 
identified  with  that  art  for  some  years;  then  spent  three  years  as  clerk  for  a  lumber 
firm,  and  then  traveled  through  the  West  for  six  years.  He  became  superintendent 
of  the  water  system  in  1884,  and  has  proven  a  most  efficient  manager.  Mr.  Stover 
was  liberally  educated  at  the  best  institutions  of  Troy.  His  father  was  Samuel 
Stover,  a  prominent  lawyer  here,  and  once  city  attorney  of  Troy;  he  also  held  the 
same  office  at  West  Troy,  where  the  family  removed. 

Perkins,  George  H.,  this  gentleman,  now  superintendent  of  the  weight  depart- 
ment of  the  Delaware  and  Hudson  Canal  Company  at  Green  Island,  to  which  posi- 
tion he  was  appointed  in  1871,  was  born  at  Troy  in  1845.  His  father  was  a  prom- 
inent builder  and  steamboat  engineer  and  is  still  a  resident  of  Troy.  Mr.  Perkins, 
himself,  began  life  on  the  river  and  his  intimate  association  with  the  freight  traffic 
caused  him  to  gravitate  naturally  into  his  present  position. 

Hurlbert,  Henry,  was  born  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  in  1840.  He  is  the  son  of  Edwin 
Hurlbert,  who  recently  died  here  at  an  advanced  age,  after  residing  hereifor  forty 
years.  Henry  Hurlbert  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  Springfield,  Mass.,  and  when  he 
was  about  nineteen  years  of  age  his  family  moved  to  Troy.  lie  enlisted  in  Co.  K, 
104th  N.  Y.  Vols.  At  Gettysburg  he  was  severely  wounded  by  a  minnie  ball.  After 
his  recovery  he  re-enlisted  and  was  captured  at  the  Weldon  Railroad  and  imprisoned 
at  Libby  and  at  Belle  Isle  for  six  months.  After  the  war  he  engaged  in  the  produce 
forwarding  business  until  1872,  and  then  entered  the  employ  of  the  old  Troy  &  Bos- 
ton R.  R.  as  agent  and  was  so  engaged  for  twenty-one  years. 

Dunn,  James,  a  resident  of  West  Troy  since  187:),  was  born  at  Kingston.  X.  V. ,  in 
1843.  His  earlier  years  were  spent  at  boating  on  the  canals,  largely  in  coal  traffic 
between  Homesdale,  Pa.,  to  New  York  ports  up  the  Hudson  ;  he  was  thus  engaged 
for  about  four  years,  and  then  started  a  boarding  stable  at  No.  s0  Broadway,  which 
he  conducted  for  five  years.  In  1878  he  sold  out  the  stable  and  opened  a  grocery  at 
No.  2518  Second  avenue,  dealing  chiefly  in  furnishings  (or  boatmen  and  kindred 
lines. 

Sheehan,  Daniel,  was  born  in  County  Limerick,  Ireland,  in  1828.  When  about 
twenty  years  of  age  he  crossed  the  ocean,  and  soon  made  Ins  way  to  West  Troy; 
nearly  half  a  century  lias  elapsed  since  he  made  his  home  here.  Mr.  Sheehan  has 
been  a  hard-working  and  industrious  citizen  and  has  acquired  a  competence  by  his 
own  toil  and  economy. 

Britley,  Captain  Edward  W.,  was  born  in  Saratoga  county,  in  18:57.  lie  was  the 
son  of  the  late  James  Britley,  also  a  river  man  for  most  of  his  lite.  Captain  Britley 
has  been  principally  engaged  in  the  transportation  of  lumber  and  timber.  He  now 
owns  and  operates  the  steam  ferry  plying  between  the  Arsenal  and  the  Puller  & 
Warren  Works  on  the  Troy  side.  This  is  the  propeller  "  Lee  Griffith,"  and  a  son  of 
Mr.  Britley  is  its  pilot.  Mr.  Britley  has  been  assessor  and  overseer  of  the  poor  of 
West  Troy. 

Maloney,  J.  D.,  was  born   at    Jackson,    Mich.,    May   28,    1848.      His  lather,  James 
Maloney,  by  trade  a  stone  mason,  was  a  musician  of  some  note,      lie  was  killed  in  a 
battle  during  the  Civil  war.      Mr.  Mal<mcy  was  himself  a  drummer   boy,    having   cu- 
ll 


298 

listed  when  not  fifteen  years  of  age,  in  Co.  K,  8th  Michigan  Infantry,  and  saw  two 
years  of  service.  He  was  present  when  his  father  was  killed  on  the  "  Clara  Belle" 
near  Vicksburg,  a  dramatic  scene  which  impressed  its  horrors  indelibly  upon  his 
youthful  imagination.  After  the  war  he  learned  the  trade  of  harness-making  at 
Jackson,  Mich.,  where  he  was  employed  for  about  six  years.  In  1872  he  came  to 
West  Troy,  and  for  a  time  worked  in  the  Arsenal  at  saddle-making.  In  1873  he 
opened  a  harness  and  repairing  shop  at  413  River  street,  Troy,  and  after  operating 
for  a  few  years  he  returned  to  the  Arsenal.  In  1880  he  opened  a  saloon,  his  present 
occupation,  on  Broadway.  Mr.  Maloney  has  been  for  not  less  than  twenty-four 
years  a  member  of  the  "  Gleason  Hooks  "  of  West  Troy,  and  in  fact  was  a  charter 
member  of  that  gallant  and  popular  company.  He  was  their  captain  for  twelve 
years  and  is  now  president.  He  is  one  of  the  central  figures  of  the  Grand  Army 
Post,  and  was  for  years  commander  of  Post  Kane. 

Gray,  Vivian,  has  been  a  resident  of  the  vicinity  of  Watervliet  since  1862.  He 
was  born  in  New  Jersey  in  1857,  a  son  of  George  Gray,  a  retired  resident  of  Lans- 
ingburgh.  He  learned  the  trade  of  tinsmith  and  in  1885  established  business  for 
himself,  carrying  a  full  line  of  house  furnishing  goods.  Mr.  Gray  recently  added 
to  his  business  a  line  of  fire  insurance.  He  is  also  a  prominent  man  in  the  Masonic 
fraternity. 

Hughan,  Tames  C,  proprietor  of  the  Granite  and  Marble  Works  at  West  Troy, 
was  born  in  Cohoes  in  1854.  James  B.  Hughan,  his  father,  late  of  Cohoes,  settled 
there  in  1850  and  died  in  1892,  aged  seventy  years.  He  was  born  at  Dalbettie,  Scot- 
land. James  C.  Hughan  spent  his  early  days  at  Cohoes,  and  when  about  nineteen 
went  to  Maine  and  spent  two  years  learning  the  details  of  the  stone  cutting  art.  He 
then  came  to  Troy  and  engaged  in  the  business  on  his  own  account.  In  1892  he 
removed  the  working  plant  to  a  more  eligible  location  at  West  Troy,  near  the  Dela- 
ware and  Hudson  depot.  Mr.  Hughan  enjoys  a  large  and  well  merited  patronage. 
He  employs  five  men  at  the  yards,  which  he  personally  superintends.  Mr.  Hughan's 
mother  was  Miss  Anne  Lennon,  of  Scottish  birth.  In  1885  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Helen  Jones  of  Cohoes. 

McKinney,  Rockwell,  the  well  known  Twenty-fourth  street  (West  Troy)  grocer,  is 
a  native  of  Columbia  county,  where  he  was  born  in  1859.  He  was  the  son  of  a 
farmer,  the  well  known  John  McKinney.  During  the  year  of  his  birth  the  family 
removed  to  Valatie,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  At  Valatie  the 
elder  McKinney  was  engaged  in  manufacturing  cotton  goods,  and  he  died  there  in 
1880.  When  about  thirteen  years  of  age  Rockwell  began  clerking  in  a  grocery  at 
Valatie,  and  when  his  employer,  in  1868,  removed  to  Syracuse  he  accompanied  him. 
In  1874  he  abandoned  mercantile  life  for  a  time  and  became  a  brakeman,  running 
between  Syracuse  and  Albany  on  the  New  York  Central.  In  1880  he  was  made  a 
freight  conductor,  and  in  1885  further  promoted  to  the  position  of  passenger  con- 
ductor between  New  York  and  Buffalo.  Unfortunately  becoming  implicated  in  the 
great  strike  of  1890  caused  his  retirement  from  railroad  life.  He  then  opened  a 
grocery  and  has  already  a  large  trade,  carrying  a  select  stock  of  family  supplies. 

Kelley,  Patrick,  one  of  the  landmark  citizens  of  West  Troy,  has  been  a  resident 
for  over  half  a  century,  in  fact  since  1844.     He   was  born  in   Ireland  in  1826,   and 


299 

came  to  America  when  fifteen  years  of  age.  In  1848  he  went  into  the  livery  business 
in  Hamilton,  Ont,  and  since  1856  has  been  located  at  1557  First  avenue,  in  a  venera- 
ble building  erected  by  him  in  1836.  Mr.  Kelley  is  without  doubt  the  pioneer  among 
the  livery  men  of  Albany  county  now  living  and  hale  and  hearty. 

Tygert,  Thomas,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Berne  in  1825.  John  Tygert,  his  father, 
was  born  in  1790;  he  was  one  of  six  sons  and  six  daughters  bom  to  William  Tygert, 
of  Kinderhook,  who  was  a  farmer  and  came  to  Albany  county  about  1797,  and  died 
in  the  town  of  Guilderland.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Ireland.  John  was  a  farmer 
all  his  lifetime;  he  first  settled  in  the  town  of  Berne  and  later  in  New  Scotland, 
where  he  spent  his  life  as  a  successful  farmer.  His  wife  was  Jane  Warner,  born  in 
Albany  county  and  daughter  of  Frederick  Warner ;  their  children  were  Frederick, 
Mary  and  Thomas.  His  first  wife  died  many  years  ago.  He  was  twice  married 
after  her  death.  Thomas  Tygert  received  a  common  school  education  and  remained 
with  his  father  and  had  charge  of  the  farm  for  many  years.  In  1867  he  removed  to 
Guilderland,  where  he  purchased  his  present  farm  of  120  acres,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  In  1885  he  embarked  in  the  coal  business,  and  for  some  vears  after  was  a 
dealer  in  hay  and  straw.  He  was  commissioner  for  three  terms,  and  is  now  town 
auditor.  In  1846  he  married  Catherine,  daughter  of  John  Fuller.  Their  children 
are  John,  Aaron,  Jane,  May  Anna,  Sarah,  Hattie,  Augusta  and  Ella.  His  second 
wife  was  Levinna  Coan,  born  in  Guilderland  and  daughter  of  Peter  Coan.  The 
children  by  this  marriage  are  Beatrice  and  William  M.  Mrs.  Tygert  is  a  member  of 
the  Ladies'  Missionary  Society. 

Blessing  Brothers. — John  M.  and  Belmont  E.  Blessing,  proprietors  of  the  "Three 
Hill  Dairy  Farm,"  were  born  in  the  town  of  Guilderland,  in  December,  1S4<>  and 
1*51  respectively.  The  Blessing  family  dates  back  to  the  early  settling  of  Albany 
county.  Martin  Blessing,  their  great-grandfather,  was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Guil- 
derland, born  in  1767,  and  one  of  four  sons.  He  reared  three  sons  and  one  daughter. 
John  M.,  their  grandfather,  was  born  in  the  same  town  in  1799;  lie  was  a  prosper- 
ous farmer  in  early  life,  and  later  removed  to  Albany,  where  he  was  for  a  time  canal 
collector;  he  died  in  Albany  in  1860.  He  reared  six  sons  and  four  daughters  by  his 
first  wife,  and  two  daughters  by  his  second  wife.  Martin  J.,  the  father,  was  also  a 
native  of  Guilderland,  born  in  1820.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  followed  that 
occupation  throughout  his  active  life.  He  purchased  and  moved  on  the  "Three 
Hills  Farm"  of  184  acres  in  1849,  where  he  made  a  success  as  a  farmer  and  dairy- 
man. In  1885  he  was  elected  assemblyman;  he  was  also  identified  with  the  State 
militia  in  which  he  took  much  pride.  He  ranked  along  the  line  \<<  colonel.  His 
wife  was  Elizabeth  McKown;  their  children  are  John  M.,  Belmont  I'...  Dr.  Abraham 
II.  of  Albany,  and  Adam  J.  of  Albany.  John  M.  has  remained  on  the  farm  from 
childhood,  assisting  his  father,  and  later  assumed  full  control  of  the  farm  until  his 
brother,  Belmont,  was  associated  with  it.  Behnont  E.  started  out  when  a  young 
man  to  see  the  world,  and  spent  many  years  roaming  throughout  tin-  western  terri- 
tories, and  spent  i\ve  years  in  the  gold  mines  of  Idaho.  He  was  a  sailor  for  a  time 
and  visited  England  and  some  of  the  other  European  countries;  some  years  since 
he  returned  to  the  homestead  and  associated  himself  with  his  brother  John  M.  in 
the  farming  and  dairying  business.  They  now  have  a  dairy  of  ever  thirty  cows. 
They  are  also  interested   in  the  pure  ice  business,  having  built  a  pond  which  is  sup- 


300 

plied  from  a  spring  of  fine  water;  the  object  of  this  is  to  supply  those  in  the  city, 
who  are  interested  in  the  pure  ice  water  for  drinking  purposes,  with  pure  spring 
water  ice. 

Relyea,  Peter  J.,  was  born  in  Guilderland  on  the  farm  he  owns  in  1832.  He  was 
a  son  of  Jacob  Relyea,  born  in  Guilderland  in  1790.  Jacob  D.,  the  father,  purchased 
the  farm  of  100  acres,  where  Mr.  Relyea  now  resides  and  devoted  his  life  to  farming. 
His  wife  was  Mary  Spoore,  daughter  of  Abram  Spoore;  their  children  were  William, 
Daniel,  Abram,  Jacob,  who  died  when  young;  Hannah,  Maria,  Rachel  and  Peter  J. 
He  died  in  1873,  and  his  wife  died  in  1869  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years.  Peter 
J.  has  spent  his  whole  life  on  the  homestead,  a  part  of  which  he  came  in  possession 
of  and  to  which  he  has  added,  and  now  owns  a  farm  of  101  acres.  He  remained 
with  and  cared  for  his  parents  until  their  death.  He  has  been  assessor,  collector, 
school  trustee,  roadmaster,  and  is  now  serving  his  fourth  term  as  assessor.  He  has 
often  been  chosen  juryman  and  delegate  to  the  county  conventions.  In  1851  he  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Smith,  born  in  Guilderland  in  1835,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Marion 
(Wands)  Smith,  and  granddaughter  of  Ebenezer  Wands  and  Zachariah  Smith.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Relyea  are  members  of  the  Reformed  church,  in  which  he  has  been  deacon 
and  elder.  They  have  reared  and  cared  for  one  of  Mr.  Relyea's  brother's  sons  since 
he  was'four  years  of  age.  Mr.  Relyea  was  president  of  the  Prospect  Hill  Cemetery 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  is  also  one  of  the  trustees. 

Magill,  Robert,  was  born  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland,  October  29,  1829.  John 
Magill,  his  grandfather,  was  of  Scotch  parentage.  He  was  a  farmer  for  a  time  and 
lived  near  Sackett's  Harbor.  He  came  to  the  town  of  New  Scotland,  where  by  con- 
tract he  blasted  out  and  made  the  famous  road  known  as  the  "Indian  Ladder 
Road  "  ;  he  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  reared  two  sons,  Robert  and  James, 
and  died  in  the  town  of  Bethlehem.  Robert,  the  father  of  the  subject,  was  born 
near  Sackett's  Harbor  in  1790;  his  early  life  was  devoted  to  farming;  after  leaving 
Western  New  York  he  came  with  his  father  to  New  Scotland  and  became  an  assist- 
ant in  the  making  of  the  "  Indian  Ladder  Road."  From  that  time  on  he  followed 
farming  and  blasting.  His  wife  was  Hannah  M.  Williams,  and  their  children  were 
William,  Mary,  James,  Margaret,  Eve,  Ann,  Rebecca,  Julia,  and  Robert.  He  died 
in  1876,  and  his  wife  in  1840.  Robert  Magill  spent  his  early  life  on  his  father's  farm 
and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  When  twenty-six  years  old  he  engaged 
in  carpentry,  which  trade  he  followed  for  about  thirteen  years.  He  then  went  to 
the  town  of  Guilderland,  where  he  was  in  the  employ  of  Joel  B.  Mottfor  a  few  years, 
and  rented  a  saw-mill  which  he  operated  with  other  work  until  1872,  when  he 
purchased  his  present  farm  of  100  acres.  He  devoted  his  attention  to  farming  and 
fruit  growing,  having  fifty-four  varieties  of  apples  and  nineteen  varieties  of  pears, 
and  many  other  varieties  of  fruit.  All  of  his  fine  large  orchards  he  has  grown  from 
the  seed,  doing  all  his  own  grafting.  His  residence  is  a  brick  house,  which  was 
erected  in  1766,  a  portion  of  the  brick  being  imported  from  Holland  ;  there  had  been 
no  change  in  the  original  work  on  this  house  for  a  period  of  107  years,  until  Mr. 
Magill  came  in  possession  of  it,  when  he  re-roofed  it,  plastered,  etc.  The  original 
material  in  it  is  in  a  perfect  state  of  preservation.  He  served  his  town  for  one  year 
as  collector,  but  firmly  declined  the  proffered  nomination  for  supervisor,  which  was 
offered  him  at  different  times.     In  1862  he  married  Catharine,   daughter  of  William 


301 

J.  Relyea  of  Guilderland.  Their  children  are  Chester,  died  when  sixteen  years  of 
age;  Oscar,  Robert,  jr.,  Emma,  William.  Fenton,  Charles,  Alice,  Carrie,  Walter, 
Edna,  and  Cordelia. 

Fredendall,  Henry,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Guilderland  in  October,  1832.  His 
father,  Henry,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Knox  about  1812.  He  spent  his  whole  life 
as  a  farmer.  He  was  quite  successful,  beginning  with  nothing,  but  by  hard  work 
accumulated  a  good  property  and  owned  180  acres.  He  spent  most  of  his  life  in  Guilder- 
land.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth  Pitcher,  daughter  of  Peter  Pitcher,  who  was  a  farmer 
in  the  town  of  Knox;  their  children  were  Henry,  Caroline,  Eliza  and  Mathias.  Mr. 
Fredendall  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  church.  He  died  in  1890  and 
she  died  in  1889,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  Mathias,  the  grandfather,  was  a  suc- 
cessful farmer  of  the  town  of  Knox ;  he  died  in  Guilderland.  He  reared  eleven  chil- 
dren, five  sons  and  six  daughters.  Henry  Fredendall  attended  the  common  schools 
and  lived  with  his  father  on  the  farm,  with  the  exception  of  three  years,  up  to  1*7:'.. 
when  he  began  for  himself  on  a  portion  of  the  farm,  where  he  has  since,  resided, 
doing  general  farming,  and  his  efforts  have  been  crowned  with  success.  In  18G9  he 
married  Miss  Anna  E.,  daughter  of  Peter  Frederick,  by  whom  one  child  has  been 
born,  Carrie,  wife  of  Henry  Wemple.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fredendall  are  both  members  of 
the  Lutheran  church,  in  which  he  has  been  deacon  and  elder  for  twenty  years.  Mrs. 
Fredendall  is  a  member  of  the  Ladies'  Missionary  Society. 

Ogsbury,  John  H.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Guilderland,  January,  1831.  John 
David  Ogsbury,  or  Augsburger,  was  the  founder  of  the  family  in  America.  He  was 
born  in  Altweyer,  Switzerland,  and  landed  in  America,  May,  1759,  settling 
in  the  .town  of  Guilderland,  where  he  died  July  2,  1800.  His  wife,  Anna  Rachel, 
was  a  native  of  Altweyer,  and  there  was  born  to  them  three  sons  and  five  daughters. 
David,  the  next  direct  ancestor,  was  born  in  Guilderland  in  1761  and  died  November 
22,  1836.  He  was  a  farmer  and  served  as  a  soldier  during  the  Revolutionary  war 
and  was  for  a  time  stationed  at  Fort  Schoharie.  He  conveyed  provisions  for  the  army, 
often  fording  the  Mohawk  River  with  his  loads.  His  wife  was  Nancy  Apple,  who 
was  born  in  August,  1768,  and  died  March  :>,  L849.  They  reared  six  sons  and  four 
daughters:  Eve,  John  D.,  Henry  A.,  David,  Peter,  Elizabeth,  Alexander,  Jacob, 
Nancy  and  Margaret.  Henry,  the  father,  was  born  in  17!):'.  and  when  six  yea 
age  went  to  live  with  his  grandparents,  Apple,  with  whom  he  lived  until  he  was  four- 
teen, when  he  engaged  as  clerk  m  Albany,  where  he  remained  for  several 
thence  to  Middleburg,  where  he  renewed  the  same  vocation  and  live  years  late: 
moved  back  to  Guilderland,  where  he  settled  down,  doing  a  pettifogging  business, 
drawing  wills  and  settling  estates.  He  was  active  in  Democratic  politics,  but 
always  declined  public  office.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  of 
the  Lutheran  church.  He  died  in  July,  1858.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth,  daugl 
John  McMillen,  born  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland  in  1795,  and  died  in  July,  1876. 
Their  children  were  Jeanette,  Margaret  M  .  Catherine,  David.  James,  John.  Jack 
and  Magdalene.  John  H.  Ogsbury  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and 
served  an  apprenticeship  as  cabinetmaker,  but  abandoned  that  on  account  of  ill- 
health  and  in  1850  began  farming.  He  now  owns  and  resides  on  a  portion  of  the 
original  homestead  of  1.").")  acres,  on  which  he  does  a  general  farming.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Democrat.     In   1854  he  married    Eva  Ward,   daughter  of  Henry  A.    Ward  of 


302 

Guilderland,  and  they  had  three  children:  Henry  W.  (deceased),  Frank  L.  and  David 
E.  Mr.  Ogsbury's  wife  died  in  1893.  They  were  both  members  of  the  Reformed 
church. 

Young,  William  A.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland  in  December,  1836.  He 
was  the  son  of  George  Young,  born  in  the  same  place,  and  one  of  the  five  sons, 
Matthew,  John,  George,  Henry  and  Joel,  and  five  daughters  born  to  Samuel  Young, 
also  a  native  of  New  Scotland;  he  was  one  of  the  three  sons,  Samuel  William 
Helms  and  Joel,  born  to  Matthew  Young  of  Dutchess  county,  a  Revolutionary 
soldier;  he  was  a  farmer  and  settled  in  New  Scotland  where  he  spent  his  last  days. 
Samuel  was  also  a  farmer  and  lived  a«d  died  in  that  town.  His  wife  was  Margaret 
Dingman.  He  lived  to  be  eighty-one  years  of  age.  George,  the  father  of  William 
A.,  was  a  farmer  and  a  good  mechanic.  He  devoted  much  of  his  time  to  masonry, 
which  trade  he  had  acquired.  He  spent  his  early  life  in  New  Scotland  but  removed 
to  Watervliet  where  he  purchased  a  farm.  His  death  was  caused  by  falling  from  a 
load  of  hay.  His  wife  was  Mary  Martin,  daughter  of  Peter  Martin,  by  whom  he  has 
had  fifteen  children:  Christiana,  died  in  infancy,  Ellen  A.,  Margaret,  Isabelle,  Will- 
iam A.,  John,  Samuel  J.,  Melissa,  Martha,  Eliza,  Catherine,  Martin,  George  A.,  An- 
drew and  Melvina;the  latter  fourteen  all  grew  to  maturity  and  were  married. 
William  A.  attended  the  common  schools  until  he  was  ten  years  of  age,  when  he  be- 
gan to  work  out  on  farms;  this  he  continued  until  he  was  sixteen,  when  he  learned 
the  shoemaker's  trade  and  has  continued  in  that  business  until  the  present  time.  In 
1860  he  removed  from  the  town  of  Knox  to  Guilderland  Center  where  he  now  resides. 
In  1872  he  added  to  his  business  a  shoe  store  and  has  a  good  patronage.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  Moak  Lodge  of  Altamont.  In  1866  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  and  Catharine  (Simmons)  Pangburn. 

Albright,  Lawrence,  a  well-known  and  prominent  man,  was  born  in  New  Scotland, 
October  5,  1891.  Frederick,  the  grandfather,  was  born  in  his  father's  stone  house  in 
New  Scotland,  where  he  spent  his  whole  life,  and  having  inherited  the  property,  he 
continued  farming.  He  reared  four  sons  and  two  daughters  and  lived  to  be  over 
eighty  years  of  age.  Henry  F.,  the  father,  was  also  born  on  the  same  place  in  1786, 
where  he  spent  his  life  as  a  farmer,  with  the  exception  of  four  years  spent  in  Syra- 
cuse, whence  he  returned  to  the  farm  again  on  account  of  ill-health.  His  first  wife 
was  a  Miss  Pangburn,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children.  His  second  wife  was 
Thursey  A.  Waggoner,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children.  He  died  in  1849;  his  wife 
survived  him  and  lived  to  be  over  eighty  years  of  age.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Henry 
Waggoner  of  New  Scotland ;  she  died  in  Albany.  Lawrence  spent  his  life  in  New 
Scotland  and  attended  the  common  schools.  When  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age  he 
began  for  himself,  having  rented  a  farm,  and  by  faithful  attention  to  business  and 
economy  he  amassed  enough  to  purchase  a  farm  of  112  acres  in  1867,  in  the  town 
of  Guilderland,  where  he  has  since  done  a  general  farming,  making  a  specialty  of 
hay.  In  1851  he  married  Miss  Catharine  Woodworth,  and  their  children  were  Will- 
ard,  Ada  J.,  wife  of  George  Gardener  of  Charlton,  Saratoga  county ;  Charles,  Emma 
E.,  wife  of  Carni  Fort  of  Charlton,  Saratoga  county;  and  Nellie  V.,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  years. 

Mors.  Joshua,  of  E.  Mors's  Sons,  wholesale  dealers  in  timber,  piling,  etc  ,  have 
their  office  at  No.  106  Sixteenth  street,  West  Troy.     The  late  Elisha  Mors,   founder 


303 

of  the  firm  and  father  of  the  present  members,  was  a  large  operator  in  timber  and 
real  estate,  and  was  one  of  the  most  wealthy  and  prominent  residents.  Early  in  life 
he  operated  largely  in  the  Black  River  region  and  later  in  Michigan  and  other  pro- 
ducing points,  having  mills  at  Greenbush  and  elsewhere.  He  came  to  Troy  in  lv<;.">, 
and  died  there  thirty  years  later.  Joshua  Mors  was  educated  in  the  Jamesville 
Academy,  and  associated  with  his  father  in  the  timber  business;  and  upon  the  death 
of  his  father  in  1895,  succeeded  with  a  younger  brother  to  the  business. 

Parker,  William  F.,  was  born  in  I860,  a  son  of  William  Parker,  a  laborer.  He  was 
educated  in  Watervliet,  and  took  a  course  of  lectures  on  embalming,  and  engaged 
in  the  undertaking  business  in  1881  with  a  younger  brother,  Joseph  Parker.  He  per- 
sonallv  directs  funerals  and  manages  all  the  branches  of  his  profession,  in  a  quiet 
and  orderlv  wav,  characteristic  of  him.  Mr.  Parker  has  held  no  political  office  and 
seeks  no  political  preferment. 

Witbeck,  Charles  G.,  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  Jan  Thomase  Van  Witbeck,  a 
native  of  Witbeck,  Holstein,  Holland,  who  married  Andriese  Dochter,  who  was 
born  in  New  Amsterdam  (now  New  Yorki.  From  1652,  when  Heverwyck  was  first 
laid  out,  Jan  Thomase  Van  Witbeck  was  the  most  considerable  dealer  in  house  lots 
in  the  village.  In  1664,  in  company  with  Volkert  Janse  Douw,  he  purchased  from 
the  Indians  the  whole  of  Apje  Island,  or  Schotack,  and  the  mainland  opposite  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Hudson  River.  Of  his  six  children  Thomase  Janse  Witbeck  mar- 
ried, September  5,  1702,  Jannetje  Van  Deusen,  and  was  buried  at  Papsknee. 
Thomase  Janse  Witbeck  also  had  six  children,  of  whom  Lucas,  the  youngest,  was 
born  February '26,  1724,  and  married  Geertruy,  daughter  of  Johannes  Lansing  and 
his  wife  Geertruy,  daughter  of  Pieter  S.  Schuyler,  the  first  mayor  of  Albany.  They 
too  had  six  children,  of  whom  Thomas  and  Gerrit  (twins)  were  born  March  18,  1750. 
Gerrit  Witbeck  married,  May  "29,  1774,  Immetje  Perry,  and  had  four  children,  of 
whom  Thomas  Gerrit  Witbeck,  born  January  25,  1785,  married,  December  11.  1803, 
Leah,  youngest  daughter  of  Francis  and  Gertrude  (Van  Dusen)  Marshall,  who  was 
born  March  17,  1782.  Of  their  six  children,  Gerrit  Thomas  Witbeck,  the  eldest,  was 
born  January  25,  1805,  and  died  in  September,  188*2.  He  was  a  civil  engineer  and 
surveyor  for  the  Van  Rensselaer  estate,  for  seven  years  deputy  collector  of  canal 
tolls  at  West  Troy  and  Albany  and  for  about  four  years  teller  of  the  old  Watervliet 
Bank  at  West  Troy.  When  young  he  taught  school,  and  in  1851  53  served  as  super- 
intendent of  schools  of  Watervliet.  He  married  Cornelia  Ann,  daughter  of  Fph- 
raim  and  Fanny  (Sage)  Baldwin,  and  they  had  six  children,  allot  whom  are  de- 
ceased except  Charles  G.  Gerrit  Witbeck,  son  of  Lucas  and  grandfather  of  G 
T.,  purchased  500  acres  of  land  just  west  of  the  city  of  Watervliet.  and  here  Talley- 
rand and  Prince  La  Toure  sought  refuge  from  political  troubles  during  the  French 
Revolution,  Soon  after  the  American  Revolution  he  bought  a  farm  on  the  banks  of 
the  Mohawk  River,  near  Watervliet  Center,  on  which  the  Indians  had  their  last 
council  tire  and  which  is  still  owned  by  the  Witbeck  family.  Charles  G.  Witbeck 
Was  born  October  20.  1851,  received  a  common  school  education,  studied  civil  en- 
gineering and  surveying  with  his  father,  and  for  several  years  followed  his  pro- 
fession for  the  town  of  Watervliet  and  the  Van  Rensselaer  estate.  In  1879  he  was 
appointed  assistant  engineer  of  the  New  York  State  Canals  under  Horatio  Seymour, 
jr.,  and  continued  under  State  Engineers  Sweet.  Bogart  and  Schenck,  until  A 


304 

1894.  January  1,  1895,  he  formed  his  present  partnership  under  the  firm  name  of 
Thomas  &  Witbeck  and  opened  an  office  in  Troy.  He  was  village  engineer  of  West 
Troy  from  1880  to  1886  and  1895  to  1896,  and  became  city  engineer  of  Watervliet  on 
the  organization  of  that  city,  August  1,  1896.  He  is  a  member  of  Evening  Star 
Lodge  No.  75,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  West  Troy.  January  16,  1873,  he  married  Ella  Louisa 
Hastings  of  Cohoes,  and  their  children  are  Gerrit,  Ephraim  and  Nellie. 

Christiansen,  Alfred,  in  1867  was  transferred  to  Watervliet  Arsenal,  one  of  the 
ablest  master  mechanics  whose  services  the  post  has  ever  been  able  to  secure.  He  not 
only  possessed  the  sterling  qualities  characteristic  of  his  countrymen  of  the  "Land 
of  the  Midnight  Sun,"  for  he  is  a  native  of  Christiania,  Norway,  but  also  the  widest 
experience  in  his  line  of  work  which  a  man  could  have.  He  was  born  in  1856 
and  educated  in  the  Royal  Polytechnic  Institute,  graduating  with  the  degree  of 
Mechanical  Engineer.  Before  locating  at  Philadelphia,  Pa,  he  taught  mathematics 
and  mathematical  drawing  at  his  native  place.  He  was  with  the  Baldwin  Loco- 
motive Work?  for  one  year,  then  with  William  Sellers  &  Co.,  a  large  establishment 
of  Philadelphia,  for  two  years.  In  Boston  he  was  chief  draughtsman  and  master 
mechanic;  thence  he  came  to  Watervliet.  Among  the  many  clubs  and  societies  with 
which  he  is  associated  may  be  mentioned  the  American  Society  of  Mechanical  En- 
gineers, the  Railroad  Club  of  that  city,  and  the  Masonic  order,  in  which  he  is  of 
high  rank,  being  presiding  officer  of  the  Hudson  River  Chapter  of  Royal  Arch 
Masons. 

Moffat,  George  B.,  is  a  native  of  West  Troy  and  the  son  of  an  old  resident  of  the 
town  of  Colonie,  William  Moffat,  who  has  always  followed  agricultural  pursuits. 
Mr.  Moffat  was  educated  here  and  was  first  employed  by  the  Thompson  Manufactur- 
ing Compan}',  manufacturers  of  steam  heating  apparatus.  He  traveled  three  years 
for  them  through  the  mining  districts  and  elsewhere.  In  1889  the  Fairview  Home 
for  Friendless  Children  was  founded  in  West  Troy,  and  Mr.  Moffat  has  been  super- 
intendent since  the  opening  of  the  institution.  He  was  born  in  1865,  and  has  always 
resided  here. 

Murphy  Peter,  recently  elected  overseer  of  the  poor  of  the  town  of  Watervliet,  has 
spent  his  whole  life  in  West  Troy,  his  birthplace.  He  served  three  terms  as  village 
collector,  proving  a  very  popular  and  efficient  official.  Hewasborn  in  1841.  His  father, 
Michael  Murphy,  was  employed  in  the  Watervliet  Arsenal  during  the  Mexican  war. 
Mr.  Murphy  was  first  employed  as  a  boatman  on  the  Hudson,  and  lost  a  limb  while 
on  a  schooner.  In  1801  he  went  into  the  Arsenal,  where  he  has  since  been  employed 
as  a  brass  finisher,  and  is  an  expert  workman. 

Hulsapple,  John  H.,  son  of  William  and  Annie  (Snook)  Hulsapple,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  East  Greenbush,  N.  Y. ,.  October  5,  1839.  He  is  of  German  descent,  his 
grandfather,  Cornelius  Hulsapple,  having  come  to  America  early  in  the  nineteenth 
century.  He  was  educated  chiefly  at  Professor  Smith's  private  seminary  in  Troy, 
and  after  leaving  it  was  for  eight  years  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  Robert  Robinson,  coal 
dealer,  in  West  Troy.  He  then  went  to  New  York  city  and  was  employed  by  George 
H.  Stone,  lumber  dealer,  for  three  years.  He  returned  to  West  Troy  in  1863  and 
was  connected  with  Betts  &  Robinson,  lumber  forwarders,  until  he  became"  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  I).  Scrafford  &  Co.,  lumber  dealers,  of  West  Troy.     When  that 


305 

firm  discontinued  business  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Benjamin  Shaffer,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Shaffer  &  Hulsapple,  which  lasted  about  two  years,  when  Mr.  Hul- 
sapple  succeeded  to  the  sole  control  of  the  business,  which  he  conducted  for  about 
three  years.  He  now  has  a  fire  insurance  agency  in  West  Troy  and  is  also  a  book- 
keeper for  C.  H.  Green,  lumber  dealer  of  Troy.  Mr.  Hulsapple  is  a  member  of  the 
Evening  Star  Lodge  No.  75,  F.  cV  A.  M.  of  West  Troy,  and  a  warden  of  Trinity  Epis- 
copal church.  He  was  president  of  the  village  of  West  Troy  for  one  year,  trustee 
for  six  years  and  a  school  trustee  for  several  years.  April  18,  1864,  he  married  Lydia, 
daughter  of  Jesse  Montgomery  of  Albany  and  they  have  six  sons  and  one  daughter, 
Harry  M.,  Herbert  S  ,  William  H.,  John  T.,  Clarence,  Eustis  and  Florence. 

Jaquins,  John  1).,  son  of  Joel  and  Elizabeth  (Parke)  Jaquins,  was  born  in  Troy, 
X.  Y.,  April  22,  1864,  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  took  a  special 
course  under  Principal  Veeder.  For  six  years  he-  was  a  clerk  in  Fierson  Lobdell's 
hat  and  furnishing  goods  store  in  West  Troy,  which  he  benight  in  1884,  and  later 
moved  to  his  present  location  on  the  corner  of  Broadway  and  Sixteenth  street.  Mr. 
Jaquins  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  V.  M.  C.  A.,  a  member  of  Even- 
ing Star  Lodge  No.  75,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  a  member  and  financial  secretary  of  the 
Watervliet  Club.  November  4,  1889,  he  married  Jessie  F..  daughter  of  Charles  IF 
Mors  of  West  Troy,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Eleanor  M. 

Passonna,  Alfred,  late  of  West  Troy,  whose  death  caused  by  an  accident  while 
driving  a  spirited  horse  at  Brooklyn  in  1893.  was  deeply  deplored  by  a  wide  circle  of 
friends.  Captain  Passonna  was  born  at  St.  Valentine.  Out.,  in  185(1,  and  came  here 
in  1881.  He  was  largely  interested  in  tine  horses,  witli  headquarters  in  New  York 
and  a  sale  stable  here.  Formerly  he  owned  several  boats,  and  was  engaged  in  the 
transportation  of  ice,  malt,  and  other  merchandise.  During  this  period  of  his  life  lie 
acquired  the  title  of  captain,  and  was  noted  for  his  personal  bravery  and  physical 
power,  and  as  an  intrepid  pilot.  He  figured  quite  prominently  in  West  Troy  busi- 
ness circles,  and  especially  in  the  affairs  of  the  Sacred  Heart  church.  He  was  sur- 
vived by  a  widow,  since  deceased,  and  by  four  daughters  and  one  son. 

Baker,  George,  the  well  known  purveyoi  oi  staple  meats,  has  been  in  business 
here  since  186!).  He  was  of  German  birth  and  learned  the  details  of  his  business  in 
the  fatherland,  and  it  is  needless  to  say  it  was  a  thorough  training.  Mr.  Baker  was 
twenty-three  years  old  when  he  started  for  .America,  possessed  of  no  capita 
ability  and  integrity.  He  fust  located  on  Nineteenth  street.  Troy,  in  1871.  He 
makes  a  specialty  of  trade  in  boneless  boiled  hams,  distributing  them  over  a  wide 
area  with  his  own  teams  and  men. 

Conway,  John  J.,  has  always  resided  in  his  native  place,  West  Troy,  and  also  ob- 
tained his  education  there.  He  spent  three  years  in  acquiring  the  stone  cutter's 
trade,  at  which  business  he  has  been  engaged  since  1883,  lit-  was  county  committee- 
man in  1889,  1890,  and  1891,  and  justice  of  the  peace,  to  which  office  he  was  elected 
in  L890  and  was  re-elected  in  1896.  Mr.  Conway  was  born  in  1H5S  in  the  house  in 
which  he  still  resides.  The  house  is  one  of  the  oldest  of  the  town,  being  built  by  his 
father,  Thomas  Conway,  an  early  settler.  The  latter,  now  deceased,  was  a  mason 
by  trade  and  a  veteran  of  Company  I.  93d  New  York  State  Volunteers. 


306 

Gatchell,  James  K.,  son  of  William  and  Louise  (Tyndall)  Gatchell,  was  born  in 
Huron,  Wayne  county,  N.  Y. ,  March  7,  1865.  He  was  educated  at  the  Sodus  (N.Y.) 
Academy  and  the  Auburn  High  School,  after  which  he  taught  school  for  four  years 
at  Alton,  Hydes,  and  North  Huron,  N.  Y.  In  1890  he  entered  the  State  Normal 
College  at  Albany,  N  Y.,  and  was  graduated  in  1893.  He  was  then  appointed 
principal  of  the  First  Ward  school,  which  position  he  held  until  August  14,  1895,  when 
he  was  appointed  superintendent  of  schools  of  West  Troy,  which  office  he  now  fills. 
June  23,  1886,  Mr.  Gatchell  married  Eva  L.,  daughter  of  James  Barnes  of  Huron, 
N.  Y. 

Shiland,  John  C. ,  M.  D.,  is  the  son  of  Dr.  Alexander  Shiland,  a  prominent  physician 
of  West  Troy  until  his  death  in  1886.  The  latter  was  well  known  for  his  professional 
standing  throughout  the  county,  and  was  health  officer  for  many  years.  Dr.  J.  C. 
Shiland  was  born  at  Waterford  in  1855,  and  was  one  year  old  when  his  father  began 
practice  here.  He  was  educated  at  Troy  High  School  and  entered  Albany  Medical 
College  in  1875,  graduating  in  1878.  He  had  occupied  many  clerical  positions  before 
beginning  his  profession.  Dr.  Shiland  made  a  special  research  into  the  diseases  of 
the  eye  and  ear,  but  his  practice  now  is  that  of  a  general  nature.  He  is  very  devoted 
to  his  labor  and  has  been  successful ;  he  is  also  very  popular  outside  of  his  profes- 
sion. 

Cole;  Frederick  S.,  M.  D.,  has  but  recently  located  at  West  Troy,  but  is  a  native 
of  the  county.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Westerlo,  February  22,  1864,  where  his 
boyhood  was  passed.  Prior  to  entering  college  he  studied  medicine  in  the  office  of 
Dr.  S.  Weir  Mitchell,  the  celebrated  specialist  of  Philadelphia.  This  experience  was 
of  great  benefit,  Dr.  Mitchell  being  a  recognized  authority  on  nervous  disease.  In 
1888  Dr.  Cole  graduated  from  Columbia  College  and  then  entered  the  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons  for  a  three  years'  course,  becoming  a  full-fledged  Escu- 
lapian  in  1891,  and  beginning  practice  in  Long  Island,  during  which  period  he  ac- 
quired some  valuable  hospital  experience,  and  attended  McLean's  Maternity  Hos- 
pital and  the  Vanderbilt  Clinic.  His  training  has  been  thorough  and  no  doubt  his 
success  will  become  commensurate.  He  recently  opened  a  drug  store  at  No.  416 
Fourteenth  street,  West  Troy. 

Le  Roy,  Isaac,  son  of  Henry  S.  and  Bridget  (Purcell)  Le  Roy,  was  born  March  15, 
1850,  in  West  Troy,  N.  Y.  He  was  educated  at  St.  Bridget's  School  in  West  Troy, 
at  the  Christian  Brothers'  Academy  in  Troy,  and  at  the  Troy  Business  College,  grad- 
uating from  the  latter  in  1866.  He  obtained  a  clerkship  in  his  father's  grocery  store 
in  West  Troy,  and  upon  his  father's  death,  in  1878,  succeeded  to  the  business  which 
he  has  since  conducted.  Since  April  1,  1896,  he  has  conducted  a  laundry  in  connec- 
tion with  the  grocery.  In  1873  he  was  elected  clerk  of  the  town  of  Watervliet  for  a 
term  of  two  years  and  in  1892  was  re-elected  for  another  term.  Mr.  Le  Roy  is  a 
charter  member  of  the  Gleason  Hook  and  Ladder  Company  and  has  been  an  active 
fireman  for  the  last  twenty-five  years.  He  is  a  member  of  Trinity  Council, 
C.  B.  L.,  and  was  one  of  the  prime  movers  in  having  the  streets  of  West  Troy 
named  and  numbered. 

Varney,  F.  E.,  is  of  French  ancestry  and  a  native  of  Canada,  born  in  1818.  Since 
1851  he  has  been   a  prominent  and  honored  citizen  of  West  Troy,  where  he  is  en- 


307 

gaged  in  the  millwright  and  tanner's  business.  Mr.  Varney  has  been  a  faithful  ad- 
herent of  the  Republican  party  since  its  organization.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Dutch 
Reformed  church  and  a  promoter  of  all  movements  tending  towards  the  advance- 
ment of  the  interests  of  his  city.  Of  his  three  children,  only  one  survives,  Mrs. 
James  Andrews  of  Watervliet. 

Foley,  James  H.,  one  of  the  trustees  of  what  was  then  the  village  of  West  Troy, 
was  elected  in  1886  and  has  served  in  that  capacity  the  longest  of  any  of  the  present 
officers.  He  was  also  elected  town  clerk  in  1804,  serving  two  years.  Mr.  Foley  is  a 
native  of  Watervliet,  born  in  1859,  and  is  a  son  of  Denis  Foley,  a  fanner  and  a  milk- 
man, now  retired.  Mr.  Foley  always  lived  on  his  father's  farm  until  he  engaged  in 
the  liquor  store  at  No.  16  Broadway,  his  present  location.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Gleason  Hook  and  Ladder  Company  and  was  a  member  of  the  Volunteer  Hose 
Company  until  their  disbandment. 

Nangle,  Martin  E.,  born  in  East Waterford,  Perry  county,  Pa.,  December  31,  1848, 
is  a  son  of  Martin  and  Isabella  Bensha  (Sturgess)  Nangle.  Martin,  a  native  of  Lon- 
don, England,  settled  in  Philadelphia  about  1830  as  a  silversmith,  and  died  in  East 
Waterford  in  1855,  aged  sixty-live,  leaving  these  children:  Edward  J.,  of  Nebraska, 
who  served  one  year  in  the  Civil  war;  Joseph  R.,  Julia  S.  (Mrs  Van  Schaack)  of 
Albany;  Mary  Emma  (Mrs.  Cunningham)  of  Nebraska;  Martin  E.  of  Albany,  and 
one  deceased.  Joseph  R.  enlisted  in  September,  1861,  in  Co.  A,  49th  Pa.  Vols.,  and 
served  until  October,  1864.  He  settled  in  Albany  in  1867  as  foreman  of  the  car  de- 
partment of  what  is  now  the  D.  <.V-  H.  C.  R.  R.,  and  siuce  1880  has  been  engaged  in 
the  coal  business.  In  1867  he  married  Elizabeth  B.,  daughter  of  J.  D.  Howell,  a 
major  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  of  Juniata  county,  Pa.  Mrs.  Isabella  B.  (Sturgess) 
Nangle,  a  member  of  two  eld  Albany  families,  Sturgess  and  Bensha,  was  born  in 
the  Captain  Schuyler  mansion  at  the  head  of  Schuyler  street.  Martin  E.  Nangle  en- 
listed in  September,  1864,  in  Co.  5,  202d  Pa.  Vols.,  and  after  the  war  engaged  in 
railroading,  settling  in  Albany  in  1866.  In  1876  he  became  associated  with  William 
E.  Griffin,  an  undertaker  of  Greenbush,  and  in  1878  engaged  in  the  same  business 
for  himself  in  Albany  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Tedford  &  Nangle.  Since  1888  he 
has  conducted  an  undertaking  establishment  alone.  He  is  a  member  of  Ancient 
City  Lodge,  Capital  City  Chapter,  De  Witt  Clinton  Council  and  Temple  Command- 
ery  of  Masons;  Chancellors  Lodge  No.  58,  K.  P.;  L.  O.  Morris  Post  No.  121,  G.  A. 
R.  ;  Clinton  Lodge  No.  7,  and  Xew  York  Encampment  No.  1,  I.  <  >.  <  >.  F.,  and  the 
Albany  County  Undertakers'  Association.  In  1870  he  married  Elizabeth  Van 
Schaack,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth  (Van  Shaack)  Reamer,  and  a  grand- 
daughter of  Derick  and  Elizabeth  (Tygart)  Van  Schaack  of  Albany. 

Wygant,  Elmer  10.,  son  of  Thomas  II.  and  Mary  J.  (Hoes)  Wygant,  was  born  in 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  August  3,  1861.  His  ancestors  were  Holland  Dutch,  and  the  first  one 
who  came  to  this  country  settled  in  what  is  now  Ulster  county  in  the  sixteenth  cen- 
tury. Mr.  Wygant' s  father  organized  the  Wygant  Express  Company  in  1858  and 
conducted  the  affairs  of  said  company  until  1889,  when  he  sold  out  to  the  Consolidated 
Transfer  Company.  Elmer  E.  Wygant  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Albany 
and  afterwards  worked  for  his  father.  In  1884  he  was  made  superintendent  of  the 
Wygant  Express  Company  and  retained  the  position  until  INS!),  when  he  bought  out 
the  Albany  Cork  Works.     After  two  years   the  business  was   burned   out    and    Mr. 


308 

Wygant  was,  in  1892,  appointed  recording  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  county  clerk, 
James  D.  Walsh  ;  he  still  retains  the  position.  He  is  a  member  of  Wadsworth  Lodge 
No.  417,  F.  &  A.  M.,  the  Royal  Arcanum,  several  Republican  clubs  and  is  the  leader 
of  the  Eighteenth  ward  of  Albany.  In  the  fall  of  1891  he  was  a  deputy  United  States 
marshal.     In  1892  he  was  married  to  Ethel,  daughter  of  Norman  Burdick  of  Albany. 

MacHarg,  Martin,  M.  D.,  son  of  Horatio  and  Agnes  (Veeder)  MacHarg,  was  born 
in  New  Scotland,  Albany  county,  N.  Y.,  August  15,  1862.  He  is  of  Scotch  descent, 
his  ancestors  having  come  from  Scotland  some  time  previous  to  the  Revolution.  Dr. 
MacHarg  attended  the  district  schools,  and  after  removing  to  Albany  he  attended 
the  Institute  of  Amos  Cass  and  later  the  State  Normal  School.  In  1882  he  attended 
the  Medical  College  and  graduated  in  1885,  receiving  the  degree  of  M.  D.  He  prac- 
ticed one  year  in  Dormansville,  Albany  county,  and  since  then  he  has  practiced  in 
Albany  city.  Dr.  MacHarg  is  a  member  of  Masters  Lodge  No.  5,  F.  &  A.  M  ,  the 
Albany  County  Medical  Society,  the  Albany  Camera  Club,  and  the  Unconditional 
Republican  Club.  In  1889  he  married  Minnetta,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Crouse  of 
Altamont,  Albany  county.     They  have  one  son,  Alan. 

Skinner,  David  F.,  son  of  Philip  and  Anne  (Benjamin)  Skinner,  was  born  in  Lon- 
don, England,  November  3,  1827.  He  was  educated  in  Dean  Stanhope  School,  Lon- 
don, and  later  worked  for  the  British  government  as  boiler  maker  for  five  years. 
In  1853  he  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1855  he  removed 
to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  employed  by  the  New  York  Central  Railroad.  In 
1863  Mr.  Skinner  formed  a  partnership  with  Joseph  Arnold  and  they  have  since  done 
a  very  large  business  as  boilermakers,  under  the  firm  name  of  Skinner  &  Arnold. 
Mr.  Skinner  was  at  one  time  vice-president  of  the  South  End  Bank  and  for  a  few 
years  president  of  St.  George's  Society.  November  9,  1857,  he  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  George  Masters  of  New  York,  and  they  have  six  children:  David  F. , 
Ephraim  C,  William  N.,  Jane,  Elizabeth  and  Minnie. 

Gilbert,  Hon.  Francis  Russell,  is  a  descendant  of  New  England  and  Scotch  an- 
cestors and  was  born  September  20,  1830,  in  the  town  of  Stamford,  Delaware  county, 
N.  Y.  He  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  Gilbert,  who  was  a  farmer  residing  in  the  town  of 
Stamford.  His  mother  was  Mary  Falconer,  daughter  of  Archibald  Falconer,  a 
Scotchman.  His  grandfather,  Jesse  Gilbert,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  born 
about  1757,  and  when  a  young  man  removed  to  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.,  and  during 
the  Revolution  served  his  country  most  gallantly,  engaging  in  those  memorable 
skirmishes  and  bloody  conflicts  with  the  British,  Tories  and  Indians.  He  survived 
the  war  and  lived  to  be  nearly  eighty  years  old,  dying  on  the  old  Stamford  home- 
stead about  1837.  Francis  R.  Gilbert  attended  the  common  schools  and  later  a  pub- 
lic school  at  Amherst,  Mass.  He  next  attended  for  two  years  a  select  school  and 
academy  in  the  village  of  Stamford,  after  which  he  taught  for  two  or  three  terms,  in 
the  intervals  working  on  the  farm  until  he  was  twenty-four  years  old.  He  then 
entered  the  office  of  Sheldon  A.  Givens,  a  prominent  lawyer  of  Harpersfield,  who 
subsequently  practiced  law  in  Catskill,  N.  Y.  After  leaving  the  office  of  Mr.  Givens, 
he  attended  the  Albany  Law  School  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  the  spring  of 
1856,  having  been  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  previous  fall.  Soon  afterward  he  was 
admitted  to  practice  in  the  United  States  Courts.  In  the  fall  of  1856  he  opened  a 
law  office  in  the  village  of  Stamford,  and  since  that  time  he  has  enjoyed  a  remarkable 


309 

practice,  trying  many  cases,  both  civil  and  criminal,  and  among  all  the  criminal 
trials  he  has  defended  not  one  of  his  clients  was  ever  convicted.  Judge  Gilbert  has 
always  taken  a  lively  interest  in  political  affairs.  In  1802  and  18'ir,  he  was  elected  as 
a  Democratic  member  of  assembly  from  Delaware  county.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the 
National  Convention  which  met  in  Chicago  in  1884,  and  nominated  drover  Cleveland 
for  the  presidency.  In  May,  1887,  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Hill  one  of  the 
judges  of  the  Sixth  Judicial  District,  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of 
Judge  Murray.  He  was  appointed  in  1891  a  member  of  the  State  Constitutional  Con- 
vention to  revise  the  judiciary  article  of  the  State  constitution.  In  April,  1892,  he 
was  appointed  deputy  attorney-general  of  the  State  by  Attorney-'  'ieneral  Rosendale. 
Since  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office  as  deputy  attorney-general  he  has  practiced 
law  at  No  51  State  street,  Albany.  In  June,  1857,  Judge  Gilbert  married  Adelaide, 
daughter  of  Ralph  and  Minna  Newell  of  Stamford.  His  wife  died  in  August,  1860, 
leaving  a  son,  Frank  N.  Gilbert,  now  practicing  law  at  Binghamton,  N.  Y.  In  1868 
he  married  his  second  wife,  Josephine  Crocker,  of  Augusta,  da.  They  have  two 
children,  Jesse  B.  and  Minnie  E.  Judge  and  Mrs.  Gilbert  are  active  membi 
the  Presbyterian  church. 

Herman,  Sidney  N.,  manager  of  the  New  York  Tailoring  Company,  is  a  son  of 
Morris  and  Nancy  (Rice)  Herman,  and  was  born  in  Albany,  January  25,  1858.  Mor- 
ris Herman,  a  native  of  dermany,  came  to  America  in  1833,  settled  in  Albany  and 
died  there  in  1891.  He  was  a  jeweler  for  several  years  and  was  one  of  the  oldest 
Masons  in  the  city  at  the  time  of  his  death  and  held  many  offices  in  the  order. 
.Sidney  M.  Herman,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Albany,  became  a  clerk  in 
a  shoe  store  and  later  learned  the  trade  of  custom  clothing  cutting  in  New  York  city, 
which  he  followed  about  twelve  years.  In  1888  he  established  himself  in  the  mer- 
chant tailoring  business  in  New  York,  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Felleman  &  Her- 
man, and  continued  until  February  1,  1895.  He  then  returned  to  Albany  and  in 
March  of  that  year  organized  the  New  York  Tailoring  Company,  consisting  of  him- 
self and  Louis  Stark,  locating  at  the  corner  of  South  Pearl  and  Howard  streets.  Mr. 
Herman  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum.  In  1884  lie  married  Miss  Rose  House- 
man of  Albany. 

dray,  John  Clinton,  associate  judge  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  was  born  in  New  York  city.  He  received  his  education  in  Berlin,  at  the  New 
York  University,  and  at  the  Howard  Law  School.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
Boston,  Mass.,  and  practiced  law  in  the  city  of  New  York  from  1866  until  his  ap- 
pointment in  18.SN  to  the  bench  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  of  New  York,  to  fill  the 
vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  Judge  Rapallo,  and  was  elected  for  a  full  term  in  the 
same  year.  Judge  Gray  is  a  cultivated  scholar  and  one  of  the  best  writers  in  the 
Court. 

Kernan,  William  J.,  M.  D.,  son  of  James  and  Mary  (Reardon)  Kernan,  was  born 
in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  December  22,  18(54.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  after 
leaving  which  he  was  for  seven  years  a  clerk  in  the  State  1  >epaitment  of  Public  In- 
struction. He  resigned  his  position  there  to  attend  the  Albany  Medical  College  and 
at  the  time  of  his  graduation  in  1891  he  stood  at  the  head  of  his  class,  Ik-  served  as 
physician  at  the  Williard  Insane  Asylum  for  a  few  months  and  then  removed  to 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  he  has  since  practiced.     X>r.    Kernan   was  for  a  time  district 


310 

physician  and  police  surgeon,  but  was  compelled  to  resign  these  offices  owing  to 
pressure  of  professional  duties.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  diseases  of  children.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society,  examiner  for  tfce  Catholic 
Benevolent  League  and  physician  to  the  House  of  the  Good  Shepherd. 

Capron,  Arthur  S.,  M.  D.,  son  of  John  D.  and  Elizabeth  (Letcher)  Capron,  was 
born  at  Schoharie  Court  House,  January  10,  1850,  His  maternal  great-grandfather 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers  near  Schoharie  and  cleared  up  five  hundred  acres  of 
woodland.  His  first  paternal  ancestor  to  come  to  America  was  Banfield  Capron, 
who  came  in  1640.  Dr.  Capron's  parents  removed  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  when  he  was 
five  years  of  age.  He  attended  the  public  schools  and  Mr.  Lawson's  private  school. 
In  1881  he  entered  the  Albany  Medical  College  and  in  1886  received  the  degree  of 
M.  D.  Since  then  he  has  practiced  in  Albany.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany 
County  Medical  Society  and  Clinton  Lodge  No.  7,  I.  O.  O.  F.  In  June,  1883,  Dr. 
Capron  married  Isidor  Irene,  daughter  of  Dr.  Daniel  Peabody  of  Sheffield,  Mass. 
She  died  in  1884,  and  in  October,  1895,  he  married  Mary  Hager  of  Schodack  Land- 
ing, N.  Y. 

Illch,  Julius,  is  a  son  of  Simon  and  Celia  (Fleischman)  Illch,  native  of  Bavaria, 
Germany.  Simon  came  to  Albany  in  1849,  was  for  forty  years  a  merchant  tailor  and 
was  prominent  in  Temple  Beth  Emeth.  especially  during  its  construction.  Julius 
Illch  was  born  in  Albany,  January  21,  1869,  was  graduated  from  the  High  School  in 
June,  1886,  as  one  of  the  commencement  speakers,  and  in  November,  1886,  entered 
the  office  of  Parker  &  Countryman  as  a  law  student.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
at  Albany,  in  February,  1890,  was  managing  clerk  for  Robert  G.  Scherer  for  two 
years  and  for  Horwitz  &  Hirschfield  of  New  York  one  year  and  since  then  has  been 
in  active  practice  for  himself  in  his  native  city.  He  is  past  grand  of  Capital  City 
Lodge  No.  440,  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  which  he  represents  on  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Odd 
Fellows  Temple.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Nawadaha  Tribe  No.  297,  I.  O.  R.  M., 
and  secretary  of  Gideon  Lodge  No.  140,  I.  O.  B.  B. 

Yan  Loon,  William  H,  son  of  Henry  F.  and  Mary  (McLaughlin)  Yan  Loon,  was 
born  in  Lansingburgh,  N.  Y.,  August  7,  1835.  His  paternal  grandfather  came  from 
Amsterdam,  Holland,  about  1700;  and  on  his  mother's  side  he  is  descended  from 
Colonel  Cochran  of  the  war  of  1812.  Mr.  Yan  Loon  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Troy,  N.  Y. ,  and  Schenectady  county  and  learned  the  trade  of  foundryman  at  the 
foundries  in  Troy  and  West  Troy.  Subsequently  he  entered  the  employ  of  Rath- 
bone,  Sard  &  Co.  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  remained  there  thirty-three  years,  as  assist- 
ant foreman  for  eighteen  years,  and  for  the  balance  of  the  time  as  the  contractor  for 
the  stove  mountings.  In  1892  he  bought  the  business  of  John  Armstrong,  plumber 
and  roofer,  and  he  has  since  then  been  engaged  in  that  business  at  No.  787  Broad- 
way, Albany.  Mr.  Van  Loon  is  a  member  of  Mt.  Vernon  Lodge  No.  3,  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  is  a  trustee  in  Grace  M.  E.  church.  May  31,  1860,  he  married  Caroline  M.  Stark, 
of  Glenville,  Schenectady  county. 

Bartlett,  Ezra  Albert,  M.  D.,  traces  his  lineage  (1)  to  Richard  Bartlett,  who  came 
from  Sussex,  England,  in  1635,  to  Newbury,  Mass.,  where  he  died  May  25,  1647.  The 
line  is  (2)  Richard,  1621-1698,  of  Old  Town  Hill,  Mass.,  member  of  the  council;  (3) 
Richard,  of  Newbury,  married  Hannah  Emery;  (4)  Stephen,  of  Canterbury,  Mass., 


311 

married  Hannah  Webster;  (5)  Josiah,  1728-171)5,  a  physician  of  Kingston,  X.  II.. 
provincial  governor,  colonial  governor,  member  of  the  Provincial  Legislature  1  765, 
lieutenant-colonel  of  the  7th  Regt.  militia  1770,  colonel  177."),  delegate  to  Congress 
1773-70,  second  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  congressman  1778,  chief 
justice  of  the  Common  Pleas  1779,  judge  of  '.he  Supreme  Court  1782,  chief  justice 
1788,  member  of  the  convention  to  adopt  the  Federal  Constitution  1788,  president  of 
the  State  1793,  married  Mary  Bartlett ;  (6)  Ezra,  1770-1848,  a  physician  of  Haverhill, 
N.  H.,  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College,  judge  of  the  Common  Pleas,  1807,  chief 
justice  of  sessions  1820,  State  senator  1828-28,  married  Hannah  Gale;  and  (7)  Amos 
Gilman,  1814-1880,  a  minister,  married  Georgianna  M.  I'ike,  whose  ancestors  also 
came  to  Newbury,  Mass.,  in  1635,  where  their  old  stone  farm  house  is  still  standing. 
A  statue  of  Hon.  Josiah  stands  in  Amesbury,  Mass.  Dr.  Ezra  Albert  Bartlett,  son 
of  Amos  G.,  was  born  in  Newburyport,  Mass  ,  July  18,  1845,  was  graduated  from  the 
Atkinson,  X.  II.,  Academy,  entered  the  sophomore  class  of  Amherst  College  and  in 
in  September,  1863,  enlisted  in  Bat.  M.,  4th  U.  S.  Art., serving  until  1866.  He  passed 
through  the  non-commissioned  rank  and  in  1865  was  promoted  first  lieutenant  7th 
Mass.  H.  A.,  unattached,  but  never  mustered.  He  was  graduated  from  Rochester 
University  in  1870,  read  medicine  with  his  uncle,  Dr.  Levi  Bartlett  of  Skaneateles, 
N.  V.,  and  with  Dr.  Samuel  B.  Ward  of  Albany,  received  the  degree  of  M.D.  from 
the  Albany  Medical  College  in  1879,  and  since  then  has  practiced  his  profession  in 
Albany.  He  is  ex-president  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society,  member  of  the 
American  Electro-Therapeutic  Association,  member  of  the  faculty  of  the  National 
College  of  Electro-Therapeutics  at  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  member  of  the  staff  of  the  Al- 
bany City  Hospital  and  a  member  of  George  S.  Dawson  Post  No.  63,  G.  A.  R  ,  and 
the  Sons  of  the  Revolution.  He  has  been  a  lecturer  in  the  Albany  Medical  College 
since  about  1881,  was  for  six  years  a  member  of  the  I".  S.  Board  of  Examining  Sur- 
geons for  Pensions  and  was  a  charter  member  and  president  of  the  old  Albany 
Academy  of  Medicine.  In  1S71  he  married  Jennie,  daughter  of  John  Sargent  of 
Rochester,  X.  V.,  and  they  have  one  son,  Frank  Sargeant  Bartlett,  born  March  10, 
1886. 

Lempe,  George  G.,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Lansingburgh,  X.  V..   December  28,  1864 

When  six  years  of  age  he  moved  to  Germany,  and  attended  the  gymnasium  and  the 
University  at  Goettingen,  province  of  Hanover.  In  1882  he  removed  to  America 
and  took  a  one-year  urse  a:   Harvard  University.     Subsequently 

he  attended  the  Albany  (X.  Y.)  Medical  College  and  received  the  degree  of  M.I). 
from  that  institution  in  1888,  since  which  time  he  has  practiced  medicine  in  Albany. 
Dr.  Lempe  was  assistant  demonstrator  at  the  Albany  Medical  College  for  two  vears 
and  instructor  in  physiology  at  the  same  institution  for  one  year.  He  was  al- 
geon  at  the  Albany  Homoeopathic  Hospital  from  1889  to  ls'.*»i;  and  isoueof  the  ex- 
aminers of  health  officers  fur  the  New  York  State  Civil  Service  Commission.  Dr. 
Lempe  is  a  member  of  the  Phi  Sigma  Kappa  fraternity,  Co.  A.  10th  Bat.  X.  G.  N.Y., 
Albany  Press  Club,  Albany  County  Medical  Society  and  the  Deutscher  Club.  He 
is  also  a  charter  member  and  surgeon  of  the  Knights  of  the  Ancient    I  I  Meier. 

Warner,  Charles  B.,  <>t  Altamont,  was  born  in  Summit,  Schoharie  county,  Sep- 
tember 24,  1851,  son  of  John  Warner,  jr.,  and  Josephine,  daughter  of  Milo  Bradley. 
The  grandfather  of  Charles  B.  was  John  Warner,  son  of  Capt.  George,  whose  father 


312 

was  George.  Charles  B.  was  raised  on  a  farm  in  Richmondville  until  he  was  eight- 
een years  of  age,  when  he  began  an  apprenticeship  as  carriagemaker  in  Cobleskill, 
where  he  remained  until  1875,  when  he  removed  to  Altamont  and  worked  for  Jacob 
Van  Benscotten  until  1882;  at  that  date  he  purchased  an  interest  in  his  employer's 
business,  forming  the  firm  of  Van  Benscotten  &  Warner.  Mr.  Van  Benscotten  died 
in  1882  and  two  years  later  Mr.  Warner  bought  the  widow's  share  and  continued  the 
business  to  1895,  when  he  admitted  the  son  of  his  former  partner,  forming  the  firm 
of  Warner  &  Van  Benscotten.  Mr.  Warner  is  a  bimetalist  in  politics,  a  member  of 
Noah  Lodge  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Altamont,  and  of  Noah  Chapter  U.  D.,  of  which  he  was 
a  charter  member  and  principal  sojourner;  also  of  St.  George  Commandery  No.  37, 
Schenectady,  Cyprus  Lodge  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  and  Voorheesville  Lodge 
I.  O.  O.  F.  In  1872  he  married  Frances  A.  Cornell  of  Richmondville,  Schoharie 
county,  daughter  of  Dr.  Valentine  Cornell.  They  have  had  five  children:  Blanch, 
Harrv  C,  Charles,  jr.,  and  Francis  (twins)  (the  latter  deceased)  and  Stanley.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Warner  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

De  Graff,  Dr.  Abram,  a  prominent  physician  and  surgeon,  was  born  in  Rotterdam, 
N.  Y. ,  in  1836.  He  is  the  son  of  Jacob  De  Graff,  who  was  one  of  the  four  sons  and 
five  daughters  born  to  Abram  De  Graff  of  Schoharie  county,  who  was  a  farmer.  He 
was  a  volunteer  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  once  came  into  the  town  of  Guilder- 
land  to  capture  a  lot  of  Tories.  Jacob,  the  father,  was  born  in  Schoharie  count}' 
in  1805.  He  was  by  occupation  a  farmer,  which  he  followed  during  his  active  life. 
He  came  to  Guilderland  first  in  1828,  returned  home,  and  in  1837  removed  with  his 
family  and  settled  in  Guilderland  village,  where  he  died  in  1877.  In  1833  he  married 
Anna  M.  Clute,  who  was  born  in  Schenectady  county.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Nicholas  Clute.  To  them  were  born  three  children,  Helen  M  ,  Abram  and  Hamilton. 
She  died  in  1880.  Mr.  De  Graff  received  fair  educational  advantages,  and  when  six- 
teen years  of  age  began  teaching,  which  he  followed  for  some  years.  He  then  be- 
gan to  study  medicine,  Dr.  Wilson  being  his  preceptor,  and  in  1858  he  was  graduated 
from  the  Albany  Medichl  College.  He  then  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  Wilson  of 
Guilderland,  with  whom  he  practiced  for  two  years;  he  then  began  practice  alone  in 
Bethlehem,  where  he  was  in  active  practice  until  1875,  when  he  returned  to  Guilder- 
land,  and  has  since  enjoyed  a  lucrative  practice,  being  called  to  Bethlehem,  New 
Scotland  and  Guilderland.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  Medical  Society,  and  was 
a  delegate  of  that  society  to  the  American  Medical  Association  held  in  Chicago.  He 
has  served  as  health  officer  to  the  town  of  Guilderland  for  three  years;  was  county 
commissioner  for  three  years,  and  was  postmaster  from  1885  to  1893,  and  from  1893 
to  the  present  time.  In  1867  he  married  Mary  F.,  daughter  of  John  P.  Veeder,  and 
their  children  are  Mary  F. ,  Frederick,  Mrs.  Sarah  Batterman  and  Mrs.  Anna  Bailey. 
Mrs.  De  Graff's  ancestors  trace  back  to  Simon  Volkertse  (de  Baker),  who  was  born 
1622,  in  Holland.  He  belonged  to  the  ship  Prince  Morrice,  which  plied  between 
Amsterdam,  Holland,  and  New  York.  In  1652  he  purchased  lots  in  New  York,  and 
in  1654  he  sold  and  removed  to  Albany,  thence  to  Schenectady  in  1662.  The  second 
generation  was  Simon  Veeder,  and  his  wife,  Neeltie  Van  Der  Volgen.  The  third 
generation  was  Peter  and  his  wife  Maritie  Van  Der  Bogart.  The  fourth  generation 
was  Claas  (Nicholas),  who  was  born  in  February,  1734,  and  his  wife,  Catharine  Van 
Eps.     The  fifth  generation  was  Pieter  C,  born  in  March,  1773,  and  his  wife,   Maria 


313 

Mynderse.     The  sixth   generation   was  John   Pieter,   who  was  born   in  September, 
1809,  and  his  wife,  Sarah  Ann  Batterman. 

Cook,  Eugene,  born  in  Berne,  X.  Y.,  July  10,  1846,  is  a  son  of  Abram  and  Jane 
(Crocker)  Cook,  both  born  in  Albany  county,  he  a  son  of  David  Cook  who  came  to 
Albany  county  in  an  early  day  and  settled  in  Berne,  N.  Y.  The  maternal  grand- 
father of  Eugene  Cook  was  Rev.  Mr.  Crocker,  an  early  settler  of  Berne,  where  he 
reared  a  large  family.  The  father  of  Eugene  Cook  was  a  farmer,  and  died  in 
Berne  in  1866.  Eugene  Cook  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  Rensselaer  Academy.  He  was  for  several  years  engaged  in  the  sale  of 
stove  shelves  and  Horton's  washing  machines;  and  also  in  the  livery  business  in 
Illinois,  but  his  principal  occupation  is  farming,  and  in  1866  he  removed  to  the  farm 
of  156  acres,  he  owns.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  but  does,  not  aspire  to  public 
office.  In  1869  he  married  Augusta  Lounsbury,  a  daughter  of  William  Lounsbury. 
To  Mr.  Cook  and  wife  were  born  three  children:  Alice,  wife  of  Charles  Mackey, 
Arcia  and  Reba  B.     The  family  attend  the  Methodist  church. 

Williams,  Elam,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Knox,  March  12,  1844.  Prentice  Williams, 
his  grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  settled  in  Knox  when  a  young  man 
cleared  himself  a  farm  in  the  forest,  where  he  became  prosperous.  His  children 
were  Lucy,  Mary,  Eliza,  Eunice,  Prentice,  jr.,  and  Dennison.  He  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  Methodist  church,  in  which  he  was  an  active  worker.  He  died  in 
1850,  and  his  wife  died  some  years  before.  Hon.  Prentice  Williams,  jr.,  the  father 
of  Elam,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Knox  on  the  homestead  in  1794.  In  early  life  he 
followed  farming,  but  later  learned  the  cabinetmaker's  trade,  which  he  followed  in 
connection  with  undertaking  for  a  number  of  years  in  the  village  of  Knox.  He  sub- 
sequently engaged  in  mercantile  business  in  Albany,  remained  there  but  a  short  time 
and  returned  to  Knox  and  resumed  his  old  business  of  furniture  and  undertaking. 
He  was  prominently  identified  with  the  Democratic  party  and  his  influence  was  ex- 
tensive ;  he  had  the  honor  of  serving  his  district  in  the  State  Legislature  one  term, 
and  was  postmaster  many  years.  He  was  twice  married  ;  his  first  wife,  Harriet  Jane 
Clark,  died  a  year  after  their  marriage;  his  second  wife  was  Mrs.  Jane  (Knight)  Arm- 
strong, widow  of  Patten  Armstrong,  and  they  had  one  child,  Elam.  Mr.  and  Mrs 
Williams  were  members  of  the  Methodist  church,  in  which  he  took  a  leading  part 
He  died  in  1864  and  his  wife  September.  L882.  Elam  Williams  received  his  education 
in  the  Knox  Academy  and  when  twenty  years  old  began  teaching  which  he  followed 
for  a  number  of  years.  Early  in  life  he  manifested  a  keen  and  active  interest  in  the 
political  affairs  of  his  town  and  county,  and  while  yet  a  young  man  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace  on  the  Democratic  ticket.  He  filled  the  office  with  such 
credit  that  he  was  elected  and  re-elected  for  nineteen  successive  years ;  the  years 
of  1882-83  he  was  justice  of  sessions  and  in  1*70  was  appointed  State  census 
enumerator  for  his  district.  He  has  filled  the  office  of  postmaster  of  Knox  during 
both  of  President  Cleveland's  administrations.  In  1886  he  engaged  in  the  general 
mercantile  business  in  the  village  of  Knox  and  with  careful  and  strict  attention 
to  business,  he  has  met  with  merited  success.  In  the  spring  of  L896  lie  purcha 
farm  of  112  acres  near  the  village,  of  which  he  has  taken  personal  management, 
being  assisted  in  the  store  by  his  son,  Stanley.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  Berne  Lodge,  No.  684.     In   1*71  he  married  Catherine,  daughter  of  Syl 


314 

vester  and  Sarah  (Bunzy)  Allen  of  Knox,  and  they  have  five  children,  Effie,  Stanley, 
Jennie,  Marx  and  Emma. 

Bassler,  Elias,  a  well  known  landmark,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Knox,  on  the  old 
Bassler  homestead,  February  8,  1819.  Frederick  Bassler,  his  great-grandfather,  was 
a  native  of  Switzerland,  who  immigrated  to  America  before  1750  and  settled  in 
Philadelphia.  He  was  married  on  board  of  ship  while  on  his  way  to  America.  Be- 
tween 1750  and  1760  he  settled  in  what  is  now  the  town  of  Knox,  took  up  238  acres 
of  land  and  made  himself  a  home  in  the  forest,  and  was  one  of  the  first  eight  to  settle 
in  the  town  of  Berne.  Frederick  Bassler,  the  grandfather  of  Elias,  was  born  in 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  in  1752,  and  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm  in  Knox,  of 
which  he  subsequently  came  in  possession.  When  the  Revolutionary  war  broke  out 
he  took  sides  with  the  British  and  enlisted  in  their  service.  His  wife  was  Martha 
Ball,  a  native  of  Berne,  born  in  1768,  and  their  children  were  Peter,  Frederick,  Henry, 
John,  Benjamin,  Eve,  Elizabeth,  Maria  and  Ann  Eliza.  He  died  November  5,  1851, 
at  the  age  of  ninety-eight  years:  his  wife  died  February  27,  1833.  Frederick,  the 
father  of  Elias  Bassler,  was  born  on  the  homestead  in  1793;  coming  into  possession 
of  one-half  of  the  homestead,  he  added  more  to  his  landed  possessions,  where  he 
remained  a  lifelong  and  successful  farmer.  He  was  prominent  and  influential  in  the 
political  affairs  of  his  town  and  county,  being  chosen  six  times  by  his  townsmen  to 
represent  them  in  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  was  once  elected  to  represent  his 
district  in  the  State  Legislature  on  the  Republican  ticket.  He  was  actively  identified 
with  the  church  and  was  one  of  the  building  committee  to  erect  the  first  Dutch  Re- 
formed church  of  Berne,  in  which  he  afterwards  officiated.  His  wife  was  Maria 
Salsburg,  and  their  children  were  Anna,  Maria,  Elias,  Jacob,  Peter,  Levinus,  Sophia, 
Eliza  and  Emma.  He  died  in  1874  and  his  wife  in  1862.  Elias  Bassler,  when  a  boy, 
attended  the  common  district  schools.  He  remained  on  the  farm  until  thirty-nine 
vears  af  age,  when  he  came  into  possession  of  his  present  farm  of  130  acres,  through 
the  assistance  of  his  father,  and  on  this  farm  he  has  ever  since  resided,  doing  general 
farming.  In  politics  Mr.  Bassler  is  a  Republican,  and  while  feeling  a  keen  interest 
in  the  welfare  of  his  party,  he  has  never  sought  political  honors.  In  1842  he  married 
Eva,  daughter  of  Jacob  Sand  of  Knox,  and  they  have  three  children:  Dorthy  L. 
(wife  of  Nicholas  Sheldon  of  Knox),  Olivia  M.  (wife  of  James  E.  Onderdonk  of  Central 
Bridge,  N.  Y.),  and  Catharine  E.  (who  died  when  nineteen).  Mrs.  Bassler  died  in 
February,  1894.  They  were  both  members  of  the  Reformed  church,  in  which  he  has 
officiated  as  deacon  and  elder.  He  has  now  retired  from  the  active  life  and  care  of 
the  farm,  which  he  now  leases  to  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  Sheldon. 

Sturgess,  Charles  E.,  a  well  known  landmark  and  patriot  in  the  Northern  army  in 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Knox,  June  17,  1846,  on  the  farm 
he  now  owns  and  occupies.  George  Sturgess,  the  grandfather  of  Charles  E.,  was 
born  in  Delaware  county,  N.  Y.,  a  descendant  from  one  of  four  brothers  who 
migrated  from  England  to  America  in  an  early  day.  George  spent  his  life  as  a 
farmer  in  Delaware  county  and  lived  to  be  a  very  aged  man ;  he  was  the  father  of 
ten  sons  and  daughters.  David,  the  father  of  Charles  E.  Sturgess,  was  born  in  Del- 
aware county,  June  13,  1815.  He  was  a  farmer  and  carpenter,  spending  most  of  his 
life  at  his  trade.  In  1844  he  moved  to  the  town  of  Knox,  where  he  spent  his  remain- 
ing days.     He  was  prominently  identified  with  the  Republican  party  in  his  town,  but 


315 

never  an  aspirant  for  office.  He  owned  the  farm  now  owned  by  Charles  E.  Sturgess, 
and  formerly  owned  by  his  father-in-law,  Nathaniel  Swan.  I  lis  wife  was^Melinda, 
daughter  of  Nathaniel  Swan,  and  their  children  were  Charles  E.,  Nathaniel,  Adelia. 
Sarah,  Isadore  and  Eugene.  He  died  in  March,  1867,  and  his  wife  survives  him  and 
resides  on  the  home  farm  with  her  son.  Her  father,  Nathaniel  Swan,  was  a  promi- 
nent man  in  the  town  of  Knox,  and  did  much  toward  building  it  up.  His  place  of 
business  and  residence  has  ever  been  known  as  Swan's  Corners,  where  he  owned 
600  acres  of  land,  a  hotel,  store,  blacksmith  shop,  and  also  a  large  potash  factory. 
In  stature  he  was  of  medium  height  and  weighed  about  165  pounds,  but  herculean 
in  strength;  he  would  pick  up  a  400  pound  weight  from  the  ground  and  place  it  in  a 
wagon,  or  pick  up  a  barrel  of  cider  from  the  ground  on  to  his  knees  and  drink  from 
the  bunghole.  He  lived  to  be  ninety-five  years  old  and  was  perfectly  healthy  to  the 
morning  of  the  day  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  December,  1872.  Charles  E. 
Sturgess  attended  the  common  schools  and  was  graduated  from  the  Knoxville  Acad- 
emy. He  remained  on  the  farm  with  his  parents  until  July  28,  1862,  when  yet  a  lad 
of  but  sixteen  years  he  answered*  his  country's  call  for  troops  and  enlisted  in  Co.  K, 
7th  N.  Y.  Heavy  Artillery,  and  served  three  years,  participating  in  all  the  battles'of 
his  regiment;  the  principal  engagements  being  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  Spott- 
sylvania,  North  Anna  River,  Tolopotomy,  Cold  Harbor,  and  Petersburg,  being  in  the 
famous  bayonet  charges  of  the  two  latter  battles.  At  the  battle  of  Deep  Bottom  he 
was  captured  and  confined  in  Libby  prison  one  month,  when  he  was  transferred  to 
Belle  Island  prison,  where  he  endured  terrible  sufferings  for  two  months,  from  the 
effects  of  which  he  has  never  fully  recovered.  After  his  return  home  he  engaged  in 
farming  and  teaching  during  the  winter  months;  this  he  followed  for  a  number  of 
years,  always  making  his  present  residence  his  home.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican, 
having  served  two  years  as  town  clerk  and  elected  and  re-elected  ten  successive  years 
to  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  the  last  year  resigning  the  office.  He  has  also 
filled  the  office  of  school  commissioner  for  the  Third  district  of  Albany  county  for 
three  years.  He  is  a  member  of  Michael  H.  Barckley  G.  A.  R.  Post  of  Altamont, 
N.  Y.  December  31,  1868,  he  married  Nancy  K.,  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Kane)  Quay,  and  their  children  are  Louie,  Edith,  Bertha,  Ada,  Rosco  and  Lottie. 

Mackey,  Charles  H.,  was  born  in  Rensselaerville,  X.  Y..  ( >etober  3,  186:;,  and  is 
a  son  of  Willett  B.,  who  was  a  son  of  Alexander  Mackey,  a  native  of  Rensselaerville. 
and  he  a  son  of  one  Alexander  Mackey  who  came  to  Rensselaerville  previous  to 
Revolutionary  times.  He  was  in  the  war  as  drummer  at  age  of  twelve.  Willett  B. , 
the  father  of  Charles  Mackey,  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  a  Democract  in  poli- 
ties, and  held  the  office  of  highway  commissioner.  His  wife  was  Hannah  E.  Rein- 
hart  of  Schoharie  county,  N.  Y.,  a  daughter  of  John  J.  Reinhart.  an  early  settler  of 
Rensselaerville.  To  Mr.  Mackey  and  wife  were  bom  two  sons  and  one  daughter 
who  grew  to  man  and  womanhood.  Charles  II.  Mackey  was  reared  on  a  farm  and 
educated  in  the  common  schools.  I  [e  is  a  farmer  and  owns  190  acres,  100  acres  where 
he  resides.  November  1  I,  I8SS,  he  married  Alice  M.  Cook,  daughter  of  Eugene 
Cook.  In  politics  Mr.  Mackey  is  a  Democrat  and  has  been  collector  two  years.  The 
family  attend  the  Baptist  church,  of  which  the  father  was  a  lifelong  member. 

Fanning,  James  O.,  was  born  of  American  parentage  in  Gorham,  Ontario  county, 
N.  Y.,  March  8,  ls:'"r>       He  received  a  common    school  and  an  academical   education, 


316 

the  latter  being  obtained  principally  at  the  Franklin  Academy  at  Prattsburg,  Steu- 
ben county,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Fanning  was  a  student  in  the  office  of  Hon.  Daniel  Morris 
at  Penn  Yan,  N.  Y.,  and  in  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Albany,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1860.  After  practicing  some  years,  Mr.  Fanning  served 
three  years  as  accountant  in  the  Treasury  Department  at  Washington  and  the  same 
period  as  financial  and  engrossing  clerk  of  the  State  Assembly.  He  has  been 
connected  with  the  State  Board  of  Charities  as  assistant  secretary  for  about  twenty 
years. 

Brown,  Johh  C,  M.  D. ,  son  of  P.  J.  and  Margaret  (Bough)  Brown,  was  born  in 
Oswego,  N.  Y.  July  22,  1870.  In  1881  he  moved  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  with  his  parents 
and  attended  the  Christian  Brothers'  Academy,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1886.  While  there  he  organized  and  was  the  first  president  of  the  Justin^  Literary 
Society.  In  1887  he  entered  the  Niagara  University,  where  he  remained  three  years, 
and  while  there  he  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Shakespeare  Dramatic  Associa- 
tion. He  returned  to  Albany  and  received  the  degree  of  M.  D.  from  the  Albany 
Medical  College  in  1892.  He  subsequently  spent  one  term  in  the  Charity  Hospital 
on  Blackwell's  Island,  N.  Y.,  and  returned  to  Albany,  where  he  has  since  practiced 
medicine.  In  1895  Dr.  Brown  was  elected  coroner's  physician,  and  in  1896  he  was 
re  elected.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society,  the  Alumni 
Association  of  the  Albany  Medical  College  and  the  Dongan  Club,  of  which  he  was 
secretary  in  1895. 

Wiltse,  James  Wesley,  M.  D.,  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Maginnis)  Wiltse,  was 
born  in  Delaware  county,  N.  Y.,  November  10,  1864.  The  Wiltse  family  has  been 
in  America  for  several  generations.  The  first,  three  brothers,  came  from  Holland 
and  settled  in  Columbia  county ;  later  one  moved  to  New  York  and  another  to  Dela- 
ware county.  Dr.  Wiltse' s  paternal  grandfather  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution. 
Dr.  Wiltse  received  his  preliminary  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Greene  and 
Delaware  counties.  In  1891  he  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  College, 
receiving  the  degree  of  M.  D.,  and  immediately  began  practice  at  No.  1203  Broad- 
way. In  May,  1896,  he  moved  to  No.  135  North  Pearl  street,  formerly  occupied  by 
Dr.  Samuel  B.  Ward.  He  was  fourth  district  physician  from  1891  to  1896.  Dr. 
Wiltse  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society  and  Temple  Lodge,  F.  & 
A.  M.  In  1893  he  was  married  to  Lizzie  Bailie  of  Albany,  and  they  have  one  son, 
Stanley  Bailie. 

Harris,  William  B. ,  son  of  Henry  H.  and  Mary  A.  (Parker)  Harris,  was  born  in 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  in  1860.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  Albany  High 
School  and  afterwards  conducted  the  cigar  stand  at  the  N.  Y.  C.  &  H.  R.  R.  R.  depot 
for  eleven  years.  In  1884  he  moved  to  No.  9  South  Pearl  street,  where  he  is  now  the 
owner  and  proprietor  of  a  cigar  store.  He  is  a  member  of  Wadsworth  Lodge  No. 
417,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Garriaka  Tribe  of  Red  Men  No.  342,  and  the  Unconditional  Repub- 
lican Club.     In  1883  he  was  married  to  Carrie  Kingsley  of  Albany. 

Duggan,  Edward  J.,  son  of  Matthew  and  Fannie  (Welsh)  Duggan,  was  born  in 
Albany,  March  11,  1857.  He  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools,  Thomas 
Newman's  Private  School,  Christian  Brothers'  Academy  and  Masson  College,  Can- 
ada.    He  started  in  life  in  a  New  York  grocery  house,  where  he  remained  only  a 


317 

few  months.  He  removed  to  Albany  and  alter  seventeen  years  successfully  spent  in 
both  the  wholesale  and  retail  grocery  business,  he  is  now  the  owner  and  proprietor 
of  a  large  store  on  Hudson  avenue.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Union  and 
Knights  of  Columbus.      In  18G1  he  married  Mary  F.  Kearns. 

Sheppey,  John  V.,  M.  D.,  son  of  Alonzo  N.  and  Charlotte  (Benedict)  Sheppey, 
was  born  in  Ogdensburgh,  N.  V.,  in  1859.  On  the  maternal  side,  Dr.  Sheppey  is 
descended  from  the  Van  Derwaters,  who  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Schenec- 
tady, N.  Y.  He  attended  the  public  schools  and  was  graduated  from  the  Rugby 
Academy  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  in  1880.  He  entered  the  Jefferson  Medical  College  in 
1882  and  in  1885  received  the  degree  of  M.  D.  from  that  institution.  Dr.  Sli> 
did  hospital  work  for  one  and  a  half  years  and  after  two  years  spent  in  Ohio, 
he  opened  an  office  in  Albany,  N.  V.,  where  he  has  since  practiced.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society  and  assistant  at  electrocutions  to  the  physi- 
cian at  Dannemora.  He  married  Lina  Craig  of  Ulster  county,  and  they  have  four 
children,  Elsie  C,  Margaret,  Esther  and  Dorothy. 

Green,  Col.  G.  James,  son  of  John  R.  and  Ann  C.  (Vosburgh)  Green,  was  born  in 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  June  4,  18(50.  His  great-grandfather,  John,  an  Englishman,  came 
from  Dublin  to  America  and  settled  in  Niskayuna,  N.  V.,  where  he  married  Rebecca 
Groot.  They  had  a  son,  Cornelius,  who  married  Gertrude  Tymerson.  (J.  James 
Green  received  his  education  in  the  Albany  public  and  high  schools.  In  1875  he 
went  into  the  employ  of  the  D.  &  H.  C.  Co.  as  clerk,  and  for  three  years  following 
was  paymaster  for  Curtin  &  Whalen,  railroad  contractors.  In  1884  he  was  tendered 
the  position  of  bookkeeper  with  McKinley  &  Co.,  and  remained  with  that  company 
until  1893,  when  he  resigned  to  accept  a  similar  position  with  Weidman  &  Co 
January  1,  1894,  he  was  appointed  chief  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  inspector-general  of 
the  State  of  New  York  and  on  January  3,  1895,  he  was  appointed  assistant  inspector- 
general  of  the  State,  which  position  he  now  holds.  Colonel  Green  enlisted  in  Co.  B, 
10th  Regt.,  November  13,  1879;  was  promoted  corporal  January  I.  1881  ;  dropped  "ii 
account  of  removal  from  the  city,  November  30,  1881  ;  taken  up  as  private  in  I 
10th  Battalion,  June  6,  1884;  promoted  corporal  September  T.  L885;  sergeant,  Janu- 
ary 18,  1886;  first  sergeant,  May  :'»,  1886;second  lieutenant,  <  >ctober  15,  l^^T ;  lieuten- 
ant-colonel and  assistant  adjutant-general,  Third  Brigade,  December  1 1.  1889.  Upon 
the  resignation  of  Brigadier-General  Parker  he  was  placed  upon  the  supernumerary 
list,  at  his  own  request;  January  -,  1891,  and  on  August  9.  of  the  same  year,  he  was 
elected  captain  of  his  old  company,  vice  Stacpole  promoted  major  of  the  battalion. 
Colonel  Green  resigned  the  captaincy  hi' i'ci.  B,  January  1.  L895.  rleisamembi 
the  United  Service  Club  of  New  York  city,  the  Military  Service  Institution  of  t he- 
United  States  and  the  Unconditional  Republican  Club  of  Albany. 

Fitts,  Hon.  George  II.,  was  born  in  Cohoes,  Albany  county,  Septen.be:  29,  1851. 
He  is  of  English  descent  and  his  parents,  Lucien  and  Lemira  M  (Slocum)  Fitts, 
were  natives  of  New  England.  Mr.  Fitts  was  graduated  from  Dartmouth  Co 
in  1873  and  from  the  Albany  Law  School  in  1874.  He  then  commenced  the  pra 
of  law  in  Cohoes,  where  he  continued  until  January  1.  1896,  when  he  assumed  the 
office  of  surrogate  of  Albany  county,  which  he  now  holds.  He  was  in  partnership 
with  Charles  F.  Doyle  from  January,  1878,  to  Octobei  is!M,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Fitts  &■  Wertime  from  January  I,  1894,  to  January  1.   1896.      Judge  Fitts 


318 

was  city  attorney  of  Cohoes  from  May,  1888,  to  January  1,  1896,  when  he  resigned. 
June  4,  1896,  he  married  Clara  B.,  daughter  of  the  late  Henry  S.  Bogue  of  Cohoes. 

Dixon,  George,  was  thirteen  years  of  age  when  his  father,  Robert  Dixon,  died 
leaving  him  to  gain  his  own  livelihood.  Thus  entering  upon  a  life  of  toil  and  priva- 
tion which  developed  in  him  those  excellent  habits  and  those  which  distinguish  him 
as  a  man.  He  went  into  a  mill  near  his  birthplace,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  was  born  in  1827.  There  he  began  in  a  humble  way  his  life  work.  Being  cour- 
ageous and  energetic,  he  soon  left  the  hardships  of  youth  behind  him,  and  advanced 
rapidly.  In  1858  he  came  to  Cohoes  and  for  ten  years  took  charge  of  the  weaving 
department  in  Harmony  Mill,  Nos.  1  and  2.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  superin- 
tendent of  No.  3,  the  largest  mill  in  the  United  States,  having  140,000  spindles  and 
1,500  employees.  Yet  Mr.  Dixon  in  his  busy  life  that  followed  found  time  for  social 
and  political  duties,  serving  as  school  commissioner  for  six  years;  he  is  also  director 
of  the  Savings  Bank.  Mr.  Dixon  in  1849  married  Mary  C.  H.  Thompson  of  Pleasant 
Valley,  by  whom  he  had  four  children.  George  E.,  the  elder,  is  superintendent  of 
schools  in  Cohoes. 

Archibold,  John,  M.  D.,  of  Archibold  Bros.'  elegant  drug  store,  and  successful 
general  practitioner  of  Cohoes,  is  a  native  of  Bonfield,  Scotland,  born  in  1861.  He 
was  brought  by  his  parents  to  America  when  three  years  of  age,  and  began  his  edu- 
cation at  Cohoes,  graduating  from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  1888.  He  began 
practice  at  Troy  and  afterward  removed  to  Green  Island,  where  he  served  as  health 
officer  for  one  year.  He  has  practiced  here  since  1892,  and  for  the  last  three  years 
has  been  city  health  officer.  William  Archibold  established  the  drug  business  upon 
his  arrival  in  Cohoes  in  1864.  He  stood  in  the  front  rank  of  his  profession  until  his 
death  in  1889,  and  the  business  has  taken  no  step  backward  under  the  able  manage- 
ment of  his  two  sons.  Dr.  Archibold  enjoys  a  wide  popularity,  outside  of  his  pro- 
fessional radius,  and  as  a  man  inherits  the  sterling  qualities  of  his  race.  He  is  lieu- 
tenant of  the  crack  local  company  National  Guards  S.  N.  Y. 

White,  David,  is  as  well  known  for  his  zealous  labors  in  the  temperance  cause  as 
for  the  extensive  roofing  business,  with  which  his  name  has  been  associated  since  his 
settlement  in  Cohoes  in  1866.  He  was  at  that  time  twenty-two  years  of  age  and  had 
acquired  his  superior  knowledge  of  the  trade  in  Scotland,  his  native  country.  Mr. 
White  is  the  oldest  and  most  experienced  roofer  in  the  county,  equally  skillful  in 
every  branch  of  the  work.  His  father  is  Robert  White,  a  linen  cloth  manufacturer,- 
still  living  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four.  The  maternal  grandmother  lived  to 
be  103  years  of  age.  Mr.  White  inherits  the  sterling  qualities  characteristic  of  his 
ancestors.  In  him  the  Temple  of  Honor  has  a  useful  and  influential  member,  and 
the  Reform  church  an  able  supporter. 

Rosenthall,  Mitchell,  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Sunday  Regulator,  is  one  of  the 
leading  newspaper  men  of  the  city  of  Cohoes.  Mr.  Rosenthall  has  always  been  in- 
terested in  journalism  and  has  had  wide  experience  in  newspaper  work,  doing  special 
work  for  many  out  of  town  papers  For  several  years  he  was  correspondent  for  the 
Troy  Telegram,  then  became  its  city  editor  in  1885.  He  was  also  connected  with  the 
Troy  Budget,  at  the  time  serving  as  deputy  postmaster,  to  which  office  he  was  ap- 
pointed in  1877,  holding  it  for  eight  years  in  all.     He  is  a  Republican  and  has  been 


319 

school  commissioner.  His  father  was  Abram  Rosenthall,  an  honored  and  highly 
esteemed  citizen  of  Cohoes,  since  1869.  He  was  a  native  of  Warsaw,  Poland,  and 
an  extensive  traveler,  paying  his  expenses  in  foreign  countries  by  making  passamen- 
teries,  then  coming  to  America  before  reching  man's  estate.  He  joined  the  gold 
seekers  in  California,  but  soon  located  m  New  York,  where  he  married,  then  returned 
to  California,  where  Mitchell  was  born,  in  1856.  After  stopping  in  St.  Louis,  New 
York,  and  Troy,  he  finally  located  in  Cohoes  and  engaged  as  a  retail  clothier,  until 
his  death,  February  6,  1896.     He  is  survived  by  his  widow  and  two  sons. 

Walsh,  John  S.,  is  the  son  of  a  longtime  resident  of  Cohoes,  John  Walsh,  an  en- 
gineer. Starting  with  no  capital  he  has  made  his  own  way  in  the  world,  first  engag- 
ing in  the  tea  business,  later  taking  up  the  business  for  himself.  He  came  to  his 
present  location,  corner  Mohawk  and  Ontario  streets,  three  years  ago,  carrying  a 
large  stock  which  is  unsurpassed  in  its  line.  Teas,  coffees,  spices  and  flour  are 
specialties,  besides  a  choice  stock  of  general  groceries.  Mr.  Walsh  while  taking  a 
deep  interest  in  politics  and  everything  that  contributes  to  the  welfare  of  his  native- 
city,  where  he  was  born  in  1856,  never  seeks  or  accepts  political  preferment.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Business  Men's  Association.  In  1893  he  married  Catherine  Plat/, 
daughter  of  N.  P>.  Platz  of  Cohoes. 

Wallace,  James,  was  born  in  Cohoes,  Albany  county,  X.  Y.,  July  9,  1856.  He  at- 
tended the  public  schools  and  later  acted  as  correspondent  in  his  native  town  and 
vicinity  for  several  newspapers.  He  began  the  study  of  law  with  counselor  Earl  L. 
Stimson  in  1880  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  January  24,  1884.  In  July,  1883,  the 
Cohoes  Cataract,  a  weekly  newspaper,  the  original  publication  of  which  was  begun 
early  in  the  history  of  Cohoes,  was  again  started  and  Mr.  Wallace  became  the  editor. 
A  year  later  the  paper  was  superseded  by  the  Cohoes  Dispatch  of  which  he  was 
selected  the  editor,  and  William  E.  Seaport,  the  publisher  of  the  Cataract,  became 
the  proprietor.  About  a  year  later  Mr.  Wallace  purchased  the  paper  and  earl v  in 
the  year  1886  he  formed  a  copartnership  with  his  brother  Michael,  and  the  firm  of 
J.  &  M.  Wallace  has  since  continued  the  publication  of  the  paper.  March  1886,  Mr. 
Wallace  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  of  Cohoes.  I  le  assumed  the  duties  of  the 
office  the  first  of  the  following  year  and  served  four  years  and  refused  a  renomination, 
He  has  taken  an  active  part  in  local  political,  social  and  business  affairs  and  through 
the  columns  of  his  paper  has  aided  in  improving  the  local  city  government  and  has 
also  aided  in  the  material  progress  of  the  city. 

Bogue,  Henry  L..  late  of  Cohoes,  was  one  of  the  most  successful  bridge  binders  of 
his  day-  He  was  born  at  Canton,  X.  Y.,  in  1825,  and  came  to  Cohoesin  1854.  Here 
he  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Smith  &  Bogue  and  was  awarded  the  contract  for 
building  the  Waterford  bridge.  He  built  the  first  bridge  across  the  Mohawk,  and 
portions  of  the  Hudson  River  Railroad  from  Cold  Spring  to  New  Hamburg,  and  that 
part  of  the  Erie  Railroad  from  Dunkirk  to  Hinsdale.  With  his  many  business  en- 
terprises he  also  operated  a  lumber  business  with  his  brother.  C.  M.  Bogue  In  l*'i"i 
he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  knit  goods  with  George  II.  Wager  as  a  partner. 
That  same  year  he  also  built  the  Riverside  Knitting  Mill.  Mi  Bogue  was  a  Demo- 
crat and  held  many  local  offices,  serving  two  year--  as  mayor,  and  proving  a  very 
capable  chief  magistrate  His  death,  in  1886,  was  mourned  throughout  the  cif 
a  man  of  sterling  character  and  of  true  nobility.      Ilis  wife  was  Clara  Chase  of  Xew- 


320 

burgh,  whom  he  married  in  1852  at  Fishkill-on-the-Hudson ;  four  children  also  sur- 
vive him. 

Nodine,  Francis,  was  born  at  Coeymans  in  1820.  He  is  a  son  of  William  and 
Rodat  (Joslyn)  Nodine,  and  a  grandson  of  one  of  the  four  brothers  who  were  soldiers 
in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  died  with  the  small-pox.  He  left  one  son,  William, 
who  came  to  Coeymans  when  a  boy,  where  he  married  in  1797  and  had  six  sons: 
Benjamin,  Harvey,  Joslyn,  William,  Hiram  and  Francis;  and  three  daughters: 
Elizabeth,  Harriet  and  Rachel.  He  was  a  farmer  and  died  in  1861.  Francis  Nodine 
married  Agnes,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Miller,  by  whom  he  has  had  three  children: 
two  sons,  Hiram  J.  and  J.  M.,  and  one  daughter.  Mr.  Nodine  is  a  farmer  and  still 
resides  on  the  farm  where  his  father  settled  in  1849. 

Lameraux,  Phila,  is  the  daughter  of  Solomon  Carmon,  of  Greene  county,  and  the 
widow  of  Judson  Lameraux,  who  was  for  many  years  a  prominent  and  successful 
farmer  of  Indian  Fields,  where  he  died  in  1887.  He  was  the  son  of  George,  and  the 
grandson  of  James  Lameraux,  who  with  three  brothers  came  from  Paris,  France,  to 
Dutchess  county,  and  James  came  to  Coeymans  and  built  a  mill  at  Coeymans  Hol- 
low, and  later  bought  a  large  tract  of  land  at  what  is  now  Indian  Fields  village, 
where  they  have  always  been  prominent  farmers. 

Lumereaux,  George  C,  is  the  son  of  Jarvis,  grandson  of  George  and  great-grand- 
son of  James,  who  came  from  Paris,  France,  and  settled  in  Coeymans,  where  the 
Lumereaux  family  have  since  occupied  a  prominent  place,  being  among  the  leading 
farmers  of  the  town.  James  Lumereaux  settled  a  large  farm  on  Copeland  Hill, 
where  his  son,  W.  J.  Lumereaux,  now  lives,  and  died  there  in  1870.  George  C. 
Lumereaux  came  to  his  present  home  in  1862  and  has  always  been  a  farmer,  though 
now  retired  on  account  of  his  health.  His  wife  was  Emily,  a  daughter  of  Harvey 
Shear,  and  they  have  four  daughters:  Phoebe  L.,  Lottie  W.,  Anna  and  Ida.  Mr. 
Lumereaux  is  president  of  the  Coeymans  and  Watervliet  Telephone  Company  and 
has  always  taken  a  keen  interest  in  all  affairs  relating  to  the  welfare  of  the  town. 
He  built  in  1895  a  fine  residence  in  the  village  of  Coeymans,  where  he  contemplates 
moving  to  spend  his  old  age. 

Spencer,  Charles  M.,  was  born  in  Albany  and  is  the  son  of  Daniel  and  grandson  of 
John  Spencer,  who  came  to  Albany  when  a  young  man  and  had  three  sons:  John, 
William  and  Daniel.  Daniel  Spencer,  after  being  in  business  in  Albany  for  some 
years,  moved  to  what  is  now  Glenmont,  where  he  died  in  1878,  leaving  one  son,  C. 
M.  Spencer,  as  above.  Charles  M.  Spencer  has  remained  on  the  home  at  Glenmont, 
where  he  is  a  gardener  and  fruit  grower. 

Parr,  Henry,  was  born  in  Germany  in  1848  and  came  to  America  in  1807,  working 
in  different  hotels  until  1879,  when  he  became  proprietor  of  the  old  National  Hotel 
in  Albany.  In  1881  he  came  to  Bethlehem  and  has  since  run  the  Abbie  Hotel, 
which  under  his  management  has  become  a  very  popular  resort  for  social  parties. 

Scharbauer,  Philip,  was  born  in  Bethlehem  in  1855  and  is  a  son  of  Ferdinand,  who 
came  from  Germany.  Mr.  Scharbauer  began  life  as  a  poor  boy  and  for  some  years 
clerked  in  a  store  in  Albany  and  South  Bethlehem.  He  began  business  for  himself 
in  1879  by  opening  a  store  at  South  Bethlehem,  which   he  continued  until  189:3.     lie 


321 

was  also  engaged  in  buying  and  shipping  hay  and  other  farm  products.  In  1894  he 
opened  a  hardware  store  at  Newburgh  and  later  started  two  branch  stores,  one  at 
Matteawan  and  one  at  Poughkeepsie.  In  1895  he  was  made  secretary  and  treasurer 
of  the  Calbanen  Road  Improvement  Company,  and  now  devotes  his  time  to  that 
office,  having  a  manager  for  his  store  business. 

Stoffels,  William,  is  the  son  of  Peter  Stoffels,  who  came  from  Germany  and  settled 
on  a  farm  in  Bethlehem,  where  he  was  a  farmer  until  he  retired  and  moved  to 
Albany,  where  he  died.  William  Stoffels  bought  the  homestead  and  is  a  farmer 
and  gardener  and  also  runs  a  large  dairy.  He  has  four  sons-  William,  jr.,  Peter, 
John  E.  and  George. 

Van  Allen,  P.  C,  was  born  in  Bethlehem  and  is  the  son  of  David,  and  grandson 
of  Garrett  Van  Allen,  whose  father,  with  two  brothers,  came  from  Holland  and  set- 
tled in  Bethlehem.  Mr.  Van  Allen  remained  on  the  homestead  until  1818,  when  he 
moved  to  New  Scotland  for  two  years,  after  which  he  settled  on  his  present  farm, 
where  he  is  a  farmer.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Josiafa  Bender  of  New  Scotland, 
and  they  have  two  daughters,  (J race  and  Jesse. 

Kemp,  John  H.,  the  capable  and  efficient  town  clerk  of  the  new  town  of  Colonie, 
and  postmaster  of  Newtonville,  was  born  in  the  town  in  1849,  where  his  father, 
Michael  Kemp,  still  resides.  Prior  to  engaging  in  the  mercantile  business  in  New- 
tonville in  1876,  he  had  been  for  a  few  years  engaged  in  gardening  in  the  town  of 
New  Scotland.  Besides  his  store  at  Newtonville  Mr.  Kemp  still  operates  a  farm  in 
the  vicinity  which  is  devoted  to  small  fruit  ami  vegetables.  His  election  to  the  office 
of  town  clerk  was  by  a  very  large  majority. 

Schuyler,  Stephen,  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  Peter  Schuyler,  the  first  mayor  of 
Albany.  Stephen  Schuyler  was  born  at  Port  Schuyler  April  2,  1851.  His  father, 
John  Cayler  Schuyler,  was  born  at  the  old  home  in  1801,  and  died  in  1882.  He  was 
one  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  these  parts.  We  cannot  do  better  than  to  quote 
from  a  memorial  engrossed  by  the  society  of  the  South  Park  Reformed  church,  which 
was  founded  here  in  18  11.  and  to  which  he  was  always  officially  related:  "  His  knowl- 
edge of  affairs  in  his  own  town  was  almost  encyclopedic.  H<  possessed  a  culture, 
courtesy,  spirit,  and  a  presence,  that  marked  him  a  gentleman  of  the  old  school." 
He  was  elder  in  his  church  for  about  thirty  years,  and  was  also  clerk  and  treasurer. 
In  1828  he  married  his  cousin,  Anna  Maria  Schuyler,  who  bore  him  ten  children,  of 
whom  four  are  now  living:  Philip,  Stephen,  Anna  and  Gertrude.  Mr.  Schuyler  died 
in  1886,  surviving  her  husband  only  four  years.  In  the  public  life  of  the  old  town  of 
Watervliet,  John  Cayler  Schuyler  was  a  prominent  figure,  representing  the  town  in 
the  board  of  supervisors  from  1883  to  183*3  and  in  L858.  In  1886  he  was  elected  to  the 
Assembly.  Stephen  Schuyler  now  lives  at  the  old  home  where  he  was  born.  In  the 
front  hall  hangs  a  portrait  of  Peter  Schuyler,  executed  in  1710  by  Sir  Godfrey 
Kneeler,  the  court  painter  of  Queen  Anne. 

Garret,  Walter,  born  of  humble  parents  in   Somersetshire,  England    in  1851,  came 
to  Watervliet  when  eighteen  years  of  age.  and  has  since  made  it  his  home.      1  i 
gardener  and  his  specialty  is  vegetables.      At   first  he  rented  of  the  Shaker  family, 
but   by  his  prudence   and   economy  was  able  m   1894  to   purchase  a  farm  of  thirty-six 


322 

acres,  eligibly  located  at  Loudonville,  and  will  no  doubt  succeed  in  his  chosen  voca- 
tion, since  he  possesses  the  qualities  which  command  success. 

Brewster,  James  C.  and  Warren  H.,  comprising  the  firm  of  J.  Brewster's  Sons, 
carriage  and  sleigh  manufacturers,  and  repairers  of  farm,  road,  and  delivery  wagons 
of  every  description.  Both  members  of  the  firm  are  young  and  enterprising  men. 
Their  father,  the  late  James  G.  Brewster  established  the  business  in  Colonie  in 
1852.  The  family  have  been  prominent  throughout  the  history  of  the  town  of  Water- 
vliet,  and  it  is  noteworthy  and  peculiar  that  two  branches  of  the  Brewster  family 
were  united  by  the  marriage  of  the  parents  of  the  gentlemen  comprising  the  firm  of 
J.  Brewster's  Sons,  although  they  were  not  nearly  related.  From  the  Brewsters 
that  sailed  in  the  Mayflower,  the  ancestral  line  is  without  a  break.  Upon  the  death 
of  James  G.  Brewster,  in  1885,  the  two  sons  succeeded  to  the  business  at  Newton- 
ville,  with  the  detail  of  which  they  have  become  thoroughly  familiar.  J.  C.  Brewster 
superintends  the  wood-working  department,  and  Warren  the  blacksmithing  depart- 
ment.    They  make  a  specialty  of  the  buckboard  known  as  the  Joubert  &  White. 

Abrams,  Hiram,  M.D.,  is  a  well  known  and  popular  physician,  and  has  practiced 
the  healing  art  in  the  vicinity  of  Colonie  for  the  last  sixteen  years.  He  was  born  at 
Rensselaerville,  N.  Y.,  and  is  a  son  of  the  late  Elijah  Abrams,  a  farmer  and  once 
resident  of  Colonie.  He  began  the  study  of  his  profession  in  1878  by  entering  the 
Albany  Medical  College,  where  he  graduated  with  honors  after  the  usual  course. 
Dr.  John  M.  Bigelow  of  Albany  was  his  preceptor,  It  is  needless  to  say  that  his 
training  was  thorough.  Dr.  Abrams  is  a  member  of  the  New  York  State  Medical 
Society,  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society  and  the  American  Medical  Association. 

Macdonald,  Willis  Goss,  M.D.,  son  of  Sylvester  and  Louise  (Goss)  Macdonald,  was 
born  at  Cobleskill,  X.  Y.,  April  11,  18G3,  and  descends  from  Benjamin  Macdonald, 
who  came  from  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  in  1759.  He  first  located  near  Coeymans,  where 
he  was  the  first  Scotchman  in  the  town,  and  where  he  built  the  first  boat  landing; 
he  soon  moved  to  Schoharie  county  and  died  there.  He  was  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  was  captured  by  the  Indians  and  English  under  Brant  and  was  taken  to 
Canada.  His  son  Robert,  born  in  Schoharie  county,  in  1792,  was  a  large  land  owner 
and  married  a  Miss  Shaffer,  whose  father  was  killed  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 
Sylvester,  son  of  Robert,  was  born  in  1824  and  lives  with  his  wife  in  his  native 
county.  Dr.  Macdonald  was  graduated  from  the  Cobleskill  Free  Academy  in  1878, 
attended  the  Albany  State  Normal  School  and  Cornell  University,  and  taught  school 
at  Berne  and  Central  Bridge,  N.  Y.,  for  two  years.  He  read  medicine  in  Albany 
with  Dr.  Albert  Van  Derveer.  After  graduating  from  the  Albany  Medical  College 
in  1887,  he  was  for  eighteen  months  house  surgeon  to  the  Albany  City  Hospital  and 
then  went  abroad,  matriculating  in  1890  at  the  University  of  Berlin,  where  he  took 
special  courses  in  surgery,  surgical  pathology  and  bacteriology.  During  that  year 
he  served  as  volunteer  assistant  to  August  Martin  and  Ernest  Yon  Bergmann ;  he 
also  spent  some  time  in  the  hospitals  of  London.  On  his  return  to  Albany  he  made 
surgery  a  specialty  and  is  noted  as  one  of  the  foremost  surgeons  in  Eastern  New 
York;  he  has  been  surgeon  to  the  Albany  City  Hospital  since  1893  and  adjunct  pro- 
fessor of  surgery  in  the  Albany  Medical  College  since  1894.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Albany  Medical  Society,  the  New  York  State  Medical  Society,  the  American  Medical 


323 

Association,  the  American  Association  of  Obstetricians  and  Gynecologists,  the  Fort 
Orange  Club,  and  a  member  of  the  board  of  governors  of  the  Albany  Club. 

Bailey,  Theodore  P.,  M.D.,  is  of  English  and  Holland  Dutch  descent  and  was  born 
in  Cusseta,  Ala.,  November  13,  1857.  Dr.  Solomon  Bailey,  his  grandfather,  was 
for  many  years  a  prominent  physician  in  Bethlehem,  Albany  county,  and  was  the 
father  of  Dr.  William  H.,  Henry,  and  1  )r.  James  S.  Bailey,  all  of  Albany.  The  latter 
was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  1853,  practiced  his  profession  in 
Alabama  until  1866,  and  from  that  time  in  Albany  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
July  1,  1883.  He  was  president  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society,  received  the 
degree  of  A.M.  from  Hamilton  College,  also  from  Soule  University  of  Galvi 
Texas,  and  was  a  prominent  writer  for  medical  jouruals.  He  was  an  enthusiastic 
entomologist,  having  a  large  collection  and  was  a  member  of  several  foreign  and 
American  societies.  Dr.  Theodore  P.  Bailey,  his  son,  was  educated  in  the  Albany 
public  and  high  schools  and  at  the  West  Point  Military  Academy,  lie  read  medi- 
cine with  his  father,  attended  the  Albany  Medical  College  and  graduated  from  the 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  in  18S0;  since  then  he  has  been  in  active  prac- 
tice in  Albany.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society  and  its 
treasurer,  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  New  York  State  Medical  Association,  is 
instructor  in  dermatology  in  the  Albany  Medical  College  and  is  dispensary  physician 
in  dermatology  in  the  Albany  Hospital.  He  is  a  Democrat  and  in  the  fall  of  189") 
was  elected  alderman  of  the  Fifth  ward,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Finance  Board  of 
the  city;  he  is  also  a  member  of  Mt.  Vernon  Lodge  No.  ■'<,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Central  City 
Chapter  No. '242,  R.  A.  M.,  Temple  Commandery  No.  5,  K.  T.,  and  medical  examiner 
for  the  Royal  Arcanum  in  Albany. 

Hunting,  Nelson,  M.  D.,  son  of  John  and  Christina  (Dominick)  Hunting,  was 
born  on  a  farm  near  Gallupville,  Schoharie  county,  November  '21.  1*:!',.  He  was 
graduated  from  the  Gallupville  Academy  and  from  the  Albany  State  Normal  School, 
taught  school  for  a  time  and  read  medicine  with  Dr.  John  Ruland  of  Blenheim  and 
Dr.  John  Maxwell  of  Gallupville.  He  was  graduated  from  the  New  York  Homeo- 
pathic Medical  College  in  1869,  began  active  practice  m  Gallupville,  and  ii 
came  to  Albany.  He  is  ex-president  and  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Home- 
opathic Medical  Society,  a  membei  ol  the  New  York  State  Homeopathic  Medical 
Society  aud  the  American  Institute  of  Homeopathy,  and  was  treasurer  in  181 
of  the  State  society;  he  is  also  a  member  of  Wadswortb  Lodge  F.  &  A.  M..  and  was 
for  several  years  connected  with  the  Albany  City  Homeopathic  Hospital.  In  1864 
he  married  Elizabeth  F.,  daughter  of  John  I'.  Tolle  of  West  Troy,  and  they  have 
three  children  living:  Orlena  A.,  Edna  J.  and  Elizabeth  C.  Dr.  Hunting  has  taken 
a  prominent  part  in  the  water  question  of  Albany  and  in  1888  wrote  an  article  for 
the  Evening  Journal  on  driven  wells  and  the  healthfulness  of  water  obtained  there- 
from. This  was  at  a  time  when  $150,000  had  been  appropriated  by  the  city  to  drive 
wells  on  Pleasure  Island  ;  as  a  result  of  this  article  the  scheme  was  abandoned  ;  later, 
when   the   Kinderhook  water   scheme  was  agitated,  he  wrote  another  article,  which 

killed   that  plant;  these   articles  saved    the  city  ovei    $2 ,000.      Thes<     -'':<:< 

him  to  invent  a  scientific  water  distiller,  which  works  automatically  on  natural  prin- 
ciples. It  was  exhibited  at  the  World's  Fair  in  Chicago  in  1898  and  fl  the 
first  award  in  the  greatest  sanitary  competition  ever  known. 


324 

Hailes,  William,  M.  D.,  son  of  William  Hailes,  sr.,  a  native  of  the  Isle  of  Wight, 
was  born  in  Albany,  October  14,  1849.  He  attended  the  public  schools  and  later  the 
Albany  Classical  Institute  under  Prof.  C.  H.  Anthony.  He  began  the  study  of  med- 
icine with  the  late  Dr.  Alden  March,  1868,  and  was  the  last  student  ever  regis- 
tered with  that  famous  surgeon.  He  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  Col- 
lege m  1870,  receiving  a  competitive  prize  and  delivering  the  valedictory  address  at 
commencement.  In  1869,  'TO  and  '71  Dr.  Hailes  was  city  physician  and  surgeon  in 
the  Albany  Hospital.  He  began  practice  in  Albany  in  1872,  but  three  years  later, 
and  again  in  1878,  he  went  abroad,  visiting  Germany,  Austria,  Italy,  France  and 
England,  remaining  two  years  for  study  and  travel.  In  1872  he  was  demonstrator 
of  anatomy  and  in  1873  lecturer  on  surgical  dressings  and  appliances,  and  since  1874 
he  has  filled  with  ability  the  chair  of  professor  of  histology  and  pathological  anat- 
omy in  the  Albany  Medical  College.  He  became  a  noted  microscopist  and  at  one 
time  owned  a  valuable  set  of  microscopic  instruments,  which  he  presented  the  Al- 
bany Medical  College,  where  he  is  a  permanent  director  of  the  microscopical  de- 
partment, which  he  was  mainly  instrumental  in  founding  and  developing.  Dr. 
Hailes  has  been  attending  surgeon  to  the  Albany  Hospital  and  St.  Peter's  Hospital 
for  many  years,  and  was  the  first  surgeon  in  Albany  to  perform  intubation  for  mem- 
braneous croup,  and  has  a  record  of  upwards  of  1,000  cases.  He  owns  at  Van 
Wies's  Point,  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Hudson,  a  beautiful  villa  residence,  which  he 
calls  Bonnie-Castle-on-the-Hudson.  In  1889  Dr.  Hailes  married  Miss  Bertha,  daugh- 
ter of  Judge  J.  W.  Deuel  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have  two  children,  William 
Deuel  and  Dorothy. 

Dwyer,  Martin  J.,  M.  D.,  son  of  William  and  Katherine  (Dalton)  Dwyer,  was  born 
in  Liberty,  Sullivan  county,  September  1,  1859.  His  father  was  a  railroad  contrac- 
tor and  farmer.  He  graduated  from  the  old  Liberty  Normal  Institute  in  1876,  taught 
school  three  terms,  read  medicine  with  Dr.  William  S.  Webster  of  Liberty,  and  the 
late  Dr.  Jacob  S.  Mosher  of  Albany,  and  in  September,  1880,  entered  the  Albany 
Medical  College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  March,  1883.  On  competitive  examina- 
tion he  received  an  appointment  as  house  physician  and  surgeon  in  the  Albany  City 
Hospital  and  served  eighteen  months.  In  November,  1884,  he  began  active  practice 
in  Albany.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Sullivan  and  Albany  County  Medical  Societies 
and  a  physician  and  surgeon  to  the  St.  Vincent's  Male  and  Female  Orphan  Asylums, 
and  was  one  of  the  organizers.  He  is  a  member  and  examiner  of  the  Knights  of 
Columbus,  a  member  and  examiner  of  the  C.  M.  B.  A.,  and  life  member  and  the 
organizer  of  the  Albany  Catholic  Union  and  its  first  vice-president.  On  January 
23,  1895,  he  married  Elizabeth  Magdalene  Johnson  of  Boston,  Mass. 

Fookes,  Henry  H.,  son  of  Henry  H.  and  Cynthia  {Woodyard)  Fookes,  farmers, 
was  born  in  Falmouth,  Ky.,  April  29,  1857,  was  graduated  from  the  high  school  at 
Xenia,  Ohio,  in  1874  and  engaged  in  the  wholesale  shoe  business  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
where  he  remained  until  1893.  September  1,  1893,  he  came  to  Albany  as  general 
sales  agent  for  the  National  Cash  Register  Company,  which  position  he  still  holds. 
This  company  was  the  first  in  the  world  to  manufacture  cash  registers  and  now  owns 
nearly  350  patents  and  does  business  in  every  civilized  country  on  the  globe.  The 
manufactory  is  located  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  about  1,500  hands  are  employed;  all 
kinds  of  autographic,  manifolding  and  cash  registers  are  made.     The  first  inventions 


325 

date  from  about  1882;  the  company  was  the  original  patentee  and  owns  the  founda- 
tion patents.  The  Albany  agency  was  established  in  1886  and  controls  the  eastern 
half  of  New  York  State  outside  New  York  and  Brooklyn,  and  is  the  eighth  in 
importance  in  this  country. 

Easton,  Charles  P.,  founder  of  the  wholesale  lumber  firm  of  Charles  P.  Easton  & 
Co.,  was  born  in  Albany,  October  24,  1824,  and  died  here  March  3,  lss~>.  He  settled 
himself  in  the  lumber  business  in  1847  and  actively  continued  in  it  until  his  death. 
In  1869  his  eldest  son,  William,  became  his  partner  under  the  firm  name  of  C.  P. 
Easton  &  Co  ,  which  has  ever  since  remained  the  same.  In  187(1  ins  son  Edward 
was  admitted  and  in  1886  another  son,  Frederick  mow  superintendent  of  public 
buildings  at  the  State  Capitol),  became  a  partner,  and  since  Mr.  Easton' s  death  these 
sons  have  conducted  the  business  with  marked  ability  and  success.  Mr.  Easton 
was  not  only  a  leading  business  man  in  Albany's  great  lumber  district,  but  also  a 
public  spirited  citizen  who  devoted  himself  untiringly  to  the  educational  interests  of 
the  city,  giving  liberally  of  his  time  and#  means  towards  improving  public  school 
methods.  He  was  foremost  in  founding  and  building  the  present  High  School  and 
in  religious  and  charitable  matters  was  equally  zealous. 

Hicks,  John  J.,  son  of  William  and  Harriet  (Carter i  Hicks,  was  born  in  Oxford, 
England,  June  26,  1841.  He  came  to  America  with  his  parents  in  1849  and  settled 
in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  where  his  father,  a  manufacturer  of  gilt  picture  frames,  died  in  1884 
and  his  mother  in  1874.  He  was  educated  in  the  Troy  public  schools  and  learned  the 
trade  of  picture  frame  making  with  his  father.  In  August,  1861,  he  enlisted  in 
Co.  E,  62d  N.  Y.  Vols.,  Anderson's  Zouaves,  and  was  attached  to  the  provost  guard 
department  of  the  Fifth  Army  Corps.  He  was  discharged  in  <  (ctober,  ls<i:'.  and,  re- 
turning home  went  to  Amsterdam,  N.  Y.,  as  manager  of  the  furniture  store  of  II 
Inman.  Two  years  later  he  went  to  Clinton,  Iowa,  and  engaged  in  contracting  and 
building  for  about  four  years,  and  in  1S71  he  came  to  Albany  and  engaged  in  busi- 
ness as  a  manufacturer  and  dealer  of  furniture,  moving  into  his  present  quarters, 
Nos.  85-87  Beaver  street,  in  1881.  He  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  Master 
Lodge  No.  5,  F.  &  A.  M..  Clinton  Lodge  No.  3,  L  O.  <  >.  F.,  and  the  New  York  En- 
campment and  Grand  Canton  No.  1,  N.  E.  M.  0.  H>-  is  past  noble  grand  and  past 
patriarch  in  the  Odd  Fellows  Order.  In  1861  he  married  Cythis  M.,  daughter  of 
Fraser  Hodgman  of  Troy,  and  they  have  six  children,  Anna  Kate,  Bertha,  Eva, 
Grace,  Libbie  and  Amy. 

Dugan,  Daniel  J.,  son  of  George  and  Mary  Dugan,  was  born  in  (Ireenbiish.  N.  Y.. 
July  25,  1872,  and  from  the  age  of  two  years  was  reared  in  the  family  of  his  uncle, 
William  Steele  of  Albany.  After  finishing  his  education  in  the  Albany  High  School 
he  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Judge  Peter  A.  St<  1  was  admitted 

to  the  bar  September  1  1.  Is'.i">.  Since  then  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  active  prac- 
tice of  his  profession. 

Addington,  George,   son   oi   Joseph,  a  native  of   England,   was  born  in  Albany, 
April  24,  I860,  and  was  graduated  from  the  high  school  m   1878.      His   tatbei 
in  the   Rebellion   in  the  7th  N.    Y.    H.  A.,  was  shot  in  the  hip  at  the  battle  oi 
Harbor  and   died  from  the   wound   in  1871.      Mr.  Addington  read  law  with  Mead  & 
Hatt  and  Hale   &  Bulkeley,    and  after  his  admission  to  the  bai  mained  in 


326 


the  latter's  office  as  managing  clerk  until  1885,  when  he  began  active  practice.  In 
the  spring  of  1894  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  city  court  for  three  years,  running 
ahead  of  his  ticket  and  receiving  about  3,600  majority.  He  is  a  member  of  the  K.  of 
P.,  Elks,  and  Unconditional  Republican  Club,  past  colonel  of  the  New  York  Division 
S.  of  V.     November  9,  1890,  he  married  Susie  M.  Stoffals  of  Albany. 

Casey,  Daniel,  was  born  in  Ireland,  January  15,  1839,  came  to  America  and  settled 
in  Columbia  county,  N.  Y. ,  with  his  parents  in  1850,  and  received  a  common  school 
education.  He  held  various  positions  until  April  29,  1861,  when  on  the  first  call  for 
troops  he  enlisted  in  Co.  I,  18th  N.  Y.  V.,  and  served  for  two  years.  In  September, 
1864,  he  re-enlisted  in  Co.  A,  192d  N.  Y.  V.,  was  made  quartermaster-sergeant,  and 
later  second  lieutenant,  and  served  until  his  discharge  in  October,  1865.  He  was  in 
the  first  and  second  Bull  Run  battles,  the  Seven  Days  campaign  before  Richmond, 
South  Mountain  and  Fredericksburg,  and  was  three  times  wounded.  Returning 
from  the  army  he  entered  the  Albany  county  clerk's  office  and  remained  there  in  all 
twenty  years,  being  search  clerk  for  seventeen  years  and  deputy  clerk  for  three  years. 
In  1887  he  formed  a  partnership  with  William  Kinney,  as  Kinney  &  Casey,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  real  estate  business.  In  1894  Mr.  Kinney  withdrew  and  Mr.  Casey's 
son,  Frank  A.,  became  a  partner,  under  the  firm  name  of  Daniel  Casey  &  Son.  Mr. 
Casey  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  one  term,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Dongau  Club  and  William  A.  Jackson  Post  No.  644,  G.  A.  R.  In  1864  he  married 
Mary  McDonough  of  Columbia  county,  and  their  children  are  Mrs.  Edward  Futterer, 
Agnes  E.,  William  T.  (deceased),  Frank  A.,  Joseph  E.,  Daniel  T. ,  and  Mary. 

Brilleman,  Isaac,  son  of  Alexander,  was  born  January  19,  1845,  in  Amsterdam, 
Holland,  where  he  was  educated  and  where  he  learned  the  art  of  diamond  polishing. 
He  descends  from  sev^al  generations  of  jewelers.  In  1860  he  came  to  America  and 
settled  in  Albany,  where  he  immediately  found  employment  in  the  jewelry  business. 
In  1866  he  opened  a  jewelry  store  on  the  corner  of  South  Pearl  street  and  Hudson 
avenue  and  in  1884  moved  to  his  present  location,  Nos.  31-33  North  Pearl  street,  the 
latter  number  being  added  in  1893,  when  he  magnificently  remodeled  and  refitted 
the  entire  establishment.  In  1895  he  added  what  is  termed  a  "  crystal  maze,"  one 
of  the  most  elaborate  show  rooms  in  the  world  and  probably  the  only  one  of  its 
kind  in  this  country  outside  of  New  York.  He  deals  extensively  in  the  finest  grades 
of  watches,  clocks,  diamonds  and  other  precious  stones,  sterling  silver,  optical  goods, 
hollow  and  Hat  ware,  cut  glass,  bric-a-brac,  china,  etc.,  a  large  part  of  which  is  im- 
ported by  him.  He  is  one  of  the  foremost  jewelers  of  the  State.  He  is  a  Democrat 
and  was  alderman  of  the  Fifth  ward  in  1878-79.  He  is  a  member  of  Washington 
Lodge  No.  85,  F.  &  A.  M.,  a  trustee  of  Beth  Emeth  congregation,  treasurer  of  the 
Rural  and  Bethlehem  cemeteries  and  a  trustee  of  the  Hebrew  Benevolent  Society 
since  about  1870. 

Campbell,  Stewart,  born  August  20,  1821,  in  the  town  of  Columbus,  Chenango 
county,  N.  Y.,  is  the  son  of  Alonzo  S.  Campbell  and  a  grandson  of  Samuel  Campbell, 
who  at  one  time  represented  Chenango  county  in  the  Legislature  at  Albany,  and  also 
as  a  member  of  Congress  at  Washington,  D.  C.  Samuel  Campbell  was  a  personal 
friend  of  Henry  Clay,  from  whom  he  drank  in  the  principles  of  protective  tariff,  which 
still  run  strong  in  the  veins  of  the  family.  Stewart  Campbell's  mother  was  a  daughter 
of  Gideon  De  Forest,  one  of  four  brothers  who  received  pensions  for  services  in  the 


327 

war  of  the  Revolution.  In  early  March,  1841,  Mr.  Campbell  came  to  Albany  and 
entered  the  store  of  Charles  A.  De  Forest,  in  which  after  a  few  years  he  received  an 
interest.  Later  Mr.  De  Forest  retired,  and  a  new  partnership  was  formed  with  his 
son,  Dewitt  C.  De  Forest,  under  the  firm  name  of  Campbell  &  De  Forest,  which  con- 
tinued for  about  six  years,  through  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  In  May,  1867,  Mr. 
Campbell  located  himself  at  the  well  known  store,  corner  of  South  Pearl  and  Plain 
streets,  where  he  successfully  prosecuted  the  business  until  June,  189G,  when  he 
turned  it  over  to  his  son,  Edward  W.  Campbell.  He  married  Catherine  Mitchell, 
of  Albany,  who  died  July '25,  1896,  and  they  had  three  children:  Jessie  Maud,  who 
died  at  the  early  age  of  eleven  months  and  eleven  days;  Sarah  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Alfred  S.  Woodworth,  of  Boston,  where  she  resides,  having  one  son,  Stewart  Camp- 
bell Woodworth ;  and  Edward  YVillers  Campbell  of  Albany.  During  all  these  years 
Mr.  Campbell  has  been  positive  in  his  political  convictions,  being  first  a  Whig,  after 
the  Thurlow  Weed  kind,  and  now  an  unflinching  Republican.  For  over  fifty  years 
he  has  been  an  active  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 

Delahant,  Michael  F. ,  son  of  Michael,  was  born  October  15,  1852,  in  Troy,  N.  Y., 
and  received  a  public  school  and  commercial  education.  In  1873  he  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  J.  N.  Brady,  at  Cohoes,  wholesale  and  retail  dealer  in  teas  and  coffee  at 
Albany  and  Cohoes,  and  remained  there  thirteen  years,  having  charge  of  that 
branch.  In  1887  he  took  charge  of  Mr.  Brady's  Albany  store.  Mr.  Brady  died  in 
1888  and  Mr.  Delahant  continued  as  manager  until  May  1,  1898,  when  he  formed 
partnership  with  Charles  W.  Edwards,  as  Delahant  &  Edwards  and  purchased  the 
entire  business.  May  1,  1896,  Mr.  Delahant  bought  out  Mr.  Edwards's  interest  and 
became  sole  owner  of  the  two  stores.  He  carries  on  a  large  wholesale  and  retail 
trade  in  tea,  coffee,  spices,  confectionery,  and  bakers'  and  butchers'  supplies. 

Wilson,  Oren  E.,  born  in  Boston,  Mass.,  October  10,  1844,  is  the  descendant  of  a 
sturdy  line  of  New  England  ancestry,  both  his  father  and  grandfather  being  natives 
of  Kittery,  Maine.  James  Wilson,  of  Pennsylvania,  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  this  branch  of  the  Wilson  family 
in  America.  Mr.  Wilson  was  educated  at  the  district  school  at  Portsmouth,  and 
later  on  his  removal  to  New  York  with  his  father,  in  1852,  became  a  pupil  in,  and 
was  graduated  from  one  of  the  public  schools  at  the  age  of  fourteen.  He  attended 
for  one  year  the  Clinton  Liberal  Institute,  at  Fort  Plain,  N.  Y.,  after  which  he  en- 
tered Mount  Washington  Collegiate  Institute,  where  he  pursued  a  course  of  Latin 
and  Greek  and  where  he  was  graduated  in  1861.  In  L862  he  entered  Columbia  Col- 
lege, where  he  spent  one  year,  and  in  the  fall  of  IS6:'>  entered  Columbia  Law  School, 
and  would  have  graduated  in  1865  had  not  an  incident  occurred  which  changed  the 
whole  tenor  of  his  plans.  While  a  student  there  he  became  acquainted  with  W.  II. 
Whitney,  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Whitney  &  Myers,  who  prevailed  upon  him 
to  become  his  confidential  clerk.  When  the  partnership  <>f  Whitney  &  Myers  was 
dissolved  in  the  spring  of  1870,  Mr.  Wilson  removed  with  Mr.  Whitney  to  Albany, 
where  a  new  firm  was  established  under  the  name  of  W.  II.  Whitney  &  Co.,  with 
which  Mr.  Wilson  has  since  been  connected,  holding  the  position  of  financial  and 
confidential  manager.  In  1884,  <>n  the  day  of  his  retirement  from  the  preside: 
the  Young  Men's  Association   after  a  mo  ssful  administration,  lie  was  nomi- 

nated and  elected  by  the  Republicans  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Public  Instruction. 


328 

In  the  spring  of  1894  he  was  nominated  for  mayor  of  the  city  of  Albany  by  the  Re- 
publicans and  Honest  Election  parties  and  was  elected.  He  served  efficiently  until 
the  expiration  of  his  term,  January  1,  189G.  In  1890  Mr.  Wilson  was  elected  life 
trustee  of  the  Young  Men's  Association,  to  succeed  the  late  Henry  R.  Pierson.  He 
was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  of  the  State  Street  Universalist  church 
fromJ870  to  1879,  and  is  now  a  trustee  of  All  Souls  Universalist  parish,  and  was  in- 
strumental in  erecting,  in  1888,  a  new  edifice  for  the  latter  church.  In  1867  he  mar- 
ried M.  Emma,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  E.  G.  Brooks,  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Universalist  denomination.  Mrs.  Wilson  died  in  December,  1893.  Mr.  Wilson  has 
one  daughter  living. 

Perry,  Edward  Rodman,  son  of  Nathan  B.,  was  born  inGeneseo,  111.,  March  27, 
1861,  and  came  to  Albany  with  his  parents  in  1864.  His  father  has  long  been  a  lead- 
ing business  man,  being  president  of  the  Perry  Stove  Company,  vice  president  of 
the  National  Savings  Bank  and  a  director  of  the  Commerce  Insurance  Company. 
Mr.  Perry  attended  the  Albany  Academy,  was  graduated  from  the  Riverview  Military 
Academy  at  Poughkeepsie  in  1880,  and  was  then  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
stoves  until  1893,  being  assistant  superintendent  and  trustee  of  the  Perry  Stove 
Company.  In  1893  he  became  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Hilton  Bridge  Con- 
struction Company,  which  position  he  still  holds.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Fort 
Orange  and  Mohican  Canoe  Clubs,  the  Ridgefield  Athletic  Association  and  a  life 
member  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  of  Albany.  In  1885  he  enlisted  in  Co.  A.,  10th  Bat.,  N. 
Y.  N.  G.,  and  served  seven  years,  being  promoted  to  quartermaster-sergeant, 

Hochstrasser,  Jacob,  the  proprietor  and  manager  of  the  White  Sulphur  Springs 
Hotel,  was  born  in  1832.  Jacob,  his  father,  was  born  at  White  Sulphur  Springs  in 
1795.  His  wife  was  Margaret,  daughter  of  Cornelius  West,  of  Cooksburg,  N.  Y., 
and  their  children  were  Paul,  Abel,  Amos,  Peter  and  Jacob.  He  died  in  1875  and 
she  in  1870.  Jacob  Hochstrasser  attended  the  common  schools  and  after  leaving 
home  settled  in  the  village  of  Berne,  where  he  erected  a  fine  residence.  For  many 
years  he  was  extensively  and  successfully  interested  in  bee  culture,  earning  the  name 
of  "Honey  Jake;"  during  this  time  he  was  also  a  dealer  in  fine  horses.  In  1868  he 
was  pursuaded  by  his  father  to  return  to  the  farm,  which  he  took  charge  of  and 
cared  for  his  parents  in  their  declining  years.  On  account  of  the  excellent  healing 
character  of  the  sulphur  water  which  flowed  so  freely  from  the  springs  on  his  place, 
many  people  would  come  to  drink  and  to  bathe  in  the  water  and  would  beg  to  be 
boarded,  and  in  1881  Mr.  Hochstrasser  concluded  to  erect  a  hotel.  He  selected  a 
beautiful  location,  erected  his  hotel,  which  has  a  capacity  to  accommodate  110  people, 
and  gave  it  the  name  of  the  White  Sulphur  Springs  Hotel.  Mr.  Hochstrasser's  ex- 
cellent judgment  in  laying  out  the  grounds  and  keeping  them  in  repair,  as  well  as 
providing  beautiful  picnic  grounds,  has  made  his  place  by  far  the  most  beautiful  and 
desirable  summer  resort  on  the  Helderberg  Mountains.  In  1854  he  married  Maria, 
daughter  of  James  N.  and  Elizabeth  (Bassler)  Hilton  of  Berne,  aud  they  have  one 
child,  Frank  of  Philmont,  Columbia  county,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  is  established  in  the 
undertaking  business. 

Maxwell,  James  A. ,  was  born  in  Coeymans  and  began  his  business  life  on  the  river 
as  a  cabin  boy-      He  worked  his  way  up  until  in  1881   he  was  made  captain  of  the 


329 

steamer  Lottie,  which  position  he  now  holds.  He  married  Julia  Bratt  of  Delmar,  and 
they  have  one  son,  Harry,  and  two  daughters,  Mary  and  Ada. 

De  Freest,  Alburtus  B.,  was  born  in  Bethlehem,  and  is  a  son  of  \V.  V.  D.  De 
Freest,  and  grandson  of  David  and  great-grandson  of  John  De  Freest,  who  came 
from  Germany  to  Rensselaer  county  with  the  early  settlers.  David  De  Freest  came 
from  Bethlehem  in  1834  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He  has  four  sons:  A.  B., 
John,  Garrett,  and  W.  V.  D.,  who  remained  on  the  homestead  until  1878,  when  he 
came  to  Ravena,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  farming,  A.  B.  De  Freest 
opened  a  store  in  1893,  which  he  conducted  until  1895,  when  he  sold  out  and  started 
a  lumber  yard  which  he  now  runs,  and  also  handles  brick  and  cement.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  K.  of  P.  Lodge  of  Coeymans,  and  has  also  been  town  clerk  for  two 
years. 

Waldron,  Henry,  was  born  in  1820  and  is  a  son  of  Tobias  and  Cordelia  |  Van  I  'erzee) 
Waldron,  and  grandson  of  James  W.  and  Edith  (Ten  Eyck)  Walron.  James  Waldron 
came  from  Greene  county  to  where  his  father  settled  when  he  came  from  Holland  in 
about  1037.  Mr.  Henry  Waldron  remained  on  the  homestead  until  1850,  when  he 
bought  the  adjoining  farm,  where  he  has  since  lived.  Tobias  Waldron  was  one  of 
the  prominent  men  of  his  day  and  was  identified  with  the  public  affairs  of  his  town, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature.  He  died  on  the  Waldron  homestead  in 
1876. 

Van  Dei-zee,  Alton,  was  born  in  L842  in  Coeymans,  and  is  a  sou  of  Barent  and 
Laura  (Niles)  Van  Derzee,  and  grandson  of  Cornelius  Van  Derzee,  who  settled  in 
Coeymans  in  1774  and  was  a  fanner,  Mr.  Van  Derzee  moved  to  the  neighborhood 
where  he  now  lives  in  1852  and  where  his  father  died  in  1850,  Mr.  Van  Derzee  has 
always  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  town  and  in  1886  was  elected 
highway  commissioner,  and  in  18*7  was  on  the  Board  of  Supervisors  and  was  elected 
again  in  1891  and  1892.      He  is  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M.  No.  804. 

Gedney,  Samuel,  was  born  in  Coeymans  in  1820,  a  grandson  ol  Joshua,  who  with 
two  brothers  came  from  England  and  were  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  after  its 
close  one  settled  in   Dutchess  count  county,  and  Joshua  in  Albany 

county,  at  what  is  now  called  Stanton  Hill.  1  Ie  had  four  sons,  Joshua,  Peter.  Bar- 
tholomew* and  Absalom,  who  was  a  brickniaker,  and  died  in  North  Carolina  in  1888, 
where  he  had  gone  to  carry  out  a  contract  for  opening  a  yard  for  the  manufacture  of 
bricks.  Mr.  Gedney  began  lite  on  the  boats  of  the  Hudson  River,  where  he  was 
engineer  and  captain,  and  later  went  to  Washington,  1'.  C,  where  he  remained  for 
thirty  two  years,  first  as  captain  and  then  as  general  superintendent  of  the  Potomac 
River  Steamboat  Company  until  1882,  when  he  retired  and  returned  to  Coeymans 
where  he  has  since  resided.  In  IS  pi  he  married  Susan,  daughter  of  Anthony  Wolfe. 
and  has  one  son,  Edward  C.  a  farmer,  and  two  daughters,  Susie  (Mrs.  T.  J.  Corrie) 
and  Mary  C.  (Mrs.  W.  B.  Holmes)  of  Coeymans. 

Bedell,  jerry,  is  the  son  of  Thomas  and  grandson  of  Jeremiah,  who  came  to  Coey- 
mans at  an  early  day.  His  sons  were  David,  Nathan  and  Thomas.  Thomas  Bedell 
married  Rachel   Powell,  and  had  in  Edgar  P.,  John  G  ,  Alfred,  Samuel  and 

Jerry.      He  was  a  lai  Mil  fruil  grower,  and  died   in  1898.      Jerry  Bedell 

married  Helen  I.,  daughter  of  1  >avid  Yanhcuscn.  and  has  one  son,  Enos  1  ' 
PP 


330 

Whitbeck,  Joseph  M.,  is  the  son  of  John  T.,  and  the  grandson  of  Thomas  Whit- 
beck,  who  was  a  farmer  and  died  in  1873.  Joseph  M.  is  also  a  farmer.  He  married 
Harriet,  daughter  of  Spencer  Stearns  of  Greene  county,  by  whom  he  has  had  one 
son,  John  S.,  who  is  a  farmer  with  his  father,  and  also  has  one  son,  William  J. 

Watson,  Frank,  was  born  in  Stark ville,  Herkimer  county,  N.  Y.,  December  13, 
1829,  a  son  of  William  H.  and  Margaret  (Schmidt)  Watson.  His  grandfather,  Jude 
Watson,  and  the  near  relatives  of  his  grandmother,  the  Jenkses,  took  active  part  in 
the  Revolution  in  Herkimer  county.  When  four  years  old  Mr.  Watson  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Cobleskill,  N.Y.,  where  his  father  preached  in  the  First  Lutheran  church 
for  about  ten  years.  March  7,  1846,  Mr.  Watson  removed  to  Albany,  and  subse- 
quently worked  as  clerk  in  the  stores  of  William  Reese  and  Hiram  W.  Allen.  For 
three  years  thereafter  he  conducted  a  clothing  business  in  Niagara  Falls,  and  in 
1857,  while  at  Niagara  Frontier,  he  was  made  a  Free  Mason  and  was  intimate  and 
often  sat  in  lodge  with  Colonel  Whitney,  who  was  incarcerated  in  the  Canandaigua 
jail  suspected  of  being  an  accessory  to  the  disappearance  of  Morgan  In  1859  Mr. 
Watson  returned  to  Albany  and  for  twenty-three  years  was  a  salesman  and  partner 
in  the  store  of  A.  B.  Van  Gaasbeck  &  Co.'s  carpet  house.  Since  then  he  has  been 
engaged  in  the  carpet  cleaning  and  storage  business  at  Nos.  254-260  Washington 
avenue.  At  the  age  of  twenty  one  he  became  an  Odd  Fellow  and  is  now  a  demitted 
Mason  to  Mt.  Vernon  Lodge  No.  5  of  Albany.  He  has  been  twice  married  first  in 
1852,  and  again  in  1873  to  Fannie  H.,  daughter  of  Capt.  Richard  T.  Hoag  of  Al- 
bany. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Watson  have  three  children:  Mrs.  M.  E.  Northrup,  Grace  A. 
and  Mabel  E. 

Parlati,  Lorenzo,  son  of  Raffaele  and  Raffaela  (Di  Bissaccia)  Parlati,  was  born  in 
Naples,  Italy,  March  24,  1841.  His  parents  wished  him  to  join  the  priesthood  and 
sent  him  to  the  Jesuit  Seminary  of  St.  Charles  Borromeo,  in  Naples,  where  he  re- 
mained but  two  years,  owing  to  illness.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  entered  the 
Naples  College  of  Music,  where  he  remained  until  1858.  displaying  great  genius  and 
leading  his  classes  in  all  studies.  In  August,  1858,  he  left  the  college,  at  the  time  of 
the  Italian  Revolution,  in  1859  joined  the  volunteers  under  Garibaldi,  and  in  Octo- 
ber, 1860,  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Royal  Troops.  He  remained  at  Gaeta  Fortress 
from  November,  1860,  to  February  16,  1861,  when  he  returned  home,  there  to  be 
taken  sick  with  typhus  fever,  the  result  of  the  hardships  of  such  a  life.  He  was  an 
invalid  until  1864,  after  which  time  he  resumed  active  study.  In  1867  he  came  to 
America,  settling  in  Albany.  In  the  winter  of  1869  Jason  Collier  and  Prof.  Thomas 
Lloyd  brought  him  forward  at  a  concert  in  old  Tweddle  Hall  for  the  Y.  M.  C.  A., 
Mrs.  Charles  Hoyt,  at  that  time  the  leading  soprana  in  Albany  being  his  accom- 
panist. Immediately  he  was  besieged  with  pupils,  among  them  being  David  Mann 
of  Albany,  and  William  Oliver,  being  the  first.  For  a  year  or  two  thereafter  Signor 
Parlati  went  on  a  concert  tour  through  New  York  and  the  East,  meeting  with  great 
success.  In  the  winter  of  1870  he  organized  the  orchestra  still  bearing  his  name 
and  reaching  such  efficiency  under  his  able  leadership  that  it  is  recognized  as  being 
second  to  none  in  this  State  outside  of  New  York  city.  He  has  furnished  music  at 
all  the  social  functions  from  the  time  of  Governor  Hoffman.  His  orchestra  num- 
bers twenty-eight  musicians.  Subsequently  he  became  the  leader  of  the  orchestra 
at  the  Trimble  Opera  House  (now  the  Leland),  holding  through  succeeding  seasons. 


331 

In  1874  he  was  prevailed  upon  to  accept  the  leadership  of  the  Tenth  Regiment  Hand, 
Col.  (now  Gen.)  Robert  Shaw  Oliver  commanding.  Gen.  Amasa  J.  Parker  succi 
to  the  command  and  rendered  great  service  in  quelling  the  riots  at  West  Albany. 
His  orchestra  of  forty  pieces  played  at  the  opening  of  the  New  Capitol,  and  later  at 
the  Bi-Centennial.  He  furnished  the  music  at  the  Fort  William  Henry  Hotel,  Lake 
George,  and  at  the  Clarendon,  Saratoga,  for  many  seasons.  In  1884  he  resigned 
the  leadership  of  the  band,  devoting  himself  to  teaching  and  his  orchestra,  the  de- 
mand for  which  was  very  great  at  colleges,  etc.  He  furnished  the  music  for  ten 
successive  seasons  for  the  famous  Coterie  at  Lenox,  Mass.  He  is  recognized  as  a 
musician  among  musicians,  and  his  ability  as  a  conductor  and  teacher  stands  un- 
questioned. Among  his  many  pupils  who  have  attained  prominence  are  Charles 
Ehricke,  now  teaching  in  the  Indianapolis  Conservatory  of  Music;  Isaac  Strasser, 
George  Van  Tuly,  Hugo  Engel,  Ed.  Treadwell  and  many  others.  Professor  Parlati 
is  a  charter  member  of  the  B.  P.  (  >.  E.  He  married  Mary  E.  Greig  of  Albany,  who, 
with  his  daughter,  Mary  Elizabeth,  adds  largely  to  the  musical  atmosphere  of  their 
lovely  home. 

Blackburn,  John,  son  of  Robert  and  Sarah  (Barnett)  Blackburn,  was  born  in 
County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  October  13,  1837.  He  attended  the  National  School  in 
Ireland,  and  when  nineteen  years  of  age  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Troy. 
N.  Y.,  where  he  obtained  a  position  as  officeman  and  salesman  lor  John  Kerr  <\ 
manufacturers  and  dealers  in  wool.  He  remained  in  their  employ  six  years  and  ten 
months,  after  which  he  moved  to  Albia,  where  he  bought  the  factory  store  of  the 
Troy  Woolen  Company;  he  was  there  four  years  manufacturing  army  goods  and 
doing  a  large  business,  and  during  that  time  made  trips  through  the  Western  States, 
buying  wool  for  ].  Kerr  &  Co.  After  the  war,  manufacturing  having  practically 
ceased,   Mr.  Blackburn  moved   to  Albany  and   entered   the  business  in   the 

west  end,  where  he  was  engaged  fourteen  yea;"s,  after  which  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  John  J.  Jones  and  went  into  the  coal  business.  Twelve  years  later  Mr. 
Jones  died  and  the  firm  of  Blackburn,  Wallace  &  Co,  was  formed:  this  firm  consists 
of  John  Blackburn,  John  T.  D.  Blackburn,  and  Robert  A.  Wallace.  They  are 
located  at  Nos.  L05  Water  street,  705  Broadway,  841  Broadway,  "."Ontario  street  and 
at  Menauds.  Mr.  Blackburn  is  a  member  of  Masters  Lodge  F.  &  A.  M.,  a  member 
of  the  West  End  Presbyterian  church  and  has  been  chairman  of  the  board  of 
trustees  since  the  organization  of  the  church  in  |S7li.  He  has  also  been  a  trustee 
of  the  Albany  Exchange  Savings  Hank  lor  twelve  years.  In  1868  he  married  Nancy 
Downing  of  Troy,  N.  V.,  and  they  have  three  children:  Robert  M..  minister  m  the 
Presbyterian  church  at  New  Scotland,  Albany  county.  N.  V.  ;  John  T.  l>.,in  busi- 
ness with  his  father;  and  Zelda  Rebecca. 

Dell,    Nicholas   1.,  son  o  V.  and  Julia  Dell,  was  burn  in  Baden,    Germany, 

April  26,  L840.  lie  attended  th<  public  schools  until  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age 
and  in  1856 came  to  America,  settling  in  New  York  city.  Here  he  worked  as  a  tailor, 
following  the  trade  of  his  father  for  three  years,  when  his  parents  came  to  America 
and  they  moved  to  Albany,  N.  V.,  where  Mr.  Dell  engaged  in  the  tailor  business 
until  1892.  In  1870  he  went  into  business  for  himself  at  No.  18  I'm  aver  street,  where 
he  continued  until  1889;  from  there  he  moved  to  the  corner  of  S.  Pearl  street  and 
Hudson  avenue  in  the  building  later  occupied  by  the  South  End   Hank      In  1892  he 


332 

bought  the  Belvidere  Hotel  from  Mrs.  Zeller  and  has  since  conducted  one  of  the  best 
resorts  in  Albany.  Mr.  Dell  is  a  member  of  the  Einthracht,  and  Harmonia  Singing 
societies.  In  1864  he  joined  Co.  B,  10th  Bat.  N.  G.  N.  Y. ,  and  he  is  now  a  member 
of  the  Old  Guard;  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  Burgesses  Corps  and  the  B.  P.  O.  E. 
In  1887  he  was  elected  coroner  on  the  Democratic  ticket  and  re  elected  in  1890.  In 
1869  he  married  Anna  K.  Von  Lehman  of  Albany  by  whom  he  had  three  children. 
In  1888  he  married  Mary  K.  Hermas  of  Watertown,  N.  Y. ,  and  they  have  one  child. 

Denison,  Frederick  P.,  son  of  Henry  E.  and  Hannah  M.  (Godfrey)  Denison,  was 
born  in  Berlin,  N.  Y. ,  October  12,  1857.  He  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  William  Deni- 
son, who  was  born  in  England,  about  1586,  came  to  America  in  1631,  and  settled  in 
Roxbury,  Mass.,  having  with  him  his  wife,  Margaret,  his  three  sons,  Daniel,  Ed- 
ward and  George,  and  John  Eliot,  who  seems  to  have  been  a  tutor  in  the  family. 
Mr.  Denison  was  a  deacon  of  the  Roxbury  church  and  died  in  Roxbury,  January  25, 
1853.  Geerge  (son  of  William),  born  in  1618,  was  married  first  in  1640  to  Bridget 
Thompson,  daughter  of  John  Thompson  of  Preston,  Northamptonshire,  England, 
whose  widow,  Alice,  had  come  to  America  and  was  living  in  Roxbury.  The  wife 
Bridget  died  in  1643.  George  then  went  to  England,  served  under  Cromwell  in  the 
army  of  the  Parliament,  won  distinction,  was  wounded  at  Naseby,  was  nursed  at  the 
house  of  John  Borodell  by  his  daughter,  Ann,  whom  he  married  and  returned  to 
Roxbury,  finally  settling  at  Stonington,  Conn.  He  had  seven  children  by  his  second 
wife.  John  (son  of  George),  born  July  14,  1646,  married  in  1667  Phebe  Lay  of  .Say- 
brook,  Conn.  He  was  known  as  Capt.  John  Denison,  held  a  prominent  position  in 
Stonington,  and  in  many  ways  was  a  man  of  mark;  he  died  in  1698.  George  (son 
of  John),  born  March  28,  1671,  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  studied  law  and 
settled  in  New  London,  Conn.,  where  he  was  town  clerk,  county  clerk  and  clerk  of 
probate;  he  died  in  1720.  Daniel  (son  of  George)  was  born  June  27,  1703  and  died 
previous  to  1760.  Daniel  (son  of  Daniel)  was  born  December  16,  1730,  and  settled  in 
Stephentown,  N.  Y.,  about  1773;  he  died  in  1793.  Griswold  (son  of  Daniel)  was  born 
August  21,  1765.  George  T.  (son  of  Griswold)  was  born  March  17,  1795,  and  lived  at 
Berlin,  N.  Y.  ;  he  died  in  1874.  Henry  E.  (son  of  George  T.)and  father  of  Frederick 
P.,  was  born  May  30,  1828.  Frederick  P.  Denison,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  when 
a  mere  boy  went  into  the  music  store  of  Cluett  &  Sons,  Albany,  where  he  remained 
until  1886,  when  he  became  organist  of  the  Emmanuel  Baptist  church.  Although  one 
of  the  youngest  of  Albany's  musicians,  he  is  deservedly  counted  among  the  ablest 
and  takes  high  rank  not  merely  because  of  his  fine  natural  gifts,  but  because  of  his 
rounded  and  complete  musical  culture.  When  he  assumed  charge  of  the  Emmanuel 
choir  in  1886,  it  numbered  twelve  singers;  now  there  are  fifty.  To  no  small  degree 
is  he  indebted  for  his  present  position  in  the  musical  world  to  his  association  as 
accompanist  with  such  artists  as  Albani,  Lillie  Lehmann,  Emma  Thursby,  Clemen- 
tine De  Vere-Sapio,  Camilla  Urso,  Marie  Rose,  Mrs.  Osgood,  Campanini,  Adolph 
Hartigan  and  many  others  of  equal  renown.  Amateur  opera  owes  him  a  debt  and 
his  connection  with  local  concerts  has  added  to  the  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by  the 
musical  community.  In  the  summer  of  1886  he  took  a  trip  to  Europe,  where  he 
studied  musicians  as  well  as  music,  and  where  he  acquired  that  fine  touch  and 
artistic  equipment  of  which  his  friends  are  so  proud.  In  addition  to  his  being  or- 
ganist of  the  Emmanuel  church,  he  is  conductor  of  the  Schenectady  Choral  Society, 


333 

conductor  of  the  Albania  Orchestra  and  pianist  of  the  Albany  Musical  Association. 
He  is  a  member  of  Masters  Lodge  V.  &  A.  M. 

Woodward,  Walter  M.,  son  of  John  and  Caroline  A.  (Mills)  Woodward,  was  born 
in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  June  25  1860.  The  first  member  of  this  family  who  settled  in 
Albany,  was  John  Woodward,  the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who 
came  from  Montreal  about  1838,  and  engaged  in  the  carpentry  business.  I  lis  son, 
John,  became  prominent  in  the  business  circles  of  Albany  because  of  his  connection 
with  the  saddlery  and  harness  business  of  Woodward  &  Hill.  This  business  was 
founded  by  Nathaniel  Wright  in  1810  and  consequently  is  the  third  oldest  estab- 
lished business  in  the  city.  In  1860  John  Woodward  together  with  Mr.  W.  W.  Hill 
bought  the  business  from  Mr.  Wright  and  carried  it  on  under  the  firm  name  of  Wood- 
ward &  Hill.  Walter  M.  Woodward,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  received  his  educa- 
tion at  the  Albany  Boys'  Academy,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1879  and  imme- 
diately went  into  business  with  his  father.  In  1888  Mr.  Hill  died  and  John  and 
Walter  M.  Woodward  succeeded  to  the  ownership  of  the  business.  In  1895,  after  his 
father's  death.  Walter  M.  Woodward  succeeded  to  the  business  and  now  conducts  it 
under  the  original  name  of  Woodward  <Sr  Hill.  Mr.  Woodward  is  a  member  of  Mas- 
ters Lodge  F.  &  A.  M.  and  a  trustee  of  the  National  Savings  Bank.  In  1S!H  he  mar- 
ried May,  daughter  of  Alonzo  Blossom  of  Chicago,  111.  They  have  two  sons,  John 
B.  and  Walter  M.,  jr. 

Goold,  Charles  B.,  sou  of  John  S.  and  Abbie  iBridgman)  Goold,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Macedou,  Wayne  county,  N.  Y. ,  in  1857.  When  lie  was  about  seven  years 
of  age  his  parents  moved  to  Albany,  N,  V.,  and  ever  since  that  time  Mr.  Goold  has 
been  an  active  Albanian.  His  early  education  was  received  at  Miss  Crane's  school 
on  Hamilton  street  and  at  Levi  Cass's  Classical  Institute-  subsequently  he  attended 
the  Albany  Academy  and  was  graduated  from  that  in  1874.  I  Hiring  the  school  year 
of  1874  and  1875  he  taught  at  the  academy  and  in  the  fall  of  1875  he  entered  Amherst 
College,  where  he  took  the  Porter  Prize  for  the  best  entrance  examination;  the 
Hutchins  Greek  Prize  for  the  highest  attainment  in  Creek,  and  he  was  one  of  the 
contestants  for  the  Hardy  Prize  for  extemporaneous  debate.  Mr.  Goold  graduated 
from  Amherst  in  1879,  and  at  the  commencement  exercises  represented  the  Greek  de- 
partment, having  been  selected  for  this  honor  by  the  head  of  the  Greek  department. 
While  at  college  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Alpha  Delta  I'lii  fraternity  and  sub- 
sequently a  member  of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  Society.  After  graduation  lie  returned 
to  the  Albany  Academy  and  taught  Creek  and  Latin  until  1881,  when  he  went 
to  Germany  and  studied  at  Heidelberg  and  Berlin ;  after  the  winter  term  at  Berlin  lie- 
went  south  into  Italy  and  Greece,  studying  the  language,  habits  and  customs  of  the 
people.  He  returned  to  Albany  in  1882  and  resumed  his  position  as  prof essor  of 
Greek  and  German  in  the  Albany  Academy.  The  summer  of  is^  Mr.  Goold  spent 
in  Paris,  and  upon  his  return  in  the  fall,  he  assumed  charge  of  the  French  depart- 
ment at  the  Albany  Academy.  He  has  edited  for  Ginn  &  Co.  of  Boston,  a  collection 
of  German  stories  for  use  in  teaching  the  languag  now  professor  of  Greek 

and  modern  languages  at  the  Albany  Academy.      In    1888  he  received  the  degri 
A.  M.  from  Amherst.      He  i^  a  charter  member  of  the-  Albany  Chess  Club.      In    1888 
he  married  Louisa  W.  Hunt  of  St.  Paul.  Minn.,  and  they  have  three  children.  Edgar 
Hunt,  John  Chester  and  Katharine  Hunt. 


334 

Silliman,  Rev.  George  Dent,  D.  D.,  rector  of  Grace  church,  corner  of  Clinton 
avenue  and  Robin  street,  was  born  at  Hobart,  Delaware  county,  N.  Y.,  March  23, 
1841.  His  father  was  Ebenezer  Silliman,  who  married  Ann  Sturgess,  1827.  The 
family  is  of  Connecticut  origin,  from  one  Daniel  Silliman,  who  settled  at  Holland 
Hill,  two  miles  from  Fairfield,  in  1658;  he  was  from  Lucca,  Italy,  having  lived  at 
Geneva,  Switzerland.  In  ancient  deeds  his  ancestor  is  called  Lord  Claude  Silli- 
mandi.  Among  the  ancestors  in  Connecticut  is  the  Hon.  Ebenezer  Silliman,  1707,  a 
member  of  the  Colonial  government,  and  grandfather  of  the  elder  Professor  Silliman 
of  Yale  College.  On  both  sides  of  the  family  weje  those  who  were  identified  with 
the  Revolutionary  war.  The  rector  was  educated  at  the  Delaware  Academy,  Delhi, 
N.  Y.,  St.  Stephen's  College,  Annandale,  and  the  General  Theological  Seminary, 
New  York.  He  was  made  deacon  by  Bishop  Doane  in  St.  Peter's,  Albany,  Trinity 
Sunday,  1870,  and  ordered  priest  in  St.  Paul's,  Xewburgh,  by  Bishop  Horatio  Potter, 
November  of  the  same  year.  He  was  rector  of  St.  John's  church,  Monticello,  N.  Y., 
for  three  years,  and  the  beautiful  stone  church  there  was  built  mostly  by  money  then 
raised,  as  was  also  St.  Mary's,  Thompsonville.  From  1873  to  1875  he  was  in  charge 
of  Trinity  church,  San  Francisco.  In  1875  he  married  Mary  C.  Warren,  daughter  of 
William  E.  Warren,  of  •Newburgh ;  she  died  December  11,  1S93,  leaving  three  chil- 
dren: Mary  Warren,  William  Warren  and  George  Stephen  Silliman.  After  one  year 
at  Napa,  Cal.,  he  took  charge  of  St.  George's  chapel,  Newburgh,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1877  was  called  to  Grace  church,  Middletown.  The  churoh  was  sadly  out  of  repair 
and  during  his  rectorship  it  was  put  in  order  and  adorned;  from  1881  to  1893  he  was 
rector  of  St.  Mark's  church,  Hoosic  Falls,  and  here,  too,  the  church  was  enlarged 
and  embellished  under  his  rectorship.  On  Trinity  Sunday,  1893,  he  became  rector 
of  Grace  church  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  twenty-two  years  before  on  that  day  he 
preached  his  first  sermon  after  ordination.  Grace  church  on  the  Sunday  after 
Ascension,  1897,  celebrated  its  fiftieth  anniversary  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Maunsell  Van 
Rensselaer  preached  at  the  morning  service,  he  being  the  first  rector  fifty  years  since; 
the  Rev.  David  L.  Schwartz,  D.  D.,  preached  at  the  evening  service,  he  being  a  most 
devoted  rector  for  sixteen  years  and  gave  the  parish  its  present  life  and  standing. 
These  two  men  have  left  their  impression  on  Albany  for  all  that  is  good.  The  first 
service  was  held  in  an  upper  room  on  the  corner  of  State  and  Lark  streets;  afterward 
a  church  was  built  on  the  corner  of  Lark  and  Washington  streets,  and  in  1873  it  was 
removed  to  Clinton  avenue  and  Robin  street.  In  1884  it  was  enlarged  under  Rev.  Dr. 
Schwartz,  and  in  1894  a  guild  hall  was  added.  From  the  day  of  its  foundation  to  the 
present  it  has  been  a  free  church  and  a  working  parish  for  working  people  who  have 
every  reason  to  be  proud  of  the  results  that  have  come,  when  no  large  sum  of  money 
could  ever  be  given. 

Dumary,  T.  Henry,  was  born  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  November  5,  1855.  He  is  a  son  of 
Charles  Dumary  and  Margaret  Parr,  whose  father,  Richard,  came  to  America  from 
England  in  1820  and  was  a  descendant  of  Thomas  Parr  who  lived  to  the  ripe  old  age 
of  152.  Mr.  Dumary  was  educated  in  the  Troy  public  schools,  after  leaving  which 
he  went  into  the  employ  of  the  Albany  City  Iron  Works  and  the  Jagger  Iron  Works 
of  Albany,  where  he  had  charge  of  the  outside  department  and  where  he  remained 
six  years.  He  then  associated  himself  with  Anthony  N.  Brady  in  the  general  con- 
tracting business  and  remained  with  him  for  twelve  years.     For  the  past  two  years 


335 

Mr.  Dumary  has  been  a  contractor  of  sewer  and  street  work  and  has  handled  some 
very  large  contracts,  particularly  the  Beaver  street  sewer,  the  largest  in  Albany. 
For  six  months  in  1896  Mr.  Dumary  did  work  amounting  to  $250,000.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Temple  Lodge  F.  &  A.  M.,  Capital  City  Chapter  R.  A.  M.,  Dewitt  Clinton 
Council  R.  &  S.  M.  and  is  past  commander  of  Temple  Commandery.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  all  the  A.  &  A.  Rite  and  is  presiding  officer  in  two  bodies,  and  has  been 
elected  to  receive  the  thirty-third  degree  at  Boston,  Mass.,  in  September,  1S!»7.  Mr. 
Dumary  is  also  a  member  of  Albany  Lodge  B.  P.  O.  E.  He  began  his  service  as  a 
public  servant  when  very  young,  having  been  from  ten  to  thirteen  years  of  age 
unanimously  elected  messenger  to  the  Troy  Common  Council  and  Board  of  Educa- 
tion. April  27,  1880,  he  married  Carry  B.  McCann,  daughter  of  Henry  McCann,  a 
well  known  civil  engineer  and  explorer,  of  Hudson,  N.  V.,  who  met  his  death 
exploring  in  South  America.  They  had  three  children:  Janette,  Robert  A.  and 
Henry. 

Garfield,  Henry  Whiting,  was  born  in  Albany,  N.Y.,  November  16,  1848.  II 
son  of  Charles  Lyman  Garfield.  His  mother  was  Eleanor  Cole,  daughter  of  the  late 
Judge  John  O.  Cole.  Mr.  Garfield  is  a  descendant  of  the  Puritans.  Three  brothers, 
Garfields,  came  to  America  with  the  earliest  settlers  and  their  offspring  fought  in  the 
Colonial  and  Revolutionary  wars.  The  late  President  Garfield  was  a  member  of  the 
same  family.  Mayor  Whiting,  the  first  mayor  of  Boston,  was  an  ancestor  of  Mr.  <  rar- 
lield.  Mr.  Garfield  graduated  from  the  Albany  Classical  Institute  and  immediately  ob- 
tained a  clerkship  in  the  Albany  City  Bank.  He  subsequently  went  to  the  Albany 
Savings  Bank,  where  he  is  at  present  accountant.  Mr.  Garfield  is  one  of  the  best 
known  amateur  oarsmen  and  for  twelve  years  was  president  of  the  National  Asso- 
ciation of  Amateur  Oarsmen,  and  for  twenty-two  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  its 
executive  committee.  He  is  treasurer  of  St.  Margaret's  House  and  the  Albany 
Historical  and  Art  Society;  he  is  also  a  member  and  chairman  of  the  house  commit- 
tee of  the  Albany  Club. 

Smith,  Frank  J.,    Ph.  <'...  son  of  David  A.  and   Elizabeth  (McGaghey)  Smith,  was 
born  in  Albany,  X.  V.,  September  'JO,  1859.     Both  of  Mr.  Smith's  parents  were  born 
in  Ireland ;  his  father  came  to  America  from  County  Moneghan,   in   May,  1884,  and 
settled   in  Albany.      In   ls-17   he  engaged   in   the  grocery   business  on  the  corner  of 
Green  street  and  Hudson  avenue,  on  property  owned   by  the  Ten  Eyck  estate.      He 
remained  in    business  there   for  twenty-live   years  and   subsequently  moved  to   the 
corner  of  Knox  and  Second   streets.     David  A.  Smith  is  now  retired  after  a  su< 
ful  business  career.      He  was   well   known.      Prank   J.    Smith    attended    Levi   I 
Grand  Street  Institute  and  Amos  Cass's  Division  Street  Institute;  subsequently  he 
attended    School  No.  15   and  was   a   member  of  the   first  class  graduated    from   that 
school.      In    the   fall   of   1872   he  went  to   the  Albany   High    School,  but   owing  to  ill 
health  remained  there  only  three  months.      March    17,   1873,  he  went  to  work  in   the 
drug  store  of  John  he  P.  Townsend  as  boy.  where  he  remained  thirteen  years,  in  the 
mean  time  attending  the  Albany  College  of  Pharmacy,  from  which  he  was  . 
February  '-27,  1888,  being  a  member  of  the  first  class  graduated  from  that  college.     In 
1SSG  Mr.  Smith  started  in  the  drug  business  for  himself  at  his  present  location 
371  Clinton  avenue,   and  in   addition  to  the  drug  business  he  has  an  extensivi 
tling  establishment.      He  was  the  first  to  put  up  carbonated  root  beer  in  champagne 


336 

bottles ;  he  also  puts  up  siphons  of  seltzer  and  vichy  and  manufactures  many  patent 
medicines.  In  1892  he  was  a  candidate  on  the  Republican  ticket  for  the  office  of 
coroner  and  received  a  large  number  of  votes,  but  was  counted  out.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Ancient  City  Lodge  No.  452,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Mt.  Hermon  Lodge  No.  38, 
I.  O.  O.  F.  He  is  also  treasurer  and  for  ten  years  has  been  vestryman  of  Grace 
Episcopal  church.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Unconditional  Republican  Club.  June  1, 
1881,  he  married  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Thomas  Fazaherly,  the  well-known  baker, 
and  they  have  two  children,  Edna  Flavell  and  F.  J.,  jr. 

Campion,  George  A.,  is  a  native  of  Albany,  and  a  son  of  John  Campion  (one  of 
the  oldest  families  of  the  Old  Colonie,  as  it  was  called),  who  was  a  member  of  the 
first  police  force  of  Albany.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Catharine  Cummer- 
ford.  Mr.  Campion  had  eight  brothers  and  three  sisters;  two  of  the  brothers  being 
connected  in  a  public  way  with  the  affairs  of  the  city:  Patrick  H.,  at  one  time  assist- 
ant engineer  of  the  fire  department  and  later  practical  engineer;  and  Martin  A., 
who  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  a  detective  and  sergeant  of  the  police  force.  Mr. 
Campion  received  his  education  in  St.  Joseph's  School  and  in  select  schools  under 
direction  of  the  Catholic  clergy.  After  finishing  his  schooling  he  learned  the  sash, 
blind  and  cabinet  business  and  followed  that  trade  for  four  or  five  years,  when  he 
went  into  the  employ  of  L.  &  P.  K.  Dederick,  manufacturers  of  agricultural  imple- 
ments, remaining  with  that  firm  nine  years.  In  1870  he  started  the  undertaking 
business  at  No.  772  Broadway,  and  in  1873,  in  order  to  obtain  larger  quarters  for  a 
i-apidly  increasing  business,  he  moved  to  his  present  location,  No.  63  Livingston 
avenue.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Union  and  of  St.  Joseph's  church,  of 
which  his  father  was  one  of  the  first  members.  In  1875  Mr.  Campion  married 
Hannah  Holmes  of  Troy,  N.  Y. ,  and  they  have  two  sons,  John  Ebel  and  George  A., 
jr.  John  E.  graduated  from  the  United  States  College  of  Embalming  in  1893  and  is 
now  associated  with  his  father  in  business. 

Griswold,  Stephen  B.,  son  of  Martin  and  Hannah  (Smith)  Griswold,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Vernon,  Oneida  county,  N.Y.,  July  14,  1835.  He  is  descended  from  old 
New  England  families  on  both  the  paternal  and  maternal  sides.  His  grandfather, 
Matthew  Griswold,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Vernon,  and  his  great-grandfather, 
Phineas  Griswold  of  Winchester  township,  Litchfield  county,  Conn. ,  was  descended 
from  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Connecticut  who  came  from  Warwickshire,  Eng- 
land, in  1725,  and  founded  the  Griswold  family  in  America.  Stephen  B.  Griswold, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  worked  on  his  father's  farm  until  1856,  and  in  the  mean 
time  attended  the  common  school  and  the  Vernon  Academy.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  he  went  West  and  spent  the  year  1857  in  the  State  of  Minnesota,  where  he  was 
one  of  the  first  white  settlers  in  Meeker  county.  The  following  winter  and  spring 
he  spent  teaching  school  in  Winnebago  county,  111.  In  1858  he  returned  East  and 
spent  nearly  a  year  at  his  home  in  Vernon,  when  he  decided  upon  the  legal  profes- 
sion, and  in  the  fall  of  1859  entered  the  Albany  Law  School,  graduating  in  the 
spring  of  the  following  year  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  The  two  following  years 
he  was  a  student  in  the  law  office  of  Lyman  Tremain  and  Rufus  W.  Peckham. 
After  leaving  the  office  of  Tremain  &  Peckham,  Mr.  Griswold  practiced  law  in  Al- 
bany and  Oneida  counties  until  1868,  when  he  was  induced  by  the  late  Chancellor 
John  V.  L.  Pruyn  to  accept  the  position  of  law  librarian  of  the  State  Library,  which 


337 

position  he  has  held  continuously  for  the  past  twenty-nine  years.  In  1868  the  num- 
ber of  law  books  in  the  library  was  20,000;  now  it  is  58,000.  In  1862  he  prepared  a 
subject  index  of  the  law  library  and  a  supplement  thereto  in  1893.  which  has  been 
pronounced  by  Sir  Frederick  Pollock  of  London  and  other  eminent  jurists  to  be  the 
most  satisfactory  law  catalogue  yet  published.  Many  changes  have  taken  place 
among  the  officials  of  the  library  since  Mr.  Griswold's  connection  with  it.  Not  one 
of  the  nineteen  trustees  who  were  in  office  when  Mr.  Griswold  was  appointed  in  1868 
is  now  living.  Mr.  Griswold  is  a  member  of  the  First  Reformed  church  of  Albany, 
and  has  served  several  terms  as  deacon  and  elder.  He  is  a  member  and  has  held 
office  in  the  Albany  County  Sunday  School  Association,  the  V.  M.  C.  A.  the  Albany 
City  Tract  and  Missionary  Society,  and  the  Albany  County  Bible  Society.  In  No- 
vember, I860,  Mr.  Griswold  married  Angeline  E.  Cornwell  of  Albany.  They  have 
one  son,  Henry  E. ,  who  has  been  for  seventeen  years  sub-librarian  of  the  State  Law 
Library. 

McLaren,  James,  son  of  John  and  Margaret  (Bell)  McLaren,  was  born  in  Edinburgh, 
Scotland,  February  6,  1833.  He  received  his  education  in  the  private  schools  of 
Edinburgh  and  in  1854  came  to  America,  settling  in  Albany.  He  worked  on  the 
Northern  Railroad  as  machinist  for  about  three  years  and  in  1863  started  in  the  busi- 
ness of  manufacturing  machinist,  having  joined  in  the  partnership  of  Pynchon  & 
McLaren,  which  was  succeeded  in  1864  by  Anthony  &  McLaren.  In  1876  Mr.  Mc- 
Laren came  into  the  sole  possession  of  the  business  and  has  conducted  it  very  suc- 
cessfully at  No.  47  Liberty  street  since  then.  In  187  I  Mr.  McLaren  made  an  exten- 
sive trip  across  the  ocean.  He  is  very  active  in  the  St.  Andrew's  Society  and  is  a 
member  of  its  board  of  managers. 

Ryan,  Thomas  A.,  M.  1).,  son  of  Andrew  and  Margaret  (O'Shea)  Ryan,  was  born 
in  Hudson,  N.  Y.,  in  1S64.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Hudson  and  in  1881 
removed  to  Albany,  N.  V.,  and  took  a  course  at  the  Albany  Commercial  College. 
While  attending  that  college  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  the  late  Dr.  Snow. 
He  next  studied  with  Dr.  Vander  Veer  until  1890,  and  continued  with  Dr.  Mac- 
Donald  until  1893,  when  he  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  College,  re- 
ceiving the  degree  of  M.D.  Dr.  Ryan  was  president  of  the  class  of  '98  and  received 
the  Bigelow  prize  of  $30  in  gold  foi  work  on  the  nose  and  throat,     [n  Sep- 

tember, 1893,  Dr.  Ryan  commenced  practice  at  No.  17  Eagle  street,  where heis  now 
located.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society,  Albany  Press  Club. 
and  is  instructor  in  surgery  at  the  Albany  Medical  College  and  attending  surgeon  to 
the  out-door  department  of  the  Albany  Hospital;  is  an  ex-member  of  New  York 
State  National  Guard,  having  served  six  years  in  Co.  1  ».  10th  Battalion,  of  Albany 
county. 

Ruso,  Conrad,  son  of  Nicholas  F.  and  Catharine  J.  (Mosher)  Ruso,  was  born  m 
Albany,  N.  V.,  November  7,  1S4S.  Mr.  Ruso  is  of  French  origin,  his  great-great 
grandfather  having  come  to  America  from  France,  in  the  early  part  of  the  seventeenth 
century  and  settled  in  Albany  county.  Conrad  Ruso  was  educated  in  the  Albany 
public  schools  and  the  Albany  Business  College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1866.  After  leaving  college,  he  was  employed  for  a  short  time  as  clerk  in  the  whole- 
sale grain  house  of  Glazier  &  Thacher.     Subsequently  he  went  as  bookkeeper  into 


338 

the  employ  of  his  father,  N.  F.  Ruso,  wholesale  commission  merchant.  In  1870  he 
became  a  partner  in  the  business  and  in  1875,  after  the  death  of  his  father,  he  suc- 
ceeded to  the  sole  ownership.     Mr.  Ruso  is  a  member  of  Temple  Lodge  No.  14,  F.  & 

A.  M.,  Capital  City  Chapter  No.  242,  R.  A.  M.,  Temple  Commandery  No.  2,  K.  T., 
and  Cyprus  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  and  is  also  a  thirty-second  degree  Scottish 
Rite  Mason.  HeHs  president  of  the  Acacia  Club.  In  1870  he  married  Eleanor  V., 
daughter  of  Rev.  Charles  Gorse,  of  Newburgh,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have  one  son, 
Frank  G. 

Slingerland,  De  Witt  Chester,  son  of  Henry  H.  and  Hannah  (Winne)  Slingerland, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Bethlehem,  Albany  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1850.  He  comes  of 
good  old  Dutch  ancestry,  as  follows:  Father,  born  1808,  son  of  Henry  of  New  Scot- 
land, died  1808  (m.  Jemima  Slingerland),  son  of  Albert  of  Onisquatha,  born  17:3:), 
died  1814  (m.  Elizabeth  Moak  in  1760),  son  of  Johannes  of  Onisquatha,  born  1696, 
died  1731  (m.  in  1724  to  Anne  Slingerland),  son  of  Albert  of  Onisquatha,  born  1666 
(ra.  Hester  Becker),  son  of  Teunis  Cornelise  Slingerland,  who  came  from  Amsterdam, 
Holland,  about  1650  and  settled  in  Beverwyck  (now  Albany)  and  purchased  10 ,000 
acres  of  land  from  the  Indians  and  settled  on  the  land  now  owned  by  his  direct  de- 
scendants. De  Witt  C.  Slingerland,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  educated  in  the 
Albany  public  schools,  after  which  he  became  clerk  and  bookkeeper  for  his  father 
and  brother,  H.  H.  Slingerland  &  Son.     In  1889  Henry  H.  sold  out  to  his  sons,  John 

B.  and  D.  C,  who  now  own  a  large  wholesale  and  retail  grocery  situated  at  86  and 
88  Washington  avenue  and  73  South  Swan  street.  Mr.  Slingerland  is  a  member  of 
Ancient  City  Lodge  No.  452,  F.  &  A.  M.,  the  Unconditional  Republican  Club,  and  is 
a  director  of  the  New  York  Mutual  Savings  and  Loan  Association.  In  March,  1875, 
he  married  Lillie  Cuyler  Geary  of  Albany,  and  they  have  two  sons,  Henry  Cuyler 
and  Frank  Nelson. 

Moore,  James  C,  son  of  William  and  Jane  (Campbell)  Moore,  was  born  in  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  October  1,  1830.  Mr.  Moore's  father  was  born  in  County  Down,  Ireland,  and 
in  1822  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Albany.  In  1844  he  started  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  bricks  on  Morton  street,  where  he  was  very  successful.  In  1860  he  retired 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  James  C,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  was  also  very 
successful  and  in  1865  established  another  yard  on  Third  avenue.  Mr.  Moore  is  a 
brother  of  Robert  H.  Moore,  of  the  well  known  lumber  firm  of  Moore  &  Zimmerman. 
In  1859  Mr.  Moore  married  Sarah  K.  Smith,  who  died  the  same  year,  and  in  1875  he 
married  Anna  Babcock,  by  whom  he  had  one  daughter,  Jean  C.  and  one  son,  Will- 
iam, who  is  dead.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Third  Reformed  church,  Wadsworth 
Lodge  F.  &  A.  M.,  Temple  Chapter  R.  A.  M.,  and  De  Witt  Clinton  Council  R.  & 
S.  M.     He  is  also  a  director  of  the  Albany  County  Building  and  Loan  Association. 

Amsdell,  Theodore  M.,  was  born  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  November  20,  1828.  His  ances- 
tors were  Holland-Dutch  and  went  from  Holland  to  England  at  the  time  of  Charles 
II.  Early  in  1821  William  Amsdell,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  came  to 
America  and  in  1845  established  the  Amsdell  Brewery  in  Albany,  N.  Y.  Theodore 
M.,  received  his  education  in  the  Albany  public  schools  and  in  1844  engaged  in  his 
father's  business  and  soon  after  became  the  master  thereof.  In  1851  he  purchased 
his  father's  plant  and  five  years  later  removed  to  Jay  street.  He  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  his  brother,  George  I.,  and  the  firm  of  Amsdell   Brothers  was  widely  and 


339 

favorably  known.  This  firm  continued  until  October,  1892,  when  Theodore  sold  his 
interest  to  his  brother  and  purchased  with  his  son-in  law,  George  C.  Hawley,  the 
Dobler  Brewery,  situated  on  Swan  and  Elm  streets  and  .Myrtle  avenue.  The  name, 
The  Dobler  Brewing  Co.,  adopted  in  I860,  is  still  retained.  In  1855  Mr,  Amsdell 
married  Helen  E.  Zeh,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  the  wife  of  George  C.  Hawley. 
In  1878  Mr.  Amsdell  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Brewers'  Association  of  New  York 
State. 

Brierley,  William  P.,  M.  D.,  son  of  John  and  Anna  Amelia  (Coles)  Brierley,  was 
born  in  Stockport,  Columbia  county,  N.  Y.,  in  186:].  He  received  his  pteliminary 
education  under  the  instruction  of  the  Rev.  George  Fisher,  pastor  of  the  church  of 
St.  John  the  Evangelist,  Episcopal,  at  Stockport.  He  studied  in  this  way  for  eight 
years,  then  spent  two  years  studying  in  a  drug  store  in  Hudson.  X.  Y.,  and  Lenox, 
Mass.  He  then  determined  upon  the  medical  profession  and  studied  one  year  with 
Dr.  C.  E.  Fritts  of  Hudson;  he  then  moved  to  Albany  and  registered  with  the  late 
Dr.  John  Swinburne.  In  1886  he  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  College  and 
received  the  degree  of  M.  I).  Dr.  Brierley  remained  with  Dr.  Swinburne  two  years 
after  graduation  and  had  charge  of  the  dispensary  when  Dr.  Swinburne  was  in 
Washington  as  a  member  of  congress.  Since  then  Dr.  Brierley  has  practiced  in 
Albany.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society,  Capital  City  L 
I.  O.  ().  F.,  and  of  the  Ojibway  Tribe  of  Red  Men.  June  14,  ls'jo,  he  married 
Katharine,  daughter  of  Jacob  Holler.  They  have  three  sons,  John  Herbert,  Harold 
Potter  and  Walter. 

Fish,  Julius,  son  of  Simon  and  Jeanette  (Schuster)  Fish,  was  born  in  Albany, 
X.  Y.,  in  April,  1853.  He  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  and  after 
leaving,  was  "bound  over"  for  three  years  to  learn  the  trade  of  stripping  tobacco 
in  the  factory  of  Fred  Classen  on  Green  street.  He  worked  at  the  bench  in  different 
factories  after  learning  his  trade  and  by  hard  work  and  judicious  saving  was  enabled 
to  go  into  business  for  himself  in  1872.  His  store  was  then  located  on  lower  South 
Pearl  street;  in  1876  he  opened  a  tobacco  store  and  cigar  manufactory  at  No.  11 
South  Pearl  street.  In  1896  he  sold  the  store  and  now  confines  his  attention  solely 
to  the  manufacture  of  cigars  at  the  same  location.  Mr.  Fish  is  very  popular  in 
social  and  fraternal  circles,  being  a  member  of  tin  Adelphi  Club  and  Gideon  Lodge. 
He  has  been  prominently  identified  with  the  1  democratic  party  and  is  now  a  member 
of  the  general  committee.  In  January,  1897.  Mayor  Thacher  appointed  him  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Fire  Commissioners  to  succeed  Rufus  Townsend,  decei 

Cox,   John,  son  of  George  W.  and   Jane  (Morgan)  Cox,  was    born    in  Walsall,  Staf- 
fordshire. England,  in   1850.      He  attended  the  common  school  and  learned  the  trade 
of  brass  finisher  in  the  town  and   vicinity  of  Walsall,  which  is  eight   miles  from   Bir- 
mingham.     In  1870  he  came  to  America  and  settled    in  Albany,  X.  Y.,  where  i 
lowed   his  trade  as  a  journeyman    for  Orr  &  Blair.     This  firm   afterwards 
hands  and  became  well  know  as  Blair  &  Kinnear.     Mr.  C<>\  remained  with  this  firm 
three  years  and  in  187:!  bought  the  business  of   Henry   McElroy  who  owned  a  1 
manufactory,    where   Mr.    Cox   is    now   located.      In    February,    1891,  together    with 
Philip  Wendell  Parks,  A.  C.  Graves,  A.  1"..  Brown,  1'.  I-'.  Gaynor  and   H.  E.  Bailey, 
he  organized  the  Cox  Brass  Manufacturing  Company  of  which   lie  is  now  vice-presi- 
dent and  general   manager.     The  company  does  a  large  business   in  its  Albanj 


340 

tory  and  has  a  salesroom  at  No.  193  Center  street,  New  York.  In  1872  Mr.  Cox 
married  the  daughter  of  Wm.  W.  Chandler  of  Albany.  They  have  four  children : 
John  W.,  William  G. ,  Margaret  Jane  and  Theodore  M. 

Hunting,  Edwin  Francis,  son  of  Ambrose  R.  and  Amanda  (Severson)  Hunting, 
was  born  in  Gallupville,  Schoharie  county,  N.  Y.,  April  1,1864.  The  family  is  de- 
scended from  John  Hunting,  who  resided  in  the  east  of  England.  John  Hunting 
came  to  America  in  1638  and  was  ordained  elder  of  the  church  in  Dedham,  Mass. 
The  family  coat  of  arms  contains,  among  other  emblems,  three  hunting  dogs,  as 
many  stags'  heads;  the  dogs  holding  between  the  paws  a  stag's  head.  His  son, 
John  Hunting,  was  born  in  1640;  whose  son  Nathaniel  was  born  in  1675;  who  also 
had  a  son  Nathaniel,  who  was  born  in  1702;  whose  son  Captain  Joseph  was  born  in 
1731 ;  whose  son  Joseph  was  born  in  1766,  and  settled  in  Schoharie  county  (on  the 
farm  now  occupied  by  the  father  of  Edwin  F.)  He  also  had  a  son  Joseph  (grand- 
father) born  in  1805,  and  resided  on  the  farm  occupied  by  his  father.  Ambrose  R. 
(father)  was  born  in  1833.  He  attended  the  district  school,  Schoharie  Academy  and 
Charlotteville  Seminary.  He  has  served  his  town  several  terms  as  supervisor ;  his 
district  for  two  terms  as  school  commissioner ;  and  his  county  (Schoharie)  in  the 
Legislature  in  the  year  1891,  as  assemblyman,  being  elected  by  the  Democratic 
party,  of  which  he  has  been  a  lifelong  member.  Edwin  F.  attended  the  district 
school  and  Gallupville  Academy,  and  in  December,  1882,  removed  to  Albany,  N.  Y., 
where  he  served  an  apprenticeship  at  the  drug  business.  In  the  fall  of  1885  he 
entered  the  Albany  College  of  Pharmacy.  He  took  the  regular  course  and  grad- 
uated in  1887,  received  the  degree  of  Ph.  G.  He  stood  at  the  head  of  his  class, 
and  received  the  prize  for  the  best  general  examination.  In  March,  1887,  Mr. 
Hunting  purchased  the  drug  business  at  No.  67  Central  avenue.  In  December,  1888, 
he  married  Margaret  F.  Hocomb  of  Albany,  and  they  have  three  children,  Mil- 
dred E.,  Joseph  W.,  and  Ruth.  In  February,  1795,  he  purchased  the  building  and 
removed  his  business  to  the  present  location,  No.  121  Central  a,venue,  corner  of 
Lexington  avenue.  He  is  a  member  of  Mt.  Yernon  Lodge  No.  3,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and 
is  the  president  of  the  Alumni  Association  of  the  College  of  Pharmacy,  of  which 
he  was  also  the  treasurer  for  five  years.  He  is  a  Democrat,  a  bimetallism  and  was 
an  ardent  supporter  of  Mr.  Biwan  for  the  presidency.  He  is  much  opposed  to  the 
English  system  of  government  rule  by  a  moneyed  aristocracy,  and  holds  in  con- 
tempt the  pseudo  aristocrats,  who  are  striving  to  foist  the  English  system  ujxm 
this  Republic.  He  sympathizes  much  with  the  many,  who  suffer  so  grievously  on 
account  of  our  present  monetary  system — those  who  are  compelled  to  yield  to  avarice 
and  greed  a  portion  of  their  pittance,  that  the  holdings  of  the  avaricious  might  be 
correspondingly  increased. 

Selkirk,  Alexander,  oldest  son  of  Charles  and  Jane  (Elmendorf)  Selkirk  and 
brother  of  Lewis  M.  and  Frank,  was  born  at  Selkirk,  Albany  county,  N.  Y.,  July  18, 
1830.  On  the  paternal  side  he  descended  from  James  Selkirk,  who  emigrated  from 
Kirkcudbright,  Scotland,  and  landed  at  the  city  of  New  York  June  16,  1775,  then 
went  to  Galway,  Saratoga  county,  where  he  resided  until  the  early  spring  of  1776; 
when  at  Albany,  he  joined  the  Continental  army  in  which  he  served  until  the  close 
of  the  Revolutionary  war,  when  he  received  his  certificate  of  service  and  discharge 
duly  signed  by  George  Washington  (now  in  the  Hall  of  Military  Records,  Albany). 


341 

He  served  under  Arnold  in  the  northern  campaign  and  was  in  the  battle  of  Saratoga, 

at  which  Burgoyne  surrendered;  under  Green,  he  was  in  the  retreat  through  New 
Jersey,  and  endured  the  hardships  of  the  winter  quarters  of  the  army  at  Valley 
Forge;  subsequently  under  Gates,  he  was  in  the  southern  campaign  until  after 
Gates's  defeat  at  Camden,  and  later  with  his  regiment  in  the  allied  army  he  was  at 
Yorktown,  Va.,  when  Cornwallis  surrendered.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  took 
up  his  residence  at  Galway  until  he  finally  settled  in  1786  at  Selkirk,  Albany  county, 
N.  Y.,  on  land  purchased  by  him  and  now  owned  by  his  descendants.  He  died  in 
1820.  In  1787  he  married  Elizabeth,  sister  of  Christinia  Herrin,  wife  of  William 
Henry,  and  mother  of  Prof.  Joseph  Henry,  late  secretary  of  the  Smithsonian  Insti- 
tution, Washington,  D.  C.  On  the  maternal  side  Mr.  Selkirk  is  descended  from  the 
Elmendorfs,  who  came  from  Gmlderland,  Holland,  and  settled  in  Dutchess  county 
in  169G.  Their  descendants  were  numerous  and  in  active  service  in  both  the  rank 
and  file  of  the  Continental  army.  Alexander's  father,  Charles,  was  born  at  Selkirk, 
1799,  and  was  in  his  early  life  a  silversmith  at  Albany,  but  on  account  of  poor  health 
and  his  inheritance  of  a  farm  from  his  father,  James,  he  in  1820  returned  to  the  life 
of  a  farmer  at  Selkirk,  where  he  died  in  1868.  Alexander,  with  his  brol 
received  his  education  in  public  school  No.  2,  at  Selkirk;  his  teachers  being  gener- 
ally men  from  the  Eastern  States  who  made  school  teaching  a  means  to  aid  them  in 
acquiring  collegiate  education,  and  under  this  class  of  teachers  he  was  instructed  in 
the  highest  English  branches  of  education  of  that  day.  He  removed  to  Albany  in 
1847  and  at  J.  Goold  &  Co.'s  coach  factory  learned  the  art  of  coach  ornamentation 
and  heraldry,  and  was  made  foreman  in  that  department  in  1850.  In  1*49  he  with 
George  Boughton,  then  also  a  coach  ornamenter,  James  Hart  and  James  Williamson 
formed  a  class  for  the  study  of  free  hand  drawing  from  models  with' Mr.  John  E. 
Gavit,  bank  note  engraver,  as  instructor.  In  the  spring  of  185:;  he  went  into  the 
business  of  carriage  manufacture  and  continued  in  the  same  until  in  1S<»4,  when  he 
sold  out  to  Shaw  &  Rose,  and  entered  the  profession  of  solicitor  and  attorney  in  pat- 
ent cases  and  mechanical  expert,  and  has  since  continued  in  this  profession,  having 
established  a  large  practice.  Mr.  Selkirk  joined  Union  Lodge  of  I.  <  >.  <  >.  I".,  in  1852 
and  Wadsworth  Lodge  417,  of  F.  and  A.  M.,  in  1S~>7  and  the  Ancient  Essenic Order 
in  1897.  In  1*48  he  united  with  the  Wesleyan  M.  church  and  was  identified  with  it 
until  1863,  when  he  united  with  the  Fourth  Presbyterian  church  of  Albany,  of  which 
he  is  now  a  member.  He  has  always  been  a  Republican,  voting  first  for  Fremont. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Jane  Fee  in  1853,  and  they  have  five  sons:  Charles,  William 
F.,  John  A.,  Alexander,  jr.,  Frank  E.,  and  a  daughter,  Elizabeth  R.  s  With  other 
citizens  he  opposed  the  1894  scheme  for  supplying  Albany  with  water  from  the  Berk- 
shire Hills,  and  so  amended  the  Water  Commissioners'  Bill  before  the  Legislature 
that  that  board  dropped  their  bill,  while  V)ills  drawn  by  him  and  introduced  thl 
Senator  Parker  passed  both  Houses,  when  the  Berkshire  Hill  supply  scheme  was 
dropped  and  his  plans  for  water  supply,  except  filtering,  also  advocated  by  him, 
were  adopted  substantially  as  was  provided  in  his  bills.  In  isitii,  he  through  Senator 
Nussbaum,  introduced  a  bill   for  making  a  S  nent  with   provision 

for  State  control  of  the  traffic  in  liquors,  which  bill  was  before  its  introduction  in  the 
two  houses,  some  ten  days  in  the  hands  of  Senator  Raines,  who  then  amended  his 
own  bill  previously  introduced  and  incorporated  in  it  many  of  the  provisions  of  Mr. 
Selkirk's  bill.      Mr.    Selkirk  is  the   inventor  of  the   "System  of   dual   circulation    of 


342 

chemical  cooking  liquors  for  making  chemical  fibre;  "  he  also  is  the  original  inventor 
of  closed  electric  conduits,  of  the  class  made  water-tight  and  completed  in  sections, 
in  a  factory,  and  ready  for  laying  in  the  ground,  or  at  its  surface,  with  its  enclosed 
conductors  at  all  times  in  condition  for  allowing  electric  currents  to  be  taken,  at  will, 
therefrom  with  safety  at  any  time,  thereby  dispensing  with  exposed  or  overhead 
conductors. 

Hayden,  John  R.,  son  of  Timothy  and  Mary  (Ryan)  Hayden,  was  born  at  Muitz- 
eskill  in  the  town  of  Schodack,  Rensselaer  county,  N.  Y. ,  May  31,  1859,  and  removed 
to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  five  years  afterward.  He  attend  the  Albany  public  and  high 
schools,  after  which  he  worked  at  the  trade  of  btacksmith  with  his  father  for  three 
years.  This,  however  was  not  to  his  liking  and  he  took  a  course  of  instruction  at 
the  Albany  Business  College.  After  finishing  this  he  studied  law  with  N.  P.  Hin- 
inan,  Warren  S.  Kelly,  and  Wood  &  Russell.  He  studied  law  for  five  years  but 
never  applied  for  admission  to  the  bar.  In  1886  Mr.  Hayden  was  appointed  stamper 
in  the  mailing  department  of  the  Albany  post-office  and  two  weeks  thereafter  was 
transferred  to  the  general  delivery  division.  In  February,  1894,  he  was  appointed 
to  his  present  position  as  superintendent  of  the  free  delivery  division.  Mr.  Hayden 
is  president  of  Capital  City  Council  No.  54,  C.  B.  L. ,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Y.  M. 
C.  A.  October  19,  1887,  he  married  Elizabeth  A.  Driscoll  of  Albany,  who  died  I  De- 
cember 6,  1895,  leaving  two  children,  John  and  Edward. 

Sweeny,  William  P.,  was  born  in  New  York  city  in  1855.  He  is  a  son  of  Patrick 
Sweeny,  who  was  a  well  known  boss  mason  and  contractor  in  New  York  city,  having 
erected  some  of  the  largest  buildings  and  principal  church  fronts.  Mr.  Sweeny's 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Margaret  Butler.  He  attended  private  schools  in  New 
York  and  in  1862  moved  with  his  parents  to  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. ,  where  his  father  had 
the  superintendency  of  the  mason  work  on  Vassar  College.  In  1863  his  father  died,  and 
after  his  death,  Mr.  Sweeny,  with  his  mother  and  sister  moved,  to  Montreal,  Can., 
so  as  to  be  with  relatives  in  fulfillment  of  his  father's  dying  request.  Here  young 
Sweeny  attended  the  St.  Lawrence  and  St.  Ann  Schools  of  the  Christian  Brothers 
and  also  the  Jesuit  College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1870.  In  the  fall  of  1870  he 
removed  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  learned  the  trade  of  cabinetmaker  with  the  late 
Charles  Ferguson.  After  three  years'  apprenticeship  at  this  trade,  he  went  into 
the  carpenter  business  and  served  part  of  his  apprenticeship  with  Walsh  Brothers, 
and  worked  at  this  trade  until  1885,  when  he  started  in  the  business  of  undertaker  at 
No.  171  Central  avenue,  where  he  is  now  located  and  where  he  does  a  good  business. 
At  the  age  of  eighteen,  Mr.  Sweeny  being  a  great  lover  of  military,  joined  the  Al- 
bany Jackson  Corps;  he  was  recording  secretary  of  this  organization  for  five  years, 
and  for  three  years  carried  the  Walsh  medal  for  proficiency  in  drill.  He  also  suc- 
ceeded Major  Walsh  of  the  Jacksonians,  the  leading  Democratic  political  club  of  the 
city,  and  was  in  command  on  the  occasion  of  their  memorable  trip  to  the  Democratic 
State  Convention  held  at  Saratoga,  N.  Y.,  1885,  when  Hon.  David  B.  Hill  received 
the  nomination  for  governor  the  first  time.  In  1886  he  ran  for  supervisor  of  the 
Tenth  ward  on  the  Democratic  ticket  and  was  defeated  by  Charles  Strempel.  In 
1887  he  again  ran  and  was  elected  over  Charles  Strempel;  in  1888  he  defeated  John 
Kurtz  for  the  same  office.  Mr.  Sweeny  is  a  life  member  of  the  Catholic  Union  and 
a  member  of  Branch  126  C.  M.  B.  A.,  Our  Lady  of  Angels  Council  No.  145,  C.  B.  L., 


343 

Fort  Orange  Council  No.  697,  Royal  Arcanum,  and  the  Mohawk  and  Columbus  As- 
sociations. Mr.  Sweeny  is  also  president  of  the  Holy  Name  Society  of  St.  Patrick's 
church. 

Downs,  J.  Murray,  is  a  son  of  James  H.  Downs,  who  settled  in  Albany  about  1855, 
and  Mary  B.  Murray,  his  wife,  whose  father  was  a  prominent  contractor  in  the  capi- 
tal city.  He  was  born  in  Albany,  July  9.  1872,  was  graduated  from  the  High  School 
in  1889,  and  from  that  time  until  1892  held  a  clerkship  in  the  State  Law  Library. 
Meanwhile  he  read  law  with  Reilly  &  Hamilton,  was  graduated  from  the  Albany 
Law  School  in  1893  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  February,  1894.  He  remained 
in  the  office  of  his  preceptors  as  managing  clerk  until  April  1,  1*95,  when  he  formed 
a  copartnership  with  Hon.  Robert  G.  Scherer,  as  Scherer  \-  Downs,  which  still  con- 
tinues. 

Winne,  Lansing  B.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  V.,  Octobi  I  2,  1856,  a  sou  of 
Charles  Henry  and  Mary  D.  (Passenger)  Winne.  The  following  are  the  names  of 
his  ancestors  in  this  country :  Benjamin,  born  in  Holland,  December  19,  1705,  mar- 
ried Rachel  Van  Arnam  December  14,  1728,  and  died  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  January  8, 
1797;  Levinus,  born  June  8,  1745,  married  Maria  Lansing  May  10,  1768,  and  died  De- 
cember 6,  1825;  Jacob  L.,  born  January  12,  1788.  married  Julia  Ann  Fry,  August  11, 
1813,  and  died  May  7,  1860;  and  Charles  Henry,  his  father,  born  April  26,  1833.  Dr. 
Winne  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Free  Academy  in  1874,  and  from  the  medical 
department  of  Columbia  College,  New  York,  in  1878,  receiving  the  degree  of  M.  1  >. 
After  graduation  he  was  an  interne  at  the  Demilt  Dispensary  in  New  York;  he  re- 
turned to  Albany  in  1880  and  associated  himself  with  Dr.  II.  R.  Haskins,  with  whom 
he  remained  two  years,  after  which  he  began  his  practice  in  Albany.  In  1885  he  was 
appointed  coroner's  physician  and  held  the  office  of  city  physician  from  May  20,  1894, 
to  January  20,  1897.  Dr.  Winne  is  clinical  instructor  in  the  Albany  Medical  C< 
a  member  of  the  dispensary  Staff  of  the  Albany  City  Hospital  and  physician  at  the 
Albany  City  Mission  1  >ispensary.  He  is  vice-president  of  the  Albany  County  Medical 
Society  and  was  its  secretary  in  1*95;  he  is  also  a  member  of  Temple  Lodge  F.  &  A. 
M.,  Temple  Chapter  R.  A.  M.,  Temple Commandery,  A  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,and  the  Un- 
conditional Republican  Club;  he  has  also  been  vestryman  in  Holy  Innocents  church 
for  several  years,  civil  servii  e  examiner  New  York  State  for  health  officers,  medical 
examiner  Northwestern  Life  Insurance  Company. 

Bailey,  William  Howard,  was  born  December  28,  1825,  at  Bethlehem,  Albany 
county,  N.  Y.  He  was  the  seventh  in  a  family  of  nine  children.  His  father,  Dr. 
Solomon  Bailey,  a  man  greatly  respected  by  the  community  in  which  be  resided, 
was  a  physician  with  a  large  practice.  He  was  frequently  called  in  consultation  br- 
other physicians,  his  opinion  being  valued  highly.  The  arduous  duties  of  his  pro- 
fession, however,  proved  too  severe  even  for  his  strong  and  vigorous  constitution,  and 
in  1830  he  discontinued  his  active  practice  and  retired  toa  farm.  It  wasat  this  farm 
that  William  II.  Bailey,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  received  his  early  training.  The 
outdoor  exercise  and  pure  air  incident  to  farm  life  were  valuable  influences  in  the 
formation  of  his  character.  He  early  attended  a  district  school,  but  the  instruction 
there  received  was  largely  supplemented  by  the  intellectual  assistance  of  his  lather. 
After  the  death  of  his  father  in  1889  he  continued  his  studies  at  the  Albany  Acad- 
emy, but  afterward  went  to  the  Utica  Academy,  and  subsequently  to  the  S 


344 

mal  School  at  Albany.  He  finally  became  a  student  at  Cazenovia  Seminary.  For 
five  years  he  taught  school  at  various  places.  While  in  charge  of  the  Union  School 
at  Trumansburg,  Tompkins  county,  N.  Y.,  he  began  the  study  of  medicine.  From 
Trumansburg  he  went  to  Cusseta,  Chambers  county,  Alabama,  to  take  charge  of  the 
Male  Academy  located  in  that  town.  During  these  years  of  teaching  he  devoted 
every  spare  moment  to  the  study  of  medicine,  and  in  1851  returned  to  Albany  to 
attend  lectures  at  the  Albany  Medical  College,  at  which  institution  he  was  graduated 
in  1853.  His  first  experience  in  the  practice  of  medicine  was  at  Utica,  N.  Y.,  which 
was  then  the  home  of  his  mother.  In  1854  he  removed  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  Shortly  after  his  removal  to  Albany  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Albany  County  Medical  Society.  For  four  years  he  was  treasurer  of  the  society, 
and  in  1870  was  elected  president.  In  1855  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Jane 
Peck,  who  died  in  1860,  leaving  him  two  daughters,  Anne  Peck  and  Mary  Ella, 
both  of  whom  still  survive.  In  1862  he  was  married  to  Miss  Anne  Eliza  Peck,  who 
still  lives.  He  was  appointed  a  delegate  to  the  State  Medical  Society  in  1860,  and 
in  1864  made  a  permanent  member.  From  1865  to  1875  he  was  secretary  of  this 
society,  and  in  1880  was  elected  president.  In  1871  he  received  the  honorary  degree 
of  M.  D.  from  Soule  University,  Texas,  and  in  1877  that  of  LL.  D.  from  the  Wash- 
ington and  Jefferson  College,  Pennsylvania.  In  1882  he  was  appointed  one  of  the 
State  consulting  board  of  the  Hudson  River  Hospital  for  the  Insane  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  which  office  he  held  for  several  years.  For  many  years  he  was  one  of  the 
United  States  board  of  pension  examining  surgeons.  He  also  served  as  ob- 
stetrician and  as  consultant  obstetrician  for  the  Albany  Hospital,  which  latter  posi- 
tion he  still  holds.  He  was  repeatedly  elected  delegate  to  the  American  Medical 
Association  and  to  different  State  societies  by  the  New  York  State  Medical  Society 
and  by  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society.  His  connection  with  these  societies 
gives  ample  evidence  of  his  industry  and  of  the  appreciation  in  which  he  was  held 
by  the  medical  profession.  He  was  a  man  of  acknowledged  ability  in  various  lines. 
As  a  citizen  he  took  an  active  part  in  municipal  affairs,  serving  two  terms  as  alder- 
man. As  a  teacher  he  was  eminently  successful  and  beloved  by  his  pupils.  It  is  as 
a  physician,  however,  that  he  will  longest  be  remembered,  for  he  was  recognized  as 
a  leader  in  his  profession.  His  genial,  courteous  manner  and  kind,  considerate 
spirit  won  him  many  friends.  His  long  years  of  successful  practice  have"  given  him 
a  record  surpassed  by  few.  He  was  honored  and  respected  far  beyond  the  average 
man,  and  his  life  of  willing  self-sacrifice  for  the  benefit  of  his  fellowmen  will  leave 
an  influence  not  soon  to  be  forgotten. 

Van  Derzee,  Andrew  S.,  was  born  in  Coeymans  in  1828.  He  is  the  son  of  Char- 
lotte and  Andrew  Van  Derzee.  Mr.  Van  Derzee's  grandfather  came  to  Coeymans 
among  the  earliest  settlers  and  bought  a  farm  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  town, 
in  a  valley  known  by  the  Indians  as  Haquetock  (said  by  old  people  of  long  ago  to 
mean  "long  valley"),  while  the  Indians  were  yet  located  upon  it,  which  is  still  owned 
by  the  family,  where  he  and  his  son  were  farmers  all  their  lives.  Andrew  S.  Van 
Derzee  began  his  business  life  when  thirteen  years  old  by  going  as  cabin  boy  on  one 
of  the  Hudson  River  boats  and  continued  river  life  until  1849,  when  he  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  in  Coeymans,  under  the  firm  name  of  W.  B.  Hull  &  Co.,  which 
was  continued   until  the  death  of  Mr.    Hull,  since  which  time  he  has  carried  on  the 


345 

business  alone.  In  1851  he  married  Caroline  E.  Robb  of  Dutchess  county,  who  died 
in  1884  and  left  one  daughter,  Mrs.  S.  F.  Powell  of  Amsterdam,  X.  Y..  and  one  son, 
William  II.,  who  succeeds  to  his  father's  business.  In  IS'iu  he  married  Mrs.  Jane  C. 
Brainerd  of  Saugerties,  N.  V.  Mr.  Van  Derzee  has  always  taken  a  keen  interest  in 
the  welfare  of  his  town,  and  has  done  much  lor  its  improvement.  The  following  is 
from  a  local  paper  of  date  of  December  22,   1896: 

One  of  our  oldest,  most  highly  respected  and  longest  established  merchants  lias  retired  from 
business.  On  Thursday  last  tin-  new  firm  of  William  II.  Van  Derzee  and  1'.  11.  Smith  tools  po*- 
s.ssi.in  of  the  old  stand  ami  successful  mercantile  business  of  Andrew  S.  Van  Derzee.  Mr.  Van- 
Derzee  had  been  iii  business  at  this  stand  for  nearly  half  a  century,  starting  as  a  partner  with 
the  late  Wm.  B.  Hull  in  1849.     The  house  has  alwayi  or  reliability.     \\  ■ 

gratulate  our  worthy  townsman  in  having  secured  a  competent  t_of  all  on  his  irreproach- 

able business  career,  and  trust  be  may  be  spared  to  enjoy  many  years  the  reward  due  an  indus- 
trious career.     All  will  concur  in  wishing  the  new  firm  S  future. 

Soop,  J.  J. —  Conrad  Soop,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  October  10,  1745.  His 
parents  were  of  the  German  Palatinates  who  emigrated  from  Wurfemburg,  Ger- 
many (the  birthplace  of  Martin  Luther)  to  America,  under  the  patronage  of  Queen 

Anne,  early  in  the  eighteenth  century,  owing  to  the  religious  intolerance  at  that  time 
manifested  towards  the  followers  of  the  great  reformer,  Luther.  The  larger  portion 
of  these  emigrants  settled  in  the  tows  of  Livingston  and  Germantown,  Columbia 
countv,  N.  Y.  A  few  years  after,  owing  to  the  feudal  tenure  of  their  lands  under 
Livingston,  many  found  their  way  to  the  fertile  valleys  of  the  Schoharie  and  Mohawk, 
and  there  and  in  Columbia  county  their  descendants  are  vet  found,  and  to-day  many 
prominent  citizens  can  trace  their  lineage  to  these  worthy  pioneers.  In  Ma\ 
Conrad  Soop  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Jacob  Becker  of  Schoharie  (al 
Wurtemburg  descent),  an  aunt  of  the  renowned  Schoharie  lawyer  and  banker,  Abra- 
ham Becker1.  The  larger  portion  of  Schoharie  county  was  then  an  unbroken  wilder- 
ness, and  he  purchased  a  valuable  and  fertile  farm  in  the  town  of  Bethlehem,  Albany 
county,  near  what  is  now  South  Bethlehem.  He  with  his  young  wife  hail  scarcely 
become  settled  there  when  he  was  called  to  shoulder  his  musket  to  light  m  that  war 
which  "tried  men's  souls."  He  was  made  a  subaltern  officer  in  Capt.  Jurian 
Hogan's  Co.,  4th  Regiment,  and  about  a  year  after  was  transferred  to  Capt.  Con- 
radt  Ten  Eyck's  Co.  of  tin-  5th  Regiment,  of  winch  Peter  Whitbeck  was  firs! 
Albert  H.  Van  Derzee  second  lieutenants,  under  General  Schuyler,  and  was  with 
him  in  all  his  engagements  on  the  northern  frontier  and  at  the  surrender  ol 
goyne  at  Stillwater,  October  7,  1777.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  t<>  his 
farm,  where  with  his  wife,  surrounded  by  children  and  grandchildren,  he  lived  far 
beyond  the  allotted  years  oi  man,  enjoying  the  blessings  of  peace,  and  that 
and  religious  liberty  he  assisted  to  achieve.  His  wile  died  August  II,  1842,  in  the 
eighty  eighth  year  of  her  age,  and  he  on  September  86,  LH47,  having  reached  the  re- 
markable age  of  nearly  one  hundred  and  two  wars.  They  lived  eventful  and  Christ- 
ian lives,  and  died  honored  and  respected  by  their  neighbors.  The  writer  of  this 
sketch,  now  in  his  seventy-eighth  year,  a  grandson,  heard  repeated  manv  of  their 
reminiscences,  one  of  which  is  related  as  follows  When  he  was  in  the  army  his  wife, 
wishing  to  visit  her  parents  in  Schoharie,  saddled  Iter  horse  with  a  sheep-skin,  and 
made  the  journey  through  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness,  where  Brant  and  Butler, 
with  their  band  ol   tories  and    Indians,  were  on  the  warpath,  pillaging,  burning,  and 


346 

often  murdering.  She  quite  frequently  made  this  journey  of  over  eighty  miles,  un- 
protected, and  was  never  harmed.  Who  is  the  dame  of  the  present  day  who  would 
undertake  a  similar  journey?  Their  Children:  Mary  was  born  near  South  Bethle- 
hem, November  20,  1782,  married  by  Rev.  Christian  Bork  (formerly  a  chaplain  in 
the  Hessian  army  in  the  Revolution),  Septemper  27,  1800,  and  died  March  23,  1861. 
Michael  Niver,  her  husband,  was  born  in  Livingston,  Columbia  county,  June  2,  1778 ; 
his  ancestors  were  also  of  the  Palatinate  colonists.  In  1790  he  with  his  father's 
family  moved  to  Bethlehem  on  a  large  farm  he  had  previously  purchased.  His 
father,  David,  had  served  in  the  Revolution  as  first  sergeant  in  Capt.  Teunis  Van 
Dalsten's  Co. ,  5th  Regiment,  under  General  Schuyler,  and  was  present  at  the  sur- 
render of  Burgoyne.  Michael  was  drafted  in  the  war  of  1812  and  served  at  Brook- 
lyn Heights.  He  was  a  successful  farmer,  and  died  April  13,  1858.  His  farm  is  still 
owned  by  his  descendants.  Their  children  were:  Elizabeth  S.,  born  July  12,  1802, 
died  unmarried  Septembers,  1879.  Margaret,  born  November  2,  1805,  married  Peter 
A.  Ten  Eyck,  September  25,  1838;  now  (1897)  living;  has  one  child  living;  Katha- 
rine, born  March  4,  1812,  married  John  Crum,  May  16,  1832;  died  August  24,  1851; 
three  children,  Mary  E.,  Hugh  J.,  and  James  J.  Conrad,  born  November  16,  1815; 
studied  medicine  with  William  Bay  of  Albany,  graduated  from  Fairfield  Medical 
College  in  1837,  and  located  in  Ancram,  Columbia  county,  where,  and  in  Dutchess 
county,  he  gained  eminence  as  a  physician  reached  by  few;  married  Jane  Mclntyre, 
aud  after  her  death,  married  her  sister  Roxana;  died  January  31,  1867,  leaving 
three  children  by  his  first  wife — Caroline,  John  Soop  and  Albert  C,  and  three  by 
his  second  wife — Walter,  Loda  and  Herman  Bay.  David,  born  February  16,  1820, 
married  Phebe  C  Hotaling  of  New  Baltimore,  October  26,  1843;  living  and  author 
of  this  sketch  and  owner  of  the  old   Niver  homestead;  has  four  children  living — 

Mary  Soop   Haswell,   Conrad,    Eugene  A.,  and   Charles  A. Jacob  Soop,  son  of 

Coniad  Soop,  born  May  3,  1786,  married  Maria  Potter,  September  6,  1837,  died  June 
11,  1868;  his  wife  died  August  12,  1884;  one  child,  Henry  C.  Jacob  entered  the 
United  States  army  July  15,  1812  and  served  under  Captain  Penfield.  Henry  C. 
Soop,  a  well-known  leading  attorney  at  law  of  Rondout,  Kingston,  was  born  at 
Albany,  N.  V  ,  April  17,  1842.  He  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Judge  M.  B.  Mattice 
at  Durham,  N.  V.,  graduated  from  the  Albany  Law  School  in  1863  and  practiced 
law  at  Roxbury,  Delaware  county,  N.  V.  In  1890  he  moved  to  Kingston  and  in 
January  of  the  same  year  he  was  elected  president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Rondout;  was  also  appointed  attorney  for  the  estate  of  Thomas  Cornell,  and  secre- 
tary and  counsel  of  the  Ulster  &  Delaware  Railroad  Company;  he  is  also  the  coun- 
sel and  attorney  for  several  other  corporations,  and  is  vice-president,  attorney,  and 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Peckham  Truck  &  Wheel  Company,  of  Kingston.  In 
October,  1867,  Mr.  Soop  was  united  in  marriage  with  Helen  M.,  daughter  of  Eras- 
tus  T.  Peck,  of  Windham,  N.  Y.,  and  one  child,  Katharine,  has  been  born  to  them. 

Frederick,  son  of  Conrad,  born   March   18,  1790,  married  Margaret  Van  Zant, 

September  20,  1817,  who  died  November  3,  1851 ;  Frederick  died  May  13,  1870,  leav- 
ing two  daughters,  Maria  and  Rebecca,  living. John,  sou  of  Conrad,  born  June 

16,  1793,  died  March  11,  1874;  when  a  young  man  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness at  what  is  now  known  as  Becker's  Corners,  but  in  later  years  purchased  two 
farms,  one  for  each  of  his  sons,  and  became  a  successful  farmer  and  sheep  breeder. 
He  also  held  important  town  offices,  having  been  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  thirty- 


347 

two  consecutive  years.  On  February  21.  1828,  he  married  Mary  Ann  Russell, 
daughter  of  William  Russell  and  Judith  McHarg,  who  was  born  April  21,  180(1,  and 
died  November  29,  1843;  and  susequently  married  Huldah,  sister  of  his  first  wife, 
who  was  born  June  15,  1815,  and  died  childless  April  24,  1883.  He  had  three  child- 
ren by  his  first  wife;  Jacob  J.,  who  was  horn  December  9,  1828,  married  Ann  Kim- 
mey,  daughter  of  David  Kimmey  and  Marie  Niver,  March  3,  1852,  who  died  Feb- 
ruary 1,  1859,  leaving  three  children,  John,  Jennie  and  Leonard.  On  December  6, 
1862,  he  married  Margaret  Jane  Coon,  who  died  childless  August  6,  1886,  aged  fifty 
years.  Mr.  Soop  is  a  successful  farmer  and  breeder  of  fine  horses;  is  still  living  on 
his  farm  at  Selkirk.  His  only  daughter  Jennie  K.,  was  bprn  June  15,  1855,  and  her 
husband,  Capt.  David  C.  Hull,  and  granddaughter,  Ethel  J.  Bull,  are  living  with 
him.  Mr.  Bull  is  extensively  engaged  in  poultry,  fruit  and  berry  farming;  he  was 
born  September  15,  1847.  in  the  town  of  Coeymans;  he  followed  the  river  from  1867 
to  1894,  then  sold  his  boat  and  began  farming.  Ethel  J.  was  born  December  7.  1881 
Sous  of  J.  J.  Soop:  John  Soop  was  drowned  in  the  Hudson  River,  June  25,  1864, 
aged  eleven  years.  Leonard  was  born  November  2,  1X57,  married  Georgia  Livings- 
ton, January  6,  1887,  and  died  February   19,  1891  ;  he  was  a  great  horseman  and  a 

favorite  with  all  who  knew  him. Leonard  W.  Soop  was  born  September  12,  1882, 

married  Elvira  Jane  Conger  of  Canada,  and  died  July  2,  1894,  leaving  three  child- 
ren, Jessie,  Nellie  and  John  B.  He  was  a  farmer  and  was  elected  justice  of  sessions 
one  term  and  justice  of  the  peace  in  Bethlehem  for  twelve  years.  His  widow  aud 
children  are  still  living  at  Selkirk. Mary  E.  Soop  was  born  in  Bethlehem,  Octo- 
ber 19.  1884,  and  is  living  at  Selkirk.— Com. 

Lathrop,  Cyrus  Clark,  is  descended  on  his  father's  side  from  literary  workers,  and 
on  his  mother's  from  business  men.  A  son  of  John  W.  and  Margaret  0.  (Clark) 
Lathrop,  he  was  born  in  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  February  21.  1862,  and  when  fifteen  en- 
tered his  father's  book  store,  where  he  remained  two  years.  For  live  years  he  was 
connected  with  the  linen  thread  establishment  of  Barbour  Brothers.  Returning  to 
Bridgeport  he  traveled  for  one  year  for  an  iron  concern  and  then  went  to  St.  Paul, 
Minn.,  in  the  employ  of  William  F.  Davidson.  In  1888  he  came  to  Albany  and  es- 
tablished himself  in  the  laundry  business,  in  which  he  still  continues.  I  [e  has  always 
had  strong  religious  convictions  and  from  the  age  of  fifteen  lias  been  deeply  inter- 
ested in  Sunday  school  work  as  a  teacher.  In  1XX9-90  he  became  identified  with  the 
boy's  department  of  the  City  Mission,  and  in  1890  took  charge  •>(  it,  devoting  every 
night  in  the  week  to  the  work.  After  visiting  other  cities,  he  organized,  on  April 
30,  L892,  the  Albany  Boys1  Club,  one  of  the  most  successful  institutions  of  the  kind 
in  the  country,  of  which  he  has  since  been  the  secretary  and  superintendent.  Among 
tin-  first  to  become  interested  in  this  organization  were  Charles  R.  Knowles,  president, 
Charles  Gibson,  vice-president,  Herbert  W.  Stickney,  treasurer,  Cyrus  ('.  Lathrop, 
secretary  and  superintendent,  Oscar  I  K  Robinson,  Robert  W.  Shannon.  Charles  II. 
Turner,  Edward  J.  Wheeler,  Albert  Hessberg,  Dr.  A.  1'..  Huested,  George  II. 
Thacher,  William  II.  McClure  and  Percival  X.  Bouton,  The  club  now  has  about  150 
members,  maintains  a  free  reading  room  and  library,  an  evening  school  of  industrial 
practical  training,  a  gymnasium  and  a  savings  bank,  and  reaches  poor  boys  of  the 
city.  It  was  incorporated  November,  1896.  Its  success  is  practically  due  to  Mr 
Lathrop' s  personal   efforts  and   direction.      Its  present   officers  arc.     Robert   Shaw 


348 

Oliver,  president ;  William  F.  Winship,  Charles  L.  Blakeslee,  George  C.  Baker,  James  C. 
Farrell,  James  Holroyd,  W.  G.  MacDonald,  M.  D.,  Edward  N.  McKinney,  Charles  T. 
Buchanan,  J.  Montgomery  Mosher,  M.  D. ,  directors;  Edward  J.  Wheeler,  treasurer, 
Cyrus  C.  Lathrop,  secretary  and  superintendent.  He  was  married  in  1885,  in  St. 
Paul,  Minn.,  to  Ida  F.,  daughter  of  Abram  Pulis,  of  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have  two 
daughters:  Dorothy  Pulis  Lathrop  and  Gertrude  Kathryn  Lathrop. 

Bradford,  William,  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  August  4,  1860,  and  is  of  Scotch 
parentage.  He  attended  the  public  schools  and  was  graduated  from  the  Albany 
High  School  in  1879.  After  leaving  school  Mr.  Bradford  learned  the  photograph 
business  with  J.  L.  Abbott,  Haines  and  Horton;  he  took  naturally  to  this  business, 
having  spent  much  time  in  this  work  when  a  school  boy.  After  serving  an  appren- 
ticeship with  the  above  named  photographers  he  took  up  the  study  of  process  work, 
which  was  then  in  its  infancy.  Mr.  Bradford  was  the  first  practical  man  to  do  that 
class  of  work  in  the  city  and  he  was  employed  by  Weed,  Parsons  &  Co.  until  1892, 
when  the  Albany  Engraving  Company  was  organized  as  a  copartnership,  Mr.  Brad- 
ford being  an  equal  partner.  In  1893  the  company  was  incorporated  ;  the  officers  are 
William  Bradford,  president;  F.  G.  Jewett,  vice-president;  A.  H.  Calderwood, 
treasurer;  E.  T.  Jewett,  secretary,  and  James  Bradford,  manager.  This  company 
started  with  almost  nothing  and  is  now  one  of  the  largest  of  its  kind  in  the  country, 
all  due  to  Mr.  Bradford's  close  application  to  the  art.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany 
Camera  Club,  the  Albany  County  Wheelmen  and  the  Empire  Curling  Club.  July 
30,  1884,  he  married  Helen  L.  Smith  of  Tully,  Onondaga  county,  N.  Y.,  and  they 
have  two  children,  William,  jr.,  and  Helen  L. 

Bradt,  Samuel  Cary,  was  born  February  IT,  1S34.  He  is  a  son  of  David,  who  was 
born  March  27,  1789,  and  who  died  August  20,  1854,  and  who  married  Marie 
Reamer.  Storm  Albert  Bradt,  the  father  of  David,  was  born  May  21,  175G,  and 
died  March  27,  1848.  He  married  Catharine  Winue,  born  June  2, 1787,  died  October 
18,  1847.  He  was  a  son  of  Storm  Albert  Bradt,  who  married  Magdalene  Lang  and 
who  died  December  13,  1799.  Albert  Storm  was  a  son  of  Andriese  Albert,  who  was 
a  son  of  Albert  Andriese  (De  Noorman),  who  came  from  Holland  to  America  in  1630 
and  settled  at  what  is  now  Kenwood,  below  Albany,  and  built  the  first  mill  in  this 
section  and  named  the  Normanskill;  he  died  June  7,  1686  It  was  mentioned  at  the 
time  that  he  was  one  of  the  oldest  residents  and  earliest  of  the  settlers  of  Rensse- 
laerwyck.  Samuel  Cary  Bradt,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  moved  to  Albany  in  1853 
and  became  a  clerk  for  A.  M.  Brumaghim,  wholesale  grocer  at  No.  68  Washington 
avenue.  He  went  into  business  in  1856  at  No.  30  Washington  avenue,  corner  of 
Hawk  street,  and  has  been  in  business  at  different  locations  on  the  avenue  for  forty 
years,  and  is  now  the  only  merchant  on  the  avenue  who  has  been  in  business  for  so 
long  a  time.  Mr.  Bradt  married  Martha  Wood  and  his  family  consists  of  one 
daughter,  Mary  Ellington,  the  wife  of  Rev.  W.  H.  A.  Hall  of  Gloversville,  N.  Y., 
and  one  son,  Warren  Lansing,  who  married  Anna  E.  Shill  and  who  is  now  in  busi- 
ness with  his  father  at  No.  55  Washington  avenue.  Mr.  Bradt  is  one  of  very  few 
Albanians  who  can  speak  the  original  Holland-Dutch.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Hol- 
land Society  of  New  York  and  of  the  Unconditional  Republican  Club  of  Albany. 

Newton,  John  Milton,  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  in  November,  1838.  He  is  of 
Puritan  and   Scotch  ancestry,  being  a  descendant  of  the  Newtons  and  Whitings  of 


349 

Colchester,  Conn.  Thomas  Newton,  the  first  ancestor  of  John  M.  in  America,  came 
from  England  previous  to  1639  and  settled  in  Fairfield,  Conn.,  and  in  1644  was  eli 
deputy  for  Fairfield.  John  Newton,  the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
served  in  the  Revolution ;  lie  enlisted  July  20,  1776  in  Wadsworth  Brigade  of  Con- 
necticut and  was  discharged  January  1-1,  1777.  John  Milton  Newton  is  a  son  of 
John  Milton  and  Eliza  (Carman  Mcintosh)  Newton.  When  he  was  four  years  of  age 
his  parents  moved  to  what  is  now  Newtonville  (so  named  after  his  father)  and  here 
young  Newton's  education  was  commenced  at  the  public  school,  then  continued  at 
the  Monticello  (N.  Y.)  Academy  and  finally  at  the  school  conducted  by  the  Rev. 
William  Arthur,  so  well  known  for  ripe  scholarship  and  Scotch  integrity  and  as  the 
father  of  our  model  president,  Chester  Allan  Arthur.  Subsequently  Mr.  Newton  be- 
came a  clerk  in  the  employ  of  Palmer,  Newton  &  Co.,  and  in  1860  he  became  a 
member  of  the  firm.  The  business  now  owned  by  Newton  &  Co.,  a  corporation 
(often  known  as  the  Albany  Salamander  Works),  was  founded  in  180G  by  Paul  Cush- 
man,  father  of  the  late  Paul  Cushman,  cm  the  ground  now  known  as  Nos.  18  and  lit 
Central  avenue,  where  stoneware  was  manufactured  by  him.  About  1833  Dillon, 
Henry  &  Co.  succeeded  to  the  business  and  afterwards  the  firm  was  changed  to 
Dillon,  Henry  &  Porter;  later  Jacob  Henry  bought  out  the  interests  of  his  partners 
and  conducted  the  business  individually  until  1841,  when  he  formed  a  copartnership 
with  Adam  Van  Allen,  under  the  firm  name  of  Henry  &  Van  Allen,  which  con- 
tinued until  1848.  In  August,  1842,  the  factory  was  moved  to  Phoenix  Place  and 
soon  thereafter  was  burned;  and  in  1843  a  new  factory  was  built  on  the  corner  of 
Hudson  avenue  and  Hawk  street.  Fire  brick  and  stove  linings  were  first  made  by 
Henry  &  Van  Allen^  in  1843.  In  1848  John  Gott  and  Amos  ]'.  Palmer  bought  the 
business  from  Henry  &  Van  Allen  and  a  partnership  was  formed  under  the  name  of 
Gott  &  Palmer,  which  continued  until  185(1,  when  Jacob  Henry  and  Adam  Van  Allen 
bought  out  Mr.  I  iott's  interest  and  the  firm  name  was  changed  to  Henry,  Van  Allen 
&  Palmer.  About  1851  Horace  B.  Newton  was  admitted  as  a  partner,  when  the  firm 
name  was  changed  to  Henry,  Van  Allen,  Palmer  &  Co.;  that  linn  continued  until 
1854,  when  Adam  Van  Allen  withdrew  his  interest  and  the  business  was  continued 
under  the  name  of  Henry,  Palmer  &  Co.  Soon  after  the  last  named  date  |acob 
Henry  retired  from  the  firm  and  the  business  was  then  continued  under  the  name  of 
Palmer  &  Newton  until  about  ls.V>,  when  Jacob  Henry  again  entered  the  firm  as  a 
silent  partner.  The  factory  was  then  moved  to  its  present  location  on  Rathbone 
street.  About  1853  Charles  V.  Henry,  a  son  of  Jacob  Henry,  bought  his  father's  in- 
terest, became  an  active  partner  and  tin-  firm  name  was  changed  to  Palmer,  Newton 
&  Co.  In  January,  1860,  John  M  Newton  bought  the  interest  of  Charles  V.  Henry 
and  the  firm  was  continued  under  the  name  of  Palmer,  Newton  &  Co.  until 
when  it  was  dissolved  ;  at  tin-  same  linn  Horace  1'..  Newton  and  John  M.  Newton 
formed  a  copartnership  under  the  firm  name'of  Newton  &  Co.,  which  continued  until 
1891,  when  it  was  dissolved  and  the  present  corporation  was  then  formed  under  the 
name  of   Newton  &  Co.       I  in  the   company  are  Horace  I'..   Newton,  chair- 

man; John  M.  Newton,  president  and  treasurer;  William  M.  New  ton,  vice-president; 
and  William  S.  Moseley,  secretary.     The  company  is  doing  a  very  extensive  busi- 
ness and  its  products  are  sold  in  nearly  all  sections  of  the  United,  States  and  Canada. 
Their  wares  are  also  used  in  foreign   countries  and   the  goods  manufactured   ha 
reputation  for  being  of  superior  quality.      In  1864,   Mi.  Newton  married  Mary  Austin 


350 

Clark  of  Albany,  and  they  have  had  four  children  ;  two  of  them,  William  Mcintosh 
and  Mary  Clark,  are  living. 

Cook,  Daniel  H.,  M.D.,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  son  of  Philo  and  Sarah  M.  Van  Natten 
Cook,  was  born  July  6,  1849,  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland,  Albany  county,  N.  V.  On 
his  father's  side  he  is  a  descendant  of  Elias  Cook  who  came  from  England  about  the 
year  1600,  and  with  twelve  others  purchased  from  the  Agum  and  Montauk  tribes  of 
Indians  the  towns  of  South  and  East  Hampton  on  the  east  end  of  Long  Island.  His 
mother  is  of  Holland  extraction.  When  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age,  his  parents 
moved  to  Albany  that  he  might  have  the  school  advantages  afforded  by  the  capital 
city.  In  1874  he  received  the  degree  of  M.D.  from  the  Albany  Medical  College, 
taking  first  prize  in  obstetrics,  that  being  the  only  competitive  examination  given 
that  year.  He  opened  an  office  in  Albany,  and  in  May,  1879,  married  Miss  Kath- 
erine  F.,  daughter  of  William  and  Eliza  Wentworth  Crew  of  Albany.  The  Went- 
worth  family  trace  their  lineage  back  to  Reginald,  the  lord  of  Wentworth,  England, 
1066.  He  has  two  children,  Katherine  F.,  born  in  1882,  and  Daniel  H.  born  in  1884. 
He  has  held  numerous  positions,  namely,  that  of  lecturer  in  the  Albany  Medical 
College,  dispensary  physician  at  the  Albany  Hospital,  physician  of  the  Lathrop  Me- 
morial, president  of  the  Albany  Academy  of  Medicine,  president  of  the  Albany 
County  Medical  Society,  delegate  to  different  State  Medical  societies  from  the  New 
York  State  Medical  Society,  etc.  In  1894  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Health  of  the  city,  a  position  which  he  now  holds,  and  is  active  in  promoting  the 
cause  of  sanitation.  In  medicine  he  is  still  fond  of  obstetrics  and  diseases  of  women. 
His  practice  is  large  and  lucrative,  and  for  diversion  he  owns  a  stock  farm  at  Alta- 
mont,  N.  Y.,  where  he  makes  a  specialty  of  raising  Brown  Swiss  cattle  and  standard 
breeds  of  horses. 

Graves,  Anthony  Gardner,  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  October  26,  1840,  and  has 
bsen  a  resident  of  the  capital  city  ever  since.  He  received  a  liberal  education  in  the 
Albany  Academy  and  the  Carlisle  Seminary ;  at  the  early  age  of  four  years  he  began 
his  career  in  terpsichorean  art,  from  his  father,  who  for  nearly  half  a  century  was 
the  leading  teacher  of  dancing  in  this  part  of  the  country,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteer. 
was  a  valuable  assistant  to  his  experienced  and  talented  parent,  and  so  continued 
until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  in  1861,  when  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany B,  10th  Regt.  N.  Y.  S.  M.  and  was  detailed  for  guard  duty  at  the  old  barracks 
on  the  New  Scotland  road.  This  experience  gave  him  a  taste  for  active  duty  in  the 
field  and  he  accordingly  enlisted  in  the  famous  44th  Regiment,  N.  Y.  Vols.,  known 
as  the  People's  Ellsworth  Regiment,  and  was  warranted  as  third  sergeant  in  Com- 
pany  F,  August  3;  and  October  21,  1861,  departed  with  his  regiment  for  the  seat  of 
war.  He  was  seriously  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Hanover  Court  House,  Va. ,  by  a 
gun  shot  wound  entering  the  left  side  of  his  neck  and  passing  through  and  lodging 
in  the  right  shoulder.  He  was  sent  home  and  subsequently  recovering,  rejoined  his 
regiment  at  Harrison's  Landing,  where  he  was  promoted  to  orderly  sergeant.  He 
was  taken  prisoner  in  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run  and  paroled  on  the  field.  Janu- 
ary 14,  1863,  he  was  promoted  to  a  second  lieutenancy  and  for  meritorious  service 
at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  was  raised  to  the  commission  of  first  lieutenant.  He  was 
again  wounded  while  in  command  of  his  company  at  the  battle  of  North  Anna 
River,  May  2-4,  1864,  by  a  gun  shot  in  right  elbow;  he  found  himself  again  disabled 


351 

and  was  obliged  to  take  an  honorable  discharge,  June  30,  1864.  After  recovering 
from  his  wounds  and  finding  his  patriotism  and  military  ardor  still  warm,  he  hast- 
ened again  to  respond  to  the  governmental  call  for  union  troops  and  November  14, 
1864,  re-enlisted,  as  a  private,  in  the  11th  Independent  Light  Battery,  known  as  the 
Havelock  Battery  of  Light  Artillery,  and  went  to  Hart's  Island,  X.  Y.,  where  he 
was  detailed  to  act  as  orderly  sergeant  of  a  company  to  do  infantry  guard  duty  over 
enlisted  and  conscripted  men.  After  being  relieved  of  this  duty  he  joined  his  bat- 
tery in  front  of  Petersburg,  Va.  After  doing  duty  with  the  battery  at  Forts  M c- 
Kilvery  and  Welsh,  he  was  promoted  to  be  second  lieutenant  and  placed  on  detached 
duty  as  commanding  2d  Corps  Artillery  Brigade  Ambulance  Corps  with  the  rank  of 
acting  assistant  quartermaster,  in  which  capacity  he  served  until  the  surrender  of 
Lee  at  Appomattox  Court  House  and  the  close  of  the  war,  I  le  was  mustered  out  of 
the  service  at  Albany,  June  13,  1865.  Lieutenant  Graves  participated  in  the  follow- 
ing battles:  Yorktown,  Hanover  Court  House,  Second  Bull  Run,  Antietam,  Frede- 
ricksburg, Chancellorsville,  Aldie,  Gettysburg,  Mine  Run,  Wilderness,  Spottsyl- 
vania,  North  Anna,  Weldon  Railroad,  Five  Forks,  Petersburg  and  Appomattox 
Court  House.  His  highly  creditable  service  as  a  soldier  having  ended  with  the  end 
of  the  war,  he  returned  to  Albany  to  again  assist  his  father  in  the  teaching  of  danc- 
ing and  so  continued  until  June,  1867,  when  lie  departed  for  Europe  to  be  instructed 
in  the  art  there  and  so  to  better  qualify  himself  in  the  best  essentials  of  his  profes- 
sion. In  Paris  he  received  valuable  instruction  from  those  celebrated  teachers,  Mon- 
sieurs  Cellarious  and  Boizott.  On  his  return  from  abroad  with  his  improved  equip- 
ment, he  entered  into  partnership  with  his  father  and  so  continued  until  the  partner- 
ship ended  with  the  retirement  of  the  elder  Graves  in  1876;  since  that  time  Mr. 
Graves  has  continued  as  a  master  of  his  art.  He  has  devised  and  originated  many 
new  dances  and  is  recognized  by  the  public  and  the  American  Society  of  Profi 
of  Dancing  of  which  he  is  an  honored  and  respected  member,  as  being  in  the  fore- 
most rank  of  American  instructors  in  dancing. 

Hotaling,  Hon.  Lansing,  son  of  David  I.  and  Ellen  (Hillebrant)  Hotaling,  was 
born,  April  17,  1838,  in  Albany,  where  his  father  a  contractor  and  builder,  settled 
about  1828  and  died  in  ISO!).  His  ancestors  came  here  at  an  early  day.  Mr.  Hotal- 
ing was  educated  in  Albany,  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  State  Normal  School 
in  1856,  read  law  with  Oliver  M.  Hungerford,  and  was  admitted  in  1859.  He  has 
since  practiced  his  profession  in  Albany.  In  1861  he  formed  a  copartnership  witli 
his  preceptor,  which  continued  until  Mr.  Hungerford's  death  in  1888  Ik-  was 
elected  district  attorney  of  Albany  county  in  1S77  tor  three  year?,  was  a  meml 
the  Assembly  for  the  Second  Albany  district  in  1885,  and  is  a  trustee  of  the  Albany 
County  Savings  Bank  and  a  director  in  the  Albany  County  Rank.  He  has  never 
married. 

Howell,  Fred  S..  son  of  George  Oliver  and  (Rowland)  Howell,  was  born 

in  the  town  of  Hector.  Schuyler  county,  X.  Y.,  May  15,  1865.  He  received  his  edu- 
cation at  the  Watkins  (X.  Y  )  Academy,  and  subsequently  studied  telegraphy.  He 
made  great  progress  in  this  profession  ami  at  the  early  age  of  fifteen  became  man- 
ager of  the  Western  Union  telegraph  office  at  Watkins,  where  he  remained  three 
and  a  half  years.  Mr  Howell  moved  to  Syrai  USi  X.  Y..  being  in  the  employ  of  the 
Western  Union   Telegraph   Company,  and   lati  I    to  Wavi  rly.      In  1885  he  moved  to 


352 


Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  and  represented  the  Associated  Press  as  operator  on  the  Daily 
Union.  In  1886  Mr.  Howell  moved  to  Albany  to  accept  the  position  of  Associated 
Press  telegrapher  on  the  Albany  Argus ;  in  1888  he  went  with  the  Press  and  Knicker- 
bocker, doing  United  Press  work,  and  from  1888  to  1893  held  a  position  of  telegrapher 
in  a  broker's  office  in  connection  with  his  newspaper  work.  In  1893,  upon  the  con- 
solidation of  the  United  and  Associated  Presses,  Mr.  Howell  gave  up  press  work  and 
succeeded  to  the  commission  business  of  J.  H.  Knight,  having  offices  in  the  Benson 
building.  In  1895  Mr.  Howell  assumed  the  management  of  the  Albany  office  of 
Price,  McCormick  &  Co.  and  held  this  responsible  position  until  February,  1897, 
when  he  bought  the  extensive  house  furnishing  business  of  Isaac  Hough,  comprising 
two  stores  in  Albany,  one  in  Cohoes,  one  in  Schennectady  and  one  in  Troy.  Mr. 
Howell  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  Press  Club.  April  11,  1894,  he  married  Jane  E., 
daughter  of  the  late  Hon.  Michael  Richard.     They  have  one  daughter. 

Borthwick,  Acton  S.,  son  of  James  M.  and  Charity  (Sisson)  Borthwick,  was  born 
in  Huntersland.  Schoharie  county,  N.  Y.,  August  24,  1871,  where  he  attended  the 
public  schools  and  in  1884  moved  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  spent  two  years  at  the  High 
School.  Subsequently  he  went  to  Coeymans,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  worked  three  years  in 
his  father's  store  and  in  1890  returned  to  Albany  and  was  employed  by  George  VY. 
Yerkes  &  Co.  until  January  1,  1896,  when  his  father,  County  Clerk  James  M.  Borth- 
wick, appointed  him  court  clerk,  which  position  he  now  fills.  Mr.  Borthwick  is  a 
member  of  the  Unconditional  Republican  Club,  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men, 
Ancient  City  Lodge  F.  &  A.  M.,  Capital  City  Chapter  R.  A.  M.,  De  Witt  Clinton 
Council  R.  &  S.  M.,  Temple  Commandery  No.  2,  and  Cyprus  Temple  A.  A.  O.  N. 
M.  S.     In  1895  he  married  Charlotte  M.  Conde  of  Albany. 

Herrick,  De  Laus  W. — The  Herncks  are  a  very  old  family,  tracing  their  descent 
in  a  direct  line  from  the  thirteenth  century.  Those  members  of  the  family  living  in 
Albany  are  descended  from  Henry  Herrick,  who  came  from  England  and  settled  in 
Salem,  Mass.,  in  the  year  1629.  Beyond  the  record  of  Henry's  marriage,  the  first 
public  record  in  this  country  is  that  of  the  conviction  of  Henry  Herrick  and  Edith, 
his  wife,  in  Essex  county,  Mass.,  and  their  being  fined  "for  aiding  and  comforting 
an  excommunicated  person  contrary  to  order."  Some  of  the  descendants  of  Henry 
finally  settled  in  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.,  and  in  the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  war 
furnished  a  number  of  soldiers  to  the  patriot  army,  among  others  Stephen  and 
several  of  his  sons,  and  among  them  Jonathan.  After  the  close  of  the  war  Jonathan 
emigrated  to  Duan,esburgh,  Schenectady  county;  he  was  the  grandfather  of  Jon- 
athan R.  and  De  Laus  W.  Herrick,  who  subsequently  settled  in  the  city  of  Albany, 
becoming  prosperous  merchants;  they  were  the  first  of  their  family  that  had  fol- 
lowed any  other  calling  in  this  country  excepting  that  of  farming.  Jonathan  R. 
died  in  the  city  of  Albany  in  1890 ;  he  was  the  father  of  D.  Cady  Herrick,  the  pres- 
ent justice  of  the  Supreme  Court.  De  Laus  W.  Herrick  is  still  living,  and  is  one  of 
the  prominent  coal  merchants  of  the  city. 

Bailey,  J.  De  Witt,  son  of  John  and  Katharine  (Kilmer)  Bailey,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Bethlehem.  Albany  county,  N.  Y.,  March  25,  1831.  He  received  his  educa- 
tion at  the  public  schools  and  learned  the  trade  of  wagon  maker  from  his  father,  who 
was  engaged  in  that  business.  In  1835  the  Bailey  family  moved  to  the  village  of 
Coeymans  and  here  J.  De  Witt  worked  for  his  father  after  learning  the°trade,  and 


353 

after  a  time  branched  out  into  the  business  of  carriage  painter.  For  many  years 
Mr.  Bailey  worked  at  this  trade  and  follows  it  now  to  a  very  limited  extent.  In  the 
spring  of  1870  he  was  appointed  keeper  of  the  United  States  light  house  at  Coey- 
mans,  and  since  then  he  has  been  placed  in  charge  of  five  beacon  lights  on  the  Hud- 
son River  near  Coeymans  Landing.  Mr.  Bailey  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
church  of  Coeymans.  In  December,  1854,  be  married  Anne  Rebecca  Miller,  and 
they  have  three  children:    Edgar,  Emma  L.,  and  Mrs.  Edward  Long. 

Winne,  John  E.,  son  of  Matthew  and  Gertrude  (Witbeck)  Whine,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Niskayuna,  Schenectady  county,  X  V.,  July  30,  1850.  John  E.  Winne  is  a 
lineal  descendant  of  Jan  Thomase  Van  Witbeck,  a  native  of  Witbeck,  Holstein, 
Holland,  who  married  Andriese  Dochter,  who  was  born  in  New  Amsterdam  (now 
Xew  York).  From  1652,  when  Beverwyck  was  first  laid  out,  Jan  Thomase  Van  Wit- 
beck was  the  most  considerable  dealer  in  house  lots  in  the  village.  In  1G64,  in  com- 
pany with  Volkert  Janse  Douw,  he  purchased  from  the  Indians  the  whole  of  Apje 
Islands,  or  Schotaek,  and  the  mainland  opposite  on  the  east  side  of  the  Hudson 
River.  Of  his  six  children,  Thomase  Janse  Witbeck  married,  September  5,  17o-j, 
Jannetje  Van  Deuseu,  and  was  buried  at  Papsknee.  Thomas  Janse  Witbeck  also 
had  six  children,  of  whom  Lucas,  the  youngest,  was  born  February  26,  1724,  and 
married  Geertruy,  daughter  of  Johannes  Lansing  and  his  wife  Geertruy,  daughter 
of  Pieter  S.  Schuyler,  the  first  mayor  of  Albany.  They  too  had  six  children,  of 
whom  Thomas  and  Gerrit  (twins)  were  born  March  18,  L750.  Gerrit  Witbeck  mar- 
ried, May  29,  1774,  Immeteje  Perry,  and  had  four  children,  of  whom  Thomas  Gerrit 
Witbeck,  born  January  25,  17*5,  married  December  11,  .1803,  Leah,  youngest  daugh- 
ter of  Francis  and  Gertrude  (Van  Dusen)  Marshall,  who  was  born  March  17,  1782. 
Of  their  six  children,  Gertrude  was  born  April  17,  1811  ;  she  was  married  to  Mathew 
Winne  on  May  1,  1841.  They  had  four  children:  Charles  W.,  Thomas  W.,  John 
Eldert  and  Mary  J.  John  E.  Winne  attended  the  classical  department  of  the  Union 
School  at  Schenectady  and  graduated  from  the  Albany  Business  College  in  1860. 
He  thereupon  entered  the  hardware  store  of  B.  I.  Conde  at  Schenectady,  where  he 
held  a  clerkship  for  one  year,  leaving  to  accept  a  more  responsible  position  in  the 
iron  establishment  of  Hannibal  Green  &  Son,  at  Troy.  X.  V.,  where  he  remained  six 
years.  In  1874,  in  connection  with  A.  T.  Burdick  and  Phineas  Jones  &  Co..  Mr. 
Winne  formed  the  firm  of  Winne,  Burdick  &  Co.,  for  carrying  on  the  saddlery  hard- 
ware business  at  Troy,  X.  V.  In  1883  this  firm  became  that  of  Winne  &  I  >rake.  and 
in  1889  Mr.  Winne  sold  his  interest  to  Charles  F.  Drake  and  moved  to  Albany,  where 
he  conducted  the  business  of  the  Albany  Saddlery  Company,  manufacturers  of  har- 
ness. In  1895  Mr.  Winne  was  appointed  to  a  position  in  the  Department  <»f  the 
Superintendent  of  Public  Works  at  Albany,  where  he  is  now  employed.  He  is  an 
active  member  of  the  Madison  Avenue  Reformed  church  of  Albany,  and  has  served 
as  an  officer  and  superintendent  .it'  the  Sabbath  School.  In  1874  he  married  Henri- 
etta L.  Filkins  of  Albany,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Gertrude. 

Woodward,  Major  James  Otis,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Albany,   X.  V.,  October  1, 
1863.     He  is  a  son  of  Royal  Woodward,  of  the  well-known  medical  famil 
field,  Conn.,  and  is  a  descendant  of  some  of  the  foremost  Americans  whose  names 
adorn   the  pages  of  the   history   of  this  country.     Cotton  Mather,    Miles   Standish, 
Colonel   Knowlton,   a   member   of  George   Washington's   stall,    and    James    <  >r 


354 

signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  are  among  those  alluded  to.  He  attend- 
ed the  academies  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  East  Hampton,  Mass.,  and  was  in  the  class 
of  1882  at  Hamilton  College,  from  which  institution  he  received  the  degree  of  M.  A. 
Although  educated  for  journalism,  his  chosen  profession,  he  studied  law  in  the 
office  of  the  late  Judge  Samuel  Hand,  but  later  went  upon  the  staff  of  the  Troy 
(N.Y.)  Daily  Times.  Subsequently  he  became  business  manager  of  the  Troy  News. 
Major  Woodward  also  acted  as  correspondent  for  the  New  York  Mail  and  Express 
and  other  Metropolitan  papers  and  became  widely  associated  in  newspaper  work. 
Leaving  the  work  of  the  press,  Major  Woodward  turned  his  attention  to  the  cotton 
business  in  the  South,  in  which  he  is  now  somewhat  engaged.  Recently  he  became 
interested  in  theatrical  matters  and  is  associated  with  a  number  of  metropolitan 
attractions.  He  is  also  interested  in  a  number  of  theaters.  He  has  always  taken 
an  active  part  in  politics.  In  1885  he  was  elected  alderman  from  the  old  Fifth  ward 
by  the  narrow  majority  of  five,  overcoming  an  adverse  Democratic  majority  of 
several  hundred,  and  being  the  first  Republican  to  carry  that  Democratic  stronghold. 
Twice  he  was  tendered  the  nomination  for  mayor  of  Albany,  but  declined  both 
times.  He  was  secretary  of  the  Special  State  Prison  Commission  appointed  by 
Governor  Hill.  In  fraternal  organizations  he  is  very  auspicious;  he  was  at  the 
head  of  the  Odd  Fellows  of  the  State  and  was  grand  commandant  of  Patri- 
archs Militant,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  division  of  the  Atlantic,  for  four  years.  He  is 
not  only  prominent  in  Odd  Fellowship,  but  holds  distinguished  honors  among  the 
Masons  and  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  was  president  of  the  Chi  Psi  Alumni  Associa- 
tion of  New  York  State  two  years ;  is  a  life  member  of  the  American  Numismatic 
and  Archaeological  Society;  a  member  of  Mecca  Shrine  of  New  York ;  the  Elks; 
Thirteen  Club  of  New  York,  and  the  Fort  Orange  Club  of  Albany.  In  military 
circles  Major  Woodward  is  very  prominent ;  he  was  for  five  years  commander  of  the 
Albany  Burgesses  Corps,  the  oldest  military  organization  in  the  State,  and  was  in 
command  of  the  corps  upon  the  occasion  of  its  celebrated  trip  to  New  Orleans  and 
the  Mardi  Gras  in  1895.  He  is  also  an  active  member  of  the  Old  Guard  of  New 
York.  He  attained  the  rank  of  major  in  the  N.G.S.N.Y.  He  served  on  the  staffs  of 
Colonel  Brooks,  General  Oliver  and  General  Carr.  Major  Woodward  also  attained  the 
rank  of  general  in  the  militant  branch  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  wTas  a  member  of  the  Bi- 
centennial Committee  of  the  city  of  Albany  and  was  grand  marshal  of  the  great 
Bi-Centennial  parade,  one  of  the  largest  ever  held  in  the  city,  and  of  the  great  Odd 
Fellows'  parade  upon  the  occasion  of  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  the  New  Tem- 
ple at  Albany.  He  represented  New  York  State  upon  the  staff  of  General  Schofleld 
upon  the  occasion  of  the  great  centennial  parade  at  New  York.  Canton  Woodward 
of  Newburgh  was  named  in  his  honor. 

Austin,  Arthur  C,  born  in  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  in  November,  1859,  received  his 
early  education  in  the  California  Military  Academy  at  Oakland,  Cal,,  and  in  1879, 
just  before  -his  majority,  came  East,  contra  to  Greeley's  famous  advice,  to  seek  his 
fortune,  simply  because  he  could  not  go  farther  west.  His  first  effort  in  this  direc- 
tion on  his  own  behalf  was  in  the  photograph  business  in  Nashua,  N.  H.,  where  he 
remained  with  moderate  success  for  five  or  six  years.  About  this  time  photo  process 
engraving  began  to  meet  with  public  approbation,  and  Mr.  Austin  determined  to 
dispose  of  his  portrait  gallery  and  devote  himself  to  the  process  of  engraving,  be- 


355 

lieving  that  the  field  was  larger  and  more  fruitful.  He  obtained  employment  in 
Philadelphia,  and  by  close  attention  soon  fitted  himself  to  accept  a  more  responsible 
situation  in  Boston.  Here  he  remained  for  some  time,  until  he  took  charge  of  the 
Hyde  Park  Company,  Hyde  Park,  Mass.  In  1893  Mr.  Austin  removed  to  Albany 
and  organized  an  engraving  company.  This  was  successful  from  the  start,  but  be- 
cause of  uncongenial  surroundings  and  lack  of  opportunity  for  development,  Mr. 
Austin  withdrew  in  1895,  and  together  with  James  Ten  Eyck,  Howard  Martin,  C.  S. 
Pease  and  others,  organized  the  A.  C.  Austin  Engraving  Company,  a  successful  cor- 
poration from  its  inception,  with  a  bright  future,  employing  a  goodly  force  of  skilled 
labor,  and  altogether  a  credit  to  Albany.  Mr.  Austin  is  a  member  of  Temple  Lodge 
No.  14,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Capital  City  Chapter  X...  242,  R.  A.  M.,  De  Witt  Clinton  Coun- 
cil No.  22,  R.  &  S.  M.,  Temple  Commandery  No  2,  K.  T..  Cyprus  Temple,  A.  A  O. 
N.  M.  S.,  Capital  City  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  the  Albany  Camera  Club. 

Green,  Col.  G.  James,  son  of  John  R.  and  Ann  (Vosburgh)  Green,  was  born  in 
Albany,  X.  Y.,  June  4,  1860.  His  great-grandfather,  John,  an  Englishman,  came 
from  Dublin  to  America  and  settled  in  Niskayuna,  X.  Y.,  where  he  married  Rebecca 
Groot.  They  had  a  son,  Cornelius,  who  married  Gertrude  Tymerson.  G.  James 
Green  received  his  education  in  the  Albany  public  and  high  schools.  In  1875  he 
went  into  the  employ  of  the  D.  &  H.  C.  Co.  as  clerk,  and  for  three  years  following 
was  paymaster  for  Curtis  &  Whalen,  railroad  contractors.  In  1884  he  was  tendered 
the  position  of  bookkeeper  with  McKinley  &  Co.,  and  remained  with  that  company 
until  1893,  when  he  resigned  to  accept  a  similar  position  with  Weidman  &  Co.  Jan- 
uary 1,  1894,  he  was  appointed  chief  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  inspector  general  of 
the  State  of  New  York  and  on  January  3,  1895,  he  was  appointed  assistant  inspector 
general  of  the  State,  which  position  he  now  holds.  Colonel  Green  enlisted  in  Co.  B, 
10th  Regt.,  November  13,  1879;  was  promoted  corporal,  January  4,  1881  ;  dropped 
on  account  of  removal  from  the  city,  Xovember  30,  1881 ;  taken  up  as  private  in  Co. 
B,  10th  Battalion,  June  6,  1884;  promoted  corporal,  Septembei  i  L885;  sergeant, 
January  18,  1886;  first  sergeant,  May  3,  1886;  second  lieutenant,  October  15 
lieutenant-colonel  and  assistant  adjutant-general,  3d  Brigade,  December  11,  1889. 
Upon  the  resignation  of  Brigadier-General  Parker,  he  was  placed  upon  the  super- 
numerary list,  at  his  own  request,  January  2,  1891,  and  on  August  19,  of  the  same 
year,  he  was  elected  captain  of  his  old  company,  vice  Stacpole,  promoted  ma 
the  battalion.  Colonel  Green  resigned  the  captaincy  of  Co.  B,  January  1.  1895.  Ib- 
is a  member  of  the  United  Service  Club  of  New  York  City,  the  Military  Servi 
stitution  of  the  United  States  and  the-  Unconditional  Republican  Club  of  Albany, 
and  the  Military  Club  of  Xew  York  city. 

Bleecker,  W.  Rutger,  son  of  Thomas  S.  and  Catharine  (McCullock)  Bleecker,  was 

born  in  Albany,  X.  Y.,  in  1X(!'.I.  He  received  his  education  in  the  Albany  public  and 
high  schools,  which  latter  institution  he  left  t  the  position  of  m> 

ger  in  the  Xew  York  State  National  Bank.  Since  his  connection  with  this  institution 
he  has  won  the  trust  and  confidence  of  his  employers  and  has  been  deservedly  pro- 
moted up  to  his  present  position,  that  of  individual  bookkeeper,  to  which  he  w 
pointed  in  April,  1896.  He  is  a  member  of  Wadsworth  Lodge  No.  417.  F.  &  A.  M., 
Knights  of  the  Ancient  Essenic  <  >rder,  and  is  an  honorary  member  of  the  Philidoxia 
Society  of  the  Albany  High  School.  March  11,  1894,  he  married  Elizabeth  Pendell 
of   Monticello,  Sullivan  county,  X.  Y. 


356 


Babcock,  Robert,  M.  D.,  son  of  John  and  Hester  (Van  Derzee)  Babcock,  was  born 
in  Bethlehem,  Albany  county,  N.  Y.,  December  2,  1857.  He  attended  the  Albany 
Academy  in  1873  and  was  graduated  in  1877.  He  graduated  from  the  University  of 
Rochester  in  1881,  with  the  degree  of  A.B.,  and  from  the  Albany  Medical  College  in 
1884,  with  the  degree  of  M.D.  For  a  year  and  a  half  Dr.  Babcock  was  assistant 
house  physician  and  surgeon  at  the  Albany  Hospital.  He  then  moved  to  Holyoke, 
Mass.,  where  he  practiced  for  a  short  time,  and  in  1886  returned  to  Albany,  where 
he  has  since  practiced.  He  has  been  instructor  in  materia  medica  and  therapeutics 
at  the  Albany  Medical  College  and  has  been  on  the  surgical  staff  of  the  dispensary 
connected  with  the  Albany  Hospital.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medi- 
cal Society.  February  18,  1886,  Dr.  Babcock  married  Maria  Witbeck  and  they  have 
one  son,  Robert  Witbeck. 

Belding,  Samuel  B.,  son  of  Hiram  and  Elizabeth  (Brown)  Belding,  was  born  in 
Charlton,  Saratoga  county,  N.  Y.,  April  26,  1847.  He  is  descended  from  one  of  three 
brothers  who  came  from  England  to  America  with  the  Puritans  and  settled  near 
Lenox,  Mass.  Their  descendants  fought  bravely  in  the  French  and  Indian  and 
Revolutionary  wars  Prof.  Belding's  immediate  ancestors  settled  in  Saratoga  county 
in  1793,  and  his  maternal  great -great-grandfather,  Robert  Barckley,  was  a  provin- 
cial governor  of  New  Jersey.  Prof.  Belding  graduated  from  the  Charlton  Academy 
in  1865,  and  then  pursued  a  study  of  organ  music  under  J.  Augustus  Read  of  Albany, 
N.  Y.  In  1866  he  secured  the  position  of  organist  in  the  Tabernacle  Baptist  church 
and  remained  there  one  year,  when  he  went  to  the  Fourth  Presbyterian  church, 
where  he  was  organist  for  five  and  one-half  years.  Prof.  Belding  then  removed  to 
Boston,  Mass.,  and  studied  under  Dudley  Buck.  In  1874  he  returned  to  Albany  and 
became  the  organist  of  the  First  Reformed  church,  where  he  is  at  present;  in  1876 
he  secured  the  position  of  organist  at  the  Temple  Beth  Emeth  which  he  ably  fills  at 
the  present  time.  In  May,  1886,  Prof.  Belding  assumed  control  of  the  music  at  the 
Albany  State  Normal  College  and  is  the  instructor  there  at  the  present  time ;  he 
also  has  many  private  pupils  and  is  recognized  to  be  one  of  the  finest  musicians  in 
this  State.  He  is  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason  and  is  a  member  of  Mt.  Vernon 
Lodge  No.  3,  Temple  Chapter  No.  5,  De  Witt  Clinton  Council  No.  22,  Temple  Com- 
mandery  No.  2,  A.  S.  R.,  and  Cyprus  Temple  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.  He  is  also  the  organ- 
ist for  Mt.  Vernon,  Masters,  Wadsworth  and  Washington  Masonic  lodges  and  the 
Shrine.  In  March,  1874,  he  married  Elrlida  St.  J.  Weeks  of  Albany,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Elizabeth  Brown. 

Dearstyne.  Chester  F.,  was  born  in  Reidsville,  Albany  county,  N.  Y.,  July  22, 
1851.  He  is  a  son  of  John  Dearstyne  and  belongs  to  the  old  Dearstyne  family  which 
was  among  the  first  to  settle  in  Albany  count)'.  His  ancestry  is  from  the  same 
branch  as  that  of  the  Dearstyne  family  of  Bath-on-the-Hudson,  numbering  among 
its  members  the  first  settlers  of  that  place  who  gave  their  name  to  the  Dearstyne 
Hose  Company.  Mr.  Dearstyne  was  educated  at  Reidsville,  and  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen he  became  a  clerk  in  East  Berne  in  the  grocery  store  of  Z.  A.  Dyer,  whose 
daughter  he  afterwards  married.  He  is  therefore  a  brother-in-law  of  William  S. 
Dyer,  the  well  known  lawyer  of  Albany.  Mr.  Dearstyne  was  employee,1  j  as  clerk  by 
Albert  Gallup  in  the  Kimball  House,  In  1874  he  started  in  the  cigar  and  tobacco 
business  on  Washington  avenue,  taking  into  partnership  five  years  later,  Mr.  Isaac 


357 

B.  Cross,  recently  sheriff  of  Albany  county.  In  1883  he  engaged  in  the  tobacco  busi- 
ness for  himself  at  No.  385  Broadway,  where  he  has  done  a  prosperous  business. 
In  1894  Drv  Dearstyne  was  appointed  superintendent  of  the  Albany  county  Peniten- 
tiary and  during  his  incumbency  of  that  office  he  has  given  very  general  satisfaction 
and  has  conducted  the  institution  on  an  economical  basis. 

Droogan,  Cornelius  J.,  son  of  Cornelius  and  Mary  (Brown)  Droogan,  was  born  in 
Albany,  X.  Y.,  December  24.  1867.  He  attended  the  Christian  Brothers'  Academv, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1865,  and  the  Manhattan  College  in  New  York  city, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1888  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.,  and  from  which  he 
received  the  degree  of  A.  M.  in  1890.  Mr.  Droogan  also  completed  the  course  at  the 
Albany  Law  School  in  1889,  and  has  enjoyed  an  extensive  practice  in  Albany  since 
then.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Dongan  Club,  the  Catholic  Union  and  the  Catholic- 
Club  of  New  York. 

Downs,  J.  Murray,  is  a  son  of  James  H.  Downs,  who  settled  in  Albany  about  1*-V>, 
and  Mary  B.  Murray,  his  wife,  whose  father  was  a  prominent  contractor  in  the 
capital  city.  He  was  born  in  Albany,  July  9,  1*72,  was  graduated  from  the  High 
School  in  1889,  and  from  that  time  until  1892  held  a  clerkship  in  the  State  Law 
Library.  Meanwhile  he  read  law  with  Reilly  &  Hamilton,  was  graduated  from  the 
Albany  Law  School  in  1893  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  February,  1S94.  He  re- 
mained in  the  office  of  his  preceptors  as  managing  clerk  until  April  1,  1895,  when  he 
formed  a  copartnership  with  Hon.  Robert  C.  Scherer,  as  Scherer  &  Downs,  wliich 
still  continues.  Mr.  Downs's  maternal  ancestors  were  soldiers  in  the  English  army 
at  the  time  of  the  Robert  Emmet  uprising  in  Ireland.  Two  of  his  mother's  brothers 
served  in  our  Civil  war  and  one  of  them,  John  Murray,  died  in  Andersonville 
prison. 

Flanigan,  Eugene  D.,  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  September  25,  1868.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  Christian  Brothers'  Academy,  from  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  1888;  he  then  studied  law  with  Nathan  P.  Ilinman  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  .September,  l*s<;.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Union  and  the  Old  «  . 
Albany  Zouave  Cadets.  Mr.  Flanigan  married  Maud  N.  Edwards  in  October,  1884, 
and  they  have  one  daughter,  Marjorie. 

Fursman,  Jesse  William,  son  of  William  II.  and  Elizabeth  (Rastall)  Kinsman,  was 
born  in  Schenectady,  X.  Y..  December  I.  1865,  and  is  descended  from  a  long  line  of 
English  ancestors  who  settled  in  Westchester  county  in  the  early  part  of  the  seven- 
teenth century.  On  the  maternal  side,  Mr.  Fursman  is  descended  from  Johannes 
Halsaerdt  of  Holland,  who  came  to  America  in  1690;  many  of  the  descendants  of 
this  Hollander  are  now  living  in  Washington  county.  Jesse  W.  Fursman  was  edu- 
cated in  the  Rome  Free  Academy,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1888;  after  leav- 
ing the  academy  he  was  employed  in  Rome  four  years  as  traveling  salesman  for  the 
Aland  Patent  Blower  Co.  He  left  this  position  to  accept  a  similar  one  with  a  trunk 
and  bag  house  of  Herkimer,  N.  Y.,  and  after  two  years  he  moved  toOswegO,  N.  V.. 
where  he  learned  shorthand  in  the  business  college,  subsequently  being  employed  by 
T.  Kingsford  &  Son  as  stenographer  for  three  years.  From  Oswego  Mr.  Fursman 
moved  to  Syracuse,  X.  Y..  where  he  was  employed  for  a  time  by  the  Sherwood  Har- 
ness   Co.,  and  for  the  past    live  years   he  has    been  engaged  with   the  Albany  branch 


358 

of  the  Smith-Premier  Typewriter  Co.  Mr.  Fursman  is  very  popular  with  the  young 
men  of  Albany  and  is  a  member  of  Temple  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  Co.  B,  IGth  Batt,  N.  G.  N.  Y.  October  20,  1891,  he  married  Kate 
Dvvyer  of  Herkimer,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have  two  children,  Edgar  Seward  and  Marian. 

Goodwin  Albert  C,  is  descended  from  Ozias  Goodwin,  who  came  with  his  brother, 
Elder  William,  in  the  ship  Lion,  from  Braintree,  England,  arriving  at  Boston,  Sep- 
tember, 1632,  with  his  wife,  Mary  Woodward.  He  settled  in  Cambridge,  Mass.,  and 
later  in  Hartford,  Conn.  The  line  is  (1)  Ozias ;  (2)  William;  (3)  Deacon  Nathaniel; 
(4)  Isaac;  (5)  Uriah,1  of  Ashfield,  Mass.,  member  of  the  committee  of  safety  1778,  of 
the  committee  to  raise  troops,  1780,  and  army  supplies,  1781,  and  selectmen  and  as- 
sessor, 1781;  (6)  Eldad  Francis,  1701-1827,  born  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  was  the 
millwright  in  the  town  of  his  birth  for  many  years,  moved  to  Watervliet,  Albany 
county,  and  kept  hotel,  and  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  Lucy  Scott,  came  to 
Albany;  (7)  Albert,  born  in  Ashfield,  Mass.,  September  3,  1803,  died  February  10, 
1869,  in  Albany,  where  he  was  alderman,  city  assessor  and  mason  and  builder;  (8) 
Thomas  Laing;  and  (9)  Albert  C.  Albert  (7)  married,  October  13,  1828,  Jane  Laing, 
who  died  May  31,  1835.  Of  their  seven  children,  Thomas  Laing  Goodwin,  born  in 
Albany,  January  24,  1835,  married  May  23,  1860,  Pamelia  Batchelder  Clark,  born 
August  7,  1841,  daughter  of  Daniel  Parsons  and  Catharine  (Russ)  Clark.  He  died 
in  November,  1888;  he  had  three  children  ;  Albert  C,  born  February  14,  1861,  and 
two  who  died  young.  Educated  in  the  Boys'  Academy  and  learning  the  lithographic 
trade  with  Harry  Pease,  he  formed  in  1860  a  copartnership  with  George  W.  Lewis, 
which  was  succeeded  by  Murray  &  Goodwin ;  about  1872  he  became  sole  owner  and 
in  1882  admitted  his  son,  Albert  C,  under  the  firm  name  of  Thomas  L.  Goodwin  & 
Son.  Thomas  L.  was  an  active,  prominent  Democrat,  foreman  of  the  Volunteer 
Tivoli  Hose  Company,  member  of  the  Old  Guard  of  the  Burgesses  Corps  and  the 
Fourth  Presbyterian  church,  and  a  trustee  of  the  Home  Savings  Bank.  In  1886  Mr. 
Goodwin  retired  and  since  then  Albert  C.  has  conducted  the  general  lithographic  and 
engraving  establishment  alone,  largely  increasing  the  business,  which  is  the  only 
one  of  the  kind  between  New  York  and  Buffalo.     Albert  C.  was  educated  in  the  Boys' 

1  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  Office  of  Secretary.  Revolutionary  War  Service.  Uriah 
i  ioodwin; 

Uriah  (ioodwin  appears  with  rank  of  Sergeant  on  Muster  Roll  of  Capt.  Benjamin  Phillips'  Co., 
Lt.-Col.  Timothy  Robinson's  Regt.  Enlisted  Dec.  23,  1776,  discharged  April  1,  1777;  length  of 
service  :',  mos:  10  days.  Reported— Hampshire  Co.  Regt.  Dated,  In  garrison  at  Ticonderoga,  Feb. 
24,  1777.     Reported— Lame  in  barracks. -  Vol.  47,  180,  and  Vol.  22,  79. 

Appears  in  a  Descriptive  List  of  men  raised  to  reinforce  the  Continental  Army,  for  the  term 
of  six  months,  agreeable  toresolve  of  June  5,  1780;  age  42  years;  stature,  5  feet  4  in.;  complexion 
light;  residence,  Ashfield;  time  of  arrival  at  Springfield,  July  21,  1780.  23d  Division.  Marched  to 
Camp  July  21,  1780,  under  command  of  Capt.  Isaac  Pope.— Vol.  35,  p.  205. 

Uriah  (ioodwin  appears  on  a  Pay  Roll  for  six  months  men  raised  to  the  town  of  Ashfield  for 
service  in  the  Continental  Army  during  1780.  When  marched,  July  21,  1180;  when  discharged, 
Dec.  5,  1780;  length  of  service,  4  mos.  23  days.— Vol.  4,  p.  21. 

Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  Office  of  Secretary,  Boston,  May  1.  1895. 

I  certify  the  foregoing  to  be  true  abstracts  from  the  Record  Index  to  the  Revolutionary  Arch- 
ives deposited  in  this  office. 

Witness  the  Seal  of  the  Commonwealth, 

Wm.  M.  Olin, 

(L.  S.)  Secretary. 


359 

Academy,  has  passed  through  the  chairs  and  is  the  present  master  of  Ancient  City 
Lodge  No.  452,  F.  &  A.  M.,  a  member  of  Temple  Chapter,  No.  5,  R.  A.  M.,  and 
Temple  Commandery,  No.  2,  K.  T.  He  was  secretary  and  superintendent  of  the  old 
Menand  Mission  from  1880  to  1885,  and  with  Rev.  Charles  Wood  organized  the 
Viaduct  Mission  in  1886,  of  which  he  was  superintendent  several  years.  He  was  a 
trustee  of  the  Fourth  Presbyterian  church  for  eight  years,  until  his  removal  to 
Menand's  in  1895,  and  has  been  secretary,  treasurer,  trustee  and  president  of  the 
Albany  County  Sunday  vSchool  Teachers'  Association,  and  director  of  the  South  End 
Bank.  In  1839  he  married  Sarah  Alice  Higgs,  of  Brooklyn,  daughter  of  George 
Henry,  and  the  late  Frances  (Fisher)  Higgs,  and  their  children  are  Alice  Lloyd  and 
Albert  C.   jr. 

Harris,  Frank  S'.,  son  of  George  O.  and  Mary  (Salisbury)  Harris,  was  born  in  Al 
bany,  N.  Y.,  in   1868.     He   received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  and  Albany 

I  Academy  and  subsequently  spent  three  years  at  Lake  George  and   New  York  city. 

In  1885  he  assumed  management,  for  his  mother,  of  the  large  livery  business  which 
was  started  about  1835  by  his  grandfather,  George,  and  which  has  been  in  the  family 
ever  since.  In  military  circles  there  is  none  more  popular  and  it  would  be  hard  to 
find  a  better  drilled  member  of  the  National  Guard.  For  ten  years  Mr.  Harris  was 
a  member  of  Co.  A,  10th  Bat.,  N.  G.  N.  Y. ,  and  during  part  of  that  time  was  a  ser- 
geant of  the  company.  He  is  now  first  lieutenant  and  commissary  on  Colonel 
Fitch's  staff  of  the  10th  Bat.  N.  G.  N.  Y.     He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Albany  Club. 

Haswell,  William  H.,  son  of  Justus  and  Nancy  L.  (Ransom)  Haswell,  was  born  in 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  September  29,  1853.  He  attended  the  public  schools  and  High 
School,  graduating  from  the  latter  in  1872.  He  spent  one  year  in  the  employ  of  his 
father,  dealer  in  hay  and  grain,  and  for  three  years  was  special  deputv  county  clerk 
uuder  his  uncle,  William  K.  Haswell,  who  was  county  clerk.  While  in  this  position 
Mr.  Haswell  performed  the  duties  of  court  clerk.  After  the  expiration  of  his  term 
of  office  he  returned  to  business  with  his  father,  with  whom  he  remained  unt 
for  seven  years  managing  the  Brooklyn  office  of  his  father's  business.  In  1888 
became  connected  with  the  Ron  an  Towing  and  Transportation  Line  as  bookkeeper, 
and  during  Mr.  Ronan's  absences,  which  are  frequent,  he  has  full  charge  of  the 
business.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  Club,  Old  Guard,  Albany  Zouave 
Cadets  and  the  Friendly  Few,  an  organization  composed  of  graduates  of  the  High 
School. 

Hollenbeck,  Frank,  is  the  son  of  Jacob,  grandson  of  Jacob;  his  great-grandfather 
came  from  Holland.     Mr.  Hollenbeck  remained  on  the  homestead,  where  bis  grand- 
father settled,  until  1880,  when  he  came  to  his  present  farm.      He  married    I.  .   y  M 
daughter  of  Cornelius  Mosher. 

Hitt,  Hon  Galen  R.,  is  the  son  of  New  England  ancestors  and  was  born  in  Paw- 
let,  Yt.,  August  Hi,  1848.  He  received  his  preliminary  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  in  1859  he  entered  the  Troy  Conference  Academy  at  Poultnev.  Yt., 
where  he  remained  four  years.  He  then  began  the  study  of  law  at  Rutland,  Yt.. 
and  finished  his  studies  in  Albany,  X.  Y,  where  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  by  the 
General  Term  in  the  spring  of  1865.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  married  - 
J.  Crowley,  daughter  of  the  late  Hon.  John  Crowley  of  Mount   Holly,  Vt..  and   took 


360 

up  his  residence  in  Albany.  He  has  built  up  a  very  large  practice,  especially  in 
criminal  cases.  In  1874  he  helped  to  organize  the  Albany  Boatmen's  Relief  Asso- 
ciation, of  which  for  six  years  he  was  a  director  and  for  four  years  attorney.  In 
1877  he  joined  the  Albany  Burgesses  Corps  and  has  held  the  offices  of  president  and 
vice-president.  In  politics  Mr.  Hitt  has  always  been  a  hard  worker  for  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  In  the  spring  of  1884  he  was  elected  alderman  from  the  Sixth  ward 
and  in  1888  was  alderman-at-large.  He  served  four  years  in  the  Common  Council 
and  was  a  very  instrumental  member  of  that  bod}-.  He  was  chairman  of  the  Com- 
mon Council  committee  on  celebration  of  the  Albany  bi-centennial.  In  the  winter  of 
1888  he  was  the  first  to  start  the  carnival  and  he  was  also  interested  in  the  move- 
ment to  furnish  the  city  of  Albany  with  pure  water.  In  the  fall  of  1888  Mr.  Hitt 
was  chosen  to  represent  the  Third  district  of  Albany  county  in  the  State  Legisla- 
ture and  served  during  that  session  on  the  Committee  on  Cities  and  State  Prisons. 
He  also  introduced  the  bill  for  the  repaving  of  State  street.  Again  in  1889  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature  and  was  one  of  the  most  eloquent  debaters  on 
the  floor  of  the  Assembly.  He  was  ever  on  the  lookout  for  Albany's  best  interests 
and  so  well  did  he  serve  the  first  two  terms  of  his  election  that  in  1890  and  1891  he 
was  re-elected.  Mr.  Hitt  is  now  practicing  law  at  No.  93  State  street.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Democratic  Phalanx  and  chairman  of  the  commission  on  the  Northern 
Boulevard. 

Kirkland,  George  W.,  born  in  Albany,  February  22.  1858,  is  a  son  of  Abram  S., 
who  was  born  in  Albany  county  near  Slingerlands,  and  was  a  farmer  and  cooper  in 
Albany  and  in  1861  enlisted  and  served  through  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  George 
W.  Kirkland  went  to  Michigan  with  his  parents  in  1866  and  in  1870  returned  to  Al- 
bany, where  he  finished  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  He  became  a  clerk  in 
the  drug  store  of  Collins  &  Kirk  and  later  a  clerk  for  White  &  Co.,  lumber  dealers. 
He  subsequently  learned  the  trade  of  wood  carver  and  followed  it  till  1894,  when  he 
was  appointed  city  marshal,  which  position  he  still  holds.  He  is  a  member  and  past 
noble  grand  of  Fireman's  Lodge  No.  19,  I.  O.  O.  F.  In  1883  he  married  Margaret 
Fowler,  daughter  of  Charles  Fowler,  of  Albany. 

Lynch,  John  H.,  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  in  1851;  he  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools,  Christian  Brothers'  Academy,  and  Albany  Academy,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1870.  While  a  pupil  of  the  academy  he  was  elected  president  of  "The 
Beck  Literary  Society"  and  served  in  that  capacity  for  one  year.  After  leaving 
school  he  was  for  five  years  superintendent  of  the  Albany  and  Greenbush  Ferry  Co. 
He  resigned  this  position  Jo  accept  a  responsible  desk  in  the  office  of  the  adjutant- 
general  under  the  administration  of  General  Franklin  Townsend;  he  occupied  this 
position  about  a  year  and  resigned  to  engage  in  the  coal  business.  On  his  retire- 
ment he  was  highly  complimented  for  his  services  by  the  adjutant  general  in  an 
autograph  letter.  He  engaged  in  the  coal  business  on  Rensselaer  street  in  1876  and 
continued  at  this  location  until  January,  1896,  when  he  removed  to  a  large  and  con 
venient  yard  corner  of  Madison  avenue  and  Church  street,  which  he  at  present  occu- 
pies. He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Young  Men's  Catholic  Lyceum  and  the 
successor  of  the  late  William  D.  Morange  to  the  presidency ;  he  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Dongan  Club  and  for  three  years  was  its  president.  Mr.  Lynch  has  always 
taken  a  lively  interest  in  educational  matters,  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of 


361 

Public  Instruction  in  1878,  and  re-elected  in  1880.  He  resigned  as  a  member  of  the 
board  July,  1N8:>,  on  account  of  business  engagements.     He  was  again  appointed  to 

the  board  by  Mayor  Manning-  in  1892  for  a  term  of  six  years.  In  politics  Mr.  Lynch 
is  a  Democrat  and  although  he  has  never  taken  a  very  active  part,  yet  he  has  twice 
represented  his  district  as  a  delegate  to  State  conventions.  Mr.  Lynch  is  a  director 
of  the  German  Foot  Powder  Company. 

Lewi,  William  G.,  Ph.  G.,  M.D.,  son  of  Dr.  Joseph  and  Berta(Schwarz)  Lewi,  was 
born  in  Albany,  X.  Y. ,  March  '!'■),  1870.  IK-  was  educated  in  the  Albany  public  and 
high  schools,  after  which  he  accepted  a  clerkship  in  the  drug  store  of  his  brother, 
Theodore  J.  Lewi.  He  remained  in  the  drug  store  four  years,  in  the  mean  time- 
attending  the  Albany  College  of  Pharmacy,  where  he  finished  the  course  in  1890  and 
from  which  he  received  his  diploma  in  1891.  While  a  senior  at  the  College  of  Phar- 
macv,  Dr.  Lewi  entered  the  Albany  Medical  College,  from  which  he  received  the 
degree  of  M.  D.  in  1892;  since  then  Dr.  Lewi  has  practiced  in  Albany.  The  year 
following  his  graduation  he  was  appointed  instructor  in  physiology  in  the  Albany 
Medical  College;  later  he  took  the  chair  of  instructor  in  nervous  diseases  as  assistant 
to  Dr.  Hun,  and  he  is  at  present  instructor  in  materia  medica,  therapeutics  and  med- 
ical teehnicpie.  He  is  also  first  lecturer  in  pharmacy,  a  chair  instituted  in  1896.  Dr. 
Lewi  is  physician  to  the  dispensary  of  the  Albany  Hospital  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Albany  County  Medical  Society. 

Lewi,  Theodore  J.,  was  born  in  Albany,  X.  Y..  February  4,  lsii-2.  He  is  a  son  of 
Dr.  Joseph  Lewi,  who  for  the  past  forty-two  years  has  practiced  medicine  in  Albany, 
and  Bertha  Schwarz.  He  received  his  preparatory  education  in  the  public  schools 
and  later  attended  the  Albany  High  School  for  three  years,  after  which  he  held  a 
clerkship  in  the  drug  store  of  L.  Sautter,  sr.,  for  ten  years,  attending  in  the  mean 
time  the  Albany  College  of  Pharmacy,  from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  in 
1883,  receiving  the  prize  for  the  best  graduating  thesis.  In  April,  l*s7.  be  acquired 
possession  of  the  property  on  the  corner  of  Hudson  avenue  and   F...  I   and 

opened  a  drug  store  there  where  he  is  now  located.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany 
Press  Club,  Adelphi  Club,  Xew  York  State  Parinaceutical  Association,  Capital  City 
Club,  Albany  Turn  Verein  and  Gideon  Lodge.  [.  6.  <  ».  B.  He  is  also  the  president 
of  the  German  Foot  Powder  Co. 

Mayer,  John  X..  son  of  Nicholas  and  Gertrude  (Erts)  Mayer,  native  many, 

and  the  parents  of  five  sons  and  one  daughter,  was  born  in  Albany,  <  October  18,  1866, 
received  his  edecation  in  the  public  schools  and  Albany  Busiin  and   read 

law  in   the   offices  of  Colvin    &  Guthrie  and  Ward  &  Cameron"    In    1*91  he  ei 
the  county  clerk's  office  under  A.  C.  Requa  and  when  the  rm  expired,  be 

again  became  a  clerk  for  the  last  named  firm.     January  16,  Is'.":..  be  was  appointed 
inspector  of  customs  under  John  P.  Masterson.      He  is  a  member  of  the  C.  B.   I  . 
the  German  Young  Men's  Catholic  Union.     Octi  895,  he  married  Mary  K.. 

daughter  of  Pius  Rheiner  of  Albany. 

Xellegar,  Edwin,  son  of  William  R.    and  Maria  ••.  was  born   in 

Albany,  X.  Y.,  March  13,  1852.      He  received  his  education  in  the  public  school 
subsequently  served  a  six  months'  apprenticeship  in  the  upholstery  business  with  B. 
W.  Wooster.     Then  after  a  short  time  in  bu  himself,  h 


362 

tion  of  foreman  and  head  salesman  in  the  furniture  department  of  W.  M.  Whitney 
&  Co.,  with  whom  he  remained  fifteen  years.  After  leaving  Whitney  &  Co.  Mr. 
Nellegar  went  into  business  for  himself  on  Hudson  avenue,  and  in  1891  moved  to 
his  present  location  at  No.  29  Washington  avenue,  corner  of  Hawk  street.  He  is  a 
member  of  Fort  Orange  Council  No.  697,  Royal  Arcanum.  In  1871  he  married 
Elida  A.  French  of  Albany,  and  they  have  three  children:  Don  Albert,  William 
Robinson  and  Edwin,  jr. 

O'Brien,  Hon.  Smith,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Berne,  Albany  county,  N.  Y.,  Feb- 
ruary 12,  1850.  He  attended  the  public  school  of  the  town  and  after  leaving  was 
apprenticed  to  a  mechanic;  he  learned  the  trade  and  worked  at  it  until  1875,  when 
he  became  ambitious  to  study  law.  He  therefore  entered  the  law  office  of  Barret  H. 
Staats  of  Clarksville,  and  remained  with  that  lawyer  for  some  time.  Leaving  that 
office  he  removed  to  Albany  and  read  law  with  ex-Judge  Jacob  H.  Clute.  While 
there  he  attended  the  Albany  Law  School  during  1877  and  1878,  and  was  graduated 
in  the  latter  year.  In  the  fall  of  1878  Mr.  O'Brien  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  since 
that  time  has  practiced  law  in  the  village  of  Clarksville  and  Albany.  He  was  super- 
intendent of  documents  in  the  Assembly  of  1878  and  1879  and  document  clerk  in 

1884  under  Charles  R.  Chickering.  He  performed  his  duties  in  an  able  manner  and 
was  brought  prominently  before  the  public.     His  popularity  was  well  attested  in 

1885  when  he  was  elected  to  represent  the  Second  Assembly  district  of  Albany 
county.  Mr.  O'Brien  is  a  staunch  Republican  and  is  well  liked.  Since  1875  he  has 
resided  at  Clarksville.  He  is  now  the  attorney  for  the  Fish  and  Game  Commis- 
sion. 

Payn,  Louis  F.,  was  born  in  Chatham,  Columbia  county,  January  27,  1835,  and  for 
many  years  has  been  the  leading  Republican  politician  of  Columbia  county.  Before 
he  was  of  age  he  was  a  power  in  politics,  and  the  Republican  who  had  been  elected 
sheriff  waited  from  January  1  until  January  27,  1856,  before  appointing  a  deputy,  in 
order  that  Mr.  Payn  might  become  of  age  and  take  the  place,  which  was,  of  course, 
his  first  political  office.  Reuben  E.  Fenton,  as  governor  in  1867,  appointed  Mr. 
Payn  a  harbor  master  of  New  York.  Mr.  Payn  therefore  zealously  supported  Mr. 
Fenton  when  he  was  a  successful  candidate  for  United  States  Senator  in  1869 ;  when 
Governor  Hoffman  appointed  a  Democrat  to  succeed  him,  Mr.  Payn  went  back  to 
Chatham.  In  1872  he  parted  from  Mr.  Fenton  on  account  of  the  latter's  support  of 
Horace  Greeley  for  president.  Mr.  Payn  did  not  join  the  Republican  faction  of 
which  Roscoe  Conkling  was  the  head,  but  resisted  all  the  efforts  of  Conkling  and 
his  supporters  to  oust  him  from  the  leadership  in  Columbia  county.  In  1876,  when 
Conkling  was  a  candidate  for  the  nomination  for  president,  Mr.  Payn  declined  to 
give  any  pledge  of  support.  He  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  convention  at  Cincin- 
nati and  voted  for  Roscoe  Conkling  until  he  saw  that  the  latter  could  not  be  nom- 
inated, when  he  voted  for  James  G.  Blaine.  President  Grant  subsequently  nom- 
inated Mr.  Payn  for  the  office  of  United  States  marshal  for  the  sryithern  district  of 
New  York;  he  was  confirmed  as  United  States  marshal  in  February,  1877,  just  be- 
fore President  Hayes  assumed  office.  Mr.  Payn's  term  as  United  States  marshal 
expired  in  March,  1881,  just  before  President  Garfield  assumed  office,  and  he  was 
reappointed  by  a  United  States  judge,  but  President  Garfield  did  not  confirm  the 
appointment.     Mr.  Payn  supported  Senators  Conkling  and  Piatt  in  their  attitude 


363 

toward  the  Garfield  administration  and  also  labored  hard  to  bring  about  their  re- 
election. His  intimacy  with  Mr.  Conkling  and  Mr.  Piatt  can  be  appreciated  when  it 
is  remembered  that  he  carried  their  letter  to  Governor  Cornell  resigning  their  places 
as  senators.  After  the  long  fight  was  ended  Mr.  Payn  went  to  New  York  and  for 
several  years  had  an  office  with  Alonzo  B.  Cornell  at  No.  .r)3  Broadway,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  promoting  placers  for  tin  mining  at  Harney's  Peak  in  Dakota.  Mr.  Payn 
and  Governor  Black  are  warm  friends,  and  it  is  in  recognition  of  his  earnest  sup- 
port and  his  great  business  and  executive  ability  that  Governor  Black  appointed 
Mr.  Payn,  on  February  1,  1897,  superintendent  of  insurance  of  New  York.  Mr. 
Payn  is  a  man  of  charitable  inclinations,  though  Ins  deeds  of  charity  are  best 
with  no  ostentation. 

Papen,  George  Washington,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  April  20,  1854. 
His  father,  Theodore  Papen,  was  a  son  of  Gen.  George  Yon  Papen  of  Pyermont, 
Duchy  of  Waldeck,  Germany.  His  mother,  Julia  Wachter,  was  a  daughter  of 
John  Wachter,  for  many  years  proprietor  of  the  National  Hotel  of  Albany,  and 
came  from  Bretten,  Baden,  Germany.  Her  mother,  Catharine,  was  a  daughter  of 
John  Wollensack,  who  came  to  America  in  1829  from  Nagold,  Wurtemburg.  Dr. 
Papen  received  his  early  education  in  M.  Walter's  school  in  1859,  after  which  he- 
went  to  the  German  American  Academy  and  to  the  Albany  Boys'  Academy,  where 
he  remained  until  1868.  On  March  1,  18C>9,  he  entered  the  Albany  Medical  College 
after  a  previous  course  in  pharmacy,  and  in  1870  he  entered  Columbia  Medical  Col- 
lege in  New  York  city,  where  he  graduated  March:'.,  1874  Inning  his  course  he 
served  on  the  ambulance  corps  at  Bellevue  Hospital,  New  York.  After  his  gradua- 
tion Dr.  Papen  commenced  his  practice  at  No.  89  Schuyler  street,  Albany,  where  he 
remained  until  1889,  when  he  moved  to  No.  268  Madison  avenue,  corner  of  Hawk- 
street,  where  his  office  is  now.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  and  Tri- 
County  Medical  Societies  and  is  also  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason  and  an  <  >dd 
Fellow.  Dr.  I'apen  also  belongs  to  many  German  singing  societies  and  the  Albany 
Club. 

Robertson,  Matthew  Henry,  second  deputy  superintendent  of  insurance  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  was  born  in  the  Bur  rough  of  Malmesbury,  County  of  Wiltshire, 
England,  February  II,  1838,  a  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Worcester)  Robertson. 
His  early  educational  advantages  were  unusually  good,  he  having  as  tutor  the  Rev. 
J.  G.  Kaltofen,  an  eminent  divine  and  professor  of  music  and  the  languages.  In 
1854  Mr.  Robertson  entered  the  law  office  of  Hon.  William  Stephens  Jones,  a  will 
known  attorney  and  counselor  at  law,  of  Malmesbury,  remaining  with  him  about  two 
years,  and  there  began  the  study  of  law.  His  father,  James  Robertson,  had  left  the 
family  estate  known  as  "Maunditt's  Park,"  a  beautiful  old  place  with  rambling  stone 
house  and  extensive  lands  just  outside  of  Malmesbury,  and  moved  into  the  town, 
residing  there  several  years,   and  in   September,   1855  d  to  join  his  brother, 

John  Robertson,  who  was  then,  and  had  beenformany  sidentofthe  United 

States,  living  on  a  la  te  called  "  Maidford  Park  "  near  the  citj  ..■>.  N. 

Y.      From  Oswego  Matthew  H.  Robertson   moved  t<>  Albany,  N.  Y.,  ami  in  Septem 
ber,  1851),  entered  the  law  office  <>f  Hon.  William  Barnes  and  continued  the  sti: 
law  until  January,  I860,  when  the  insurance  department  being  organized  ami   Hon. 
William  Barnes  appointed  superintendent.  Mr.  Ri  ifter, on  Maj  l,  I860, 


364 


became  a  regular  clerk  in  that  department;  in  January,  1870,  he  became  chief  clerk 
in  said  department  and  continued  as  such  until  June,  1892,  when  the  Hon.  James  F. 
Pierce,  superintendent,  appointed  him  second  deputy  superintendent  of  insurance, 
which  position  he  now  holds.  Mr.  Robertson  has  been  a  vestryman  of  St.  Paul's 
Episcopal  church,  Albany,  for  many  years.  He  married,  June  2,  1863,  Elizabeth 
Clute,  daughter  of  the  late  Cornelius  P.  Clute  of  Schenectady,  and  they  have  one 
daughter. 

Raymond,  diaries  H. ,  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  C.  and  Lois  P.  (Mather)  Ravmond, 
both  descendants  of  English  ancestors  who  settled  in  New  York  State  early  in  the 
seventeenth  century.  He  was  born  in  Albany,  January  24,  1834,  was  educated  in 
the  Boys'  Academy  and  Prof.  Charles  H.  Anthony's  Classical  Institute  of  his  native 
city,  and  then  spent  several  years  abroad,  traveling  in  the  West  Indies,  South 
America  and  Europe.  In  1857  he  was  in  the  Latin  quarter  in  Paris,  where  he  de- 
veloped a  marked  taste  for  literature  and  art.  Returning  to  Albany  he  was  appointed 
by  superintendent  William  Barnes  to  a  clerkship  in  the  newly  organized  State  De- 
partment of  Insurance,  and  subsequently  succeeded  Hon.  James  W.  Husted  as 
deputy  superintendent.  He  also  became  a  member  of  the  Albany  Zouave  Cadets, 
and  in  18C1  enlisted  with  many  other  noted  members  of  that  body  in  the  Union  army. 
He  served  with  distinction  in  the  Louisiana  campaign  under  Gen.  N.  P.  Banks,  but 
was  forced  to  resign  on  account  of  ill  health  and  return  home.  Being  reinstated  as 
deputy  in  the  Insurance  Department,  he  resigned  after  one  year  to  accept  the  sec- 
retaryship of  the  Widows'  and  Orphans'  Benefit  Life  Insurance  Company  of  New 
York  city,  which  had  just  been  organized  with  Hon.  Lucius  Robinson  as  president. 
On  Mr.  Robinson's  resignation  Mr.  Raymond  became  president  and  so  continued 
until  the  company's  risks  were  reinsured  in  1871.  Later  he  formed  a  copartnership 
with  John  A.  Little,  general  agent  of  the  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  of  New 
York.  Mr.  Little  subsequently  retired,  and  since  then  Mr.  Raymond  has  had  sole 
charge  of  the  Mutual  Life's  Metropolitan  agency,  with  offices  at  32  Liberty  street. 
New  York  city.  Mr.  Raymond  was  the  first  president  of  the  Life  Insurance  Associa- 
tion of  New  York  city  and  in  1892  was  president  of  the  National  Association  of  Life 
Underwriters.     He  is  one  of  the  best  known  life  insurance  men  in  the  east. 

Russell,  George  W.,  son  of  David  M.  and  Rachel  (Burgett)  Russell,  was  born  in 
Saugerties,  Ulster  county,  N.  Y.,  March  26,  1839.  He  attended  the  public  schools 
and  graduated  from  the  Saugerties  Institute  in  1855.  After  his  graduation  he  ob- 
tained a  clerkship  in  a  Saugerties  store  where  he  remained  four  years.  Mr.  Russell 
then  moved  to  Catskill,  N.  Y. ,  where  for  three  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  blue 
stone  business  and  for  four  years  was  bookkeeper  for  Penfield,  Day  &  Co. ,  forwarders. 
In  1866  Mr.  Russell  removed  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  he  secured  the  position  of 
bookkeeper  for  Strong  Bros.  &  Co.,  a  wholesale  dry  goods  house.  Here  he  won 
favor  and  his  strict  attention  to  business  was  rewarded  by  his  being  taken  into  part- 
nership in  1872.  In  1886  Mr.  Strong  retired  and  Mr.  Russell  and  Charles  A.  Lawyer 
carried  on  the  business  until  1893,  when  Mr.  Lawyer  retired.  Since  then  Mr.  Russell 
has  carried  on  the  business  as  a  jobber  of  manufacturers'  supplies,  including  the 
dyeing,  coloring  and  printing  of  cloths.  In  addition  to  this  business,  Mr.  Russell  is 
a  trustee  of  the  William  N.  Strong,  William  F.  Russell  and  George  W.  Dewey 
estates.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Albany  Club.  In  1870  he  married 
Adelaide  Dewey  and  they  have  one  child,  Robert  D. 


365 

Russell,  George  L. ,  son  of  Charles  and  Gertrude  (Hallenbeck)  Russell,  was  born 
in  Rensselaerville,  Albany  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1846.  His  maternal  grandfather  was  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  1812;  his  paternal  grandfather,  a  New  Englander,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  a  very  old  family,  was  captain  of  a  whaling  vessel  and  lust  his  life  at  sea  while 
following  his  vocation.  In  1846  Mr.  Russell's  father  moved  from  Hudson,  N.  Y..  to 
Rensselaerville  where  he  engaged  in  the  shoe  business.  Mr.  Russell  received  his 
education  in  the  parochial  school  at  Rensselaerville,  conducted  by  the  Rev.  Robert 
Washburn  of  the  Trinity  M.  E.  church.  I  le  finished  the  course  at  this  institution  in 
1862,  after  which  he  spent  two  years  in  Fonda's  foundry  in  Rensselaerville.  In  1864 
Mr.  Russell  moved  to  Albany,  N.  V.,  and  for  one  year  was  a  clerk  in  the  old  Congress 
Hall;  from  there  he  went  to  the  Delavan  House  where  he  was  connected  with  the 
livery  of  D.  Rose.  In  1868  he  married  Anna  Storey  of  Albany,  by  whom  he  has  five 
children:  Maria,  George  R.,  Carrie,  Anna  and  Fl'lie.  In  1*7-1  Mr.  Russell  embarked 
in  the  livery  business  at  Nos.  53  and  55  Lancaster  street,  where  he  remained  until 
1886,  when  the  building  was  torn  down  to  make  room  for  the  enlargement  of  tb 
meter  factory.  In  1880  he  started  another  livery  stable  at  No.  362  State  street  and 
for  six  years  conducted  both  places;  in  1886  he  doubled  the  capacity  of  the  State- 
street  stable  so  as  to  concentrate  all  the  business  at  one  stand,  now  known  as  the 
Fort  Orange  stables.  March  1,  189."),  Mr.  Russell  disposed  of  the  livery  business  and 
now  conducts  only  a  boarding  stable.  I  le  is  a  member  of  St.  Paul's  Episcopal  church 
and  Ancient  City  Lodge  No.  452  F.  &  A.  M. 

Schifferdecker,  Fred  A.,  son  of  Frederick  and  Anna  (Rapp)  Schifferdecker,  was 
born  in  Albany,  N.  V.,  in  I860.  He  received  his  education  at  Professor  Myer's 
Select  School  on  Madison  avenue.  After  leaving  school  he  occupied  a  clerkship  in 
the  grocery  store  of  Henry  McBride  for  two  years  and  subsequently  spent  live  years 
in  the  law  office  of  the  late  Hon.  Galen  R.  llitt.  Mr.  Schifferdecker  then  worked 
for  his  father  until  1887,  when  he  and  his  brother  Charles  F.  formed  a  copartnership 
to  engage  in  the  ice  business,  in  which  they  have  been  very  successful,  handling 
about  twenty  thousand  tons  of  ice  a  year.  Mr.  Schifferdecker  has  been  prominent 
in  politics,  having  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  for  four  years.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  <  >.  F.,  K.  of  P.,  Mounl  Vernon  Lodge  No.  3,  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  of  many  German  singing  societies.  He  is  also  a  member  oi  the  Em] 
Yacht  Club  and  is  president   of  the  Schifferdecke  ition.      In  18s:.  he  married 

Louise  R.    Heidrick  of  Albany,   and   thi  children:     Edna,  Dora,  Anna. 

Charles  and  Louise. 

Schutter,  William  L.,  M.  D.,  son  of  Louis  and  Margarel  (Shepard)  Schutter,  was 
born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  December  31,  1862.     He  received  his  education  in  the  public- 
schools  and  Albany  High  School  and  in  the  fall  of  1879  entered  the  Albany  Mi 
College,  from  which  he  ;.  .  ■  :    i  ■■  :'■■  of    M.  1  ».  in  Match,   1883.      Since  gradua- 

tion Dr.  Schutter  has  practiced  in  Albany,  making  a  specialty  of  diseases  of  women 
and  children.  He  was  district  physician  during  the  mayoralty  of  Edward  A.  Maher. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  So,  ietv.  Mount  Hermon  Lodge  1.  I  '. 
().  F.,  and  Flower  Lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias.  June  20,  Is**.  he  married  Jessie  II., 
daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  Eaton  of  Albany. 

Sutherland,    Isaac    I'.,    son    of   Rufus  and   Sally  (Xiveri   Sutherland,  was  born  in 


366 

Schodack,  Columbia  county,  N.  Y.,  December  16,  1832.  In  1836  Mr.  Sutherland's 
parents  moved  to  a  farm  near  Kinderhook  village  and  in  1838  to  Schoharie  county, 
where  he  finished  his  education  at  the  Schoharie  Academy  in  1852.  After  leaving 
school  he  moved  to  Quaker  Street,  Schenectady  county,  in  1860,  and  worked  on  a 
farm  until  1864,  when  he  moved  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  engaged  in  the  retail  grocery 
business  at  No.  244  Washington  avenue.  In  connection  with  that  business  he  was 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  brooms  from  1882  to  1888,  and  from  then  to  the  pres- 
ent time  has  been  engaged  in  the  commission  business  at  No.  50  Hudson  avenue. 
In  1890  he  formed  a  partnership  with  C.  F.  Rushmore,  under  the  firm  name  of  I.  P. 
Sutherland  &  Co.  Mr.  Sutherland  is  a  member  of  the  State  Street  Presbyterian 
church.  He  has  been  twice  married  and  has  three  daughters  living,  Anna,  by 
Hannah  Moore,  his  first  wife,  and  Ida  and  Helen  W.,  by  Anna  Wright,  his  second 
wife. 

Sisson,  Frank  N.,  son  of  Noel-  E.  and  Emiline  (Griffin)  Sisson,  was  born  in  Al- 
bany, N.Y. ,  in  1860.  He  received  his  education  at  the  Albany  High  School,  Albany 
Academy,  and  Taylor's  Academy  in  Columbia  county,  from  which  institution  he  was 
graduated  in  1878.  After  graduation  Mr.  Sisson  returned  to  Albany  and  entered 
the  gas  meter  works  of  D.  McDonald  &  Co.,  where  he  thoroughly  learned  the  busi- 
ness; he  remained  in  the  factory  five  or  six  years  and  subsequently  went  on  the 
road  as  salesman,  until  1892.  During  the  years  1887  and  1888  Mr.  Sisson  was  locat- 
ed at  Columbus,  O.,  representing  D.  McDonald  &  Co.  In  1893  he  went  with  the 
Welsbach  Light  Company  as  salesman  and  Albany  representative;  in  August,  1895, 
just  after  the  formation  of  the  Welsbach  Commercial  Company,  Mr.  Sisson  was  ten- 
dered the  position  of  salesman  and  Albany  representative  for  that  company,  which 
position  he  uow  holds.  He  is  also  interested  as  a  stockholder  in  gas  light  companies 
and  is  the  Albany  representative  of  a  standard  bicycle  establishment.  He  is  a 
member  of  Wadsworth  Lodge  No.  417,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Temple  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.,  De 
Witt  Clinton  Council,  R.  &  S.  M.,  Temple  Commandery,  K.  T.,  and  Cyprus 
Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  K.  A.  E.  O.  and  the 
Albany,  Acacia  and  Unconditional  Republican  Clubs.  In  1887  he  married  Minnie 
Brayton  of  Albany. 

Smith,  James  E.,  M.  D.,  son  of  Dr.  C.  H.  and  Lucy  (Blair)  Smith,  was  born  in  Al- 
bany, N.  Y. ,  October  5,  1867.  He  received  his  preliminary  education  in  the  Albany 
Academy,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1885,  with  high  honors,  being  valedic- 
torian of  his  class.  During  the  winter  of  1885-86  he  took  a  year's  course  at  Union 
College,  preparatory  to  the  study  of  medicine,  after  which  he  studied  for  a  time 
with  Dr.  A.  Vander  Veer.  In  the  fall  of  1886  he  entered  the  Albany  Medical  Col- 
lege and  was  graduated  in  1889,  receiving  the  degree  of  M.  D.  ;  he  was  the  valedic- 
torian of  the  class  and  received  one  of  the  honors  for  the  bej,t  graduating  thesis. 
After  leaving  the  medical  college  Dr.  Smith  spent  a  year  in  New  York  city,  taking  a 
post-graduate  course  at  the  New  York  Polyclinic  and  the  New  York  Post-Graduate 
Medical  School  and  Hospital.  Since  then  Dr.  Smith  has  practiced  in  Albany.  He 
has  been  interested  in  military  affairs  since  1885  and  is  now  inspector  of  rifle  prac- 
tice on  Colonel  Fitch's  staff.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical 
Society  and  was  county  physician  for  four  years,  from  1890  to  1893. 


367 

Schneider,  Charles  N.,  son  of  Peter  and  Caroline  (Hans)  Schneider,  was  born  in 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  March  6,  1869.  Mr.  Schneider  is  one  of  Albany's  ablest  musicians 
and  inherits  all  those  distinguishing  traits  that  marked  the  career  of  his  father,  who 
was  a  music  teacher  and  organist  in  St.  Mary's  church.  Mr.  Schneider  attended  the 
Christian  Brothers'  Academy  and  graduated  from  that  institution  in  iss7.  He 
studied  music  with  his  father  and  with  Professor  Monchel,  organist  of  the  Cathedral 
of  the  Immaculate  Conception.  It  was  not  long,  however,  before  his  ability  was  1 1 
nized;  from  September,  1S8!»,  to  November,  1891,  he  was  organist  of  St.  Mary's 
church  at  Sandy  Hill,  N.  V.,  and  during  the  year  1892  held  the  same  position  in  St. 
John's  church,  Albany.  Mr.  Schneider  was  bookkeeper  for  four  years  for  the 
piano  firm  of  Boardman  &  Gray,  from  1892  to  1896.  As  a  writer,  Mr.  Schneider 
has  displayed  great  ability  and  genius;  very  few  of  his  productions  have  been 
played  before  the  public,  but  of  those  that  have,  too  much  can  not  be  said  of  the 
opera  "Enid,"  the  music  of  which  he  finished  in  1894.  The  opera  was  produced 
in  Albany  in  January,  1897,  and  in  Troy,  February  1,  of  the  same  year.  Another 
production  was  given  in  Albany,  February  '22,  as  a  testimonial  to  the  composer, 
Mr.  Schneider,  and  to  the  librettist,  David  J.  Norton.  The  music  of  "Enid"  is  sure 
to  last  and  remind  its  hearers  of  the  author,  Albany's  young  musical  genius,  Charles 
N.  Schneider.  February  18,  18'JO,  Mr.  Schneider  married  Mary  Elizabeth  Hopkins 
of  Sandy  Hill,  N.Y. 

Stephens,  Thomas,  son  of  Thomas  ami  Jane  (Christin)  Stephens,  was  born  on  the 
Isle  of  Man,  December  20,  1845.  He  received  his  education  at  a  private  school, 
after  which  he  learned  the  trade  of  joiner.  April  15,  1866,  he  came  to  America  and 
settled  in  Albany,  where  he  remained  only  fifteen  months,  leaving  to  go  t<>  Cli 
where  he  engaged  in  business  for  himself.  He  was  compelled  to  return  east  because 
of  sickness,  and   in    1870  he   established   himself  in    the   busine  penter  and 

builder  on  Madison  avenue,  Albany.  Subsequently  he  removed  to  Hamilton  street, 
where  he  remained  until  1880.  In  the  same  year  he  built  and  equipped  his  present 
large  manufactory  at  Nos.  275  ami  277  Lark  street;  tiiis  building  contains  all  the 
latest  and  most  improved  machinery  for  line  building  and  architectural  work  Mr. 
Stephens  gives  the  most  attention  to  elaborate  interiors.  He  built  the  Government 
building,  Calvary  Baptist  church,  .Masonic  Temple  and  many  private  residences  in 
Albany,  Troy,  Lenox,  Hoosick  halls  and  elsewhere.  He  is  a  thirty-second  degree 
Mason,  a  member  of  the  Albany  Club,  and  in  1885  was  appointed  city  assessor 
by  Mayor  Wilson,  but  resigned.  He  has  four  sons,  Fred  J.,  Thomas,  jr.,  Walter 
B.,  and  Goldsmith  C. 

Schaefer,  Frederick  William,  Ph.  <>.,  son  of  Philip  and  Margaret  (Rau)  Schaefer, 
was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y. ,  September  22,  1  s'*>'».  He  attended  public  school  X...  12, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  at  the  age  of  thirteen  and  spent  one  year  in  the  High 
School.  He  then  went  into  the  employ  of  his  brother,  a  druggist  and  pharmacist  at 
No.  245  Central  avenue,  as  clerk  and  remained  with  him  until  he  graduated  from  the 
Albany  College  of  Pharmacy,  March  8,  1887.  After  his  graduatioi  M 
accepted  the  position  of  head  clerk  in  William  R.  Laird's  pharmacy  in  Jersey  City. 
N.  J.,  where  he  remained  two  years.  lb-  thereupon  returned  to  Albany  and  on 
October  1<>.  1891,  succeeded  his  brother  as  proprietor  of  the  pharmacy  at  No.  245 
Central  avenue.     January  18,   1896,  Mr.  Schaefer  moved  his  present  handsome 


368 

to  No.  251  Central  avenue,  where  he  carries  on  a  successful  business.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Guttenburg  Lodge  No.  737,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Mountaineer  Lodge  No.  321,  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  New  York  Encampment  No.  1,  and  Grand  Canton  Memo  No.  1,  P.  M.  I.  O. 
O.  F.  He  is  also  the  historian  of  the  Alumni  Association  of  the  Albany  College  of 
Pharmacy.  January  18,  1893,  he  married  Elizabeth  Henkes,  and  they  have  one  son, 
Frederick  J. 

Slingerland,  William  Harris,  jr.,  was  born  in  Slingerland,  Albany  county,  N.  Y., 
December  10,  1803,  and  is  a  son  of  Col.  W.  H.  and  Elizabeth  (Wayne)  Slingerland. 
At  an  early  age  he  entered  the  office  of  his  father,  a  civil  engineer  and  surveyor  in 
Albany,  ami  he  has  followed  that  profession  ever  since.  In  1883  he  assisted  in  lo- 
cating the  Albany  branch  of  the  West  Shore  Railroad,  remaining  with  that  company 
until  the  completion  of  its  lines.  In  1889  he  made  the  preliminary  surveys  for  the 
Troy  &  New  England  Railroad,  since  constructed  as  far  as  Averill  Park.  During 
the  years  1891,  1892  and  1893,  Mr.  Slingerland  was  engineer  of  street  improvements 
in  East  Albany  and  Greenbush,  N.  Y.,  and  during  those  years  work  costing  over  a 
half  million  dollars  was  completed  under  his  direction.  Mr.  Slingerland  is  a  mem- 
ber of  a  family  that  was  always  active  in  political  affairs,  his  father  being  member  of 
assembly  from  the  first  district  of  Albany  county  in  1879,  and  his  uncle,  John  D. 
Slingerland,  member  of  Congress  in  1860  and  forseveral  terms  an  assemblyman  from 
the  same  county.  He  is  a  Republican,  as  were  both  of  the  above  named  gentlemen, 
and  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Slingerlands,  under  the  Harrison  administration, 
holding  that  office  from  1887  to  1892.  In  1894  and  1895  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  from  the  town  of  Bethlehem,  receiving  at  his  election  the  largest 
majority  ever  given  a  candidate  for  that  office  in  this  town.  In  1896  he  married 
Alice  Bullock,  daughter  of  Charles  C.  Bullock  of  Saratoga,  N.  Y.  He  is  an  active 
member  of  Friendly  Union  Lodge  No.  381  1.  O.  O.  F.,  being  past  grand  master  of 
that  body  and  also  a  member  of  the  Holland  Society  of  New  York  and  several  other 
organizations. 

Vmeberg,  Archibald,  M.  D.,  son  of  Capt.  Lozier  and  Malcha  Vineberg,  was  born 
in  Helena,  Ark.,  September  18,  1862.  Capt.  Lozier  Vineberg  was  in  the  Mexican 
war  under  General  Taylor  and  served  with  Jeff.  Davis  and  succeeded  him  as  captain. 
In  1863  Dr.  Vineberg  went  with  his  parents  to  Abrotis,  Portugal,  on  the  mouth  of 
the  Tagus  River,  where  he  remained  from  six  to  eight  years  and  where  he  was  taught 
by  a  private  instructor.  From  there  he  went  to  Toweron,  Posen,  Germany,  where 
he  remained  until  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age,  returning  to  Madrid,  Spain,  where 
he  attended  the  De  Zabbo  Medical  College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  and  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  M.  D.  in  1879.  In  1880  Dr.  Vineberg  came  to  New  York  city, 
where  he  remained  about  a  year  with  Professor  Lang.  He  then  went  to  New  Orleans, 
La.,  where  he  practiced  medicine  for  three  years.  In  1883  he  again  went  to  Europe, 
traveling  for  a  year  and  a  half  and  returned  to  America  from  Japan  by  the  way  of 
vSan  Francisco.  From  thence  he  went  to  New  Orleans,  where  he  started  in  the  op- 
tical business,  making  a  specialty  of  correcting  errors  of  refraction.  In  1886,  being 
in  ill  health,  he  sold  out  his  business  and  traveled  extensively  in  Colorado  and  Cal- 
ifornia. He  settled  in  Norfolk,  Va. ,  where  he  married  Bettie  Guttman  Frankfort. 
From  Norfolk  he  removed  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  he  opened  an  optical  store  at  No. 
113  North  Pearl  street;  subsequently  he  moved  to  No.  65  North  Pearl  street  and   in 


369 

1893  to  No.  2  North  Pearl  street,  where  he  is  now  doing  business  as  an  optician. 
Dr.  Vineberg  is  a  member  of  Temple  Lodge  No.  11,  P.  &  A.  M.,  Capital  City  Lodge 
No.  440,  I.  O.  O.  P.,  Fort  Orange  Council  No.  697,  Royal  Arcanum,  Albany  Council 
American  Legion  of  Honor,  of  which  he  has  been  the  district  deputy  for  the  past 
five  years,  and  Gideon  Lodge.  He  has  four  children :  Hiram,  Ray,  Ruth  and  P. 
UeLezier. 

Van  Gaasbeek,  Amos  C,  is  descended  from  an  old  Dutch  family  which  came  from 
Amsterdam,  Holland,  to  Kingston,  N.  Y.,  about  1660.  Alexander  P.  Van  Gaasbeek, 
his  father,  the  son  of  an  eminent  physician,  Dr.  James,  was  born  in  Middleburg, 
Schoharie  county,  in  1816,  and  came  to  Albany  in  1832  as  a  clerk  for  John  Guernsey 
and  later  for  William  Bagley.  Pi  1836  he  engaged  in  the  dry  goodsand  carpet  busi- 
ness, but  in  1849  sold  out  and  went  to  Panama,  where  he  was  engaged  in  commerce 
for  two  years.  Returning  to  Albany  he  re-engaged  in  trade,  dealing  solely  in  car- 
pets, a  business  he  still  continues.  Amos  C.  Van  Gaasbeek,  born  in  Albany,  July 
29,  1852,  received  his  education  at  the  Boys'  Academy,  under  private  tutelage,  at 
Professors  Anthony's  and  Collins's  Classical  .Schools  (all  in  Albany),  and  at  Mt.  An- 
thony's Seminary  in  Bennington,  Vt.  When  seventeen  he  became  a  clerk  in  the 
carpet  house  of  John  II.  Pray,  Sons  &  Co.,  of  Boston,  but  four  years  later  returned 
to  Albany  and  entered  his  father's  stoic,  in  which  after  one  year  he  was  made  a  part- 
ner under  the  firm  name  of  A.  B.  Van  Gaasbeek  &  Co.  This  continued  for  fifteen 
years.  In  1889  he  removed  to  New  York  city  and  with  Bartlett  Arkell  formed  the 
present  firm  of  Van  Gaasbeek  &  Arkell,  opening  a  stoic  at  Broadway  and  22d  street 
and  Fifth  avenue,  where  they  engaged  in  importing,  wholesaling  and  retailing 
oriental  rugs,  carpets,  etc.,  and  after  seven  years  arc  recognized  as  the  leading  firm 
in  their  line  in  the  United  States.  They  control  more  than  one-half  of  the  looms  of 
India,  and  are  the  heaviest  importers  of  rugs  in  America.  Mr.  Van  Gaasbeek  was 
lv  instrumental  in  securing  the  funds  and  causing  the  erection  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
building  in  Albany,  serving  as  treasurer  of  the  building  fund  ami  as  a  member  ami 
later  as  chairman  of  the  building  committee.  He  was  an  organizer  of  the  Standard 
Emery  Wheel  Company  of  Albany,  of  which  he  has  continuously  been  the  president. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Holland  Society,  the  Uptown  Association,  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  and  the  Albany  Society,  all  of  New  York  city,  ami  the  Ksscx  County 
Country  Club,  of  New  Jersey.  November  4,  1874,  he  married  Helen  \\'.,  daughter 
of  Allen  Comstock  of  Lenox,  Mass. 

Williams,  E.  I'..  was  born  in  Pierrepont  Manor,  Jefferson  county,   X.  Y.,  June  8, 

IS(il).  He  attended  the  village  school  ami  later  learned  telegraphy.  In  1880  he 
moved  to  Minneapolis,  Minn.,  and  for  three  years  was  a    telegraph   operator   in    the 

employ  of  the  Minneapolis  &  St.  Louis  Railroad;  he  then  moved  t<>  Albany,  N.  Y.. 
where    he    started   in   his   present    business,    that    of  produce  commission  merchant. 

Mr.  Williams  is  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason,  a  member  of  thi  Acacia  Club  and 
president  of  the  Capital  City  Cold  Storage  Warehouse  Company,  lie  is  also  a  di- 
rector of  the  United  States  Building,  Mutual  Loan  ami  Accumulating  Fund  Asso- 
ciation.     In  188(5  he  married  IdaG.  Buchland  of  Whitehall,  X.  Y. 

Michel,  bred  ib,  M.  1 ».  S.,  son  <>i  Dr.  Frederick  W.  and  Saloma (Bergman) Michel, 
was  born  in  Boonville,  X.   Y.,  July  16,    1851,  and  was  educated  in    the  public   schools 
uu 


370 

of  Utica,  where  the  family  settled  about  1853.  He  first  learned  the  trade  of  manu- 
facturing jeweler  with  Jeremiah  Gumph  of  Utica.  March  8,  1871,  he  came  to  Al- 
bany and  entered  the  employ  of  H.  G.  Gumph,  manufacturer  of  fine  tools,  with 
whom  he  remained  until  1883.  He  then  began  the  study  of  dentistry  with  Dr.  S.  W. 
Whitney;  also  mechanical  dentist  for  Dr.  E.  C.  Baxter  from  1885  until  the  time  of 
his  death;  and  in  1889  he  associated  himself  with  Dr.  H.  L.  Whitbeck.  In  1892  he 
received  the  degree  of  M.  D.  S.  from  the  State  Board  of  Examiners  and  in  April, 
is<);!,  began  the  practice  of  dentistry  alone.  He  is  a  member  of  Wadsworth  Lodge 
No.  417,  F.  &  A.  M.,  a  charter  member  of  William  Macy  Lodge  No.  93,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
and  was  a  charter  member  and  is  past  chancellor  of  Flower  Lodge  No.  336,  K.  P., 
and  was  a  charter  member  and  is  now  commander  of  Albany  Tent  No.  363,  K.  O. 
T.  M.  ;  also  charter  member  of  Albany  Senate  No.  641,  K.  A.  E.  O.,  and  a  member 
of  the  Albany  City  Curling  Club.  In  1873  he  married  Charity,  daughter  of  Alanson 
Hitchman  of  Howe's  Cave,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have  had  two  children:  Emma  and 
George  C,  both  deceased.  Dr.  Michel  is  treasurer  and  trustee  of  All  Souls  Uni- 
versal st  church. 

Lochner,  Dr.  George  Emory,  was  born  in  Albany,  July  19,  1867,  and  is  a  son  of 
Jacob  L.  Lochner,  who  for  thirty-five  years  was  engaged  in  the  fruit  business  at 
the  corner  of  South  Pearl  and  State  streets.  On  the  maternal  side  Dr.  Lochner  is 
descended  from  Revolutionary  stock,  his  mother  being  Nellie  J.  Best  of  Schoharie. 
When  Dr.  Lochner  was  eight  years  of  age  his  mother  died.  His  early  education 
was  received  at  private  schools  and  in  Public  School  No.  11,  and  was  graduated  from 
the  High  School  in  1885.  He  then  registered  with  Dr.  Albert  Vander  Veer,  under 
whose  care  he  studied  medicine  for  three  years.  He  had  previously  attended  clinics 
at  the  City  Hospital.  While  with  Dr.  Vander  Veer  he  attended  the  Albany  Medical 
College,  graduating  in  March,  1888,  being  honored  by  selection  as  historian  of  the 
class.  At  the  competitive  examination  which  followed  for  appointment  to  the  Al- 
bany Hospital,  Dr.  Lochner  outstripped  all  competitors  and  the  result  entitled  him 
to  the  place.  During  the  summer  of  1888  he  continued  his  studies  in  New  York 
city.  In  September,  1888,  he  entered  the  Albany  Hospital  and  served  twenty 
months  as  ambulance  surgeon  and  house  physician  and  surgeon.  His  term  expired 
in  April,  1890,  and  upon  retirement  he  received  a  diploma  from  the  staff,  gift  of 
surgical  instruments  from  matron  and  associates,  and  a  letter  of  commendation  from 
the  Board  of  Governors.  Leaving  the  hospital,  he  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  No.  1  South  Hawk  street.  In  1890  he  was  appointed  by  Dr.  J.  M.  Bigelow 
as  an  instructor  in  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  larnygology  and  rhinology  and  the 
following  year  by  Dr.  J.  P.  Boyd,  as  instructor  in  obstetrics  and  gynaecology  and  in 
anatomy  by  Dr.  S.  R.  Morrow,  which  place  be  still  holds.  In  October,  1891,  he  re- 
ceived the  appointment  of  physician  to  the  Albany  Hospital  Dispensary  for  diseases 
of  women  and  children.  As  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society  he 
was,  in  October,  1891,  chosen  as  its  secretary  and  served  as  censor  in  1893  and  1894. 
In  1892  he  was  appointed  physician  to  the  Albany  Fire  Department.  Dr.  Lochner 
is  a  member  of  the  alumni  associations,  of  the  Albany  High  School,  of  which  he  is 
now  serving  as  president,  and  Medical  College,  and  of  the  executive  committee  of 
the  High  School;  he  also  belongs  to  the  Press  Club,  A. K. P.  and  P. E. K.  fraternities; 
is  also  a  member  of  Masters  Lodge  No.  5,  F.  &  A.  M.  On  May  1,  1897,  he  re- 
moved to  No.  196  State  street,  where  he  is  now  located. 


371 

Wolfe,  Andrew  J.,  was  born  in  Coeymans  in  1841.  He  is  the  son  of  Anthony  and 
the  grandson  of  John  T.,  who  came  from  Greene  county  with  his  father.  Tennis,  to 
Coeymans  about  1790.  Mr.  Wolfe  has  been  actively  engaged,  most  of  his  life,  on 
Hudson  River,  being  both  owner  and  captain  of  steamers  until  1885,  when  he  re- 
tired. Mr.  Wolfe's  mother  was  Henrietta,  daughter  of  James  Selkirk,  one  of  the 
prominent  early  families  of  Albany  and  Bethlehem.  Mr.  Wolfe  has  two  sons. 
Calvin,  who  is  a  mechanical  engineer,  and  Walter  S.,  who  is  a  graduate  of  River 
View  Military  College,  and  also  the  Albany  Business  College. 

Hatt,  George  J.,  was  born  in  Morristown,  X.  J.,  and  is  a  son  of  Rev.  Josiah  Hatt 
and  Mary  Ball  Hatt,  both  of  whom  died  when  he  was  in  infancy.  He  attended  the 
district  and  select  schools  in  New  Jersey,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Fort  Ed- 
ward (X.  V.)  Collegiate  Institute  in  lSTfi.  He  became  a  resident  of  Albany  in  1881, 
at  first  securing  a  position  as  bookkeeper  with  C.  Wan  Beuthuysen  &  Sons,  where  he 
remained  until  1880,  when  he  formed  the  copartnership  of  Underbill  Ov  Hatt  in  the 
grocery  business,  which  continued  until  May  1,  ]*!(?,  during  which  time  the  firm 
built  up  and  successfully  maintained  a  business  second  to  none  in  the  city.  On  May  1 
he  became  a  stockholder  in  and  secretary  of  the  F.  X.  Sill  Company,  one  of  the 
largest  coal  companies  in  Albany.  Mr.  Hatt  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  but  has 
never  aspired  to  office,  although  he  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  affairs 
of  the  city.  He  is  largely  interested  in  church  and  benevolent  work,  is  a  member  of 
the  Emanuel  Baptist  church,  ami  has  been  president  of  the  local  union  of  the  Y.  P. 
S.  C.  E.,  and  was  chairman  of  the  hall  committee  of  the  State  Convention  when  held 
in  that  city.  He  married  Carrie  L.  Clark,  daughter  <>t'  Dr.  George  W.  Clark,  the 
noted  commentator. 

Young,  Henry  W.,  son  of  Peter  and  Rebecca  (Austin)  Young,  was  born  in  the  town 

of  New  Scotland,  (Voorhi  pril  1  I.  I  *:'>'.»,  and  was  educated  there  in  the  public 

schools.     In  1855  removed  to  Albany,  X.  Y. ,  where  he  served  an  apprenticeship  under 
John  Bridgford,  mason  and  builder.    He  remained  with  Mr.  Bridgford  foreleven  j 
at  the  end  of  which  time,  he  established  himself  in  business  as  a  contracting   mason 
and  builder,  m  which  business  he  is  still  engaged.      lb-  was  elected  supervisor  of  the 
Sixteenth  ward  for  one    term,    and    in    1895   was   appointed    city    assessor    by    Mayor 
Wilson,  and  held  that  office  till  spring,  1897.     He  is  a  member  of  Ancient  City  Lodge 
No.  452,  F.  &  A.  M.,  He  Witt  Clinton  Council  No.  '.-J.  R.  &  S.  M..  Capital  City  Chap- 
ter No.  242  R.  A.  M.,  Temple  Commandery  No.  '-.'.    K.   '1'.,   of  all  the  Scottish   Rite 
bodies  and  Cyprus  Temple  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  being  a  thirty  second d( 
Mason.     Heisalsoa  1'.  M    oi  the  Ineffable  Sublime  Grand   Lodge  of   Perfection  of 
Albany.      In  1886,  during  Albany's  bi-centennial,  lie  was  chosen    vice  president 
the  following  year  became  president)  of  the  Master  Builders  Exchange.     He  is  also 
Past  Grand  of  Phoenix  Lodge,  I.  ( >.  <  >.    F.     Mr.  Young  became  a  member  of  Trin- 
ity M.  E.  church  in   1856,  since  which  time  lie  has  served  for  twenty-five    y< 
member  of  the  board  of  trustees  being  president  of  thai  board  for  twelve  years.      Ik- 
is  also  a  member  ol   the   Board  of  Directors,   of  the  local  branch  of  the  New  York 
Mutual  Savings  and  Loan  Association,  and   of    the    Republic  and    Loan   Association 
of  New  York  city.     In  1856  he  married  Johanna  Gates  ol   Schenectady,   X.   W.   ami 
tliev  have  two  children      Ella  and  Edgar  L. 


3?2 

Langan,  John  R.,  is  a  son  of  Michael  and  Kate  (Fitzpatrick)  Langan,  both  natives 
of  Albany,  and  a  grandson  of  John  Langan,  who  came  here  from  Athlone,  Ireland, 
in  1829,  settling  permanently  in  1832,  and  died  in  April,  1881.  John  Langan  was  a 
wholesale  potato  dealer,  and  married  Margaret  Tracey,  who  was  born  in  Ireland  in 
1810,  and  who  died  in  1887.  (Mrs.  Kate  Langan  was  a  daughter  of  William  Fitz- 
patrick, who  was  a  native  of  the  north  of  Ireland.)  John  R.  Langan,  born  in  Albany, 
October  12,  1865,  was  graduated  from  the  high  school  in  1884,  read  law  with  the  late 
John  B.  O'Malley,  and  with  Newcomb,  Bailey  &  Nusbaum,  took  the  degree  of  LL.  B. 
from  the  Albany  Law  School  in  188.1  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1887.  Since 
the  spring  of  1888  he  has  been  in  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  at  Albany,  N. 
Y.  November  27,  1895,  he  married  Celia  M.  Lavella  Hayes,  daughter  of  John  Hayes, 
of  Syracuse. 

MacAllaster,  William,  was  born  in  Albany,  X.  V.,  on  May  31,  1865,  and  is  a  son 
of  Charles  E.  and  Harriet  (Roberts)  MacAllaster.  William  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  at  Albany,  after  which  he  served  his  apprenticeship  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness, in  the  store  of  Joseph  Nellegar.  In  1884  he  passed  the  State  Board  of  Phar- 
macy, and  later  entered,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  College  of  Pharmacy, 
and  still  later  took  a  course  in  the  Albany  Medical  College.  In  1885  he  established 
his  present  business  as  druggist  and  apothecary  in  which  he  has  been  successful. 
Mr.  MacAllasteris  a  member  of  Wadsworth  Lodge  No.  417,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  American 
Lodge  No.  32,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  of  the  Unconditional  Republican  Club,  all  of  Albany, 
N.  V. 

Wickham,  Richard,  jr..  was  born  in  Albany,  N.Y.,  on  October  7,  1874,  and  was  ed- 
ucated in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town  and  St.  Izeier  College,  near  St  John, 
B.  C.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  learned  his  father's  trade,  that  of  carpenter  and 
builder,  and  has  ever  since  continued  in  that  business.  He  has  made  a  special  study 
of  architecture,  and  at  the  present  time  draws  all  the  plans  for  the  buildings  that  he 
erects.  In  1895,  Mr.  Wickham.  sr.,  practically  retired  from  the  business,  and  since 
that  time  Richard  has  successfully  carried  it  on  alone.  He  is  a  member  of  Mt.  Her- 
mann Lodge  No.  38,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Albany,  and  as  a  business  man  he  commands 
the  respect  of  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact. 

Sauter,  Louis,  jr.,  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  on  March  17,  1858,  and  was  educated 
in  the  Boy's  Academy,  of  that  city.  He  entered  upon  his  business  career  at  sixteen 
years  of  age,  learning  the  drug  business  with  his  father,  and  has  ever  since  remained 
in  that  business,  buying  out  his  father's  interest  in  1894,  at  which  time  Mr.  Sauter, 
sr.,  retired.  Louis  is  a  practical  businessman  and  has  been  eminently  successful. 
In  1880,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Minnie  Leyboldt,  a  daughter  of  Fred 
Leyboldt,  the  leader  of  the  12th  Regiment  Band  of  New  York  City,  and  they  have 
two  children.  Mr.  Sauter  is  a  member  of  the  local  K.  P.  and  of  Mt.  Vernon  Lodge 
No.  3,  F.  &  A.  M..  of  Albany. 

Ronan,  Parker  C.  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  on  July  22,  1868,  and  is  a  son  of  the 
late  Patrick  Ronan,  who  was,  for  a  great  many  years,  the  sole  proprietor  of  the 
"  Ronan  Line"  of  Steamers,  plying  between  Albany  and  New  York  City.  Parker 
attended  the  "Boys  Academy,"  at  Albany,  and  when  twenty  years  old,  entered  his 
father's  office,   as  book-keeper,   and  remained  as  such  for  several  years.     He  was 


373 

later  made  superintendent  of  the  line,  and  upon  the  death  of  his  brother,  John  D., 
(in  1893)  he  succeeded  to  the  proprietorship  of  the  entire  business,  which  his  father, 
Patrick,  had  bequeathed  to  the  brothers  shortly  before  his  decease,  (in  1888).  Mr. 
Ronan  was  united  in  marriage,  in  the  autumn  of  1888,  to  Miss  Isabelle  M.  McQuade, 
of  Albany,  and  they  have  one  child,  a  son,  Samuel  M.  Mr.  Ronan  is  treasurer  of" 
the  Albany  Lodge,  No.  49,  B.  P  0.  E.,  a  member  of  the  Albany  Club,  and  Albany 
Yacht  Club,  and  a  life  member  of  the  Catholic  Union.  lie  is  a  man  of  sterling  worth 
and  successfully  maintains  the  business  left  him  by  his  father. 

Leavy,  Mark  S.,  M.l).  and  surgeon,  was  born  on  January  1.  1862,  at  Fort  Edward 
N.  V.,  and  is  a  son  of  Michael  and  Ann  (Donohue)  Leavy.  Michael  Leavy  is  a 
native  of  Ireland,  and  emigrated  to  America  about  1846,  settling  at  Fort  Edward, 
N.  V.,  where  he  resided  for  a  number  of  years,  later  removing  his  residence  t<>  Al- 
bany. Mark  vS.  attended  private  school,  and  early  developed  a  liking  for  medicine. 
He  took  a  course  in  the  Medical  I  >epartment  of  the  University  of  Wooster,  at  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  and  vvas  graduated  therefrom,  with  honors  in  1888.  He  then  returned  to 
the  home  of  his  parents,  at  217  Madison  Avenue,  Albany,  X.  V.,  where,  in  the  same 
year,  (1888)  he  began  the  active  practice  of  his  profession.  He  has  been  eminently 
successful,  and  justly  deserves  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held,  in  both  pi 
sional  and  social  circles.  Dr.  Leavy  is  a  member  of  theCatholic  Union,  and  Knights 
of  Columbus,  of  Albany,  and  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society. 

Harrigan's  Sons,  John,  undertakers  and  embalmers.  John  Harrigan  came  to  Al- 
bany, N.  V.,  from  county  Limerick,  Ireland,  in  lsli;  (1852  business  established,  I  in 
1862  lie  was  elected  coroner  for  a  term  of  three  years,  and  re-elected  in  ISC").  He 
also  served  in  the  Rebellion,  enlisting  in  Co.  (!.  25th  Regt.,  in  1801.  John  J. 
1893),  Harvey  T.  V..  Daniel  S.  and  Joseph  F.  composed  the  firm.  From  a  small  be- 
ginning at  No.  22  Canal  street,  the  business  in  1861,  was  moved  to  the  building  No. 
21  (anal  street  and  finally  to  the  business  block,  corner  of  Canal  and  Chapel  streets, 
which  they  erected  in  1890.  The  building  comprises  seven  lots  and  has  a  large 
stable  in  the  rear.  This  firm  has  the  finest  assortment  of  burial  cases  always  on 
hand 

Dyer,  William  S.,  son  of  Zebediah  A.  and  Lucy  Esther  (Gallup)  Dyer,  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Berne,  Albany  county,  March  19.  1863.  James  Dyer,  great-grand- 
father of  William  S.,  was  one  of  five  brothers  who  came  from  England,  date  un 
known.  He  married  Mary  Marcy  of  the  family  <>t  Governor  Man  v,  by  whom  he 
had  nine  girls  and  five  boys.  James  served  seven  years  in  the  Revolution  died  in 
is:',:;,  ami  was  buried  in  Whipple  Cemetery.  Bradbury,  son  of  James,  was  born  in 
Massachusetts  and  went  to  Jefferson,  Schoharie  county,  with  his  father  at  the  age  <>f 
twelve  and  later  to  the  town  of  Knox,  Albany  county,  where  he  bought  the  Van 
Vranken  farm,  after  living  for  a  time  in  Shingle  Bush,  Schoharie  county,  where 
Zebediah  A.,  the  father  of  William  S.,  was  burn.  Zebediah  A.  was  supervisor  of 
the  town  of  Berne  during  1S5S  and  1859,  and  at  two  different  periods  was  school 
commissioner  of  the  towns  of  Heine,  Reiisselaerville  and  Westeilo.  He  was  active 
in  politics,  being  a  proruinent  Democrat,  and  a  lawyer.  Lucy  Esther  Gallup,  mother 
of  William  S.  Dyer,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the  daughter  of  Nathaniel 
Gallup,  who  was  the  eighth  in  descent  from  John  Gallup,  who  came  to  America  from 


374 

the  parish  of  Mosterne,  County  Dorset,  England,  in  1630.  Nathaniel  Gallup,  great- 
grandfather of  William  S.  Dyer,  married  Lucy  Latham,  daughter  of  Capt.  William 
Latham,  who  was  second  in  command  at  the  massacre  of  Fort  Griswold,  where  he 
was  severely  wounded.  William  S.  Dyer  attended  the  district  schools  until  he  was 
fourteen  years  of  age  and  in  1879  removed  to  Albany.  He  graduated  from  the  .Al- 
bany High  School  in  1883  and  was  one  of  the  commencement  speakers.  In  the  fall 
of  the  same  year  he  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Stedman  &  Shep- 
ard,  and  remained  four  years  with  them  and  their  successors,  Stedman,  Thompson 
&  Andrews,  meanwhile  attending  the  Albany  Law  School,  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated in  1886.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  same  year.  In  the  fall  of  1887 
Mr.  Dyer  opened  an  office  at  No.  110  State  street,  Albany,  and  was  attorney  for  Col. 
Walter  S.  Church,  the  owner  of  the  Van  Rensselaer  manorial  cases  covering  por- 
tions of  Albany  and  Rensselaer  counties.  Mr.  Dyer  remained  with  Colonel  Church 
until  his  death,  just  prior  to  which  he  had  formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother-in- 
law,  Jacob  L.  Ten  Eyck,  under  the  firm  name  of  Dyer  &  Ten  Eyck.  This  firm  has 
been  for  several  years  located  at  Nos  80-82  State  street.  Mr.  Dyer  is  past  master  of 
Berne  Lodge  No.  684,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  an  affiliated  member  of  Masters  Lodge  of  Al- 
bany, and  from  1886  to  1893  was  president  of  the  Albany  High  School  Alumni  Asso- 
ciation. For  many  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Albany  Press  Club.  He  was 
for  several  years  a  health  commissioner  of  the  city  of  Albany. 

Stonehouse,  lohn  Ben,  M.D  ,  was  born  on  June  4,  1851,  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  is  a 
son  of  the  late  General  John  B.  .Stonehouse,  who  was  born  at  Maidstone,  Eugland,  in 
1813,  and  who  was  prominent,  from  the  time  of  the  breaking  out  of  War  of  the  Re- 
bellion, until  1885,  (the  year  of  his  decease,  at  Washington,  D.  C.)  in  military  affairs, 
both  State,  and  National.  1  Hiring  the  latter  years  of  his  life,  he  was  commissioner 
for  the  settlement  of  war  claims,  of  the  State  of  New  York,  against  the  U.  S.  Dr. 
Stonehouse  attended  private  school,  and  the  Albany,  (N.  Y.),  Boys  Academy,  and 
was  graduated  from  the  latter  institution,  in  1868.  From  that  time,  until  1869,  he  was 
clerk  of  the  State  Board  of  Charities.  He  began  his  studies  (in  medicine)  with  Prof. 
Jacob  S.  Mosher,  and  Dr.  Levi  Moore,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medi- 
cal College,  in  1871.  He  was  then  appointed  temporary  deputy,  under  the  late  Prof. 
John  M.  Carnochan,  health  officer,  Port  of  N.  Y.,  and  held  that  office  for  about  a  year, 
when  he  received  the  appointment,  as  assistant  resident  physician,  at  the  Sanford 
Hall,  private  insane  asylum  hospital,  at  Flushing,  N.  Y  ,  from  which  position  he  re- 
signed in  1873.  He  returned  to  Albany,  in  1874,  where  he  was  married  (in  that  year) 
to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Rigley.  From  1874  to  1876,  he  was  in  the  active  practice  of  his 
profession,  at  Albany,  and  in  the  latter  year,  was  appointed  resident  physician,  at 
Brigham  Hall,  Canandaigua,  N.  Y.,  (private  insane  hospital),  where  he  remained  for 
about  one  year  and  a  half.  He  then,  (in  1878)  returned  to  Albany,  where  he  has 
ever  since  remained,  in  the  successful  practice  of  medicine.  Dr.  Stonehouse  has 
held  many  offices,  among  them  being  Physician,  Albany  Hospital  Dispensary, 
(Department  of  Nervous  Diseases) — Lecturer,  Albany  Medical  College,  (Nervous  and 
Mental  Diseases) — and  during  a  term  of  four  years,  he  held  clinics  in  Mental  dis- 
eases, at  the  Albany  County  Insane  Asylum,  and  was  Physician  (Department  of  Ner- 
vous Diseases),  at  the  Troy,  (N.  Y.)  Eye  and  Ear  Infirmary.  He  has  also  been  edi- 
tor of  the  Albany  Medical  Annals.     In  1885,  he  was  executive  officer  of  the  staff  of 


375 

special  physicians,  in  charge  of  the  Typhus  fever  epidemic,  at  the  Albany  Peniten- 
tiary. In  April,  1886,  he  was  appointed  Physician  and  Surgeon,  to  the  Albany  Pen- 
itentiary, and  held  that  office  until  January,  1890.  1  >r.  Stonehouse  has  held  office  in 
the  Alumni  Association,  of  the  Albany  Medical  College,  almost  from  its  organization 
— having  been  its  first  historian,  a  member  of  the  executive  committee  for  several 
terms,  and  is  now  its  corresponding  secretary.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  following 
societies:  Albany  County  Medical;  American  Medical ;  Union  Medical  Association, 
(covering  Washington,  Warren,  Saratoga,  Albany  and  Rensselaer  counties);  and 
has  been  president  of  the  Albany  Academy  of  Medicine;  American  Association,  for 
the  cure  of  Inebriates;  N.  Y.  Neurological;  and  N.  V.  Medico  Legal.  Dr.  Stone- 
house  has  done  considerable  Medico-Legal  work,  (especially  in  cases  where  the  de- 
fense of  insanity  was  set  up,  as  he  is  an  expert  in  that  disease),  and  has  been  con- 
nected with  many  of  the  celebrated  murder  eases,  in  and  around  this  city;  among 
them,  the  following;  Hughes  for  the  murder  of  a  prominent  criminal  attorney,  Will- 
iam J.  Hadley;  the  Bronty  case,  (in  Westchester  Co.);  the  Jones,  ("Ivy  (',;■ 
case,  (in  Rensselaer  Co.);  and  the  Wood  case,  in  Warren  county.)  and  latterly, 
the  notable,  Nelson,  Shattuck,  and  Morgan  cases  in  Albany  city.  Dr.  Stone- 
house  has  gained  some  prominence  in  literary  circles,  through  his  contributions  to 
many  of  the  leading  medical  journals.  To  his  union  with  Sarah  E.  Riglev  were 
born  three  children;  one  of  whom,  Roger  II.,  survives.  Mis.  Stonehouse  passed 
away  on  November  22,  1892. 

Ten  Eyck,  Clinton,  was  born  on  May '21,  Is"!:!,  at  Albany.  X.  V.,  and  is  a  son  of 
the  late  Conrad  A.  Ten  Eyck.  He  is  descended  from  the  old  hue  of  Dutch  ances- 
tors, one  of  whom,  Conrad  Ten  Eyck  (3),  came  from  Amsterdam,  Holland,  to  America, 
with  his  wife,  Maria  Boele,  and  their  children,  about  1650,  settling  at  New  Amster- 
dam. The  lineal  descent  is  as  follows:  (1) Conrad,  (2)  Jacob,  (3)  Conrad, (4)  Jacob C. . 
(.r))  Anthony,  (6)  Conrad  A.,  father  of  Clinton,  (Ti  Clinton  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
Clinton  was  educated  in  the  Albany  (N.  Y.i.  Academy,  where  he  took  a  course  in 
civil  engineering,  and  after  leaving  school,  was  engaged  on  the  corps  of  Eli  Parker, 
(General  Grant's  private  secretary),  in  the  laying  out  of  the  Northern  (now  the  I).  & 
II.),  &  Susquehanna  Railroads,  and  the  Erie  Canal.  Subsequently,  he  removi 
Detroit,  Mich.,  where  he  was  employed  on  the  Detroit  and  Pontiac  R.  R.,  but  owing 
to  ill-health,  he  was  obliged  to  return  East.  For  a  time,  he  held  a  clerkship  in  the 
sheriff's  office,  and  later,  conducted  a  grocery  store  for  two  years.  About  1862,  Mr. 
Ten  Eyck  began  the  manufacture  of  soap,  in  which  business  he  has  been  eminently 
successful,  and  in  which  he  is  still  engaged.  In  I860,  he  married  Catherine  M.  Wil- 
son, and  they  have  had  six  children  ;  three  of  whom  survive,  namely,  Conrad,  James 
\\\.  and  Jane  W. 


INDEX 


Abbey,  D.  &  S.  A.,  243,  248 
Abbott,  E.  C,  Rev.,  355 
Samuel.  538 
&  Crosby,  245 
Abeel,  John,  135,  137,  14:'.,  321 
Achquetuck,   181 

Acts  of  the  first  General  Assembly,  48 
Adams,  Amos,  14.") 
Charles,  372 

Charles  H.,  373,  43s,   ||ii.   |  r,     152 
George  C,  491 
Henry,  Dr.,  216 
Adgate,  Matthew,  74 
Adler,  Daniel,  393 
Ainsworth,  Danforth  E.,  167 

Ira  W.,  106 
Aire],  Henry.  451 

Albany    Academv,    The,    founding    and 
history  of,  264  266 
Argus,  the,  234  236 
Basin,  the,  95  91 
Brewing  Company,  378 
Albany  City,  a  half  century  of  imp 
merits  in,   315  320 

amendment  of  charter  of,  315 
Ancient  Chivalric  and   Heraldic 
Order  of  Knights  of  Albion  in, 
363 
banks  formed  in,  312 
banks  of,  363  376 
Board  of  Lumber  Dealers,  380 
boundaries  as  given  by   chfl 

of  1686,  283 
boundaries,  changes  in, 
"boycotting"  in,   in  1776,  72 
brewing  industry  in,  :'ds 
celebration    of  centennial   anni- 
versary of,  -!11" 
celebration  of  the  two  hundredth 

anniversary  of  the  chai 

existence  of,  315 
chamberlain's     reports  of,    from 

I860  to  1895,  312  81  I 
changes  in   ordinances    of,    298 

300 


Albany  City,  charter  of.  284  286 
chartered  in  1686,   18 
churches  of,  '■'>'.\<\  -:;.">:> 
civil  government  of,  during  the 

Revolutionary  peri< 
Commodore  Perry's  visit  at,  B8 
condition  of  military   works  at, 

in  17(12,  56 

adition  of  early  schools  in,  326 
Daughters  of  the   Cincinnati  in, 

363 
Declaration     of     Independence 

published  in,   J  \ 
defunct  newspapers  of,  241    '.' 1 1 
description  of,  by  Mrs.  Grant,  in 

1764,  294 
development    of    the    steamboat 

interest  in.  310 
doings  of  Committ         -       tyof, 

en  71 
doings  of    the   government  of, 

down  to  1700,  281   289 
during  ills,  79  81 
Dutch  schoolmasters  in,  in  1702 

255 
early  brewers  in,  878 
early  fire  defences,  291 

ordinances  of,   292, 

298 

if  the  French  and  Indian 

war  upon,  54 

effects  of  the  introducti*  >n  of  new 

elements  of  population    in,    af- 
ter the  Revolution.  800 
establishment    of   a    burial  : 

in  L756 
expenses  of  i1k>  government  of, 
305,  307  309 

:  act  from  <  iov.    1  >ongan 
port  concernii  . 
v  rights    and    privileges  in. 

department  ol 

first  attempt  to  establish    a: 
ucational  institutional  ii 


378 


Albany  City,  first  bank  in,  303 

first  meeting  of  the  courts,  286 

first  newspaper  of,  233 

first  officers  of,  286 

first  term  of  the  Supreme  Court 
in,  136 

first  theatrical  company  in,  304, 
305 

Governor  Sloughter's  visit  to,  in 
1691,  53 

growth  in  population  and  busi- 
ness of,  302-304 

headquarters  of  the  stove  indus- 
try, 377 

Homoeopathic  Hospital,  the,  209 

hotels  of,  312 

importance  of,  in  the  French 
and  Indian  war,  52 

in  1689,  53 

in  1700,  289 

increase  of  transportation  in, 
310,  311 

insurance  business  in,  311 

introduction  of  horse  cars  into, 
314 

islands  belonging  to  the  citv, 
284 

land  difficulties  in,  298,  299 

last  election  of  officers  of,  under 
colonial  laws,  68 

legislative  acts  relating  to,  1769- 
1788,  64 

list  of  lumber  dealers  in,  380 

lumber  industry  in,  378-380 

manufacture  of  agricultural  ma- 
chinery in,  380 

manufacture  of  pianos  in,  380 

manufactures  of,  376-381 

mayor  and  aldermen  of,  denied 
seats  on  the  Supreme  Bench, 
297 

mayors  of,  320-326 

Military  Order  of  Foreign  Wars 
of  the  U.  S.  in,  363 

Military  Order  of  the  Loyal  Le- 
gion in,  363 

names  borne  by  the  city,   283 

news  of  Washington's  death  at. 
306 

Order  of  the  Cincinnati  in,  362 

Order  of  Old  Guard,  Chicago,  in, 
363 

organization  of  military  compa- 
nies m,  in  1775,  70 

patriotic  pledge  of  the  citizens  of, 
69 

police  department  of,  392 

population  of,  in  1800  and  1810, 
84 


Albany  City,  price  of  bread  in,  fixed  by 
Common  Council,  306 

reception    of  news  of  expulsion 

of  James  III  and  accession  of 

William  and  Mary  in,  286,  287 

removal  of  seat  of  government 

from,  to  Poughkeepsie,  79 
royalist  sentiment  of  the   people 
of,  at  breaking  out  of  the  Rev- 
olution, 67 
sale  of  city  lands  of,  296,  297 
savings  banks  in,  374-376 
schools  of,  326-335 
school  statistics  of,  333 
settled  upon  as  the  State  capital 

in  1797,  301 
Society  of  Colonial  Wars  in,  362 
Society  of  the  Colonial  Dames  of 

America  in,  363 
Society  of   Colonial    Dames    of 

State  of  New  York,  363 
Society  War  of  1812  in  the  State 

of  New  York  in,  362 
Sons  of  the  American  Revolution 

in,  362 
Spafford's  statement  relative  to, 

in  1813,  303 
streams   and    their    ravines   in, 

282 
streets  and  their  names  in,  293 
topography  of  the  site  of,  281 
town-whipper  of,  297 
troops  raised  in,  for  the  war  of 

1812,  88 
U.  S.  Daughters  of  1812  in,  362 
Washington  Park  in,  314 
water  question  first  agitated  in, 

290,  291 
water  supply  of,  381-3S6 
wretched  condition  of  the    sol- 
diers of,  in  1700,  55 
yellow  fever  scare  in,  306 
Albany  College  of  Pharmacy,  the,  205 
Albany  County,  aboriginal  occupants  of, 
5 
aggregate  of  volunteers  from,  in 

war  of  the  Rebellion,  112 
Agricultural  Society,  280,  281 
Almshouse,  279,  280 
Bar,  list  of  members  of,  158,  159 
beginning  of  the  history  of,  1 
bounties  paid  to  volunteers  bv, 

112 
collectors  of  customs  from,  123 
defunct  newspapers  of,  241-247 
delegates  to  constitutional  con- 
ventions from,  123 
early  newspapers  of,  233  et  seq. 
geographical  location  of,  2 


379 


Albany  County,  geology  of,  3 
governors  from,  121 
Homoeopathic  Medical  Society, 

the,  211-332 
Medical    Society,    formation    of, 

173 
staff    of     physicians     organized 
by,   in  the  cholera  epidemic  of 
1832,  174 
increase  in  population  of,   from 

1810  to  1830,  91 
influence  of  the  tories  in,  10 
islands  belonging  to,  3 
judiciary  and  bar  of,  130-146 
Ladies'  Army  Relief  Association 

of,  112 
legislation  affecting,  120 
lieutenant-governors  from,  121 
list  of  militia  officers  of,  at  be- 
ginning of  the  Revolution,  65- 
67 
members  of  assembly  of,  125-130 
members  of  congress  from,   122 
N.  Y.  canal  commissioners  from, 

124 
X.  V.  secretaries  of  state   from, 

123 
state  comptrollers  from,  124 
N.  V.    State  engineers  and  sur- 
veyors from,  124 
X.  Y.  state  senators  from,  124 
N.  Y.   state  treasurers  from,  124 
N.    Y.    surveyors  general    from, 

124 
population  of,  in  1790,  82 
rivers  and  streams  of,  2 
soil  of,  4 

territory  included  in.  when  orig- 
inally formed,  48 
topography  of,  2 
treasurers  of,  130 
troops    furnished     by,     to    Gen. 
Schuyler     for     Canada     cam- 
paign, 73 
United    States     president    from, 

121 
r.  s.  secretary  of  state  from,  122 
I'.  S.  secretary  of  the  navy  from, 

122 
C  S.   secretary  of  the  treasary 

from,  122 
r.  s   secretary  of  war  from,  122 
U.S.  senators  from,  121 
U.  S.  vice-president   from,  121 
Albany  Daily  Herold,  the.  241 
Evening  fournal,  the,  286 
Pemale  Academy,  the,  268 
Gazette,  the,  283 


Albany  Hospital,  the,  206  207 

Institute,  the,  275 

Knickerbocker,  the, 

Law  Journal,  the,  2  \ '. 

Law  School,  the,  163   168 

Medical  Annals,  the,  196 

Medical  College,  the.  200  205 
list  of  faculty  of,  202  205 
Alumni   Association   of  the,   205 

Medical    Society,    chronological   list 
of,  185  -195 

Penitentiary,  the,  278,  279 

Saw,  Steel  and  File  Works,  the,  3 

Sonntag  Journal,  the,  '211 

State  Xormal  School,  th< 

Telegram,  the,  240 

Times-Union,  the,  239 
Alcove  (Stephensville).  482 
Alexander.  Joseph,  90,  36s,  ::;.} 
Alden,  Joseph,  "207 

Sidney,  437 
Alford,  S.'M..  Hi.-) 
Alison,  Hector,  Rev..  346 
Allen,  Campbell.  103 

Benjamin.  265 

William  P.,  165 
Alumni  Association  of  the  Albany    Med- 
ical College,  205 
Alstine,  Henry,  4H!> 
Alston,  Willis' A..  Dr..  581 
Altamont  (formerly  Knowersville),  521 

as  a  popular  summer  residence,  524 

Driving  Park  and    Fair  Assoeiation, 
.-.•J  I 

office  rs  ■  il .  524 
Ames,  Ezn 

Nathaniel,  34  I 
Amnion,  Hammond,    12*3 
Amorv,   [bhn,  07 

875,  378 

William.  378 
Anable,  Samuel  I...  !"'•> 
Andrews,  K..  24 

Loring  C,  242 
Andros,  Edmund,  Major,  \~. 
Angus,  C,  244 

'  Walter  II..    107 
Anneslev,  Richard  L  ,  M 
Ami  rent  struggle,  the,  ill  119 
Anton.  John.  2 
Apple,  John,  1-15 
Appleton,  William 
Arensius,  Bernard,  Rev. 
Arey,  Oliver, 
Arkell,  fames, 

W.  J 
Arnold.  Benjamin  W..  410 

James,  581 


380 


Armsby,  James  H.,  Dr.,  183,  200,  206 
Artcher,  Michael,  115,  145 
Asbury,  Francis,  Rev.,  344 

Babcock,  Daniel  L.,  334 

James  L.,  183,  334 

Robert,  144 
Babington,  Samuel,  145 
Bacon,  Leonard,  Rev.,  355 
Bailey,  George  I.,  386 

James  S.,  Dr.,  196 

John  M.,  Lieut.,  144,  363,  373 

Joshua,  440,  453 

Judson  Hooker,  363 

Timothy,  446 

William  H.,  Dr.,  183 
Baker,  Benjamin  F.,  105 

Ellis,  375 

George  Comstock,  356,  362,  363 

Walter  Samuel,  Dr.,  219 
Balch,  Lewis,  Dr.,  356 
Baldwin,  Alexander,   74 

Ebenezer,  142 
Balentine,  Solomon,  241 
Ball,  Hendrick,  502 

Jacob,  65 

J.  M.,  109 

O.  D.,  Dr.,  183 
Bancroft,  Royal,  373 
Banker,  Evert  P.,  137,  321 

Flores,  67 
Bank,  Albany  City  National,  369 

Albany  City  Savings  Institution,  375 

Albany  County,  Albany,  373 

Canal,  Albany,  365 

Cohoes  Savings  Institution,  the,  453 

First  National,  Albany,  372 

Manufacturers',  of  Cohoes,  453 

Mechanics'    and    Farmers',    Albany, 
366 

Mechanics'  Savings,  Cohoes,  453 

Merchants'  National,  Albany,  371 

National,  of  Cohoes,  452 

National,  of  West  Troy,  421 

National  Commercial,  Albany,  368 

National  Exchange,  Albany,  370 

New  York  State,  at  Albanv,  :'.<i  I 

of  Albany,  363,  364 

of  the  Capitol,  372 

of  the  Interior,  the,  Albany,  372 

The  Albany  Exchange  Savings,    375 

The  Albany  County  Savings,  376 

The  Albanv  Savings,  374 

the  Albany,  303,  304 

The  Home  Savings,  Albany,  376 

The  Hope,  Albany,  373 

The  Mechanics'   and  Farmers'  Sav- 
ings, 375 


Bank,  The  National,  Albany,  372 

The  National  Savings.  Albany,  375 

The  Park,  Albany,  373 

Union,  Albany,  371 

Watervliet,  West  Troy,  420 
Banks,  A.  Bleecker,  325 

Robert  Lenox,  278,  316   356,  384 
Banyar,  Goldsboro,  92,  263,  364 
Bar    of     Albany    county,     biographical 

sketches  of  members  of  the,  148-157 
Barbadoes  distemper,  172 
Barber,  Hiram,  Dr.,  531 

John  and  Robert,  242 
Barclay,  Henry,  Rev.,  340 

John,  65,  68,  70,  79,  322,  339 
Barckley,  E.  L.,  542 

Henry,  542 

M.  H',  109,  110 
Barker,  James  Franklin,  356 
Barnard,  Daniel  D.,  :200 

Frederick  J.,  370 
Barnes,  David  M.,  239 

John  O.,  356 

Thurlow  Weed,  278 

jr.,  William,  238 

'&  Godfrey,  239 
Barrett,  Thomas,  65,  70 
Barry,  David  James,  Dr.,  229 
Bartlett,  Edward  T.,  362 

Ezra  A.,  Dr.,  184,  356 

Bent  &  Co.,  311 
Barton,  R.  F.,  Dr.,  523 
Bartow,  Henry,  368,  369 
Bassett,  John,  Rev.,  336 
Bassler,  Frederick,  502 
Batchelder,  Galen,  370 

John  F..  371,  372 
Batterman,  Christopher,  145 

family  of  Guilderland,  520 
Battershall,  Walton  W.,  Rev.,  341 
Battery,  Eleventh  New  York,  108 
Battle  of  Bennington,  75 
Baudartius's  description  of  the  country  in 

1623,  16 
Bay,  Andrew,  Rev.,  346 

John,  68 
Bayard,  George  D. ,  105 
Beach,  Denio  &  Richards,  244 
Beal,  Moses,  83,  91 
Beam,  Adam,  67 
Beardslee,   Rufus  G.,  278 
Beardsley,  William,  145 
Beasley,  Frederick,  Rev.,  340 

John,  340 
Beck,  T.  Komeyn,  Dr.,  174,  265 
Becker,  Abram,  531 

Albertus  W.,  160 

Dirck,  65 


381 


Becker,  I.  S.,  Dr.,  523 

M.  A.,  447 

Wouter,  65 
Becker's  Corners,  495 
Beckett,  Thomas,  Dr.,  181 
Bedell,  Gilbert  C,  425 
Beebee,  Dillion,  421 
Beecker,     (Bleecker     or     Becker),     Jan 

Jeurians,  255 
Beeckman,  John,  65,  70 

John  H..  66 

John  James,  65,  68 

John  M.,  68,  79 
Beekman,  J.  P.,  340 

John  Jacob,  323 
Beeren     Island,      fortified     trading-  post 

established  on,  by  the  patroon,  26 
tolls  demanded  at,  by  the  patroon,  26 
overt  acts  at,  27 
Beers,  William  P.,  144 
Bell,  Horaces,,  373,  375 

James    A.,    senator   from    Jefferson 
county,  269 

M.,  109 

Robert  H.,109,  11<> 

William  II  ,110 
Bemet,  Robert  O.  K.,  ">:;«; 
Benckes,  Jacob,  Com.,   Hi 
Bendell,   Herman,  Dr.,  1",;,  334,  335,  363 
Bender,  George  M.,  491 

Christopher  W.,  :575 

Henry,  241 

Matthew  W.,  201 
Benjamin,  George  H.,  Dr.,  '.".'is 
Benedict,  jr.,    Lewis   E.,   142;  sketch   of, 

156;  368 
Bensen,  Albert  V.,  :'>7:;,  376 
Bentley,  Caleb.  <ii 

( diver,  66 
Bergen.  Stephen  J.,  :!:!•"> 
Berger,  George,  <i7 
Berkenmeyer,       William       Christopher, 

Rev.,  338 
Berne,  town  of.  190  513 

agriculture  in,  507 

churches  of,  510  518 

early  business  enterprises  of ,  504  507 

early  mills  of,  505 

hamlet  of  Reedsville  in.  509 

hamlet  of  South  Berne  in,  509 

hamlet  of  Wesl  Bei  ne  in    508 

lakes  in,   199 

later  pioneers  of,  502 

list  of  first  settlers  of,  501 

mineral  springs  in.  500 
schools  of,  509,  510 
supervisors  of,  518 
the  Beaverdam  in.  499 


Berne,  the  scene  of  a  bloody  deed  during 
the   Revolution.   500 

the  Simmons  axe  business  in.  506 

topography  of,   199 

village  of  East  Berne  in,  508 

village,  settlement  and  business  men 
of,  507,  508 
Best,  Conradt,  67 
Bethlehem,  town  of.  186    198 

Becker's  Corners  in,  195 

Castle  Island  ii 

Cedar  Hill  in.    195 

Cemetery  Association,  4!)1 

cemeteries   »f,  490,  491 
191 

churches  of.  196   198 

I  !i  irning  Iron  Company  in,  490 

Delmar  in    193 

Klmwood  Cemetery  in,  491 

erection  of  town  of,   188 

first  settlement  of,  486 

Glenmont  in,  496 

Hurstville  in,  495 

Indian  burial  place,  Tawasentha,  in, 
188 

Kenwood  in,   194 

list    of    families   of    first   settlers    of, 
is? 

Mount  Pleasant  Cemetery  in,  491 

Normansville  in,  498 

post-offices  of.  491 

schools  of.   196 

Selkerk  in.    195 

Slingerlands  village  in.   192 

soil  and  product  5  of ,   lvx 

South  Bethlehem  in.  192 

streams  ol .  188 

turnpike  aud  plank  road  companies, 
189 
Beverwyck  Brewing  Company,  378 
■.    1'..  Dr  .'  213,  211 
v,  John  M.,  Di 
Billings,  George  Henry,  l»r..  218 
Bingham,  R.  II  ,  815 
Binns,  William,  188 

h,  <  reorge  A. ,  l  16 
Bird,  William.  581 
Birdseye,  Charles  ( '  .  1 18 
Bishop,  Gertrude  AnnaGoewey,  Di 

'1  heodore  M.,  Rev. .  :'.  12 

Ridels.  Adam.  '.' 1 

Bissell,  William  II.  II..  Rev.,  126 
Blackman,  A    S  .  125 

Clover,    125 
Blaisdell,  J.  W.,  Dr.,  109 

Wesley,  It..  I-*" 
hard,  Anthony,  1  12 

J.  W.,  105 


382 


Bleecker,   Barent,  93,  304,  363,  364 

Charles  E.,  325 

Harmanus,  93,  277,  374 

Henry,  68,  135 

Jacob,  68 

Jan,  286 

Jan  Jans,  286,  321 

Johannes,  321 

John  N.,  65 

John  R..  21,  68,  96,  145.  365 

Rutger,  135,  143,  322 

William  E.,  278,  372 
Blessing,  Elmer  Arkell,  Dr.,  228 
Block,  Adrian,  13 

J.,  Rev..  355 
Bloodgood,  Francis,  323,  365 

John,  344 

S.  D.  W.,  244 

William,  116 
Bloomaert,  Samuel,  21 
Boardman,  John,  347 

William,  375 

William  G.,  311,380 
Boes,  Nicholas,  Capt.,  47 
Bogardus,  Robert,  340 
Boght  (or  Groesbeck's  Corners),  405 
Bogart,  James  H.,  105,  106 

Garrett,  387 

Henry  I.,  68,  70 
Bond,  Aaron  John,  Dr.,  228 
Booth,  John  H.,  491 

Lebbeus,  266 
Borstwick,  James  M.,  145 
Boss,  Lewis,  277,  316 
Both  well,  James  L.,  329 
Botsford,  Egbert,  425 
Bott,  Arthur,  315 
Bouhvare,  Jeptha  R.,  Dr.,  181 
Bourgengnon,  L.  H.,  455 
Boutelle,    Frank   W.    and   Frederick  A., 

356 
Bouton,  P.  N.,  375 
Bowditch,  Edward,  363,  377 
Bo  we,  John,  375 
Bowen,  Townsend,  Dr.,  223 
Bown,  William  H.,  Rev.,  342 
Boyd,  Edward  H.,239 
'  James  P.,  Dr.,  174 

J    R.,  244 

Peter,  96,  266,  346,  374 
Boyington,  Charles,  349 
Bradt,  Albert  And  riessen,  486 

Anthony  E.,   68 
Francis  I.,  94 

Samuel  C,  281 
Bradford,  John  M.,  Rev.,  265,  336,  337 

Governor,  of  Plymouth,  remon- 
strance of,  against  Dutch  trade  at 
Narragansett,  17 


Bradley,  John  E.,  Prof.,  330 
Joseph  J.,  468 
John  Nelson,  Dr.,  225,  536 
Brady,  Anthony  N.,  316,  369 

John  T.,  377 
Brand,  Michael,  462 
Brandenburg,  William  H.,  106 
Brandow,  Frank  Hammond,  356 
Bratt,  John  A.,  74 
Braun,  A.  T.,  Rev.,  338 
Braunschweiger,  P.  C,  Rev.,  338 
Brayton,  William  P.,  145 
Brewer,  David  J.,  167 
Bries,  Anthony,  392 
(Brice  ?),  Anthony,  66 
Bridge,  Charles  Francis,  356 
Bridgford,  Alany,  442 

John,  315 
Bridges  at  Albany,  99 
Brigden,  Thomas  A.,  142 
Brigham,  Henry  A.,  109 

P.  S.,  Dr.,  431 
Briggs,  John  N.,  480 
Briusmade,  Thomas  C,  Dr.,  201 
Broadhurst.  Jonathan,  145 
Brockway,  Henry,  447 
Bronk,  Robert,  Rev.,  424 

Stephen, 106 
Bronson,  Greene  C. ,  140;  sketch  of,  150; 

164 
Brooks,  Jonas  H.,  370,  371,  375,  447 

Pascal  P.,  Dr.,  217 
Broughton,  William  H.,  108 
Brouwer,  Tan,  Capt.,  22 
Brown,  Allen,  96 
Andrew,  538 
Edward  E.,  Dr.,  183 
Fred  W.,  278 
James,  440 

fames  Hutchings,  Rev.,  342 
jenks,  440 
Samuel,  243 
Thomas,  Rev.,  340 
Browne,  Goodwin,  356 

Irving,  165 
Brower,  Henry  D.,  108 
Bruce,  Mrs.  Catherine  W.,  276 
Brumaghim,  A.  W. ,  373 
Brunow,  Professor,  247 
Br van,  John,  366 

Michael  K.,  104 
Bryant,  Charles  Gilbert,  Dr.,  218 
Buchanan,  Charles  J.,  165,  166,  263 
Buel,  Jesse,  234,  239,  240,  374 
Bulkeley,  Alpheus  Tompkins,  356 
Bulkley,  Chester,  347 
Bullock,  Joseph  N.,  371 
Bumford,  George,  Col.,  274 
Burden,  Howard  H.,  432 


383 


Burdick  &  Taylor,  245 

Burgoyne's  surrender,  75 

Burhans,  David,  106 

Burlingame,   Eugene,   144,    166,    HIT,  378 

Burke,  Betsey,  349 

Toshua  A.,  349 

T.  M.  A.,  Rt.  Rev..  352,  353 
Burnett,  Samuel  W.,  372 
Burnside,  James,  66 
Burnstein,  Charles,   Dr.,  232 
Burt,  Charles  A.,  108 
Burton,  John  E.,  108 

William,  438,  440,  453 
Bury,  Richard,  Rev.,  341 
Bush,  Walter  R.,  278 
Butler,  Benjamin  F.,  144;  sketch  of,  149; 
234 

Joseph  C,  Dr.,  219 
Buttrick,  Wallace,  Rev.,  350 
Buyshe,  James,  Father,  350 
Byington,  Charles  Sperry,  356 

William  Wilberforce,  356 

Cady,  Philander  K.,  Rev..  342 
Cagger,  Peter,  sketch  of,  155;  20*3 
Calder,  Humphrey  L.,  109 
Caldwell,  James,  364 

William,  96,  265 
Callicott,  Theophilus  C,  236,  239 
Calisch,  Alexander  Charles,  Dr.,  231 
Campbell,  Edward  Willers,  Dr.,  227 

George,  441,  451,  45:; 

William  II..  Rev.,  265 

William  Melancthon,  Dr.,  230 
Campaign  of  1777,  74-77 
Campaigns  of  the  war  (  f  1812,  86.  87 
Canada"  P.  A.,  Rev.,  355 
Cantine,  Moses  I..  2 
Callanan's  Corners,  553 
Capitol  City  Brewing  Company 
Capron,  John  1 >. ,  376 
Carmody,  John,  853 
Carpenter,  Charles  S. ,  245 

Edward  Annon.  Dr..  •-'•.'1 

George  W.,  884 

James  L. ,  881 
Carr,  Robert,  Sir.    I  "> 
Carroll,  1.  II..  246 

John  M.,  390 

Stephen  II.,  Dr.,  221 
Carson,  Thomas  L.,  '-'  Hi 
Carter,  Nathaniel  II..  248 

William  F„  137,  140    152,   158 
Cartwright,  <  reorge,  Sii .  45 
Car  wheel  works,  37  7 
Case,  Russell  C,  875 
Casey,  Daniel.  825 
Cass,  Levi,  331 


Cassety.  James  M.,  Dr..  ','•;"> 
Cassidv,  Clinton,  278 

William,  235,  315 

William  R..  236 
Caulkins,  Jonathan,  428 
Caw,  William  G.,   152 
Cedar  Hill,   195 
Center,  Asa  II.,  266,  368 
Chadwick,  William  X..  486,  187,  140,  153 

Aaron,  4nJ 

I'.  R..   153 
Chamberlain,  Frank,  106   278   368 

Eugene  T.,  363 
Champlain  and  the  [roquois,  11 
Chandler.  O.  I".,  383 
Chapin,  Edward  1'.,  107 

Josiah  Dexter,  356 

Lyman,  365 
Chapman,  Isaac  A.,  375 

J.  Wilbur,  Rev..  386 
Charles,  Daniel  1  >.  T..  371 
"Charter  of  Privileges  and  Exemptions," 

the,  •-'() 
C  batfield,   Harvey  S..   106 
Cheeseman,  Calvin.  403 
Cheever,  Samuel.   1  I". 
Chessman,  Calvin,  3 II 
Chester.  John,  Rev.,  266,  :\\; 

Alden,  141,  334,  335 
Child,  E.  I'...  244,  249 
Child's  Hospital.  th< 
Chittenden,  Orville  H..  I  12 
Christian  Brothers'  Academy.  268 
Church,  Andrew  M.    1 18 

Walter  S..  117 
Churches,     Baptist,    35(1.    351,     U0,      127, 
158,  167,   185,  584,  544 

Christian,  355,  485,  512,  513,    535 

Cong) egational,  355,  4 in 
Episcopal,    889  848,     125,     188,    156, 

5:15 
I  tebrew,  855 

Lutheran.  511.  525,    542,    548 
Methodist.    343  846,    127,     182,     157, 
159,    168     184,    197,    198    512 
584,  548,  551 

•yterian,  346  -lit.  128,  188,    158, 
167,  19"!    526,  554,  551 

□  i   I,    386,    837,     1"^    109,     124, 
125,    157,    iv">.    196,  51 1,  526    584, 
555,  557 
Roman   Catholic,-  850  355,    126,    128 
188,  159,  160,  185 
City  Halls,  160,  161 
Clark,  CharU-s  C.  108 
(  harles  H  .  105 

w  .  242 
Jeremiah,  865 


381 


Clark,  Joshua  R.,  453 

Matthew  C. ,  390 

Rufus  W.,  Rev.,  336 

Seth  Henry,  356 

William  P.    108 

W.  S.,  454 

&  Holsapple,  449 
Clarke,  B.  F.,  441 

George  W.,  246 
Clarksville,  550 
Clinton,  De  Witt,  93 
Clossy,  Samuel,  Dr.,  173 
Clowes,  Timothy,  Rev.,  265,  340 
Cluet,  Jacob,  and  sons,  400 

Nicholas,  400 
Clute,  Dirck,  409 

Gerrit,  402,  409 

Jacob  H.,  143 

James  S.,  454 

Jeremiah,  402,  436,  453 

John,  451,  453 

Johannes,  409 

N.  J.,  453 

William  K.,  390,  393 
Coates,  Charles,  371 
Cobes,  Ludovicus,  144,  145 
Coburn,  Edward  Bernard,  Dr.,  230 
Cochoran,  J.,  Dr.,  170 
Cochran,  David  H.,  267 
Cochrane,  C.  B.,  109 

Coeymans,    Barent  Pieterse,    379 ;   mar- 
riage and  family  history  of,  474,  475; 
and  his  brothers,  473;  547 
Coeymans,  town  of,  472-486 

Achquetuck  in,  476 

cemetery  associations  in,  478 

churches  of,  484,  485 

conflict  in  title  between    Coeymans 
and  the  patroon  in,  474 

first  settlement  of,  473 

gradual  improvement  in,  from  first 
settlement,  477 

Mutual  Insurance  Co.,  478 

natural  characteristics  of,  472,  473 

newspapers  of,  480 

Onisquethau   (Coeymans   Creek)  in, 
475 

physicians  of,  479 

railroads  in,  478 

Ravena  in,  480 

schools  of,  477 

supervisors  of,  476 

the  first  Coeymans  dwelling  in,  476 

the  home  of    early  prominent  fam- 
ilies, 481 

villages  and  hamlets  in,  480-4s:i 

Hollow,  482 

Landing,  479,  480 


Coeymans  Landing,  business  interests  of, 

480 
Cogswell,  Ledyard,  365,  377 

Mason  F.,  Dr.,  182 
Cohoes,  city  of,  434-460 

banks  of,  452-454 

Campbell  &  Clute,  machine  shop  of, 
451 

churches  of,  456-460 

city  hall,  441 

Company,  the,  441 

Daily  Dispatch,  454 

Daily  News,  454 

early  historical  mention  of,  434 

Egberts  High  School  at,  339 

Empire  Tube  Works  of,  450 

ephemeral  newspapers  of,  455 

fire  department  of,  437,  439 

first  mills  built  at,  435 

Furniture  Company,  the,  452 

Harmon v   Mills   Company,   the,    in, 
443-446 

incorporated  as  city,  438 

incorporation   and   election   of    first 
officers  of,  437 

Iron    Foundry   and    Machine    Shop, 
451 

knitting  mills  of,  446-449. 

manufacture  of  axes  in,  449 

Manufacturing  Company,  the,  436 

miscellaneous  manufactures  of,   452 

newspapers  of,  454—456 

of  small  importance  until  after  1830, 
435 

police  department,  440 

rapid  growth  of,  436 

Republican,  451 

rolling  mill,  450 

schools  of,  437.  438 

territory  included  in,  435 

Troy  &  Cohoes  Shirt  Company,  452 

Water  Works  Company,  440 
Colden,  John,  144 
Colburn,  W.  M.,  246 
Cole,  Charles  W.,  330,  334 
Cole  (Koole?),  Jacobus,  66 

John,  393 

John  O.,  88,  200,  334 

Matthew,  244 

M.  M.,  243 

William  S.,  478 
Collins,  David  Edward,  Dr.,  224 

J.  B.,  108 

jr.,  L.  D.,  241,  418 
Colvard,  Asa,  145 
Colve,  Anthony,  Capt.,  47 
Colvin,  Andrew  J.,  118,  144 
Colwell,  Thomas,  450 


385 


Commissioners  of   Indian   affairs,  list  of 

the,  8,  9 
Committee   of    Safety  and  Correspond- 
ence, 68 

as    to    tlie    Loyalty    and   dis- 
loyalty of  the,  70 
the  second,  7:> 
doings  of  the,  75    !  ' 
doings  of,  79 
Common    School    Commission,    act    au- 
thorizing a,  258 

superintendents,  259 
Comstock,  Isaac  N.,  393 
Conger,  Stephen,  424 
Conkling,  David  and  Josiah,  I'll 
Conner,  Freeman,  107 
Conroy,  J.  J.,  Very  Rev.,  267,  352,  353 
Consaul,  Joseph,  409 
Contest    between    Stuvvesant    and    Van 

Slechtenhorst,  28  39 
Controversy   between    the  directors  and 

the  Amsterdam  government,  39-41 
Conway,  Martin  B.,  393 

Martin  D.,  142 
Convent   and    Academy   of    the    Sacred 

Heart,  the,  267 
Cook,  Ceorge  H.,  Dr.,  265 
James  C.,  :572 
John,  108,  243,  2  Is 
William,  368 
Cookingham,  I).  A.,  Dr.,  222 
Cooksburg,    165 
Coons,  John,  402 

Cooper,  Charles  D.,  1  13,  ill,  268,  31  l 
John  Taylor,  I  Hi 
Paul  F.,  334 
Coorn,  Nicholas,   27 
Coppee,  Henry,  165 
Corbin,  Ernest  A.,  332 
Ernest  A.  M.,  35*3 
Cordell,  Julia,  332 
Corlear,  Ben  C,  378 
Corliss,  Stephen  I*.,  363 
Cornell,  Alonzo  B.,  270 

John  R.,  373 
Corning,   Erastus,  99,    161,  323,  348   362, 
369,  370,  875,  382 
jr.,  Erastus,  375 
Erastus,  Mrs.,  868 
Corstiaensen,  Hendrick,  13,  1 1 
Cory,    |ohn,  102 
Cottrell,  Adam,  37  I 
Coulson,  II.  C,  L09 
Counties  formed  from   Albany,   1 
Country  Gentleman,  the,  240 
County  clerks,  144,  I  15 

medical  societies,  legalization  of,   \'<-'< 

Court  of  Appeals,  188 


Court  of  Appeals  buildings,  159,  160 

Circuit,   140 

for  the  Correction  of  Errors  and  Ap- 
peals, L37 
inty,  142,  l  13 

of  Chancery.   137 

of  Common  Pleas,  the  old,   L35 

of  i  >ver  and  Terminer,   136 

Supreme,    138    1  10 

Supreme,  first    term   of  the,    held   in 
Albany,  L36 

Surrogates,  141,  142 
Courts,  evolution  of  the.   130    18  I 

inferior,  under  the  Dutch,   Hit 

the  colonial,  135 

the,  under  English  rule,   136 

under  the  Constitution  of  1846,  140 
(  omtney,  Samuel  G.,   II  I 
Covert,  .Madison,  422 

fames  C.  422 
Cox,"  Edward  Gilbert,  Dr.,  231 

Frederick  Joseph,  Dr.,  231,  362 

George  Aldomer,  Dr.,  220 

James  William,  Dr.,  217,  362,  375 

jr.,  James  W.,  Mrs.,  863 
Coyle,  lames,  353 

Craig,  "William  II.,  Dr.,  106,  181,  273 
Cramer,  Francis,  109 

George  II..  420 

John,   120 
Crampton  &  Belden,  132 
Crandall,  Edward  Llewellyn,  Dr.,  227 

I  Ienry,   1  C> 

Thomas,  ii7 
Crannell,  John.  67 
Crantz,  Frederick,  *><> 
Crittenden,  Alonzo,  266 
Crocker,  A.,  191 

astian  (ansen,  169 
Cromwell,  Philip  I.,  Dr..  221 

I  Hi 
Croswell,   Edwin,  234   235,  365 

Harry,  242 

Sherman.  284,  285 
Crothers,  T.  D..  Dr.,  L96 
Crounse,  Adam,  Rev..  525 

Andrew  C,   Dr..  523 

Conrad,  526 

•  rick,  I  n\,  528 

Henry,  108 

William,  107 

Cullinan,  William,  Rev.,  128 
Cultivator,  the,  239 

Culver,  Asa  and  Philip,    16 1 

Charles  Mortimer,  1  >r.,  357 

Stephen.    102 

Cumming,  I  looper,  Rev  .  347 


386 


Cunningham  Bros.,  529 

Curtin,  James  A.,  Rev.,  426 

Curtis,  Frederick  C,  Dr.,  184,  357,  370 

Joel,  66 

Mary  M.,  451 
Cussick,  C.  C,  Capt,  362 
Cutler,  Edward  D.,  320 

John  N.,  362 
Cuyler,  Abraham,  65,  68 

Abraham  C,  322 

Cornelius,  322 

George,  388 

Henry,  364 

Jacob,  68 

Johannes,  144,  322 

John,  263,  268,  387 

J.  C,  238,  387,  388 

John  J.,  145 

&  Henley,  246 

Dailey,  W.  P.  N.,  Rev  ,  337 
Dale,  William  A.  Tweed,  264 
Daliba,  Major,  274 
Dalton,  William,  375 
Danaher,  Franklin  M.,  316 
Danks,  William  N.,  107 
Dann,  Horace  L. ,  428 
Davenport,  James  R. ,  Rev.,  342 
Davidson,  George  G.,  367,  375 

Gilbert  C,  371 

W.  R.,  163 
Davis,  Charles  E.,  106 

John,  200 

John  M.,  238 

J.  T.,  101 

Joseph,  273 

Nathaniel,  347 
Dawson,  George,  109,   237,   238,   273,  315 
Dayton,  Jesse  C,  418 
Dean,   Amos,   sketch  of,    153;    164,   200, 
277,  278 

Amos  Hammond,  Rev.,  348 
Dearstyne,  Chester  F.,  279 
Decade  of  1826-36,  a  period  of  prosper- 
ity, 97 
Decker,  E.  F.,  &  Bros.,  377 
de  Decker,  Johannes,  41,  42,  45 
Dederick,  Peter  K.,  &  Co.,  380 
De  Forest,  David,  67 

Edward,  278 
De  Freest,  Isaac,  65,  70 

Jacob,  67 

Philip,  67 
De  Graff,  Abraham,  Dr.,  520 
De  Hinse,   Surgeon,  170 
Deitz,  Johan,  505 

Johan  Jost,  506 
de  Laet,  Johannis,  21 


Delamater,  Ira,  Dr.,  183 

de  la  Montogue,  John,  46 

De  Lancey,  Stephen,  68,  142,  144 

Delavan,  Edward  C,  365 

H.  W.,  265 

John  Savage,  Dr.,  177,  218,  278 
Delehanty,  Francis  B.,  335 
Delhanty,  Michael,  334 
Dellius,  Godfriedus,   Rev.,  336 
Delmar,  493 

Demarest,  John,  Rev.,  408 
Demers,  George  W. ,  237 
Denio,  John,  244 
Dennison,  James,  66 
Denniston,  Isaac,  366 
Depew,  Chauncey  M.,  270 
De  Peyster,  Johannes,  322 

John, 142 
Dermott,  Stephen  C,  425 
Description  of  the  old  Capitol  by  H.  G. 

Spafford,  269 
De  Voe,  John,  66 
Devyr,  Thomas  A.,  245 
De  Witt,  Abraham  V.,  371,  375 

John,  13 

John,  Rev.,  336,  337 

Richard  Varick,  362,  365,  391 

Simeon,  268,  311,  374 

William  H.,  206,  367 

William  H.,  Rev.,  343 
De  Wolf,   De  Los,  270 
Dexter,  George,  200 
Dickey,  William  D.,  168 
Dickson,  Walter,  316,  318 
Dietz,  Louis,  363 

Peter,  65 
District  attorneys,  143,  144 
Dix,  John  A.,  260,373 
Doane,  William  Croswell,  Rt.  Rev.,  208, 

268,  319,  341 
Dobler  Brewing  Company,  the,  378 
Dodds,  James,  106 
Dodge,  William  T.,  453 
Dongan,  Governor,  47-49 
Donn,  John,  451 
Donohue,  John,  447 
Doran,  Thomas,  Father,  353 
Dormansville,  532 
Dorr,  Elisha,  142,  366 
Douglas,  Alfred,  370 

Charles,  447 

Charles  H.,  357 

Curtis  N.,  278 
Douw,  De  Peyster  John,  365 

John,  De  P.,  142 

Volckert  A.,  65,  68,  100,  136,  143,  281, 
322,  374 
Dox,  Gerrit  L.,  276 


387 


Dox,  Peter,  65 

Peter  P.,  145,  273 
Draeyer,  Andrew,  14.r) 
Drake,   Edwin  C,  106 

Gerard  us  462 

John,  462 
Draper,  Andrew  S.,  ">:!•"> 
Drexel,  J.  W.,  238 
1  >risius,  I  >avid,  256 
Dubois,  Benjamin  C,  73 

Gualterus,  Rev..  336 
Ducharme,  H.  C,  109 
Dudley,  Bland ina,  Mrs.,  276 

Charles  E.,  93,  311,  323,  366,  377,  441 

Observatory.  276  277 
Duer,  William,  234 

William  A.,  140 
Duffy.  James,  244,  245 
Dunlop,  Robert,  378,  404,  425 
Drumsville,  524 
Durant,  Clark  Terry,  357 

jr.,  Edward  A.,  335 

F.  B.,  421 

William,  96,  374 

William  C,  419 
Dutch  Colonial  Council,  the.  133 

"  comforter  of  the  sick,"  168 

governors  of  New  Netherlands,  list 
of  the, 18 

interests,    final   surrender  of,  to  the 
English,  47 

traders,  the  fust.  12,  18 

trading-post,  the  first,  14 

West  India  Company,  the,  14,  15 
Dutcher,  David  1.,  427 

Salem.  349 
Duyster,  Dirck  Cornelissen,  21 
Dwight,  Francis,  245 

Theodore,  242 
Dwyer,  Thomas  II.,  :i:il 
Dyckman,  Johannes.  36,  :'.?,  41 

Early    periodicals    of    Albany,    pleasant 
sketches  of,  247    252 

East  Berne,  508 

Easton,  C.  1'.,  161,  '-'Tv-  334 

Eastwood,  Thomas  M..  Rev..  349 

Baton,  fames  w. .ill.  166,  167 
foseph  1 1..  181 

Eckles,  James  II.,  168 

Edmeston,  Alexander  A..  1  >;      180 

Edmonds,  John  W.,  1 17 

Edson,  Franklin,  278 

Education   in  the  view  of  the  West  India 
Company.  254   256 

Educational  matters  under   Dutch  domi- 
nation, 353 

Edwards,  Alfred,  334 


Edwards,  Isaac,  164,  335 

James,  sketch  of,  152;  372 

John,  Major,  462 
Effects  of  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary 

war  on  schools.  251 
Egberts,  Egbert,  436,  440,  14»i.  152,  158 
Eidlitz,  Leopold,  270 
"  Eight  men,"  the,  under  Kieft,  132 
ts,  Abraham,  65,  '<*> 

Jonathan,  Dr..  173 
Elder,  Joseph  F.,  Rev.,  '■'■'' ' 
Elkins.  Jacob  Jacobson,  1  1 
Ellicott,  Joseph,  93 
Ellison,  Abraham,  34  I 

Thomas,  Rev..  340 
Ellmaker,  Augustus.  437 
Elmendorf,  William  Burgess,  ".~>7 
Emmons,  Ebenezer,  200 
En  Earl,  X.  W.,  137 

English,  activity  of  the,  in  granting  pat- 
ents and  establishing  settlements,  13 

demonstration    against   the     Dutch, 
the  first,  13 

the,  occupy  Fori  <  'range.  46 
Ennis,  Robert,  Rev.,  :'•  18 
Erie  Canal,  genesis  of  the,  '•'•''  95 
Ermand,  William  Day.  278 
Ernst,  John   Frederick,  Rev.,  338 

eck,  Welcome,  94 

s,  D.  C,  246 
Evans,  Charles  S.,  1  HI 

Charles  Van  Schaick,    Dr.,  232 

Thomas,  125 
Everett,  William  I'..  Rev..  850 
Evertsen,  Cornelius,  Com.,  16 
Excise  duties,  quarrel  over  the,    II     13 
Fabritius,  Jacob.  Rev., 
fair,   | oli n,  815 

kner,  Justus,  Rev.,  :'.::^  ' 

fanners'  Union   League  Advocate,  the, 

•.Ml 
Farnsworth,  Addison.  102 
Farrcll,   James  ( '  ,  '.':'.'i 

John'  II..  289 
Faulk,   Norman  \\\,  469 
fee.    I oh n  A  .   ins 
I'elth'ousen.  John  <>  .  108 
Fernow,  Bertold,  868 
Fero,  1  'avid.  108 

■  y.  Christian  and  1  >avid,  109 
Ferris.   Isaac  I '  .  Rev. .  887 
Feura.  Bush,  56 

1.  Newton.  166,  167 
Filkins,  Morgan  L.,  inc..  278 
Financial  crisis  oi   1886  ::s.  1  < •  1 
Fitch,  Henry,  145 

[ohn  Hiram,  Di     222   562 
Fitts,  G  [.,142 


388 


Fitzsimmons,  James  J.,  335 

Fivey,  Robert  Edward,  Dr.,  229 

Flagg,  Azariah  C. ,  260,  273 

Flierel,  John,  Rev.,  339 

I- linn,  Peter  J.,  334,  335 

Floyd,  E.  G.,  105 

Fonda,  Abram  A. ,  408,  409 

Abraham  D. ,  65 

Douw,  374 

Douw  H.,316,  335 

family,  the,  399 

Hendrick,  409 

Henry  A.,  373 

Isaac,  408,  409 

Isaac  D.,  68 

Isaac  H.,  409 

Isaac  J.,  409 

Jacob  D.,  409 

Jelles  A.,  92 

Johannes,  409 

John  J.,  67 

John  P.,  67 

Lansing,  402 
Foot,  Ebenezer,  266 
Foote,  Samuel  A.,  144 
Ford,  Charles  R.,  453 

Jacob,  530 
Forsyth,  Colonel,  88 
Forsythe,  Russell,  96 
Fort  on  Castle  Island,  the,  14 
Fort  Orange  Brewing  Company,  the,  378 

in  1628,  17 

name  of,  changed  to  Albany,  46 
Fowler,  Samuel  S. ,  367,  369 

Thomas,  447 

William,  266,  366 
Fradenburg,  William,  344 
Franklin,  C.  E.,  167,  332 

James  J.,  334 
Frasier  Robert,  491 
Fraser,  Robert  H.,422 
Fredendall,  Jacob,  104 
Frederick.  Charles  H..  107 

Harold,  238 
Freeman,  Samuel  H.,  Dr.,  183 
Freie  Blaetter,  the,  240 
Frelinghuysen,  Theodurus,  Rev.,  336 
French,  George  L.,  432 

Harlan  P.,  335,  357 

discoveries  and  occupation,  10 

and  English,  aggressions  upon  one 
another  from  1711  to  1744,  57-59 

and  English  war,  1756-1760,  59-63 

and  Indian  war,   the,    1666-1698,  50- 
55 

occupation,  evidence  of,  before  Hud- 
son's arrival,  12  note 
Frey,  William  A.,  Rev.,  338 


Friedlander,  David,  104 
Frisbie,  John  B.,  102 
Frisby,  Edward,  111 

Frontenac's  campaign  against    the    Iro- 
quois, 51,  53 
Frost,  N.  W.,  453 
Frothingham,  William,  107 
Fruchting,  H.  C,  441 
Fryer,  Robert  L.,  369 
Fuller,  Edward  W.,  453 

Henry  D.,  436,  437,  440,  453 

Howard  N.,  335 

Samuel,  Rev.,  464 
Fuller's  StatioAf  524 
Fulton,  Justin %,  Rev.,  349 
Fur  trade,  the,  15 

grave  troubles  growing  out  of   the, 
26 

growth  and  bad  features  of  the   25 

regulations  concerning  the,  24 

Gaffney,  Thomas  M.,  266 
Gale,  E.  Thompson,  420 

Nathaniel,  531 
Gallien,  Edward  J.,  375 
Gallogly,  John  J.,  371 
Gallup,  Albert,  145,  146 
Galpin,  Charles,  243,  244,  246 

George,  243 

&  Sturtevant,  244 
(iansevoort,  Harme,  144,  378 

Harmse,  387 

Leonard,  92,  141,  143,  144 

Leonard  H.,  145 

Lieutenant,  88 

Peter,  143,  311,  365,  382 

jr.,  Peter,  70,  145 

Richard,  136 
Gardinier,  Henry  H.,  67 
Gardner,  Addison,  117 

Hiram,  468 
Garfield,  Charles  L.,  369 
Garland,  Jerome,  451 
(Earner,  William  T.,  445 

Thomas,  445 
Garretson,  Freeborn,  Rev.,  344 
Garside,  John,  438 
Gates,  Merrell  E.,  Dr.,  265 
Gaus,  Charles  H,,  334,  335 
General  Assembly  of  1683,  the,  47 
Geography  of  Albany  County,  2 
Geology  of  Albany  County,  3 
Geiiing,  James  S  ,  110 
Gerretse,  Adrian,  286 

(Wyngard),  Luykes,  255 

Ryer,  143 
( rerritsen,  Jan,  379 

Ryer,  135 


389 


Getty,  Isaac  R.,  Capt,  417,  419 
Gibbons,  Eugene  Campbell,  357 

James,  94,  274,  424 

John,  530 

Ransom  H.,  531 
Gibbonsville,  411,  412 
Gibson,  R.  W.,  843 
Gilbert,  Archibald,  Dr.,   232 

Asahel  W.,  Capt.,  417 

Edward,  102 

Edward  J.,  431 

Horatio  G.,  372 
Gilchrist,  Robert,  368 
Gill,  Matthew,  371 
Gillet,  Noah,  400 
Given,  John,  145 
Glass,  James,  431 
Glen,  Cornelius,  364 

Henry,  71 
Glenmont,  496 
Godfrey,  John  I.,  365 
Godyn,  Samuel,  21 
Goetwater,  John  Ernest,  Rev.,  337 
Goewey,  Catharine  Elizabeth,  Dr.,  223 
Golden,  Owen,  884,  385 
Goodley,  John  L.,  335 
Goodrich,  Horace,  266 

William  W.,  168 
Goold,  James,  200,  365,  375 
Gordon,  Catharine,  349 
Gorham,  George  Elmer,  Dr..  226 
Gorton,  R.  E.,  421 
Gould,  Charles  D.,  200 

Thomas,  31 1 

William,  161,  370 
Gourley,  William  II,  Mrs  ,  410 
Graham,  Edward  I  .  335 

Elisha  Barker;  Dr.,  225 

George  J.,  5:;  1 

Hugh,  441 

James  Henry  Augustus,  Dr.,  220 

T.  Van  Wyck,  1  II 
Grant,  Richard  |.,  372 

to  the  Duke  of  York,  thi     1 1 
Gray,  George  P.,   ID 

James  A.,  811,  380 

John,   nil.  849 

William  J..  880 
Greeley,  Caroline  < '■.,  266 

Horace,  245 
Green  Island  (village  and  town),  129    184 
Green  Island,  churches  of,  182,  \-'<-'< 

fire  department  oi .  181 

genesis  of,   129 

incorporation  of,  180 

list  oi  presidents  of  village  of,  to  the 
present  tune,  130 

manufactures  of,  182 


Green  Island,  newspaper-  of,   181 

police,  431 

public  improvements  at,  129 

schools  of,   131 

street  railways  and  railroads  in,    181, 
132 

town  of,  t33 
Green,  Powers  P..  369 
Greene,  Henry.  Dr.,  175,  200,  370 

ory,  Clifford  D. ,  143,  373 

David  I-:.,  :;<;* 

ge  Washington,  1  >: 

I  >.    II.,    Key..    125 

Gridley,  Philo,  117 
Griffin,  Abner  J.,  453 
Cass,  105 

Joseph  ('..  390 

R.  M..  246 

R.  M.  &  !•:.,  -247 
Griffith,  William  H.,  Dr.,   '."j; 

William  Herrick,  857,   362,  363 
Griggs,  Hiram,  528 
Groat,  Warner,  430 
Groenendyke,  Johannes,  1  15 
Groesbeck,  Edward  A.,  369 

John,  200 

Leonard  J.,  453 
Groetz,  Mr.  Key..  888 
Droot,  fohn,  66 
Groves,  Leslie  K.,  Rev.,  348 
Guardineer,  George  II..  :'>:D 
( ruest,  jr. .  I  [enry,  81 1 
Guilderland,  town  of,  514  528 

Altamout  village  in,  521   523 

Center,  520 

churches  of,  525  507 

1  tunnsville  in,  52  I 

early  manufacture  of  glass  at,  517 

early  stage  lines,   post    routes,  and 
wayside  taverns,  517,  518 

first  election  for  senator  and  assem- 
blyman in,  515 

first  town  meeting  and  town   ofl 
Of,  51  I 

fuller's  Station  in,  52  I 

••('■lass  House"  hamlet  in,  519 

list  of    families  in,    before  the    R< 
lution,  515 

list    of  licenses  to  sell  liquor  in.   the 
first  year  of   the    town's   exisl 
51  s 

list  of  residents  of.  in  1808,  qualified 

as  jurors.  515  .   in  Is".'  I,  516 
McKownsville  in,  525 
Meadow  I  'ale  in,  525 
natural  characteristics  of,  514 
newspapers  of,  528 
physicians  of, 


390 


Guilderland,  saw  mills  a  chief  industry 
in,  in  early  years,  518 

schools  of,  519 

settlement  in,  well   advanced  before 
the  Revolution,  515 

Station,  525 

supervisors  of,  527 
Gunnison,  Albert  C,  421 
Gutman,  John,  241,  393 
Hackett,  William  S.,  375 
Hagan,  Terrance  F.,  390 
Hagerman,   A.   Randolph   B.,   Rev.,  343 
Hair,  J.  O.,  109 
Hale,  Daniel,  268,  364 

Matthew,  164,  166,  167,  357 

William  H.,  266 
Hall,  Daniel,  403 

James,  Prof.,  251 

Lewis  B.,  166,  335 

Talmage.  83 

Uriah,  463 

William  P. ,  427 
Hallenbeck,  Matthew  J.,  371 
Halley,  Ebenezer,  Rev.,  410 
Halsey,   Frederick  Wals worth,   Dr.,  223 
Ham,  FredC,  335 
Hamilton,  Erastus,  531 
Hammond,  Aaron,  66 

Samuel  H.,  144 
Hand,  Samuel,  165,  278,  384 
Hanes,  Lodowick  and  Jacob,  530 
Hannah,  William,  142 
Hansen,  Hans,  322 

Hendric,  321 

Nicholas,  321 
Harmesen,  Johannes,  392 
Harper,  Robert,  144 
Harrington,  A.  W.  and  J.  H.,  423 
Harris,  Frederick,  278 

Hamilton,  144,  270,  369 

Ira,    116.    140;    sketch    of,    155;  164, 
200 

James  R.,  106 
Hart,  John  W.,  146 

Jonathan,  425 
Haskell,  William  H,  281 
Haskins,  Henry  R.,  Dr.,  181 
Hastings,  Hugh,  358 

Hugh  J.,  238,  239 

John,  238 

Seth,  368 
Haswell,  Henry  B.,  144,  334 

Joseph  M.,  420 

Justus,  142 

William  E.,  14.") 
Hatch  family,  the,  461 
Haverland,  William,  531 
Hawley,  Gideon,  96,  259,  266 


Hayes,  Thomas,  334 
Hazen,  Jasper,  Rev.,  246 

J.  T.,  246 
Hedrick  Brewing  Company,  the,  378 
Heemstraat,  Dirck  and  Charles,  409 
Heermans,  Rathbone  &  Co.,  311 
Hein miller,  Jacob,  241 
Helderbergs,  the,  2 
Helms,  Thomas,  Dr.,  178,523 
Hempstead,  Isaac,  145 
Hendrick,  James,  373 
Henly,  Edward,  238 
Henry,  John  G.,  Rev.,  338 

John   V.,    sketch  of,    148;    263,    265, 
266 

Joseph,  265 
Herrick,  D.  Cady,  141,  144,  167,  168 

Frank  Castle,  358,  373 
Hess,  John,  354 
Hessberg,  Albert,  375 
Higgins,  M.  E.,  390 

Solomon  F.,  144 
Hill,  David  B.,  318 

James,  240 

Nicholas,  sketch  of,  154 
Hillhouse,  Thomas,  404 
Himes.  J.  W.,  453 

Hinckle  Brewing  Company,  the,  378 
Hinckley,  Josiah,  530 
Hindman,  Rebecca  I.,  330 
llitt,  Galen  R.,  316 
Hoagkirk,  John,  65 
Hobbs.  C.  W.,  109 
Hochstrasser,  Jacob,  500,  502 
Hodgeman,  Timothy,  402 
Hoff,  Alexander  H,  105 
Hoffendahl,  Charles  Frederick,  Dr.,   214 
Hoffman,  Ernest,  Rev.,  338 

John  T.,  165,  270 

L.  G.,  244 
Hogan,  George,  65 

Henry,  65,  70 

William,  392 
Holland,  Almond,  332 

Edward,  322 

Henry,  145 
Holley,  Myron,  93 
Holmes,  Edwin,  Rev.,  337 

George,  Dr.,  531 

John  Ma,  Rev.,  348 
Holstein,  De  Coudrey,  245 
Home  for  Aged  Men,  410 
Hoogkirk,  John,  70 
Hooker,  Harold  L. ,  166 
Hoositt,  Gillis,  21 
Hopkins,  Charles  A.,  278 

Hiram,  428 

Hiram  M.,428 


391 


Home,  Charles  A.,  330 
Horrocks  &  Van  Benthuysen,   I  lii 
Horton,  Herman  Brownell,  Dr.,  220 
Hosford  &  Wait,  245 
Hospital,  St.  Peter's,  201 

the  Albany,  206 

the  Albany  City  Homoeopathic,  209 

the  Child's,  208 
Hotaling,  Andrew  F.,   Ill 

Jacob,  491 

John  M.,  401 

Lansing,  144,  373 
Houck,  James  A..  146 
Hourigan,  William  F.,  335 
House,  Joseph  S. ,  370 
Howard,  Natt  &  Co.,  311 

Mary  E.,  332 
Howe,  Bezaleel,  243 

Elliot,  Calvin,  Dr.,  232 

Samuel  B.,  330 
Hoyt,  Albert  Ellis,  358 

George  B.,  334 
Hubbard,  Murray,  437,  111.  152 
Hubbell,  Almerin,  Dr.,  505 
Huber,  J.  J.,  105 
Hudson,  Ephraim,  403 

Henry,  voyage  and  arrival  of,  1.' 

John,  83 

John  T.,  270 
H nested,  A.  B.,  Dr.,  L79 
Huestes,  David,  67 
Hughes,  John  J.,  390 
Hulbert,  Henry  S.,  L05,  L08 
Humphrey,  Friend,  200,  234 

William,  375 
Hun,  Leonard  <  '>.,  161 

Marcus  T.,  165,  166,  365,  374 

Thomas,  68,  174,  L82 

William.  65,  70 
Hunter,  Robert.  366.  370 

&  Huffman;  245 
Hunting,  Nelson,  Dr.,  221 
Hurlbut,  Elisha  P.,  14<> 
Hurley,  Father.  350 
Hurstville,  495 
Hussey,  Edward  J.,  369 
Husted,  Albert  N.,  Prof.,  358 
Hutchins,  Stephen  I      286 
Hutton,  Isaac,  366 

Timothy.  409 
Huyck,  Andries,  4.68 

John  S..   Mil 

Immigration,  three   distinct   sources  of, 

13 
Immigrants  brought  by  the  "  Endracht," 

no 

brought  by  the  ship  "  Unity,"  15 


Immigrants,  character  of  the,  under  the 

charter  system,  20,  '-21 
Incorporation  of  Albany,  and  of  Rensse- 
laerville,     Knoxville      and     Coeymans 
Academies,  ■-'■">'.i 
Indian  affairs,  management  oi    8 

Ids,  L83 
Indians,     commercial     relations    of     the 
I  hitch  with  the,  7 
efforts  to  secure  an  alliance  wit!;    18 
introduction  of  firearms  to  ti. 
religious  work  among  the,  7 
selling  liquor  to  the.   '.  1 
the  Iroquois.  ■">    ', 
troubles  with  the,  over  the    Property 

Line,  »il 
unfair  treatment  of  the,  '.»,  10 
Ingalls,  Jacob,  530 
Introduction  of  inoculation,  17"J 
Iroquois  Indians,  the,  5-7 

Jackson,  Allan  II  .  108 

( teorge  1 '. .  376 

J.  C,  243 

Michael,  74 

Mortimer  M  .  468 
Jails.  161    168 
James.  Edwin,  266 

William,  93,  94,  lit;,  :;;  I 
Jefferson,  Sylvanus  K.,  419 
Jenkins,  Charles  M.,  440 

Elisha,  96,  311,  323,  364 

Ira,  368 

Samuel.  401,  464 
Jeuney,  Edwin  S.,  105 
Jermain,  lames  1',.,  1 10,  125 

John  I'.,  245 

Sylvanus  P.,  :!74 
Jesuits,  tli'      i 
Jewett,  Freeborn  G.,  Rev.,  11 ! 

Jogues,   Father  Isaac,  description  of  Fort 

( (range  by,  43 
Johnson,  Alexanders..   117 
Edward  I'.,  Rev., 
Elisha,  ::il 
Guy    and    Sir      John,    disloyalty    of, 

71,  7-.' 
lames  I..  235,  278 
John  B.,  Rev.,  336 
Jonathan,  1  »r  ,  528 
3,  369 
Samuel    W..    I  F> 
William.  Sir,  and   the   Indians,    1766 

to  the  Revolution.  >'<■'■ 
William  IF.   . 
Johnston,  1  (avid  J.,  188,  158 

Robert.    153 
Jollev,   lames  W.,   . 


392 


Jones,   Charles  Edmund,    Dr.,   223,   316, 
335 

Erasmus  Darwin,  Dr.,  215 

John  H. ,  422 

John  M .,  422 

Margaret,  349 

Samuel  E.,  109 

Thomas  S.,  390 
Jorise,  Adrien,  15,  18 
Journalism  in  Albany  county,  233-252 
Judges,   list  of,   of   the  Supreme   Court, 

from  Albany  county,  140 
Judiciary,     the,    under     Dutch    domina- 
tion, 130-134 
Judson,  Albert  C,  145 

Albert  Lewis,  Capt,  358 

Edmund  L.,  278,  325,  376 

Ichabod  L. ,  370 

Kaestner,  Julius,  241 
Kane,  James,  93,  347 

P.  H.,  447 
Karner,  George  N.,  Rev.,  348 
Kauterivitz,  Albert,  Rev.,  355 
Kautz,  John,  335 
Kearney,  Thomas,  388 
Kearnan,  Thomas,  353 
Reefer's  Corners,  483 
Keeler,  Isaac  N.,  145 

William  H.,  14(3 
Keese,  William  Linn,  Rev.,  341 
Keeven,  Robert  F.,  108 
Keleher,  Timothy  D.,  335 
Kelly,  J.,  Rev.,  352 

Warren  S.,  334 
Kendrick,  E.  E.,  364,  367,  453 
Kenneally,  M.  H.,  105 
Kennedy,  Duncan,  Rev.,  336 

James,  109,  110 

J.,  109 

James  C,  372 

jr.,  Robert,  Dr.,  227 

Thomas,  447 
Kenney,   Cyrus,  428 
Kent,  James,  137,  140,  266 
Kenwood,  494 

Kerchewey,  George  W.,  166 
Ketcham,  Joel,  Rev.,  344 
Ketchum,  Jeremiah,  409 
Kettletas,  Abraham,  Rev.,  346 
Keyes,  Addison  A.,  238 
Keys,  Addison  A. ,  334 
Kidd,  Henry  M.,  363 

James,  273,  375 

William,  363 
Kieft,   seizure  of  the   'Arms  of  Rensse- 
laer wyck  "  by,  26 

William,  18 


Kieley,  Jeremiah,  316 
Kilduff,  Thomas,  448 
Kimball,  John  M.,  104 

Rodney  G.,  107 
Kimberly,  Henry,  428 
King  George's  war,  1744-1748,  58,  59 

Tames  M.,  100 

J.  Howard,  362,  365 

Rufus,  261,  278 

Rufus  H.,  316,  374 
Kingsley,  Hale,   105 

William  C,  270 
Kinney,  John,  83 

Kip,  William  Ingraham,  Rev.,  341 
Kirk,  Andrew,  378 

Edmund  N.,  Rev.,  348 

William,  378 
Kirkland,  Samuel,  Rev.  ,7 
Knap,  Reuben,  66 
Knapp,  G.  A.,  108 
Knauff,  C.  W.,  Rev.,  342 

John  G.,  Dr.,  173 
Knickerbacker,  James,  420 
Knoll,  Michael  Christian,  Rev.,  338 
Knowles,  Charles  R.,  363,  375 
Knower,  John,  375,  421 

Benjamin,  96,  366,  421 
Knox,  Edward  B.,  107 
Knox,  town  of,  537-544 

business  enterprises  of.  539 

churches  of,  542-544 

early  town   elections  and  town  offi- 
cers of,  537,  538 

erection  and  natural  characteristics 
of,  537 

hamlets  of,  542 

immigrants     from     New     England 
538,  539 

in  the  Rebellion,  541 

lists  of  prominent  families  of,  540 

paucity   of   information  concerning, 
before  the  Revolution,  538 

schools  of,  541 

supervisors  of,  544 
Krank,  G.,  109 
Krol,  Bastiaen  Jansen,  21 
Kurth,  Max,  241 
Kyle,  Thomas,  Rev.,  426 

Lacy,  William  B. ,  Rev. ,  340 
La  Grange,  Aries,  68 

Jacob,  66 
Laimbeer,  Francis  Effingham,  358 
Lamb,  Jehial,  530 

Robert  Brockway,  Dr. .  230 
Lamb's  Corners,  533 
Lamont,  Wilbur  Fiske,  Dr.,  230 
Lamoreaux,  George  C,  478 


393 


409 


Lamoreaux,  James,  143,  468 
Judson,  4.8 
William  J..  4. s 
Landon,  Henry  L.,  4;j 
Judson  S.,  166,  167 
Lansing,  Abraham    142  369 
Abraham,  Mrs.,  dbd 
Abraham  G.,  365 
Abraham  H.,  409 
Abraham  V.  P.,  109 
Abram.   138,   153 
Andrew  D.,  440,  453 
Charles  B. ,  '■'"  . 
Christopher,  65,  bi 
Douw  B.,  115 
E.  J.,  409 
family,  the,  398 
Francis,  409 
Gerrit,  402 
ir     Gerrit,  <»s 
Gerrit  L,  408,  409 
Gerrit  V.,  141,  374 
Henry  L.,  369 

Jacob  G.,  65 
Jacob  I.,  409 
Jacob  J.,  65,   '  ' 
James,  166 

Johannes,  409 

lohn    1  13,  265,  286 

r      Hrm   137,    140;  sketch  of, 
299,  323,  403 

John  A.,  66 

n;;v::r;~,is,is:;,:;:;. 

John  Y.  A.,  399 
1    V   S.,  453 
j.  Townsend,  316,  365 
L.evinus  T.,  65 
Obadiah,  66 
Peter,  406 
Lansingh  Peter  142 

Larabee  L.  b.,  wt 
Larkin,  John,  1« 
Latham,  Obadiab  B..27U 
Lathrop,  Raton    ;..  278 
Lautman,  John,  67 
LaValenure,  Rev.  Fatnei 
Lawrence,  George,  I-- 
lohn,  445 
'}.  I).,   "• 
I.  W.,  432 
Richard,  891 
Lawson,  Edward  S. 
Isaac,  344 
Joseph  A.,  ""  | 
bawton,  [srael,  1 12 


1  16; 


350 


140,    ill.    164   166,  334, 


266 


b.  247,  252 


Lawyer,  George,  358,  363 
La^°abWt!nd1J4osiah.Dr,.531 

Leak..  1    Q.,234 
Learned,  Bilhngs  P.,  371 

Edward,  420,  128 

Jacob,  373 

"William    L. 
335,371 
Lee,  George  C,  278,  373 

Noah,  372 

William,  108 
Lenox,  Lionel  U.,  106 
Leonard.  Edward  Cottrell 

Jacob,  373 
Le  Roy,  Alfred,  153 

W.  B.,  447 
Leslie.  Edward,  387 
Lester,  Charles  (  .,166 
Leversee.J.D    454 
Lewi,  Joseph    Dr.,  L88.&H 

Maurice  J..  Dr.,  166 
Lincoln.  Joseph,  461 
L  Independent,  (  ohoes,  145 
Lindsay,  lame-,  l  w 

J    H  ,*  238 
Linn,  William,  Rev.,  336 

Lipman,  Henry  W.,  334,  ...... 

Lishas  Kill,  406 
Litchfield,  Edwin,  144 
Littlefield,  D.  G.,378 

Henry  <      278,  378 

Stove  Company    61 1 
Livingston,  Edward, 144 

lohn  A.,  Rev.,  336 

Philirj    HI.  ;;:,v 

RobeYviH  ,285   286,321 

Robert  R     268 

Thomas,  366 

Walter,  143 
Lockrow.A  V.  B.109 
Lockwood,  Daniel,  i-i 
Lobdell,  Alexander  S     w< 

lame-.    125 

kichard  S  ,418 
Lodewick,  Johannes.  68 
Lodge,  Douglass.  100 

Loudonville,  108 
Loughren,  E  ra   ■•■  ■ 

John.  881 
Loveridee,  Cicero  898 

Lovett,  |ohn,  88,144 

Low".  James  S.,  D« 
,;,  Arthui 


304 


Ludlow,  John,  Major,  359 

John,  Rev.,  336 
Lush,  Richard,  142,  144,  360,  365 

Stephen,  311,  381,  403 

Samuel  S. ,  144 
Lutheran  churches,  337-339 
Lydius,  Johannes,  Rev.,  336 
Lyon,  James  B. ,  316 
Lynch,  John  IL,  335 

McAvenue,  Owen  Frank,  Dr.,  230 
McCall,  Henry  S.,  165,  261 

John  A.,  335 
McCannon,  Edward,  381 

William,  381 
McCann,  Patrick,  316 
McCarthy,  A.  Elizabeth,  329 
McCarty,  Uavid,  143 

Peter,  448 
McClellan,  C.  C,  109 
McClelland,  W.,  Dr.,  172,  173 
McCloskey,  John,  Rt.  Rev.,  267,  351 
McClure,  Archibald,  316,  384 

Archibald  Jermain,  362 

Elizabeth,  Mrs.,  11 0 

Tames  H.,  410 

William  H.,  362 

William  H.,  Mrs.,  363 
McCredie,  James,  391 

Thomas,  378 
McCulloch,  Charles,  109 

W.  S.,  244 
McDermott,  J.  G.,  108 

Timothy,   104 
McDonald,   Hugh  J.,  334 

John,  242 

John,  Rev.,  265,  349 
McDougal,  William,  343 
McDuffie,  An^us,  145 
McElroy,  John  E.,  375 

Thomas,  200 

William  H.,  318,  320 
McEwen,  John,  145,  279 

John  S.,  363 

S. ,  109 
McFarland,  James,  inc. 

Mary  B.",  331 
McFarlane,  Andrew,  167 

James,  239,  246 
McGlashan,  Daniel,  244 

James,  244 
McGough,  Father,  354 
McGown,  James,  102 
McGuire,  Francis  J.,  Father,  354,  355 

John,  109,  111 
McHarg,  Henry  K.,  :'.ii."> 

William,  96,  SI  I 

William  C,  334 


Mclntyre,  Archibald,  93,  265 

James,  279 
McKelvey,  S.  C,  Rev.,  236,  349 
McKenna,  John,  334 
McKinnev,  Edward  N.,  365 

Edward  M.,  381 

James,  375 

James  &  Son,  377 
McKinley,  jr.,  William,  167 
McKissick,  Stewart,  334 
McKnight,  John,  375,  378 

John  T.,  278 
McKown,  James,  107 

James  A.,  142 

James  Francis,  Dr.,  220 

William  James,  Dr.,  232 
McKownsville,  525 
McLachlan,  David  M.,  Dr.,  201 
McLeod,  C.  A.,  432 
McNamara,  John  W. .  393 
McNaughton,  James,  Dr  ,  174,370,  375 
McNeirny,   Francis,  Rt.  Rev.,  352,  354 
McPherson  &  McKercher,  244 
McOuade,  James,  390 

P.  H.,  332 
McShane,  Arthur,  390 
Mabey,  Stephen  and  Solomon,  530 
MacDonald,  Willis  G,  Dr.,  196 
MacFarlane,  Andrew,  Dr.,  196 
Machin,  Thomas,  403 
Magee,  I.,  Rev.,  338 

James,  66 
Maher,  Edward  A.,  161,  325 

James,  375 

William  T-,  335 
Mahoney,   D.,  Rev.,  350 
Maley,  John,  364 
Mallory,  Edward,  427 
Mancius,  G.  W.,  Rev.,  169,  273 

Jacob,  145,  273 

W.,  Dr  ,  172,  173 
Maney  &  Ward.  311 
Mangan,  Joseph  H.,  Father,  353 
Manhattan  Island,  purchase  of,  by  Gov- 
ernor Minuit,  17 
Mann,  John,  526 

Joseph,  373 

Thomas  Henry,  Dr.,  221 
Manning,  Daniel,  235,  368,  369 

James  H.,  316,  325,  369 

John,  Capt.,  46,  145 
Mansfield,  W.  K.,  454 
March,  Alden,  Dr.,  174,  182,  183,  200,  206 

Henry,  Dr.,  183 
Marcy,  William  L.,  88 
Marrow,  Joseph  P.,  334 
Marselis,  Guysbert  G,  68 

Henry,  73 


395 


Marselis,  John  B. ,  74 

Nicholas,  65 
Marsh,  Witham,  144 
Marshall,  Francis,  66,  105 

J.  V.,  881 

&  Wendell  Manufacturing  Co.,  :isi 
Martin,  Frederick  L. ,  278 

Henry  H.,  369,  374,  375 

James,  369,  374 

James,  Rev.,  349 
•      Robert  C. ,  372 

William  K.,  390 
Marvin,  Alexander,  365 

Richard,  368 

Selden  E.,  Gen.,  343,  363,  373 

Selden  E.,  Mrs.,  363 

jr.,  Selden  E.,  363 

Uriah,  347 

William,  96 
Mason,  James  W.,  265 

John,  425 
Masten,  Edson  Wyckoff,  Dr.,  227 
Mather,  Andrew  E.,363 

F.  W.,  109 

Thomas,  365 
Matthews,  Frederick,  266 

William  II.,  105 
Mattimore,  Frank  J.,  Dr.,  180 
Maverick,  Samuel,  45 
Mayer,  F.  G.,  Rev.,  338 

James,  273 
Meadow  Dale,  525 
Meads,  Orlando,  164,  34:3,  372 
Mears,  David  <>..  Rev.,  348 
Medical  College,   Albanv,   list  of  faculty 
of  the,  202  205 

profession   from  settlement    to   18 
168-172 

profession,     monuments    to    the,    in 
Albany,  210 

profession,  services  rendered  by  the, 
duringthe  Rebellion.  182,  183 

Society,  the  Albany,  185   L99 

Society,  the  Albanv,  list  of  officers  of, 
L97-199 

Society,    the   Albany,    publication   of 
the  transactions  of,  195 

Society,  the  Albany  County  I  [omi 
pathic,211  232 

societies,     authorization     of,    b\ 

Legislature,  184 

treatment  and  care,  want  of,  in  early 
days,    His 
Medusa,  468 
Meegan,  Edward  J.,  816 
Megapolensis,    fonannes,   Rev.,  169,255, 

886 
Meneely,  Andrew,  421 


Meneely,  Andrew  II.,   L22 

Charles  D.,  422 

Edwin  A..  121 

George  R.,  lis.  |-.-.> 
Menand's,  W7 
Merchant,  George,  142,  l  1 1,  263,  366 

Lansing,  37  1 
Merrill,  C.  S.,  373 
Merriam,  Harmon  X.,  Ill 

John  (),,  432 
Merrifield,  Richard,  278 
Merriman,   Harmon  L.,  116 
Merritt,  Edwin  A.,  270 
Merwin,  Samuel,  Rev.,  265 
Mey,  Cornelius  Jacobson,  13,  15,  18 
Mexican  war,  the,  101,   102 
Miggael   August 
Milbank,  William  Edward,  Dr. 
Military  notes  and  resolutions  of ,  1776    73 

events  of  1776,  71 
Militia,  state  of  the,  in  1693,  5  I 

list  of  names  of,  from  Albanv  county, 
88-90 
Miller,  Andries,  67 

A teh i son,  523 

Christian,  31  1 

Christopher  C,  73 

George  W.,  138 

Henry.  Rev..  337 

Horace  Curran.    223 

Isaac,  66 

fohannes,  66 

Lewis  J.,  391 

Richard,  1  l"> 

Rodnev,  458 

William  H.,  107 

William  A.,  Rev.,  265 
Mills.  Charles  Hood,  :;:,s 

John,  Col     88 
Miln,  fohn,  Rev.,  340 
Milne,"  William  |..  267 
Mink,  (I.  orge  1  "  .  890 
Minuit,  Peter,  is 
Mitchell,  Charles  B  ,   106 

Isaac,  '-'  12 

James  II.,   138,    111 

Mix.  fames,  873,  876 

William.  III. 
Moak,  Nathaniel  C. .   Ml.   166 
Moeller,  Henry,  Rev.,  888 

Moir,  lames,  843 
Moffitt,  Robert,  284 
Mohawks, 

Montague,   fohannes  de  la,  Dr.,  169 

Moore'.  Apo'llos,  1  18,  461,  536 

David,  I 
lames,  : 
James  W.,   Dr..   L76 


396 


Moore,  Jonathan  O.,  105 

Levi,  Dr.,  183 

Norman  H.,  109 

Robert  H.,  145 

Thoroughgood,  Rev.,  339 

William,  453 
Morange,  William  D.,  278,  320 
Morgan,  Ephraim,  404 

James  H.,  110 

John,  392 

Mary,  330 

William,  335 
Morrill,  LinzeeT.,  335 
Morris,  Alexander,  101 

James,  335 

John  A.,  109,  110 

Lewis  O.,  109,  110 

Richard,  136 

Robert,  Dr.,  108 
Morrison,  Alexander,  430 

George  H.,  448 
Morton,  Levi  P.,  Mrs.,  363 
Mosher,  Alfred,  418 

Cornelius  D.,  335 

George  B.,  418 

Jacobs.,  Dr.,  176,  278,  334 

J.  Montgomery,  Dr.,  196 
Moss,  E.  S.,  109 
Mott.  Albert,  Dr.,  231 
.Mount,  J.  F.,  109 
Moussart,  Touissaint,  21 
Mowrv,  Le  Roy,  371 
Mulcahy,  Patrick  M.,  390 
Mulholland,  H.,  105 
Mull,  Abraham,  432 

John  C,  390 
Mullens,  R.,  109 
Munchausen,  L. ,  241 
Munger,  B.,  107 
Munro,  Harvey,  Rev.,  340 
Munsell,  Joel,  244,  245 
Munson,  Samuel  Lyman,  358,  376 
Murphy,  Elijah  Warrener,  358,  362 
Murphy  2d,  Edward,  236 

John  H.,  &  Co.,  449 

Joseph  M.,  109 

P.  M.,  Dr.,  179 

Robert  W. ,  468 
Murray,  David,  Dr.,  265 
Myer,  Frederic  G.,  Rev.,  265 
Myers,  John  G.,  371,  375,  385 

Nash,  Willis  G.,  365 

Nead,  Will  Melangchton,  Dr.,  229 

Neef,  Jacob,  Rev.,  337 

Neil,  jr.,  John,  335 

Nellis.  William  Jacob,  Dr.,  358 

Nelson,  Arnold,  200 

New    Amsterdam,  surrender   of,  45 


Newcomb,  George  W.,  Dr.,  109,  179 
New  Hampshire  Grants,  story  of  the,  82 
New  Netherlands  Company,  the,  14 

comparative  population  in  1647  and 
1664,  45 
Newman,  Charles,  359,  375 

John  L,  106,  363,  453 
Newspapers,  list  of  defunct,  241-247 

miscellaneous  minor,  241 
New  Salem,  549 
New  Scotland,  town  of,  545-557 

Collanan's  Corners  in,  553 

churches  of,  554 

Clarksville  village  in,  550 

early  physicians  of,  554 

Feura  Bush  hamlet  in,  552 

immigrants  between  1775  and  1800, 
548 

influence  on  immigration  by  the 
establishment  of  mills  at  Clarksville 
by  the  Slingerlands,  548 

legal  struggle  over  title  to,  546 

list  of  natives  of,  who  have  become 
prominent,  548 

list  of  Scotch,  Irish,  and  English  im- 
migrants, 548 

New  Salem  village  in,  549 

Onesquetha  in,  552 

pioneers  of  546-548 

schools  of,  549 

Slingerland's  Mohawk  died,  547 

supervisors  of,  549 

topography  and  natural  characteris- 
tics of,  545 

Fnionville  hamlet  in,  552 

Scotland  village,  551 

villages  and  hamlets  of,  549-553 

Voorheesville  village  in,  553 

Wolf  Hill  post-office  in,  552 
Newton,  John  M.,  320,  410 
Newtonville,  406 
New  York  State  Library,  274-275 

surrender  of,   to   the    Dutch    in 
1673,  46 

the  name  of,  succeeds  New  Am- 
sterdam, 45 
Neubauer,  Francis,  Father,  354 
Nicholson,  James  D.,  245 
Nicoll,  Francis,  65 
Nicolls,  Rensselaer,  135,  143 

Richard,  Col.,  45,  46 
Niel,  William,  Rev.,  265 
Niewenhuvsen,  William,  Rev.,  336 
Niles,  Addison  C,  468 

Jonathan,  66 

Stephen,  66 
"Nine  Men,"  the,  under  Stuyvesant,  133 
Niver,  J.  Fenimore,   Dr.,  220 
Noble,  George  Everett,  Dr.,  232 


397 


Noble,   Henry  Harmon,  359,  362,  363 

Henry  Harmon,  Mrs.,  362 
Nodine,  Joslin,  478 
Noethen,  Theodore,  Father,  353,  35  t 
Nolan,  Michael  N.,  161,  316,  325 
Noonan,  Thomas,  375 
North,  William,  92,  403 
Northern    Inland   Lock  and    Navigation 

Co. .  403 
Norton,   John   Treadwell.    359,   365,   366, 

375 
Normansville,  493 
Nott,  Eliphalet,  Dr  .  'ill:; 

H.,  &  Co.,  377 

JobnC,  143,  ::]<;,  393 
Noxon,  Alfred    372 
Noyes,  Robert  L.,  370 
Nucella,  Johannes  Petrus.Rev..  336 
Nusbaum,  Myer,  393 
Nuttall,  J.  A.,  449 

William,  448 

Oathout,  Volkert  D.,  4-24 
O'Brien,  M.  T.,  448 

Rev.  Father,  350 

Thomas  S..   332 
Ogilvie,  John,  Rev.,  340 
O'Gorman.  Father,  :>><) 
Ogsbnry,  John  D.  and  Junius  1>..  523 
O'Kaue,  H.,  245 
Olcott,  Dudley.  315,  W>.  :'.<;7,  375,  1H) 

Egbert,  420 

John  J.,  367 

Theodore,  360 

Thomas,  367 

Thomas  W.,  LOO,  109,   1H4.   276,    281, 
366,  367,  375 
O'Leary,  Cornelius  B.,  Dr.,  104,  180 

D.  V.,  Dr.,  '273,  334,  335 
Oliver,  George  E.,  278 

John  H.,  384 

Robert  Shaw,  Gen.,  363 
Olmsted,  Charles  A.,  436,  458 

Francis    4  11 

F.  Law,  '270 
Onderkerk,  Abraham,  409 

Isaac  and  Andrew,  409 
O'Neil.  James.   I  Is 
Onisquethau,  552 
<  )otliout,  Abraham,  408,  105 

Jonas,  4-21 
Oothoudt,  jr.,  Henry,  65 

Henry,  142 

Volckert,  67 
Orelup,  jr.,  William,    152 
Orr,  William  E.,  109,  110 
Osborne,  A.  Melvin,  His 
Ostrom,  Henry,  65,   W2 


Ostrom,  John.  '.'1 

Louisa,  266 
I tstander,  jr.,  John.  1  15 
( Htenhaus,  Father,  358 

Packard,  D.   1'...  &  Co..  236 

Robert,  243 
Page,  David  IV.  261 

l-:.,  4. Mi 

Isaiah,  &  Sou,  :\] ', 

Tamar,  '■'<  19 

William  B.,  371 
Paige,  John  Keyes,  324,  ■'<•<•.  382 
Paine,  Clarence  Maun.  Dr.,  229 

Henry  1  Jclavan.  "21.") 

I  [ora(  -■  Mansfield,  I  >r.,  216 

Howard  Simmons,  Dr.,   227 

John  Alsop,  Dr..  216 

Nathaniel  Emmons,  Dr.,  224 
Palmer,  Amos  P..  369,  371,  ::7r, 

Benjamin.  465 

E.  De  L..  375 

John.  363 

John  E.,  '■>'•'* 

Potter  4(i'.t 

Ray,  Rev..  355 
Parker.' Alton  B.,    166    L68 

Amasa  [.,  1  in.  164    166,  '277 

jr.,  Amasa  J..  236,  245,  278,  316.   320 

James,  286 

jason,  early  stage  proprietor,  91 

'Lewis  R.,  161 

Robert,  :;:ll 
Parmelee,  William.  148,  324 
Parr,  Harris.  1  16 

John  J..  239 
Parsons,  jr..   (ames  Russell.  :'■">'.• 

jr.,  John  D.,  359,  370 

J    H.,  448 

P.  Sprague,  266 

Samuel.    I  18 

S.  II..  '.mi; 

Sylvanus  II.  II..  398 
I 'at.  Inn.  Aaron  I  >..  865 
Patroon   and    New   Amsterdam   authori- 
ties, serious  strife  between,  '21 
death  of  the  fust,  28 
rental  system  of  tb< 
system,  the.  opposed  to  individual 
enterprise,  .'  I 
Patroons,  extravagant  demands  of  the. 
24 

privileges  and  powers  of  the.  20 
fatten.  Moses,  1  12,  508,  506 

son,  J.  M ..  246 
Pattoo,  Henry,  891 

e,  1.  Lansing,  Rev  .  191 
Pease,  Joel,  66 


398 


Peck    Bernard,  Rev.,  338 
Peckham,  John  [ay,  Dr.,  225 

Peleg,  Dr.,  531 

Rufus  W..  140,    141,    144;  sketch   of, 
156;  382,  461,  468 

jr.,  Rufus W.,  144,  315 
Peltz,  John  De  Witt,  359,  375 

J.  DeWitt.,  Mrs  ,  363 
Penio,  Zenas,  403 
Perry,  Eli,  109,  325,  370 

Eli,  Mrs.,  349 

Nathan  B.,  369 

SanfordS.,  122 

Stove  Co.,  877 
Perkins,  George  R.,  '267 
Petersen,  A.  M.,  Rev.,  350 
Pettit,  F.,  109 
Phelps,  I.  Arthur,  421 

Philip,  395 
Philip  Livingston  Chapter  of  the  Sons  of 

the  Revolution,  356-362 
Philips,  Wilhelmus.  73 
Phillips,  Edwards,  335 

John  Peter,  107 

Samuel,  424 
Phinney,  Elihu,  403 
Phisterer,  Fred,  8U8 
Pierce,  George  William,  359 
Pierson,  Charles  II.,  105 
Pilsbury,  Amos,  '2 is 

Louis  D.,  279 
Pinkerton,  Robert,  432 
Pitkin,  Thomas  C,  Rev.,  340 
Pitts,  David  Wesley,  Dr.,  230 
Planck,  Jacob  Albertsen,  135 
Piatt,  Ananias,  83 

Charles  Z.,  311 

E.  E.,  280 
Plumb,  Josiah  B.,  365,  372 
Plympton,  Lucy  A..  266 
Pohlman,  Henrv  N.,  Rev.,  335 
Pomfret,  J.ames  1).,  Dr.,  109,  176 
Pomeroy,  Mary  Almeda  Garrison,   Dr., 

Population  of  county  and  city    in    1850, 
102 

of  countv  and  city  in  1860  and  1870, 
103 
Porter,  Charles  H.,  Dr.,  178,  196 

Giles  W.,  366 

James,  365 

Nathan,  422 
Post-office,  the,  272-274 
Potter,  Asahel,  427 

Elipolet  N.,  165 

Henrv  S.,  Rev.,  350 

Hollow,  464 

Horatio,  Rev.,  340 


Powell,  C.  F.,  &Co.,  245 
Pratt,  James  H.,  365,  376 

John  H.,  101 

Lester  Marcus,  Dr.,  218 

Ralph,  96 
Preisser,  Stephen  A.,  Father,  354 
Prentice,  Ezra  P.,  368 
Preston,  Henrv  Green,  Dr.,  222 

Hollow,  463 

Samuel,  Dr.,  463 
Prescott,  Benjamin,  381 
Pretty,  Richard,  48,  145,  286 
Price'  John,  65,  68,  70 

Joseph  H.,  Rev.,  341 
Priest,  John  E.,  445 
Prince  <*  Ott,  877 
Proctor,  Redfield,  167 
Prosser,  Jonathan,  Dr.,  530,  531 
Province,  the,  divided  into  twelve  coun- 
ties, 48 
Provoost,  Johannes,  145 
Pruyn,  Amasa  Parker,  Mrs.,  363 

Augustus,  Col.,  359 

Casparus,  65 

Francis,  109 

Hybertie  L.,  Miss,  363 

John  Van  Schaick  Lansing,  Col., 
LOO,  109,  267.  270,  277,  359,  369,  370, 
375 

Lansing,  375,  388 

Robert  Clarence,  161.  316,  359,  368, 
369.  878 

Robert  H.,  200;  sous  of,  276;  278, 
368.  369,  375,  877 

Samuel,  87") 
Public  improvements  at  the  close  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  83 

improvements  during  the  Rebellion 
period,  113 
Pulling,  Henry  P.,  871 
Pumpelly,  Harmon,  374,  453 

John  Hollenback,  359 
Pulver,  Peter,  481 

Ouackenbush,  Henry,  65 

II.  S.,245 

John  P.,  6.") 

J.  V.  P.,  Dr.,  175 

Nicholas  N.,  143,  268 
Quay.  Paul,  111 

<  ) ween  Anne's  War,  1702-1711,  55-57 
Ouinby,  John  H.,  316 
Quinn,  Arthur  C,  334 

James,  378 

&  Nolan.  378 

Railroads,  97-Sfl,  103,  104,  119    120 
Ramsey,  George,  72 


300 


Randall,  S.  S.,  251 

Randel,  William  Henry,  Dr.,  317 

Ranken,  David  M.,   I48 

Henry  S.,  448 
Ransom,  Albion,  372 

E.  I).,  &  Co.,  371 

Samuel  H.,  315 
Rapalje,  Sarah,  the  first  white  child  bom 

in  New  Netherlands,  l<» 
Rathbone,  Clarence,  363 

Jared  L.,  324 

John  F.,  Gen.,  109,  377 

Lieutenant,  88 

Sard&  Co.,  37? 

&  Silliman,  311 
Kavena  (Coeymans  Junction),  480 
Raymond,  A.  V.  V.,  166,  167 
Read,   Harmon    Pumpeliv,    Major,    '.'  Is 
360,  363 

John  B.,  109,  L10 

John  Meredith,  Gen.,  359,  360 

M.  H.,  372,  373 
Reddy,  William  F.,  335 
Reed,  George  W.,  106 

Rufus,  Dr.,  223 
Reese,  David  M.,  Dr.,  201 

Livingston,  Rev..  342 
Redfield,  Lewis  II.,  236 
Reidsville,  509 
Reillv,  Hugh,  144 
Reile'y.  John,  4 is 
Regents  of  the  University,  '.'">1 
Regiment,  National  Guard,  Tenth,  106 

N.  V.  Volunteers,  Third,   105 

N.  Y.  Volunteers,  Forty-third,  !<».') 

N.  V.  Volunteers,  Forty-fourth 
("People's  Regiment"),  L07 

X.  Y.  Volunteers,  Ninety-first.   101 

N.  V.  Volunteers,  (  »ne  Hundred  and 
Seventy-seventh,  106 

N.  Y.  Vols.,  One  Hundred  and  Ninty- 
second,  1  H> 

X.  Y.  State  Militia,  Twenty-fifth,  104 

One      Hundred      and      Thirteenth 
(Seventh  X.  Y.  Vol.  Artiller 
Remonstrance  sent  by  the  patroon  to  the 

Amsterdam  Chamber,  39 
Remsen,  Peter,  111 
Renshaw,  Alfred  II.,  182 
Rensier,  John.  461 
Rensselaerville,  town  of ,  nil    172 

churches  of,  167 

first  settlers  of,  461     169 

first  town  meeting  and  town  officers 
of,  467 

list  of  occupants  and  actual  first  ten- 
ants, underthe  patroon,  in,  469   172 

notes  of,  from  Cockbum's  map.   166 


Rensselaerville,  organization  of,  465 
prominent  natives  of,  168 
Schoharie  Turnpike  Co.,    168 

3  of,  162 
supervisors,  l'is 

topography  and  early  roads  of,   165 
troubles  with  the  Indians  in,  467 
villages  and  hamlets  of,    Mi:;    it;:, 
village,    Hi  I 
Rensselaerwyck,  copartners  of,  21 
Rental  system  of  the  patroon,  28 

145 
Revere,  jr.,  William  II..  in; 
Revolution,  close  of  the,  81 
Revnold,   Jared,  •">:',! 

'  John  II..  ::71 
Reynolds.  Marcus  T.,  sketch  of,  150 
Margaret  Jackson.  I  >r., 
Porter  Lafayette,    Dr.,    180,  221    :;:;! 
William.  :;:;:. 
Rice   Alexandei   I '.,  Ill 
James  ('. .  107 
ih  'I'..  374 
Will, an.  A      r. 
William  Gorham,  Col.,  860 
William  Gorham,  Mrs.,  363 
Richards,  Aaron,  Rev.,  346 

Seth,  244 
Richardson.  Henry.  270 

Leonard  Woods,  Rev.,  360 
Richmond,  Adelbert  <'..,  360 

Charles  A..   Rev..  ::i- 
Ricketts,  Palmer  C,   132 
Rivers  and  stream- 
rts,  James  A. , 
Robertson,  Alexander    and   James,    pub- 
tishersof  the  first  newspaper  in  Albany 
nty,  288 

es  A..  Dr.,  171 
Robinson,  Alberl  I  >..  l  L3 

■   1 1  .  830,  863 
Rockefeller,  Henry  ( >scar,  Dr 
Rockwell.  Lewis  II..  382 
ers,  James,  108 
William  C,  431 
Rot  lautsen,  Adam,  schoolmaster, 
Rolf,  Frederick,  102 
Rogers,  Alberl 

le/.er  P,  .    Rev 
II.    X., 

James  C,   105 
,\      1  12 

Romaine,  B.  1-  .  248 

Ronan,  I  >.  A.,  :.'.'ti 
Rooker,  Myron  II 
Rooney,  James.  146 
Roorbach,  John.  68 

i,  Cornelius,  Dr.,  1 72 


400 


Root,  Andrew  J.,  447 

Arthur  Guernsey,  Dr.,  360 

Josiah  G.,  447,  452 

Lyman,  865 
Roseboom,  Jacob,  68 

Myndert,  71 
Rosendale,  Simon  W.,  316,  369 
Rosenthall,  Mitchell,  455 
Roy,  James,  420,  421 

John  F.,  421 

Peter,  421 
Rudd,  William  P.,  278,  334,  335 
Rudder,  William,  Rev..  342 
Ruggles,  Charles  H.,  117, 
Rundell,  Darius,  536 

Isaac.  531 
Runkle,  Henry,  402 
Ruso,  James  M.,  334,  335 
Russell,  Edwin  B.,  Rev.,  342 

Henry,  381 

Joseph,  96,  266,  347,  366 

Thomas,  374 
Ruyckman,  Albert,  286 
Ryckman,  Albert,  378 

Sabin,  Charles  H  ,  373 
Sage,  Dean,  360 
St.  Agnes  School,  268 
St.  John,  Adam,  580 
St.  Peter's  Hospital,  207 
Salisbury,  Nelson  H.,  365 
Sands,  William,  440 
Sanders,  Bar  net  B.,  334 

George,  110 

Robert,  135,  143,  322 

William  N.  S.,  373 
San  ford,  Giles,  370 

Henry  T.,  335 

Roscoe  Conkling,  360 
Sanger,  William  Cary,  360 
Sard,  Grange,  360,  369,  373,  377 
Saunders,  Joseph  S.,  Rev.,  426 

William  M.  S.,  376 
Sawyer,  William,  410 
Sayles,  Alexander,  834 
Schaets,  Gideon,  336 
Schaus,  Hendrick,  66 
Scherer,  Robert  G.,  335 
Schermerhorn,  Daniel,  66 

Jacob  C,  60 

Luke,  66 
Schlesinger,  Max,  Dr.,  355 
Schnell,  William,  506 
Schnellendrussler,  H.  F.,  Rev.,  337 
School  purposes,  sale  of  public  lands  for, 
258 

system,  founding  of  the,  258,  259 
Schoolcraft,  John  L.,  368 


Schoolmaster's  wages  in  1644,  254 
Schools,  efforts  and  measures  on  the  part 
of  the  mayor  and  common  council  to 
promote  the,  256,  257 

free,    the    long-drawn     battle      for, 
260-263 

in  Albany  county  in  1820,  number  of 
common,  260 

instructions  of  Gov.  Dongan  concern- 
ing, 256 

legislative  action  in   "An  Act  for  the 
Encouragement  of  Schools,"  258 

the    Lancasterian   system  of,  in  Al- 
bany, 264 
Schoppe,  Bernard,  Father,  354 
Schout-fiscal,  the,  154 
vSchrodt,  Michael,  241 
Schurr,  C,  109 
Schurtz,  John,  67 
Schuyler,  Abraham,  68 

David,  145,  286,  321 

Hermanus  P.,  145 

Jeremiah,  404 

Johannes,  321 

jr.,  John,  322,  424 

John  C,  420,  425 

Myndert,  322 

Nicholas,  Dr.,  170 

Peter,   56,   57,   65,   135,  143,  285,  286, 
321,  338.  342,  397 

Peter  P.,  66,  137 

Peter  S. ,  65,  424 

Philip,  63,  71,  92,  263,  397 

Philip    Pieterse,    and    the    Indians, 
7,  8,  36 

Philip  S.,  425 

Stephen,  66 

Stephen  J.,  67 

Thomas,  345,  372 
Schwartz,  Charles  William,  Dr.,  229 
Scott,  John,  65 

Theodore  L.,  371 
Scoville,  Ebenezer,  419 
Scudder,  Myron  Tracey,  360 
Seegers,  John  C,  Rev.,  339 
Seeley,  William  Wesley,  Dr.,  224 
Sedgwick,  Robert,  347 
Seitz,  Eugene,  432 
Selden,  Edward  G.,  Rev.,  337 

Henry  R.,  117 
Selkirk,  495 
Senrick,  Charles,  334 
Settle,  Jacob,  504,  506 
Settlement,  inauguration  in  1629  of  plans 
for  permanent,  20 

the,  in  1646,  28 
Settlements,   condition   of   the,  in    1640, 
22  note 


401 


Settlers  in  1640,  three  classes  of,  22 
Sever,  Jonathan,  <!7 
Seymour,  George  II.,  422 

William,  200 
Shafer,  Benjamin,  McE.,  -4:>l 

Ira,  144 
Shaffer,  A.  Webster,  107 
Shaler,  Peter  M.,  Ill 
Shanklaud,  William  J.,  381 
Shannon,  William,  109 
.Sharp,  George,  <>7 

Martinus,  <>7 

Peter,  67 
Sharts,  John,  246 
Shaw,  Joseph,  Rev. ,  265 

Joshua,  65 

Royal,  261 

Samuel,  67 

William,   111 
Shay,  Daniel,  Capt,  462 
Sheehan,  William  F.,  426 
Sheldon,  ( raylor,  370 
Shepanl,  A.D.,  372 

Charles  T.,  278 

Sylvester  B. ,  108 
Shepardson,  John,  ',  I 
Sheriffs,  145,  146 
Sherman,  S.  H.  &  E.  J.,  4S0 

Watts,  369,  375 
.Sherwood,  John  E. .  332 
Shiland,  Andrew,  Rev.     265 
Shine,  J.  II..  448 
Shoemaker,  Angus  McDuffie,  335,  361 

James  Duncan,  362 
Shotwell,  John,  96 
Shreve,  Richmond,  Rev.,  343 
Shrirapton,  Thomas,  128 
Siiultes,  Matthias.  502 
Shutte,  John,  schoolmaster,  255 
Sickles,  "A  ,    L09 

Hiram  E.,  165,  166.  385 
Sidney,  John  Jost.  ',  I 
Sieze,  Emanuel,  Dr.,  21  I 
Sill,  Francis  N. 

James  M. ,  452 

John,  371,  152 
Silliman,  ( reorge  I  >  .  Rev.,  :'.  12 

11.  I',..   158 
Silvester,  Peter,  68 
Simmons,  Daniel.  449,    152,    153,  506 
Simpson,  Mary  A.    332 
Sisson,  Nor]  E  .  378 
Siston,  Michael,  1  15 
Skill",  Charles  Herbert,  Dr.,  215 
Skinner,  C.  R.,  Capt.  .  B8 

E.  W.,  242 
Slaughter    of   the    Brice    and    Deitz   fam- 
ilies m  Berne,  during   the    Revolution, 
500,  501 
fi 


Sleicher,  John  A.,  238 
Slingerland,  Abraham,  65 
Alberl  I.,  193 

Cornelius  II.,  361,   193 

Tennis,  398   546 

William  II.,  281,   192 
Slingerlands,  492 
Smallie,  G.  B.,  109 
Smart,  William  S.,  Rev..  355 
Smith,  Charles,  Father,  351 

Charles  K..   165,  238    266 

Cornelius,  373 

E.  Willard,  109 

Henry,  HI 

Horace  E.,  165,  166 

Israel,  96,  365 

John,  Rev.,  346 

M.  J..  245 

P.  J".,  Father,  354 

Sebastian    163 

Theodore  D.,  373 

William  S.,  453,   I- I 
Smithwick,  John,  Dr.,  220 
Smyth,  fohn  F.,  273 
'Charles  P..  278 
Snider,  Lodowick,  l>7 
Sniper   <  iustavus  C,  363 
Sniveiv,  Thaddeus  A.,  Rev.,  342 

William  A.,  Rev.,  341,  342 
Snow,  Horatio  X.,  375 

Norman  L.,  Dr.,  17s 
Soil  of  Albany  county,  I 
Son-  of  the  Revolution,  Philip  Livii.. 

Chapter  of  th« .  356  362 
South  Berne,  509 

Bethlehem,  492 

Westerlo,  532 
Southwick,  Arthur  ( 

Solomon,  l  15,  242  245,  273,  366 
Speer,  William  McMurtie,  236 
Spence,  John,  45  l 
Spencer,  Ambrose,  1 1".  825 

jr.,  Ambrose,  vv 

Asa  I!.,  '.tii 

John,  '.mi.  :;;i 

John  C  ,  sketch  of.  151;  206,  -.''i" 
SpolVord,  Horatio  Gates,  243,  248 
Spooner,  fohn  Alden,  Re>  .  342 

Spoor.  Charles  T.    F.,   Hi  I    166 
Sprague,  William  I'.uell,  R<  v  ,841 
Sprecher,  S.  P..  Rev  .  388 
Springsteed,  David,  Dr  .  21*3 

Edward  A-    109   110 
Squires.  N.  H..    182 
Staats.  Abraham,  surgeon,   169 

Ban  m.  65 

■     Dr..  174,  201,  324 

Charles  P.,  |s| 

'  ictlct,    1  I 


402 


Staats,  Henry,  65,  70 

Joachim,  286 

Nicholas,  66 

Philip,  66 
Stackhouse,  George  W. ,  108 
Stafford,  Spencer,  366 
Stage  lines,  91 
Staley,  Bowen,  335 
Stanton,  Charles  H.,  278 

George  W.,  368,  370 

Reuben,  Rev.,  531 

William,  453 
Stanwix,  George,  390 
Starkey,  T.  A..  Rev.,  342 
State  Capitol,  the,  268-271 

Hall,  the,  at  Albany,  271 

House,  at  Albany,  271 
Steamboat,   advent  of  the,  91,   92;  lines, 

310 
Stearns,  Eben  S. ,  266 

Frederic  P.,  386 

John,  Dr.,  173 
Stedman,  Francis  W.,  361 
Steele,  Oliver,  200,  370 

George  B. ,  278 
Steenburgh,  John,  402 
Stephens,  Peter  A.,  335 
Stephenson,  James,  145 

John,  364 
Stetson,  William  N.,  362 
Stevens,  Albert  P.,  375 

George  T.,  Dr.,  179 

Samuel,   Gen.,    100;  sketch  of,    151; 
200,  370 
Stevenson,  James,  323,  382 
Stewart,  Gilbert,  365 
Stone.  Alfred,  239 

C.  G.,  247 

John  Augustus,  94 

William  L. ,  242 
Stool,  Andries,  67 
Story  Brothers,  378 
Strain,  Alexander,  363 
Street,  Alfred  B.,  251 
Strevell,  William  D.,  145 
Stringer,  Samuel,  Dr.,  68,  170,  172 
Strong,  Alonzo  P.,  166 

Henry  A.,  438 

Richard  M.,  106,  107 

William  N.,  371 
Strough.  Francis  A.,  Rev.,  355 
Stryker,  Stephen  W.,  107 
Stutz,  G.  Fr.,  Rev.,  338 
Stuyvesant,  Peter,  18,  19,  28-45 

and    Van    Slechtenhorst,    prolonged 
contest  between,  28-39 
Sullivan,      Gen.     John,    expedition     of, 
against  the  Indians,  78 


Sullivan,  Richard  Bennett,  Dr.,  225 

&  Ehler,  377 
Sunday  Regulator,  Cohoes,  455 
Surrogates,  141,  142 
Sutherland,  Thomas  S.,  432 
Suydam,  Ferdinand  D. ,  420 
Swart,  Gerret,  39,  145,  255 
Sweet,  Elias,  481 

Elnathan,  386 

Silas,  462 
Swift,  James,  104 
Swinburne,  John,  Dr.,  182,  183,  219,  278, 

324 
Swinton,  Isaac,  286 
Swits,  Cornelius,  68 
Sylvester,  A.,  136 

Tabor,  Azor,  sketch  of,  153 

Gideon,  539 
Talbot,  John,  Rev.,  339 
Talcott,  S.  Visscher,  410 
Tanner,  John,  247 
Tappan,  James,  Rev.,  425 
Tarbell,  Jonathan,  108 
Tatlock,  William,  Rev.,  341 
Tavler,   John,  86,   92,   94,   143,  200,   268, 

324,  365,  381,  382 
Taylor.  Elvin,  373 

Brewery,  the,  378 

George  Podmore  Harire,  Dr.,  225 

James,  369,  374 

John,  375,  403 

J.  Orville,  245 

Lansing  G.,  370 

Raymond,  425 
Teachers'  Institutes  established,  261 
Teller,  David  A. ,  363 

Gaspar,  145 
Temple,  Robert  E.,  Col.,  102,  382 
Templeton,  Charles  B.,  278 

John,  278,  373,  376 

Samuel,  334 
Ten  Broeck,  Abraham,  65,  68,  143,  263, 
322,  364 

Cornelius,  Mrs.,  410 

Duck,  65,  322 

John,  68,  145 
Ten  Eyck,  Abraham,  65,  67,  68,  70, 142,403 

Andries,  66 

A.  P.,  Dr.,  183 

Barent,  71 

Barent  S. ,  74 

Conrad,  66 

Conrad  A.,  144,  200 

C.  H.,  145 

Henry,  145 

Jacob,  143,  145 

Jacob  C,  68,  322 


403 

Ten  Eyck,  Jacob  H.,  363,  364,  381 

Tames,  365,  376 

John  II..  68,  143 

jr.,  J.  H.,  105 

Visscher,  369,  374 
Tennant.  William,  Rev.,  346 
Teny,  Father,  354 
Tcrsvilliger,  James,  270 
Tibbets,  George,  4<)4 

Mary  B.  S.,  Miss,  36d 
Tillmghast,  J.  W.,  371,378 
Tillman,  Christopher,  VTt 
Tillotson,  Thomas.  365 
Tinker,  Henry,  67 
Thacher,  George  H.,  109,  325.  870,  »n, 

37John7Boyd,  318,  325,  377,  391 
Thayer,  James  S.    261 
Lewis  V..  146 
Rev.  Father,  350 
Theater,  the  first  in  the  county,  304 
Thomas,  Frank  W.,  Dr.,  222 
John,  370 
John  J.,  246 
John  T.,  840 
William  G.,  370,  375 
Thompson,  David  A.,  376,  410 
Isaac  Grant,  245 
James  H.,  105 
Smith,  140,  265 
Thorn,  William  E.,  143,  145,  153 
Thornton,   James,  316 
Thorpe,  Aaron.  365 
Thrall,  1.  Brainerd,  Rev.,3o5 
Tombley,  Alexanders.,  Rev.   34 

Tomlinson,  E.  H.,  106 

Tompkins,  C.  M.,  180 

DanielD.,121      

Toomev,  William  J.,  390 
Topography  of  Albany  county,  2 

Torrance.  William.   U- 
Towner,  Samuel  B.,  -1  ' 
Town  House  Corners,  407 
Townsend,  Franklin,  109,  278,  --i. 

365,  3  (6  .....    ......   .ii;- 

Frederick,  Gen..  105,  861.  883,  *» 

fcrScfS'  Michioe  Shop  Con, 

HSSifS     KM 
Isaiah,  311,  376 

johnWV  368,  374.  376,  382 

Rufus  K.,  ••'■" 
Theodore,  278,  374    376 
Tracey,  Charles,  369 
James  F.,  L66,  161 

John,  109,  267,  334,  358 


Trade,  English  and  Dutch  strife  for  su- 

'^^u^inein,     the  chief   o1,H;. 
the  emigrants  from  Holland,  n 
Transportation,  early  means  of,  W 

projects  for  improving  westward    •  - 
Travis,  Jacob,  438,  453 
Treadwell.  George  H.,  109,361,863 

John  G.,  334 

Tremain,  Frederick  L.,  109,  111 
Trico^Selyn*  one  o.  the   M   whit, 
T^^tt    Company.    West 

Troy.  432 
Trotter.    John,  96,  200 

Richard  Rowe,  Dr.,  286 
Truax,  Andrew,  06 

Henry,  144  .,. 

Trull.  Eward  Valentine,  Dr.,  <kh 
Trumbull.  George,  245,  250 
Tubbs&  Hall,  153 
Tucker.  Gilbert  M.,  240 

Gideon  J.,  235 

Luther,  164,  240 

Luther  1!..  240 

jr.,  Luther  H.,  240 

William.  427  . 

Willis  Gaylord,  Dr.,  840,  361 

Tuffs,  Joshua,  '•'•,''s 
Turk,  Jacobus,  1 15 
Turner,  David.   102 

Ichabod,  66 
Turnpike  companies,  91 
Tweddle,  George,  118 

■•Twe'we   Men3"8  the,     under    Director 

Kieft,  182 
Tyler,  Oscar.  145 

Union  College,  struggle  over  the  estab- 

lishii  -,;l 

Unionvill< 
United  States  Arsenal,  -• » 

Utter,  Jennie  A  .  888 

Van  Aernam.  Jacol 
Van  Ale  Lawn-nc  >   286 
Van  Allen,  Adam, 

Barent,  85,  ■  " 

Gam  t,  878 

,  vet  A,  Mrs.,    I 

The<  nghuysenColliei    Di 

Van  AM vue.  Frank  William,  Dr. 
lac>> 


404 


Van  Alstyne,  John  L.,  Dr.,  178 

Ryneer,  67 

Thomas  J.,  143 

Thomas  W.,  145 
Van  Antwerp,  Cornelius,  145 

David  L.,  144 

John,  73 

John  Henry,  315,  361,  365,  375,  376 

William,  410 

W.  M.,  109 
Van  Auken,  David  H.,  443,  453 
Van  Benthuysen,  Benjamin,  366 

Charles,  100,  243,  334 

Charles,  &  Co.,  243 

Frank,  243 

O.  R.,  242 

&  Wood,  242 
Van  Beuren,  Marte,  74 
Van  Brugge,  Carl,  38 
Van  Brugh,  Peter,  321 
Van  Buren,  Cornelius,  66 

Martin,   66,  121;   sketch  of,  149;  234 
Van  Corlaer,  Arent,  378 
Van  Curler,  Arent,  397 
Van  Denbergh,  A.  W.,  409 

family,  the,  400 

Gerrit  G.,  65,  66 

Gerrit  T. ,  67 

Evart,  Maus,  Wynant,  Peter,  Petras, 
Cornelius  C,  Cornelius  2d,  and 
Nicholas  C,  409 

Nicholas  V.  V.,  409 

Obadiah,  409 

Wynant,  402 
Vander   Bogart,    Hermanns    Mvndertse, 

169 
Van  der  Heyden,  Jacob,  67.  304,  363.  364 
Vanderhoof,  Joseph  C,  107 
Vanderlip,  William  L. ,  107 
Vanderpoel,  James,  140 

Jacobus,  66,  67 

S.  O.,  Dr.,  175 
Vander  Veer,    Albert,   Dr.,  179,  363,  384, 
385 

Edgar  Albert,  Dr.,  361,  363 
Vandervoort,  R.  N.,  447 
Van  der  Zee,  Albert  H.,  66 

Cornelius,  66 

William  Henry,  Dr.,  224 
Van  Doren,  T.  De'Witt,  Rev.,  349 
Van  Driessen,  Petrus,  Rev.,  336 
Van  Dusen,  Lawrence,  115,  144 
Van  Dyck,  Attorney-General.  37,  38 

Cornelius,  74 

Derrick,  462 

Henry  H.,  2:',-) 
Van  Gaasbeek,  William  H.,  108 
Van  Hagen,  jr.,  John,  66 


Van  Heusen,  John  Manning,  361 

Van  Kleeck,  Lawrence  L.,  144,  145 

Van  Leuvens  Corners,  533 

Van  Loon,  Arthur  Burton,  Dr.,  231 

Van  Nostrand,  James,  372 

Van  O'Linda,  Abraham,  102 

A.  B.,  245 

Daniel,  399 

Jacob,  409 

Martin,  409 
Van  Pattkammer,  A.,  Rev.,  350 
Van  Puttkammer,  A.  A.,  108 
Van  Rensselaer,  Howard,  Dr.,  196 

Henry  K.,  67,  73 
.   Jean   Baptiste,    the   first   of   the  pa- 
troons  to  visit  the  colony,  35,  39, 
42,  43 

Jeremiah,  68,  92,  304,  363.  364 

Jeremias,  44,  46 

Johannes,  heir  to  the  first  patroon, 
and  his  guardians,  28 

Killian,  the  patroon   of  Rensselaer- 
wyck,  21,  66,  135,  143 

Maunsell,  Rev.,  342 

Nicolaus,  Rev.,  339 

Peter,  73 

Philip,  300,  381 

Philip    S.,    200,    264,    268,    311,    323, 
364 

Richard,  371,  397 

Robert,  263 

Solomon,  86,  88,  94,  273 

Stephen,  87,  88,  93,  114,  115,  265,  363, 
3(14,   374,  381,  403,  441 

William  Bayard,  316,  365 

William  Bayard,  Mrs.,  363 
Van  Sante,  Gerrit,  68 
Van  Santvoordt,  Cornells,  68 

John,  436 

Seymour,  166 
Van  Schaick,  Col.,  expedition  of,  against 
the  Indians,  78 

Garret  W. ,  403 

Gerrit,  145 

Goosen,  Capt.,  62,  71,  145 

Henry,  Col.,  272 

Jacob,  67,  145 

John    93,  364 

J.  B.,  244.  245 

Lavinus,  286 

Stephen, 70 

Sybrant  Goose,  143,  322 
Van  Schelluyne,  Dirck,  46 

Cornelius,  68 
Van  Schie,  Cornelius,  Rev.,  336 
Van  Schoonhoven,  James,  420 
Van  Schwaick,  Garret  W. ,  364 
Van  Slechtenhorst,  Gerret,  28 


405 


Van  Slechtenhorst,  Brant  Arent,  director 
of  the  colony,  28-39 
and  Stuyvesant,   prolonged    contest 
between,  28-39 
Van  Slyke,  I.  R.,  105 
Van  Steenberg,  Warren,  Dr.,  180 
Van  Tienhoven,  Cornelius,  38 
Van  Tuyl,  jr.,  George  Casey,  361 
Van  Twiller,    Wouter,    18;    execuh 

the  estate  of  the  first  patroon,  28;  '■'>'■> 
Van  Valkenburgh,  Abraham,  66 
John  J.,  66 
John  L.,  316 
Van  Vechten,    Abraham,  96,  III;  sketch 
of,  147;  261,  265,  364 
Lucas,  400 

Teunis,  96,  266,  334,  153 
Van  Veghten,  Ephraim,  <>'> 
Lucas,  71 
Teunis  T.,  65,  70 
Volckert,  67 
Van  Vorst,  Hooper  C,  278 
Van  Vranken  family,  the,  399 

Maas,  66 
Van    Wely,    Johannes,    executor   of    the 

estate  Of  the  first  patroon,  28 
Van  Wie,  John,  65 
Van  Woert,  Jacob,  65 

John,  65 
Van  Wormer,  Joseph,  376 
Van  Wyck,  Isaa 
Van  Zandt,  Jacob,  L08 
John,  364 

Washington,  Rev.,    126 
Van  Zyle,  Abraham  Ferd.,  Capt,   17 
Vann,  Irving  G.,   L68 
Vassar,  Matthew,  372 
Vaughan,  Ashley,  Rev.    128 

Ohadiah,  66 
Veeder,  Abraham,  'i'i 

Volckert,  66   > 
Verbeck,  Jan,  1  II 
Verhulst,  William,   18 
Vermilye,  Thomas  B.,  Rev.,  '■'<'■'<<'> 

LeRoy,  L58 
Verplanck,  Isaac,  286 
John  N..   178 
Philip,  l  I"' 
Vesperman,  W. ,  'J  1 1 
Vibbard,  Arthur  A.,  1  >r.,  586 
Chauncey,  '•'>'•  i 

Vide,  Mauri.,-   I-'...  281,  361,  371     HO 
Stephen,  480,  181 
Vilas,  William  F.,  168 
Villeneuve,  Alphonse,   Father,  854 
Vinton,  Francis  I...  L05 
Visscher,  James  1 '.,  106 

Matthew,  65   68,  70,  79,  ill 


Voight,  Fidelis  M  .  R<  v     354 
Voorhees,  Alonzo  B, .  553 
Voorheesville,  553 
Voorhuyse  (Voorhees),  John.  66 
irgh,  Peti  r,  61 
Rodney,  375 

Wadhams,  Edgar  P.,  father.  ::.">! 

Frederick  Eugene,  361,  :,•,'''-' 
Wager,  <  reorge  II..  137 
Wagner,  John,  Rev  .  338 

Wagoner,  (  reoi  | 
Wake  man,  Henry,   I  22 

Scudder,  122 
Waldo,  Howard  Lansing,  Dr 

Lyman  Byles,  1  >r.,  226 
Walden,  Miner,  503,  505 
Wales.  Ira  L.,  238 

Nathaniel.  363 
Walford,  I  reoi  ge,  143 
Walker,  John.  242 

John  E.,  875 

Willard.  366,  368 

William  J.,  369 
Walla  ■      j.d     245 

John  Jefferson,  Dr..  224 

J.  &  M.     154 

William,  106 

William  Addison,  Major.  361 
Walloons,  arrival  of  the,   15 
Walsh,  Dudley,  93,  311,  364,    103 

lames  I  >.,   145 

Michael  F.,  384,  335 

Michael  M(  \"  .  107 
Walton.   I  lenrv.  265 
Walworth.  Clarence  A  .  Father,  350 

Reuben  II..  187,  164 
Wandell,  Daniel,  127 
Ward,  Isaac  Moreau,  Dr.,  213,  21 1 

Rob)  rl  E  .  278 

Samuel  B  .  Dr.,  177,  863 

Walter  E  .  167 
War  of  1812,  85  90 

of  1812,  events  leading  to  tl 

of  the  Rebellion,  104   118 
Warner,  James  Meech,  Gen  ,  21 
John,  65 

&  Hooker,  246 

Warren,   Rurdettc.   Dr., 
II.   P.,  266 

Joseph,  280 
Warrington,  R.  A  .  108 
Wasson,  J    D.,  240 
Waterbury,  Edward  P. . 
Waterman,  Jeremiah,  4b», 

Robert  il  .  384 

Smith  A..   I  I  I 
Watervliel  i  enter,  107 


406 


Watervliet,  town  of,  394-411 

canals  in,  396 

churches  of,  407-411 

early  prominent  families  of,   398-400 

erection  of,  and  territorial  reduction 
of,  394,  395 

first  settlements  in,  396 

Home  for  Aged  Men  in,  410 

in  trie  war  of  the  Revolution,  402 

in  the  war  of  1812,  402 

list  of  residents  of,  as  shown  by  a 
map  of  the  Van  Rensselaer  Manor, 
in  1767,  396 

manufactures  of,  404 

old  Schuyler  mansion  in,  397 

public  improvements  in,  403-405 

schools  of,  411 

settlement  of  Shakers  in,  400-402     / 

topography  of,  395 

villages  and  hamlets  in,  405-407 
Watson,  Arnold  B.,  464,  469 

Elkanah,  92,  93,  326,  364,  365 

Malbone,  117,  140,  464,  468 
Weaver,  Joshua,  Rev.,  426 

William  H.,  369,  386 
Webb,  Henry  L.,  365 

JohnH.,  96 

Thomas,  Capt. ,  343 
Webster,  Charles  E.,  85 

Charles  R.,  96,  241,  242,  264,  374, 
403 

Chauncey,  243 

George,  242 

Harrison  E.,  166 
Weddin,  Father,  350 
Weed,  Thurlow,  88,  236,  237 

Walter,  366 
Weiger,  Jacob   67,  502,  505,  506 
Welch,  Bartholomew  T..  Rev.,  349 

Clark  Durant,  Dr.,  228 
Welles,  Henry    117 
Welton,  Alonzo,  Rev.,  348 
Wendell,  Cornelius,  65,  70,  400 

Evert,  141 

Gerret,  409 

Harmanus,  65,  68,  70 

Harmanus  H.,   145 

Harvey,  381 

Hendrick,  409 

Henry,  65,  68 

Henry  J.,  145 

Johannis,  286 

John  H,  142 

J.  Irving,  371,  200 

John  Mr,  71 

John  W..  300 

Nathan  D.,  171,  238 

Peter,  Dr.,  201 


Wemple,  Daniel  W.,  316,  365 

John,  146 
Werner,  Edgar  S. ,  247 
Wessells,  Dirck,  56,  286,  321 
West  Albany,  407 
Berne,  508 

Westerlo,  Eilardus,  Rev.,  263,  336,  408 
Westerlo,  town  of,  528-536 

as  a  fruit  center,  529 

cemeteries  of,  535 

Center,  533 

Chesterville  in,  531,  532 

churches  of,  533-535 

Dormansville  in,  532 

early  business  enterprises  of,  529 

early  physicians,  531 

early  settlers  of,  580,  531 

erection  of  town  of,  528 

"Farmers'  Fire  Insurance  Associa- 
tion "  at,  536 

Lamb's  Corners  in,  533 

natural  characteristics  of,  528 

military  record  of,  536 

schools  of,  536 

South  Westerlo  in,  532 

streams  of,  528 

Van  Leuven's  Corners  in,  533 

Rensselaer,  93 
Western    Inland   Lock  Navigation  Com- 
pany, 83,  92 
Weston,  Marcellus,  46s 
West  Troy  (citvof  Watervliet),  411-429 

banks  of,  420 

churches  of,  424-429 

Covert  Manufacturing  Company  in, 
422 

effects  of  the  Erie  Canal  upon,  415 

ferries  at,  415 

fire  department  of,  418 

Gas  Light  Company,  419 

iron  bridge  at,  416 

large  river  traffic  from,  in  early  years, 
416-417 

list  of  presidents  of,  to  time  of  erec- 
tion of  Watervliet,  423 

list  of  trustees  of  Gibbonsville  before 
its  incorporation  with  West  Troy, 
412 

list  of  village  officers  at  date  of  in- 
corporation of  the  city  of  Water- 
vliet, 423 

manufacturers  of,  421,  422 
Meneely  Bell  Foundry  in,  421 

newspapers  of,  420 

original  site  of,  412 

police  department  of,  419 

schools  of,  417 

the  J.  M.  Jones'  Sons,  422 


407 


West   Troy,  villages   and  territory  com- 
prised in,  4 1 1-415 

Water  Works  Company,  418 
Wetmore,  Edward  Willard,  Prof.,  362 
Wheaton,  Henry  G.,  144,  1.'.:; 

William,  531 
Wheelock,  Eleazer,  263 
Wheeler,  George  M.,  42n 

Seth,  37:;.  376 
Whelan,  Rev.   Father,  350 
Whipple,  Barnum,  382 

Malaehi,  50:1,  506,  537 
White,  Amelia,  447 

Andrew,  369 

Andrew  G.,  363,  378 

Canvass,  441 

Edward  P.,  166 

Fred  VY. ,  239 

Hugh,  440,  453 

James  G.,  372 

jamcs  II.  '■'<'■'<  1 

John  J.,  373,  375,  378 

Joseph,  403 

Joseph  N.,  Dr.,  219 

'Miles,  453 

Samuel,   Dr..  20] 

Thaddeus  R.,  266 

William,  376 
Whitehouse,  A.  I.,   lis 
Whitman,  August,  316 
Whitney,  William  M.,  316,  362,  373 
Whittaker,  William  Force,  Rev.,  341 
Wiekes,  Eliphalet,  369 

Piatt,  Dr.,  Mil 
Wilbor   Samuel,  339 
Wilbur,  John  II.,  Dr.,  L84 
Wilcox,  Leonard,  <><s 
Wild.  Alfred.  371,   11".   115 
Wilkinson,  David,   111 
Willard,  Horace  k\,  261 

Sylvester  D. .  1  »r.,  176,  195 
Willes,  Thomas  S  ,  266,  381 
Williams,    Chauncey    Pratt,    (apt.,    362, 
370,  371,  375 

Israel,  -.'in I 

John,  65,  7o,  145 

Moses  and  Klias,   I  )rs.,   1  i  1 

Piatt,  Dr..  175.  201 

Robert   D.,  816,  385,  362 

Thomas,  1  15 

William   B.,  218 
Williamson,  James,  1 1 1 
Wilsdon,  George  R. .  153 
Wilson,  Andrew,   1  >r. ,  5-.':; 

(',.  B.,   I'.'" 

Gilbert  P.,  278,  371 

Jacob,  lo5 

James  R..  250 


Wilson,  John,  in:,,  106 

John  • )..  370 

i  E  .  278,  326,  :::;i 

Samuel,  250 

William  T.,  Rev.,  ::il 
Wmantse,  Melgert,  286 
Wing,  Joel,  1  >r. ,  175 
Winne,  Aaron,   162 

C.  V  .  276 

Giles  P.,  144 

fellis   300 

Jr.,  fellis,  96,  364 

[ohn  I.,  119 

John  P.,  347,  31  I 

Jurian,  280 

Levinus,  65 

M.  V.  B 

William  P..  66 

Winston,  Isaac,  550 
Wiswall,  George  M.,  lis 
Witbeck,  Abram,  178 

Abraham,  65 

Abraham  1.      109 

Andrew  II..  178 

family,  the,  400 

Gerret,    120 

I  [arpent,  66 

Henry  W.,  422 

John  P..  66 

J.  M.,  552 

I. uveas.   109 

Peter  Mi 
Wolf  I  111!,  552 
Wood,  Abel.  Rev..  265 

Bradford  P.,  200,  334, 

David,  365 

fames  I  >.,  lb' 
Col.,  503 

'].  S.  &  B.    24" 

(  His.    P'7 

W Ihall.  David  M  .  106 

Woodman.   Russell,   Rev  .  343 
Woodruff,  llunloke,  171.  172 

Timothy  Pester,  Lieut. -Do- 
Woods,  Francis  11..  142,  278,  375 
Woodward,   |an 

&  Packard,  245 
Woodworth,  (ohn.  it:;,  ::n 
Woo],  John  P..  Gen  .  88,  102 
Woolworth,  Samuel  11.  267 
Wooster,  B.  W.,  878 
Worth,  Gorham  A.,  86*! 

William  |     •  —    102 

Worthen,  William  E.,   142 
Worthington,  fohn,   125 
Wright,  1  >eodatus,  140 
oseph  Ezra,  Dr..  228 

Mos 


408 


Wright,  Nathaniel,  109,  110 
Wyckoff,  Henrv  J.,  441 

Theodore  F.,  Rev.,  425 

Yates,  Abraham,  70,  145,  272,  273 

jr.,  Abraham,  68,  74,  145,  263,  323 

Abraham  I.,  65,  68 

Christopher  C,  142 

Jacob,  430 

John  V.  N.,  sketch  of,  148;  260,  268 

John  W.,  365,  374 

Richard,  365 

Robert,   68,   74,   136,  140;  sketch  of, 

146;  263 
Peter,  Capt.,  62 
Peter  W.,  68,  136,  299,  300 


Yeardsley,  Charles  L.,  110 

Yeates,  Joseph  C. ,  403 

Young,  Abram  and  Jeremiah,  462 

Horace  G.,  316,  369 

John  R.,  Rev.,  348 

Men's  Association,  277,  278 

Oscar  H.,  Dr.,  181 

Samuel,  93 

Samuel  S.,  261 

Simon,  145 

William,  373 
Younglove,  Truman  G.,  440,  452,  453 
Youngman,  Vreeland  Houghwout,  362 

Zimmerman,  John,  316 


PART  II. 


Amsdell,  George  I.,  55 

Banks,  A.  Bleecker,  117 

Barnes,  Thurlow  Weed,  159 

Barnes,  William,  jr.,  10 

Beattie,  William,  12 

Bendell,  Herman,  M.  D.,  99 

Best,  George  N.,  158 

Bigelow,  John  M.,  M.  D.,  Ph.  D.,  135 

Blair,  Louis  E.,  M.  I>.,  10 

Blunn,  James,  16 

Borthwick,  James  M.,  83 

Brady,  Anthony  N.,  81 

Brass,  Richard  W.,  86 

Briggs,  John  N.,  51 

Bronk.  Barent  T.  E.,  166 

Brooks,  Jonas  H.,  68 

Brown,  Frank,  16 

Brown,  W.  Howard,  43 

Buchanan,  Charles  J.,  76 

Burch,  John  G.,  140 

Burke,  Rt.  Rev.  Thomas,  96 

Byington,  William  Wilberforce,  8 

Cantine,  Edward  B. ,  54 
Carpenter,  Charles  Whitney,  108 
Chester,  Alden,  '.»■"> 
Clute,  Jacob  H.,  85 
Colvin,  Verplanck,   120 
Covert,  James  C,  2!) 
Cox,  James  W.,  M.  D.,  137 
Curreen,  George  H.,  130 

Delehanty,  John  A.,  82 
Dickson,  Walter,  113 
Doane,  Rt.  Rev.  William  Croswell,  D.D. 
LL.D.,  60 


Easton,  Frederick,  32 

Farnsworth,  John  G. ,  Gen.,  128 
Farrell,  John  H.,  137 
Fiero,  James  Newton,  93 
Fisk,  Frank  H.,  M.  D.,  167 
Fitzgerald,  David  C,  49 
Fuller,  Howard  N.,  56 

Griffin,  Rev.  William,  D.  D.,  73 
Griffith,  William  Herrick,  33 

Hale,  Matthew,  71 
Hancock,  Theodore  E.,  113 
Hand,  Samuel,  139 
Harris,  Hamilton,  3 
Hastings,  Hugh,  73 
Haswell,  George  S.,  M.  D.,  159 
Herrick,  D.  Cady,  167 
Hevenor,  Winfield  S.,  163 
Hornby,  Ralph,  118 
House,  George  A.,  163 
Howell,  George  Rogers,  42 

Jermain,  James  Barclay,  98 

Jones,  Charles  Edmund,  M.  D.,  155 

King,  Rufus  H.,  30 
Kinnear,  Peter,  6 

Lansing,  Abraham,  100 
Lansing,  J.  Townsend,  115 
Learned,  William  L.,  LL.  D.,  95 
Lewis,  T.  Howard,  47 
Lewi,  Joseph,  M.  D.,  36 
Lintner,  Joseph  Albert,  115 
Little,  Charles  W.,  117 


400 


Lueke,  Henry,  160 

Manning,  I  >aniel,  134 
Marsh,  Benjamin,  46 
Marvin,  Seidell  E.,  Gen.,  18 
Marvin.  Selden  E.,  Col.,  jr.,  32 
Maynard,  Isaac  II.,  131 
McAlpin,  Gen    Edwin  A..  110 
McCormic,  Robert  H  ,  jr..  77 
McKown,  James  A.,  1-1  i 
McCreary,  Edward,  17 
McKee,  James  B.,  54 
Mee'^an,  Edward  [..  ~ »' » 
Merrill,  Frederick  J.  II.,  91 
Morton,  Levi  P.,  '■>' 
Munson,  Samuel  L.,   1"> 
Myers,  Herman,  12 
Myers,  Max.  14 

Nead,  William  M.,  M.  D.,  48 

Newman,  Family,  Tli 

Oliver,  Robert  Shaw,  Gen.,  17 

Palmer,  John,  157 
Parker,  AmasaJ.,  143 
Parker,  Amasa  J.,  151 
Palmer,  Edward  DeL.,  88 
Pasquini,  Attilio,  :il 
Peek,  Charles  H,  A.   M.,   106 
Peekham,  Rufus  W.,   109 
Perry,  Isaac  G.,  105 
Plympton,  Lucy  Ann,  7"> 
Porter.  Charles' II.,  M.  1'.,  11 
Pruyn,  John  V.  L.,  LP.  1'..  63 

Rathbone,  John  F.,  119 
Root,  Josiah  G..  84 

Rosendale.  Simon  \V..   164 
San  ford.  John  ( 


Sisson,  Noel  P..  132 
Slavin,  Thomas,  HI 
Slingerland,  John  1..  23 
Spalding,  Nathaniel  1'..    8"i 
Stedman,  George  P..  I" 
Stern,  Leu 

Stevens,  Albert  P.,  120 
Story,  <  reorge,  168 
Stowell,  Charles  1-".,    711 
Sweet,  Elias  W.,  165 
Sweet,  Elnathai 

Thacher,  George  Hornell,  58 
Thaeher,  John  Boyd,   165 
Tillinghast,  Joseph  W.,  158 
Townsend,  Frederick,  Gen.,  38 
Townsend,  Theodore    89 
Tracey,  Charles,  ."> 
Tucker,  Luther,  123 
Tucker,  Luther  II.,  124 

Van  Allen,  ('.arret  A      — 
Van  Alstyne,  William  C,  92 
Van  Alstyne,  Thomas  J.,  KM 
Van  Antwerp,  John  i  1  .  '•  1 
Van  Loon,  Arthur  P.,  M.  D.,  25 
Van  Rensselaer.  Howard,  M.  D.,  sl> 
Van  Wormer,  John  R  ,  110 
Vander  Veer,  Albert,  M.  D.,  153 

Vosburgh,   Isaac  W.,  '-'•'> 

Wallace,  William  J.,  ill 
Ward,  Samuel  Baldwin,  M.  1  ■ 
Wilson,  James  II..   1  Hi 
Woodruff,  Timothy  L.,  1 12 
W.H.ds,  Francis  II..  1 18 
Wooster,  Benjamin  W..  1 1 

Zeh,  M.  J.,  M.  1»     25 


PART  III 


Abrams,  Augustus  C,  215 

Hiram.   1':. 

John  I)  ,  17'.i 
Addington,  '  reorge 
Ainsworth,  1  >anfortb  E     10 
Albright,  Lawrence,  302 

Peter  S  ,  69 

Alexander,  Thomas,  263 
Allanson,  James  P..  159 

Allen.  1 ).  Prank,  <  Jen..  36 
Amsdell,  Theodore  M..  388 


Amyot,  Pi  uno  P  ,  1  »i  .  281 
Anderson,  Charles  \Y  ,  258 
Andrae,  M  .  168 

Par.!    11 
Andrews.  Arthur  P. 

jr.,  Horai  e,  122 
larles  1 1 
Annesley,  Richard  Lore 
Ansbro,  Thoma 
Antemann,  Herman  W, 
Appleton,  Joseph  L..  I  >r  .  107 


410 


Archibold,  John,  Dr.,  318 
Armatage,  Charles  H.,  135 
Armstrong,  J.  B.,  Rev.,  4 
Arnold,  jr.,  Isaac,  Maj.,  156 
Aspinwall,  William  F.,  123 
Atkins,  John  R.,  108 
Austin,  Arthur  C.  354 

Babcock,  Robert,  Dr.,  356 
Bacon,  Allen  H.,  48 
Bailey,  Asa,  74 

J.  De  Witt,  352 

Theodore  P.,  Dr.,  323 

William  Howard,  343 
Baillargeon,  J.  T.,  284 
Baker,  Albert  W. ,  73 

George,  305 

George  Comstock.  68 
Balch,  Lewis,  Dr.,  166 
Baldwin,  H.  W.,  24 
Ball,  David,  69 

Dayton,  112 

Ogilvie  D.,  Dr.,  161 
Banker,  William  Soules,  257 
Barber,  Fletcher,  241      - 

Morgan  P.,  190 
Barckley,  Edward  L.,  190 
Barends,  Frederick  J.,  275 
Barker,  James  F.,  Dr.,  161 
Bartlett,  Ezra  Albert,  Dr.,  310 
Bassler,  Elias,  314 
Batchelder,  Robert  C,  192 
Battershall,  Walton  W.,D.  D.,  133 
Baumes,  Mary  E.,  Mrs.,  57 
Baxter,  William  C,  200 
Bayard,  Andrew  Herbert,  Dr.,  9 
Becker,  De  Witt  E.,  19 

Frederick  C,  292 

Howard,  190 
Bedell,  Edwin  A.,  55 

Jerry,  329 
Belanger,  Israel,  232 
Belding,  Samuel  B.,  356 
Bell,  E.  M.,  Dr.,  91 

Horace  S.,  197 

Thomas  H.,  155 
Belser,  jr.,  Joseph,  124 
Bender,  Matthew,  108 
Bennett,  David  W.,  189 
Benson,  Samuel  J  ,  251 
Bentley,  W.,  123 
Berns,  James  H.,  231 
Best,  John  A.,  146 
Beutler,  William  F.,  194 
Blackburn,  John,  331 
Blair,  Elmer,  33 
Bleecker,  W.  Rutger,  355 
Blessing,  Adam  J.,  Dr.,  38 


Blessing  Brothers,  299 
Blodgett,  William,  71 
Bloomingdale,  Frank,  181 

John  P.,  178 
Bloss,  F.  S.,  Dr.,  127 
Boardman,  George,  70 

&  Gray,  47 
Bogue,  Henry  L.,  319 
Bordwell,  Margaret  E.,  Mrs.,  148 
Borthwick,  Acton  S.,  352 
Bowe,  John,  208 
Bowman,  Cassius  M.,  199 
Boyd,  James  P.,  Dr.,  255 
Bradford,  William,  348 
Bradley,  Franklin  G.,  146 
Bradt,  John  Van  Der  Heyden,  73 

Samuel  Cary,  348 
Brady,  John  J.,  160 
Brasure,  John  W.,  107 
Brennan,  Edward  J.,  125 
Brewster,  Frederick  C,  4 

James  C.  and  Warren  H.,  322 
Bridge,  Charles  F.,  55 
Brierley,  William  P..  Dr.,  339 
Brilleman,  Isaac,  326 
Brink,  Levi  L.,  75 
Britley,  Edward  W.,  Capt.,  297 
Brown,  John  C,  Dr.,  316 
Brumaghim,  Eugene,  275 
Brunk,  James  H.,  263 
Bullock,  Joseph,  232 
Burdick,  G.  Dudley,  27 

Norman,  193 
Burrick,  Julius  J.,  Rev.,  154 
Butler,  Walter  Burdett,  15 

William  H.,  151 

Cady,  Frank  William,  Dr.,  270 

Harvey  J.,  137 
Calkins,  H.  G.,  285 
Cameron,  Frederick  W.,  281 
Campbell,  George,  232 

Stewart,  326 
Campion,  George  A.,  336 
Canton,  Charles  N. ,  6 
Capron,  Arthur  S.,  Dr  ,  310 

John  D.,  242 

William  J.,  205 
Carr,  Lewis  E.,  281 
Carroll,  George  H.,  5 

James  H.,  80 
Carter,  William  H.,  232 
Cary,  William  M.,  64 
Casey,  Daniel,  326 

Walter  V. ,  283 
Cass,  Lewis,  224 
Caulkins,  George  L. ,  296 
Chadwick,  Enoch  H.,  295 


411 


Chadwick,  P.  Remsen,  109 
Chapin,  JosiahD,,  198 
Chapman,  jr.,  Edgar  1.,  !•>•• 
Chase,  Norton,  208 
Chesebro,  Thaddeus,  21b 
Christiansen,  Alfred.  304 
Clapp,  Augustus  Henley.  181 

Clark,  William  B..  233 
Clarke,  John  Mason    136 
Classen,  Frederick  Luke,  Dr.,   .1 
Clough,  William,  384 
CI vckm an,  Frederick  L..  264 

Cohn,  Mark,  48 
Colburn,  E.  S.,  &  Son.  22 
Cole,  Ashley  W.,  <9 

Fredericks.,  Dr.,  306 

WilliamS.,  185 
Coleman,  J.  Russell,  290 
Collin,  T.  Campbell   Capt,  Ui 

Collins,  Lorenzo  D..  M» 
Condon,  William  R-. -';'. 
Conger,  Frederick  W.,  73 
Conway,  Cornelius,  5 
John  J.,  80B 

Joseph  A..  271 
Conyes,  L.  E.,  57 
Co.-k.  Alfred.  276 

Daniel  11..  Dr.,  350 
Eugene,  313 
John  B.,  21 
John  T.,  10. 
Cooper,  John  L.,  Dr.,    61 
Corliss,  Stephen  Potter,  198 
Courchaine,  William,  5 
Court,  Charles,  212 
Courtney,  Dickinson.  1- 
Couse,  David,  129 
Cox,  jr.,  James  W.,  H3 

John,  339 
Craiidall.  George  H..  148 
Crannell.  Monroe, 213 
Crawford,  Charles  1 1..  Dr.,   !■• 

James  F.,  238 
Crookes,  John,  290 
Crounse,  Benjamin,  118 
Cull,  William  H.,  288 
Culver.  Charles  M.,  Dr.,  »•' 
CummingsBros.,l-s& 
Curtis,  Frederic*    .  Dr.,  w 
Cushman.  Harry  C    Col..  110 

Cutk-r,  Edgar  A..  199 
Cuvler.  Edward  Cornelius.  284 

Danaher,  John  E.,  228 

Dating,  Stephen   j      -. 

Daubney,  Wilham  H-,    •>.» 
Davenport,  Samuel  L,  46 

Davidson,  Andrew.   -1- 


Davis,  Charles  Edmond,  Dr.,  1. 

Dawson.  John.  233 

Day,  Michael  J..  250 

Dayton,  Lewis  W.,  J 

Dearstyne,  Chester  F    356 

De  Blaey,  Abram,  280 

De  Freest,  Alburtus  B.,  328 

Charles  R.,  65 
De  Craft,  Abram,  Dr. ,312 
Deitz,  Alanson,  F.,  266 
Charles  E.,  ?8 
Wallace  E.,  Dr.,  18 
Delahant.  Michael  F.,  8*1 
Delehanty,  Michael,  '.'  a 
Dell,  Nicholas  J..  381    __ 
Denison,  Edward  M.,  •■■ 

derick  P.,  :;;;'-' 
De  Voe,  David,  177 
De  Witt   Abraham  \  an  Dyck,  I  so 

Richard  Varick,  244 
Dickey,  William  J.,  28o 
Dixon,  George,  318 
Dodge,  William  T.,  168 
Don,  William  G.,  259 
Downs,  J.  Murray,  •  •■" 

Michael  B.,  136 
Dreis,  L.  Theodore  A.   26 
Drislane,  William  E.,  344 
Droogan,  Cornelius  J..  ■>>. 
1  hi- an,  Daniel  J.,  325 

Patrick  C,  274 
Duggan,  Edward  J..  816 
Dumary.T.  Henry,  S34 
Dunn,  lames.  297 
Durant,  Fayette  B.,  156 
Dwight,  Harvey  Lyman   35 
Dwyer,  Martin  l..Dr    324 

Dver,  William  S.,  

■    Zeb  A,  162 

Easton,  Charles  P..  825 

Eaton,  Calvin  W.,  160 
lames  Webster,  wi 

Ecker,  Jerome  W.    162 

Eckert,  Henry  E.,  149 

Elliott,  W.  T-,  233 

E1Us   Joseph  Whitcomh 

Elmendorf,  William  Burgess,  262 

Emery,  John  W,  61 
Enos,  Henry  D.,  280 
Ertz  I  Edmund  J..  W 

Erwin,  Jacob  M.,  38H 
Estes.  Milo  D.,  Capt,  141 
Evory,  Frank  II..  189 

ning,  James  O.,  315 

ftrey,  Joseph  &So£  216 

1  ,  atherstonaugh,  J.  1  >..»"•• 


412 


Felter,  James,  71 

Fennelly,  P.  E..  Dr.,  42 

Ferguson,  William  H  ,  175 

Filkins,  Edward  Vincent,  85 

Fish,  Julius,  339 

Fisher,  David  A.,  262 

Fitch,  John  H.,  Dr.,  179 

Fitts,  George  H.,  317 

Fitzgerald,   Edward  J.   and  William  R. 

269 
Fitzsimmons,  James  J.,  15 
Flagler,  Peter  H.,  66 
Flanders,  George  Lovell,  29 
Flanigan,  Eugene  D.,  357 
Flansburgh,  Alexander,   114 

John,  290 

Rufus,  294 
Fletcher,  Jones  A.,  19 
Foley,  Edward,  233 

James  H.,  307 
Fonda,  Douw  H.,  153 
Fookes,  Henry  H.,  324 
Ford,  Charles  R.,  92 
Foster,  E.  H.,  92 

Henry  S.,  48 
Fredendall,  Henry,  301 
Frederick,  Charles  F.,  225 

Nathan,  143 

Stephen  V.,  129 
Friend,  Charles  M.,  30 
Frost,  J.  Sheldon,  293 
Fuller,  Aaron.  58 
Fursmau,  Jesse  William,  357 

Gaffers,  Will  R.,  185 
Galhen,  Edward  J..  143 

Henrv,  33 
Garfield,  Henry  Whiting,  335 
Garland,  Jerome,  2:!:! 
Garret,  Walter,  321 
Garside,  John,  250 
Gartland,  John  L.,  11 
Garvin,  Martin  L.  R.,  37 
Gatchell,  James  K.,  306 
Gaus,  Charles  H.,  Maj.,   133 
Gedney.  Samuel  329 
Geer,  Robert,  29 
Getman,  Edward  M.,  249 
Gibbons,  Erastus,  259 
Gick,  William  H.,  146 
Gilbert,  Edmond  J.,  178 

Francis  Russell,  308 

Henry  S.,224 
Gise,  Peter,  86 
Glass,  Edwin  G.,  109 
Gleason,  James  M.,  '-':! 

John  H.  65 
Godfrey,  James  H.,  24 


Goewey,  W.  Irving  Dr.,  131 
Goldring,  Samuel,  90 
Goodwin,  Albert  C,  358 
Goold,  Charles  B.,  333 

James,  51 
Gove,  Ralph  A.,  72 
Grady,  Thomas  G.,  32 
Graham,  Edward  J..  86 

Hugh,  65 
Gray,  John  Clinton,  309 

Vivian,  298 
Graves,  Anthony  Gardner,  350 
Green,  Archibald  S.,  117 

G.  James,  Col.,  3  53 
Greene,  Frederick  R  ,  Dr.,  163 

Lindsey,  214 
Gregorv,  Clifford  D.,  95 
Grev,  W.  W.,  86 
Griffen,  Edward  C,  222 
Griswold,  Stephen  B.,336 
Grogan,  Michael,  227 
Groot,  James  Bleecker,  187 
Guardineer,  George  H.,  273 
Guthrie,  Alfred  A.,  255 
Gutmann,  John,  13 

Hailes,  William,  Dr..  324 
Haines,  Luther  H.,  264 
Hall,  Charles  Roswell,  228 

James,  Dr.    206 
Hallenbeck,  Charles  W.,  256 

George  A.,  196 

John  E.,  66 

William  Henrv,  11 
Hanney.  Andrew  D.,  289 
Happel,  William  H.,  Dr.,  200 
Harrigan's  Sons,  John,  373 
Harrington,  Francis  A.,  238 
Harriott.  Marvin  B.,  131 
Harris,  Frank  S.,  359 

Hubbard  C,  118 

Julius  F.,  26 

Melville  A.,  7 

Morris,  lil 

William  B.,  316 
Hart,  John  W.,  40 
Hartman,  Christian,  72 
Ilartnett,  Daniel  J.,  16 
Hartt,  Eugene  R.,  277 
Haskell,  William  Hervey,  134 
Haswell,  George  S.,  Dr.,  77 

John  L.,  40 

Leah  E  ,  Mrs..  62 

William  H.,  359 
Hatt,  Samuel  S.,  202 

George  J.,  371 
Havens,  Elmer  Hamilton,  273 
Haverly,  William  J.,  204 


413 


Hawley,  Mrs,  Clara  M.,  358 
Hay,  Miller,  93 
Hayden,  John   <■■  ;•'- 
Hayes.  Edward,  92 
Heidrich.  Charles  A.,  M 
Hendrick,  James,  It... 
Hendrickson,  Howard,  S8 
Hendrie.  James  II.     :(l 
Heney,  William  H.,  5 
Hennessy,  John  V.,  Dr    ~-> 
Herman,  Sidney  N.,  309 
Hermans,  Charles  W,  148 
Herrick,  Avery,  131 

De  Laus  W.,  352 
Hessberg,  Albert,  41 

Samuel,  50 
Hickev,  jr.,  Dennis.  50 

William  F.,  19 
Hicks,  John  J.,  825 
Hieeins,  John  fci,,  06 

8  Michael  E.,275 
Hill  &  Son,  130 
Hills.  James  W    22 
Hinckley,  Charles,  289 
Hitt.  Galen  R.,  Hon..  359 
Hobbs,  Edward  A    •  > 
Hochstrasser,  Arthur  E.,  -  •• 

Jacob.:'. 
Hollands,  William,  19 
Hollenbeck,  Frank.  359 

Jerome  M.,  185 
Horfocks,  John,  134 
Hoskins,  Charles  M.,  -''•■' 
Hotaling,  John  S  .  •  •> 

Lansing   351 
11,, nek.  Jam.-  A  .  280 
Houghton,  George  H.,  Dr.,  135 
Howell,  Fred  S.,  351 
Hubbard,  George  A...  Ai- 
Hudson,  CharlesD.,41 
Huested,  Alfred  B.,  Dr.,  68 

Hughan,  James  i    ,  -■' 
Hull,  Samuel  'I  .,87 
Hulsapple,  lohn  H.,  804 
Hungerford,  Sidney  A.,  L68 
Hunter,  James.  26< 
Hunting.  Edwin  Francis,  840 
Nelson,  Dr.,  338 

£££»&** lei- 

Hurst,  David  '1  ..  214 

Illch,  Julius,  810 

Ireland,  Francis  Asbury,  115 

[acobson,  Peter,  87 
Janes  Franklin  H.,  ■•• 


Jaquius,  John  D„  305 

Wison,  E,  Darwin,  239 
Wett,  Frederick  G..S4 
J       jr..  Freeborn  «...  Rev.,  -•  ' 
Johnson,  Edwin  S.,  107 

James  C,  53 
Jolley,  Hugh,  *<> 
Jones,  Andrew  B.,  •>- 

lames,  164 

John  II  .  130 
I   M;  Jones's  Sons.  208 

Kane  Nicholas  T  ,  152 
Keeler.  John.  26 

William  Henry,  lv- 
Keenholts  James,  219 
Kellev.  Patrick,  298 
Keller,  Robert  B..  118 

Kelly,  George  T.  251 
James  J.,    1  I" 

Kemp,  John  H.,321 

Keneston.  George,  LID 

Kennedy  Thomas  281 

Keuvon,  Lewis.  294 

Kernan,  William  J.   Dr.,  309 

Kernochan,  Edward  L.,  -»; 
Kibbee.  William  Backus,  85 
Kiffin,  Thomas  S.,  295 
Kim  me  v.  Edson,  14 

John  B.,  88 

William,  129 
Kirkland,  George  W.,  860 
Knickerbocker  Edmund  Cha. 

Knowles,  Charles  R.,  209 
Koonz,  John  F.,  lx-' 

1  amb    lames,  93 
tameraux,  Hula    320 
Lamoreaux,  Mar.-.  206 
Langan,  John,  250 

,  Jss  &3  vr ., ,«, 

La  Rose.  Anthime  Watson,  164 
Lathrop,  Charles  11     -'•■' 

Cyrus  Clark,  34*3 
Laventall,  Julius.  18 
Lawson,  Joseph  A  .    •' 

,h,  d    222 
Lawyer,  I 

l«       ^Wyi     27? 
u.  Boeuf.  Randall  J.,  m 

Lempe,  G  .  Dr.,»n 

Lenwly.W.  A.  21 

Leonard,  Danu 

1  e  Roy,  Isaac  306 

William  B..  109 


414 


Lewi,  Theodore  J.,  361 

William  G.,  Dr.,  361 
Liscomb,  Orlando  P..  269 
Littlefield,  jr.,  Edgar,  76 
Livingston  &  Co.,  118 
Lochner,  George  Emory,  Dr.,  370 
Lockwood,  Horace  R.,  288 

Leander  S.,  67 
Lodge,  Barrington,  88 
Long  &  Silsby,  25 
Lord,  Edmund  J.,  28 
Lounsbury,  Omar  W.,  295 
Lowery,  J.  F.,  Rev.,  234 
Lloyd,  Will  Lyman,  141 
Lumereaux,  George  C,  320 
Lundergan,  John,  32 
Lynch,  John  H.,  360 

Joseph  H.,  115 

McCombe,  James,  278 
McCormic,  Robert  Henry,  152 
McCredie,  James,  245 
McDermott,  John,  106 

Martin,  235 
McDonough,  Clarence  J.,  27s 

Joseph, 12 
McDowell,  George  H.,  93 
McElvenev,  Daniel,  17 
McEwan,  Walter,  149 
McGarrahan,  John  F.,  Dr.,  169 
McGrath,  Michael,  19 
McHench,  David  B.,  34 
McHmch,  Robert,  128 
Mclntyre,  Archibald,  196 
McKinney,  James,  &  Son,  201 

Rockwell,  298 
McKown,  William,  184 
McLaren,  James,  337 
McMillen,  James  S.,  150 
McNab,  Duncan,  Dr.,  21 
McNamara,  John  W.,  196 
McNeil,  Thomas  J.,  24 
Mac  Allaster,  William,  372 
MacDonald,  Pirie,  147 

Willis  Goss,  Dr.,  322 
MacFarlane,  Andrew,  Dr.,  283 

William  D.,  31 
MacHarg,  Martin,  Dr.,  308 
Mackey,  Charles  H.,  315 

Samuel,  102 
Magill,  Robert,  300 
Main,  James  R.,  76 
Maloney,  J.  D.,  297 
Mann,  Benjamin  A.,  63 
Mansfield    W.  K.,  235 
Marshall,  P.,  Mrs.,  90 

&  Wendell  Piano  Forte  Manufactur- 
ing Co.  (Ltd.),  106 


Martin,  Robert,  83 

Peter  W.,  60 
Masten,  James  H.,  112 
Mastersou,  John  Philip,  Gen.,  95 
Mather,  Andrew  E.  and  A.  Dan,  238 
Maxwell,  James  A.,  328 
Mayell,  James  H.,  157 
Mayer,  John  N.,  361 
Mead,  Charles  W..  231 
Mears,  Edward  Norris  Kirk,  Dr. ,  89 
Meegan,  Thomas  A.,  270 
Menand,  Louis,  17 
Merrill,  Cyrus  Strong,  Dr.,  158 
Merriman,  Willis  E.,  191 
Merritt,  Magdalene  Isadore   La  Grange, 

Mrs.,  205 
Michel,  FredG.,  Dr.,  164 

Fred  G,  M.  D.  S.,  368 
Mickel,  Charles,  140 
Milbank,  William  Edward,  Dr.,  282 
Millar,  W.  L.,  235 
Miller,  jr.,  Henry,  106 

JohnH.,  107 

jr.,  S.  Edward,  222 
Mills,  Charles  H.,  31 
Milne,  William  James,  95 
Milwain,  James,  132 
Moak,  James  Nelson,  102 

John  T.,  126 
Moffat,  George  B.,  304 
Montignani,  John  F.,  251 
Montmarquet,  J.  D.,  Dr.,  110 
Moore,  Albert  T.,  187 

Brothers,  277 

Charles  H.,  Dr.,  54 

James  C,  338 

William,  128 

William  J.,  184 
Morrow,  Samuel  Roseburgh,  Dr.,  139 
Mors,  Joshua,  302 
Mott,  R.  H.,  169 
Muhlfelder,  Isidor,  7 
Mulcahy,  Bartholomew,  113 
Mullenneaux,  Marcus  H.,  49 
Munson,  George  S.,  Dr.,  127 
Murphv,  Joseph  A.,  270 

Peter,  304 
Murphey,  Elijah  W.,  132 
Murray,' William  H.,  Dr.,  227 

Nangle,  Martin  E.,  307 
Neil,  George,  250 
Nellis.  William  J.,  Dr.,  91 
Nellegar,  Edwin,  361 
Nesbitt,  John  H.,  296 
Newton,  John  Milton,  348 
Nicholls,  H.  A.,  192 
Niles,  Luther  H.,  295 
Nathaniel,  231 


415 


Nodine,  Francis,  320 
North,  Charles  F.,  16 

Howard  C,  30 
Norton,  David  J.,  39 
Nussbaum,  Myer,  109 

O'Brien,  Francis  J.,  Dr.,  153 

Smith,  Hon.,  362 
Ogden,  Charles  ('..,  251 
Ogsbury,  John  II.,  301 

Junius  D.,  62 
Oliver,  Abram  E.,  291 

George,  90 
Oothout,  Volkert  J.,  42 
Oppenheim,  Leo,  13 
Orel  up,  William  H.,  206 

Paddock,  Edward,  261 

Page,  Edward  N.,  197 

Palmer,  Frank  Rockwell,  20 

Papen,  George  Washington,  Dr.,  363 

Paris,  Russel  C. ,  Dr.,  97 

Parker,  William  F.,  303 

Parlati,  Lorenzo,  330 

Parr,  Henry,  320 

Parsons,  Francis  Marion,  1!I7 

Passonna,  Alfred,  305 

Patterson,  jr.,  John,  128 

Payn,  Edgar  M.,  11 

Louis  F.,  :;(i2 

jr.,  Samuel  Giles,  210 
Pearsall,  G.  L.,  203 
Pearse,  Harry  Seymour,  Dr, ,  90 
Peaslev.  Wallace  A. ,  286 
Perkins,  George  H.,  291 
Perry,  Edward  Rodman,  328 
Phelp-,  Arthur  T.,  248 
Phibbs,  Thomas,  27 1 
Phisterer,  Frederick,  :!'•> 
Pickett,  Robert,  Ml 
Pinkerton,  Robert    1 1 1 
Pitkin,  Wolcott  I!..  Bl 
Piatt,  William  John,  278 
Porter,  Robert,  116 
I'otts,    Jesse  Walker,  254 
Pratt,  Aaron  B.,  157 

Augustus  W. ,  11  ■> 

Louis  W.,  s 

Otto  M.,  1  18 

Ouinlan,  <  i-eorge  B.,  1  >r.,  L55 

Rankin,  Edward  W.,  218 
Raymond,  Charles  II..  '-'>><\ 
Read,  Harmon  Pumpelly,  Maj.,  171 
Reavv.  Frank  C,  5 
Reid,  William  James,   189 
Reiley,  Patrick,   in 


Reinhart,  H.  E.,  151 

Relyea,  Abram,  (17 
Peter  J.,  300 

Reynolds,  Charles  W  ,  219 
'  Lewis  W.,  is:; 

Rheinhart,  Alonzo  I. 

Rice,  Joseph  Taft,  --'in 

Richardson,  William  J..    182 

Rickard,  Michael,  172' 

Ridgway  &  Russ,   1  1.' 

Rivet,  ]'.  A.  W.,  Dr.,  151 

Robertson,  Matthew   Henry,  :;i;:; 

Robinson,  James  A.    212 
Robert' I..  278 
Walter  Foote,  Dr.,  13 

Rochford,  W.  P.,  L42 

Rockwell,  Hiram  J.,  138 

Rogers,  Howard  Jason,  138 
W.  Seymour,  L3 

Romeyn,  Theodore  !•'.     lv 

Ronau,  Parker  C,  372 

Rosemond,  fames,  '-'s"> 

Rosenthall,  "Mitchell.  318 

Rowe,  Wilhelmus,  149 

Rundell,  Darius,  •"><'> 

Ruso,  Conrad,  :!:!7 

Russell,  George  II..  u~, 

George  L. ,  :''•'>•">  ^ 

George  W..  364  ^^ 

Ryall,  Joh) 

Ryan,  Thomas  A.,  Dr.,  33*3 

Sabin,  Charles  II     :;•; 

W.   I'..,  Dr.,    158 
Sanders,  Eugene,  34 
Saul,  Julius,  120 
Sauter,  Louis,  jr.,  372 
Saxton,  Thoma 
Sayles,  William,  120 
Schaeter,  Frederick  William,  86*3 
Scharbauer,  Philip,  320 
Scherer,  Roberl  < ;..  98 
Schifferdecker,  Fred  A..  ::<!•"> 
Schneider,  Charles  \ 
Schubert.  Theodore,  1-7 
Schultes,  I.  1'...  108 
Schutter,  William  I...  I  h 
Schuyler,  Richard  1*. ,   1  lit 

Stephen 
Scott,  Jacob  C.  J-:..    II 

jamin  M.,  120 
Seelmann,  Andrew  <  I 
Selkirk,  Alexander.  840 

William.  56 
Sessions,  Chai 
Settle,  Theodore,  l"l 
Severence,  jr.,  Matthias  I  .  240 
Shaffer,  Edwin  C,  17:; 


416 


Shanks,  Charles  S.,  117 
Shaw,  Andrew,  8 
Sheehan,  Daniel,  297 
Sheppey,  John  V.,  Dr.,  317 
Shields,  Francis,  267 
Shiland,  John  C,  Dr.,  306 
Shine,  James  H.,  236 
Shultes,  Abram,  260 
Sill,  John  De  Friest,  170 
Silliman,  George  Dent,  Rev.,  334 
Simmons,  George  E.,  237 
Simpkin,  Henry,  288 

Robert  P.,  288 
Simpson,  Anson  A.,  153 

John  F.,  237 
Sims,  Albert  F.,  271 
Sisson,  Frank  N.,  366 
Skillicom,  John  H.,  Dr.,  147 
Skinner,  David  F.,  308 
Slade,  E.  F.,  236 
Slausen,  Edwin,  103 
Slavin,  Thomas,  237 
Slingerland,  Cornelius,  213 

De  Witt  Chester,  338 

Henry,  59 

William  H.,  6:! 

William  Harris,  jr.,  368 
Smalling,  L.  K.,  94 
Smelzer,  Baxter  T. ,  Dr.,  144 
Smith,  Charles  H.,  Dr.,  165 

Charles  W.,  103 

Frank  J.,  335 

Henry  A.,  292 

James  E.,  Dr.,  366 

M.  B.,  94 

Oscar,  Capt.,  6 
Snyder,  Cecil,  288 

Henry  F.,  240 
Soderstrom,  Charles  E,,  21 
Soop,  J.  J.,  345 

South  worth,  Julius  B.    Dr.,  130 
Spaulding,  Alonzo,  184 
Spillane,  P.  H.,  236 
Speir,  Stuart  G.,  169 
Spencer,  Charles  M.,  320 
Sporborg,  Silas,  279 
Springer,  J.  Austin,  194 
Springsted,  William  C,  77 
Staats,  John  M.,  120 
Stahl,  Simon,  279 
Stanton,  William,  284 
Star  Knitting  Co.,  18 
Stark,  Moses,  3 
Stedman,  Francis  \V.,  91 
Steenberg,  Byron  U.,  Dr.,  265 
Stephens,  Peter  A.,  203 

Thomas,  367 
Stern,  Henrv  E.,  14 


Stevens,  George  H.,  159 

Joseph,  236 
Stewart,  L.  D.,  84 
Stillman,  William  O.,  Dr.,  43 
Stitt,  James  O.,  104 
Stock,  Bernard,  101 
Stoffels,  William,  321 
Stonehouse,  John  Ben,  M.  D.,  373 
Stover,  Charles  M.,  296 
Strevell,  A,  M.,  59 
Sturgess,  Charles  E.,  314 
Sturtevant   Stephen  V.,  247 
Sutherland,  Charles  R.,  119 

Isaac  P.,  365 

Willard  J.,  119 
Swarthout,  William,  178 
Swatling,  James  H.,  19 
Sweenv,  William  P.,  342 
Swett,'jr.,  Joseph  B.,  Dr.,  38 
Swift,  sr.,  William,  116 

Targett,  Alfred  E.,  25 
Tayer,  Albert,  296 
Taylor,  Robert  B.,  212 
Tebbutt,  Marshall,  158 
Templeton,  Charles  B.,  208 
Ten  Eyck,  Clinton,  375 

Jacob  H.,  121 

Jacob  L.,  158 

James,  96 
Tennant,  Albert  C,  207 
Terry,  Washington  C,  216 
Tessier,  Frank,  284 

Wilfred  G.,  284 
Thacher,  Ralph  W.,  221 
Thayer,  Lewis  V.,  64 
Thompson,  David  A.,  252 
Thornton,  George  and  Theron  T.,  215 
Tibbitts,  Lorenzo  B.,  8 
Toedt,  Emanuel  B.,  165 
Tompkins,  Charles  M.,  64 

Stephen,  151 
Toner,  J.  Seymour,  4 
Toohey,  Edward  J.,  146 
Townsend,  Rufus  King,  137 
Tracey,  James  F.,  42 
Trager,  Christopher,  78 
Travis,  William  C,  113 
Treadwell,  George  Curtis,  112 
Trego,  Thomas  Markley,  Dr.,  78 
True,  George  M.,  14 
Tucker,  jr.,  Luther  Henry,  198 

Willis  G.,  Dr.,  99 
Tnpper,  Horace  D.,  30 
Turner,  John  H.,  174 
Tygert,  Thomas,  299 

Van  Aken,  De  Baun,  257 
Van  Allen,  P.  C,  321 


417 


Van  Allen,  Richard  B.,  21  1 

William,  292 
Van  Antwerp,  Daniel  Lewis,  35 
Van  Bergen,  George  A.,  -»'. 
Van  Derzee,  Alton.  S£V 

Andrew  S.,   344 

John  A..  265 
Vander  Veer,  Albert,  Dr.  144 

VanGaasbeek,  Amos<    ,369 
Van  Heusen-CharlesCo.,  rhe.  105 

Van  Leuven,  Peter,  18* 

Van  Loon,  William H. ,310 

Van  Meter,  Archibald.  J> 

Van  Olinda,  John  L.,  in 

Van  Rensselaer,  William  Bayard,  W 

Van  Schaack,  John  S.,  150 
VanSlyke,G.W    &Horton,192 

Van  Valkenburgh,  John  W.,  --/ 
Van  Vranken,  Adam  T.,  Dr.,  - 
Varney,  F.  B.,  306 
Veeder,  Peter  J.,  175 

William  Davis,  \£l 
Victorin,  Anthony.  10 
Viele,  Maurice  Edward,  50 
Vineberg.  Archibald    Dr.,  368 
Visscher,  Edward  W.,  u 
Vloebergh,  Louis,  128 

Wackerhagen,  William  B.,  54 
Wadsworth,  Paul,  38 
Waggoner,  William  S.,  84 
Wagner,  John,  16 
^kt;fi^WUliamH.,&Son,281 
Waldron,  Henry,  329 
Walker,  Charles  Ashbel,  17B 
Edward,  160 
John  M.,  166 
Peter,  174 
William  J.,  44 
Wallace.  James,  319 

William  A.,  Ma]  ,  VIA 
\V alien,  William,  218 
Walsh,  Henry  Haswell,  278 

JohnS.,  819 
Walters,  Charles  40 
Wands,  James  M.,  l"<> 

John  B.,  -• 
Ward,  fohnG.,202 
Walter  E.,  258 
Warner,  Charles  B.,311 

Jacob  A.,  B2 
Warren,  Henry  P.,  263 
Washburn,  Hi  rani  L.,  -1' 
Waters,  M.  B.,  23 
Watson,  Frank,  880 
Weaver,  George  B.,  ra 
William  J.,  105 


Weeber.  Christian.  7(.t 
Weidman,  Malachi,  94 

Reuben  L.,  16 
Wells,  Antor,,  277 
Wertime,  Walter  jL,  238 
Wetmore,  Edward  Willard,  186 
Wheeler,  Frederick  F.,  25 
Whipple,  Walter,  56 
Whitbeck.  Ansel  McK.,  Dr.,  •»•' 
Henrv  T.,  140 
Joseph  M..  330 
Theodore  II.,  Dr.,  165 
William  J.,  129 
White,  David.  318 
Isaac,  179 
John  b,  1s' 
Whitehead,  Samuel,  183 
Whitney,  W.  M.,  &  Co. 
Wickham,  Richard,  jr.,  SU 
Wight,  Edward,  40 
Wilcox,  George  W.,  b>-> 

Rodney,  -3<  ,        olc 

Willerton,  Edmund  Ronslow,  246 
Williams.  C.  Frank,  22'J 
Chauncey  P.,  '••'•I 
David,  250 
E.  P.,  369 
Elam,  313 
George  A.,  Dr.,  7 
Willis,  Alexander,  Mrs.,  ■■■• 
Wilson,  (Men  E.,  321 
W.ltse,  lames  Wesley,  Dr.,  316 
Wing,  Albert  J.    51 
Winne,  Barent  S.,  u- 

Charles  Visscher,    229 
John  E  .  353 
Lansing  B.,  Dr.,  343 
Wirth,  jr.,  Jacob,  1~ 
Wiswall,  Charles  E.,  156 
Eben  S.,  156 
Family,  the,  30 
Witbeck,  Andrew  II..  •• 
.  Dr..  110 
Charles  G.,  303  . 

Wolfe.  Andrew  J.,  3.1 

Wolff,  John,  256 

Wood,  Levi.   195  . 

W Iward.  James  Otis,  Maj« 

Walter  M.,  333 
Woolverton,  Andrew  W.,  si  a 
Wormer.  Eliakim  F.,  261 
Wright.  Charles  W.,  101 

Fred,  180 
Wrightson,  George  VV.,  ->•' 
Wygant,  Rimer  E.,  ••"• 

W  .  L51 
young,  Elias,  28'i 


418 

Young,  Henry  W.,  371  Zeilman,  Charles  H.,  200 

William  A.,  302  Zeller,  A.,  57 

William  P.,  230 


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